1. Stay as long as you can
By staying as long as you can, you'll have more time to do everything on your wish list. A week is the most recommended stay length for families. You won't feel pressured trying to fit an entire park into one day because you know you'll have time to come back to that park. Midday naps and requests to go back to the hotel for swimming won't seem like such a big deal. We do suggest having an extra day just for the pool and relaxing. Giving yourself enough time to do everything without rushing is a key part of visiting Disney World with toddlers and babies. Part of your vacation should definitely involve some relaxing, especially when traveling with toddlers and babies.
2. Stay on property
You may be thinking, oh no we can’t afford that, but this really can make or break your trip to Disney World with toddlers and babies. Staying on property includes free
transportation to the parks and airport, free Magic Bands, the ability to book your FastPass+ reservations 60 days in advance and so much more. It also means going back to your room for a midday nap is much more doable.
If you’re thinking you can’t afford a Disney property or they won’t be nice enough, don’t worry. Since Disney World is so big, it offers a ton of hotel choices ranging from value to deluxe. The value hotels come in at a great price, especially if you catch one of their 20- 30% off sales. Our favorite property is Art of Animation resort for littles as it includes the best Disney themed setting and has suites for larger families. While the moderate properties are a bit higher in price, they do offer slightly nicer rooms with more of a resort feel. No matter which hotel you choose to stay at, you’ll be glad you stayed on property when you visit Disney World with toddlers and babies.
3. Don’t park hop
Since the four parks of Disney World are so far away from each other, park hopping can take anywhere from 20-40 minutes on average travel time. While that can be easy for adults, it can be long for your little ones (and you). It may seem like a good idea until you have to pack your stroller onto the bus each time or your toddler is melting down because they have to leave a Park. So, while we’d usually recommend a Park Hopper ticket for families with older children, it’s better to choose the Base ticket option when you visit Disney World with toddlers and babies. It just keeps things a little simpler and focused. Trust us, your babies and toddlers will be stimulated enough with one park per day!
4. Get to the park early
You might be thinking that getting your toddler and baby ready as early as possible sounds crazy, but hear me out. Mornings are one of the coolest parts of the day and typically not as busy as the afternoon. Plus, your kids will probably act the best in those hours of 8 am – 11 am. Why? Because the afternoon heat, nap time and lunch time hungers are still far off. And, if you spend all of the morning in the park, you won’t feel like you’ve barely done anything when you go back to the hotel for a nap.
5. Your stroller will be your best friend
You can choose to bring your own stroller or rent one from Disney World or another nearby rental company. Whichever you choose, just make sure you have one when you visit Disney World with toddlers and babies. Strollers are perfect for holding all your things and letting your toddler or baby nap without having to leave the park. Not all kids like to nap in a stroller, but if yours do, use that to your advantage. Strollers aren’t allowed in ride lines, so make sure to spend any nap times shopping or eating to avoid having to wake your little one.
If you're worried about keeping track of your stroller, you can add some flair to make it more easily identifiable. Since there are designated stroller parking areas throughout the Resort (with Cast Members assigned to help keep things orderly), you can make your stroller jump out in the crowd by attaching colorful ribbon, or even a small sign with your name on it. Some families even purchase a balloon for the sole purpose of attaching it to the stroller to help it stand out. Expert tip: if your purchase balloon pops while at Walt Disney World, you can take your receipt and popped balloon to a balloon vendor Cast Member to be replaced for free.
6. Ride everything
While strollers aren’t allowed on the rides or ride lines, nearly every ride allows toddlers and babies in Disney World. Very few have height restrictions and if they do, you can use the Rider Switch program so everyone in your party can still ride without waiting in line twice.
Considering there are 50 actual rides and over 100 total attractions including entertainment, you can see that toddlers and babies can enjoy most of them. If you want to ride any of the rides listed above, just head to the line with your entire family. Let the Cast Member know that you want to use Rider Switch and they’ll give you a pass. The parent and/or older kids that would like to ride can head through the line. Once they’re done, the other parent and any remaining riders (up to three total) will take that pass to the FastPass+ entrance to ride.
7. Be prepared
Make sure to have necessities like diapers, Band-Aids, sunscreen and wipes ready when you visit Disney World with toddlers and babies. If you happen to forget any of these items, don’t panic. Each park has a Baby Care Center and First Aid Center for you to use. At the Baby Care Center, you’ll be able to purchase any forgotten items as well as nurse or let your little one nap. The Baby Care Centers are peaceful, quiet and great for expectant moms to take a break in as well. At the First Aid Centers, you’ll be able to get free Band-Aids and have any injuries looked at. Injuries don’t happen very often at the parks, but dehydration can occur a lot. It’s a great reminder to drink your water when you’re in the parks!
Another tip for traveling to Disney World with babies and toddlers is to have diapers shipped directly to your hotel. Whether you're driving or flying, diapers take up a lot of room! So, pack only what you need during travel, and use a service like Amazon or grocery delivery to have a box sent to your hotel. Many Walt Disney World Resort hotels offer complimentary grocery delivery, and if you make arrangements ahead of time they're happy to accept your delivery for you.
8. Don’t forget about yourself
My biggest piece of advice when you visit Disney World with toddlers and babies is to don’t spend so much time worrying about all of the what-ifs that you forget about yourself. I’ve seen many parents remember to keep their kids fed, hydrated and sunscreened while forgetting to do the same for themselves. While a vacation in Disney
World is always magical, it will be much more so if YOU stay well fed, hydrated and properly protected from the sun. It’s also a nice reminder not to stress every detail. There’s always going to be something that doesn’t go exactly like it should and that’s okay. If Mom and Dad are able to roll with it and still have a good time, the kids are much more likely to do the same! Plus, taking care of yourself sounds like the perfect reason for a cream-cheese filled pretzel or ice cream sundae while sitting in the shade.
9. Use a Travel Agent
Plan your next trip to Disney World now! Seek out the expertise of a Travel Agent. Their services are free and Travel Agents are experts! Travel Agents are trained by Disney and extremely knowledgeable! Leave the planning to an expert for less stress for you! Disney offers discounted packages all year long. Contact Take Me To The Mouse Vacations, a certified Disney Destinations planner, today to plan your next Disney Vacation!
Facebook: Facebook.com/takemetothemousevacations or E-mail: Kelly@JJParadisetravel.com
As a mother of soon to be 5 littles, I know you can have an amazing trip to Disney World with toddlers and babies in tow!
