Disneyland: take 3

Hi all you Disney Fans, Here is my third installment of tips on doing Disney with three little ones often with just one adult.

Want to know the ride we simply can’t miss? The one my two year old talks non stop about? One all four of us can ride? That almost always has a short line?

Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters. It is a bit boring for me because I have to get to sit in the middle (with the baby in the Ergo) with no blaster.  Want to know my kids scores? Ender generally gets about 1200 points and Arora can get around 5000. When I actually get a blaster I get somewhere in the 50000 range. Whats your best Astro Blaster score?

Another favorite is the monorail. The kids like to sit in the very front. You simply have to ask to do so and may have to wait for the next monorail to come. There is a four body limit in the front.

 

Next to the Monorail is the Finding Nemo submarine. We rode it once and it was scary (dark) for the kids and boring for me so we will not ride again. I thought there would be much more of the Finding Nemo story to the ride, but it was actually just a few characters spread through out.

A great way to get around the park is the Disneyland Railroad. It stops at the front of main street, New Orleans square, between Toon Town and Fantasy Land and in Tomorrow Land. You can take your stroller on but it must be folded up.

If you visit Toon town there are only two rides. Both have restrictions. The rollercoaster has a height requirement and Roger Rabbit has the most unusual requirement I have heard of yet. First every bum must be on a seat and everyone must be awake to ride.  I don’t know how someone could be sitting on the seat and not be awake.

If you are looking for a quite place to nurse a wee one while not putting the fun on hold I have two more suggestions: The Tiki Room in Frontier Land. Shows start often and there is rarely a line.  The other is the Cinema on Main Street. It is dim, cool, almost always empty and you can watch some great black and white Micky cartoons.

Fantasyland tips part one

When thinking about taking young kids to Disneyland what parent doesn’t imaging flying high on Dumbo or helping your child pull the sword from the stone?

When visiting Disney we generally travel with Arora (5) on foot, Ender (2.5) in the umbrella stroller and Avalon (3m) in the Ergo. Some rides have height requirements, some have a number of bodies per car limit, and others require every bum to be on the seat. Also all children must ride in the same car with an adult until they are seven years old.

Each ride that has a height requirement will have it posted on the line entrance. Other requirements though often are not expressed until you reach the front of the line. Our first few days of Disney we have to step out of line a few times becasue there were these other requirements we were unaware of.

Lets go through some of the rides in Fantasy land and see what the rides require.

Mad Tea Party: Everyone can ride, plenty of room for 4-5 people in one tea cup. Baby can go on ride in Ergo. This ride tends to have a short line.

Alice in Wonderland: Each Caterpillar hold two small people in the front and maybe two adults in the back. Arora had to sit in the front while I sat in the back with Ender and Avalon in the Ergo.

Dumbo: We were able to just fit into one elephant with Avalon in the Ergo.

Casey Junior Circus Train: The open rows have a 3 body limit, so ride in the animal cage if you have 3 kids in tow. Tends to have a shorter line.

Pinocchio:  Same set up as Alice, Arora in the front and with Ender and me in the back with Avalon in the Ergo.

King Arther’s Carrousel: Can either ride on a stationary bench or try and get two horses next to each other. Arora was safe and comfortable on her horse. While the horse has a loop around the waist strap it does not get tight around a two year old. Ender is a very wiggly boy. I didn’t feel okay leaving him and getting on a horse myself (with baby). So I was able to stand next to him, between two horses. Tends to have a shorter line.

Peter Pan:  Baby had to be out of the Ergo sitting on my lap with her feet under the lap bar. Tight fit for a mom with 3 kids!

rare trip when David was able to join us.

it’s a small world: easiest ride to ride! each bench can fit 4-5 people. Baby can ride in the Ergo.  Tends to have a shorter line. Best part of it’s a small world? Great place to get in a a quick nursing session!  The ride is smooth, quite dark and long enough to satisfy baby.

There are a few other rides in Fantasy land we have not experienced yet.

Have you taken your kids/ grand kids to Disneyland? What is your best tip?

Moby Wrap

When Arora was a baby I purchased a Moby Wrap at a little second had store in Rexburg Idaho. It took some practice learning how to put it on, and how to position her in it safely and happily. Once I mastered it, I loved it. It gave me some freedom to use my hand while still holding her. It was great for walks and outings. I have always hated carried babies in their infant car seats. The car seat is so heavy and awkward to carry.

first time getting it on with out help (2008)

Here is a tutorial on one way to wear a Moby Warp.

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You can also tie the same way and have baby facing forwards. You can have a small infant is it more sideways so she would have more neck support. You can tie it on so baby is on your hip and even on your back. If Arora were willing I bet I could carry her on my back if I needed to.

*Next week I will  compare the three carriers we have. The home made mei tai, Moby Wrap and a traditional Snuggli back back carrier.

moby wrap preview

How To- make your own baby carrier

This is super simple no sewing necessary. If you can buy fabric and use scissors you can make this super cool Mei Tai baby carrier. My friend Lauren over at Hobo Mama made her tutorial so easy it would be silly for me to rewrite it here, so click here to see her directions. Really click over!

Now once you have it made here is a slide show of how to put it on by yourself. I thought it would be challenging but once you figure it out it is super easy.

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