My Preschooler’s Disneyland Favorites

It’s been a while since I’ve updated my post about Disneyland Tips so I wanted to share with you a few tips as well as my preschooler’s Disneyland favorites! I’ve learned a lot in the past few years taking my preschooler to Disneyland. We still have an annual pass and try to go at least once a week. It’s the perfect place for playdates with other Disney moms!

We have been going to Disneyland since A was 18 months. She is now 4.5 years old! We have made so many amazing memories over the years. Some might think it’s a waste of money to go so often but if you think about it, the cost of an annual pass isn’t that much more for us than museum memberships, gas money, and entrance fees to zoos or jump houses. It’s cost effective for us and there’s always something new to discover or experience despite having gone over 300 times since 2015. YES, you read that right- over 300. Plus, it is sooo MAGICAL to see Disney through her eyes! We usually go for an average of 4-5 hours each time, sometimes longer. She has also figured out what she loves and what she doesn’t want to try. I do try to encourage her to try something new each time, but sometimes they just know what they want so I don’t push it.

Favorite Places to Eat With My Preschooler

Sometimes we will bring food from home or go after a meal but these are a few of my preschooler’s favorite places to eat.

Plaza Inn-We LOVE the fried chicken at Plaza Inn near Tomorrowland at Disneyland. You can get a three piece chicken meal for only $17.99 which comes with two sides. But did you know that you can also get the chicken pieces a-la-cart so if you only wanted chicken, you only pay $5.99/chicken piece.

Bengal BBQ– We also love getting shish kabob/skewers at Bengal BBQ in Adventureland which ranges in price from $3.99-5.99 for veggie, chicken, steak or specialty skewers. Each skewer has quite a few pieces of meat on it so it’s quite filling and a great value.

Anywhere With Pizza

• Pizza Port at Tomorrowland
• Daisy’s Diner at Toontown
• Red Rose Tavern at Fantasyland
• Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta at Paradise Park in DCA
• Wine Country Trattoria at Pacific Wharf in DCA

Anywhere with Chicken Nuggets

• The Golden Horseshoe at Frontierland
• Stage Door Cafe at Frontierland
• Hungry Bear Restaurant at Critter Country
• Galactic Grill at Tomorrowland
• Smoke Jumper’s Grill at Grizzly Peak in DCA

Favorite Rides and Things to Do at Disneyland

I try to encourage my preschooler to try new rides or new experiences but these are her tried and true favorite things to do that she can do over and over again. These are my preschooler’s Disneyland favorites at the various lands at Disneyland.

ADVENTURELAND

• Jungle Cruise (ask for a free map)
• Tiki Room (Don’t forget to grab some Dole Whip!)

CRITTER COUNTRY

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Winnie the Pooh Character Meet & Greet

FANTASYLAND

• Casey Jr. Circus Train
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• It’s a Small World
• King Arthur’s Carousel
• Mad Tea Party
• Storybook Land Canal Boats
• Alice in Wonderland
• Pixie Hollow Meet & Greet
• Princess Fantasy Faire (Meet & Greet at least 3 princesses)
• Mickey and the Magical Map Show
• Storytelling at the Royal Theater (we usually watch the Rapunzel show)

FRONTIERLAND

• Sailing Ship Columbia
• Pirates Lair on Tom Sawer’s Island

MICKEYS TOONTOWN

• Chip’n Dale Treehouse
• Donald’s Boat
• Goofy’s Playhouse (There’s a small playground with a slide that is fun for toddlers and preschoolers.)
• Mickey’s House & Character Meet & Greet
• Minnie’s House & Character Meet & Greet

NEW ORLEANS SQUARE

• Haunted Mansion

TOMORROWLAND

• Autopia (Need to be at least 32″ tall)
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Finding Nemo Submarine (gets dark and a little loud)

Favorite Rides and Things to do at CA Adventures

A BUG’S LAND

• Flik’s Flyers
• Francis’ Ladybug Boogie (like teacups)
• Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train
• Princess Dot Puddle Park (small splash pad in the center of Bug’s Land)

HOLLYWOOD LAND

• Frozen Live at the Hyperion
• Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• Sorcerer’s Workshop
• Animation Studio
• Disney Junior Dance Party (We LOVE this show!)
• Anna & Elsa Character Meet & Greet

CARS LAND

• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadters- my preschooler LOVES this ride! It’s such a cute dancing cars ride.
• Character Meet & Greet with Cars Characters
• DJ’s Dance & Dive- a few times a day, DJ plus some of the Flo’s diner waitresses have a dance party right in front of Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadster. Check the Disneyland App for times!

PARADISE PARK 

• The Little Mermaid- She will literally ride this 3 times in a row if there is no line!

GRIZZLY PEAK

• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail- There’s so much for kids to do. There’s a small playground, slide, bridges, and tire swing. Most things are open to kids of all heights with the exception of the tunnel slide and tire swing.

PIXAR PIER

Pixar Pier is slated to open June 23rd with new rides, entertainment, characters and stores around the Pixar theme! More information can be found here.

A Few Tips:

1. Download the Disneyland App. The Disneyland App is AMAZING with accurate wait times, ability to connect your photo pass, make dinner reservations and use MaxPass. We have not used MaxPass because a lot of the rides that we ride do not have Fast Passes associated with it. It is only a $75 add on to any annual pass or $10/day for pass holders.

Check out my other Disney posts here!

Photos by Annie Vovan Photography unless watermarked.