A comical step by step guide on how to do Disneyland with small children. Don’t worry. There are important bits and relative info in here as well.
Step 1
You get the bright idea to take your kids to Disneyland.
Step 2
You look at Disney prices and want to call the whole thing off.
Step 3
Your search for Disneyland deals finds Get Away Today who has amazing prices on packages and lets you make payments on your vacation.
Insert heavenly singing here. The trip is back on!
Step 4
Where are you going to stay? In walking distance of the gate? Good idea. But maybe you’ll stay somewhere cheaper and shuttle in. That works too.
Step 5
Reflect. Are you really going back to the room during the day? I can tell you from experience that you are not. That is unless someone has an accident or gets sick all over themselves and you don’t have a spare set of clothes.
And even then you might just opt to buy them something from the gift shop instead of walking two miles back to the room. Yeah. It’s pretty far. Staying at a Disney property might be the way to go. They are seriously as close as you can get. Plus you get some perks.
Step 6
Figure out how you are getting to your hotel. Shuttle? Rental car? Uber?
Step 7
Realize you have some questions. Search for Disneyland Resort FAQs.
Feel like a smarty pants.
Step 8
Tell your kids about the upcoming trip. They explode with excitement and bounce off the walls.
The when of this reveal is tricky because you want to do it far enough in advance to build up anticipation, but close enough that you don’t get asked “Are we going to Disneyland today?” four million times.
Step 9
Watch all your favorite Disney movies as part of the hype up to the trip.
Step 10
Pack for your trip.
Step 11
Don’t forget snacks.
Step 12
And the stroller.
Step 13
Have a sleepless night before you leave because you are last minute packing and even more excited than the kids are.
Step 14
Wake up SUPER early because Disneyland day is basically like a second Christmas.
Step 15
Load everyone and everything into the car.
Step 16
Ponder why tiny people need SOOO much stuff.
Step 17
Drive to the airport while fielding “Are we there yet?” questions.
Step 18
Park the car and get all the kids and all the stuff on the shuttle.
Step 19
Better yet, drop someone at the loading zone with all the kids and all their stuff. Then go park the car in peace.
Step 20
Check your bags and carseats while the kids run around like they’ve had several cups of coffee this morning.
Step 21
Go through airport security. Remember to get everything and everyone out of the stroller so you can collapse it because that thing has to go through the x-ray machine.
Step 22
Get your hands swabbed because you had to carry the baby through the scanner.
Step 23
Have your bag searched because you have baby wipes in it.
Step 24
Wait the swab to come back to see if your baby wipes are dangerous.
Step 25
Open up the stroller and load it back up.
Step 26
Walk to your gate while your kids ask about McDonald’s because they saw one in the terminal.
Step 27
Draw staws on who has to take the kids on their pre boarding potty break.
Step 28
Get ready for when the call families with small children to board.
Step 29
Get everything out of the stroller to have it checked at the door.
Step 30
Herd the children onto the plane and find your seats.
Step 31
Get everyone settled.
Step 32
Bust out the snacks before you even take off.
Step 33
Plan to get up at least a few times because they definitely want to see the plane potty.
Step 34
Once you land, start repacking all your belongings.
Step 35
Get the children off the plane and back into the stroller that is thankfully waiting for you just outside.
Step 36
Take another potty break.
Step 37
Get down to the luggage carousal to gather all your checked belongings.
Step 38
Go to the car rental and pick up your car.
Step 39
Pack up the rental car which what looks to be the entire contents of your house.
Step 40
Have Google navigate you to Disneyland! Well, your hotel.
Step 41
Check into your hotel.
Step 42
Take all your stuff to your room.
Step 43
Today is a travel day, so now it’s time to rest and hit the pool. Hope you packed everyone’s swimsuit.
Step 44
Get some dinner.
Step 45
Try to get to bed early so that you can start the morning refreshed.
Step 46
Again, Disney is like second Christmas so NO ONE is interested in sleeping.
Step 47
Try to see the fireworks from your room.
Step 48
Finally get everyone to sleep and drift off yourself.
Step 49
Morning comes too early, but you’re excited too so you hop out of bed.
Step 50
Get everyone dressed. You remembered to pack everyone’s Disney shirts, right?
Step 51
Get everyone fed.
Step 52
Head to the front gate.
Step 53
Go through the security check point where they want to see the contents of your bags and stroller.
Step 54
Get in line to get into the park.
Step 55
Walk into the most magical place on Earth.
Step 56
Find the closest potty.
Step 57
Head down Main Street trying to not let the kids see the gift shops.
Step 58
Get a photo in front of the castle.
Step 59
Head to your first ride.
Step 60
Get a churro.
Step 61
Potty time.
Step 62
Stop at the Mad Hatter’s and get some Mouse Ears.
Step 63
Ride a few more rides.
Step 64
Get some popcorn.
Step 65
Maybe watch a parade. If you can find a good spot.
Step 66
Yep. It’s potty time again.
Step 67
Eat some lunch.
Step 68
Ride some more rides.
Step 69
Get a Dole Whip.
Step 70
Ride the tea cups.
Step 71
And, it’s time for another potty break.
Step 72
Almost reach your next destination and have to stop for the second potty break in 10 minutes.
Step 73
Reach the ride and now the little one is asleep.
Step 74
Take turns going on some rides while the other one sits with the stroller.
Step 75
That last one was too scary. Now you have to calm them back down.
Step 76
Meet a character.
Cross your fingers that they are calm enough to do so and won’t burst into tears the second the character waves at them.Step 77
See some shows.
Step 78
Time to eat dinner!
Step 79
Want to go on another ride? Nope! They are done for the day because the last ride was so scary.
Step 80
Watch the firework show.
Step 81
And now they’re both asleep.
Step 82
Head back to the room. Hopefully your stroller holds more than one sleeping child.
Step 83
Was it this far of a walk this morning?
Step 84
Get everyone dressed for bed and tucked in.
Step 85
Get some shut eye yourself.
Step 86
Wake up early again. You can’t miss a minute of the fun that you have already paid for.
Step 87
Get everyone ready.
Step 88
Double check your bag.
Step 89
Why did you even take snacks yesterday? No one wanted them.
Step 90
Walk back to the park.
Step 91
Have a fun filled day. Repeating steps 52-90 for as many days as you booked your trip for.
Step 92
Pack the suitcases back up. Everything fit in there so nicely before…
Step 93
Get some breakfast.
Step 94
Pile into the car to head to the airport.
Step 95
Unload the car and check the bags.
Step 96
Get the kids through the airport to your gate. It’s not as exciting this time because you’re going home.
Step 97
Fly home.
Step 98
Get home and relax.
Step 99
Think about unpacking.
Step 100
Start planning your next Disney trip with Get Away Today.
Disclaimer:
This is a humorous look at traveling with children. Please don’t take it seriously and let it stop you from traveling with your kids. It really is a great experience for everyone.
Check out my other Disney posts for more fun and ideas.
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