I’m no expert, but as an annual passholder, I go to Disneyland about 8-10 times a year.  Things have changed since Stevie came around.  (And they will likely change again once he turns 3 because of the cost).  But for now, these are just some tips I have kept in mind over the years, especially when entertaining out-of-town guests.

1. Buy tickets ahead of time.
   Local grocery stores like Ralphs and Vons sell park hopper tickets and annual passports in the the gift card section.  It is awesome not to have to wait in line at the Disneyland entrance when you’re just anxious to get inside.  Keep in mind, this is only for park hoppers.  If you are just doing 1-day, 1-park, you will have to buy those at the Disneyland ticket booth.
2. Bring your own stroller.
   Disney has stroller rental, but I always bring my own stroller because if Stevie falls asleep toward the end of the day, I do NOT want to carry that heavy boy + all our stuff back to the car after I’ve returned the rental.  If you have two littles, Disney does not rent out double strollers.
   
3. Skip the tram.
   I don’t ride the tram because nothing makes me feel like a bigger idiot than trying to fit my gigantic jogging stroller on the tram with a bunch of people waiting and watching.  To walk from the parking structure to the park entrance takes under 10 minutes.  Call it a little extra exercise to burn off that corn dog coming your way!
4. Don’t bother renting a locker.
   Before having a kid, I rented a locker every time I went to the parks, so I wouldn’t have to carry anything. Now that I have a stroller, it does all the heavy lifting.  I keep all the essentials in there.
5. Wear a hip pouch/cross body bag.
   Yes. I’m trying to make “fanny pack” sound cooler by calling it a “hip pouch”.  And I know it sounds ridiculous, but trust me.  This is the one I have.  The reason I wear a pouch is to make boarding the rides quick and easy.  I leave the diaper bag at home, use my stroller for storage, and keep anything important (money, credit cards, ID, tickets, phone, lip gloss) in the pouch so it always goes with me.  Everything else stays in the stroller.  I don’t have to fumble around deciding what to take and what not to take.  Just pick up the kid and hop on the ride.
6. Dress in layers for random weather.
   No matter what time of year you go, Disneyland will probably be chilly in the morning, hot as hell in the afternoon, and freezing cold at night.  At the very least, bring sunscreen and a sweatshirt.  Consider Crocs or other waterproof shoes for the littles. At CA Adventure, they have splash pads and, while my kid hates getting wet, I know a lot of other kids dig it.
7. Pack some favorite snacks.
   Since Disneyland does allow outside food in the park, I always bring just a few items to snack on through the day.  I pack a very small cooler with a bottle of juice and a milk box.  Then I toss a bottled water, some crackers and granola bars in the stroller basket.  But I do recommend you pack light!  Try to make everything fit into a gallon ziploc bag.  Then food won’t take up valuable stroller space.  Keep in mind you can get cups of water for free to refill a bottle.  And Disneyland sells these great little “power packs” with yogurt, string cheese, goldfish crackers, etc. if you or your kid would rather munch through the day than eat big meals.  You’ll want to eat yummy Disney food at some point anyway.  Hello, churros!
8. Plan on spending a little money.
   There are ways to avoid spending money and you have to be prepared that things in the park are a little more expensive.  But I say just go with it.  There’s no point in griping over every penny spent.  Trust me, all the Diet Cokes that I’ve ever paid $4 for were worthwhile because I enjoyed them.  Made my day a little better.  And it sometimes just makes things easier and more convenient when you can buy things inside the park.  So be smart about it, but put a smile on your face and fork over a little dough!
9. Take advantage of stroller parking.
   If all the other strollers don’t give it away, there are stroller parking signs all throughout the park.  The best place to take advantage of this is in Fantasyland.  Park your stroller somewhere in the middle and you will be able to ride Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinnocchio, Dumbo, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, King Arthur’s Carousel, Casey Jr. Train, etc. without having to move it.  
   
10. Use the Baby Center.
    There are two Baby Centers, one in Disneyland (near the corn dog cart at the end of Main Street) and one in California Adventure (near the bakery in Pacific Wharf).  The Baby Center is awesome.  If you need to breastfeed or pump, they have private rooms.  If you need to change diapers or clothes, they have soft changing tables and more space than a regular bathroom.  They have a microwave to heat up food and a sink to wash out bottles.  A mother’s dream at a theme park.
11. Try to keep to your schedule.
    Know that your kids will probably be much happier if they are fed and get their naps as close to the usual time as possible.
12. That being said, try to be flexible too.
    There’s nothing like a million people and loud noises and lights and characters and rides to provide sensory overload for your babe.  If they are not ready for their nap promptly at noon, try to be patient.  It will come. If the day takes a turn for the worst and becomes a complete nightmare (it happens) you might even want to consider leaving the park for a couple hours.  Go somewhere quiet (and possibly cheaper) for lunch, maybe even let the grouch nap in the car while you drive around Anaheim for awhile… if you can return with an adjusted attitude and enjoy the rest of the day together, it will be worth it.
13. Use dark rides to your advantage.
    When Stevie is really tired, Pirates of the Caribbean always provides a great atmosphere for him to take a snooze.  It is long, dark and slow-moving.  Sometimes he’ll just take a quick 15 minute refresher nap and other times, I’ve been able to get him in a deep enough sleep that he stays asleep, even after I move him to the stroller.  Small World, Storybook Canal, and Finding Nemo are pretty good for this purpose too.  Mark Twain might work, I just haven’t tried yet.
14. Nap time is DisneyMom time.
    When Stevie naps, I love to shop, or sit and people watch, or walk around to snap photos. Take it all in. Appreciate the atmosphere and look at the details.  Trust me, there’s no other park like Disneyland.  If you have 2 kids with you, I would imagine this would be a good time to either find a spot to let the other one run around, get them a special treat, or have another adult take them to their favorite ride.
15. Know your kid.
    If your child has a hard time waiting in lines, don’t make them stand in line for Peter Pan for an hour.  Or else be very, very creative to distract them while waiting.  I’d recommend either getting there early in hopes of a short line, or just let it go.  It’s not worth it to make them (and everyone around them) miserable for a 1 minute ride.  If your child is terrified of characters, it can make for a funny picture or two, but don’t torture them too much.  😉  If your child hates loud noises, familiarize yourself with the parade and fireworks schedule and try to avoid them.  However, if they LOVE parades, do what it takes to get a decent spot so they can wave to all their favorite characters.  Some things you’ll just have to try and see how it goes!
16. Let them wander.
    Let them stretch their legs if they need to.  One of my biggest challenges right now is that Stevie does NOT want to be in the stroller.  He is a big fan of climbing steps and going up and down curbs.  So as much as it bores me to death, I have to let him.  Since there are so many people around, I try to find the most quiet area of the park (sometimes just outside the park) and allow him to walk or climb.  He’ll usually tire himself out enough that he doesn’t mind a ride in the stroller afterward.  If your kid is a runner, you can get stickers at the Lost Parent area to put a name/phone number on.
17. Take your time and be patient.
    Sometimes it’s difficult because there’s so much to see, but with a toddler you simply must take your time.  You can’t rush from ride to ride as you may have when you were a teenager.  And you can’t get your hopes up that you’ll get on every single ride.  Know that other people will hit you with their strollers.  Not everyone is considerate and happy at the Happiest Place on Earth.  People will block your path (why do they always stop in the middle of the walkway?!)  But it doesn’t help anyone to get frustrated.  Slow down. In mid-summer, I honestly recommend planning your top 3 must-do rides.  If you get on more than that, it will be a bonus.  I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, and it may not be worth it to you to pay $131 in that case, but remember that there’s a lot more to the parks than the rides.
18. Try the parent swap passes.
    Fast passes are handy when you don’t have a toddler with you.  But when you do, and you go to the park with daddy (or another adult), use the Parent Swap.  It’s available for every ride.  Ask a cast member where to go and they will direct you to the appropriate place.  This is how it works:  Let’s say Stevie is napping or too small for Space Mountain, but it’s in our top 3. Daddy will go wait in line while I stay outside with Stevie.  After papa gets his thrill on, he will bring me the Parent Swap pass and I can go in the fastpass line to get on the ride right away, while he waits outside with Stevie. It’s not the ideal situation if you don’t want to ride alone, but it works out well if you have another child who is big enough to go (and maybe even wants to ride twice).
19. Don’t be afraid to take the kid on everything.
    If they want to go and the lines are short enough, your toddler can ride just about everything at Disneyland, other than the roller coasters.  They can sit on your lap or next to you on so many rides.  Stevie was less than a year old the first time I took him and we got on tons of rides.  He didn’t know what was going on, but he was safe and quiet.  All good.
20. Bring pajamas and a comfort item for evening hours.
    Once the sun goes down, I like to have the option of putting the wee one in cozy pj’s.  Maybe pack a small blanket or stuffed animal too, if they are into that sort of thing. Let them wind down for the evening.  The flickering lights and quiet music in Disneyland are actually pretty soothing at night.
21. Buy your souvenirs at the end of the day.
    We don’t really buy souvenirs because we live so close.  But if we did, I’d wait until the end of the day so the toys don’t take up space in the stroller.  And although I, personally, have never seen anything get stolen at Disneyland, (really, it’s kind of crazy) the last thing you want to do is leave daddy mouse-sitting your giant, expensive stuffed Mickey in the stroller all afternoon, while you’re toting around a wiggly toddler. A great place to shop on your way out is the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney between La Brea Bakery and Blink.  You can’t miss it.  As a side note, if your souvenir breaks or a balloon pops, Disney will replace it for free.  And if you insist on shopping early, the shops will hold or ship items for you.
22. Don’t forget the freebies.
    Kids under 3 are free.  And there are some fun little things that can make your day more special, without spending a dime.  Maps are free and make cute souvenirs.  I wish I’d kept all mine growing up, since the park has changed so much over the years.  At City Hall, near the Disneyland entrance, you can get free pins or a phone call from Goofy for a child’s birthday.  If you ask the conductor, you can sit in the front car on the Monorail or yell “ALL ABOARD!” on the Disneyland Train.  If you don’t mind waiting in line, take a moment to meet and get pictures with the characters.  You can ask the cast member photographers to snap a photo with your camera or phone, you don’t have to purchase photo pass pics.  Free coffee refills when you keep your receipt.  And free soda refills at the Mexican restaurant.

Bonus tip for photog parents:  Pack light.  Seriously.  I usually just bring my iPhone.  But if I’m feeling brave, I’ll grab my 5DII with a fixed 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens.  That’s it.  As light and portable as possible.  You can still get quality pictures without messing with tons of gear.  For a special occasion, heck, just hire a vacation photographer for a couple hours!!!  Way better than photo pass.  Just saying!

Have other tips for doing Disneyland with toddlers?  Let me know!