Are you wondering what to pack for Disneyland with toddlers? In my opinion visiting Disneyland with toddlers or even California Adventure with toddlers is a magical experience but packing your Disney day pack and your luggage takes a bit more thinking about when you have a toddler in tow. In this guide we will break down what to pack for Disneyland with toddlers from home and what you should add to your Disneyland day pack for toddlers to ensure you are covered for every eventuality and make sure you and your toddler have a happy day at the happiest place on earth!
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What to pack for Disneyland with toddlers (Clothing)
Costumes
What to Pack for Disneyland with toddlers
In my opinion, toddlers are one of the best ages to visit Disney with and Disneyland is one of my all time favourite California theme parks to visit with toddlers. Whenever I take my toddler and daughter to Disneyland they want to dress up as their favorite characters and as an added bonus they are a great way to get character interactions with princesses and characters (click here for info on the best questions to ask Disney princesses)
Now there are plenty of places to buy costumes at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. There is even the special dress up and get made up as princess at the Bippity Bobbity Boutique. However all the dresses and other costumes you can buy at Disney are priced at a premium.
You are best bringing costumes for your toddler to wear at Disney from home to save those pennies. We recommend either buying on Amazon or at Target as these have the best value costumes that we have found.
Shop toddler Disney costumes here.
For a full Disneyland itinerary for toddlers which includes meet and greets be sure to check out this dedicated post.
T Shirts
Now if your toddler isn’t into dressing up, no problem there is still plenty of ways they can theme their outfits. Grab a T shirt with their favourite Disney character on. We like to pick a t shirt to match a character we know that we want to meet (check out our guide on best questions to ask Disney Characters to help enhance your interaction).
Alternatively you could get matching family Disney vacation t shirts which make for some great family photographs at Disney.
Or if you want to pay homage to your toddler’s favorite character without using a costume you could Disneybound – which is matching your outfit to the characters costume without actually dressing up – check out this post for more information on how to Disneybound).
Click here to shop Disney Vacation T Shirts
Sweater/ Hoodie
Depending what time of year you are visiting Disneyland will largely depend on whether your toddler will need a sweater or hoodie with them. However if you are planning to see the fireworks at Disneyland or World of Color at California Adventure then you will notice that the temperature will drop so I recommend taking one whatever month you are at Disneyland.
Again there are loads of great hoodies or spirit jerseys for toddler that can complete your Disney look.
Click here to shop Disney hoodies
Quick Dry Shorts
Shorts for me are the perfect thing to wear for toddlers at Disney for several reasons. Firstly there are easy to get on and off when changing the toddler in the bathroom but also they are very easy to get on and off rides on and are easy with the seatbelts or ride restraints.
Now depending on the height of your toddler will depend whether they can ride Splash Mountain at Disneyland or the River Rapids at California Adventure (Splash Mountain is 40 inches and Grizzly River Run is 42 inches which does mean it pushes the toddler limit). But if there is any chance they are going to get wet you will want shorts that are the quick dry variety.
Poncho
Now although your toddler may not be able to ride the water rides at Disney, there is always a chance of rain. I recommend trying to pack ponchos for your whole family. There are even cute Disney ones available which will be much cheaper than buying them the park.
Sun Hat
The sun in California is strong whatever time of year you are visiting. Be sure to pack your toddler a sun hat to keep them sun safe during your visit to the park.
Click here to shop toddler sun hats
Sunglasses
As I said above, the sun is strong in LA therefore it is imperative that you get your toddler some sunglasses.
click here to shop sunglasses for toddlers
Spare Outfits
Now any parent of toddlers know it is hard to get through a normal day without a spill and this is even more true when you are traveling with a toddler. I recommend taking one or if you have room two spare outfits for your toddler.
Of course there are plenty of places at Disneyland to buy new Disneyland toddler outfits however these are quite pricey, having spares with you will definitely save you a small fortune.
Looking for information about Disney California Adventure with toddlers then check out this post and be sure to check out our comparison for Disneyland or California Adventure for toddlers.
What are the best shoes for Disney for Toddlers
Crocs
Now whether you are an adult or toddler at Disney, comfy shoes should absolutely be top of your Disney packing list. Both of my children as toddlers preferred shoe for Disney was a croc.
The great thing about crocs is that there are loads of Disney versions available. My son adores these Cars ones.
But there are plenty of varieties available. The added bonus of crocs is that they dry quickly should you be caught in the rain at Disneyland or you are going on some of the Disneyland water rides.
Click here to shop Disney Crocs
Sneakers
But if your toddler doesn’t like Crocs no problem, sneakers are also a great choice for a day at Disneyland. My favorite shoe for Disneyland is a sneaks and if you are a toddler there are loads of Disney varieties available.
If you do decide to buy new Disney sneakers for the trip though be sure to have your toddler wear them in before you travel.
Click here to shop Disney sneakers for toddlers
What to pack for Disneyland with toddlers in your Disney Day Pack
What to bring to Disneyland with toddlers
What to Pack For Changing your Toddler at Disney
Diapers / Pull Ups
It doesn’t matter whether you toddler is potty trained or not I recommend taking diapers or pull ups with you to Disney. It isn’t always easy to get to the toilet in time with a freshly potty trained toddler when you are in a big ride queue. Don’t get caught out and make sure you take some with you just in case.
Note: If you get caught out you can buy diapers and wipes at the Baby Care Center at Disneyland however we recommend packing extra so you dont have to resort to this.
Wet Wipes
These are useful whether you have potty trained your toddler or not.
I also recommend having some sterilising wipes for pacifiers that fall on the floor or for cleaning restaurant surfaces.
Changing Pad
While almost all toilets have an option for baby change you will still want a changing pad or changing amt with you. There don’t usually provide pads for baby to lie on in the restrooms so you will definitely want to pack a travel changing mat with you.
Diaper Cream
As much as you hope your little one won’t get a sore bottom at Disneyland, the walking and the heat can result in your toddler getting a diaper rash. Having some diaper cream will help prevent this and soothe it if the worst happens.
What to Pack For Feeding your Toddler at Disney
Bottles
Days at Disney are long especially if you want to top drop and see the fireworks. My toddler still enjoys a bottle at bedtime so we always have one with us for long days at parks. If your toddler is like mine do not forget this.
Sippy Cup
With the heat at Disneyland you will want to make sure your toddler stays hydrated. Bring the variety of sappy cup they prefer to ensure they get enough to drink.
Water
As I said above it is really important for your toddler to stay hydrated at Disneyland. While there are plenty of water fountains around I would always take one bottle in me for emergencies and they are much cheaper than those you get in the parks.
Formula or Milk
My toddler still loves milk. You can get milk as part of the kids meal deals at the park restaurants however if you want to save yourself the expense we recommend buying the bottle milk (the kind that don’t need refrigerating) before going in or take in some powder with you.
Pouches
Eating at Disneyland with toddlers
Disneyland is home of the great snack and now you can even get fresh fruit pretty easily but it will come at a cost. While I don’t recommend taking fruit into the parks because of the heat we do recommend taking in some fruit pouches as a great snack for your toddler at Disneyland.
Snacks
There isn’t a great science to snacks to take to Disneyland. I would just recommend giving your toddler whatever they have at home as that will be a sure fire hit.
However if you have a fruit obsessed toddler like I do I would recommend looking for dried options or an alternative as these can go off easily in the heat.
For more information on the best snacks take to Disneyland check out this post.
Spoon
Now when we visited Disneyland there were plenty of cutlery options for toddlers available but to be sure I recommend packing one from home.
Bib
If you have spent a lot of money on Disney costumes or family vacation t shirts you don’t want the toddler to ruin it at lunchtime. I recommend even if you don’t wear them at home to bring your toddler a bib to keep their outfits clean for as long as possible.
Snack Cup
You may be wandering round the parks when your toddler gets hungry so I recommend having a snack cup the your toddler can hold so you don’t have to slow down during your little one’s snack time.
What to Pack For Helping your Toddler nap at Disney
Best Stroller for Disneyland – Stroller vs Carrier at theme parks
One of the biggest challenges for people who are traveling to Disney with toddlers is getting them to nap. In this section of the guide we look at what you need to make nap times easier at Disneyland.
Note: there are plenty of baby care centers at the park however it isn’t always convenient to use them if you are traveling in a group so this is intended for those who want their toddlers to nap on the go.
Stroller
The number one thing you need for nap times at Disneyland is a stroller. Toddlers do tend to fight their naps at Disneyland but having somewhere for them to rest and block out the world is a necessity.
Even if you aren’t planning to use the stroller for naps with a toddler you should still take a stroller with you as there is a lot of walking during any day at Disney. A toddler’s legs at Disney will get tired so even if they don’t use a stroller at home they are likely to want to use one at Disney. For more Disney stroller hacks check out this post.
Click here to read about the best stroller for Disney.
Blanket/Toy
If you want your child to nap at Disneyland and at home they use a blanket or toy be sure to bring it with you. Just whatever you do don’t lose it.
Rain Cover
Although not an everyday occurrence you can get rain at Disneyland. If you do you will want a rain cover with you. Firstly to stop your little one from getting wet but also to use while in queues.
There is stroller parking outside of rides where you park up. You don’t want your stroller to be soaked when you get back to in when you come out of a ride queue so we recommend putting it on the stroller if there is any chance of rain.
What to Pack To protect your toddler from the heat and sun at Disney
What to pack for Disneyland with toddlers
In this section we look at ways to help your toddler deal with the sun and heat at Disney
Fan
Your toddler may want to spend more time in the stroller if it is hot a Disney. If you want to help them keep cool then you may want to add a fan or a fan mister.
Shade
As Disneyland is such a sunny place you will want to make sure you have a shade for your toddler.
Sunscreen
If there is one thing on this list you take to Disney then this should be it. The sun is strong at Disneyland and you could easily get burnt. Please take plenty of sunscreen with you and reapply it regularly through out the day.
What else to pack for toddlers at Disney
In this section we look at the added extras you may want to take to Disney
Carrier
Although in the Carrier vs Stroller debate at Disney we recommend taking the stroller, however if there is room we recommend taking a carrier which you can use in queues when you have had to leave your stroller behind.
If you are looking for which carrier to take we recommend one that is breathable and is good as a hot weather carrier.
Reins
Toddler reins are a love or hate them issue but in a place like Disney where it is very crowded they can be useful especially if you have a runner.
My preference is for the backpack variety as they are less intrusive for the toddler and there are plenty of fun Disney themed ones.
Click here to shop Disney backpack reins.
Autograph Book
Now your little one may or may not be interested in collecting autographs but they are great souvenirs of your toddlers Disney trip.
Click here to shop autograph books
If you are traveling to Disneyland in October why not check out our post on Is Disneyland Crowded on Halloween
Also if you are visiting Disney with a toddler be sure to check out our other Disney toddler and baby guides no matter the park we will have a guide do you:
- Disneyland with Toddlers
- What to pack for disneyland with toddlers
- Best California Adventure rides with toddlers
- Best Age For Disneyland
- Disneyland Paris with toddlers
- Disneyland Paris hotels for toddlers
- Hong Kong Disneyland with toddlers
- Tokyo Disney with toddlers
- Disneysea with toddlers
Have you been to Disneyland with a toddler? What did you pack for Disneyland with a toddler? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think we should add to the Disneyland Packing List for toddlers