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We just returned home from an epic trip to California that lasted for three weeks! I traveled south to San Diego with my older sister to visit our other (oldest) sister and her family. We spent a lot of time in San Diego, but also spent a LOT of time in Anaheim at Disneyland and California Adventure. I went to the parks a total of eight times during the trip and a lot of those days were done solo with my two kids, ages 3 and 1. It was a blast and I learned a lot of things about how to do Disney in 2022. I feel like sort of an expert at the moment, especially compared to before this trip.
Genie+ and the Lightning Lane
The biggest change in Disneyland since my last visit (July 2021) was the re-introduction of a pass to skip the line. This used to be called a Fast Pass, but now they call it the Lightning Lane. There are several rides with a Lightning Lane in both parks, and it is the same thing as the Fast Pass lane was before. Through the Genie+ system (which used to be called Max Pass), you can purchase the Lightning Lane entry to the rides and get all the photos taken of you in the parks. . Genie+ also allows you to plan out your day on the Disneyland App. There are a couple differences between the former Max Pass service and the new Genie+.
- It’s more expensive. Genie+ costs $20 per person per day. When I bought max pass the last time, it was $15 and all fastpass rides were included.
- Not every Lightning Lane ride is included in the $20 purchase. There are 3 rides with Lightning Lanes that must be purchased separately from the others. The price for the Lightning Lane for these rides varies from about $8-15 depending on crowds. These rides are :
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Disneyland)
- Web Slingers (DCA)
- Radiator Springs Racers (DCA)
- Once you use the Lightning Lane entry on a single ride, you can’t get the Lightning Lane again that day for that same ride, so you would have to do the standby line if you want to go again.
Besides those things, the Genie+ service is practically Max Pass. You can purchase it once your ticket is scanned and you have entered the park. I assume that there is limited availability, but I didn’t have a problem with that.
Is Genie+ Worth it With Little Kids?
This depends on how many of the rides with Lightning Lane you plan to do with your little ones. Many of the rides with a Lightning Lane also have a minimum height requirement. Here’s a list of all the rides with a Lightning Lane and the height requirement for each one.
In Disneyland:
- Autopia – 32″ to ride accompanied by another rider 54″ or taller
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 40″
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – Any Height
- Haunted Mansion – Any Height
- Indiana Jones Adventure – 46″
- “It’s a Small World” (Closed until 2/3/22) – Any Height
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – 42″
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – 38″
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin – Any Height
- Space Mountain – 40″
- Splash Mountain (Closed until 3/7/22) – 40″
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue – 40″
- Star Wars Rise of the Resistance – 40″
In Disney’s California Adventure:
- Goofy’s Sky School – 42″
- Grizzly River Run (Closed until TBA) – 42″
- Guardians of the Galaxy – 40″
- Incredicoaster – 48″
- Monsters Inc. – Any Height
- Radiator Springs Racers – 40″
- Soarin’ Around the World – 40″
- Toy Story Midway Mania – Any Height
- Web Slingers – Any Height
My three year old is JUST under the 40″ limit. So he misses out on a lot of these rides that he would totally do if he could. He’s short for his age (some of his 2 year-old friends are taller than him) so if you have a three year-old, I would recommend measuring them to see if they can go on the 40″ rides, because that may make the Genie+ worth-it.
I didn’t pay for Genie+ on any of the days that I took my kids to the parks by myself. We were fine to go to the more popular rides in the morning, then look for other shorter lines in the afternoon. I did pay for the Web Slingers Lightning Lane one time and it was $10 that day. If felt worth it to me to skip the 1 hour+ standby line at that time.
On the days that we went to DCA first, I tried to be there early so I could go to Web Slingers at rope drop. The park opened at 9 AM on each of our park days, so I would get there at about 8:15 AM to get a good spot. I know that this still means a 40-ish minute wait once you get to the rope, but it is a much more comfortable wait than doing the switchbacks in the line of the ride without the stroller, snacks or water bottle on-hand. After Web Slingers, we like to go to Toy Story Mania because it is Emmett’s very favorite ride. If you go in the morning, the wait is short so you don’t need the Lightning Lane. We even did it 3 times in a row one day with no wait!
The times when I felt it was reasonable to purchase Genie+ were the days at the end of our trip when we went to the parks with my husband’s family. We spent one day in each park in a group of mostly adults (then my two kids). So those days were more packed with big rides and we REALLY utilized Genie+ and Rider Swap.
Rider Swap
You may already know what rider swap is, but I still get people asking me about it often, so I’ll leave a simple explanation here. When your party chooses to do a ride that has a height requirement that is too high for babies/kids, you can get a pass that allows the person who waits with the kids to go on the ride after the rest of their group, but they get to use the Lightning Lane for their turn. I LOVE to be the person who waits with the kids. I take them to a nearby small ride or to go find characters instead of standing in line, then I get to go on the ride with 2 of the people from the first group. So some people get to go twice! And if your group used Genie+ for their first time then those who repeat the ride get to do Lightning Lane twice. It’s amazing and it’s another reason why I love Disney. Every ride at Disneyland that has this option has 1-2 workers outside the ride who stand by the bar code scanners. That’s who you talk to about rider swap. They check to see that you really have a baby/child and they scan your bar code and that of 2 other tickets. Shortly after, the rider swap pass becomes visible in your Disneyland App to redeem before the end of the day.
COVID-19 Rules as of January 2022
The current guidelines in Disneyland are that everyone 2 years and older must wear a mask indoors. Even when you are on a ride alone. If the ride goes indoors, you will be reminded to put on your mask. Our masks were going on and off all day long, so I HIGHLY recommend using a mask chain that makes that easy to do. I got a cute one from Etsy with Mickey Head beads, but there are others sold on Amazon too.
I was worried that Emmett would have a hard time keeping a mask on when he needed to because he really resisted it on our flight home from Europe in December. He did so well this time! By the end of our trip, he was asking me to put on his mask when he noticed we were going on indoor rides! If your child is 2 years old and hasn’t spent very much time in a mask, I recommend practicing them before you go to Disneyland, because the workers WILL ask you the child’s age and make them put one on.
Using the Disneyland App
I love the Disneyland app. I use it all day long to look up wait times, use Genie+, order food, scan passes, find restrooms, and check show times. It’s so important to know how to use the app to make your day go smoothly. I saw a few people during my trip who were walking around with a paper map and looking confused and I really wanted to stop them in the middle of the street and give them an app tutorial right then and there.
Familiarize yourself with the app before your trip. You will use it to purchase your tickets, make park reservations and dining reservations before you even go to the parks. On your park day, if you use the app as much as I do along with taking pictures and videos to capture every memory, you phone will most likely die before the end of the day. I have a charging phone case from Casely that comes in handy on days like this. On one of my park days, however, I made it to late afternoon before realizing that my case wasn’t charged from the night before. I suddenly had less that 10% battery life to last the rest of the day. It wasn’t gonna happen. That’s when I spent $30 on a portable charging device that you can use then swap for a recharged one in a little machine resembling an ATM. I bought it from the machine in Ramone’s gift shop in Cars Land. There is an identical machine in the small gift shop outside “It’s a Small World”. I have been told that these machines are in other public places outside of Disneyland too. The $30 hurt at first, but not as much after I was able to lend the portable charger to multiple family members who’s phones died. You buy it once, then the swapping is free.
Mobile Order Your Food
Perhaps my favorite use of the Disneyland app is for mobile ordering my food. I got used to mobile ordering when it was the only option during our trip to Disney World a little over a year ago. At first, it seems like an inconvenience to arrive to a food place and see a sign saying that you must mobile order, but once you get over the learning curve you realize that mobile order is WAY better than standing in line to order food. On the app, use the plus sign at the bottom of the screen and select “Order Food”. It will take you to a list of dining options starting with the ones that are nearest to you (if you allow the app to use your location), then the list continues in alphabetical order. There are SO MANY good things to eat in Disneyland and DCA and I love that I can see the menu for all of my options before deciding where to eat. Most restaurant menus have a section that shows which foods are gluten-free, so I scroll to the bottom and look at that list on most menus. I also like to order my food in the morning and select an arrival window for later in the day. It takes more planning, but is very convenient. Once your arrival window opens, the app will notify you and you can click the button that says, “I’m Here, Prepare My Food”. The food won’t be prepared until you push that button, so don’t expect it to be ready right at the beginning of your arrival window. I like to push the button as soon as I’m walking to the restaurant so that I don’t have to wait as long when I actually get there. Not all food can be mobile ordered. Exceptions are the restaurants that require a reservation and the small carts around the park that carry churros, popcorn, etc.
Character Interactions
Meeting Disney characters isn’t like it used to be. I remember going when I was little and waiting in a huge line to get autographs from characters. I cherished my autograph book, but the wait to meet a character felt so long! Nowadays, you can’t get close to the characters so autographs and hugs aren’t a thing. However, I feel like the interactions are very special and they are very frequent as well. I’ve put together a list of all the characters that we saw during our trip and where they were stationed. Some of these will change, but it will give you a good idea of where to find certain types of characters if you’re looking for specific ones.
In Disneyland:
- At the entrance to main street on the steps of the train station
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Donald
- Pluto
- Chip and Dale
- In the Royal Theater and the Royal hall (to the left of the castle)
- Belle
- Gaston
- Cinderella
- Ariel
- Sleeping Beauty
- Elena
- Rapunzel
- Flynn Rider
- Snow White
- Evil Queen
- On the grass to the right of the castle
- Eeyore
- Tigger
- Rabbit
- Piglet
- Alice
- Pixie hollow
- Tinkerbell
- ON the Mark Twain Riverboat
- Tiana
- Staircase above Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
- Jack Sparrow
- Woman Pirate
- Near Winnie the Pooh Ride
- Winnie the Pooh (he stands between the ride and Pooh Corner)
- In Galaxy’s Edge, outside First Order Cargo
- Storm Troopers
- Kylo Ren
- In Toontown on the porches of their houses:
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Chip and Dale
- Goofy
- Outside “It’s a Small World” on the platform to the right
- Woody
- Peter Pan
- Wendy
- Captain Hook
- Aladdin
- Jasmine
- Miguel – from Coco
- Moana
- Tomorrowland by Autopia
- Stitch
- In Character Cavalcades (Parades). Sometimes these run from Main Street to the founder’s statue and back. Sometimes they start at “It’s a Small World” and end at Main Street, and sometimes the other way around. They aren’t announced or on the schedule so you just have to be in the right place at the right time. We had luck being near main street around 1:30 pm a few times though.
- Elsa and Anna (They come through by themselves on a float with “Let it Go” music)
- Mickey and Friends with the Disneyland band
- Pinocchio and Geppetto
- Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and other classic princesses
- Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie
- Alice
- Cruella de Vil
- Peter Pan, Wendy, and Captain Hook
In Disney’s California Adventure
- Around the fountain near the entrance
- Mickey and Minnie
- Pluto
- Daisy and Donald
- Snow White and Dopey
- Elsa and Anna
- In Cars Land at the Cozy Cone
- Lightning Mcqueen
- Mater
- Red
- In Avenger’s Campus – on the Avengers Headquarters
- Iron Man
- Black Widow
- Black Panther
- Thor
- Captain Marvel
- Task Master
- Antman
- Avenger’s Campus – in Ancient Sanctum
- Eternals
- Dr. Strange
- Avenger’s Campus – Web Slingers
- Spider-man
- On balcony of Pacific Wharf
- Max and Goofy
- Near Incredicoaster
- Frozone
- Mr. Incredible
- Mrs. Incredible
- On Pixar Pier on the stage with lights, near Pixar ball
- Woody
- Jessie
- Buzz Lightyear
- Bo Peep
- In gazebo near Goofy’s Sky School and the Paradise Garden Grill
- Lunar New Year Characters : Mickey, Minnie, Mulan, Mushu, Tigger
- Near Little Mermaid ride, on the side nearer to Grizzly River Run
- Judy Hopps
- Nick the fox
- In the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
- Raya
I know this is a LONG list. We saw a lot of characters because they really are out all of the time! I hope this list includes the characters that you are wanting to meet!
What to Take With you to Disneyland
Everyone is different, so the things that feel important to take will differ from person to person. Here are a few of the things that I love to take with me to help my day be comfortable and fun.
#1 Large, insulated water bottle
Don’t worry about taking all of the water you need for the day, because there are water filling stations all throughout the parks and you can get free cups of ice water from any restaurant with a kitchen. I take my 40 oz Stanley Tumbler and a small water bottle for each of my kids. I prefer insulated bottles that keep my water cold all day. I keep my water in the parent organizer of my stroller, along with my Thread Wallet purse which I can easily remove from the stroller and take on rides with me.
#2 Baby Carrier
If you have a child under 2, I recommend taking a baby carrier with you. You can go on rides while wearing the baby in the carrier and it makes standing in line so much easier because you don’t have to take a big baby on your hip. It is essential to me to have my carrier when I do Disney days by myself so that I can be holding Beth and still take care of Emmett. I have the Ergobaby Omni 360. I’ve had it for more than three years and still love it!
#3 All the Snacks
I went to Costco when I got to California and stocked up on snacks to take into the parks. I LOVE trying foods at Disney, but I don’t want to spend money each time my kids get hungry. I use these snacks for a light breakfast on early park days and for snacks between meals all day long. I take snacks in a separate bag and whip it out before we go stand in a long line or between rides.
Some snack ideas: String cheese, packaged nuts, applesauce pouches, apples, granola bars, grapefruit cups, small bags of chips, small bags of goldfish, fruit snacks, baby carrots, Gogurts, and more! I’m sure you know what snacks you and your family prefer.
#4 Stroller fan
Even in January, the weather felt warm in the middle of the day. Warm enough that I used my rechargeable stroller fan. I had it turned on while Beth took her nap in the stroller and she slept really well. In the Summer months, I like to take a neck fan and handheld fan too.
#5 A Great Stroller
I love my stroller a little bit too much. I have the Mockingbird Single-to-Double stroller. It is way cheaper that similar strollers and is very high quality. We have taken it to so many places and it has been very reliable. I love that I can change it from a single to a double very easily and that the seats can be flipped around in any combination that I want. The seats lay all the way down and have a great sun shade which makes naps possible. The basket underneath is large enough for my diaper bag, our snacks, changes of clothes, and other random things that family members will stash in there. If you don’t have a stroller that you love, you need to get one before you go to Disneyland because it will be your home base all day long.
#6 Comfortable Shoes
I found the most comfortable Disney shoes thanks to an account on instagram that I follow: @chasingmagicdaily. They are Crocs but they are sneakers. They are rubbery material but you still wear socks with them. I like to pair them with my compression workout socks. I did SEVEN long Disney days in these shoes and didn’t get a single blister. Here’s the link: Crocs Women’s LiteRide Pacer Sneakers.
#7 Cute Disney Outfits to Wear
Disney sells clothes in lots of stores, but my favorite places to shop when preparing for a Disney trip are:
- Taylor Joelle – My very favorite princess dresses, Shirts for boys, Rompers, and Tees for adults
- H&M – Mostly the kids clothes
- Target – Clothes for kids and adults
A Few More Toddler/Baby-Specific Tips
- Find the Baby center in each park and go there if you need a break in a quiet place with your baby. There is a place to nurse and change your baby and they sell things that you might have forgotten.
- Restrooms ALL have baby changing stations, and a couple stalls big enough to fit you AND your stroller. My favorite is the restroom by Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.
- There is much more to do than just rides! If you are tired of waiting in lines with little ones, take them to the Disney Jr. Show, Turtle Talk with Crush, or Mickey’s Philharmagic. Another great place for kids is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. All these things are in DCA. In Disneyland, I take them to Toontown to play with the buttons and boxes that make sounds.
- Rides that you can usually count on to have a short wait time: The Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh, Pinocchio, Gadget Coaster, Jessie’s Critter Crousel, and King Arthur Carousel.
Have any questions?
I would love if you reached out to me on instagram if you have any questions after reading this post. I’m always looking for more tips myself, so if you have any, send them my way! Follow me on instagram (@cami.inallplaces) for updates on our upcoming travel plans as a family. Thanks for reading!
In All Places 