Finding the Magic Before Italy: Disneyland with Three Littles
There’s a lot of talk around our upcoming move to Italy… the pasta, the travel, the adventure waiting on the other side of the Atlantic.
But as we count down the months until PCS season, I’m finding myself wanting to hold onto something important:
Adventure doesn’t start when we land overseas.
It’s already here.
So before passports are stamped and boxes are packed, we’re saying yes to the adventures we can find right here in the U.S. And our latest stop brought plenty of magic, memories, and 20,000-step days.
Disneyland with three children under four.
Crazy? Maybe.
Worth it? Absolutely.
Chasing Magic with Three Littles
Traveling with little kids isn’t always relaxing, but it is incredibly fun.
And Disneyland through the eyes of young children might just be one of the most joyful ways to experience it.
Watching their faces light up reminded us that sometimes the greatest adventures are the ones where you slow down enough to see the world through your children’s eyes.
Cars Land Was Pure Magic
For our boys, nothing topped Cars Land.
Seeing Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Radiator Springs brought their favorite movies to life in a way only Disney can.
The excitement. The pointing. The endless "Look, Mom!" moments.
Those are the memories I hope they hold onto.
And honestly?
Mom and Dad's souls lit up a little, too.
Spider-Man Stole the Show
If Cars Land was a dream, Avengers Campus was a close second.
The Spider-Man stunt shows had the boys completely captivated.
And web-slinging our way through the Spider-Man ride? Pure magic.
There’s something special about hearing little voices shriek with delight while everyone in the car wildly flails their arms trying to save the day.
No one was keeping score. We were all just having fun.
The Joy of "Mickey Money"
One of our favorite decisions was giving the boys a little spending money of their own.
Or as they called it:
"Mickey Money."
Instead of saying yes or no to every request, they had the freedom to choose.
Stuffies?
Bubble wands?
Treats?
The occasional spontaneous treasure?
It was theirs to decide.
And seeing them carefully deliberate over their choices might have been even sweeter than the purchases themselves.
There's something magical about watching little kids experience both wonder and independence.
Meeting Mickey… Sort Of
Not every magical moment looked the same.
Our oldest and middle little were thrilled just catching glimpses of Mickey.
Well, mostly.
The middle thought seeing him from afar was just about perfect.
Close enough to wave.
Far enough to avoid any unnecessary hugs.
And baby girl?
Judging by the expression on her face, she would have preferred Mickey continue his day elsewhere.
Some Disney memories are picture-perfect.
Others involve suspicious side-eyes and an immediate desire to be held by Mom.
Honestly, we'll treasure both.
Adventure Before Italy
As we prepare for this next chapter overseas, I keep reminding myself that we don't have to put life on hold waiting for the "big adventure."
Because the truth is, adventure isn't a place.
It's saying yes.
It's making memories.
It's embracing the season you're in.
It's taking the trip.
It's buying the bubble wand.
It's watching fireworks through sleepy eyes after a day that felt impossibly long and somehow went by far too fast.
Italy is coming.
But these memories matter, too.
And I have a feeling that years from now, we won't remember how many steps we walked or how many snacks we packed.
We'll remember the joy.
The wonder.
The laughter.
And the way three little faces lit up when magic became real.
Parent Tips for Disneyland with Littles
Rent the Real Stroller
Skip trying to survive with a tiny umbrella stroller.
We rented a full-size double stroller through ScooterBug, and it was one of the best decisions we made.
Having comfortable seats, storage space, and a smooth ride made those 20,000-step days so much more manageable.
And the delivery and pickup process was incredibly easy.
Don't Skip the Midday Break
Perhaps our biggest parenting win?
Leaving the park.
Instead of pushing through overtired meltdowns, we headed back to the hotel for afternoon naps and some much-needed quiet time.
The payoff was huge.
Rested kids meant we could return for some of the very best parts of Disney:
Shorter evening ride lines
Fireworks under the night sky
Evening parades
A slower pace and happier kids
Sometimes the secret to making the most of Disney is knowing when to pause.
Embrace the Pace of Little Kids
We didn't do every ride.
We didn't maximize every minute.
And we definitely didn't have a perfect itinerary.
But we laughed.
We made memories.
And we found plenty of magic.
Which, I think, is exactly the point.
Because someday we'll board a plane to Italy.
But for now?
We're embracing the adventures that are right in front of us.