Traveling to Walt Disney World with Toddlers

Traveling to Walt Disney World with a toddler or preschooler can be so exciting. Their little faces light up when they see the castle, and their excitement is contagious when they catch a wave from their favorite character during a parade. Making magical memories with a toddler at Walt Disney World also takes some prep work from the parents before you go! I am going to share some great tips for traveling to Walt Disney World with a toddler in hopes that you will make some magical memories on that first visit!

Everyone looks forward to that first time they walk down Main Street USA with their child; the magic, the excitement, the look in their eyes, I know I did. I couldn’t wait! Our first Walt Disney World visit was when our twins were four-and we have seen it at all ages and stages since.  After the twins, our daughter was nine months on her first visit, and at this point she has been every year since she was a baby.   Now at 14, she has been more times than we can count-and then some.

Every day I work alongside guests to make sure they are ready and prepared for those magical memories with their little ones.  There is something so special about that first visit to Walt Disney World with your toddler or preschooler!

In our parental minds, it is going to be a MAGICAL experience! They are going to hug Mickey and
kiss his little nose, they’ll want to ride “it’s a small world” on repeat, and and dance on the Happiest Cruise that ever sailed.

But what is the reality of traveling to Walt Disney World with toddlers?  Shyness when they get close to Mickey, eating more ice cream than they ever should, and maybe a melt down or two.  

It’s so important to prepare yourself before traveling to Walt Disney World with a toddler for the first time.  Whether it is their first time, or your entire family’s first time, it can be so magical with some good prep work ahead of time.

Best Tips for Traveling to Walt Disney World with a Toddler

The right stroller, and stroller training your child is important.  Traveling to Walt Disney World with a toddler starts with a good stroller. I was blessed with a stroller child. Even up to about age 3 or 4, my children were fine in a stroller.  Sure, visits to the zoo or mall we definitely let them walk.  But, being able to sit in the stroller, even at an “older” age is great for Walt Disney World.

Choosing the right stroller is something that can really make your trip stress free.  If you have your own stroller, that is great.  Using a familiar stroller is ideal!  A sturdy jogger stroller, or something more sturdy than an umbrella stroller will be the best.  Not only do you want a sturdy and easy to push stroller, but some good storage is great.  Plus, pushing a stroller at Magic Kingdom, where there are train tracks, can be slightly challenging if you don’t have a good stroller.

When our kids were younger, we preferred to rent our stroller from Kingdom Strollers. They are a local Orlando company that delivers strollers to the resorts, and picks them up on departure day.  Super convenient, their strollers are clean, and they have great customer service. There are many companies in the Orlando area that will do this, and I highly recommend renting one for your trip if possible.  

Explore local activities to expose them to rides and characters.  Does your area have a small fair, or does the zoo have some small rides? If so, take some time to explore these before visiting Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World is a very sensory experience-and you want their first time on an attraction to be fun and not stressful.  So enjoying the carousel or train at the zoo, or going to a local princess meet and greet will prepare your child for some of these experiences. 

Research attractions ahead of time.  Watching some YouTube videos of point of view ride alongs on the attractions with your little one is a great idea.  Also, have a list of attractions they can ride based on their height.  There is nothing worse than hyping your Toy Story fan up to ride Slinky Dog, only to see there is a height requirement that he can’t reach, and then they are disappointed.  Along those same lines, knowing that your child LOVES all things outer space does NOT mean he or she will love Space Mountain.  Even if they are tall enough to ride something, don’t assume they will love the experience.  Do some research ahead of time.  

Expect to take a midday break.  Stroller naps are great, as is stepping into Tiki Room or a quick spin on The Seas with Nemo and Friends for a quick break and to sit down. But, leaving the park midday is one of the best things you can do to keep everyone happy.  The theme parks are SO stimulating, and a break will be good for everyone.  Allow yourself about 3-4 hours in your park plan for travel to and from your resort, as well as a good afternoon break and swim at your Walt Disney World Resort.

Choose your Walt Disney World Resort wisely.  Take into consideration the location of the resort, as well as transportation options. While the Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation are super cute and the entire resort is great for littles, did you know those rooms are located as far as you can be from anything at the resort?  That will be a long walk back to teh room at the end of a park day, or to the Landscape of Flavors for some food.  Consider a family suite at Art of Animation, which are in a much better location. Or, for a princess feel, book a Royal Guest Room at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort.  

If it’s in your budget, the proximity of a Magic Kingdom Resort will be priceless.  You will likely be spending at least two of your park days at Magic Kingdom.  So if you can book a stay at a monorail resort, you will be thankful for the proximity and ease of travel to both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

While some of the Walt Disney World Resorts offer great amenities and theming for children, choosing your resort around your child is not a “must”. At least not in my opinion. At the end of the park day, you are the ones who need to get your family back to the resort, or perhaps need a set up with separate sleeping space.  Just because my toddler loves Buzz Lightyear would not be enough to sway me to stay at All Star Movies.  Choose a resort based on you as the parent, what you need to be comfortable with your child, and your budget.

Park hopping with toddlers can work to your advantage. For the longest time, I felt as if park hopping with littles was overwhelming and we would not see enough of a theme park.  But, after a few times of doing so, I have changed my mind on this-it’s not so bad.  

Visiting one park per day is great-don’t get me wrong. However, it also comes with a “sun up to sun down” park touring mentality for a lot of guests.  That said, leaving a park and returning to the same park doesn’t always make sense.  What if you are at Animal Kingdom, and leave for a mid afternoon break?   But, Animal Kingdom closes at 6PM?  The likelihood, or even ability to return after a much needed break is probably low.  But, rope dropping and staying until park close is also not going to happen with a toddler. So what’s the happy medium?  Park hopping. 

Visiting a park, such as Animal Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios early in the day and park hopping to a park open later can work really well. Even if you do not stay late into the night, having that flexibility and option can maximize your park time while still giving some time to resting and recharging during the afternoon.

Overall, when traveling to Walt Disney World with toddlers, being flexible on all fronts is key. Give yourself, and your kiddo, some grace. Do your research ahead of time, enlist the assistance of a good travel advisor who is experienced with Disney travel, and you will have a truly magical vacation!

Helpful Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World with Kids

• Visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Kids
• Visiting Animal Kingdom with Kids
• Visiting EPCOT with Kids
• Visiting Magic Kingdom with Kids
• Top Things to do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Kids
• Best Places to Meet Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World