Disneyland Babymoon: What We Did

We went to Disneyland. We rode rides. The end.

Just kidding.

Well, that is what we did, but there is obviously more to the story. A play-by-play of our three days in the parks is probably not the most interesting read, so instead I’ll share some of the special activities we did, along with some tips for an easier Disneyland vacation.

Our ride strategy. Perhaps you are a mythical creature who just shows up to Disneyland or California Adventure with nothing in hand but a park ticket and an optimistic attitude. That is not me. That is soooo not me. I, of course, had a plan, a carefully crafted plan that had been weeks in the making. Of course, I approached my plan with as much flexibility as my schedule loving heart could tolerate.

Each morning we got an early start and were usually in line before the park opened. We chose to go to the park that did not offer the Extra Magic Hour that day. Our three day tickets did come with the option for one Magic Morning at Disneyland, but we decided not to use it. For one, I could not possibly make myself get up any earlier than I already was. So we began our mornings in the park that was less likely to be busy early in the day. The first day we went to Disneyland and the second we went to California Adventure, making sure to be some of the first people in line (coffee in hand). On our third day, we returned to Disneyland, but because we had already done all of the rides we wanted to, we took a more relaxed approach on our final day, sleeping in a bit and just doing what we felt like. But the first two days, not only did we show up early, we had a plan.

If you are wanting to maximize your time, I recommend checking out RideMax. This planning software has collected years of data on ride wait times. A 90-day subscription was $14.95 and worth every penny. I was able to input the details of our day - the times we planned to be in the park, the exact rides we wanted, whether or not we would use FastPasses, and even any breaks we wanted to take during the day. All of these preferences were run through some complicated algorithm and the result was a minute by minute recommended schedule for rides and activities (e.g., parades) the minimized time spent waiting in lines. I played around with it quite a bit beforehand and reran our itinerary the day before and I have to say it was pretty spot on. Both days, we were able to ride everything we wanted to before lunchtime, allowing us to enjoy leisurely lunches and extended afternoon naps and to have complete flexibility in the afternoons and evenings without ever feeling like we were going to miss out on anything we wanted to do. I highly recommend it if you are a planner who wants to maximize your time in the parks.

Technology. Ridemax was not the only technology we used for our trip to Disneyland. If you do nothing else, download the free Disneyland app! During the afternoon when we wanted to decide what to do next, we could quickly pull up the map on the app and see wait times for any ride. You can also pre-order food on the app for some of the quick service restaurants so that you don’t have to wait in line. We did this for some snacks (like corn dogs), although we usually chose to have sit down meals. For table service restaurants, it was easy to make and track restaurant reservations in the app, as well. We also chose to purchase the MaxPass for $15 each day, so we could make and use FastPass reservations without having to run to a ticket kiosk. This also includes PhotoPass, so all of our Disney pics were downloadable from the app. Having all of this at our fingertips made it easy to decide what to do next, make reservations if needed, and determine (for all of the rides I couldn’t go on), whether Brandon wanted to use a FastPass or go through the Single Rider line. One more note - if you do plan to use the app and take pictures with your phone, you may want to bring a small power bank to recharge your phone on the go. Although we tried to stay in the moment and off our phones, judicious use of technology helped us make the most of our trip.

Shows. As much as the rides are a part of the Disneyland experience, the shows are just as fun! We went to both Fantasmic! and World of Color. For Fantasmic! we elected to get free FastPasses for viewing areas (you can have this FastPass at the same time as any others, so it does not impact your day) rather than doing a dining package. We got in line early and were able to sit at the front of our assigned viewing area. Just keep in mind you will be sitting on the ground - not the most comfortable thing for everyone, including this pregnant lady. Despite some discomfort, the show was incredible. Do not miss this!

One funny anecdote: Sometimes Brandon has a tendency to misremember aspects of his childhood experiences. Exhibit A - the porcupines. So when he assured me that I would be so impressed when Mickey Mouse shot fireworks out of his fingertips, it is understandable that I would be skeptical. Even though I was not expecting fireworks, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. But the highlight? When Mickey shot ACTUAL FIREWORKS out of his fingertips. It would have been amazing anyway, but to see the glee and (somewhat smug) satisfaction on Brandon’s face when he was right made my night.

The next evening, I had made reservations for the World of Color Dessert Party at California Adventure as a surprise for Brandon. Perhaps it would have been better if we had not just eaten ourselves sick at the Food and Wine Festival, but it was a fun treat, regardless. With enough dessert to feed a large family, it was also a literal treat. I think my favorite part was having a chair to sit in for the show, though. Each ticket came with a seat in a reserved area, choice of drinks (Brandon chose the special cocktail, which I think was probably mostly Sprite, and I went with hot chocolate), a bread basket to pair with the variety of cheeses, and more desserts than I could possibly eat. It was delicious and thankfully the evening ended with a to go container. I will say, we both enjoyed Fantastmic! slightly more, but World of Color was still a good show. Just come prepared to get wet if you’re sitting close. It was a cool night and I wished I had brought a jacket.

Disney definitely knows how to put on a show.

Outside the parks. The magic was not confined to the two parks. Disney wants to find ways for you to spend your money even without a park ticket. Enter Downtown Disney. Truly, it was a great spot to go for dinner or other activities, whether you needed a break from the parks or, like us on the night we arrived, you did not have access to a park that day. There are shops and restaurants, of course, but also enjoyable touches like live music and activities like a bowling alley. And of course, the gigantic Disney store has just about any souvenir you could possibly want. We could also access any of the hotel restaurants and bars, including the very fun Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in the Disneyland Hotel. There were also a handful of chain restaurants within walking distance of our hotel on South Harbor, although the strong favorite was the Cold Stone that we may or may not have frequented on a daily basis. Even without a car, there was plenty to do when we weren’t in a park or napping.

Rides while pregnant. One of the most frequent questions I was asked when I shared that we were going to Disneyland was whether or not I could ride any rides. The short answer is yes. In fact, there were relatively few rides I could not do. Basically anything a 4-year-old could ride, I could also ride. Thankfully, Disney is designed for 4-year-olds. Sure, it was sort of a bummer when I couldn’t ride Radiator Springs Racers and Grizzly River Run, but really I’m not much for roller coasters, so even if I weren’t pregnant, Brandon probably would have been going solo on the Incredicoaster, anyway. If you’re curious about which rides have pregnancy restrictions, it’s easy to search the Disneyland website for which attractions have an Expectant Mothers Advisory. Thankfully, I was good to go for my favorite ride, Soarin’, which I definitely experienced more than once. If you’re pregnant and considering whether or not a trip to Disneyland is “worth it,” I strongly encourage you to go. I had a fantastic time. Plus, it is the perfect excuse to go back when I can ride anything I want to.

What are your Disneyland questions? I’m definitely not an expert (and there are many others out there who are), but I’m happy to share my limited experience and advice.