disneyland with infant
 

I have read extensively about the motels near Disney and may stay at the Park Vue Inn. My question is-for those motels that have a shuttle or people that use the ART-where does it drop you off? How close to the entrance is it actually? If it is right at the entrance, we might stay farther away and take the shuttle. I wouldn't mind parking at Disney either, but is seems like the parking structures are quite far from the entrance. We have an infant who will need to return to the room for naps probably twice in a day. Also, I have chronic health issues and need to minimize the walking. Last year at SeaWorld I had to hava an electronic wheelchair, but I was pregnant. Hopefully I will do better this year. Thanks for any input.

I have to ask, why Disney w/an infant & health issues ? It seems like a recipe for disaster too me. Not sure when you are planning your trip, but if it is anytime soon, it will be hot, you have to keep the little person hydrated & cool (as well as yourself) & you'll be toting them around while having difficulty yourself (?). Perhaps an alternative destination would be preferable (& make a lot more sense) ?

The shuttles drop you quite a way from the actual entrance, but their is another shuttle that will take you up to the gate.

I would stay as close to the park as possible if you will be coming "home" twice a day. There can be very long waits for the shuttles, and they can be very crowded and uncomfortable if you have to stand

There are no parking structures in Disney World, just surface lots.

Off-Property buses generally drop off at Animal Kingdom, Epcot and the Studios in areas of the parking lot that are closer in that where you could park if you drove, but farther out than where the Disney busses take folks. It can be a substantial hike to the main gate, and then you have substantial walking around the park itself, particularly for Epcot.

For Magic Kingdom, off-Property buses drop off at the Ticket and Transportation Center, and then you have to walk a couple of hundred yards to get on the monorail (or further to catch the ferry boat) that takes you over to the Magic Kingdom, then you walk another couple of hundred yards or so to get through security and to the actual gates.

Also keep in mind that generally off-Property buses don't run that frequently either.

The OP is asking about DisneyLAND, not Disney World.

I disagree with Icuy. If you drive your own car and park in the lots (and are not one of the first arrivers, who can just walk on in), you can walk to the end of your parking aisle and catch a parking lot tram that takes you to a drop-off that is (relatively) close to the gate (or to the monorail to Magic Kingdom). If you are riding an off-property bus though they go to a bus drop-off area that is not served by the parking lot trams.

Ignore my responses, I did not read carefully that this was about Disneyland and not Disney World! My apologies!

SAnParis2--the infant is just along for the ride-the trip is for my 4 and a half year old. My husband will have primary responsibility for her, though, and I will have the baby (cause he is 7 months and still nursing). Trip is in late September so I don't think the weather will be too bad (we're in Phoenix, so we're used to heat, sun precautions, etc). And my health issues are simply limiting, not debilitating. I have chronic back and sacral issues from my first pregnancy, and I've had several procedures and physical therapy for a few years now. I'm used to chronic pain and just deal with it, but I feel like the extra pain I go through with travel is worth it looking back at the family memories.

It sounds like Park Vue may be a good place for us, but the self park option may also work since there is a shuttle from the parking lot.

Thanks guys!

Just a word about the weather in late September. Sept and Oct are often the hottest months here in So. Cal. I know you are from Phoenix so are used to the heat but you aren't standing in lines at an amusement park at home. So keep an eye on the weather and be prepared. The Santa Ana's blow during that time which make things hot and dry. You'll think you never left Arizona!!

One thing about self parking. The Disneyland parking lot is huge. I don't think you have in and out privileges so that could get pretty expensive and time-consuming doing the self parking. The shuttles can be crowded but they do take you from your parking area to the park entrance.

As far as your infant, do you really need to go back to the room twice a day? I would assume you will have a stroller with you. Does your baby not sleep in the stroller? Maybe you could get away with going back once for a mid-afternoon map. The end of Sept I think the park is open 10-8pm so the hours are shorter. It's a good time to come, though, especially if you are going to be there mid-week.

I think staying nearby (or in the park) makes the most sense. You and your baby could easily return to the motel and your husband and daughter could stay longer at the park if they want to. You probably wouldn't want to deal with driving back and forth from the parking lot to a hotel as I think you'd have to pay each time you'd enter the lot. If I remember correctly, by the time you walk to the area where the parking lot shuttles and hotel shuttles are it's not much further to the motel (please double check this info -- it has been a while.)

I've done Disneyland several times when one or another of my boys were that tender age and they all slept in their stroller! That will be the easiest for everyone! If the nap is for you, then I would stay at the Grand Californian and request a room near the California Adventure entrance... then you can simply time your time in the park around your rest times.

I would laso consider soing the elctronic scooter thing again... no sense in being miserable in the Happiest Place On Earth!!

Welcome to California!

No matter where you stay, even at a Disney hotel, it is going to be a LONG dull back-and-forth to naptime. Your baby is not going to get cranky only when it's near an exit. Disney is LOTS of walking so prepare your husband. You'll just have to deal with it if you want to take your 4-year-old to Disneyland.

You can practice up now for the standing-in-line times. Park your 4 year old in the hallway at home and have him walk back and forth for 45 minutes. When you get up to him being able to do it 7 o 8 times a day....he's ready! (He can have a potty break, but he must walk to the neighbors potty 1/4 mile away.)

If you have a chance to do an early morning entry, do it. When my kids were little we'd head straight for Toon Town and do most of the attractions there before it got crowded. I haven't been to Disneyland in a few years but I do remember they had some sort of program where parents could switch off and one could wait at the head of the line with a little one while the other went on a ride and then switch off.

Have a great trip!

If you have chronic health issues you should contact Disney to inquire about services they provide. I have visited Disney World many times when my children were young and I often saw families being ushered into rides without waiting in the usual lines. Sometimes a family member would be in a wheel chair and other times everyone was walking, in other words I couldn't discern a "disability". But it would seem there is a program for people who have difficulty maneuvering about the park. The same services are likely at Disneyland and may be appropriate for you.

I realize that Disney World is significantly larger than Disneyland, but I imagine the CA park is large enough to be a long and exhausting day when traveling with a young child and an infant.

BTW, my infants/children always napped in their stroller at Disney World. We often timed our lunch or a snack to nap time so we could be indoors and out of the heat.

We didn't return to our room very often - and we were staying at a hotel on the monorail at Disney World. I always thought if I left the park to relax in my hotel room I would be unlikely to return. Too tempting to stay out of the heat and rest in the AC. But that's me . . . .

Just got back from a day at Disneyland. Just wanted to note that there are in and out privileges from the parking garage. On re-entry, You need only show them your paid parking ticket.

Returning to room twice in one day for naps is going to ruin your trip - by the time you leave the park, get to room, settle kid - and then reverse the process, you have used up the entire day.

Infants are easy at theme parks - ours acted the same way she did at the mall or for a long walk - looked around, napped, got out of stroller to be carried once or twice - no naps in room, or certainly not 2. Reconsider that part of the plan.

When our kids were little, we always planned our "day at Disneyland" to have a "pool break" in the middle of the day (2-3 hours). It's a great way to recharge -- we'd swim, nap, have dinner and return to the park for the rest of the evening (until closing). That said, we always went when the park was open late....if the park closes at 8 p.m. when you'll be there, it doesn't really work, and I'd instead rely on the stroller for naps.