A recent trip to Disney World with our extended family had me doing tons of research to help make our first Disney World trip with a toddler so much easier. While I did my research, there were a few things I still needed to learn on my own. So, here is my ULTIMATE LIST for keeping your sanity at Disney World with a Toddler (aka 14 tips for Disney with a Toddler via KMac).
And, after two birthday trips for Little Man I’d reinforce these tips every time!
- Lower your expectations
- I know it sounds terrible, but this is the best place to start. Stop expecting too much of yourself, your kid, your schedule, the fun vacation you want to have, the number of pictures you can take, the amount of fun you can buy ahead of time and bring with you. Be realistic with what can be accomplished and what your limitations are. My husband has to help me with this a lot and reign me in when I start making plans, but it really does
- Get on the same page with your partner.
- You guys are in this together and the days will go much easier if mom and dad or the people you are traveling with are all on the same page. Some of this has already been accomplished in your planning stages. But, don’t assume because you have lived in these plans every day for the last 3 months, that the rest of your party has as well. Just do a quick rundown in the morning while you are getting ready or waiting for transportation of what the goal and fun things are.
- For me, I like to make a Google doc and share it with everyone and bring a printout for each room. That way everyone has the same access to info and I don’t have to keep it all in my head. But, we already know I’m kinda a crazy travel planner.
- I’ve already learned that dad can’t read my mind, and I’m still learning that he doesn’t know all the plans even if I’ve already told him. Each day is a new day. Start fresh and be ready for the best day ever with others who can help you accomplish your Disney dreams!
- Have ONE big thing to accomplish each day
- So many people get frustrated in general traveling with kids because they just try to cram too much in a day. And, I’ll admit this was me and will probably be me again, but I’ve learned the way I manage myself and plan better for our family at this stage is to just have one big thing we really want to do each day and anything else we get done is a bonus. And who doesn’t love having bonus fun in the day?!?!
- For us, this list included: a safari, Toy Story Land, and a great family picture with the castle behind us. We looked forward to other things like the Disney Jr. Dance party, Finding Nemo/Lion King Show, and a big family dinner with everyone in our group. But after that, anything we got to do was a bonus. And we planned to start our day with the “must-do” and planned one of the others in the late afternoon so we had time to enjoy both and not be rushed.
- Plan to get to the park when it opens – your kid will already be awake anyway
- This was important to us because we didn’t get a couple of Fast Passes (this program is now called Genie+ and functions a little different, but the principle is the same) that we wanted, but we were also up so we just went ahead and got ready, took our transportation (we always used Uber to get to the park) over to the park and were there for rope drops. Plus, Little Man is his best in the morning so this lets us maximize the fun!
- When we returned under the Covid adjustments where FastPass was not a thing, this let us get in lines and we had super short lines. The adults split up on different mornings. Some went and did grown-up rides first thing and some went with the littles. It gave an opportunity for one on one time and let the grown-ups have a little break to ride the big rides. Then we met up later and still had plenty of time together.
- For us, we tried to get to the park 30 minutes before it opened. It actually in many cases was already going and one day we walked right in to jump on the Runaway Ride without any line. Same thing for Navi Journey. Adults went on to Flight of Passage and we rode Navi twice with NO LINE!
- Know what your kid will be interested in – watch Disney things before you go so they are familiar
- We spent about 3 months before we went watching Disney Junior in the afternoons. He became pretty familiar with Puppy Dog Pals, Rocketeer, Mickey’s Adventures. He learned the Hotdog Song and it was pretty much a fail-proof instant dance party and mood changer. I downloaded some albums on iTunes, including Disney Jr. Dance Party and a couple of others that had popular songs from all movies. We tried watching Lion King and Toy Story, he would look at them but they didn’t hold his attention long. But, it was enough that they were familiar when we go to the park.
- Plan with meal times in mind – if the goal is to avoid meltdowns and be prepared then pay attention to time and don’t push it too far. This is true for grown-ups too. Don’t get yourself in a blood sugar bind.
- Take all the snacks – for everyone. Take your own snacks and avoid all the extra expense unless its something special you just have to have. But, if your kid is like mine, he can eat all the things all day.
- Plan with consideration to naptime – they will need a nap – you will need them to need a nap. Know what time of day that usually happens and find a space to stop and make it happen or go back to your room to rest. We used this as transfer time or walk around time. As long as the stroller was moving, he was passed out. Especially with that warm afternoon sun!
- Don’t overextend your evening – you had an early morning and you will do the same tomorrow. Go back to your room and get some rest. Your littles will be ok without seeing the late-night parade, they will just think it’s cool that the trees have lights on them. They need to sleep more!
- Take fun (new) things to keep them entertained during the waiting throughout the day – I had read this piece of advice in multiple places and its so true. I bought little, simple, character-related things from the dollar store and it was fun to have a bag of new activities each morning. I made mine match our theme for the day, but you could do anything that they would think is fun. When we arrived, I pulled out the paper gift bags I brought from home and divided the days, labeled the bags, and put them at the top of our closet. I also brought Disney-themed greeting cards for my husband each day. It was just a fun thing in the bag each day for him. One of the best things was the “fun pack” that you can get at Dollar Tree or the Dollar bins at the front of Target. A new one each day and he would play and be occupied in line or waiting for food.
- Be flexible – something is going to happen and no one likes it when mom is stressed out and grumpy.
- Have a backup outfit with you (that is still picture-perfect) – have an extra change of clothes with you each day. Whether its popsicle spill, sitting in the mud, pooping pants, or whatever random stuff jumps on our clothes at theme parks, don’t get caught without something to make a quick switch-a-roo (and something to put the soiled clothes).
- Make sure you do something you think will be fun too – maybe that’s dinner with Gaston or the Beast or making sure you see Ariel and Belle for you! You’ve paid a lot of money to be at Disney, don’t let it just be about the kids. Plan something you will really enjoy and make them endure the process for you! Oh and slow down and enjoy the trip yourself. Don’t just be behind the camera. Get in the middle of all the fun too!
- Take a grandparent so you can go out and do some grown-up things or have a meal on your own.
- Prepare yourself to pay extra for a few things, just because its easier and less stressful.
- This might be the hardest one on the whole list for me. One of my hobbies is saving money. I just hate to waste money on the little things, but sometimes its totally worth it for your sanity and the easy of vacation. When we traveled this summer, we totally did a grocery pick up on the way in and rented baby equipment that would help us. This time I also did a grocery delivery that included diapers and hygiene essentials for the week. We signed up for a VIP experience that some friends with a toddler recommended. It took much of the stress out of planning the perfect day at the Magic Kingdom and really was a fun way to get everything done and still have time to meet up with the rest of our family and make more memories. I also just had to be ok that we might have to pay a ridiculous price for medicine (hello Advil), a snack, coffee, or poncho. It’s not my favorite, but life happens and when you need something you just need it no matter how much planning you can do.
- another area was transportation – the buses are slow and we all have meltdowns when we wait. So, we did an uber with carseat and have rented a van before. Know the people you are traveling with and just plan to accomodate those things, even if that means a little extra money.
When its all said and done remember.
- you are traveling with a toddler or preschooler, they are guaranteed to have a good time.
- Disney will be open next year, you can come back
- Enjoy the moments – its not all going to be perfect, but make fun the goal!
- Its going to cost more and there will be waiting and lack of patience – extend grace to everyone, including yourself and the weird people in line in front of you.
So, what about you? How do you survive in the Happiest Place on Earth and save your sanity? What tips would you share with someone else?
