Disney is magical for all ages, but there’s something really special about taking young children. You get to experience all the magic through their eyes and it’s so much fun. It can be a daunting task to take young children to Disney, but if you plan your trip well you’ll have an amazing time. Here are my tips that have kept us going strong for the last 4 years!
This post was sponsored by Disney, but all the opinions and ideas are my own. I never share anything with y’all that I don’t love!
Bring snacks.
Many people don’t realize you can bring your own food and drinks into the parks, but you can! Make sure you have enough snacks packed to ward off the potential meltdown.
Find the shows that will engage them.
Disney recently invited us to check out their new Disney Junior Dance Party and it was SO much fun. My boys are big into dancing – Foster often dances even when there’s no music – so I knew it would be a hit. Add in the fact that their favorite characters showed up in person to dance and this is a new favorite stop for us.
Lots of other shows all around the parks are perfect for the littlest Disney fans. My boys’ favorites are the Frozen Sing-Along at Hollywood Studios, Finding Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom, and any show happening in front of Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom. The thing I like about planning a show in our day is that it doesn’t require a FastPass (though many offer the option if you want to guarantee a close seat) and it’s a chance for the adults to take a breather while the kids are still entertained!
Know before you go what they’re tall enough to ride!
This will save you lots of frustration and perhaps some tears when they realize that the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has a height requirement of 38″. Each ride has more information if you just tap on it in the app, so you can find out height requirements, restrictions (like whether guests in wheelchairs have to transfer), and brief descriptions so you know what to expect. It’s a super helpful feature.
Take ALL the hand sanitizer.
Ever been in line when your 3 year old licked the hand rail? And then thought about how many other 3 year olds licked the same hand rail? No? Just me? Well y’all, it happens. Sure they’re building immunities, but they probably can’t handle building every single one of them in the same day. Bring hand sani to give them a fighting chance.
Mobile ordering is your friend.
This is my new favorite feature on the My Disney Experience app. Mobile ordering is so easy and lets you skip the line. Take advantage of that and get it set up on your app!
Take backup if you can.
It’s always easiest not to be double-teamed. If you’ve got a friend or spouse who can go with you to help, you’ll have an even smoother visit. However, it’s TOTALLY doable by yourself as well! Just manage your expectations and enjoy yourself!
Plan your FastPasses strategically.
Schedule your FastPasses early in the day if you’re planning a full day trip. This way, once you’ve used all three of them, you can add another with each one you use. For example, if you’re meeting the Little Mermaid between 9:10-10:10, then riding Dumbo between 10:30-11:30, then the Barnstormer between 11:45-12:45 you can get a FastPass for Pirates of the Caribbean for 2:30 or so and get another FastPass after you’ve used that one. My biggest tip for scoring the times you want: refresh that screen. They change by the minute.
If you’re not a Disney regular, get some help from the experts.
There’s a section of the Walt Disney World website devoted just to vacationing with young children. Make sure you check it out if you’re planning a trip soon!
What are your best tips for taking young children to Disney? Share them in the comments!
