Disneyland/Disneyworld

This is something I actually know about. I was a travel agent who specialized in Disney and Vegas. I graduated the "College of Disney knowledge" twice with perfect scores each time. On top of that I've been to Disneyland 13 times and Disneyworld once (am going back to Disneyworld in November).
3 is a great age for kids but 1 really isn't. I'd wait at least another year so both kids can enjoy. Disneyland is much much smaller than Disneyworld and is the best place to start if you have never been and also if you have small ones. It is alot less intimating than Disneyworld. Disneyworld would be better for them after they are both 5 years old.
Disneyland has 2 parks (Disneyland and California adventure). California adventure is ok for little ones but besides a few things like a playhouse disney show and muppet 3D there really isn't much there for them. If you are going to do just Disneyland I'd allow 2 days for the park and reccomend you stay on property (they have 3 hotels) since you'll have little ones, it is soooo much easier! If you are going to do both parks I'd get a 3 day pass.
Disneyworld has 4 parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM/Disney studios and the Animal Kingdom). That is alot for a couple of real little ones and for a couple who haven't been at all. If you do decide to do that instead of Disneyland though get a 5 or 6 day park hopper pass. Park hopper means you can go to different parks in the same day instead of being stuck all day at one if you find it's not your thing. It cost just a couple dollars more and is worth it. Also, there it'd be good for you to stay on property also. The whole Disneyworld area is the size of Manhattan so that should tell you how big it is.
Both are definetly awesome though!! If you have any more questions I should be able to answer them for you so just message me. =)

Hi A..
D-World is awesome, but has gotten extremely expensive. Make sure you don't pay full price for anything, or you'll "fun" yourselves out of house and home.
My big sis is a self-proclaimed "guru" on how to find Disney discounts, and it also depends on the time of year you decide to go. Send me a p.m. if you want her e-mail, she'll be glad to let you in on her secrets.
T

I defintatly think that you should go. We took our two daughters that were 3 and just about to be 2 at the time, to Disneyland. I was also about two months pregnant. We were all able to go on almost every ride. I was not allowed go on about two rides that the kids were able to go on. We got the three day hopper pass and spent two days at Disneyland and one day at California Adventure. There were a couple of rides that my oldest daughgter was scared of, but for the most part it was age appropriate. We also bought the meal plan, which was the best thing that we did. With that we were able to go to 2 character breakfasts and one princess lunch as well as snack throughout the park. The food is expensive so if you can pack some of your own it might be worth it. We flew so it was not really an option. The character meals were the best way to see the charaters without spending time waiting in line. The meals are so expensive without the meal plan. It was also nice because my almost two year old was free for everything because she was not yet two. We also stayed at the Disneyland hotel which was perfect for small kids. You could take them back to the hotel to nap if needed. Our girls just napped in the stroller when they got tired. If you stay at one of their hotels you can get in the park an hour early, which will save time in line.
The girls had a blast! Everytime they see something on TV about Disneyland they ask when we can go back. We plan on going back when our last daughter is almost two. I do not agree with the other Moms who felt that your kids were too young.
As for Disneyland verses Disneyworld, Disneyworld is definatly much better. With young kids I think that Disneyland is better, because you will be much more likely to see everything and not feel rushed. I would wait until your kids are older to appreciate Epcot, which is only at Disneyworld. It is truely a great family experience. I do not know who had more fun the kids or my husband and I. If you need anymore info I would be glad to help. I have only been to Disneyland twice, but I have been to Disneyworld at least 15 times.

too young. it takes a lot of energy at those places. you want to wait until they really appreciate it (and are tall enough for the rides) and won't be scared. Sea world, lego land, science center, children's museums, zoos are better options

I have been waiting till my son is 5 or 6 years old for disneyland, What would you think of sea world even the baby i think would enjoy seeing all the fish and stuff swimming around.

We're taking our very first Disneyland "family" trip this summer. My kids are 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 years old and we've been told by numerous people that they are the perfect age right now. We wanted them to remember the experience so we patiently waited until now. My recommendation is to wait until the little one is potty-trained and old enough to be able to enjoy/remember the theme park activities. Your older one will be more mature and helpful if anything. It should be an enjoyable for all members of the family since the theme park tickets are quite expensive. We paid over $400 for a 2-day family of four package.

Hi I am a mother of 4 children. 11 yr old boy, 9 yr old girl, 2 yr old boy, and a 11 months old girl. We actually waited until the oldest two were 10, 8 years and we all so took my younger son who was 1 yr at the time, plus i was pregnant with my youngest. It seemed that they got to ride more of the rides at these ages. (my 1 yr old didn't ride as much). We got the park hopper passes, this is where you get to go to Disneyland and hop on over to California Adventures also.
Disneyland is a great place to start at. I thought we all had a great time. It was like we were in a completely different place. A Happy Place. California was like being at a big carnival. It was just as fun.
To save money we actually took snacks and drinks. For example sliced apples, oranges, and watermelons. Took a portable ice chest with wheels to put our drinks and snack in. And don't forget the sunblock.
We spent 2 full days in disneyland and 1 in california adventure. They have this system where you can get something that similar to a raincheck but for tickets to ride the rides. You just go to the ride and around that ride there will be a vending machine that prints out a ticket for the next time the ride is available. This ticket a pass into the next ride. So instead of standing in line, you would be able to go into a different line where you wouldn't have to wait. Disneyland had 7am parades and on some nights, fireworks. Disneyland closes at 11 pm and they do have shuttles. The only thing I thought they lack in was Disney Characters. I was there 3 days and I only saw 3 characters.
I would check out travel sites and see if there are any ticket deals. I know that they have AAA discounts. We spent about $800.00 that included tickets (not including hotel stay). I hope this helped. Have a great time.

A.,

My husband and I just took our 2 year old daughter to Disneyland and had the best time (we are going again in the fall). We drove over Thursday, went to the park Friday and drove back Saturday. DVDs and stopping for lunch made the 7 hours each way go quickly. We only paid for Disneyland - that was plenty for one day. California Adventure is newer and I haven't gone, but wanted to share the traditional park first with my daughter. We had a stroller so she napped for one hour out of the 11 we were there. We had short lines and still didn't go on everything she could have ridden. We saw tons of little ones in strollers - they enjoy the sights even if they can't ride.

We went to Disney World a few years back with my step children. After spending airfare, hotel, car rental...you want to do all 4 parks - which we did in 2 days(I was 5 months pregnant). I would wait a few years for this exhausting for ALL - we are planning to take Alexx at 5 or 6.

I would highly recommend Legoland in CA. But you should wait until the little one is 2 years old. Legoland is an amusement park geared for kids 2 - 8. Disneyland is best when the kids are older, 7-8. Amusment parks with babies are very frustrating.

If your flying, I would reccomend contacting the shuttle company and ordering 2 carseats so your not lugging yours through the airport. Also Bring your own double stroller and check it in at the gate so you can have it with you right up until you board.
The hotels look like their closer to the park than they actually are. The walk through the parking lot is 30minutes! Most hotels near disneyland dont shuttle anymore, The bus system stops at all the hotels now.
The most convienient would be to stay directly in the parks hotels but are very pricy.
I suggest asking which hotels will shuttle you free directly to the main gate.
Every year my kids bring home a brochure from this website, and you can pick & choose which hotels/price ranges and theres photos and maps .I've used them many times. www.getawaytoday.com
Your going to have a blast!!

The first time we took our girls to Disneyland they were 4 & 9 months and they both had a great time. Obviously the little one does not remember the trip but we do. If you go consider staying at one of the Disney hotels or within walking distance to the park. I would reccomend Disneyland while they are younger and Disneyworld when they are alot older (7-10 yrs). I would also suggest waiting until the Fall or winter to take them so that you have less crowds to contend with.(Week days are less crowded too) We prefer the Fall, but going when they are decorated for Christmas in awesome! There is a parent swap thing, that allows one parent to go the ride with the child and then the other to go without having to wait in line swice. Our girls love the character resturants in the Disney hotels, the food is great and the characters come right up to the table. It can be a little pricy, but worth it.
Just remember to be on your kids schedule, be flexible and that they may or may not want to be near the characters. Have fun.

We have taken our children several times to Disneyland in the past few years and every time has been a great experience. We went when my daughter was four months old and my son was two and again when my daughter was nine months old and my son 2.5. Both times we took other people with us(we even paid) so that we could ride a few of the faster rides by ourselves. We just went at the end of last year and we had the best time ever! For the first time we went for more than one day (we had a 3-day park hopper) and it was the most relaxing time. My son was four and my daughter two. On the third day we got an early entry free with our tickets. We used this day to go on all of the kiddie rides that for the other two days had been swamped with huge lines. We really enjoyed the other two days just walking around, going to shows, parades and waiting in the NEMO line (1.5 hrs) I really would recommend you going when your oldest is 41" tall which is the requirement for the bigger rides. That way you and your husband can take turns going on the rides with him-they also have a new program where you can get a pass to switch places with your spouse at the end of the ride, so you each can go on without having to wait in line twice. AWESOME! Let me know if you need anymore advice for traveling with your two to Disneyland-I have a few more pointers. We took our Sit and Stand stroller and it was great!