12 Educational Things to Do at Disneyland with Kids

Sure, Disneyland is all about fun, fun, fun. But a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth can be educational, too. Whether you want to justify taking the kids out of traditional school for a few days, or you’re a homeschooling family, or you just want to add some learning to your Disney vacation — check out these 13 educational things to do and see around Disneyland with kids.

Learn American history at Great Moments with Lincoln
Learn American history at Great Moments with Lincoln (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

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1. Great Moments with Lincoln

Main Street U.S.A., Disneyland

History comes to life when watching Great Moments with Lincoln. The sixteenth president of the United States was the first completed human audio-animatronic figure. It was created by Walt Disney in 1964 for that year’s World Fair. This attraction has been updated with the most advanced technology available today. It’s amazingly lifelike.

In fact, as a child I remember thinking that I was actually watching the real Abraham Lincoln deliver a speech. Of course, I found this very confusing. Therefore, you may want to make sure young children understand that the man delivering an address compiled from Lincoln’s most well-known speeches is actually a robotic figure!

Before entering the theatre, talk to children about Lincoln’s role in uniting the U.S. and bringing an end to slavery. Lincoln artifacts and artwork in the lobby will help families learn about this important historical figure.

Get creative at Animation Academy at Disney California Adventure
Get creative at Animation Academy (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

2. Animation Academy

Hollywood Land, Disney California Adventure

Artists of all ages learn how to draw a different Disney character every day at Animation Academy. A Disney artist gives step-by-step instructions for creating an illustration that would make Mickey proud. Participants leave with a souvenir sketch they created themselves. Who knows? Maybe your child will be inspired to someday become a Disney imagineer! No reservations are required and drawing classes take place every 30 minutes.

Watch the process of sourdough bread baking at the Boudin Bakery Tour
Watch the process of sourdough bread baking at the Boudin Bakery Tour (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

3. Boudin Bakery Tour

San Fransokyo Square, Disney California Adventure

This walk-through attraction gives young would-be bakers insight into the chemistry behind sourdough bread-making. Did you know that every Boudin loaf is related to The Mother, a yeast strain originally created in the 1850s? This learning experience ends with a tasty bonus: a sample of Boudin’s famous bread.

Take a trip around the globe on "it's a small world"
Take a trip around the globe on “it’s a small world” (Photo credit: Paul Hiffmeyer, Disneyland)

4. “it’s a small world”

Fantasyland, Disneyland

Set off on a journey around the globe on this classic Disney ride. Get a (Disneyfied) glimpse of the traditions and clothing of cultures across the planet as your boat sails to all seven continents.

“It’s a small world” takes travelers to the Polar regions, the British Isles, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, South America, the South Pacific, and the United States. Kids can even hear a variety of foreign languages on this attraction while watching animatronic children sing a song of unity and peace.

Identify various destinations along the route to make the ride more meaningful to young children. With older kids, ask them to point out as many countries as they can during the 15-minute sailing. (Whoever names the most wins a churro!)

This real tree in the Redwood Challenge Trail teaches natural history ~ Educational Things to Do at Disneyland with Kids
This real tree in the Redwood Challenge Trail shows a historic timeline through its rings (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

5. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

Grizzly Peak, Disney California Adventure

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail provides children a break from standing in lines. Here they can explore nature paths, rope bridges, slides, and climbing walls. Signs posted throughout this attraction teach children about California plants and wild animal tracks.

Kids learn about sea turtles and the ocean at Turtle Talk with Crush ~ Educational Things to Do at Disneyland with Kids
Kids learn about sea turtles and the ocean at Turtle Talk with Crush (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

6. Turtle Talk with Crush

Hollywood Land, Disney California Adventure

At Turtle Talk with Crush participants learn about turtles and the ocean, dude! Enter the Aquatorium in the Disney Animation building for a 15-minute animated conversation with Crush, the surfing sea turtle from Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory and Finding Nemo.

Children can ask any questions they want. Questions will vary every time you visit, but the computer graphic Crush tries to keep it humorous and educational. During one session my family attended, a child asked, “What’s it like to be in the ocean?”

Crush replied, “You can find me in water that’s about 68 degrees, which is why you’ll mostly find sea turtles in the coasts off Australia and Mexico.”

Speaking with his best surfer lingo, Crush also taught the audience about echolocation, encouraging little dudes and dudettes to put their hands behind their ears and say, “Ooh” to try to find him.

Read the story of Sleeping Beauty inside her castle ~ Educational Things to Do at Disneyland with Kids
Read the story of Sleeping Beauty inside her castle (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

7. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough

Fantasyland, Disneyland

Encourage kids to read aloud the story of Aurora and Maleficent as your family meanders through winding passageways filled with dioramas from the Sleeping Beauty story. It’s like a picture book come to life!

Inform young Disney goers that a real-life castle with a funny name, Neuschwanstein, inspired Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Germany.

Learn about forced perspective at Snow White's Grotto ~ Educational Things to Do at Disneyland with Kids
Learn about forced perspective at Snow White Grotto (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

8. Snow White Grotto

Fantasyland, Disneyland

When approaching Sleeping Beauty’s Castle from Mainstreet U.S.A., look to your right to find Snow White Grotto. This tranquil fountain features Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Legend has it that the white marble figurines arrived anonymously from Italy as a gift for Walt Disney. Each statue, including the princess, was the same height.

The park placed the princess above the rest of the characters at the top of the fountain, looking down on her housemates. This causes her to appear larger than the rest, even though they’re all the same size. This is called forced perspective and it’s an interesting illusion to explain to kids.

Soarin' Around the World takes riders flying past some the Earth's most iconic monuments ~ Educational things to do at Disneyland with kids
Soarin’ Around the World will be replaced by Soarin’ Over California (Photo credit: Paul Hiffmeyer, Disneyland)

9. Soarin’ Over California

Grizzly Peak, Disney California Adventure

Older children (40+ inches) will enjoy this flight simulation around the Golden State. This attraction was replaced for several years by Soarin’ Around the World but the California-themed version is set to return to Disney California Adventure Park in 2024. Soar past such iconic sights as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, and the waterfront in San Diego.

Learn about traditions, handicrafts and more on Mainstreet U.S.A. ~ Educational things to do at Disneyland with kids
Learn about traditions, handicrafts, and more on Mainstreet U.S.A. (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

10. Main Street Attractions

Main Street U.S.A, Disneyland

A stroll down Main Street U.S.A. provides all sorts of educational things to do at Disneyland with kids. Start with a self-guided tour of Disney history in the Opera House at Town Square, where you can see rare illustrations of Disneyland attractions and a scale model of Disneyland as it looked on opening day, July 17, 1955.

Next, watch in awe as candy makers make works of edible art like brittle, dipped apples and strawberry treats at the Candy Palace.

Then, put a coin in the antique machines at the Penny Arcade to experience the world’s first motion pictures via antique Mutoscopes (automated flip books) and Cail-o-Scopes (stereoscopes).

Next up? Pop into the Silhouette Studio to watch artists cut a person’s profile from a sheet of black paper…in under a minute.

Your family can also learn about the lost art of glass etching at Crystal Arts. There, you can watch as your name or favorite character is etched into glassware using an old-fashioned glass-cutting machine.

Finally, every evening, the Flag Retreat takes place at the flagpole on Mainstreet, U.S.A. During this patriotic ceremony, U.S. military members are honored and recognized. Then, attendees watch the colors retire, during which the American flag is brought down and folded according to tradition.

Use physics to understand the centrifugal and centripedal forces at work on the Mad Tea Party ride ~ Educational Things to Do at Disneyland with Kids
Use physics to understand the centrifugal and centripetal forces at work on the Mad Tea Party ride (Photo credit: Paul Hiffmeyer, Disneyland)

11. Learn Physics at Disneyland

A visit to a Disney theme park provides a fun opportunity to learn the laws of physics. Observing and experiencing rides enables kids to get a firsthand understanding of such scientific concepts as displacement, velocity, and gravitational force.

Download this NASA Amusement Park Physics PDF for experiments and activities to do at Disneyland with kids.

Learn more about Walt Disney and Disneyland on a special behind-the-scenes tour
Learn more about Walt Disney and Disneyland on a special behind-the-scenes tour (Photo credit: Disneyland)

12. Special Disneyland Tours

Take learning at Disneyland to another level with a special behind-the-scenes tour. Book a “Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps” Guided Tour to hear stories about what inspired Walt Disney and the challenges he faced while designing the park, and to experience attractions significant to his past. Other tours available may include the Grand Circle Tour (which focuses on Walt’s love of trains and their history at Disneyland) and seasonal/holiday tours. Learn more here or reserve by calling (714) 781-8687.

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Disneyland character meal with Minnie Mouse
Disneyland character dining with Minnie Mouse (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

Learn More Disney Tips

Read our Disneyland character meal reviews to choose the best one for your family.

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Disneyland in France? Mais oui! Read our tips for visiting Disneyland Paris with kids.

Educational Things to Do at Disneyland with Kids #disney #disneyland #homeschooling #worldschooling #physics

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Do you have any suggestions for other educational things to do and see around Disneyland with kids? Let us know in the comments below!

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24 Comments

  1. In the beginning, California Adventure was more heavily California themed. They used to offer field trips for 4th graders to go learn the state history. It was awesome! So glad there are still so many amazing lessons to learn at Disneyland.

    1. I remember that, Heather. Yes, it seems they are getting further and further away from the California theme. I guess it was too specific/not universal enough to appeal to the masses?!

  2. I never really thought about going to Disney before, it looks beautiful though. May need to add it to my want to do list.

    1. You haven’t?! Well, I hope you will give it a go. Disney Parks are the best theme parks!

  3. I haven’t been to Disney in so long. Last time I was there, it was 1999. These sound like such fun things to do with kids!

  4. I love Animation Academy in Hollywood Studios! I once did a tutorial in Disney that taught me how to draw Olaf!

  5. I love Disney so much! These are all great attractions because they ARE educational but kids might not even realize they are learning while having fun.

  6. Disney land is a great place to visit with the kids! I love how you found educational ways to look at the happiest place on earth!

  7. I love this! Sneaking in some education while the kids have a blast! That is good parenting! Thank you for all the links to good info and tips too!

  8. This a great resource. I think it’s so important to make education a natural part of the kids’ lives, and Disney is full of opportunities for that.

    1. I don’t think most people think Disney is educational at all but there really are lessons to be shared during a Disneyland vacay!