Disneyland with Almost Two-year-old?

Yes, I do! Disneyland has a program specifically for parents of little kids...you can go to the rides for younger kids, and they will let each of you ride once with the child, without waiting in line again. We just showed up at the handicapped entrance, and they were kind enough to let us ride twice. Also, don't rush over there...everyone does, so the rides are all packed before noon. But if you take it easy, you can ride far more rides and have fewer crowds in the late afternoon and evening.

I can't help with the senior half of this question, but we took my daughter to Disneyworld when she was about 15 months old.

The best plan for us was to not have a plan. Since the outing was more about her having a good time than us, we let her moods dictate our activities. For instance, if she was particularly cranky one morning, we stayed and played at the hotel pool until after her nap - and went to Disneyworld just for the evening. We made sure we had plenty of options and back-up plans - we brought books and magazines wherever we went in case we had to stop everything for naptime. It is much easier (and more relaxing!) to be flexible regarding your plans when vacationing with one so young.

K.:
I have been taking my little girl to Disney since the age of 1. We had good experiences all 4 times we've gone but the first time I made the mistake of leaving our stroller at the hotel & renting one at disney. If your little one likes to take naps do not rent a disney stroller. They are very hard and uncomfortable for little ones (unless they sit up the entire time). The baby station is also convenient for changing the babies and cleaning them up.
I also took my 90 year grandmother on one of our trips and we rented a wheelchair for her. It turned out to be great because we were able to get on the rides faster than the folks having to wait in the regular lines.
I wish you & and your family a great time!!!
A.

Ugh, I've been there done this one. (thought he grandparents weren't as old as yours at the time)....

What happened, was the toddler (3 years old) got really tired on us early into our adventures, as did the grandparents. it became short days...so my recommendation would to be to plan for more than 3-4 days of adventures in disney land. also depending on the time of year, (I went there with a mildly autistic 5 year old and 2-going on three year old year old) and the crowds caused problems for them. -- LOVED standing in line, hated the actual rides and adventures. Go figure. Mom (Me) and dad (My husband) did a LOT of carrying, which taxed the old physical condition. :) THough Disneyland is geared towards lettting them run a bit without immediate adult interaction, which was a welcomed relief!

The grandparents can work to your advantage as well, if they are able to sit at exits to various adventures, and wait for the little ones, (Thus you don't have to chase them through certain things -- definetly recommend the Robinson caruso tree-house, kids of all ages just LOVE IT!) Cinderella's castle? ugh, that's gonna be a parents right behind the young one adventure, and not something older grandparents can keep up with. (Lots of stairs, and such)

I was your age when I went, and uhm, let's just say this? I was glad to be home afterwards...would I do it again now? (8 years adn 5 years) uhm...maybe...:)

good luck...just have plan A in place, and a plan B, and know Disneyland can be an energy sucking event for all! (You, the husband, grandparents, and kids). Find a hotel close, or use mass transit to get to and from disney land. build a plan to hit the highlights close to each other, (the place is HUGE! and really does take a few days to visit it all)... and don't let your little ones talk you into spending all your spare dollars in the first day. -- it's hard to resist, trust me!

Good luck.
H.R. Crystal

After living six years in florida (with our four children) i have theme parks down to a science. First off, go in the off season. This is for health reasons when you are very small or elderly. The heat and standing in mile long roped off lines is dangerous. You must rent a stroller and a wheelchair. The wheelchair will be utilized by all members of the family at some point. Get the park hopper passes and stay in the theme park hotels with direct access. You will need to take breaks and go early in the am and late in the pm with midday nap/pool breaks for a real help. They do parades, fireworks, etc in the evenings and it's cooler, the am is less crowded and you can eat lunch before retiring to midday break. Hey, have a good time! The memories will be priceless. (oh, bring a sense of humor and a change of clothes for baby and shoes for you. Take lots of pics) good luck! (baby snacks in diaper bags are tolerated, juice bags, dried fruit and chewy granola bars will be appreciated by all ages)

You are not crazy we have gone twice both before my daughter was 2 she loved the characters but we still had to go up to them with her. don't be surprised if your little one doesn't want to see them. bring a stroller that lays down for naps so you don't have to leave the park cause this is a good time for grownups to do theyre thing make sure to pack a sweater for everyone and a couple changes of clothes for the little one (we had a big accident the first time and had to by clothes very expensive)rentt a locker so youdon't have to carry all this around they have a new system so you can return to them as many times as you need to buy a leash for the little one target sells ones that are little backpacks that look like stuffed animals the kids love them that way if you look away you son can't disapear when he's not in the stroller. pack water and snacks because things can get hectic and always stopping for small snacks and water can take up alot of your time. don't worry about getting on all the rides at this age its all about the expieriance oh yeah if you get to hot check out innovations in tomarrow land its a big airconditioned building that has cool stuff to check out now here is the cool part they have this thing called child swap so you and your husband can go on a ride then come down and give a ticket to the grandparents and they can go on the ride(just make sure to ask for it from the workers at the begining of the ride)and you only need fast passes for the first people going through the line so you and your husband get a fastpass and even though you can't get another fastpass for like an hour or so the grandparents can also get a fastpass for another ride also they have the single rider line if just you or your husband want to go on alone.
and now that I have overwelmed you let me say this my daughter is still talking about disneyland and it has been 8 mo. since we were there and she even talks about the rides she liked and what she wants to go on again so don't listen to anyone that tells you that it doesnt' matter to them when they are this young. Vega loved "its a small world" so much that we went on it like five times one day. oh yeah and check out calif. adventure too cause it has all the playhouse disney stuff and is really geared towards kids. above that relax and have a good time.

Hello...I know this is a lil' late but i just read yout request and I just wanted to remind you about the train. It is the best ride to take advantage of when you are there. Both the young and old will enjoy as well as you parents, when you feel you need a rest. Remember it picks you up all around the park and you can ride in circles till your hearts content!!
Have fun!

woohoo! you guys are going to have so much! we just got back from there. make sure you take the STROLLER! we took our 9, 6, 5, 3 & 5 month old!!! We made sure to have a stroller for the little ones! it was so much fun, but there is a lot of walking involved!!!!! i'd suggest cool clothing, and lots of water! there aren't many places to sit down but there are a lot of bathrooms.
you guys will have tons of fun!!! don't spend too much time worrying...it'll be fun. make sure to take the little one to the mickey's toontown & california adventure's bug's life. those rides were more for little ones!

I agree with going in the off season. I took my daughter when she was four, and had alot of fun. We didn't ride very many rides, as they all scared her, so you may have to deal with that.

Now, your grandparents. Be prepared to have them poop out early. I suggest you rent one of those carts, that way they wont have a problem keeping up and you don't have to push a wheelchair. I went with my two grandparents and my 300 pound retarded aunt one year. There were some fun moments, but it was alot of work and to be honest with you I was really glad it was over. It was hot out and everyone ended up being very tired and grouchy. If your grandparents are easy going, then you probably wont have the same experience I had...but if they smoke like mine did...you can't smoke anywhere in disney except a few places, and I am sure that will be a big complaint if they smoke. I hope you have a good trip!

Sorry... no idea on the Disneyland issue. Curious... what is SAHM?? -H.