Tips For Making Your Highly Anticipated Disney Trip Less Stressful
Contributed BY:
Paige Landrum
Growing up in Florida, I visited Walt Disney World a time or two in every age bracket, and then in my twenties, I even worked there! I made some of my fondest memories as a Cast Member, met some lifelong friends, and learned a tip or two about visiting the theme parks.
With all of that, one thing that my previous experiences did not teach me was how to plan a trip to Walt Disney World with kids. Even more specifically... toddlers. Now as a mom of two under the age of four, I've got some firsthand experience that I would love to share with my clients and our readers who are about to visit the most magical place on earth! We know that it may feel overwhelming, but we are here to help advise all families... especially those with young kids.
ONE. Set Expectations Early - Know that you cannot, and will not, do it all.
The beauty about visiting Walt Disney World is there is so much to do and see, you can visit multiple times and not ever do the same thing twice. But that also means that you will not do and see everything in one trip.
I found it was helpful to brief my husband with this information ahead of time (his first trip as an adult) and to make sure I didn't overshare with my three year old (who remembers everything) about things we may possibly do while in the parks. I was careful to share about who we may meet or what rides we may ride, so that when we needed to slip out for the day, we could avoid a meltdown because we had not met ‘so and so’ yet.
TWO. Have a list of Must Do's - Pick 2-3 top priorities for each day.
I found that having a list of 2 or 3 top priorities each day makes the day seem more manageable and you are less likely to leave with disappointment. If you have a long list, it can be difficult to know where to start, but with 2-3 goals it's easier to get a game plan in place, especially when toddlers are in the mix and plans change quickly.
For our most recent trip with our toddlers, our three must-do activities were meet princesses (luckily we have no preference and love them all, which made checking this off the list easy), meet Minnie Mouse specifically, and ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Since I knew ahead of time these were our priorities, we were able to check them off pretty quickly by meeting Ariel in her Grotto (and BONUS!, Riding Under the Sea), meeting Minnie Mouse (and BONUS! Daisy, Goofy, and Donald) at Pete's Silly Sideshow, and ride Dumbo all within two hours. Once our must-dos were done, we could be a little more relaxed knowing that anytime we needed to leave, we had done our top picks.
THREE. Know Your Limits - Sleep in, take a midday break, or leave early.
If you're an open to close park goer, hey, I love that for you. In my mind, I'm still one too. But my one and three year old are far from it. And my husband? His mind is on the resort pool after lunch. Knowing your family's priorities and vacation expectations is important.
With our toddlers, missing a nap can be detrimental to the rest of our day. They are routine babies who love sleep- just like their mama. Don't feel forced to stay in the park all day just to feel like you need to get your money's worth. Sometimes, the extra sleep (whether it’s sleeping in or leaving for a nap), can help maximize the time you spend actually ENJOYING the park. I will choose to spend eight hours in Magic Kingdom with well-rested toddlers over twelve hours with cranky toddlers EVERY TIME. Know your family's limits and don't be afraid that you're missing the fun. Quality over quantity, my friend.
FOUR. Utilize Lightning Lane Multi Pass
An hour or more wait times are a ‘no’ for me.
I know, I know. But hear me out. You've spent the money to be in the park. You've spent the money to travel by plane or by car and you've spent the money either for a Disney resort or to stay somewhere off-site. Do not force yourself and your family to wait in hour+ lines with toddlers who are inevitably going to stress you out because they do not understand the concept of being still, not touching strangers, why it’s so hot out here, or why they have to wait in the first place. To keep the peace for your trip, I strongly encourage budgeting ahead of time for the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. I cannot stress enough how important this is with toddlers for improving the quality of your day. Keep in mind that strollers are not allowed in most lines, so minimizing the time I spend wrangling and holding my one and three year old is very important to me, especially when I am in the parks alone with them. Plus! I looked like a superhero to my husband, who was AMAZED that we waited in no lines!
FIVE. Review Height Requirements Ahead Of Time
Each park has a list of rides that do not have height requirements. I would recommend looking over this list ahead of time, so that you know what you will be able to do with your toddlers. Better yet, utilizing our A Mouse and A Beach services means that we can help you get prepared prior to your trip! Magic Kingdom has the most rides with no height restrictions, and we say is the most family friendly. However, you will find options in every park. Check out this list of rides with their height requirements.
Since I am often in the parks alone with my toddlers, if one can’t ride, no one does, but do keep in mind that you can utilize Rider Switch, if some of your party wants to ride an attraction that someone isn’t tall enough for, or simply doesn't want to ride.
SIX. Character Meet-and-Greet Considerations
I found it helpful to start with meeting Princesses who could talk to the girls, before diving into meeting characters who may seem more overwhelming, like Mickey or Goofy, with faces covered. Both of our girls were pretty intimidated during the first few meetings, but by the end of the second day, our oldest was giving out hugs like they were going out of style. I’ve noticed that as our youngest went from 12 months to 22 months over the last few visits, she has started to become more shy, while our older toddler is giving longer hugs. Be prepared for all reactions and interactions, and don't be disappointed if your toddler is too shy to say hi or give a hug. It could always change the next time!
***What about character dining? I’d love to add this as a tip, but to be honest, I think it just depends on your kids and their ability to dine and sit at a table service restaurant. Personally, I love the thought of character dining. You can check off meeting multiple characters at a time without waiting in line, plus you get to spend an hour or two in the AC while enjoying a delicious meal! However, I am a realist, even at Disney. The thought of sitting down in a restaurant with my two toddlers, who want no part of staying in a high chair or booster seat, who must climb on all the furniture, and who like to throw their entire meal on the ground, gives me hives. Joking aside, we have done a few character meals that have been wonderful, but again, I think each scenario is different. For us, it just depends on the time of day, how many days we have in the parks, if my husband is there to help or if I’m solo-parenting, among many other things. If your toddler is afraid of characters, it may not be the best experience, and you may feel like it was a waste, but if they enjoy meeting them, or at least aren’t scared of them, I would say go for it!
SEVEN. Bring Essentials For Longer Wait Times
Some lines are inevitable, even with purchasing Lightning Lanes, so come prepared. I can usually keep my toddlers entertained with stickers or lollipops. Lollipops are a great go to for us, because it's a special treat they do not get often. I hide these in the back pouch of the diaper bag and pull them out just as they start to get antsy in line, and it wins (almost) every time.
My husband and I will also utilize Rider Switch, which means our toddlers may be waiting for their next activity a little longer than normal. In these circumstances, we love the bubble wand! It keeps them entertained and allows them to play while we take turns with the bigger rides.
Bonus Tip: It’s also helpful to know where the playgrounds are in each park, which are great if your kids need to run around, or if you need somewhere to go during Rider Switch.
While Disney is awesome for tiny kids, remind yourself how often they are restrained. They are in the stroller while going from attraction to attraction and are forced to sit during rides or shows. They have to be still in line A LOT. They may be eating lunch in a highchair, and typically in large crowds, you are not letting them run free in the park (rightfully so). We always try to visit playgrounds to help burn off some energy and take a break from sitting still. You will find playgrounds in each park- both traditional and alternative entertainment areas, and I’d recommend taking advantage of these as much as you can! We LOVE Disney Jr. Play and Dance at Hollywood Studios, it was a great way for kids to shake out some energy while also seeing some of their favorite characters on stage. Parents get to sit down and take a break, and all in the AC! This queue also has TV screens playing Disney Jr. shows which I felt was a great touch!
Some may suggest that you should wait to take your kids to Disney 'when they can remember.' However, I would politely disagree. Kids under the age of 3 are able to visit the parks for free, which can be a huge cost savings to your trip. While it is true that the thought of taking toddlers to Disney can seem both exciting and daunting, with a little extra thought and flexibility, a magical trip is within reach. Let our advisors at A Mouse and A Beach help you create magical memories that last a lifetime! Check out our quote request to get your complimentary planned vacation started!
AMAAB Travel Advisor
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