by Ashley Pugh -

Helpful Tips For Visiting Walt Disney World Resort With Babies & Toddlers

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Stay tuned to learn everything you need to know about visiting Disney World with babies and toddlers. Many of these tips were provided first-hand by a Disney Adult turned Disney Mom of two with years of navigating the theme parks under her belt.

The Magic Castle at Disney World

Photo by Alyssa Eakin on Unsplash

Walt Disney World Resort is one of the best places to visit with children in Orlando, Florida, alongside other noteworthy theme parks like Legoland and Universal Studios.

The four theme parks boast attractions perfect for visitors of all ages. From thrilling roller coasters like Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest to spinning around in colorful teacups at Magic Kingdom’s Mad Tea Party, there is something for everyone in your party to enjoy. If that wasn’t enough, families could also make a massive splash at Disney World’s two lively waterparks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Plus, with the 50th Anniversary Celebrations in full swing, we could not think of a better time to visit Walt Disney World.

Is My Toddler Old Enough To Enjoy Disney World?

While a newborn may not remember their first trip to Disney, a toddler will quickly find themselves immersed in the most magical place on earth.

Toddlers view Walt Disney World differently than adults, teens, and even older children. They not only get to meet life-size versions of their favorite Disney characters but get to experience the magic while still believing it to be real. It is a beautiful thing to see as a parent, leaving a lasting impression on both yourself and your toddler.

Besides, admission to the park is free for children under 3 years of age. Many parents choose to visit around their toddler’s third birthday when they are old enough to enjoy the experience yet still receive complimentary park passes. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of this deal with Disney World’s astronomical ticket and food prices?

Tips For Parents Visiting Disney World With Toddlers For The First Time

·      Buy Costumes Online In Advance

Online retailers like Etsy have affordable (and more often than not, nicer) costumes, princess dresses, and Mickey Mouse headbands than those you will find sold at the parks. Although, if you are visiting for the Disney 50th Anniversary, you may want to splurge on the limited edition Mickey Mouse ears for the celebration.

·      Prepare For The Weather 

While Florida is known for having great weather year-round, you can expect to see some rainfall on your Disney trip. Whether a 5-minute sun shower or a full-blown rainstorm, it is essential to be prepared with ponchos and rain covers for strollers.

·      Stock Up On Pennies For Fountain Wishes  

Your Toddlers will stumble across numerous water fountains in Disney World, begging to throw in a coin to make a wish. Prepare for this by keeping a bag of pennies reserved in your bag for wish-making.

·      Wear Sunscreen

Lastly, no matter what time of year you visit, pack sunscreen to apply before you arrive and while inside Disney’s parks. You may also want to pack baby hats and covers for your carriage to keep the little tikes out of the sun. After all, Florida is known as “The Sunshine State” for a reason, so protect yourself and your family from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Photo by Elijah Chen on Unsplash

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Disney World?

 Walt Disney World Resort is a fantastic year-round destination, offering seasonal character meet-ups, parades, and EPCOT festivals like the International Flower & Garden Festival.

Many visit Disney World during the summer when schools are out of session, and Flordia experiences the sunniest days. Although if you want to avoid crowds, you will want to visit Disney World in the winter or early Spring. Please be mindful that Walt Disney World may be a bit more crowded than usual this year as fans worldwide want to take part in the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Autumn is also a terrific time to visit Disney World, especially if your family loves the spooky season. The parks are beautifully decorated for Halloween and host special events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

·     Can I Rent A Stroller From Disney World’s Theme Parks?

Stroller rentals are available at Guest Services in multiple Walt Disney World Resorts. Prices for single strollers range from $15 per day to $13 per multi-day stay. Double strollers are available to rent at an additional cost.  In addition, visitors may rent strollers from Guest Services directly inside the four theme parks, two waterparks, and Disney Springs.

·     Tips For Navigating The Long Lines For Disney Worlds’s Rides

Keeping your kids entertained and calm while waiting in line for rides may be challenging, especially if you have a restless toddler. Below are a couple of tricks that hopefully make navigating these wait times much more manageable.

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·      Download Their Favorite Shows On Your Phone

Streaming services like Netflix allow users to download certain shows and movies to their devices to watch offline. This is an excellent option for parents who want to give their children access to Coco Melon or Mickey Mouse Club House while waiting for the ride.

·      Play Heads Up

Heads Up is another exciting way to keep you, your toddler, and any older children or teens entertained while you wait. The mobile game is available for iPhones and Androids.

·      Utilize The My Disney Experience App & Disney Genie Service

The My Disney Experience App is a game-changer for planning your trip itinerary. It keeps track of your park tickets, dinner reservations, and general park information all in one convenient place. An extension of the mobile application, the Disney Genie & Genie Plus Service, is the park’s new solution for fast passes. Guests now may reserve time slots for standard and premium rides at an additional cost, shortening their wait times in lightening lanes. Since you can only book one ride slot at a time, you should still anticipate waiting in at least one or two long lines.

woody from Toy Story  tips his hat

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What Is The Best Disney World Theme Park For Toddlers & Babies?

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Without a doubt, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom has the most toddler-friendly attractions. Babies and toddlers will enjoy Fantasyland, where Disney princesses and fairytale creatures come to life. However, the other theme parks also boast numerous rides and attractions suitable for toddlers that we will review below.

Visiting Disney World’s Theme Parks With Toddlers
Magic Kingdom


Magic Kingdom is a must-visit as Walt Disney World’s first theme park and the epicenter of the current 50th-anniversary celebrations like the new firework show, Disney Enchantment. It is a rather large park, so we suggest spending at least two days exploring all the lands inside Magic Kingdom. Although, if you are sticking to only toddler-friendly activities, you may be able to conquer the entire park in one day.

Best Rides & Attractions For Toddlers In Magic Kingdom:

·      Astro Orbiter

·      Dumbo The Flying Elephant

·      It’s A Small World

·      Jungle Cruise

·      Mad Tea Party

·      Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor

·      Peter Pan’s Flight

·      Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

·      Under The Sea – Journey Of The Little Mermaid

Animal Kingdom


If your child is fascinated by animals, they will adore seeing wildlife first-hand at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. We suggest arriving at the park bright and early to embark on the Kilimanjaro Safari Tour since most animals are out in the morning. Then, you can spend the rest of your day exploring the park’s rides, fossil digging stations, live shows, and wildlife enclosures.


Best Rides & Attractions For Toddlers In Animal Kingdom:

·      Conservation Station

·      It’s Tough To Be A Bug

·      Kali River Rapids

·      Maharajah Jungle Trek

·      Na’vi River Journey  

·      TriceraTop Spin

·      Celebration Festival of the Lion King

·      Wildlife Express Train

EPCOT

exterior shot of the EPCOT centre gold ball structure

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This Disney World park is your one-stop shop to learn all things space, science, and conservation with a little magical flare. While many believe that EPCOT is better for older kids, toddlers will enjoy walking the World Showcase and watching the new Harmonious firework show as the rest of us.


Best Rides & Attractions For Toddlers In EPCOT:

 

·      Frozen Ever After

·      ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs

·      Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

·      Spaceship Earth

·      The Seas With Nemo & Friends

 

Hollywood Studios

Exterior shot Hollywood Towers 

Photo by Elijah Merrell on Unsplash

While Hollywood Studios is primarily known for its spectacular live shows and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, several attractions are perfect for young Disney fans. Toddlers will surely enjoy Hollywood Studio’s newest addition, Toy Story Land. Lines tend to pick up quickly for all the rides in this theme park, so we suggest planning ahead using the Disney Genie Service.

Best Rides & Attractions For Toddlers In Hollywood Studios:

·      Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

·      Muppet Vision 3D

·      Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

·      Slinky Dog Dash

·      Toy Story Mania

slinky dog dash ride

Photo by Brad Pouncey on Unsplash

Ashley Pugh Written by
Ashley Pugh
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Ashley Pugh is one of the Co-Founders of Familydaysout.com and has been committed to writing family related content since 2008. There isn't much about family attractions that Ashley doesn't know, after visiting hundreds of them worldwide over the last 20 years.

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