Considering going to Walt Disney World with a toddler? Jacob was 2 years and 2 months on his first trip and we had a blast! Molly Kate was just shy of 2 years when we moved to the Orlando area. We take her all the time and she has a lot of fun in the parks. Here are 10 tips for taking toddlers to Walt Disney World:
1. Bring a stroller – Even if your toddler does not use a stroller at home, they are going to need one at Disney World. Those little legs can’t handle 12 miles a day and Mom and Dad’s arms will end up carrying them a lot. Plus a stroller is great to carry all your goods for the park. You can always park your stroller in one of the Cast Member manned stroller parking areas and leave it for a few hours.
2. Pack a change of clothes – Even if your toddler goes the whole day in the same outfit at home, don’t expect that to happen at Disney World. Make sure you toss an extra outfit in your park bag.
3. Pack a small toy – Bring a small toy for your child to play with while they wait in line. Our favorites are Water Wow books and a Magnadoodle.
4. Pack a bunch of snacks – Don’t depend on Disney food to please your toddler. Pack a bunch of their favorite snacks. Toddlers get overwhelmed easily. Having things they recognize can make your life a lot easier.
5. Bring a small pad of Post It notes – If your toddler is potty trained, bring a small pad of Post It notes to put over the flush sensor in the toilets. Just make sure you remove it after!
6. Leave the lovey – I know it is tempting to let your child bring their lovey to the parks, but don’t do it. I have heard too many horror stories of a lovey lost and never returned. Purchase a new stuffed animal or blanket for your child and tell them it is their special Disney item.
7. Take a break – Toddlers can’t go 12 hours in the Disney parks. Plan on taking a break in a quiet place. This could be your resort room, another resort or a quiet area of the parks.
8. Run around – Toddlers need some time to run around and stretch their legs. Head to one of the playgrounds in the parks or find a tucked away area where they can run loose for a few minutes.
9. Find the little things – One of Molly Kate’s favorite things to do at Hollywood Studios is to head into the Disney Studio Store near Launch Bay and play with this display they have set up for a Minnie Mouse wooden dress up doll. She will stand there and play with it for 10-15 minutes. There are a number of things like that set up throughout the park. Always be looking for it and don’t be afraid to stop and let your child play for a minute.
10. Visit the Baby Care Centers – Even though your toddler is no longer a baby, you can still find the Baby Care Centers to be useful. There is a toddler area complete with tot sized tables and chairs. A Disney movie is usually playing on the tv and there are coloring pages available for their enjoyment.
Tips from CouponingtoDisney readers:
The stroller is your best friend! Take a mid afternoon break. Up until this year when my kids are now 7 and 10 it was mandatory to rest. We would go back to the resort and both kids had to lay done and watch tv quietly for an hour, if they didn’t fall asleep we could go swim for a bit but we needed to take a break before heading back to the park. I always tell my clients that it’s okay if you don’t see and do everything. Just live in the moment and have a great time! – Lori
If you can afford it stay at a resort on the monorail loop and with contemporary you can even walk to MK. The monorail is the only transportation you can use without folding your stroller up (at Wilderness Lodge sometimes we could board with the child in stroller sometimes not depending on the boat). Fast pass what you think they will like i.e. Peter Pan, Small World, maybe mine train for the eldest. Bring lots of snacks and also bring straws because sometimes I have issues finding straws or bring their sippy cups. – Mandy
My little bit of advice (having done it myself hundreds of times with little ones) is to go with the flow. Do not try to do everything. Only pick a few must do’s at every park and spend the time enjoying the moments with your little ones. Disney is expensive, so a lot of families feel like they have to do it all. Just enjoy the moments! – Allison
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.