My first time going to Walt Disney World was when I was just three years old. I still have the card signed by the Hundred Acre Wood pals for my third birthday!
A lot has changed at Disney World since then, including what a Disney trip looks like with toddlers. These days, I help my friends and family plan their trips with their little ones, doing my best to ensure their toddlers get the most out of the vacation. If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World with toddlers, here are a few things to keep in mind.
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9 Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World With Toddlers
1. Be realistic about what your little one can handle
If you plan to “rope drop” the parks and stay until well after the fireworks finale with your toddler, you may be a bit disappointed. Generally, families with toddlers know that there needs to be a naptime in there somewhere, or things can go south very quickly.
Prioritize what you want to do at the parks and plan around that. If your little one wants to see the fireworks, for instance, you might want to have a leisurely morning so they’ll have more energy at night.
But you’ll still want to have an escape route to your hotel if that naptime is needed. I would especially recommend families with toddlers consider staying on-site so they’ll have access to all of Walt Disney World’s transportation rather than having to drive to your hotel and come back later.
It’s a lot less stressful, and Disney’s transportation can be a relaxing ride all on its own!
2. Know the age cutoff for free park tickets
Children under three have free entry to the parks. That free entry even works for separately ticketed events, like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Regular park and special event entry for kids three to nine are still less expensive than adult prices, but planning your trip for right before your child turns three can still save you hundreds on your overall vacation.
3. Know Disney’s stroller rules
You can bring your own stroller to Walt Disney World, but stroller rentals are available at all the parks and Disney Springs. You can rent per day or save a little money by booking a stroller for the length of your stay. Both single and double strollers are available.
If you want to bring your own stroller, be sure you adhere to the rules. Stroller wagons are prohibited, and if your stroller is bigger than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long, you will not be allowed in with it.
And please, always park your stroller in the designated location. If you just leave it unattended in the wrong spot, a Cast Member will move it.
4. Avoid a high-heat trip
As a rule, I try to avoid going to Walt Disney World between June and August due to the heat. Not only is it hot, but it’s the type of humid heat that makes the air sticky and makes you uncomfortable even when you’re not in direct sunlight. I, as an adult, can handle this heat, though I’d rather not.
As a toddler, it’s hard to expect them to just push through the day while they feel uncomfortable. Whether you plan a trip for the summer or not, be prepared for Florida’s type of heat, as well as its unpredictability. Pack stroller fans, plenty of water, and other cooldown tactics.
You should also be prepared for sudden thunderstorms, as Florida often has them, particularly if you’re traveling between May and September. Pack rain ponchos that fit over the stroller. Disney World does sell ponchos, but you can save some money by bringing your own.
5. Plan out your days around what you want to accomplish
If your toddler is super fixated on one particular thing, you want to plan your day at the park in advance to ensure that you can fit it into your schedule and know if there are any hacks to make it happen. There’s so much to do in Walt Disney World that it’s easy to miss things. Plus, some things are so popular that it’s tough to do them without advance planning.
For instance, if all your little one wants to do is meet Anna and Elsa, be sure you know what parks they’re at (EPCOT) and where to find them (the Royal Summerhus at the Norway Pavillion). Because the line to meet them can be quite long, you may want to plan your day according to the lowest wait times, which often come before noon and in the late evening.
6. Take advantage of Rider Switch
Walt Disney World has plenty of rides without height requirements that toddlers can enjoy throughout its parks. But sometimes parents just want to do some rides that little ones aren’t ready for yet. That’s where Rider Switch comes in.
At the attraction you want to go on, you’ll check in with a Cast Member. One adult and your toddler will wait in a designated area while the other adult goes on the ride. Then, the rider heads to the designated location to stay with the child while the waiting adult goes on the ride. The second adult will not have to wait in line to ride.
This option can also be particularly great if you have more than one child and your other child wants to go on the ride. If you have one older child who is with you, they can ride with both adults. Your older child will love the fact that they can ride twice.
Just keep in mind that the limit for Rider Switch is that the second adult can bring one additional guest on the ride with them, so if you have several older kids, only one will be able to ride twice. Also, keep in mind that Rider Switch is not available for every ride.
7. Bring line-waiting supplies
Even if you plan your Walt Disney World trips to avoid having long waits, you will likely end up in a situation where you have to wait for a time. If you want a good spot for the fireworks, you’ll have to get there early and wait. If you want to meet a character, you’ll likely have to wait. If you want to ride any ride, there will likely be some bit of a wait.
Even if you get Genie+, the service that lets you book Lightning Lanes to skip the standby line, you will still likely have to wait at least a bit throughout your vacation. Toddlers aren’t really known for their patience, so a long wait may be difficult. And the last thing you want to do is waste time in a line and then have to get out later due to a meltdown.
Be sure to pack things to help your little one pass the time, like small, portable games or toys. And be sure you don’t accidentally leave them behind in the stroller.
8. Know where to take breaks
Sometimes, your toddlers just need a little quiet time. And, honestly, you probably do, too. So, find yourself one of Walt Disney World’s best “nap locations.” You don’t actually have to nap, but you can rest up and recharge here.
The best relaxation spot in Magic Kingdom is the Carousel of Progress, but the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover may distract your toddlers a little more, letting you sit back and enjoy the ride. In EPCOT, the American Adventure is a great spot to enjoy the air conditioning and typically low crowd levels.
In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, unfortunately, the best nap spots are gone. (We miss you, Animation Academy and Great Movie Ride.) There aren’t many nap spots in Animal Kingdom, either, but the Discovery Island Trails can be good for a non-crowded, leisurely walk with lovely views of the Tree of Life.
All four parks also have Baby Care Centers, which are designed for the needs of parents with infants and toddlers, including changing stations, feeding stations, and even just a space for kids to sit and decompress. It’s also worth noting that if your child ever separates from you in the park, a Cast Member will escort them to the Baby Care Center.
9. Bring noise-canceling headphones
This tip is especially helpful for children with sensory processing disorders, but really, it can benefit all kids. Little ones can get overstimulated at Disney World (in fact, sometimes it happens to all of us).
Noise-canceling headphones can be a big help during those particularly loud moments, like during a fireworks show. Just be sure to have your toddler test out the headphones at home and get used to wearing them before their trip.
