One of the first big trips that we took the kids on was a visit to Disney World for Smiley’s 6th birthday. Visiting the park with a 6-year-old is a cakewalk, but visiting Disney with toddlers is a totally different ball game. It takes planning, patience, and a little bit of spiked Dole Whip to make it through the day(s).
As Floridians, we grew up going to Disney several times each year. I’ve had the chance to visit as a child, as a teen (with and without my parents), as an “adult”, and as a parent. After three decades of visiting Disney, we’ve come to learn the in’s and out’s of the theme park and we’d love to share some advice with you!
What is the Perfect Age to Visit Disney?
Honestly, if you have the opportunity to take the kids to Disney World- do it. I now know what people mean when they say, “You haven’t experienced Disney until you’ve seen it through your child’s eyes.”
Regardless of your child’s age, Disney will be a magical experience. Sure, you kid might not remember their trip but you will. Even young children will have an amazing time. Even better, children under the age of three get into the park for free so the trip can be even more affordable when they are younger.
Of course, the older a kid is the more rides they’ll be able to experience. However, there is still plenty to do if you are planning on hitting up Disney with toddlers. There were several rides that the twins were able to ride.
Our Guide to Visiting Disney with Toddlers
Don’t Set the Bar Too High
Experiencing Disney with a toddler is totally different than hitting it up with older kids or even as adults. If you go as a grown-up or with older kids, you’re able to cram in a ton of rides, stay at the park all day, and end the day by staying for the fireworks.
Throw all of those ideas out the window if you’re going to Disney with a toddler. Instead of planning on hitting every ride possible, narrow that down to 2 or 3 a day. Yes, you read that right.
Don’t worry though, there is so much more to Disney World that doesn’t involve long lines that your kid will absolutely love! There are parades, random appearances by characters, play areas, and shows to entertain them.
Determine Which Park(s) You Want to Visit
Most of the rides at Magic Kingdom are kid friendly. This will probably be your best bet if you only have one day at the parks. Do yourself a favor and don’t even think about park hopping with a toddler!
Our Suggestions when visiting Disney with Toddlers
1 Day- Magic Kingdom
2 Days- Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios
3 Days- Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios
4 Days- Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot or Magic Kingdom again!
5 Days- Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Magic Kingdom again!
Create a Loose Itinerary
If your toddlers are anything like ours, they are up at the crack of dawn. Seriously, our kids are normally up around 6:30 every morning. For us, this meant that being at the park when it opens is totally feasible! We were able to watch the Rope Dropping Ceremony, take advantage of short wait times, and be out of the park in time for a late nap.
Keeping in mind that you’ll want to only focus on 3 “Must Dos”, you’ll want to loosely plan your day. We planned out what two rides we wanted to experience and one character meet and greet each day. Not knowing what the wait times would be like while we were there, we didn’t want to set the bar too high and be disappointed. Everything else that we experienced was a bonus!
We planned on being out of the park by nap time, and we were off by about 1 hour. The twins (then early 2 year-olds) and Smiley both passed out in the car after exhaustion. After their nap, we hit up Disney Springs for dinner at Rainforest Cafe and more Disney-themed fun.
Research the Stroller Regulations
If you’re heading to Disney with toddlers, chances are you’ll be bringing or renting a stroller. Really, it’s the only way to tackle the massive park when you’re traveling with small children
Stroller Regulations
- Strollers larger than 31” (79 cm) in width and 52” (132cm) in length are not permitted. Stroller wagons are also not permitted.
- Strollers are not allowed on escalators. Use of strollers is permitted on elevators and ramps, available at certain locations.
- A child must be removed from his or her stroller while riding on a parking lot tram.
- Do not leave personal belongings in an unattended stroller.
- Strollers may be moved by a Cast Member due to operational needs.
Stroller Tag Printables
Since strollers are not permitted in the lines, visitors park their strollers in one of the designated parking areas. Sometimes, several rides will share the same stroller parking lot which means you could easily have hundreds of strollers crammed in a single area- especially near the toddler-friendly rides in areas like Fantasyland.
Here’s where it gets even trickier! There are stroller valet people who actually move around strollers so that it is easier for other people to park. This means that your stroller will most likely. This makes it even more difficult to find. Trust me, there is nothing worse than trying to hunt down where your stroller has been moved to when you’re hot, tired, and cranky!
We have TONS of Stroller Tag Printables available at our shop.
Download the Disney World App
Ya’ll, the Disney World app is a totally game changer! You can use to to check the wait times for rides, view maps, order food, scope out show times, and schedule Fastpasses.
We while we were in line for one attraction/ride we were able to look to see what is nearby and how long the wait times are. We even pre-ordered our lunch so that it was ready for us when we got to the restaurant.
Take Advantages of FastPass+!
I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that your toddler probably won’t last longer than 30 minutes waiting in line. With the purchase of all Disney World tickets, you get 3 free FastPasses a day! A FastPass means that you are reserving your spot for a ride or attraction during a one-hour window of time. Now, this doesn’t mean you won’t be standing in line, it just means that it will be a much shorter line.
We like to use them to secure spots for 2 rides and 1 character meet and greet.
You can book your FastPass+ slots 30 days in advance, or 60 days in advance if you are staying at a Disney Resort. The earlier you try to book these time slots, the more likely you’ll be able to reserve your favorite ride. Some Fastpasses go quickly!
Use Rider Switch/Single Rider Lines
If you can’t resist some of the big kid/adult rides that your toddler can’t go on- don’t worry, Disney has a plan! They have a system called Rider Switch Passes. See a cast member at one of the qualifying rides and they’ll hand you a Rider Switch Pass. Basically, one grown-up waits in line and goes on the ride while the other grown-up hangs out with the kids. Once, they’ve exited the ride, you pass off the kids and they hand you the pass. You get to ride the ride without having to wait in line again! Holla!
If just one of you wants to ride one of these rides, some rides offer a single rider line. Basically, you’ll fill in any empty seats on the ride. There are 4 rides in Disney World that offer single rider lines. They are Expedition Everest, Test Track, Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster, and Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run.
Best Rides for Toddlers
Magic Kingdom
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (no height requirement)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (no height requirement)
- It’s a Small World (no height requirement)
- Mad Tea Party (no height requirement)
- Magic Carpets of Aladdin (no height requirement)
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (no height requirement)
- Peter Pan’s Flight (no height requirement) Get a FastPass!
- Prince Charming Regal Carousel (no height requirement)
- The Barnstormer (no height requirement)
- Tomorrowland Speedway (32 inches to ride)
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover (no height requirement)
- Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid (no height requirement)
Animal Kingdom
- Kilimanjaro Safari (no height requirement) Get a FastPass!
- Na’vi River Journey Location (no height requirement)
- TriceraTop Spin (no height requirement)
- Wildlife Express Train (no height requirement)
Epcot
- Frozen Ever After (no height requirement) Get a FastPass!
- Gran Fiesta with the Three Caballeros (no height requirement)
- Journey into the Imagination with Figment (no height requirement)
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends (no height requirement)
Hollywood Studios
- Alien Swirling Saucers (32 inches)
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (no height requirement)
- Toy Story Mania (no height requirement) Get a FastPass!
What to Bring When Visiting Disney with Toddlers
- Stroller: Sure, travel strollers are great but you’ll want a full-size stroller for storage. Trust me.
- Snacks & Drinks: We plan on eating lunch, 1 snack, and 1 treat while we’re at the park. Since we arrive so early, we bring something along for breakfast (or grab something at the hotel). With all of the excitement of being at Disney, and being outside, the kids are starving and thirsty all day long. We bring a cooler with drinks and throw a butt-ton of snacks into the diaper bag.
- Diaper Bag: Obviously you’ll want to pack a fully-stocked diaper bag. If you happen to forget something, there are Baby Care Centers that have things available for purchase. This is also an ideal spot for feedings, diaper changes, and quiet time. Toss a blanket in if you’re going to be wild and visit at night.
- Change of Clothes
- Sunscreen: It’s Florida, lather up.
- Umbrella: It rains almost every day during the summer. Pack an umbrella.
- Portable Charger: Let’s face it, you’ll be taking a gazillion photos and probably be checking the app often! Pack a portable charger, or you’ll regret it.
- Safety Harness: Okay…never in my life did I think that I’d be a parent that uses a safety harness. And then the twins came along. Like most 2-year-olds, they are wild and love to wander and run around, especially when they are excited. We found these adorable little Mickey Mouse safety harnesses that are perfect for visiting Disney with toddlers!
We hope that you found this guide to visiting Disney with toddlers helpful. Remember with a bit of planning, preparation, and spiked Dole Whip, visiting Disney with a toddler is totally doable. We truly hope that you and your family have the adventure of a lifetime!
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