Greetings, cadet! Boy, do I ever have tips on how to partially regress at Disney! I’ve visited several times, since I actually was little, so I know some specifics:
Buy Mickey ears! Or Minnie! Or a just a cute hat or headband! I know that in the past I’ve felt embarrassed going to the park with one, but once I’m there, seeing tons of people are wearing them, young and old, I’ve regretted not bringing them! They come in the classic style, and now there are also ones themed to other Disney characters and licensees. You can even get your name embroidered on one as a super fun, very classic, Disney souvenir!
If you can, (as I don’t know if you have to wear specific clothing with your school), wear cute Disney clothes! Last time I went, I wore a shirt with Winnie the Pooh on it, and 3 people gave me compliments! And one of them was a cast member! You can also Disneybound, where you wear clothes that are meant to represent a Disney character. It’s very popular, and you’re likely to see several hundred people doing it too!
Meet some characters! They’re always be happy to see you and they can sometimes make you feel so little! They can sometimes be found wandering randomly throughout the day, as well as having dedicated meet and greet locations throughout the park. There’ll typically be a line for them, but it’s worth it! Especially since you can give your phone to their accompanying cast member so they can take great photos! These also make great souvenirs, and, better yet, they’re free!
Eat the Disney treats! They are very cute, often shaped as Mickey’s head, and always tasty. You’re going to be walking alot, so it’s important to make sure to eat and stay hydrated. They also have super cute souvenir cups and popcorn buckets, which I recommend buying at the end of the trip so you won’t have to carry it all day!
Go on the “baby” rides! Disney is filled with many many rides, some exhilarating, some fun, and some for the families with toddlers. While I highly recommend you go on the exhilarating rides (such as Star Tours, Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain…), the fun rides and baby rides overlap often overlap!
As general tip, everything in Fantasyland and Toon Town are for families, but they’re fun for everyone!
In Fantasyland: Dumbo is fun because you can go up and down while soaring through the air, and your roommates can take a classic selfie as the trees whizz by. The Carousel is over 100 years old and the horses still look beautiful, especially at night, and they spin at a reasonable enough speed that you don’t feel cheated or too “babyish”. There’s 4 dark rides (which are “fun sit down in ride vehicle and look at cool stuff inside” rides) surrounding them: Snow White, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad, and Peter Pan, along with Alice in Wonderland a little bit aways. No matter which ones your group decides to go on, they’re filled with fun visuals and a fun retelling of the story, and the little in you is going to appreciate seeing them. (Personally, I recommend Snow White (tho it can be a bit spooky), Peter Pan (the wait is long, but you get to fly!), and Alice in Wonderland (very pretty colors and is just fun!))
In Toon Town: This is where Mickey and Minnie live! I highly recommend your group goes through Mickey’s house, because it’s filled with wonderful details and at the end, you get a picture taken with Mickey! He may even give you a hug! Minnie sometimes isn’t home, but her house is filled with adorable furniture that makes the perfect backdrop for silly photos! Roger’s Car Toon Spin is 100% worth it if you love the movie because you get transported directly into it! The line itself takes you through iconic locations from the movie, and the ride lets you spin the car all over the place! As for the rest of Toon Town, it’s extremely interactive and has tons of photo opportunities. And if you decide to interact with the environment, such as opening door to a camera shop, opening a mailbox, or picking up a phone as well as a few other things, don’t be surprised if you hear something ;)
As for the rest of Disneyland, there’s plenty of fun “little” rides along with just fun rides! Pirates of the Caribbean is a great ride filled with amazing Disney visuals, storytelling, and animatronics. The Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is the overlay that’ll be up when you go, is themed to Nightmare Before Christmas! I went a few weeks back, and it looks amazing! It’s a must go if you love the movie, and isn’t scary at all! Your whole group will likely enjoy it, as it’s just a well made ride. Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters is a fun ride where you and whoever you’re sitting with are able to battle one another as you help Buzz defeat Emperor Zurg by shooting at targets with a laser gun! It’s a Small World is a classic that your group may go on of their own volition, but if they don’t, convince them by praising how it’s 50 years old, has an unforgettable song, and is a staple to any Disney trip, as well as letting you guys sit down and be in an air conditioned building for a few minutes. The visuals are very cute and fun, and you may even spot some Disney characters throughout your journey!
As for my last ride suggestion, it’s 100% a baby ride. There’s no sugar coating it, it’s made for toddlers. And, as someone who has rode it since they were a toddler, I can attest, it is also the perfect “little” ride! And, the ride I’m talking about is: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh! It’s colorful, has fun songs, and you get to see all the residents of the 100 Acre Wood! It may be hard to convince your group to ride it, but the one thing it has going for it is there’s always a very short wait time. It’s, honestly, one of the shortest lines in the entire park, usually around a wait of 3 (though it will claim to be 5 on the sign outside) to 10 minutes. That alone may convince your group to give it a try if they’re tired and don’t want to wait, but you can also tell them that it leads out towards a candy/stuffie shop at the end, so! yeah!
This response is way longer than anticipated, but! I think it’ll be able to help you! I hope you’ll be able to have an amazing trip and that you’ll be able to partially regress and have a great time! ❤🐭
