These family travel bloggers have gone before you—and so very thoughtfully made more than a few Disney mistakes. Here, they’ve graciously shared those stumbles so you don’t have to follow in their footsteps!

I learned quite a few Disney tips and hacks, too. So whether you have a Disneyland vacation coming up or you’re simply dreaming of a getaway to Disney World, you’ll definitely want to learn from these expert family travel bloggers. Read on for common Disney mistakes that cost you money, cost you time, cost you fun—or end up in meltdowns! Then read their best Disney tips to make the most of your family vacation.

This post contains affiliate links, which have no extra cost to you. These links earn me a small income that allows me to continue to bring you free family travel advice.

If you want even more Disney goodness—and I’m 99% sure you do—then download these Disney quote printables, all for free! When you sign up, you’ll get five designed Disney quotes that’ll inspire your next trip.

Expensive Disney mistakes

Uh-oh, these Disney mistakes can cost you a lot of money! Make sure you don’t make these mistakes so you have plenty of money for your next family vacation… or at least enough to get an extra Dole Whip.

Not budgeting for your full vacation

MISTAKE: Not budgeting
DISNEY DO IT: Researching and planning your Disney costs—even the sneaky ones

Family holidays are rarely cheap these days, but a trip to Disney can be in a different league when it comes to cost. People are often attracted by a cheap flight cost, or a special deal for accommodation or park tickets, and then the Disney vacation is suddenly happening without much thought to the total cost of the vacation.  

We would highly recommend creating a budget for your Disney vacation so that you have a clear idea of what the trip might cost you and allow you to plan and save for this dream vacation. 

Some of the elements to think about for you Disney vacation include:

• the costs of getting to Disney, including flight costs and all the added extras
• accommodation costs including any resort fees
• park tickets
• in-park experiences
• non-Disney activities
• food and drink costs
• visa or travel insurance costs
• how you’ll get around whilst you’re on your trip

When you think of, and budget for, how much the entire Disney vacation will cost, you’ll be much more prepared. And when there are fewer (expensive) surprised on your family trip, you and your kids will be able to fully enjoy your Disney vacation.

Ellie writes at Family Travel Pro, a site that shares insider travel professionals’ advice for tips to travel better with your kids.

(If you’re looking for places to trim your budget, take a peek at exactly how I saved more than $2,000 on a Disneyland vacation. And don’t forget to compare prices of hotels near Disneyland—take a peek at the map and booking tool below.)

Paying full price for souvenirs

MISTAKE: Paying out the nose for Disney souvenirs
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Buy your Disney souvenirs outside the park and bring them in

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the price tags at the gift shop on our first trip to Disneyland. I was so glad I didn’t make the expensive mistake of paying full price for souvenirs!

If you want to save money on Disney souvenirs, plan ahead! You can buy nearly identical mouse ears, bubble wands, plush toys and more outside the park for a fraction of the cost.

We don’t get our kids a ton of souvenirs—we tend to travel on a tight budget—but I did want to get Maxine and Edie a few special mementos from our first trip to Disneyland. So beforehand, I bought them each a stuffed Minnie.

Then when we were getting ready to walk to the park, I exclaimed, “What is that green sparkly light in the sky?! It just zipped by—was it a dragonfly?”

The girls went to investigate. While they were gone, I placed these Minnie dolls in their stroller seats. My kids rushed back and told me I’d probably seen Tinkerbell! Then they noticed the toys—and nearly lost their little minds. They guessed that Tinkerbell had left them presents!

Maxine and Edie still talk about my Tinkerbell sighting and the Disney souvenirs she left behind.

See, you can get Disney magic—while staying on a budget!

-me!

Time-wasters at Disney

You planned. You budgeted. You endured your child melting down at the airport on the way. You deserve to enjoy your family vacation at Disney!

Unfortunately, many people make the common Disney mistakes that eat up that precious time.

Here are Disney mistakes that waste time—and what to do instead.

Wasting time waiting for food

MISTAKE: Eating at restaurants and waiting in line at fast-service spots
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Use mobile food ordering on the My Disney Experience App

We were Disney World first-timers back in April, and our preference was for more Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, visits with Belle and Jasmine, Jedi Training, and the Frozen Sing-along and less time for Pecos Bill Nachos, Dole Whips and Backlot Express burgers. Unfortunately, though, we wasted a ton of time waiting in line to grab some grub.

The best way we could have saved those precious minutes was by doing a mobile food order in advance at a quick service restaurant—the ones where there are no servers and are just ‘order at counter’ places to eat.  

Simply pull up your My Disney Experience app to locate “Mobile Food Orders.” Search for the restaurants and add your order, including custom requests like dressing on the side. Hit “Purchase” and your order will be loaded. When you are in the vicinity of the restaurant, hit “prepare my order” and the kitchen will start making your food.

Pick up is quick and easy (most restaurants have a specific area for online order pick ups) and you can avoid some really long lines, particularly during peak eating hours. However, what I did not realize is that you cannot use your gift cards for online orders (which is another reason it did not work for us—we were paying for everything with gift cards). All orders are either attached to your main Disney account or you can pay with a credit card.

Avoiding restaurants and standing in line for food means more time for Mickey, Mulan and memories!

Lori Green LeRoy writes about family travel at Maps, Memories & Motherhood.

Wasting time waiting for the It Rides

MISTAKE: Spending all your time trying to get on the most crowded rides
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Focus on rides and attractions with low traffic to make the most of your time at Disney

The most common mistake that people visiting Disney theme parks make is chasing the fads of the most popular rides. These are the rides that are all the buzz—everyone wants to get on at the same time. Some of such rides, like Radiator Springs Races in Disneyland, consistently have wait time of over sixty minutes.

On a typical afternoon, some of these attractions have lines just to get the FastPass. For some rides, FastPasses are completely gone by midday. If you’ve stood in line to get a FastPass, you might have wasted an hour of precious time for a ride that only lasts 5 minutes or so.

To avoid this Disney mistake, visitors should draw their attention to less popular (but no less fun) rides, attractions and activities that are never busy. For instance, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park or the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride in Disneyland are wonderful attractions—without the wait.

There are nearly a dozen of such rides and activities in Disneyland and California Adventure parks combined, ranging from educational encounters with President Lincoln on Main Street USA to the exciting exploration of Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island to a self-guided tour of Boudin Bakery (bread tasting included free of charge!).

If you’re worried about hitting the It Rides, you might want to focus instead on doing more with your limited time. Don’t stress out and enjoy your visit!

Tatiana Sorokina blogs about family travel at Family Road Trip Guru.

Wasting time to meet Disney characters

MISTAKE: Not using FastPass on Disney characters meet and greets
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Use those FastPasses to make your kids’ dreams come true

On her very first trip to Disney World last summer, all my 4 year old daughter was interested in was meeting Disney princesses. I am so thankful that someone told me to use some of our Fast Passes on the character meet and greets to ensure that we met her favorites.

If you’ve got small kids in tow and they are set on meeting their favorite Disney characters, book those character meet and greets ahead of time to avoid major disappointment! The best thing we did was book one for the first thing in the morning. Then, we rope-dropped the park and headed straight to the meet and greet.

If there was a short line, we didn’t use the Fast Pass reservation and just got into the regular line. We then changed the Fast Pass reservation for something else so we didn’t lose it.

Don’t underestimate how long the lines can be for Disney meet and greets, even for the less popular characters.

Shannon Elizabeth shares inspiration and real-world advice for parents traveling with their kids at Grab My Passport.

Disney mistakes that disappoint

Your kids are so freaking excited for your Disney vacation!!! (Heck, you are, too!) Unfortunately, some Disney mistakes can put a damper on that enthusiasm.

Here are common mistakes that dull that Disney magic—and how to make the most of your trip to Disney.

Trying to do too much in 1 day

MISTAKE: Cramming all of Disney into a single day
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Take your time to explore a Disney park without the rush

Sometimes it’s a cost thing or a time thing, but lots of parents ask me if one day is enough for a Disney World or Disneyland. And the answer is that, sure, you can do it. But you aren’t really going to get the most out of your time or your very expensive entrance fee. At best it will be rushed and underwhelming. At worst it will be stressful for you and a meltdown in the making for your kids.

Getting to the park early always makes sense. Lines do get longer as the day goes on. And the after-dark parades and shows have special effects that are really incredible; you want to catch them. That’s a long day. If you try to power through, by the time the fireworks are exploding over the castle, your kids will be too cranky to care, or sound asleep in your stroller. There’s nothing magical about that.

A second or third day also allows you to take a midday break, be it with a leisurely lunch or a return to your hotel for pool time and a nap. Extra time also allows for do-overs when things go wrong and patience when the line for that must-meet princess is long. It also gives you room to ride Peter Pan’s Flight three times over because your kids love it or pause to watch that parade you didn’t know would happen that your kids are enthralled by.

Finally, we loved having time to just walk around the parks and absorb all the great little details and hidden fun that make Disney parks unique. The animatronic Tiki Hut is a tucked away, low-key attraction that we never would have taken the time to see if we were rushing through a one-day visit. But we absolutely loved it. And it’s the little moments like this that provide the best memories.  

Eileen Gunn shares family travel tips at FamiliesGo! Check out her post on advice for families going to Disney World for the first time.

Letting hunger ruin your trip

MISTAKE: Not bringing enough snacks into the Disney park
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Stock up on balanced munchies to hold you and your kids over between meals.

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made on our Disney vacations is not bringing enough snacks for our family into the parks. Without fail, we’d be in a long ride line when one of us would start to get cranky. That person would then get the rest of us cranky. And all this usually stemmed from someone being hungry.

I suggest people pack easy to eat snacks so they can stay fueled up in between meals. One of our favorite snacks are the Mickey-shaped goldfish crackers you can find at Target! We also like to bring snacks with protein, like shelled pistachios or beef jerky.

On our last trip to Disneyland, we actually had groceries delivered to our hotel, which was awesome! That meant we could bring in grapes, baby carrots, little bottles of fruit smoothies, and yogurt drinks. We stored these in a little cooler bag that we kept in our backpack and things stayed fresh all morning.

By bringing snacks into the Parks, it’s a great way to keep your family happy and stick to a budget. Plus, by saving money at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you can splurge on your favorite Disney treats like churros, Dole Whip, or Mickey bars!

Marcie Cheung writes an all Disney, all the time family travel blog at Marcie and the Mouse.

Being surprised—in a bad way—by rides

MISTAKE: Not researching rides ahead of time
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Look up height requirements, scariness level and other ride factors before you go

Save yourself and your kids from disappointment and stress with a little research ahead of time! Every park has different ride and show options but not every attraction is an option for every kid due to their height and/or sensitivity level. Measure your children’s height before you travel to Disney and make notes on which rides they aren’t tall enough to ride. (You can also filter rides on the Disney app by height requirement.) Don’t waste a fast pass on a ride only to find out later that your entire family can’t participate or it leaves one of your kids in tears.

Once you know which rides are an option in terms of your kids’ height, take the time to watch videos of them on YouTube. This extra step before you go to Disney allows you to screen for intensity and scary parts. Even innocent-sounding rides, like the Snow White’s Scary Adventures, can be terrifying for little ones!

Sometimes the actual ride might not be scary but the introduction or theming might create an issue for a sensitive kid. Screening rides before you go to Disney will let you both prepare for anything unexpected. If you know what you need to avoid ahead of time, you can ask for work-arounds. For example, the introduction to the Haunted Mansion often spooks kids more than the actual ride but cast members can help you bypass that part of the attraction. That way, you and your sensitive kiddos can skip straight to the ride! This keeps the trip fun—not terrifying—for everyone.

Stephanie Woodson blogs at Explore More, Clean Less, where she shares her Disney World 5-day itinerary.

Forgetting to rest

MISTAKE: Not planning for a down day
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Include a day for playing at the beach, splashing in the pool and just hanging out

Our family loves Disney, but we only get to go once every few years. So when we go, we go hard: all day, every day. But on our last trip to Disneyland, by day two, everything hurt. We were only four days so we were relentless and pushed on. Our kids begged to use the hotel pool, but we were there for Mickey! 

By day three, my feet were beyond painful, and I took Advil around the clock. By day four, it was all a daze. We left for home, never dipping our toes into the hotel pool. 

It honestly didn’t occur to us to take a rest day. That trip, while still magical, would have been so much more thoroughly enjoyed if we’d planned time to rest.

For our next trip to Disneyland, we’ll plan a day in the middle without any walking, with no dinner reservations or “must do” bucket list activities. A day to relax poolside while the kids enjoy freedom to play, and our only decisions are what to order for dinner or whether to take a nap. (Maybe a massage or even a pedicure for me—hey, a mom can dream!) After all, the next day, Disney awaits!

Heather Hicks writes about outdoor Oregon adventure at Oregon Outdoor Family.

Saving money by scrimping on magic

MISTAKE: Reserving lodging outside the park
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Stay on-property at one of the Disney hotels

One of the biggest mistakes I have seen my friends make when planning a Disney vacation is staying off-property. Walt Disney World Resort is more than just a destination. It is an entire experience, and staying at the resorts on property is just as much a part of the experience as the theme parks. 

The legendary Disney magic begins prior to arriving to the Disney resorts if you take advantage of their Magical Express transportation. Your luggage is taken care of once you check-in at your home airport and you are taken to the resort property, only seeing your luggage again once you get into your room! 

But even if you get to the Disney hotel on your own, you will feel the pixie dust from the first minute you check-in. The resort cast members sprinkle Disney magic with every interaction, just as they do in the theme parks. 

Each hotel has its own theme, which sets the stage of transporting you to another land.  The hotels are full of activities to keep the kids busy, from the pools to game rooms, restaurants, characters, craft rooms, and special activities often corresponding to the resort’s theme. There is so much for the kids to do on off-park days, that you can easily stay at the hotel and still feel like you are at Disney.  

And, with nearly 30 different hotels and resorts at different price points, ranging from value to deluxe,  there is a Disney hotel for almost every budget. There is even Fort Wilderness where you can camp in a tent, RV, or a cabin! 

Guests staying on property are also eligible for Extra Magic Hours (meaning you can beat the crowds with early park entry or stay past closing on certain days) which is not offered to off-property guests. 

And, with free transportation to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, you can’t beat the convenience of staying at a Disney hotel.  Whether you travel by monorail, bus, boat, or minivan (think Uber in a Minnie Mouse outfit), staying at a Disney hotel should always be top of your list when planning a Disney vacation. Staying off property just cannot compete with the extra magic and convenience families get from staying on property.

Keri B. was a Disney cast member for two years and now blogs about family travel at Bon Voyage with Kids. Read her post on traveling with kids for the first time for excellent tips and advice!

Disney mistakes that take a toll on comfort

Punishing your poor feet

MISTAKE: Wearing the wrong footwear
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Choose comfortable shoes that stay comfy as you walk for miles

One thing people do not realize when they plan a Disney vacation is the amount of walking that will do. On average, people will walk anywhere from 10-14 miles in one day at Walt Disney World. There is a lot of ground to cover before you even enter a park.

To give you an idea of the size of the parks, the loop around World Showcase in Epcot is more than one mile! Add in all of the standing in lines for rides, attractions, and character meet and greets, and your poor feet and legs will be exhausted by the end of the day. 

Supportive shoes are one way to combat the stress and fatigue your body will face. Wear your favorite sneakers (make sure they have sufficient support!) or buy shoes specifically for your Disney trip. Brands like Teva, Tom’s, and Keen are perfect for a day at Disney. Give your new shoes time to break in by wearing them before the trip. Finally, pack band-aids and moleskin blister protectors in your park bag just in case you get a no-fun blister.

Lauren Stites blogs about family travel at Where The Wild Kids Wander.

Renting a stroller at Disney

MISTAKE: Using a Disney rental stroller
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: BYO stroller for everyone’s comfort

I’m surprised how often I hear people recommend renting a stroller at Disney. After just one experience renting a stroller at Magic Kingdom with a toddler, I will never do it again. We didn’t plan on renting a stroller in Disney, but one day we left our stroller at our rental home and decided to save ourselves from battling traffic and parking by renting one at the park.

Since we were visiting family and only had one day at Disney, we decided in advance to have our 18-month-old nap on-the-go. The nap and ride technique isn’t something we do often, but in his reclining stroller with a shade it’s not a problem.

The rental strollers at Disney, alternatively, are hard plastic with no shade and only a single belt versus a 5-point harness. As you can imagine, our little guy fought a nap on that hard stroller and almost slid out of it several times.  He woke up early into the nap and ended up falling asleep in my arms for the first time since he was a baby.

While the Disney strollers may work if you want a backup for an older toddler whose legs are tired, I definitely don’t recommend them for babies or younger toddlers. Lesson learned!

Amanda Emmerling writes about all things travel with a little one at Toddling Traveler.

Keeping your tots strapped in

MISTAKE: Keeping your toddler either strapped in the stroller or strapped in a ride
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Let your toddler roam and get those wiggles out

To avoid kid meltdowns, I’ve found it helps to calm their minds and remove them from all stimulation. There are a few good spots on the Disneyland property that are a little secluded and can help your child relax and unwind from the day. 

The first place is the Baby Care Center that has amenities like private nursing rooms with rocking chairs, a main room with TV and seating, and other things parents many need in a pinch. This is perfect to get away from it all and it’s very clean inside. 

The other spot, which is my all time favorite, is Pirate’s Liar on Tom Sawyer’s Island. It literally is away from it all and doesn’t have any rides, lines, vendors, stores, or anything that would be overstimulating. Your child can just walk around in the serene environment, much like a park, or sit down to watch the boats and canoes pass by. You can even escape from the heat under a shady tree or rock cave. The best part is the lack of people.

It’s the ultimate parent Disneyland hack to avoid meltdowns in your day!

Christy Mindell, who goes by Cree, writes the blog Wild and Cree, where she shares her photography and travel tips.

Not taking advantage of accommodations

MISTAKE: Not getting a Disability Access Service Card if you need one
DISNEY DO IT INSTEAD: Take advantage of disability accommodations at Disney parks

One thing that’s so magical about Disney parks: They are 100% set on making sure you have a magical time. To that end, they include accommodations for visitors who need special services.

Do you use a wheelchair? Do you have a child who is on the autism spectrum? Do you have some other disability that makes you squirm when thinking of standing in all those lines?

The Disney Disability Access Service Card allows visitors with a disability (including ones that aren’t visibly apparent) to get return time passes to rides, activities and park features. You just have to request the card at a Guest Services kiosk. You’ll fill out some paperwork and take a photo (so you can’t just give the card to someone else). It’s pretty straightforward.

If you or someone in your family has a disability, the disability pass at Disney could mean you have a much more wonderful trip to Disney. Why not use it?

If you have anxiety, or you’re feeling overwhelmed and nervous about your upcoming trip, I wrote a post all about how to overcome Disney anxiety—in planning your trip and while you’re there. I hope it’s helpful!

-me!

Plan a fun Disney vacation by avoiding these mistakes

I have a Post-It note taped at my desk: It reads

Failure is just information.

It totally inspires me to take a learner’s mindset so I don’t get too self-critical when I slip up.

Consider this post, then, full of the most useful information to help you plan a fun Disney vacation.

By learning from these family travel bloggers’ Disney mistakes, you get to avoid them! Chances are, you’ll make some different Disney mistakes. After all, we’re human.

Once you do, though, come back here and share them with us! And don’t wait until the last minute to book accommodation. Make sure you get the best price by reserving your hotel early!

Do you have any Disney mistakes that you’ve made—and learned from? Share them below in the comments!!!

PS – If Disney is on your mind, you’ll definitely want to read my post about the Disney PhotoPass. I break down the pros and the cons of using this feature—and share if the Disney PhotoPass is worth its cost.

The post 14 most common Disney mistakes (+ how to avoid them!) appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I didn’t quite realize just how much I’d love it—but it turns out you have to use the Disney app right to get the most out of this free tool.

So if you’re going to Disney with kids or even without, you’ll definitely want to use these Disney hacks. If you’re planning your first trip to Disney, you might not know all the hidden but awesome perks of the app; even if you’ve been going for years, you might not have discovered these. So I’m here to show you!

Read on to become a Disney app expert.

This post contains affiliate links. When you click and buy, I earn a small commission that helps me continue to bring you free travel content. This does not alter the price you pay. Thank you for supporting To & Fro Fam!

Ways to use the Disney app you didn’t know you needed

There’s so much to plan for a Disneyland vacation, especially if it’s your first time at Disney. I know I felt overwhelmed!

Luckily, the Disney app puts so much information in your hand that it takes a ton of pressure off. Use the Disney app like a pro to plan your route through the park, find characters, skip lines and even avoid paying a ton of money for drinks!

1. Find your way around

Disneyland and California Adventure are huge. The parks are actually fairly easy to navigate, but you’ll want to use the Disney app to get from point A to point B without getting lost.

Not only can you look at a map of the parks; you can also use its GPS function. It will guide you turn by turn as you walk, making sure you get to the attraction you want to see—or arrive in time to use your MaxPass!

2. Avoid the longest lines

When you look up rides and attractions on the Disney app, you can see approximate wait times. So if your kids simply can’t handle waiting 45 minutes for the Cars roller coaster, scope out what has shorter lines nearby. That way you won’t spend your whole Disney vacation waiting in line!

3. Reserve your spot in line for the most popular rides

If you use MaxPass (an extra $10/day per person), you can use the Disney app to reserve your spot in line without going to the FastPass kiosks. This saves you time: You can reserve the MaxPass from wherever you are so you don’t have to walk all the way across the park to reserve the spot for the ride you want.

Using MaxPass on the Disney app also saves you from confusion. When I went to Disneyland with my kids, I tried to get FastPasses to the Toy Story Midway Mania at the FastPass kiosk—and accidentally got the passes for the Incredicoaster instead. (The kiosks were right next to each other and I didn’t realize.)

Luckily, the cast member at the Toy Story Midway Mania was an absolute gem and let us in anyway, saving me from explaining my goof-up to two very disappointed Toy Story fans. (Thank you Disney!!!)

Don’t make my mistake. Use the Disney app to prevent Disney mistakes like mine.

4. Find characters

On the Disneyland app, you can filter by characters, and stars pop up where Minnie, Mickey and others hang out throughout the parks. That way you can look for the Disney characters your kids want to meet.

One caveat: The Disney app doesn’t show their locations live. This unfortunate detail means you never know exactly where someone is, so you might show up to a character’s spot while they’re on break. I suppose this preserves some of the magic of bumping into a character at Disney, but I wish I’d realized that sooner.

Now you know!

5. Order food—skip the lines

Did you know you can order food on the Disney app? This feature is seriously amazing. At certain restaurants throughout the park, you can skip waiting in line to order and choose your food on your phone.

This genius Disney hack saves you a ton of time waiting in line and waiting for your food to be ready. Simply order when you’re a 15 minute walk away from the restaurant where you want to eat. By the time you find a table, your food will be ready!

I can’t even explain how helpful this Disney hack is. Hangry kids get fed faster and you’ll all have more time to enjoy the park instead of waiting in line.

6. Find the rides right for your kids

I can’t tell you how disappointed my younger daughter was when we realized she was too short to ride the Grizzly River Run. Luckily, my in-laws led her off on a fun adventure she still talks about while Hubs, my older daughter and I splashed down the river ride.

I learned shortly after this disappointing Disney mistake that you can filter rides by age, interest, height—even scariness! So use the Disney app to find the rides right for your kids.

7. Find a bathroom—NOW!

Are your kids like mine? I ask them if they have to go to the bathroom, I notice them crossing their legs and doing a potty dance… and then they wait until the least convenient moment to announce a potty emergency. Argh!

Luckily, the Disneyland app has the super-useful feature of showing you where the nearest restroom is. Plug that location into the app’s GPS to get the fastest route to the bathroom—and avoid a potty accident.

8. Make the most of your PhotoPass

If you buy the MaxPass, you automatically get a PhotoPass, which entitles you to the professional photographs with certain characters taken by staff members. But where are those characters with professional photographers?

Your Disneyland app will tell you.

(Wondering if you should invest in the PhotoPass? I wrote a whole post on if the Disney PhotoPass is worth it or not, including side-by-side comparisons of photos taken by staff and photos taken on my iPhone.)

9. Enjoy live entertainment

One of the things I most loved about my first time at Disney was stumbling across live entertainment: a barbershop quartet, the newsboys hanging from a trolley, a dance party my kids joined, hide and seek with Peter Pan. Disneyland has it all!

If you don’t want to leave catching this entertainment to chance, use the entertainment filter on your Disneyland app. It’ll show you where shows stop so you can make your way to the fun you don’t want to miss.

10. Save money on water

You can bring in food and drinks to Disneyland, and you’ll definitely want to bring a refillable water bottle. The parks can get super hot, and if you want to make the most of your Disney trip, you need to stay hydrated! Unfortunately, a bottle of water costs $4 if you buy it in the park—which certainly adds up. Not good for the Disney budget!

Instead, when your water is getting low, filter your Disney app to find drinking fountains where you can fill your water bottle. Here’s how:

Select category à guest services à show list à drinking fountains à show on map

Then simply walk to the nearest one.

11. Book a hard-to-get dining experience

Did you want to have breakfast with Goofy or some other character dining experience, but try to make reservations too late? The app updates character dining experiences in real time, so you can snag a day-of reservation!

Here’s how it works. If there’s a character dining experience you and your kids really hoped to try, look at it while you’re standing in line throughout the day. If someone cancels, it will show availability. Then book the reservation right from your phone! (You’ll need your app to be connected to a credit card, which it will already be if you bought the MaxPass.)

If you’re on a Disney budget, though, I recommend not even going down this rabbit hole. Character dining experiences are a splurge. If you look at it anyway, you might be caught up in the moment and book a reservation that busts your Disney budget.

12. Never lose your tickets!

I’m guessing most moms reading this post are like me: We’re responsible for keeping track of all the things. Well, when you use your Disney app to keep track of your tickets, you’ll never have to worry about which pocket you stashed those entries in!

This Disney hack is especially important for those of you doing multi-day Disney vacations. There’s too much risk of losing your tickets, even if you put them in those lanyard necklaces. So link your tickets to your Disney app as soon as you get them!

13. Plan your route

One of the best ways to have a better family vacation is to involve the kids whenever you can. You’ll be shocked at the drastic reduction in whining when they have a say in your vacation planning!

Use the Disney app to help them help you plan your Disney trip.

Pull up the park map on your phone and ask them to help plan a route to your next destination. It’s visual, so even toddlers can help trace a path—like a maze!

And speaking of finding your way, make sure to compare hotels if you want to stay near Disneyland. Find one that meets your needs of being nearby but also within budget.

Use the Disney app the right way!

I know you’re feeling more prepared for your Disneyland vacation after reading this post. You know how to use the Disney app to skip lines, find the right rides for your kids and avoid a potty accident. See, you’re already a Disney pro!

Do you have other Disney hacks you can share? Did you learn any lessons the hard way after making Disney mistakes, like me? Please share below!

PS – Are you planning a budget Disney vacation? Then you need to read my post on how I saved more than $2,000 on our family vacation to Disneyland! I break it down and share exactly what I spent—and how I saved—on lodging, park passes, souvenirs, food and more.

The post 13 ways to use the Disney app like a pro appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re like me (and about a quarter of all women in the US): You might have anxiety. That’s no fun; trust me, I know. But even if you have anxiety, you don’t have to swear off family travel—even to the Big Daddy of all kids’ vacations, Disney. I’m proof: You can do more than survive a big family vacation; you can enjoy it! Below, I share what worked for me to manage Disney and anxiety—for moms.

How did this all come about? My anxiety over Disney started as soon as I began planning for a Disneyland vacation, which I took with my husband, two children and in-laws. You see, I’d never been to any amusement park, and I don’t do well in crowds. I’ve dealt with anxiety on and off for years, and when I’m around big groups of people, I can feel my shoulders tighten, my breathing shallow and my heartbeat speed up.  

So it’s no surprise that Disney and anxiety came together in a way that felt like I’d be miserable every minute of the trip. But that simply was not true: I had a hands-down wonderful time at Disney with my family. Want to manage your own anxiety at Disney during your family vacation? Read on for my tips to handle Disney and anxiety for moms and all parents.

I am not a medical or mental health professional. Here, I am sharing what has worked for me to manage anxiety at Disney and other family vacations. If you think you might have anxiety, please talk to your doctor or therapist. Life is better when you talk about mental health challenges openly and seek help.

This post may contain affiliate links. Clicking and buying earns me a small income at no extra expense to you, which allows me to continue offering family travel advice for free.

Anxiety at Disney: Tips to enjoy your vacation for moms

You’re already taking the first step to handle Disney and anxiety: You’re reading this post! Check out the steps below to truly enjoy Disney with your family.

Know the foundation of your anxiety at Disney

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the whirlwind of anxiety and just feel anxious overall. But chances are, there’s something at the root of feeling anxious about Disney: An unknown that much of your anxiety is coming from.

For me, that something was actually two things: Crowds and making sure we (i.e. my kids) had the most fun ever. After all, this was a huge trip for us and not one we will be able to make often. Disney has enormous expectations wrapped into it, so I felt like I had to maximize the trip: See all the features, meet all the characters, ride all the rides—without forcing my kids from A to B like a drill sergeant.

In other words, I wanted everyone to have the most fun possible at Disney.

Ask yourself if it’s true

When you identify the root of your anxiety about Disney, dig a little deeper. Chances are, there’s an ultimatum behind that thought:

I have to make sure everyone has the most fun possible at Disney—or else the trip is a failure.

Is that true? Chances are, it’s not.

I came to realize that my kids would have a wonderful time at Disneyland even if we didn’t see the entire park. They wouldn’t know (or probably care) that we missed the pirate ship or Chip N Dale’s house, so why was I making a huge deal about it in my monkey mind?

Turns out, simply identifying what’s really bugging you will alleviate some of the nerves you feel.

Make a plan to address your worries

When you go into planning and research mode, you retake control. And anxiety often stems from feeling out of control, so by taking concrete steps you can start to feel better about your trip to Disney.

So after you figure out why you are anxious about Disney, ask what would make you feel better.

• Talking to a friend who has recently been to Disney?
• Laminating emergency contact information for your kids to carry in case you’re separated?
• Researching the age-appropriate Disney rides for your kids so you know what to go on—and what to skip?

No matter what your Disney anxiety comes from, there are steps to take to alleviate that. (If you’re having trouble IDing what those might be, scroll to the bottom and write why you’re feeling anxious about Disney in the comments. I’ll respond with my own ideas!)

Make lists

Maybe you’ve felt this way too: When I was planning a family vacation to Disneyland, several million thoughts, to-do tasks, reminders, etc. swirled around in my brain. The second I tried to pin one down, a bunch more swept in and disrupted my thought process like a wind blowing a library’s worth of paper around.

One remedy to this classic mark of anxiety: Write everything down.

Grab a blank notebook, a page in your planner or your favorite app. Write down everything that comes to mind.

It helps me to separate things into categories so my brainstorm feels more organized and less chaotic. Some ways you can organize your Disney list:

• Things to do
• Things to buy
• Things to pack
• Itinerary
• Reminders / Good to know

Once you put it on paper, your brain will be able to let go. You’ll feel more reassured that you won’t forget something important because it’s all written down somewhere safe, and your anxiety about Disney will start to ease.

Delegate, delegate, delegate

The family trip planner (usually the mom, in my experience) often takes on the bulk of the vacation work: Researching a destination, booking transportation, buying trip supplies, the rest of it. But one parent doesn’t have to shoulder all the responsibility. This is still the case for single parents—you don’t have to do everything yourself.

When you look at the list you just made, what can you ask someone else to do? Taking some of the work off your own plate is sure to reduce your Disney anxiety.

Who can you rely on to get things done? Your partner? A travel agent? Someone on TaskRabbit? A friend or another family member? (One thing I don’t love about planning a vacation: finding lodging. So I often ask Hubs to do this part of the research. You can, too: Just ask your partner to look for a place with the right mix of location and price.)

Delegate what you can so you don’t feel anxious about getting everything done in time.

Research to ease your Disney anxiety

Many of us feel anxiety about the unknown (again, it ties into feeling out of control). To combat that feeling, research your trip.

How would that help? If you’re feeling anxious from the overwhelm of seeing and doing all that Disney has to offer, research will help you pick a few priorities. If you know what you and your kids are most excited about, you can plan your days around those must-dos—and ease some of your Disney anxiety.

Find a guru

That said, sometimes falling down the Disney Pinterest rabbit hole can open up a whole new level of anxiety. (Oh my gosh, there are so many Disney pins! Including mine, haha!)

That’s how I felt. At a certain point, I had to stop searching the internet and talk to a real-live person to get me out of my head and back to reality. So I invited my friend Deanna, who goes to Disney at least once a year, over to hang out—and work out some of my Disney anxiety.

I felt so much better because I trust her, and I could get her opinions without sifting through a bunch of internet pages that may or may not be helpful.

I also reached out to a few other friends for specific questions, like Should I buy a MaxPass for kids? And Is the PhotoPass worth the cost?

Organize everything in one place

Finally, once you’ve worked through all the above steps to ease your anxiety at Disney, organize all your plans, reservations and supplies. You might keep all your reservations on an app like TripIt (which is what I do). Or you might feel better to print everything and keep it in a folder. (Have you seen these cute Disney-themed folders? They’d be perfect for planning a trip to Disney!)

Whatever system you use, having everything organized will make you feel confident—a great antidote to anxiety.

Know your resources

Some moms who are anxious about Disney may do all the above steps and still feel overwhelmed about their upcoming vacation. If you’re in that boat, know there are resources at Disney for people who need extra accommodations.

If you’re not able to wait in lines because of a disability (including one that’s not visibly apparent, like anxiety), you can register for a Disability Access Card. You simply fill out some paperwork at the park entrance, then you’ll get a Disability Access Card, which will give you a return time for certain rides—allowing you to move to the front of the line, similar to a FastPass.

If your anxiety is making it hard to imagine surviving a trip to Disney, you are eligible to use these accommodations. Don’t feel like you don’t deserve them. They were created for people who need extra support to enjoy Disney. Why not use them if you need them?

Do you have anxiety at Disney? You are not alone

Finally, please know that if you’re a mom who is anxious about Disney, you are not alone. I’ve already shared about my Disney anxiety, and there are many, many others who struggle, too.

It can be easy to get stuck in your head, thinking you’re the only one who is anxious about going to the supposedly happiest place on earth. Or you might think that the swirling thoughts make you a bad mom.

Let me be the first to tell you neither is true.

If you’re feeling like your anxiety is taking over your life or making your days unmanageable, please reach out to a friend, your doctor or a therapist. Talking about your anxiety truly does help. You can also gather your resources to manage anxiety, whether that is with medication, self-care like yoga and exercise, supplements and essential oils, or a whole other slew of tools.

You can become less anxious about Disney

Now that you have an outline of how to ease your Disney anxiety, you have a plan. You will identify what makes you anxious about Disney, research, plan, delegate and use the resources that will help you make the most of a family vacation.

After all, you and your children deserve to enjoy time together. I truly hope my ideas—all based on my experience of working through my own anxiety at Disney—help you with your family trip. Let me know if there’s something I missed—or something that has worked for you! And don’t forget that if you are stuck coming up with ideas for yourself, write a comment below and I’ll try to help.

Finally, if you’re a mom who’s anxious about Disney, I feel you. I know it’s hard. But feeling nervous/overwhelmed/paralyzed by the thought of a Disney family vacation doesn’t have to control you. You can become less anxious about Disney. After all, I’m proof! Hugs, and travel well!

PS – If money is one reason you’re anxious about Disney, check out my post on how I paid for a 3-day family Disney trip for less than $200.

The post Anxiety at Disney: The anxious mom’s survival guide appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I was so focused on planning the Disney portion of our vacation, though, that I neglected to research much about Crescent City, CA. It turned out to be ok though! When looking for the best things to do in Crescent City, I had a ton of options to choose from.

I know you’re short on time. If you’re looking for what to do in Crescent City with kids, I have everything you need to know right here. No bopping around the internet doing a million searches; just read on for info on the California Redwoods, downtown Crescent City, restaurants, lighthouses and more.

Crescent City with kids made easy

Where to eat in Crescent City with kids

If you follow only one piece of advice on what to do in Crescent City with kids, make it this one: Eat at SeaQuake Brewing. This restaurant in Downtown Crescent City was one of the highlights of our 1-day stop! The brewery is insanely kid-friendly, the food was excellent, and it’s a super-easy walk to Beach Front Park (more on that below).

I ate the delicious Thai Chicken Salad, which was big enough to satisfy my day’s requirement of vegetables (which is doubly appreciated when you’re road tripping and are stuck munching on gas station snacks all day). Hubs got a chicken sandwich. They have lots of gluten-free options, too.

And people, their kid menu was substantial. Best of all, though, they were so accommodating with my picky eaters! My younger daughter didn’t like the macaroni and cheese for some reason, and the server brought out a kids’ grilled cheese instead at no charge! (You can bet she got a hefty tip.)

And then came a surprise at the end of the meal: The girls got to pick out children’s books to take home! Turns out that the owners of SeaQuake Brewing are huge proponents of children’s literacy, and they have a basket of books for kids to choose from. The girls were beyond jazzed.

What to do in downtown Crescent City with kids

Crescent City is itty bitty—fewer than 8,000 people live in this California small town. You don’t have to worry about getting lost or fighting traffic!

Here are some of our favorite things to do near downtown Crescent City with kids. 

Play at Beach Front Park

This park is my favorite thing about downtown Crescent City. Imagine a giant fort, complete with slides, swings and playhouses, and you get Beach Front Park. 

My kids spent more than an hour playing here, and they didn’t want to leave. Ever. They begged me to move the family to Crescent City.

You don’t have to uproot your whole life; just carve out at least an hour to let your kids go nuts at Crescent City’s best park. It’s on the harbor and across the street from Seaquake Brewery, too! 

See the lighthouse

The Battery Point Lighthouse is mere minutes from downtown and a must-see when you visit Crescent City with kids. At low tide, you can walk up to the lighthouse, but the spit of land is covered by water at any other time.

Even if you don’t make it to Battery Point Lighthouse for low tide, definitely go: The pebble beach is lovely, and your kids will have a great time hunting for agates on the beach. 

Go antiquing

Like many beachside towns, Crescent City has a wealth of antique stores. (What is it about coastal towns that makes them a center for antiques? Anyone??) I can’t vouch for the quality of them—I’m definitely not an Antiques Roadshow-level expert—but they’re awfully fun to explore as a family!

Check out the boats at the Crescent City Harbor

If your kids are into boats, you definitely won’t want to miss visiting the Crescent City Harbor. Here, you’ll see hundreds of fishing boats moored along floating docks. 

We visited just before sunset, when fishermen were returning to land. The girls enjoyed watching them unload the boats and bring in their nets and crab pots. 

Walk along the harbor jetty

Walk a little farther south and you’ll find a jetty you can safely walk down with the kids. This is a favorite hangout for the area’s sea lions. Your kids can get a pretty close glimpse of the sea lions—just remember they’re noisy too!

Taste local cheese

In downtown Crescent City, you can stop by Rumiano Cheese to sample a whole bunch of flavors. I learned that they’re the oldest family-owned cheese company in California, and they make the first non-GMO-certified organic cheese in the US!

Play at a Crescent City beach

Pebble Beach is Crescent City’s most popular beach. Just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Crescent City, it’s an easy trip to make with the littles. South Beach, just outside of town past the harbor, is another popular beach among locals.

My girls demanded sand, too, so we explored the beach near the harbor at low tide. The outgoing water made an incredible bumpy pattern in the sand. 

See the Redwoods near Crescent City

Seeing the Redwoods in Northern California was one of the main reasons we went to Crescent City with kids. I just knew the peace of the Redwoods would be just what we needed after 3 days at Disney!

I wasn’t wrong. We drove about 25 minutes from Crescent City to the Stout Memorial Grove, a perfect kid-friendly hike in the Redwoods within the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. We took about an hour to walk the loop, which was almost entirely flat.

The Stout Memorial Grove is an ideal place to explore 300-foot-high redwood trees from Crescent City. You’ll see giant trees, have a chance to climb on downed logs and learn about this unique ecosystem. We went on a weekday morning and bumped into only 2 other small groups. 

If you want to see the Redwoods from Crescent City, take the short drive to the Stout Memorial Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. It’s the perfect family-friendly Redwoods hike in the area. Don’t miss a natural hideout/treehouse on the loop trail, where several trees have fallen to make a sort of tree cave! My girls loved playing in this “tree castle,” as they called it. 

Where to stay in Crescent City with kids

We stayed at the Lighthouse Inn, which is on Highway 101, the main drag that goes through Crescent City. The hotel is across the street from the Crescent City Harbor and is convenient for seeing all of Crescent City with kids.

We booked a family room with two separate bedrooms, each with a king size bed. The girls were like, “WHAT we didn’t even know they made beds this big!” Now my older daughter says her twin bed is too small. 

We stayed just one night in Crescent City, but the Lighthouse Inn was just what we needed for a short trip. The breakfast was decent (standard continental breakfast with bagels, muffins, oatmeal, etc.). There wasn’t a pool, but the great price made up for that. (I paid just $87 for a two-bedroom family suite!)

We had a wonderful time in Crescent City and would definitely go back. Next time, I’d explore even more of the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and visit more of the beaches. 

I hope this post helped you if you were wondering what to do in Crescent City with kids. Let me know if you have any suggestions to add! Comment below with your own recommendations. 

The post 9 best things to do in Crescent City with kids appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

In my research, I came across the option to download pictures taken in the park by professional photographers. I couldn’t help but wonder, is the Disney PhotoPass cost worth it?

The Big Question: Is Disney PhotoPass Worth It?

Pretty sure you’re with me on this: I’m all about making the most of my vacation dollars. After all, the more you save, the more family vacations you can take, and the more you can focus on enjoying time with your kids (rather than on your dwindling bank account). So when I was planning my budget Disney vacation, I wanted to ensure every dollar was spent well.

Did it make sense to pay extra for the Disney PhotoPass? Did the Disney PhotoPass cost outweigh the benefits? I found the research I did to be super confusing, so I’m so glad you’re here. Instead of bopping all around on the internet, you can find in one spot everything you need to know about the Disney Photo Pass.

After my family and I spent three days between Disneyland and California Adventure, I have some wisdom to share, whether you’re a Disney pro or going to Disney for the first time. So if you’re wondering, is the Disney PhotoPass worth the cost?, read on. I’ll break down the pros, cons and bottom line of whether you need the Disney PhotoPass.

And, since I already know you’re excited about your Disney vacation, I’m pretty sure you’ll also want my free Disney quotes printable. I designed 5 different inspiring Disney quotes so you can put ’em up on your fridge, in a frame or by your desk at work to remind you of your upcoming vacation! Here’s how to get yours:

Disney PhotoPass cost, logistics, and details

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all that Disney has to offer, don’t fear. I’ve detailed everything you need to know about the Disney PhotoPass, below!

What is the Disney Photo Pass?

Throughout Disney properties, professional photographers post up at popular spots and take photos for you. When we went to California Adventure, for example, a Disney PhotoPass photographer was taking images with Buzz Lightyear.

The photographer will scan the QR code on your Disney app that connects the images to your PhotoPass account. If you don’t have the app, they’ll scan a QR code on a credit card-sized card that you can show to other photographers to have all your images in one place.

You can either buy the photos individually or buy daily access to Disney PhotoPass.

What’s the Disney PhotoPass cost?

You get unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads when you buy MaxPass, which is the mobile version of FastPass. So the Disney PhotoPass cost is $10/day.

Some Disney annual Passports include a year of free downloads on the PhotoPass, but this depends on the terms in which you bought the Annual Passport. (Confusing, I know!)

I often get asked if you can buy one photo from Disney PhotoPass. Whilst you certainly can, there is a ctach! If you opt to download photos individually, they cost $16.95 apiece. Yipes!

Clearly, this makes zero sense, since you can get an entire day’s worth of photos plus the features of Disney MaxPass for less than that.

Read More: 14 Most Common Disney Mistakes And How To Avoid Them)

What are the benefits of Disney PhotoPass access with MaxPass?

Lots of people add MaxPass to their Disney passes automatically. After all, it’s really convenient to get a FastPass ticket via your phone instead of going to a physical FastPass ticket distribution (which sometimes has lines of its own). FastPass essentially holds you a place in line, which is a clutch for popular attractions at peak times.

Yet when you’re doing Disney on a budget, don’t automatically shell out money for anything without considering the pros and cons! There are so many add-ons and extras that they’ll add up fast.

That said, there are a lot of benefits of using the Disney PhotoPass MaxPass:

• Someone else takes the photos. Isn’t it nice to give up responsibility for something on your family vacation?
• You can be in the photos. Don’t you want to be in a few photos? Please note that the professional Disney PhotoPass photographers are also happy to take photos with your phone if you don’t have PhotoPass.
• The images are high quality. Downloads are high-resolution.
• Get magical overlays. If a Disney photographer asks your child to hold up her hand just so, you might take a look at the photo afterward and find that Tinkerbell is perched on her finger! That’s the magic of Magic Shots. (These opportunities are not available at every PhotoPass location.)
• The photographers are professional. You can depend on getting a good image: No cut-off heads or fingers in the frame.

What are the cons of the Disney PhotoPass?

There aren’t a ton of cons of the Disney PhotoPass, other than the cost. Some people will shrug at the Disney PhotoPass cost—$10/day isn’t prohibitive for many. But if you’re doing Disney on a budget, every cent counts.

Here are the other cons of the Disney PhotoPass:

• Scarcity. There aren’t many Disney PhotoPass photographers throughout the park.
• Photo Pass photographers are hard to find. If you filter the map on the Disney app, it will show where photographers sometimes are posted, but it’s not updated in real-time, so you find them based on luck.
• Most characters don’t have a PhotoPass photographer. When we visited Disney over three days, I think there were only 4 Photo Pass photographers at the Disney characters we met: Buzz Lightyear, Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, and Tinkerbell.
• Photos aren’t that different. When you compare photos taken with an iPhone to those taken with the Disney PhotoPass, the quality isn’t much different. (Scroll down to see a side-by-side comparison.)

Is Disney PhotoPass worth it & do you need it?

As with most family travel planning questions, the answer is individual. That said, let me help you with the decision.

If you’re already set on adding the MaxPass to your Disney passes, the answer is of course yes: You get the Disney PhotoPass automatically when you use MaxPass.

So what did we do?

The first day of our budget Disney vacation, I bought Disney MaxPasses for our family of four—for $40. The MaxPass cost would have been fine except we didn’t use the FastPass feature at all! You see, my kids are too little to do most of the rides that actually have the FastPass feature.

What’s more, we only met one character on our first day that had a Disney PhotoPass photographer. And when I saw the photos after the fact, I could hardly tell the difference between the photo the PhotoPass photographer took (on the left) and the one my mother-in-law took on her iPhone (on the right).

So after hardly using the Disney MaxPass on Day 1 of our Disney vacation, we didn’t buy it the following days. And I didn’t miss it at all.

Signs you don’t need to invest in the Disney PhotoPass cost

Adding the PhotoPass on your park pass (via MaxPass, at $10/person/day) doesn’t make sense for everyone. Here are the signs you don’t need the Disney PhotoPass:

• You have a decent camera on your phone.
• Your kids are little and won’t ride most of the rides with FastPass features.
• You don’t mind asking other people to take your photo (This is my go-to way of avoiding the Disney PhotoPass cost)
• You consistently take decent photos of your kids—ones that aren’t blurry, cropped weird or with fingers in the frame.

Read More: Anxiety At Disney: The Anxious Mom’s Survival Guide

Disney PhotoPass takeaways

Here are my last 2 pieces of advice to make the most of your Disney PhotoPass.

Let’s say that you’re willing to pay the Disney PhotoPass price but your kids are little or uninterested in the FastPass rides. Then you can buy just one MaxPass.

You’ll still get the PhotoPass feature at just $10/day, and if you’re using MaxPass primarily for the photography, not everyone in your group needs one. Just designate one person to be the official CEO of Disney PhotoPass—and be responsible for having the pass’s QR code ready for the photographer.

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not the Disney PhotoPass is worth it, here’s my advice: Don’t buy it at first.

Get a QR code from one of the PhotoPass photographers and show the card to all the others you encounter that day. At the end of the day you can decide whether you want to buy a $10 MaxPass and connect it to that day’s photos.

That way, if you only see one Disney PhotoPass photographer in a day (like we did), you can skip buying that day and save your $10.

I hope this article on the Disney PhotoPass cost, details and logistics was helpful. It’s actually the post I wish I’d found and read before our first Disney vacation.

If you liked it, will you please share by pinning to your Disney Pinterest board or emailing to a friend who’s planning a Disney trip? I’d so appreciate that because they could use the practical, detail-oriented advice, too.

And if you haven’t already read my post detailing how my family of 4 spent 3 days at Disneyland for just $138, don’t miss out! In that post, I detail every step I took to save $2,289!

Finally, don’t forget to snag your own free Disney quotes printable!

The post Is the Disney PhotoPass cost worth it—or a waste of money? appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I know there are moms out there who know every trick and hack to make the most of every second at Disney. I’m not one of those. But I am sharing the nitty gritty details of our budget Disney vacation—down to the last dollar. In this blog post, I’ll explain how I saved thousands of dollars on our family Disney vacation.

So if you want to go to Disney but don’t think you can afford it, or if you’re planning to go but just want to save on a Disney vacation, you’ll want to read through to the very end. I have so many good Disney hacks to help you save money—so you can focus on enjoying the happiest place on Earth!

Before I dive in to all my money-saving tips for Disney, though, I want you to check out my book! Road Trip Games & Activities for Kids shares 33 fun, customizable games and free printables that will keep you entertained for hours. Driving to Disneyland was one of the big ways we saved on our Disney vacation—and you can, too. Click the image below to get your copy in e-book or paperback!

And if you want to get even more pumped for your upcoming trip to Disney, you’ll want to get these free Disney quote printables. That way, you can download them and put them somewhere you’ll see ’em often, like your fridge or on the wall of your office. They also make great kids’ room decor! Just sign up here and I’ll deliver them to your inbox ASAP.

This post contains affiliate links. When you click and buy, I earn a small commission that helps me continue to bring you free travel content. This does not alter the price you pay. Thank you for supporting To & Fro Fam!

How to plan a budget Disney vacation

Now that you’re ready to save big dollars on your Disney family vacation, let’s jump in. Below, you’ll find out how I saved on Disney tickets, a hotel just 5 minutes away from the park entrance, food both inside and outside the park, and Disney souvenirs.

Don’t spend more than you have to. Take my lead and plan a budget Disney vacation now.

How to save on Disney tickets

Want to know how I paid zero dollars out of pocket for Disney passes for a family of four? Here’s a sneak peek.

Don’t pay retail for Disney tickets

Normally, for two adults and two kids, a three-day pack of tickets would cost $1,088. After a bit of research, though, I opted to save on Disney tickets by buying through aRes Travel. Our three days of tickets cost $1,014.

aRes emailed me PDFs of our tickets, which I printed out before leaving home. Disney staff scanned them at the park entrance and gave us our actual Disney tickets (which I scanned into the Disney app on my phone—don’t want to lose those babies!). That means they were “straight to gate” tickets—we didn’t have to go to the ticket counter outside the entrance first.

So to buy cheaper Disney tickets, I saved $74 using the third party ticket-seller aRes.

(I am not an affiliate for aRes; I was just really happy with our savings and the ease of using their service.)

Don’t buy Park Hopper tickets

With Park Hopper tickets, you can go back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventure, which are located just across a plaza from each other. Some people do this to take advantage of slow times at certain parks. For example, during the Paint the Night Parade at California Adventure, crowds might be lighter at Disneyland.

We were doing Disney on a budget, though. We opted to not do Park Hopper tickets at Disneyland since we have never been to either Disney or California Adventure. We knew we’d have plenty to do within one park without hopping across the way. What’s more, Park Hopper tickets are significantly more expensive, even with discounted tickets through aRes or similar third party sellers.

To save even more on Disney tickets, I saved $110 by not getting Park Hopper passes.

Cash out your rewards to buy Disney tickets

Here’s the big, big, big way I was able to save money on Disney tickets: I cashed out my rewards on my credit card. I use Chase Sapphire, where I get 1% back on all purchases, plus 5% back on select categories each quarter, without paying an annual fee. (I am not an affiliate for Chase.)

I hardly use my debit card; instead, I use my credit card for buying just about everything. Then I pay it in full every month before interest accrues. Over a few years, I earned $1,531—more than the total cost of our Disney tickets! So you better believe I used this “free” money to pay for our passes.

By using my credit card as a sort of savings plan, I saved $1,088 on Disney tickets by using credit card rewards. 

How to save on food at Disney

Save on restaurants at Disney

Food in Disneyland adds up, especially if you’re buying multiple meals a day for a family of 4.

For example, at Racho del Zocalo—a quick-service restaurant in Frontierland—kids’ meals are $8 and adult meals are around $15. But a fountain drink is $4, so with beverages, expect to pay about $60 for a family of 4. Other quick-service restaurants (e.g. Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland) are similarly priced.

Here’s the thing, though. I hate standing in line for food and paying for a full meal my picky eaters won’t even eat. That’s why I packed food for everyone—and saved money during our family Disney vacation.

We would have eaten three lunches at Disneyland, and at $60 apiece, I saved $180 by packing our lunches.

Save on snacks at Disney

I’ll give Disneyland this: Their restaurant prices are actually fairly comparable to food outside the park. That said, though, drinks and snacks are so expensive inside the park!

Disneyland allows you to bring in outside food and drink—so take advantage and plan ahead for a budget Disney vacation!

Bring a variety of snacks you and your kids can eat on the go—and especially in line. While you’re out exploring the park, your kids won’t want to sit still to eat, but while you’re waiting to meet princesses or ride the carousel, you can totally get your kids some calories.

Here’s a list of snacks we brought in:

• crackers—mini-Ritz cheese sandwiches, cheddar rocket ships from Trader Joes, etc.
• granola bars

Level 10 travel tip: I recommend the ones that aren’t coated in chocolate, as they melt in the heat and get your kids’ hands majorly messy

• fruit—sliced apples, grapes
• veggies—cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots
• dry cereal
• tofu dogs
• sliced turkey and cheese
• fruit leather and squeezie fruit pouches
• hummus and pretzel dip packs

It’s hard to say how much we helped our budget Disney vacation by bringing in food. Conservatively, you’d pay $30 a day in snacks at Disney for a family of 4. So by packing food every day, I estimate I saved $90 by bringing our own snacks.

We did end up eating a few snacks bought in the park, though. We bought popcorn ($5 for a medium-sized carton) and frozen chocolate-covered bananas (also $5 each). My advice for buying snacks inside Disney: Choose wisely. I didn’t mind buying frozen bananas for the girls because it was hot and bananas are actually good for you. And I didn’t mind buying popcorn because I love it (YUM!) and I didn’t buy the super-spendy souvenir popcorn “purse.”

Additionally, look for snacks you wouldn’t be able to get outside the park. My mind explodes at the thought of spending $3.99 on a small container of sliced apples, for example, but you can’t get Dole Whip anywhere else.

Finally, avoid buying beverages in the park if you can at all. Bottled water is $4, as are fountain drinks. Bring in your own refillable water bottles, juice boxes, even pop! I brought in bottled iced tea every day because mama needs her caffeine.

Save on restaurants outside of Disney

Now there’s an iHop right across the street from the Disneyland entrance, but I’m not a giant fan of chains, and I’d rather save money than spend a bunch on low quality food. Most hotels have a free continental breakfast, but the hotel we chose—the Grand Legacy—didn’t. (That’s one reason why a night stay at this hotel is cheaper than others in the same area.)

If you go out to eat at breakfast, you can expect to spend about $7 on a kids’ meal and about $13 on an adult entree. Add in beverages—juice for the kids and coffee or tea for the grown-ups—and you’ll probably pay about $55 for breakfast for a family of four, including tip. That adds up!

Instead, I brought food to eat at breakfast. Two mornings we had quick breakfasts, so I had bananas, bagels, yogurt, milk and cereal as options for our family of four. But one morning we planned a leisurely morning at the hotel—my girls needed extra sleep to recover from staying up late for the fireworks show at Disney. So while the girls slept in, I cooked a super-easy hot breakfast in our hotel room!

With a little planning on our budget-friendly Disney vacation, I saved $165 by eating breakfast with food from home.

Additionally, we ate dinner in the hotel instead of a restaurant. We made sandwiches (I even brought gluten-free bagels from Trader Joe’s for myself). I also bought several premade salads before we left and had those on-hand for our meals.

The girls ate instant macaroni and cheese, yogurt, tofu dogs, make-your-own Lunchables (with crackers, turkey, cheese and cucumbers), and “grilled” cheese sandwiches. We were able to warm up food in the microwave, and we made good use of the mini-fridge.

My kids are picky eaters anyway, and they ate much better in a calm, controlled environment of the hotel as opposed to a restaurant (or when watching an episode of Spirit—ha!). And for a family of 4, it would cost about $75 to eat out—and to throw away all that food my kids didn’t touch.

By heading back to our hotel for dinner (which even left time to go back to Disney for nighttime fun), I saved $225 by making dinner in our hotel room.

Other ideas to save money on restaurants near Disney: Search restaurant.com and Groupon for discounted gift cards you can buy. It’s not uncommon to find a $25 card for $10, for example, which saves a ton!

How to save on hotels at Disney

When I was researching hotels near Disney, I found that paying about $150 per night for a standard two-queen room was about average for a basic hotel. I chose to stay at the Grand Legacy at the Park in Anaheim because it’s a 5-minute walk from Disney and it has a pool.

Rooms at the Grand Legacy are $157 per night during the low season of November. (They may vary depending on when you go to Disneyland.) Instead of paying for the hotel nights, though, I used rewards from a hotel bookings website.

You see, I travel for work, and I nearly always book through the same website so I rack up loyalty rewards. Every 10th night I book, I bank a free night. I saved up my free nights and redeemed them at the Grand Legacy for our family Disney vacation. So by planning a budget Disneyland vacation, I saved $471 on hotels by using a hotel loyalty program. 

Word to the wise, though: We did have to pay $17 per day to park at our hotel. When you’re comparing prices of hotels near Disney, double-check to see if breakfast and parking are included. Those factors may influence where you decide to stay on your budget Disney vacation.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly hotel near Disneyland, compare prices here:

Save on Disney souvenirs

With all the Disney swag being sold on every corner, it’d be easy to double the cost of your Disney vacation just by buying souvenirs! Here are three ways to save on souvenirs.

Avoid the shops

It’s impossible to avoid all the merchandise—after all, every street is lined with shops and stands with blinking, glowing, musical stuff.

That said, the entrances of both Disneyland and California Adventure are primarily stores. They’re not rides or attractions, just places to spend a ton of money! So steer your kids away from these shops and toward the characters who also make this zone their home base.

Buy Disney gear ahead of time

Before we left town, I bought a few items the girls would love—and would want to buy at the park. For example, I bought a plush Minnie Mouse for each child from CVS for $10 apiece—much better than the $30 each inside the park!

I also talked to a few other moms and read up on Disney blogs to find out what other souvenirs kids tend to want at Disney. I went to the Dollar Store and bought glow-in-the-dark jewelry and wands, plus Disney bubbles. When we went to the fireworks show at Disneyland, the first thing they wanted was glowing bubble wands. Lo and behold, I had a version of what they wanted! I had paid $4 instead of $52!

I also brought along crowns we already had so they wouldn’t want to glam out at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique ($$$$$$) or even buy mouse ears (at $28 apiece). And I ordered Disney character autograph books online for $7 each instead of $20 at the park.

The one thing we did spend an exorbitant amount on: glow-in-the-dark Mickey balloons. The girls asked for them every single day, multiple times a day. They finally wore us down. And that, my friends, is how we spent $30 on two balloons. #AndYetShePersisted

So we spent $68 instead of $238, and I saved $170 by bringing souvenirs from home!

Get a Disney gift card

Our family knew we’d be taking the girls to Disneyland, and so for their birthdays, my mom gave them a Disney gift card. I held onto it for something special that would be a gift from their Nana and Grandpa Shempy.

On our last day, the girls found a toy they absolutely begged for: Jessie and Woody from Toy Story. So I busted out the Disney gift card from Nana and bibbidi bobbidi boo, the girls had their precious toys—at no expense to me! We sent Nana a video of the girls playing with their toys on Pixar Pier saying “thank you!” There was even enough left over to buy milkshakes.

So we saved $69 on toys by using a Disney gift card that was given to my girls as a birthday present.

Dollar by dollar: What I spent on our budget Disney vacation

Budgeting is hard. Budgeting for a budget Disney vacation is even harder. It’s difficult to figure out exactly how much you’ll need for every aspect of a Disney family vacation, so I’m sharing it all in this blog post.

Now that I’ve given you a play-by-play of everything I spent on our budget Disney vacation, it’s time for the grand reveal. Here’s the breakdown of what I spent on our budget Disney vacation:

Park tickets: $1,198 $0

Hotel: $471 $0

Parking: $51

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks: $465 $15

Souvenirs: $238 $68

Cost of our 3-day Disney vacation for a family of 4: $138

TOTAL SAVED on our budget Disney vacation: $2,289

One caveat: I didn’t count the money I spent on groceries, since I’d be paying for that at home anyway. I also didn’t include the gas money it took for us to travel to Anaheim, California, since families travel to Disney in all sorts of ways. So as you plan your budget Disney vacation, keep those details in mind: You’ll have to budget for groceries just as you would at home, and you have to figure out transportation.

If you’re curious about the Disney PhotoPass—the service that gets your professional photos from inside the park—read my post diving into whether the PhotoPass is worth the cost.

The truth of Disney budget vacations

I truly hope that this behind-the-scenes/bank account peek helps you figure out how much you’ll spend on your own Disney family vacation. I also hope it shows there are ways to make even a Disney budget vacation a ton of fun—and that you don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars to enjoy the trip!

I also know that planning a Disney trip can be stressful. In fact, for some of us moms, it can trigger some major anxiety. That’s why I wrote an entire post on managing anxiety at Disney. If you think you’d benefit from the steps I took to get my anxiety in check and actually enjoy the family trip, I know you’ll want to click over to read it through.

So tell me: Have you been on a Disney family vacation? Was it a struggle to pay for it? Do you have any budget Disney tips? Please share in the comments!

PS – I’d love for you to share this post on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter because I’m pretty sure your friends and family would welcome hearing about all these budget Disney vacation ideas!

The post How I saved $2,289 on our budget Disney vacation (+ you can too!) appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Chorizo? Check. Avocado? Check. Shrimp? Oh heck yes. In fact, we have all your taco bases covered here—even vegan tacos! Because one of the great things about LA’s food scene is there is something for everyone. So no matter if you like your tacos traditional or totally fusion-ed up, this roundup of the best tacos in LA is right for you.

Actually, that’s one reason why tacos are so family-friendly: No matter your kid’s food preferences, you can usually find something they’ll happily eat. (If not, you can always get a quesadilla, which I remind my kids is just like a grilled cheese but in the shape of pizza slices.)

So pin this post for the next time you’re in Los Angeles and definitely read on for these bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA. But don’t blame me if your appetite demands you book a last-minute flight to California, on a Taco Tuesday—or any day.

I’m 99.9% certain it’s impossible to take a cute picture of someone eating a taco. Proof: Me, digging in at Mariscos Jalisco.

Bloggers’ 9 favorite tacos in LA—that will soon become your favorites, too

LA’s food scene is indisputably amazing. But with all that delicious food, it’s hard to decide where to go.

What’s more, LA has some of the most delicious tacos north of the border. Thankfully, these bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA are a sure bet for a delicious meal.

So forget the guesswork; you don’t have to spend hours scouring Yelp reviews. Check out these bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA. You won’t regret it.

Tacos Por Favor

One of my favorite taco spots is the no-frills Tacos Por Favor in Santa Monica on Olympic Blvd. It’s not a fancy place, but they pump out some amazing tacos. I always order the Chorizo Cheese Soft Taco and I also really like the Carne Asada Soft Taco—both on corn tortillas. I pair it with a Mexican Coke, along with a side of chips and salsa. Most of the tacos on the menu here will only run you about $3 and it’s loaded up.

The food is so delicious here and it’s a local spot right across from a playground and skate park. You’ll often see kids coming in to grab a taco with all of their skate stuff on, before heading back across the street.

-Lisa Ng, LA-based blogger of the lifestyle site This Beautiful Day

Salazar

Trying to decide on a favorite taco joint in LA would be like trying to pick a favorite child, it just ain’t that easy when you really do love them all! But factoring in quality tacos, great ambiance, great cocktails, AND excellent guac… it would have to be Salazar in Frogtown.

Salazar is unique in its own right because the space is entirely outdoors, and not only is it absolutely beautiful they make fresh tortillas in house that give their tacos that extra special touch. The tacos are small enough that you can order 3-5 and be perfectly happy—that way you can also try more! Salazar’s tacos are definitely not the classic LA tacos you might find at Guisados, Guerrilla Tacos, or Mariscos Jalisco, but in my opinion they are the best for the all-around dining experience that comes with it.

-Caroline Juen, of the LA lifestyle blog Love and Loathing Los Angeles

Cinco

We’ve been obsessed with Cinco ever since Brooke moved to Playa Del Rey. It’s technically in Westchester (corner of Lincoln / Manchester) & so good! You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find good street-style tacos in LA for vegetarians. Most places offer all of the meat choices under the sun, but your only choice as a vegetarian is usually a bunch of chopped up random veggies or nothing. Not here!

Cinco offers soya (aka soyrizo) for their street tacos & burritos. For non-vegetarians, they have al pastor, barbacoa, chicken, or carnitas. The soft tacos are filled with your choice of protein topped with onions & cilantro, plus a side of delicious and refreshing salsa verde. Did I mention that they have happy hour Monday–Saturday from 3-7pm? So those delicious tacos are only $1 each and burritos (ingredients above + rice and pinto beans) are only $6. We’re suckers for places with weekend happy hours!

Brooke & Kelcy Christy, of the LA lifestyle blog written by twins, BKCsquared

Tacos Tu Madre

If you’re looking for a cute, low key place that’s Instagram picture-worthy and has unique yummy tacos, look no further then Tacos Tu Madre. With locations in Westwood, Los Feliz, Downtown, and Larchmont, you’re bound to find a location near you. I like the Larchmont location because I’m always able to find a spot at their “taco bar” and after I’m finished eating I can go shopping along Larchmont Blvd.

My favorite tacos are the Fried Chicken, Crispy Shrimp, and Grilled Fish Tacos but don’t worry they also have classic street tacos if you’re wanting something a bit more authentic. And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t forget to try their red velvet churros—they are SOO yummy! Can’t wait for you to try and have this place become your new favorite taco spot, too!

-Kelli Wheeler, Los Angeles-based inspiration-giver and lifestyle blogger at The Single Girl Life

Tocaya Organica

We all know tacos are part of Los Angeles’s culture and there is no shortage of Mexican restaurants. However, in a sea of taco trucks and Mexican restaurants, it is hard to find an organic Mexican restaurant with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Tocaya Organica is one of few healthy Mexican restaurants with a trendy feel that serves vegan and vegetarian tacos that are locally sourced. It’s my favorite place for Taco Tuesday. The tacos are not only delicious but Insta-worthy too! I love getting the Combo: 2 petite tacos, 2 sides, and a drink. My favorite taco is the Baja Chipotle with sea bass & vegan mozzarella. Order it and you wouldn’t be disappointed.

-Liz Shamooni, of the LA lifestyle and fashion blog Liz in Los Angeles

Guisados

If you’re looking for something a bit different from your traditional LA taco shop, you must check out Guisados. They have become somewhat of an LA institution since opening their first location in Boyle Heights in 2010. Guisados is famous for their homestyle braises (similar to a stew) served on handmade corn tortillas. They use fresh, quality ingredients and you can really taste the care that goes into their cooking. The menu features over a dozen types of braises you can choose from such as steak picado, tinga de pollo and chicharron.

If making your first visit to Guisados you absolutely have to get the taco sampler. This is fun to order and gives you the opportunity to try up to six different tacos. My favorites are the chicken mole and steak picado. The steak is so tender it melts in your mouth while the mole sauce is dark, rich and delicious. Don’t forget to order an agua fresca as well. The melon one tastes just like a juicy cantaloupe and the sweetness will balance out your savory tacos perfectly.

-Eden Fite, blogger and Los Angeles-based traveler who writes at Rock a Little Travel

Mariscos Jalisco

You haven’t truly eaten in LA until you eat at a food truck. Extra points if it’s a taco truck. You get an A+ if you eat at Mariscos Jalisco, a seafood taco truck permanently parked at 3040 E Olympic Blvd. The shrimp tacos served here (tacos de camarón) are hands-down the best tacos I’ve ever eaten. The shrimp are fried and served hot enough to burn your mouth, which you can cool down with a Mexican Coke or Fanta.

Do like everyone else and sit on a ledge along the sidewalk, or if eating al fresco isn’t your thing, there’s an indoor seating area right behind the truck. Word to the wise: There are other taco trucks serving similar menu items, but take a close look at the truck’s name before you order so you make sure to eat these delicious tacos in LA.

-me! Catherine Ryan Gregory at the family travel blog To & Fro Fam

Petty Cash Taqueria

Photo courtesy Petty Cash Taqueria

Petty Cash is an awesome, veg friendly taqueria with a tequila friendly margarita on happy hour. Need I say more? This is a favorite amongst my L.A. friends, who are always on the search for fresh, locally sourced produce. The grilled maitake mushroom taco and crispy zucchini taco really spice up the vegetarian options! As does the dorados taco because anything with potatoes and avocado crema is something I will be coming back for.

I love having more than one option when heading out for tacos—sometimes beans and rice just doesn’t cut it! Petty Cash is super flavorful with a vibrant atmosphere and definitely on my recommendation list.

-Hannah Lee, blogger at the low-impact cooking blog Closed Loop Cooking

Sky’s Gourmet Tacos 

Photo courtesy of Sky’s Gourmet Tacos – they also cater!

Many would consider Sky’s Gourmet Tacos an LA institution. These tacos are so yummy! I promise you won’t be able to eat just one. The Authentic Mini Steak tacos are some of my favorites: just carne asada, grilled onion, cilantro and citrus juice served on two small corn tortillas. You can put additional salsas on it, but it doesn’t need it. My other favorite is the beef taco, which is ground beef with Sky’s only special blend of spices and seasonings. You’ll be licking your fingers after eating this one. You can’t go wrong with any tacos here. I’ve had just about every taco on the menu, and I’ve never been disappointed.

-Moni Boyce, international traveler at She Wanders the Globe

There you have it, friends: 9 amazing tacos in LA that you will simply have to try the next time you travel to Los Angeles. Let me know if you have any you’d add to this list!

PS – If you’re in LA with kids, definitely don’t miss my favorite place in the city when you’re traveling with littles: the LA Natural History Museum. Click on over to read my full post on dinosaur bones, outdoor splash fountains, urban garden walks and a hands-on paleontologist activity!

The post Bloggers’ favorite tacos in LA: Never eat disappointing Mexican food again appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Yes, it includes family favorites like plenty of dinosaur bones (including a baby T. rex!!!) and dioramas displaying preserved animals. Beyond the slam-dunks, though, is a museum curated and crafted with every age in mind. Families will find hands-on activities to bring natural history to life, interactive displays, friendly museum staff and outdoor spaces that incorporate nature into the learning experience.

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LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

My kids weren’t with me on this trip, but now I want to plan a trip to California  just so we can visit LA’s Natural History Museum with my kids. You guys, I just can’t stop raving about this kid-friendly museum, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Here are the highlights for when you visit LA’s Natural History Museum with kids.

Dinosaurs: The star attractions

Dinos are the A-list celebrities of the Natural History Museum, and for good reason: It is absolutely awe-inspiring to stand beneath the fossilized skeletons of these behemoths.

You’ll see two right off the bat in the central foyer of LA’s Natural History Museum. Here, curators recreated a fight between a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops. (Who do you think would have won? Definitely not me—that T. rex is about to nom my head!)

Continue on to the Dinosaur Hall and you’ll see two rooms on two floors—after all, these dinosaurs are so big they need the room.

Level 10 travel tip: Look for the wall of fossilized bones—it has a touch screen display in front of it where kids can “filter” the pictures (e.g. by meat-eaters or species). You can play I Spy or a scavenger hunt: Let your kids challenge you to find a predator’s tooth or vertebrae!

Make sure to scope out the area where you can watch scientists working on actual fossils. When I visited, one was using a tiny drill to clean a 24.8 million year old bone from an Ichthyosaur. Watching these experts at work is even better than career day at your kids’ school!

Animals here and animals gone: Halls of diversity

LA’s Natural History Museum has several enormous rooms filled with scenes depicting animal life in the wild. Your family will see preserved animals that live among us today (for example the hawks in the Bird Room) and those that are, sadly, extinct.

Your kids may recognize some of the animals from the zoo, but chances are they’ve never seen them this close. Of course the animals at this kid-friendly museum aren’t alive, but your kids will notice details—how feathers lay flat on top of one another, the unique patterns on an antelope’s stripes—they’d never spot from afar.

Level 10 travel tip: Read the informational displays at every animal to yourself: Many of them have remarkable trivia about the animals depicted. (Did you know, for example, that the ostrich has the largest eyes of any land animal, and that a group of hippos is called a bloat? Neither did I, until I visited the Natural History Museum!)

Even more exhibits!

If I’m honest, to me, everything besides dinosaur bones is secondary in a natural history museum. But LA’s Natural History Museum made me rethink my dino-focused zeal.

The reason for my epiphany? The Gem and Mineral Hall.

I never thought this section of LA’s Natural History Museum would be so fascinating, but I marveled at the colors, textures and shapes of minerals found deep underground and inside rocks. And the bling contained inside the gems room made my eyes pop (and the security guard keep his eyes on everyone inside).

In addition, you’ll find permanent exhibits on shells, ancient Latin American art and fetish carvings.

Make sure to look for rotating exhibits, too. When I visited the Natural History Museum, they hosted an exhibit on tattoos throughout time (though entry costs an additional $8, unless you’re a member).

Exploring actual nature at LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

LA’s Natural History Museum is the only one of its kind that does a remarkable job incorporating, well, the outside natural world (at least that I’ve ever seen).

Step outside the museum and you’ll find a half-dozen different habitats and many more opportunities to learn. Keep an eye out for LA’s wildlife that visits the museum not to stare goggle-eyed at dinosaur bones but to take a bath in the pond, sip nectar from blooms or nest in a tree.

Level 10 travel tip: Bring a change of clothes for your kids. On a hot day, your kids will want to splash and play in the water feature. They’ll be amazed that they can splash around at a museum!

Visiting LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

LA’s Natural History Museum has kid-friendly activities and features throughout the museum. They do an exceptional job getting kids interested—and excited!—about science and the natural world. If you’re visiting the Natural History Museum with kids, don’t miss these highlights.

Nature walks

Every day at 3:30, Natural History Museum staff lead a group of kids throughout the outdoor section of the museum. Kids might have a chance to spot finches or mourning doves on the bird viewing platform, harvest snap peas from the edible garden or look for wildlife in the pond. The museum’s nature walks are free with admission.

Critter Club

This monthly meet-up introduces kids 3 to 5 years old to different kinds of animals through art, song, stories and other hands-on activities throughout the museum. The sessions are on a break now but will begin again in Summer 2018.

The Discovery Center: Hands-on central

In the Natural History Museum’s Insect Zoo and Discovery Center, kids can play and explore to their hearts’ content. They can dig for casts of dinosaur bones, pretend to camp out and peek across the museum grounds in a spyglass.

Then get close and personal with creepy crawlies. You’ll find cockroaches, pill bugs, gigantic spiders, millipedes and more in the habitats at the center of the room.

“Ask me” buttons

If your kids are anything like mine, they don’t have the patience to read (or listen to) many of the plaques that explain the displays. But when given the chance to learn from a real-live expert, they’ll surprise you at how much information they soak in. The Natural History Museum in Los Angeles offers plenty of opportunities for kids to express their curiosity and get details from experts. 

Level 10 travel tip: Challenge your kids to find a staff member with a yellow “Ask me” button—it’ll be like a scavenger hunt. Then listen to your kids’ questions. They’re so open-minded that they ask about things you’d never consider. (“Do baby Triceratops have teeth?”)

Find the rats

Rats—in a museum?! You bet, if it’s the LA Natural History Museum! Downstairs on the ground level families will find an interactive Nature Lab, where kids are invited to ask questions about how humans interact with the natural world. Part of our coexistence with animals and plants is living alongside rats.

There is a structure with see-through walls where kids can try to spot rats scurrying here and there—and even overhead!

The nitty gritty: Visiting LA’s Natural History Museum with kids

Here are the details you need when planning a visit to LA’s Natural History Museum.

• Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for youth 13-17, $7 for children 3-12 and free for kids under 3. If you go more than twice a the year, it’s actually more economical to buy a membership.

Level 10 travel tip: If you do buy a membership, make sure to use it to get free admission at the La Brea Tar Pits and The William S Hart Museum (which has a herd of bison on the property!). They have reciprocal memberships, which means even more natural history fun!

• Family restrooms and nursing rooms are located throughout the museum.
• A cafe offers kid-friendly food downstairs. There’s plentiful seating outdoors and, if it’s raining (or too blazing hot), in a solarium. You can also bring your own food for a picnic.
• This kid-friendly museum is right next to the Exposition Park Rose Garden and is a short walk from several aircraft on display outdoors. If your kids are antsy after being relatively quiet and contained in the museum, let them run their yayas out in the Rose Garden or challenge them to find the planes.

I can’t wait to return to LA’s Natural History museum with my kids. If you’re looking for kid-friendly activities in LA, make sure to put this museum on your itinerary!

And if you’re looking for even more ideas, check out my friend Melissa’s guide to fun things to do with kids in LA over on her Thrifty Family Travels blog.

What is your favorite part of visiting a natural history museum?

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