Penn Jillette and family enjoy royal treatment at Disneyland

Penn Jillette, wife Emily, and daughter Moxie, who just turned 3 on June 3rd, and son Zolten, 2, recently visited Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park for four days, courtesy of Dancing With the Stars (where Penn was voted off in the first round of the most recent season). Emily said that the kids favorite part was ToonTown and that their preferred ride was King Triton’s Carousel at the California Adventure Park. As for the characters, "they started out loving Mickey and Minnie, but by the time we left it was Goofy and Donald."

Emily had this piece of practical advice for families traveling with kids,

Mealtime is a challenge when you’re traveling with young kids. Eating out at restaurants three meals a day is time-consuming and the options can be really heavy, making you feel sluggish. Keep a box of cereal and carton of milk in your room for breakfast, bring light snacks to eat all day long, skip a traditional lunch, but enjoy a nice dinner. You’ll feel better and save money and calories.

Part of the DWtS package was a VIP guide, who, according to Disney, "serves as your personal guide, host, concierge and storyteller." Said Emily, "This must be the most princess-y thing I’ve ever said,but I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to go to Disney without a VIP guideagain."

They shared these photos with us, for publication on the Celebrity Baby Blog only. (If you’re unable to view this slideshow, click Continue Reading to see the images.)

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How old were your children when you first visited Disneyland or Disney World? What were their favorite areas, rides, and characters?

Comments

Our first trip to WDW was when DS was 21 months and DD 3 1/2.

We just returned from DL last week and DS was 26 months and DD turned 4 while we were there.

Both had a great time, enjoyed meeting the characters and riding on rides.

- Beth on June 12th, 2008

My son was four weeks old, but I worked there at the time and it was more about taking him to see my friends. When most Celebs go they get the VIP guide so Penn’s wife shouldn’t worry they will get one again. They are great at what they do and truly give wonderful experiences.

My daughter was 9 mos old the first time she went. I wasn’t working there anymore and lived out of town. We went for the same reason as the first time.

I think three is the best age to take a child, they really get it then.

- Julie on June 12th, 2008

My oldest was three the first time he went to Disneyland, our middle daughter was 19 months for her first trip and it was to Disneyland Paris, our youngest was four months and it was to Walt Disney World. By the time she turned two our youngest had been to Disney World, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. We’re returning to Disneyland Paris in two weeks time!

- Gigi on June 12th, 2008

We live about 45 minutes from Disneyland and I bought annual passes this year for the first time…can I say we LOVE Disneyland! We go once or twice a month usually during the weekdays, when it is not as busy but my kids were 2 1/2 and 4 the first time they went and they get super excited each and every time we go. For anyone near a DL resort, I would recommend buying the basic passes….it is $66.00 for ONE entry and I bought the basic pass for $129.00 for the whole year. If you live close enough and can afford it, the passes are the way to go, they pay for themselves in two visits….We bought ours on Nov. 30th and I think we have been 12 times since then! I am happy that the whole family had a great DL experience!

- Nicole on June 12th, 2008

We went this past December, girls were 2 1/2 and 9 months – they thought Disney World was the best place ever! But then, isn’t it?

Actually, it’s what I do, selling just Disney vacations, and I always tell people that I truly believe the kids are never too young for their first trip – although they might be too young to remember everything, you will always remember it, and that’s magic :0)

- Heather on June 12th, 2008

I don’t have kids yet, but my first time to Disneyland was when I was 7 and my brother was 6. It was so much fun I think those were great ages to go because we were old enough to get it throughly, go on all the rides (or almost all the rides) and still remember it. After that we went back 4 times consecutively, and now that it’s been 12 years since I was last there, I would LOVE to go again. Just need to convince my husband to go! He’s never been and hates rides. I try to tell him that it’s more than just rides, but that doesn’t seem to be working!

- Devon on June 12th, 2008

My daughter was 2 the first time I took her to Disneyland, she LOVED and still loves the Dumbo ride. She is now 5 and we have gone to Disneyland and California Adventure about 6 times…and all the 6 times she has to take pictures with ALL the princess…lol needless to say everytime we go we spend half the day ‘chasing’ the princess…lol

- Bren on June 12th, 2008

We are going this coming Wednesday to DL, and our kids will be 11, 7, 6, 4 1/2, and 8 months. We have gone about 8 other times, and each and every time was so much fun for the kids. My dd loves anything and everything to do with the princesses, while my boys love the buzz lightyear ride.

- gina on June 12th, 2008

I can’t see the pictures

- Amelia on June 12th, 2008

We live about 15 mins away from Disneyland and got passes when our son was a year old. We took him for his 1st birthday and he loved it. There is actually a ton of stuff for the little ones to do. He’s now 2 1/2 and LOVES the Buzz Lightyear ride and also the Bug’s Life land is the best in the Summer. They have water all over so the kids can stay cool and play in the water. I will probably be taking baby #2 shortly after he/she arrives in January.

- Ashley on June 12th, 2008

I can’t see the pictures either

- Karen on June 12th, 2008

My oldest was 2 when she first went to Disney World. I was pregnant with our youngest, so I didn’t mind only being able to ride the “kiddie” rides with my daughter. We took our kids again when they were 4 and 18-months old. My oldest loves all of the roller coasters and thrill rides. She collects trolls and “otographs.” Our youngest was terrified of the characters when we took her. She beat up Winnie-the-Pooh when he came up to her. We have so many pictures of her screaming and crying because of the characters.

They are now 4 and 7, and my parents have them at Disney World right now. They have been calling with updates all day. They both love all the roller coasters, and all the food.

- Dana on June 12th, 2008

Never mind!! I tried a different browser and it worked

- Amelia on June 12th, 2008

I can’t see any pictures.

- Lilly on June 12th, 2008

why can’t i see the pictures??? grrrr

- jacky on June 12th, 2008

I can’t see the pictures either

- Sabina on June 12th, 2008

I don’t think that one is ever too young to experience the magic of Disney’s theme parks. However, I do think its great if kids can go every few years to experience it at different stages.

My poor hubby’s parents promised him a visit for years and he didn’t get to go until our honeymoon – it was love at first sight for him and we try and go every 2-4 years now.

- Jaclyn on June 12th, 2008

Funny this Amellia can’t see the pictures either

- Amellia on June 12th, 2008

Our first trip (with our 3 yr old daughter) to Disneyland Paris was a month ago, she loved it!
Her favorite rides: “it’s a small world”, “Peter Pan’s Flight”, “Buzz lightyear”, “Dumbo the flying elephant”, “Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups”, “Casey Jr Le petit train du cirque”…etc!
And favorite characters: all the princess!! and winnie the Pooh
I was 11 yrs old the first time I went to Disneyland (in Orlando)and I remember i enjoyed everything!!!

- sil on June 13th, 2008

My son was 11 months when we went to WDW for the first time. He loved ALL the characters, especially Stitch who we got to have breakfast with at Ohana. He rode a lot of the rides, including Maelstrom at Epcot, and just had a ball.

- Nicole on June 13th, 2008

Children don’t remember Disney Land/World most of the time when they’re under 2. I wouldn’t even think about taking my kids until they were atleast 3 or 4. Disney can be expensive and if we’re going to take the trip I want them to be able to remember it. If you can afford to go as many times as you’d like that’s a different story. But most kids don’t really get into until preschool age. I also want them to be self sufficient enough to get to walk the part and be able to ride on some of the rides and have us as parents enjoy it with them.

- J.M. on June 13th, 2008

J.M. I totally agree..
a celebrity dad said that the other night on the tonight show(or jimmy kimmel live).. he was like “why make me go thru all the suffering when they wont even remember it”…lol a harsh way to put it
but my girls are 18 months and 3 so i think im going to wait a few years..but i cant wait!

- melanie on June 13th, 2008

I laufh about this, but my Mom has been telling me that we are going to go to WDW since I was in elementary school. First it was “by the time we are in high school we’ll go.” When I graduated it was “when you are in college we’ll go.” Well I have graduated college and it is looking like we will finally be able to go.

My mom promised me we would go when I was around 8, and I am now 23! My parents have had some rough years financially and my dad just got an awesome job, so we are planning to go to WDW next year. I have been waiting for that for about 15 years!!

- Elyse on June 13th, 2008

The Gillettes seem like real jerks.

- Sarah M on June 14th, 2008

I was seven years old and was the only “big” family trip ever. My first plane ride too! What a feeling! My big brothers watched over me and held my hand the entire trip. My Grandfather paid for the trip sadly he passed away last year. I can’t see Disney stuff anymore unless I know a child cause I know I’ll never go back. I dream to go back. I only wish I wasn’t so scared of rides, yet I was only a kid!

- hab on June 15th, 2008