One day is definitely enough, especially with such young kids. Have fun

 

It's definitely enough with a two and four year old! Don't expect to ride all of the rides though, and do expect to be exhausted at the end of the day (especially if you are pg by then!)! My boys are two and four, and it's amazing how much longer getting from ride to ride takes with them than when just my husband and I go alone!

Be sure to find out where the baby care room is, right off of Main Street. It is fantastic! There are great sized changing tables, an area to sit and read to your kids for some downtime, and if you need a private place to nurse, they have nursing rooms. I have no problem with NIP, but I have used those rooms before when I had a tired toddler who just needed to be nursed to sleep in some place quiet and w/o distraction.

If you go to the San Diego Zoo, be forewarned that it is very hilly. This isn't a big deal for some people, but it was the workout of a lifetime for me. Personally, I prefer the Wild Animal Park anyway (although, I was there yesterday, and at 8 mos pg it was still a rather ridiculous workout for me!). It's hilly there too, but you're not climbing huge inclines like you are at the zoo.

Of course, it's entirely possible that I'm just a wimp.

 

Thanks!

 

It is definitely possible to do Disney in a day, and even park hop to Disney's California Adventure if you plan ahead. The lunch with princesses is there anyway, so you'd need a park hopper pass. A Bug's Land is a great area with rides for little kids. The Playhouse Disney Live show at California Adventure is wonderful if your kids like the shows on the Disney Channel.

I would highly recommend picking up a copy of "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland", which has excellent tips on how to do Disney in a day with small kids.

I always make an itinerary before I go, based on what rides have the longest lines in the middle of the day, to maximize my time there. I'm still flexible, but it helps me to have a general guide so I'm not wasting a lot of time walking back and forth across the park all day.

And above all, plan to be in line before the park opens! Getting there early is the best strategy.

I had an annual pass in 2008 and haven't been since, but I'm getting a new annual pass and will be heading up there on Tuesday! I've never taken a 4yo and a baby by myself, but I'm pretty excited to be bringing Peepers for the first time!

 

I don't recommend doing Disney in one day - particularly if your kids are still of an age to need naps. Go in the morning when they're fresh, head back to the hotel for naps, then go back after naps for a couple hours. If you do try to fit it all in, expect to have some cranky kids by the end of the day. Last time I tried to fit it all in into one day I was in my 20s, and *I* was cranky by the time we left.

 

I did 21 months and 4 in June. Not pretty. My parents dragged us back for a second day then drive back to Coronado.

Really ugly. Do one day, not two. For the love of all that is holy...........(where is the hysterical running away screaming smilie?).

Liz

 

Oh sure, one day is fine. My kids are now 5 and 3, but we've been going since they were babies. We live near so we go every few months. Make sure you bring, or rent, a double stroller so they can nap in it at some point in the afternoon while you walk around. We go out to Downtown Disney at the end of the day to have dinner at a "real" restaurant, and then change the kids into pajamas for the ride home. Or if you aren't going to be able to manage a sit down meal, you can get a sandwich to go from La Brea Bakery and eat in the car . Everyone's tired, but it's fun.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikki Jean If you go to the San Diego Zoo, be forewarned that it is very hilly. This isn't a big deal for some people, but it was the workout of a lifetime for me. Personally, I prefer the Wild Animal Park anyway (although, I was there yesterday, and at 8 mos pg it was still a rather ridiculous workout for me!). It's hilly there too, but you're not climbing huge inclines like you are at the zoo. Of course, it's entirely possible that I'm just a wimp.

I thought I was the only one who thought the zoo was a crazy workout!

I think Disneyland in one day would be great. But yeah, you definitely will not get to ride everything. But the kids will love it!

 

We went when my girls were 3-1/2 and Ian was a baby. We were there for a few days, but one day would have been fine. Plan ahead what you want to see and ride and do what you can. My kids didn't/don't know any of the princesses nor any of the Disney characters and they were happy riding the carousel, Dumbo and the Bugs Life area at California Adventures. The first day, we got in the park, the girls rode on one ride and then said they wanted to go back to the hotel and go to the pool. Many of the rides are scary for young kids. We had that Insider's Guide or Unofficial Guide to Disney and even some of the rides he claimed were scary to no one scared my girls. The Winnie the Pooh ride freaked them out because it had some psychedelic dream sequence. If you choose judiciously which things you want to do and have something of a plan, you can have a lot of fun in a day.

We're going in March and I was just talking to my girls about Disneyland at bedtime tonight.

 

I really don't think one day is enough and am surprised that others are saying it is. I used to take my 2 and 5 year olds to Disneyland and Disneyworld for days on end and we had a wonderful time, with and without my DH. If I were you, I'd do a two day pass (but skip California Adventure probably, not nearly as much there for very young ones) and enjoy! Especially if you don't perceive going back any time soon.

You could do Disney one day and then Seaworld the next, but honestly, I think there will be way more for your 2 year old to do at Disney than at Seaworld.

 

I say one day is better than nothing - but I don't think it's ideal. We did one day, when the kids were 1 and 3, and honestly even with a total of 5 adults to help, we still didn't feel like we got to do much at all. We only went on a couple of rides, b/c lines are super long, and had a character meal for breakfast that took up a good chunk of the day. I mean, it was still a lot of fun, but I felt like it was a quite a bit of money spent on one day.

We have since went to Disneyworld for 9 days, and then Disneyland again for 5 days -- both of these trips meant we got to explore and do a whole lot more. DH and I have decided 3 days is about perfect for Disney themeparks - b/c anything more and it can be overwhelming and tiring (unless it was spread out over a longer period of time w/beach trips and other activities between Disney days).

For you situation, I would probably do Disneyland both days, and save Sea World for another time (maybe when they are a bit older).

oh, and for your free days, will you be staying in San Diego? I just ask b/c of the hr and a half drive time. That would mean 3 hrs in the car, plus a long day at Disney. Fun and worth it, I'm sure - just exhausting (and I'd want to stay until Disneyland closed and see the fireworks).

 

I absolutely stand by one day is more than enough! There is so much more to see and do in CA than Disneyland and theme parks anyway, it would be a shame to not see more while you are here (beaches, mountains, gardens, etc). With little kids, you will not be able to go on everything anyway and you can successfully go on most (if not all) of the appropriate ones in one day. I wouldn't recommend doing the park hopper and would focus on one park. Get there early, plan to stay late, check out the attractions online to figure out what you want to do, and pace yourself. Just my opinion

 

Honestly, Seaworld is a dud. And I love sea creatures. It's kind of a creepy, circus-like treatment of sea animals. My 2.5 year old was bored stiff when we went there (as was I). Spend the time at Disney and then take a special trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium another time to experience the ocean animals/fish.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by crbyard Honestly, Seaworld is a dud. And I love sea creatures. It's kind of a creepy, circus-like treatment of sea animals. My 2.5 year old was bored stiff when we went there (as was I). Spend the time at Disney and then take a special trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium another time to experience the ocean animals/fish.

I agree, I find SeaWorld disturbing.
We just went to Disneyland with my 4 year old for one day and it was enough for us! We were absolutely exhausted afterward.

 

Two days of Disney is soooo freaking exhausting! One day is plenty! get there early, head straight to the Princess Faire where your little girl can take pictures with three different princesses. The line is horrendously slow, the one time we did it we waited well over an hour. But if you head straight there when it opens you probably won't have to wait long. I wouldn't bother with the park hopper pass. There are some neat things in California Adventure, but in my opinion, the bugs life area is kinda lame. The rides aren't that great. You have plenty of options in Fantasy land and Mickey's toon town. You won't even get to ride all the rides in Disneyland, so save yourself the extra money and don't bother with the park hopper. If your kids get tired, hop on the Monorail and take it a few spins around the park. You can get off the Monorail in downtown disney to have lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants there and hop back on to head back into the park. That's always kinda cool!

 

No. You definitely need more than one day!

If you try to squeeze it all in in such a short period of time, you'll be stressed, rushed, overwhelmed and hurried.

Give yourself at least two days and go back to your hotel to rest, nap and eat in the middle of the day.

 

I live 40 minutes away, and when we go, we get a room and stay for a week! I wouldn't want to do it in a day. Lunch at Ariel's Grotto is the quickest way to get maximum princess exposure-they all come to your table. Pricey but worth it, imo. If you go to the other princess area your lo can be crowned and go through a coronation dance, but it gets crowded and lines can be long.