Going to Disneyland With Young Kids For the First Time? 4 Things You Need to Pack

You guys!!!! Eddy and I are so stinking excited to be able to take our kiddos to DISNEYLAND!!!!! This will be the first time our kiddos have gone. It has been 9 years since Eddy and I went. We have known about it for monnnnnnths. It has seemed like years… We just told them the other day that we were going.

Truth be told I was a little let down with their lack of enthusiasm. It was pretty much crickets when they found out. Errrrr WHAT!? We just told them we were going to Disneyland and they had acted like we told them nothing. Haha! In all fairness they are young 6, 4, 3, and 10 months. I don’t think they really know what they are in store for.

I don’t think I know what Eddy and I are in store for. Let’s be honest. Last time we went it was just the two of us. We went on Mother’s Day and the next day. Pretty sure those are two of the best days to go. We only had to wait for about 45 minutes for the longest wait we had. We went on every ride, I’m talking EVERYTHING that was opened. Yep, my adult hubby and I were hitting all the rides and waited in line for Mickey Mouse.

I thought it would be fun to write what we are planning on bringing to try to help us all survive a week in Disneyland. We will have our 4 small children, 2 grandparents, 7 aunts and uncles, and 8 cousins ages 2 to 16. It is going to be CRAZY!

Snacks

This will be a game changer. I plan on packing lots of snacks and offering them to my kids in high hopes they won’t get hangry. I am going to stock up before we leave. Some of our favorite snacks on the go are: fruit leather, apple sauce packets, nuts, crackers, fruit, veggies, fruit snacks, cereal, string cheese, candy and kid energy bars.

We plan to buy snacks and food in the park but we also plan on bringing some in. We are going to pack a backpack full of snacks. If they ask you bet I’m going to let them eat. 😉 I will make some pj and jam sandwiches to also eat in line or while walking around the park. I don’t know about you but I can only eat snack foods before I need a meal. Anyone else?

We will also have our plastic refillable water bottles. This will help make sure we are staying hydrated. I have heard glass is not allowed. So plan accordingly.

Hopefully by having enough snacks and food we will be able to keep the waiting in line better. That leads me to my next thing.

Line Entertainment

Last summer we waited in line for 2-3 hours for some Cars 3 exhibit. It was so very hot, we were totally under prepared. It was miserable!

This will not be us in Disneyland. I will pack flash cards, little toys, crayons and paper, and a game or two. They may not get used but at least we will be prepared with boredom busters.

Having cousins there for most of the time will also help. Our kids usually don’t get to play on our phones but I bet we will be pulling them out. Or at least our old phones they can play with only on road trips when we are driving.

Emergency Kit

I like to be prepared. So included in our Disneyland must haves we will pack:

• rain ponchos for everyone
• sunblock (have you met me and my fair skin that I passed onto most of my kiddos? :/
• sun hats
• sunglasses
• jackets (it will be around 70 degrees during the day but in the 50’s in the evening)
• band aids (and a few other first aid kit supplies)
• some medicine
• wipes
• extra clothes for my baby (blowouts prepared!)
• wipes
• diapers
• portable phone charger

Little Purse

I was talking to someone recently and they mentioned bringing a small purse that can be taken on each ride. I wish I could remember who I was talking with. This is such a great idea!

We will have a double stroller and a diaper bag with us. I don’t want to worry about anything valuable being left with the stroller and diaper bag each time we go on a ride.

Enter in, the small purse. I will be able to keep my phone, any money, my kid’s Disney gift cards, cards for food, chap stick, and anything else that I might need in a little purse. I will be able to keep this purse on me during the rides. And voilà! All our valuables will stay safe.

What are some things that you have found to be a game changer for spending a few days in Disneyland? After our trip I’ll let you know how it went and if there was anything else we wished we would have packed. Happy traveling my friends!

Xoxo

Steph