Is Disneyland Worth It With Young Kids? A Mom’s Honest Take

“This Is the Best Day Ever!” Is Disneyland Worth It With Young Kids?

There are some trips you take because you need a vacation, and then there are trips you take that you know you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Taking my daughter, Benson, to Disneyland was absolutely the second kind.

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some pretty incredible places, but there is something completely different about experiencing Disney through your child’s eyes. The excitement, the wonder, the absolute belief in the magic happening around them. It makes you realize that there really is a small window of time when everything feels this magical.

And I am SO glad we went.

So if you’re wondering whether Disneyland is worth it with young kids, here’s my honest answer, and everything that made our trip work.

Is It Worth Staying Within Walking Distance of Disneyland? (Staying Close Made ALL the Difference)

We stayed at the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort, and I cannot recommend the location enough.

Being within walking distance of Disneyland was one of those things that might sound like a nice convenience when you’re planning the trip, but once you’re actually there, especially with a child, you realize just how valuable it is.

No worrying about parking. No long drive back to the hotel at the end of the night. No complicated logistics when everyone is tired.

We could walk to Disneyland, spend hours in the parks, and easily get back to the hotel when we were ready for a break.

And during an Anaheim heat wave, that became even more important!

After hours of walking around Disneyland in the heat, coming back to the JW Marriott and jumping into their amazing pool felt like its own vacation. Benson could swim and play, I could actually relax for a little while, and everyone could cool down and recharge before deciding what we wanted to do next.

JW Marriott Anaheim Resort

It was the perfect combination: Disney magic, a beautiful luxury hotel, an incredible pool, and the ability to walk almost everywhere.

Where to Stay Near Disneyland: How the Options Compare

What Can Kids Ride at 42 Inches? (42 Inches Opened Up a Whole New World)

This trip was especially exciting because Benson just reached 42 inches tall.

If you know, you know.

That little height milestone suddenly opens up SO many more rides, and watching her realize how much she could do was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Here’s what those milestones open up at Disneyland Resort, based on Disney’s posted height requirements:

Height rules can change, so check Disney’s official height requirements page before you go.

Every new ride felt like an accomplishment. There was excitement before we got on, the huge smile afterward, and then immediately:

“What are we doing next?!”

At this age, Disneyland feels like the perfect mix of independence and pure childhood wonder. She was big enough to experience so much of the park but still little enough to believe every magical detail.

“Mom, I Think We Should Come Every Day…”

At one point, Benson looked at me and said:

“This is the best day ever.”

And honestly, that alone was worth the trip.

But then she came up with an even better plan:

“Mom, I think we should come every day… go to school, come here, go home and go to bed.”

Apparently, in Benson’s ideal world, Disneyland is simply an after-school activity.

And after seeing how happy she was there, I can’t say I completely disagree.

Do Kids Need to Know the Disney Movies to Enjoy Disneyland? (You Don’t Have to Be a Disney Family to Feel the Magic)

One thing that made this trip particularly interesting for us is that we really don’t watch TV.

Benson knows many of the Disney characters through books, stories and just being a kid. I wondered if that might make Disneyland feel a little different for her.

It didn’t.

She recognized characters she knew from books and was SO excited to see them come to life. And the characters she didn’t know?

She loved them anyway.

That was one of my biggest takeaways from the trip. Your child doesn’t need to know every movie, princess or storyline to experience Disney magic.

The characters are exciting. The rides tell their own stories. The music, parades, castles, lights and little details make the entire park feel like you’ve stepped into another world.

Kids understand the magic without needing an explanation.

Is Disneyland Worth It With Young Kids? Expensive, Yes. Worth It, Also Yes.

Disneyland is an investment.

Between park tickets, a great hotel, food, Lightning Lane passes and all of the inevitable extras, it isn’t an inexpensive vacation.

But I also think there is a difference between something being expensive and something being worth the money.

For us, Disneyland was worth it. Here’s why I think it’s such a worthwhile family trip:

• The memories are incredible. I will remember Benson saying “this is the best day ever” long after she has forgotten what souvenir we bought.
• There is something for almost every age. And once your child reaches milestones like 40″ and 42″, even more of the parks open up to them.
• You get so much quality time together. You’re riding rides, laughing, walking, talking, eating treats and experiencing things side by side all day.
• The magic has a shelf life. Disneyland will always be fun, but there is something incredibly special about taking your child while they are young enough to completely surrender to the magic.
• Convenience can turn it into an actual vacation. Staying somewhere like the JW Marriott made a huge difference for us. Having a beautiful place to retreat to, especially that pool, made the trip feel much more relaxing.
• It gives your child stories they’ll tell for years. Sometimes the return on a travel investment isn’t something tangible. It’s the stories, inside jokes, pictures and “remember when…” moments that become part of your family’s history.

(If Walt Disney World is on your list too, our look inside the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian is a good place to start.)

The Kind of Magic You Can’t Put a Price On

As a parent, there are moments when you become very aware of how quickly childhood is going.

They get taller. They become more independent. Suddenly they’re tall enough for the rides they couldn’t go on before.

And eventually, the characters won’t feel quite as real.

That’s why this trip felt like more than a couple of days at Disneyland.

I got to watch my daughter experience something completely magical at exactly the right age.

I watched her face light up on rides. I watched her meet characters she’d only known from books. We walked until we were exhausted, cooled off in the pool during a crazy California heat wave, laughed constantly, and made the kind of memories I know I’ll wish I could go back and relive someday.

Was it an investment?

Absolutely.

But I would make it again in a heartbeat.

Because someday Benson probably won’t tell me that we should go to Disneyland every day after school.

But right now she does.

And for this season of our lives, that kind of magic is priceless.

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Planning your own Disneyland trip? A Boutique Travel Advisor can help you choose the right hotel, time your visit around height milestones and school calendars, and plan the breaks that make it feel like a real vacation. Still deciding where to go? Browse our picks for the best family vacation destinations in the US and our top destinations for family travel.

Disneyland With Young Kids: FAQ

Is Disneyland worth it with young kids?
For many families, yes. Young children are at the age where the characters and stories feel completely real, and that window doesn’t stay open forever. It’s a real expense, so planning your hotel and park days well makes a big difference in how much you enjoy it.

What can a 42-inch child ride at Disneyland?
At 42 inches, kids can ride Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland Park, plus Goofy’s Sky School and Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure. That’s on top of the 40-inch rides like Space Mountain and Radiator Springs Racers. Always confirm current heights on Disney’s official site.

Is it worth paying more for a hotel within walking distance of Disneyland?
With young kids, it often is. Walking back for a midday rest or a pool break is much easier than driving and parking, and it can turn a long park day into two shorter, happier ones.

Does my child need to have watched Disney movies to enjoy Disneyland?
No. Kids respond to the rides, music, parades, and characters even without knowing the storylines. Characters they know from books can be just as exciting to meet.

What’s the best age to take kids to Disneyland?
There’s no single right age. Many parents aim for when their child can ride more attractions (around the 40- and 42-inch milestones) while still being young enough to believe in the magic.

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