Let’s be real – for every Instagram-worthy adorable picture of your toddler, there are a dozen not-pictured meltdowns. Florida is hot and Disney is over-stimulation station. There’s just no way around avoiding every single meltdown. Though some people will suggest waiting to take your kids to Disney until they can remember, that’s not our advice. Taking toddlers to Disney World is still pure magic – it just requires a little extra effort. Based on our experience, this post offers some suggestions for packing, pacing, and keeping everybody happy.
Pre-Trip Logistics & Gear
Choosing the Right Resort
If you’re opting to stay on-property, the most cost-effective resorts are the All Star properties. While we love the All Stars, having stayed at all three over the years, they are no longer the best choice for us now that we have a toddler. Staying at the All Start resorts means that you are reliant exclusively on the Disney bus system. The bus system is great, but it requires that you break down your stroller EVERY time you board the bus. It’s not only annoying, but the absolutely last thing you want to do if you’re headed back for a mid-day nap and your toddler has already fallen a asleep in the stroller.
To help minimize tragic instances like this, we recommend booking either a Skyliner or monorail resort. With Skyliner resorts, you get the option to take the Skyliner to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. For each of the monorail resorts, you can take the monorail to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. If you’re looking for the most cost-effective option, we strongly recommend either the Pop Century or Art of Animation resort. Feel free to check out our post comparing these two value resorts. That’s not to say that it’s not worth the splurge to get a villa or suite at a deluxe resort. Those separate bedrooms can be magical to help facilitate timely naps and bed time.
Stroller Strategy
There’s no question that you need to bring a stroller to Disney if you’re going with one or more toddlers. We’ve actually seen the suggestion that you’ll likely want to have a stroller until your kid(s) are pushing 8 or 9 because it’s just so much walking.
Your strategy should be focused on 1) renting or bringing your own and 2) size restrictions. If you have a day-to-day stroller that works really well for you, bring it. If you’re traveling to Disney with kids of different ages, and specifically one that might have already aged out of a stroller, we suggest renting one. That way your, for example, 7-year-old and 3-year-old both have a seat to rest their legs. While this hasn’t applied to us yet, we recommend renting your stroller from a third-party (i.e. not in any of the Disney parks). When you rent a stroller in the park, you need to return it at the front gate when you leave. We prefer the idea of a stroller getting dropped off at our resort, so that we can take it to and from the parks as we need. Also note that Disney has an official size limit of a maximum of 31″ wide and 52″ long. There is also a universal ban on all stroller wagons.
For a bonus tip, you should also consider decorating your stroller with something that’s easy to spot like a bright ribbon or lights. Cast Members frequently shimmy strollers around for efficiency, and you want to be able to spot your stroller quickly if it’s been moved.
Essential Strategies for Disney World with Toddlers
To Nap or Not to Nap
Our first suggestions, if it all possible, is a building in a midday break. This suggestion does not apply to everyone. We have a cousin with a toddler who will sleep through ANYTHING. When her family goes to Disney World, they really don’t need to build in a midday break for a nap – their kid will just nap when they get tired. That does not apply for us and Skippy. Skippy needs it to be chill and quiet. During our off-day from the parks, we hit up the pool in the AM and then back to the room for a nap before adventuring to Disney Springs. If you can block off time to travel back to the hotel midday – some time between 1PM and 4PM – your kid(s) will be better for it. That’s the kind of recharge needed, especially if you’re planning on staying for the fireworks!
Baby Care Centers
The biggest tool to have in your back pocket, we think, is knowing where the baby care centers are. If you’re unfamiliar, each Disney park has a baby care center. These are air-conditioned, quiet, dedicated spaces for nursing, changing diapers, and just generally stepping outside the chaos. Each baby care center also has a shop where you can buy some emergency supplies like diapers, wipes, and snacks. For our Magic Kingdom park days, we intentionally detoured back to the baby care center to change Skippy and step out of the heat.
Pacing Over Productivity
Ultimately, you know your kid(s) best. Follow their pace on your park days. While it’s compelling to try and do every ride, that’s just impractical with a toddler. Follow their pace. Are they ready to close down the park? Go for it. Do they need to take things a little slower? Have at it. Remember that you can also use the rider switch option so the older kids and adults can still ride the rides they want to. On our last trip, Nicole, my mother-in-law, and I all went to ride Space Mountain while my father-in-law hung out with Skippy while they played in the Dumbo place space. It worked so well!
Quick Park Breakdown for Toddlers
| Park | Toddler Highlights | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Kingdom | The most number of rides with zero height requirements, character meets | High sensory overload & crowds |
| EPCOT | Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Aquarium, Journey into Water | Lots of walking distance |
| Hollywood Studios | Toy Story Land, Animation Courtyard | Limited shade and very few rides with no height requirement |
| Animal Kingdom | Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, Bluey, Animals | Walking trails can be long |
Preparing Your Toddler for Disney World
Our biggest tip to prepare your little for Disney World is to introduce them to the songs they’ll hear in the parks. We started playing the songs from this playlist for Skippy a couple of months before their first trip. The first time we rode it’s a small world, their face lit up because they knew the song! The same things applied for Haunted Mansion and Pirates. This was super helpful because instead of being unsettled by what I’m sure felt like a weird experience, Skipped tuned into the song and got really excited.
For character interactions, check out opportunities near you to have your toddler meet characters. Some of the restaurants near us host kids-nights where they pay a performer to come and entertain littles while you eat dinner. We’ve eaten with the Super Mario Brothers, Bluey, Elmo, and Chef Minnie. The latter was super cute! By the time we went to Disney, Skippy with familiar with these wild looking figures. They has some great interactions with Pluto – Skippy likes the fuzzy characters the most.
Toddler Packing Checklist (The Park Bag)
In addition to your own supplies, we suggest the following to help minimize meltdowns when taking toddlers to Disney World:
- Extra outfit changes (at least 1 per toddler) and ziplock bags. Not only do you need to worry about kids getting messy and/or dirty, but there are also splashpads in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT that your toddler might want to go nuts in
- Endless snacks. Every parents of a toddler knows that there’s no such thing as too many snacks, and this rule applies for Disney World as well.
- Portable mini-fan with stroller clip. It’s HOT in Florida. A portable, re-chargable stroller can help keep your toddlers from getting extra uncomfortable in their stroller
- Noise-cancelling headphones for fireworks and loud indoor shows. We haven’t experienced them yet, but we’ve heard the new shows in Hollywood Studios, in particular, are a little loud
- Sunscreen. Enough said.
Conclusion
Remember that memories are made in the small moments – even if those moments are spent watching the Disney ducks near Cinderella’s Castle. A little strategic planning goes a long way when mapping out a Disney World trip. What’s your #1 tip for traveling to Disney World with toddlers? Let us know in the comments!
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