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Before you go
The 2–3 month countdown, the mindset shift (spoiler: 4–6 rides is plenty), and the pre-trip checklists broken out by tickets, health, tech, and height.
Anchor & Spark
Anchor & Spark
Home ✦ The Disneyland Mom Planner
✦ Our flagship guide
Twenty-five pages of the toddler-first Disney playbook I wish someone had handed me on my first trip. Ride-by-ride strategy, real-mom height charts, nap-friendly itineraries, the packing list I actually use, and the in-park survival tips that saved our family more than one meltdown.
Four years of trips with a toddler and a baby, distilled. Every tip has been stress-tested at 92° in a 70-minute line.
Built around naps, snacks, and 4–6 rides a day — not FOMO. You’ll leave the park with a happy kid, not a step counter.
Designed to scan on your phone while holding a juice box — bright tables, color-coded itineraries, no wall-of-text advice.
✦ What’s inside
I cut anything that didn’t actually help on a real park day. What’s left is the shortest, warmest guide I could write for the trip I keep retaking.
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The 2–3 month countdown, the mindset shift (spoiler: 4–6 rides is plenty), and the pre-trip checklists broken out by tickets, health, tech, and height.
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The packing cubes trick that changed our life, a toddler-specific packing list, and a what NOT to pack page so you’re not the parent with a wagon turned away at the gate.
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The rides toddlers actually love (Dumbo, IASW, KAC, MMRR, Pirates), the shows worth the break, and how to pick character meets without wrecking the day.
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Disneyland and California Adventure, from Any Height up to 46". No more squinting at ride signs with a squirmy 3-year-old.
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A morning-half / stroller-nap / afternoon / evening flow for both parks, plus my favorite quiet spots: Toontown shade, the Frontierland caves, Flo’s V8 at golden hour.
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Meltdown prevention, the “want list” trick for older toddlers, baby care center locations, fireworks viewing, costs-to-expect, and a big permission slip to slow down.
✦ A peek inside
No stock templates. Every page is laid out to be useful in the moment — on your phone, in line, one-handed.
✦ Table of contents
“You don’t have to do it all. Some of the best moments happen when you slow down, find a bench, and just watch your little one light up at the castle. The rides can wait. The snacks can’t. And neither can the hugs.”— Catherine, from the last page of the planner
✦ Before you buy
Both. You’ll get a 25-page PDF you can print at home, drop into GoodNotes on an iPad, or pull up on your phone in line. The itineraries and checklists are designed to be scannable on a small screen.
Written for families with little ones roughly 1–6. The sweet spot is toddlers, but the nap-friendly framework, height charts, and survival tips work beautifully for a baby + preschooler combo (that’s our life).
You’re covered. This is the 2026 edition and it includes free updates for the year. If Disneyland changes something big (new ride, new policy), I’ll update the planner and email you the new PDF.
Checkout runs through Gumroad. You’ll enter your email and payment details on their secure page, get the PDF as an instant download, and a copy of the receipt in your inbox. Any future 2026 updates are emailed to the same address.
No. Anchor & Spark Studio is an independent family studio. We’re not affiliated with or endorsed by the Walt Disney Company — just big fans with a stroller and a spreadsheet.
✦ Ready for a smoother park day?
$37 · Instant PDF download · Free 2026 updates.