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.
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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.
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.
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.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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Learn More Disney Tips
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Disneyland in France? Mais oui! Read our tips for visiting Disneyland Paris with kids.
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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!
I totally need to plan a vacation, I mean an educational field trip now ????
LOL! No excuses now!
I really love the idea of doing this at a theme park. It is all fun and learning!
It’s all fun and games until someone learns something! LOL! 🙂
This is a really cool list. I didn’t know there was this much educational stuff there.
It’s there if you look for it! 🙂
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.
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?!