Disneyland

We live within an hour of Disneyland, so we have had many opportunities to visit. Many months out of the year, Disneyland offers a Southern California 2-for-1 pass, which we have taken advantage of on several occasions. This is a great way to see everything without rushing. There are many hotel options, but we were impressed with the Anabella Hotel. It was reasonably priced and within walking distance to the park (even with small children). As the kids have grown, we have learned the best ways to save money and provide the most memorable experience possible. However, our first experience with toddlers was an experience all its own! Tip #1-Pack a backpack full of snacks, drinks, wipes and sunscreen. As if the tickets weren't expensive enough, snacks and meals add up quickly. It is so nice having a bag of snacks while you wait in line and often helps delay an over tired child from spiraling out of control.
Tip #2- Pace yourself and plan out your day. Take advantage of FastPasses to help get on the most popular rides quickly and look for shows or parades to give your feet a break. When our girls were toddlers, they were more interested in seeing the princesses than any ride the park had to offer. So think of what will keep everyone smiling throughout the day! There are several

rides that have height limits (Star Tours, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Thunder Mountain, etc), so we avoided those completely. Just an FYI- if you do have a child old enough for those rides, you can get a pass from the ride attendant and you can do a parent swap at the ride exit. This allows both parents to experience the ride with the older child, without disrupting the little ones. We focused more on Fantasyland and Mickey's Toon Town. No height limits there.

As much as we talk about cutting costs, a day at Disneyland is not complete without a frozen chocolate covered banana or Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwich. It is part of the Disney experience and our splurge for the day! We do make a rule each time we go, though. We don't buy any souveniers until the end of the day. #1- The kids want everything they see. #2- It is a hassle carrying items with you all day. #3- It allows the girls to really think about what they want as we look through the stores and #4- It is a great bribing tool to get you through the day! We end every successful trip with a stop at World of Disney in Downtown Disney so they can pick out their favorite souvenir.