Is Disneyland or California Adventure better for a 5 year old?

Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have plenty of things young kids can enjoy, it just depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. Of course, the easiest answer to the question Which park should we spend the day at? is: Both!



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Which Disneyland Park is better for toddlers? While you will find most of the toddler-friendly attractions in Fantasyland in Disneyland, don't overlook Disney's California Adventure Park. Here you'll find many attractions suitable for toddlers.

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We've found that California Adventure with kids is most fun when you start your time there with a totally realistic expectation about the types of rides you'll get to do. We were just there with a 5 and 8 year old, and although tall enough for almost everything, not everything was a good idea for both of them.

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Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have plenty of things young kids can enjoy, it just depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. Of course, the easiest answer to the question Which park should we spend the day at? is: Both!

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Kids ages 4-6 can have an absolute blast at Disney, or they can spend the whole time begging to go back to the hotel pool. You know your children best, so consider how you think they'd handle the lines and stress of a long day at the park – and remember that spending a full day in a crowded park is tiring.

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While people of any height may enjoy many of the rides at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, the rides require children under 7 to ride seated next to someone who meets a certain height requirement (see Autopia) or is at least 14 years old.

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Disneyland is great for kids over the age of 7. So if you have 4 kids, 2 of which are under 7, you may have to watch which rides you can do. For my family, this meant that my oldest two (ages 9 and 10) could ride rides together while an adult rode with the younger kids (ages 2, 4, and 6).

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The “magic age” for taking your kids on a Disneyland trip is when they are in elementary school, specifically between about 7 and 12. I think this is the best age for a couple of reasons: Most elementary school age kids are better at handling lines than younger kids.

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The general consensus in most Disney and travel forums is that Disneyland should be your first choice, and moving on to California Adventure afterward. If you are trying to get everything done in one day, staying in a hotel on-site the night before is a good idea.

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You really need a full day in California Adventure Park to experience it to the fullest. Plus, the wait times for many rides are between 20 minutes to 2 hours, so you will need the full day to sit on most rides, even with Genie Plus.

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All of this leads us to rank Magic Kingdom as the best Disney park for the little ones. Other Good Orlando Theme Parks for Toddlers: Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park — This park is ideal for anyone who loves animals.

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The parks work on an honor system regarding the ages of young Guests, so Cast Members typically don't request proof of age for a child. Other than a theme park ticket for a child ages three or older, there is no need to bring along any form of identification for your kids.

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While two days is a great amount of time to see most things the parks have to offer, it will not allow you to fully experience to parks. Disney if full of live entertainment, characters, attractions, and delicious food. We recommend a 4-5 day trip to enjoy everything the parks have to offer.

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Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are home to fun attractions for the whole family. Still, if we stop to think, most of the rides at both parks are aimed at older audiences for several reasons, starting with the most obvious indicator, thrill level.

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This list ranks all 67 attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, with pros & cons of every ride and show as we rate them from worst to best.

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What is the recommended minimum age for an Adventures by Disney vacation? The minimum age is 5 years old* on most of our Land Adventures and River Cruises. Please check your trip itinerary for minimum age on Expedition Cruises. There is no set minimum age for most Private Adventures.

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Guests of Disney do not age during their visit, so your little one will remain his guest during your entire trip. You do not need to purchase a ticket or make park pass reservations for children under 3. However, you must include them in your Disney Resorts Collection hotel reservation and also all dining reservations.

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You may want to do this by:
  1. Place a Going to Walt Disney World window cling on your car.
  2. See if your child figures out what's going on when you pack only Disney-themed snacks for the trip.
  3. Wrap up some personalized ears. ...
  4. Scatter Disney trading pins throughout the house. ...
  5. Reveal your message via jigsaw.


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