Six Tips for Traveling to Disney World with Toddlers
If you’re a planning a Walt Disney World vacation with your favorite toddler, this is the post for you. We’ve taken on Disney with kids at all ages, but taking toddlers to Disney World is our favorite. It will be your favorite too, if you follow these tips! Here are our six tips for traveling to Disney World with Toddlers (and a bonus tip before you go!).
We’ve been to Disney World with our family of all ages.
Our daughter was 6-weeks-old on her first trip; she’s been Disney-ing all her life.
Taking young children to Disney does come with some special challenges.
This post is going to give you some tips for traveling to Disney World with toddlers.
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Six Tips for Traveling to Disney World with Toddlers
We spent a week at Walt Disney World with our littlest when she was just under the age of 3. Here’s what we learned about traveling with a toddler to Disney World:
Don’t do it.
Just kidding.
It wasn’t horrible, but despite being Been-There-Done-That parents, she surprised us on this trip.
We travel a lot and our kids were pretty much rock stars.
We’ve taken multiple trips to Disneyland and to Northern California to visit family.
I thought I had this traveling to Disney World with toddlers thing all figured out.
I thought wrong.
That’s the “fun” thing about kids this age. Just when you think you know what makes them tick BAM they change the rules on you.
Here’s the scoop on taking your toddler to Disney World.
Six simple tips to make the trip much more enjoyable all around!
1. Tips For Flying To Disney With A Toddler
I recommend traveling with car seats on flights.
If you want your travels to Disney World with toddlers to go off without a hitch, start here.
Yes, they are a pain to haul through the airport, and no, you don’t “need” it when you land at the airport if you are using one of the shuttle bus operators as Orlando airport transportation.
But on the plane, it can be a lifesaver.
Literally- your child is safer in one!
But in addition to safety, toddlers like familiarity, and being in her car seat was completely normal for our children.
We got on, strapped in, and soon after takeoff, she fell asleep, much like she does in the car.
Since she was safe in her car seat, we were able to use the restroom as needed or take a quick nap without worry.
Where did we fail?
It was NOT just like the car.
The air pressure, going up up and up, and the speed: all added up to unfamiliar territory for our toddler.
She was much more aware of what was going on this trip, and it freaked her out!
As soon as she caught sight of the world rushing by her on the take-off, she started yelling.
Loudly.
“Get me down get me down get me doooowwnnnn!!!”
Closing the window and talking to her about Ariel and Sebastian thankfully was a quick fix for us.
Expect the unexpected when traveling with toddlers and be ready to creatively redirect them.
2. Naps. Don’t Skip Them At Disney World For Your Toddler
For the love of Mickey, please please don’t skip naps when you travel to Disney World with toddlers.
If your child still naps at home, make sure they have the opportunity to nap while on vacation.
We made the decision a few days to power through nap time.
Rookie move.
My daughter was alright one minute and a hot flaming mess the next.
While the distractions and rides allowed her to be a little more flexible with us, it soon became apparent that we were ALL better people if we made a trip back to the hotel for a swim and nap midday.
Big Thunder Mountain WILL be there for you when you go back, we promise!
3. Toddlers At Disney Tips: Packing Snacks Is A MUST
Do NOT be afraid to bring a bag of snacks and use them when you travel to Disney World with toddlers.
Walt Disney World allows you to bring snacks and drinks into the parks.
Load up!
While waiting in line or even walking across the park to use your next Genie+ selection, your little one will appreciate the snacks.
I learned this tip from Moms Panel Jennifer: Walmart will deliver a package of goodies to your resort for you.
The resorts do charge a nominal fee to accept the delivery, but it’s still a better deal than renting a car to go shopping.
You need to place your order 7-10 days before arrival and put your resort’s physical address for shipping.
You can also use Amazon Prime Now (affiliate link) for even faster delivery.
We loved having bottled water, juice boxes, fruit pouches, goldfish crackers, and granola bars ready to take with us to the park every day.
And, of course, everything is better with a $5 Rice Krispy treat shaped like Mickey.
4. BIG TIP: BIG FLEX! Be Flexible at Disney World With Toddlers
Seriously: be this.
But you probably already know that from living with a toddler.
Going to Disney World with toddlers is no different- just more magical. We hope. Ha.
They are mysterious and strange creatures that change their minds often!
We learned a lot about my daughter this trip (which will probably ALL change by the next trip!).
One thing is that she does NOT like Dumbo or Dumbo-like rides (the Flying Carpets, Triceratops Spin, Astro Orbiter, etc. ).
We tried to take her on all of them with varying degrees of success.
We finally decided it wasn’t worth trying to reason with her that she usually loves Dumbo (favorite ride at Disneyland but apparently a horrible ride at WDW— whaaaaa???) and just let it gooooo, let it goooooo….!
5. Don’t Be Afraid To Split Up
Our older kids wanted to ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin but it had a bit of a wait.
The toddler was way past the ability to wait in line for a ride at this point, so we split up.
Everyone was happy, and we didn’t subject other park-goers to 35 minutes of a toddler not wanting to stand in line.
So we hit up some characters.
If your toddler isn’t shy or scared of the characters, this is an excellent way to keep them entertained and to make some great memories.
6. Toddlers With Disney Tip: Use Rider Switch
This is my absolute favorite thing about taking a toddler to Walt Disney World.
This kinda goes along with the tip in #5, but it’s a special way of splitting up.
If your child is too small to ride an attraction OR too scared but the rest of the family wants to have a go, don’t skip it!
Walk up to the Cast Member at the front of the line and ask to use Rider Switch.
This little gem makes bringing the toddler to the parks completely worth it.
How does it work?
The whole family walks up to the ride and the Cast Member will scan Magic Bands for the Rider Switch program.
One adult goes on the ride while the other adult stays close by with the too-short/too-scared to ride child.
After the first adult exits, the second adult can then ride at the assigned ride time, along with 2 other people.
BAM- it’s kinda like scoring extra Genie+ Lightning Lane – but you don’t have to pay for it.
Bonus Tips for Traveling to Disney World with Toddlers
Prepare in advance of your trip!
You and they will have a much better time if they actually know some of the characters they are seeing or the story behind the rides you are on.
Here is a list of all the Disney movies to watch before your Disney World vacation.
Check it out and have a great time putting in your “homework” for this trip!
And if your family are big Marvel buffs, be sure to watch the Marvel Avengers movies in order before you go.
There’s more Marvel coming to the parks every year and you want to be prepared.
Best Parks For Disney World With Toddlers
All the parks have options for the young kiddos, but some are going to offer a bigger variety of options.
I’d say you can’t go wrong by taking toddlers to Magic Kingdom.
That should be your first and most frequent stop.
Most of the rides are perfect for the preschool kid!
Hollywood Studios has some fun shows if your toddler can sit through them.
And Toy Story Land is just adorable and FANTASTIC for kids this age!
Five Super Cute Toy Story Land Details
Animal Kingdom is basically the biggest and most awesome zoo ever!
Even if your toddler is not interested in the attractions, there is plenty to see and explore at Animal Kingdom Park.
As toddlers, my children were not impressed with Epcot as a whole, but things have changed a bit- and I think this park has more to offer the toddler crowd.
You can also visit the Kidcot stations in each country, but honestly, I didn’t want to spend time coloring at Disney World.
But with family-friendly rides like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, it may be your family’s favorite park!
What are your tips and tricks for traveling to Disney World with toddlers?
More Disney Tips You’ll Love
- Where Can You Eat Outside At Disney World?
- How Do You Get To Disney World From The Orlando Airport?
- Guide For Using Genie+ At Magic Kingdom
- Guide To Using Genie+ At Animal Kingdom
- Guide For Using Genie+ In Epcot
- Guide To Using Genie+ At Hollywood Studios
- 5 Hacks To Max Out Genie+ At Disney World
- Disney Genie 101 | Your Guide To Disney Parks New FastPass+
- Disney Packing List
- What NOT To Take To Disney
Patty Holliday is the owner and creator of all things No-Guilt Universe. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.
Great tips, Patty. My kiddos are now past the toddler phase but I feel like some of these things can apply to any age (and hey, maybe me at some points too. I always need a snack). My boys like to dress alike (they are 9 and 5 so sometimes it’s challenging) but I do like putting them in similar outfits just in case one of them wanders. It hasn’t happened but it’s a fear of mine. They both also have Road IDs with our cell numbers on them. 🙂
Yes- I used to do this too. When my boys were young I put them in matching shirts or at least same colors so I could pick them out in the crowd. I also take a picture of everyone first thing in the morning JUST IN CASE they separate later. I can pull the phone out and say “This is what they are wearing!” Road IDs- brilliant. I hadn’t thought of that one!
Thank you for sharing this info. Seriously, THANK YOU! With the registration for Princess and Tink coming up we are deep in the “Do we take the baby / leave her home / skip it this year” conversations. This advice will go a long way to helping sort it all out.
Happy Birthday to your Lucy!
Lucy says thank you! 😉 It sounds crazy but some of my favorite trips to Disney have been without the kids! I know, I know, they will read this later and be offended. But the magic in their eyes is so worth the hassle. The first night I took Lucy to Ariel and she gave her the biggest hug ever! So precious. Good luck on whatever you decide!
Yay! Thanks for this. We took Oscar at 3 when Cal was a newborn but this year will be the first time with a 5 and 3 year old with very different wishes and dreams. Love the tip about combining FP+ with rider swap. Smart move.
Yes! I wasn’t sure you could double dip like that, but it worked like a charm! Since we had FP+ set up, we ended up with the rider switch for 3 people plus my unused FP… meant I could take all 3 older kids onto each ride with me! Be sure to use your little ones to your advantage! And have a GREAT trip!
Thanks for the tips. I’ve got two toddlers going this week! I’ll let you know how it goes 😉
Make sure you get my girl Addison on Space Mountain east coast and let me know how she likes it! May the Force be with you, T. You’re gonna need it.
I’ve got nothing but respect. I’ve worked in preschools with two and three year olds and I’ve seen enough meltdowns at Disneyland to understand the challenge! She’s your youngest, right? So at least this stage will pass. Next time you won’t be able to tear her away from Dumbo.
Oh Bless you for working with the littles! I love pre-k teachers!
Yes, she’s the youngest. Smooth sailing from here on out! Errr… I hope. Disneyland was pretty easy with her, I got cocky going back to WDW. Just a lot more heat, a lot more travel back and forth to the hotel, meant a lot more volatility. Next trip she will be a dream!
I had no idea that you could have items shipped directly to your resort! What an awesome tip and something that I will make sure to do when we finally visit Disney with our 5 kids (including one toddler!). Thanks so much!!
Me either! It was fantastic. We had a big box and a case of water waiting for us at check in. I had the bell services deliver to my room later because I couldn’t push a stroller and carry the boxes at the same time (Mr. Shenanigans was coming later). It ran really smoothly!
Great tips! I am like her on the plane too, I want to scream get me down too but I just pray. I will remember to have Walmart deliver snacks next time we Disney.
Plane travel can be hard even on the adults! Praying works every time. 🙂
We went to Disney last year with 4 kids…one of which was just 3 years old too. She did great considering the heat, the walking, the over-stimulation! For us, the one big thing we did was (like you said) BE FLEXIBLE and it worked out really well for us!
Our last big trip to WDW happened with Seth at 3. But he was a totally different kiddo than Lucy! Fun for sure- but just different experiences. Flexibility was the word all week long!
That is a good list.. we usually split up because our kids do not like the same things..
I heard so many people in line trying to stay together. I think splitting up can work too- just know where you are meeting after the ride!
We just got back from Disney too! However, we skipped the main theme parks and did Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Quest. Our little guy is 18 months, and I was REALLY worried about how he would handle a day at a theme park. Thanks for these tips!
Great tips. That switch pass is pretty cool. Great things to keep in mind next time we go
Great tips sounds like you all had a great time. I use to make lots of long car rides with my son when I was int he Coast Guard he was a trooper since we had been making trips almost weekly since he was a baby.
Rider switch = best.idea.ever. Seriously! Great tips here Patty – I may need to reference them again someday!!
I like Disney… it’s too sad we don’t have one in Romania… we can go to France or US though…
I would love to share these tips with my sister. She wants to take my niece to Disneyland and I know these tips will help her.
Thank you so much for posting this! A lot has changed since you went with your toddler LOL. We are facing a similar challenge and seriously debating canceling our trip. One year in the making, we planned on taking our nine-year-old twins and three-year-old toddler to Disney World for New Year’s during the 50th anniversary celebration. We also want to take them to Universal Studios so our nine-year-olds can see Harry Potter. The last time we went to Disney was when our twins were five and I was pregnant. It’s now October, and the more we hype it up and talk about it, the more our three-year-old would say start “I cannot to go!” We show her videos on YouTube, we watch Disney+ at the park and at first she will say wow or a wave to Minnie and Mickey. But then she will say I can’t go. Yesterday my husband was joking and picked her up saying OK let’s go to Disney World now! And she screamed for a good five minutes and was sensitive for the rest of the day. Are we pushing it and will come to regret her decision later? I am currently waiting for our pediatrician to call back to ask her opinion. We know that she is afraid of heights and at an AppleFest that we went to last weekend she did not get on one ride. Not even the carousel. The same thing goes for the plane ride. She watches Peppa Pig and sees them going on family vacations on planes and when we ask her if she can go on the plane she says no. It may be too early for her? Your thoughts would mean so much to us right now! Hoping to hear back. Thank you!