Bachan (Grandma, a/k/a She-who-must-be-obeyed) and Minka (me) are going with our son's family to Disneyland this Christmas. The expedition will include four wide-eyed grandkids ranging from five to eleven in age.

Does anyone have any advice or tips on visiting the Magic Kingdom?

Yes, I know y'all try to avoid California at every opportunity. Me too. But someone here must have gone to D-land more recently than I last did, in the late-80s.

Jim

Its CA. Bring your BIG debit card.

Christmas or anytime near that time frame is the WORST time to visit. Mad crowds. Huge lines. Peak weeks. Christmas week and 4th of July , worst 2 weeks all year. Period.

Source - Disney pro (myself)

I paid about $26@day for these tickets , still good. Current price for peak days $159@day. Currently celebrating 50th anniversary in Florida.

Be prepared to stand in very long (3hrs+) lines to see anything on Christmas week.


Very , very , very bad time to visit. Don't believe me? Check Disney site for availability on theme parks and hotel (on-site) availability.

Good time to go? , if you can swing it , December 1st to about December 14th. Most people go around Thanksgiving or Christmas. Very few people go on vacation first two weeks of December. Dead time. Golden opportunity.

Went in early 90s. Place looked old. LA was smoggy. No plans to ever go back.

My son only gets vacation during Christmas week and spring break.

Jim

Some more tips -
Be there at 'rope drop' opening hour. Most people will sleep in as they are in vacation. Beat the crowds. Get there before they open . , much less people until they wake up and get motivated. As 'rope drop' happenings, go as far in to the park as you can , most sheep will get on line for the nearest attractions near the opening. The attractions in the back of the park will be empty. Work your back to the front of the park as it clears out as people are headed to the back.

Pack a lunch , put in a cooler in the car. The food venues are very expensive and busy at meal times. They have free trams to the parking lots. Which leads to my next tip.....

Take a picture of your car and the parking lot it is located I.E .' Donald Duck #6 - or- Minnie Mouse #2 ', very easy to forget where you are parked. Very common. You can thank me later.

Get theme park souvenirs outside of the theme parks. Much more affordable than inside the park.

Thanks, Cragar. We won't have a car--taking a shuttle bus from the hotel. We plan to carry lunch in backpacks. Along with rain gear.

Jim

Hence , like most people this is the only time available to you. Very busy time.I normally do not recommend 'fast passes' as they are a way to bik more money out of you. This , however is a good time to spend the xtra money. It will pay off on a busy time frame. Get some small playing cards (pocket size) at a dollar store to play impromptu poker inline with the adults. Find some kind of electronic game type distraction for the younger ones to play in line. You WILL be standing inline. Find out what small snacks are ok to bring through security for the little ones like granola bars and juice drinks. This help with the waiting in line with them. A lot of theme parks have removed water fountains to get you to buy bottled water at overpriced vending machines. Good place to look for water fountains is on the outside of the rest rooms. Better than paying $3 or more for bottled water.

Take a day off after a theme park excursion as you are pooped , kids too. Plan something less stressful for a day like a outside of theme park visitation to recuperate and on the next day do the theme park again. Doing a theme park day after day is too tiring and you will quit early and not get your money's ($159 A day ) worth.

Yes, we'd planned two days at D-land, one day at CA Adventure Park, and a day at Legoland, with days off in between.

On the days off, though, the kids will probably be exhausting themselves at the hotel's waterpark. I suppose there will be lines there too.

Jim

Hit Mimi's cafe right outside the gate walking distance

The tickets I have are golden. They no longer issue tickets without a experation date most tickets sold now are only good for about 1 year from date of purchase.

(Note- I did not pay full prices listed on these tickets , I got additional discounts)

Disney is very wary of ticket reselling so the tickets they sell now have limitations. Like fingerprint ID. Check for specials/coupon books local /and other possible specials. Be aware of local scammers , very common in the Kissimmee area , I would not doubt Ainhem CA has them too.
Be wary of what you may be able to bring into the theme parks like a full lunch. They may limit you to favor in-park food venues. Plus possible mask requirements ( this is Califorina BTW) check website for details , be prepared.

Good luck. I'd rather have a sharp stick in my eye and I say that having done exactly that a few weeks ago!

All I can offer is good luck

Went to the Florida one about 15 years ago and it was enough for me.
Only reason I went is the same reason you are going, kids

Will be at Disneyland Dec 5-8 this year the first time.

Went to magic kingdom once on Christmas (Orlando).....I'LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!!

We to the one in Fl with mine son and his children. I had recently had a knee replacement and needed a wheelchair. We were taken to the head of every line. No excessive waiting.

Scrape up an extr 2g and spoil yer g kids rotten. I was never at disney in CA only once in FL. But I still remember the smells from magic mountain and having breakfeast with the characters. That was 25 yes ago.
If its busy consider splitting up for a few hrs at a time. 2 older kids with mom and dad 2 younger with ma and pa. That way you can take the little ones on their rides while the older can do there's.

Prayers sent

My advice? Drink heavily.

I spent 40 years living in CA, and never went to LA or Disneyland. I'm sure the kids will love it though.

Good luck.