25 Disneyland Experiences Preschoolers Love (That Aren't Rides!)

My family has taken our kids to Disneyland at nearly every age and stage including when they were babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. While some folks are skeptical of taking such a pricey vacation with kids when they are too young to remember it, I think the preschool age is often the most magical time for Disney trips.

This stage is when the kids really believe in the characters and have the most genuine interactions when meeting them. Seeing my kids live out their Disney dreams has been pretty memorable for me as a parent.

That said, preschoolers can get a bit antsy when forced to stand in long ride lines at a theme park for hours on end. While there are lots of line-avoidance strategies I use at Disneyland, some times of day and some times of year are harder to hack.

Related: Top Rides for Toddlers & Preschoolers at Disneyland

Related: Top Rides for Toddlers & Preschoolers at Disney California Adventure

During these times, make time to seek out all the other kinds of non-ride Disney magic - because there is a lot of it. After dozens of Disneyland trips, here are my top 25 activities that are perfectly geared to the preschool set that don't require standing in a regular ride line at all.

Fun Things to Do at Disneyland with Preschoolers that Aren't Rides

1. Watch movies at Main Street Cinema.

Right in the middle of Main Street U.S.A. is a theater showing classic Disney cartoons like Steamboat Willie. Pop in and experience some Disney cartoon history and enjoy the air conditioning on a hot day. My husband and daughter made a tradition to do together back when she was a preschooler, and we still never miss it on any trip.

2. Party with Bluey.

Bluey is the hottest character with young kids right now, and she just made her Disneyland debut earlier this season. Head over to the Fantasyland Theatre where Bluey and Bingo put on an interactive stage show 5 times daily that preschoolers are going crazy for. The show runs over a half hour long and is in the shade, so it's the perfect break from the heat in the afternoon especially when ride lines can get long.

3. Share a Dole Whip. Or a churro. Or a Mickey bar.

Best way to avoid a preschooler meltdown after a long day? A little sugar!

There are so many awesome Disneyland snacks to tempt everyone's taste buds. I will confess to giving my kiddos a mid-morning churro for "brunch," and we almost never miss the chance to split a Dole Whip to cool off on a hot afternoon. Healthy eating can wait for a non-Disneyland day.

4. Play in Toontown.

Toontown is an area that is totally geared to the preschool and toddler set. There is lots to explore during free play time, like Donald's Boat and Goofy's House. When Minnie Mouse is not in residence meeting kids in Minnie's House, you can also stroll in and play in her living room and kitchen.

5. Try to pull the sword from the stone.

Are your preschoolers strong enough to break the spell from the classic movie? Test their strength right between the castle and King Arthur Carrousel in Fantasyland. It makes for a memorable photo opportunity too.

6. Ride the monorail.

The monorail that goes from one end of Downtown Disney into Tomorrowland does double duty for preschoolers - transportation for tired feet as well as entertainment. Riding it gives you panoramic views of Tomorrowland, the hotels on Harbor Boulevard, the Grand Californian, and Downtown Disney.

7. Play Pirate on Tom Sawyer Island.

If you have a pirate-loving preschooler, take the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island - one of our family's favorite stops with preschoolers. Uncrowded with room to roam and explore, it's the perfect mid-afternoon free play adventure.

8. Watch the Dapper Dans.

The nation's most famous barbershop quartet puts on quite a show along Main Street several times a day. The show features songs little ones will love to dance along with, plus visually engaging costumes, fun choreography, and the occasional wacky instrument.

9. Grab an ice cream at Gibson Girl.

Some of the most decadent ice cream sundaes can be found along Main Street U.S.A. at Gibson Girl Creamery. Grab one to split for the whole family for maximum fun or stop in for a single scoop cone for a quick treat.

10. Catch a cavalcade.

Disneyland currently doesn't have any daytime parades but does regularly offer shorter character cavalcades down the parade route. In my opinion, cavalcades are a much better fit with impatient preschoolers. You don't have to camp out for a long time beforehand to get a great viewing spot. Instead, you can often catch them on the go and get a quick burst of entertainment and a favorite character sighting more organically.

11. Draw your favorite Disney character.

Over in Disney California Adventure, you can escape the heat by heading into the Animation Building where one of the offerings is Animation Academy. Here, a Disney animator will show you and your children, step-by-step, how to draw a Disney character. Except on the very busiest and hottest of afternoons, there is almost never a line for this experience.

12. Spin a kugel ball in Tomorrowland or Pixar Pier.

The kugel ball in Tomorrowland is one of those spots that adults will totally overlook while kids can't get enough. This ball is a giant granite sphere supported by a thin film of pressurized water that young kids can push and rotate. It's a great waiting spot if big siblings are riding Space Mountain, with ample seating all around as well as shade. We have always stopped here for a rest with my kids every trip - even now that they are older!

There's a similar installment that looks like the Luxo ball from Toy Story over in DCA as well, so this is one preschool-friendly activity that you can do in either park.

13. Hunt for Hidden Mickeys.

Hidden all over the parks are renderings of Mickey's iconic three circled silhouette. Show your preschoolers how to spot them and go on a hunt. Snap pictures of your finds! Just be aware - you may create a monster because my kids have always continued their hidden Mickey hunts in real life for many months after our Disney trips.

14. Walk through Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Believe it or not, I visited Disneyland for over a decade before I learned that that there was a walk-through exhibit within Sleeping Beauty Castle! Wind through narrow passageways to view dioramas featuring Aurora and Maleficent - great for preschoolers who are deep into the "princess phase." The pathway does go up and down stairs in the dark so watch younger preschoolers a bit carefully.

15. Laugh at a storytelling show at Fantasy Faire's Royal Theatre.

One of the newer additions to Disneyland in the last several years is Princess Fantasy Faire. It features an outdoor theater showing comical renditions of Disney classics. Preschoolers will love the antics of the actors and can even sit up close in the floor seating for the best view.

16. Character meet and greet 'til ya drop.

Even when lines are long for rides, it's often easy to find character meet-and-greets with reasonable lines. Use the Disneyland app to find when characters are appearing to seek out your preschooler's favorite or find a hidden spot where waits are shortest.

17. Collect pressed pennies.

By the time your child reaches preschool age, they may start to be interested in collecting things. Get an inexpensive folio at one of the Disney gift shops and fill it with pressed pennies from the machines scattered throughout the parks. At just $1 each, they are one of the cheapest souvenirs you can find at Disneyland so it's not a bad one for your child to get hooked on!

18. Visit Shrunken Ned, Fortune Red, or Esmeralda.

There are three historical fortune telling machines hidden in a few nooks and crannies in Disneyland that are a lot of fun for the preschool crowd. For a few quarters, these machines will deliver a wacky fortune card to your child to collect.

Look for Shrunken Ned in the gift shop directly across from the Jungle Cruise, Esmeralda in Penny Arcade on Main Street U.S.A. and Fortune Red in New Orleans Square near the exit of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

19. Trade Disney pins.

Yet another fun collecting tradition is trading pins at Disney parks. Get a lanyard and a starter kit for your preschooler and teach him or her how to approach cast members and ask for trades.

20. Play Boardwalk games in DCA.

Over in the Pixar Pier area of California Adventure is a row of classic boardwalk games that you can play for an extra fee for the chance to win prizes. When the line for Toy Storia Midway Mania gets too long, this is a smart second choice.

21. Hit your hotel's pool.

It cannot be all-park, all-the-time on a Disneyland vacation with preschoolers. Luckily, the mild Southern California weather means that it is pool weather most months out of the year. Make sure to book a hotel with a nice pool and schedule mid-afternoon pool breaks.

My kids are particularly partial to the monorail pool at the Disneyland Hotel if you can splurge for an on-property option. Off property one of the best pool choices is the waterpark at the Courtyard Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance.

Related: Best Hotels within Walking Distance of Disneyland (with specific details about each hotel's pool included!)

22. Dine with the characters.

While character dining at Disneyland is a bit more expensive than most other meals, the upcharge is SO worth it with preschoolers. The meals offer a great way to get in a lot of photos and meet and greet opportunities with no lines because the character simply arrive at your table while you eat. My family schedules one character meal every trip for that reason.

23. Sing along to Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!

One of the best entertainment options for preschoolers at Disneyland is Disney Jr. stage show in California Adventure. The show has been redone several times over the years, and currently features characters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The show clocks in at about 20 minutes and is in the A/C with seating on the floor. When my kids were little, they were mesmerized every time.

24. Run through the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.

Another place to blow off preschooler team to explore and engage in free play is Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure. There are slides, swings, and rickety bridges. Santa even sets up shop here during the Disneyland holiday season. Pull up the map and explore at your leisure.

25. Pose for a silhouette.

One of the most reasonably-priced and most memorable souvenirs at Disneyland is a silhouette of your child, hand cut at the studio on Main Street. Several lovely artists have made it their life's work. Silhouettes are cut in a matter of minutes which make them perfect for antsy preschoolers!

Have you taken a preschooler to Disneyland? What other non-ride finds have worked for you?