The Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World with Toddlers, Preschoolers & Babies
How to Survive (and Enjoy!) Walt Disney World with Little Kids
Last Updated: October 2, 2025
You’ve been dreaming of this trip for months, or possibly years - you’re finally taking your young kids to Walt Disney World! In theory, it’s going to be magical. You imagine the look in your child’s eyes when they first see Mickey Mouse, or the castle, or the fireworks show. But then you start thinking about the logistics. Strollers. Snacks. Cribs. Snacks. Diaper changes. Meltdowns. And don’t forget the snacks. Suddenly your eyes start to glaze over and you begin to question all your life decisions the lead you to this point. Fear not, my friend, for we have your back.
As I write this, we have a 7 year old and a 3 year old. During their tenure as children, we’ve been fortunate enough to have ventured with them on over 20 trips to Walt Disney World. We’ve spent over 100 nights in the Walt Disney World resort hotels with children from babies to toddlers to young kids. We’ve seen it all. Blowouts in the Magic Kingdom. Meltdowns in World Showcase. Spilled snacks in Disney Springs. Vomit at Art of Animation. Utter terror at meeting characters. Utter joy at meeting characters. Rainstorms with toddlers and heatwaves with babies. We’ve had to leave shows halfway through a performance. We’ve had to leave parks halfway through the day. We’ve had to leave our sanity at the Main Street Train Station. Our kids have rope dropped early in the morning and they’ve shut down the parks late at night. Suffice it to say, we’ve been around the block a time or two. Let us tell you what we’ve learned!
We've compiled our most valuable insights to help make your family trip to Disney World as smooth and enjoyable as possible. You’ll find tips that will apply to all young children, toddlers, and even babies. You may also find some tips & insights that apply to everyone!
At the bottom of this page you’ll find the video version of our podcast linked if you would rather watch the episode. Please comment at the bottom with all of your best tips, tricks & hacks as well!
PRO TIPS
Advice Every Parent Needs To Know Before You Go
Guardians of the Groceries Vol. 1
Order Groceries to your Room
One of our first tips applies to anyone heading to Walt Disney World, but especially for those with young kids. Order some groceries to have in your resort hotel room. Having the basics in your room makes your time in Disney much easier (not to mention, less expensive). You can ensure that you have your little one’s favorite snacks on hand (because we all know, there is no such thing as too many snacks), but it’s also valuable for items like diapers, wipes, water, and milk that would otherwise take up valuable suitcase space and likely cost more on Disney property. If you try to travel with enough diapers to get you through your entire trip you’re likely going to have to bring an extra suitcase.
There are a myriad of services available these days that can deliver essentials directly to your Disney accommodation. (Incoming old person phrase in 3…2…1) Back in my day, we didn’t have many options. We only had Garden Grocer. Nowadays, one can order from the likes of Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Garden Grocers, Water Butlers and more. We’ve tried them all and don’t really have any preference. Pick whichever you like best and go from there.
Every room at a Disney resort now includes a small beverage cooler, which makes it easy to keep drinks and small perishables cold. If you're planning to prepare bottles or need purified water for formula, having a gallon (or five) of water delivered can be incredibly convenient. We order a few gallons of water to our room so that we can fill our water bottles each morning before we head out to the parks. That way we’re starting out with full water bottles and it’s easier to stay hydrated throughout the day.
We like to have a few breakfast grab & go items for the mornings like granola bars & bananas. That way we can hop out of our room and get going early in the morning! Some of our other favorite “go-to items”, depending on the trip, include:
Groceries
Bananas
Berries or grapes
Small boxes of cereal
Uncrustable PB&Js
Cookies/sweet treats
Half and half or coffee creamer
Hummus + pita chips
Milk
Yogurt
Cheese sticks
Cold Brew Coffee
Some kind of cracker (Cheez-it, Pirate’s Booty, etc)
Water
Hydration Packets (Liquid IV, etc)
Sundries
Sunscreen
Diapers
Wipes
If We’re Doing a Villa with a Full Kitchen
Eggs
Bread
Butter
Bagels
Cream Cheese
Boxed Mac N Cheese
It’s really easy to get your groceries once you’re on property. You’ll get texts and/or notifications from your preferred grocery service. You can either meet them upon arrival if you’re already on property, or your items will be delivered to the Bell Services Team. You can pick up your own groceries from the Bell Desk, or you can call and request that they deliver them do your room. A small tip is appreciated.
Note: You CAN order beer / wine with your groceries from many grocery services. However, you will need to be present at the Bell Stand for the actual delivery so that you can show your ID. Disney will not be able to accept this on your behalf.
If You Forget, Always Remember: You can place an Amazon order to your resort! If you forgot something essential, it’s OK! Think sunglasses, goggles, pool toys, etc. Disney gift shops also offer a lot of necessities & sundries in each resort’s gift shop! And, of course, if you would rather, you could also always Uber/Lyft to a nearby grocery store.
Mickey’s Philhar-Mobile Order
Mobile Ordering & Mobile Checkout
If you’ve watched our podcast or read this blog before, you know we’ve been a bit of a broken record about these two, but truly, these digital tools can dramatically improve your Disney experience with kids: Mobile Ordering and Mobile Checkout. The Mobile Ordering feature on the My Disney Experience app allows you to order food at most Quick-Service restaurants and select a pickup time in advance. This allows you to plan ahead and take advantage of down time earlier in the day (perhaps while standing in a queue or waiting for a show to start), and it eliminates waiting in long lines at the restaurant with hungry children. If you plan ahead, you can try to set it up for a time prior to your kids (and, let’s be honest, you) getting to that cranky hangry stage. When you get to the restaurant, simply find a table, get settled, and receive a notification when your food is ready. Similarly, Mobile Checkout at select stores allows you to scan items as you shop and check out directly through the app, thus avoiding potentially long checkout lines at the end of a tiring day.
This may be the BIGGEST time saver tip we have, and I’m always amazed to see how many people are waiting in the normal line for 20-30 minutes at these walk-up restaurants at busy times when they could be bypassing the line completely! Most Quick-Service locations offer this option now.
Here’s the way it works:
By utilizing Mobile Order, time that would have otherwise been spent in line for food can now be spent dancing with Sonny Eclipse!
Find the Quick-Service restaurant you’d like to order from on the My Disney Experience app OR click the “+” icon on the bottom of the app, and click “Order food” and then “Begin Order”.
From here, you can choose your arrival window. Sometimes, it’s almost right away. At busier times, it may be a bit a bit later.
Add all the food you want to your cart and check out.
It’s Disney Dining Plan-friendly, too! With a DDP, when you’re placing your order, you’ll select “Pay with Dining Plan Credits” to use either meal credits and/or snack credits.
When it’s your arrival time, click “I’m here, prepare my order” (or similar verbiage) and you will get a notification to your phone when your order is ready. (It’s usually pretty quick - less than 5 minutes or so!) During this time, we usually find a table, wash our hands, get napkins, and get the kids ready for the meal.
When you get the notification, bring your phone with you to the Mobile Order Pick-Up window it shows you on your screen, which you will show to the Cast Member. That’s it!
The Mobile Merchandise checkout is just as easy in the gift shops! It will save you time, especially at the end of a park day when the checkout lines are long! You click on the mobile merchandise checkout on your My Disney Experience app, follow the on-screen prompts to scan your items and check out on your phone! Then you will show your receipt on your phone to the cast member on your way out the door. The cast member will offer you a bag if you need one for your items, and you’re on your merry little way!
Sleeping Beauty-fully
Sleep & Nap Tips
Perhaps the hardest part of traveling with young kids is getting them to sleep in a place that’s different than home. Add to that the fact that we all know that sleep is the biggest factor when it comes to your kid’s overall behavior (well, that may be tied with whether or not you have their favorite snacks). So set yourself up for success as much as possible when it comes to sleep and naps.
Disney resorts offer several amenities that you can request to have in your room, including:
A Crib or Pack ’n’ Play portable crib
Bed Rail for Older Kids
High Chair
The good news is, by the end of a busy Disney day, your little one is going to be tuckered out no matter what!
These items are subject to availability, so it's best to request them (or have your travel agent request them) when making your reservation and confirm them upon arrival.
In addition to the items you’re able to request, there are a few other items we typically bring with us that have made a huge difference when it comes to our kids sleeping.
If I may, I’m going to re-write the lyrics to the famous Elton John song: “Someone saved my life tonight, SlumberPod.” This thing has saved our lives more times than I can say. It’s essentially a tent that fits right over a Pack ’N’ Play or crib, and blocks out all the light from the room. When you’re in a hotel room, often times you’re not going to be able to achieve perfect conditions for nap time. It won’t be perfectly dark, you’ll have to sit in the room, etc. This allows your little one to have a quiet, dark little corner all to themselves where they can get some quality sleep. Then once they’re asleep, you can turn the TV on and not have to worry about the light waking them up! Score!
Even if I didn’t travel with my kids, I can’t sleep without white noise. I’ve slept with a fan on since I was in middle school, and now I can’t sleep if it’s totally quiet, so I love this little sound machine. It’s also great at blocking out noise from the resort pool, or when you’re in a city. We were recently in London and the hotel gave out ear plugs due to the city noise outside. We didn’t need them because we had this white noise going. It also doubles as a night light.
You might have a fancy video monitor at home, but you probably don’t want to travel with it. We have this inexpensive audio-only monitor we travel with which is great when we are staying in a 1-Bedroom Villa in Walt Disney World with multiple bedrooms and we lay the kids down for bed or nap time.
The good news is, Disney World tends to tucker out little ones, so hopefully you won’t have any trouble getting them to sleep! But with these extra few tools in your back pocket, you’ll be set up for success!
Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Too bad, it’s 100 degrees outside.
Beat the Heat
I don’t know if you’ve heard about this, but Disney World gets hot. Like, really hot. The term, “unbearable” comes to mind. It can be hard enough for adults to get through the heat unscathed, let alone kids who lack the perspective to know that a ride on the Teacups is obviously worth the sweat rolling down your back. So, when it comes to heat, be prepared with the following:
Hats/ Sun Hats - they can make a huge difference (provided your kid will keep them on). They’ll help keep your kid cool, and help keep the sun out of their eyes.
SPF - apply before you leave for the day, but don’t forget to apply throughout the day as well. We always bring a smaller tube of sunscreen in our diaper bag/day bag.
Constant AC Breaks - One nice thing about Walt Disney World - there are lots of places to cool off. Many of the queues for rides are indoors, and you can always hop in to a gift shop or restaurant to cool off for a bit. In recent years, Disney has also opened up several indoor areas that host a myriad of different offerings throughout the year, like the Communicore Hall in Epcot. And I mean, hey, I’m just saying, a lot of indoor places serve ice cream. That will give you an AC break AND the ice cream will help you cool down. That’s what I call a win-win situation! (You can also find frozen Powerade in various places…that is TRULY a win-win-WIN-win!)
Heading back to your resort for some pool time during the hottest part of the day is a great way to beat the heat.
Stay Hydrated - This is probably the most important of all - stay hydrated! It can be hard to remember to stay hydrated while you’re traveling, but it’s especially important when you’re on the go. Our girls love these Thermos Funtainers. They can be a fun surprise for the trip, and it can be a great way for them to get excited about drinking water. There are dozens (hundreds, maybe) of designs, so you’re certain to find one your kid will love. As I mentioned above, we get gallons of water to keep in our hotel room and we fill our water bottles each day before we head to the parks. Then, we fill our water bottles throughout the day in the parks. Disney is very slowly installing water bottle filling stations around the parks, and of course there are always water fountains. You can also ask for ice water at any quick-service restaurant on property.
In addition to water, we like to bring along hydration electrolyte packets. There are lots of options out there these days like Liquid IV and Pedialyte, both of which we use a lot and love. We try and drink one of these per day to ensure we are staying nice and hydrated. (The kids LOVE the taste of the Pedialyte ones, not so much the Liquid IV.)
Don’t Be Above *Gentle Bribery
Look, I’m not saying you promise your kids you’ll take them to Walt Disney World if they’re well behaved…..well, never mind, I guess that ship has already sailed. But, keeping a few small treats in your arsenal is never a bad idea. Kid won’t sit in their stroller? Well, would they sit in their stroller if they have some Smarties? Kid losing their mind 30 minutes into a 50 minute queue? How about a sucker? We’re not in the business of negotiating with our kids, and usually, what we say goes. But there are times when, for the small price of a sucker, all of our lives are a lot easier, and we stop being that annoying family in line. If that’s all it costs for us to have some peace and quiet for a little while, I think that’s a trade worth making.
Word to the wise - In this instance, little treats that don’t melt are the way to go. We like these Yum Earth Organic Vitamin C Suckers. They have the added benefit of having Vitamin C - something we can all use while a little extra of while we’re in Walt Disney World.
*This is a judgement free zone. We parents have all gotta get through the day.
Think Like Mrs. Incredible
Have a Plan, But Be Flexible
Traveling to Walt Disney World requires a LOT of planning. It typically requires months of research, preparation, and forethought. To get the most out of your time in Walt Disney World, you should go in with a plan. I’m not talking about a minute by minute itinerary, but some level of plan will help ensure you have the best time possible. A list of “must-do” rides and attractions, some dining reservations, and a daily plan of which parks you plan to do on which days, at minimum. Having a plan will help relieve stress when you’re there, because you’ll know what’s important to you and your family, and you’ll have some form of a game plan. You can be more detailed if you like, but that’s up to you.
Take time to slow down and soak in the details.
However, here’s the most important part of this - you MUST be flexible with that plan. Things will NOT go exactly how you intended them to go. Rides will be down for one reason or another. Dining reservations will take longer than anticipated. Transportation to the park will be delayed, or you won’t have accounted for how long it takes to walk to a specific area of the park. You need to be flexible, and try not to get stressed when things don’t go as planned. Roll with the punches and you will have a much more enjoyable experience. (Also keep in mind, most Disney restaurants give a grace period if you are late, especially because of transportation delays, etc.)
Further, be sure to take time to slow down and enjoy the unexpected. As you wander around Walt Disney World, you’ll find all kinds of magical surprises that you can’t account for. Perhaps it’s the Dapper Dans singing on Main Street, or it’s a band playing in the UK Pavilion in Epcot. You want to have the flexibility to be able to take a few minutes and enjoy those unexpected experiences. Those end up being some of the best memories you’ll have from your trip - the serendipitous meeting of a character, or the few minutes you took to chat with a Cast Member.
it’s a small world after all (unfortunately, for some kids that want to ride roller coasters)
Measure Your Kids Before Your Trip
Before you head to Walt Disney World, if you have little kids, measure them and compare their heights against the height requirements for the rides in Walt Disney World HERE. That way you can see which rides they’re able to enjoy prior to you arriving. You can talk up the rides you know they’re going to be able to ride and get them pumped about those, while avoiding accidentally getting them excited about a ride that they can’t, in the end, enjoy. There’s nothing worse than the disappointment of your kid arriving at an attraction and being turned away by a Cast Member.
Rent-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Renting Children’s Products
You can save yourself a lot of hassle (and a lot of room in your suitcases) by renting some essential kid products from companies in Orlando rather than bringing them yourself. Instead of dragging things through airports and in ride shares, there are some items that you can rent for a relatively inexpensive amount. There are several companies these days that offer these services, and we’ve used a few of them. I’m not sure that any are better than others, but we’ve used Kingdom Strollers and BabyQuip. There’s also Orlando Stroller Rentals, K&M, and more. Most of these places have several items they offer, and they will deliver them right to your resort hotel. Find the one that offers what you need and go from there!
Some Items You May Consider Renting
Strollers
High Chairs
Bottle Warmers
Diaper Genies
Toys, Books & Games
Baby Bouncers / Swings
Car Seats / Booster Seats
Bath Seats for Babies
Humidifier
Sound Machine
The Disney strollers are hard and not very comfortable, but if you’re tuckered out, you’ll sleep just about anywhere.
Disney also offers some of these items for rent directly, including:
FOR A FEE:
Strollers (however, they’re only in the parks and Disney Springs, you can’t bring them back to your room. They’re also quite hard and better suited for older kids.)
FREE:
High Chairs - the kind that you’d see in a restaurant
Bed Rails
Crib / Portable Crib
Baby Care Centers are great amenities and they’re available in all four parks!
Baby Mine
Baby Care Centers
Man oh man, where do I start with the Baby Care Centers? They’re fantastic! Each park has one, and they have a lot of helpful amenities for parents with infants and toddlers. They have everything from quiet nursing rooms and changing rooms with changing tables, to restrooms and simple seating areas with games and televisions. They have small kitchenettes with a microwave, sink, bottle warmers, and more. They also sell sundries and important items you may need like diapers, wipes, juice, baby puffs, sunscreen, medication, clothing and formula. If nothing else, they can be a nice little AC break for a few minutes for the family.
Find out more about the Walt Disney World Baby Care Centers here.
There’s a Great Big Diaper Bag Tomorrow
The Big Bag Theory
Ok, pay attention, because this is one of our best tips when it comes to saving you from headaches and stress (if I do say so myself). Kids do not travel lightly, no matter how you may try. But, if you’re organized and plan ahead, you can save yourself some stress. There are three parts to our “Bag Theory”: The Big Bag (the diaper bag or backpack and everything in it), The EARmarked Bags (because they are earmarked for a specific location), and the Transportation Bag (for buses, boats, etc). It’s like a Russian Nesting Dolls arrangement of bags, but trust me, after visiting Walt Disney World for many many years with young kids, we’ve found that this is the best way to tackle the parks vis-à-vis bags. Allow me to break down the methodology.
The Big Bag
When you start your day, you’ll have your diaper bag or backpack or whathaveyou - with all your essentials for the day. Ideally, everything will fit in the one bag for the day.
The EARmarked Bags (Location Specific Bags)
So that we don’t have to carry around our giant diaper bag every time we park the stroller and walk somewhere, we leave that under the stroller and bring out one of our smaller “EARmarked bags” depending on what we’re doing. These bags are location specific, and they are nestled within our big bag.
Note: Ok, I’m going to be completely honest with you here, we’ve never once called these “EARmarked bags” prior to me writing this blog post, but now that I’ve come up with this term (and I think it’s pretty clever), we’ll solely be referring to these as such from here on out.
For instance:
Essentials Bag:
We have a small “Essentials Bag” that we grab when we’re dropping off our stroller and heading to a queue. This has a few items in it that we would need within 30 minutes to an hour - things like hand sanitizer, suckers, a snack, a small tube of sunscreen, a small toy, and if we have a baby, a bottle and extra pacifier. Sometimes, it’s a sling bag that my wife is wearing - her purse that has enough room for these few small things.
Restaurant Bag:
We also have a small “Restaurant Bag” that we take when we go to eat. It has items like peel & stick placemats, coloring placemats, little sticker sheets, Play Dough, toddler forks/spoon, disposable bib, sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.
Transportation Bag - THE MOST IMPORTANT BAG OF ALL
This bag is a giant bag that folds up very small. (This is the one we use.) Think giant IKEA sized bag that folds down to the size of a dollar bill. This stays folded within our diaper bag all day until it’s time to head back to our resort. This is for “under-stroller” items that we have to pack up before we can board the transportation back to our hotel. No matter how we may try, somehow, at the end of our time in the parks, we always seem to have more stuff than we arrived at the park with - a popcorn bucket, a stuffy, leftovers from a meal, a new mug (or three) - along with random items like sunglasses, stroller fans, etc - and having one giant bag makes it a million times easier to throw all of that together, then board our transportation. It allows Jess to grab the girls, I can grab the one bag and the stroller, and we’re on our merry little way.
*Bonus points: this bag also works great as a pool bag.
The most important step here is that we always take a moment to collect all our belongings BEFORE we exit the park. That way we’re not stressed and trying to do it as we’re boarding the bus. It relieves a lot of stress if you’re already ready to go.
You will ALWAYS have to break down the stroller on a bus. You don’t (typically) have to break down a stroller on the Skyliner unless it’s super wide, and you usually don’t on Monorails. For boats, sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. We always prepare for the worst and are pleasantly surprised when we don’t have to!
Additional Notes on Bags
Bring Ziplocks. All sizes, from snack to 2 gallon. They’re the best - useful for so many things. Wet bathing suits, snacks, restaurant leftovers, you name it. I never know what I’m going to need them for, but they always come in handy.
This, of course, doesn’t account for you having your own bag. If you need your own separate bag (like I have mine for all my filming equipment when we go to the parks), that’s something I can’t help you with. You’re on your own for that, my friend, but I wish you luck. Further, as your kids get older, they might want to start bringing their own bags. For instance, my older daughter now insists on carrying her own purse with autograph book, camera, MagicBand, chapstick and all the essentials a young Disney-goer needs.
Note the diaper bag and the large “catch all” bag for gathering everything from the stroller.
Peter Piper Packed His Bag the Night Before (and was all the better for it)
One of the best tips I can offer to save time and stress is to pack your park bags and stroller the night before. I’m sure you’re going to be tired, but if you take 10 minutes before you go to bed and have everything ready to go for the next morning, your morning will go much smoother, which means your entire day will start off on the right foot. The last thing you want to do is be stressed and frazzled before you even head out the door in the morning. That can set your tone for the whole day. Get everything ready to go the night before, so once you all wake up, you can get dressed and ready, and be out the door. It also provides a cushion of time for you to think through everything you’ve packed, so if you realize you’ve forgotten anything, you still have time to grab it. If you pack right before you leave, you might be out the door and in the park before you realize it’s missing.
iRunner
I’ve been singing the praises of Apple Air Tags for years, and they’re especially great when it comes to travel. I put AirTags in each of our suitcases, I have them attached to each of my cameras. I’ve also attached them to my kids in very busy places like Walt Disney World. If you’re not an Apple person, then Tile also makes very similar products. Regardless of where your brand loyalty lies, I highly recommend getting some. That way, when the airline tries to tell you that they didn’t lose your luggage, you can smugly point to your phone and show them that your bags are currently in Sausalito. It won’t do you much good as you stand in Orlando, bagless, but at least you’ll have your pride.
As I said, I’ve attached Apple AirTags to my kids, and there are a myriad of ways to do it. It’s especially important if you have a kid that’s a runner or if you’re going to a place that’s super crowded, like Walt Disney World. You can attach them to shoe laces, bracelets, lapel pins, put them in backpacks, hide them in shoe inserts - there are quite a few options. Here is an option for some shoe lace ones.
Here is an option for a bracelet.
And here is an option for an insole.
After a long flight to Orlando, you should know how you plan to get to Walt Disney World in advance.
The Tomorrowland Transfer Authority
Airport Transfers
I’d like, if I may, to take a quick moment of silence for the now defunct Magical Express….For those that were never able to partake of this joyous transportation vessel, you may well count yourself lucky, for at least you don’t know what you’re missing out on. As the old song goes, “don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you got ‘till it’s gone?”
Anywho, I’’ll move on to present day. Since there is no longer an official Walt Disney World sanctioned transportation option for getting from MCO airport to Walt Disney World, we have to look at a few options. There are motor coaches, pre-arranged private transfers, and ride shares. Let’s take a look at each of them.
Motor Coach Transportation
Potentially the easiest transportation to/from MCO airport to Walt Disney World will be Mears Motor Coach Transportation. It’s set up in a very similar fashion to the old Magical Express, but it’s just a lot less magical. (Mears, if you didn’t know, was the 3rd party company that was contracted to operate the Magical Express, so it’s the same service, but now without the “Disney Touch”, and now it’s a paid service rather than ‘included’ as it used to be.) This service offers some benefits and some drawbacks.
Pros
You can set it up in advance and know that you will have a transfer waiting for you upon arrival at MCO Airport
You don’t have to worry about paying extra for things like carseats (as a matter of fact, if you’re traveling with a car seat, they will typically make you put it under the motor coach and not allow it onboard, so if you prefer your child to be in a car seat, you may prefer a different transfer option)
Typically costs less than a private transfer (depending on the size of your family, surge pricing on ride shares, etc)
Cons
You may stop at several other resorts on the way to your resort or on the way back to the airport, adding more time to your transfer rather than a direct route
On your way back to the airport at the end of your trip, sometimes your resort pick-up time can be quite early, thus cutting in to the last few hours of your park time
Mears Connect Orlando Shuttles
Private Transfer
If you wanted to set up a private transfer prior to arriving in Orlando, you can do that as well. There are several companies that offer this service, (including Disney via the Minnie Van Service) and it also offers some pros and cons.
Pros
You can ensure you’ll have a ride waiting for you upon landing at MCO Airport
You can usually arrange for car seats to be a part of your reservation
Cons
Usually the most expensive option
A private transit company we’ve used and loved is MCO2Disney. We’ve booked with them a few times and had a good experience each time. We’re able to set our ride up in advance, and they always have the carseats we need. Another option we haven’t personally used but I’ve heard good things about is Orlando Magical Rides. (We are planning to try this one out next!)
The nice thing is, once you’re in Walt Disney World, you’ll be able to take busses, boats and monorails anywhere you need to go. It’s just getting there that you’ll need to figure out.
As I stated, Minnie Vans (the polka dotted cars you see driving around Walt Disney World that are operated by Lyft) have very recently brought back their airport transfer service. If you’re unfamiliar, these cars can be requested via the Lyft app and they will take you all over Walt Disney World. It’s a nice service because they always have car seats, and the cars are operated by bonafide Disney Cast Members. The airport transfer service used to be available prior to 2020, but it’s been on hiatus until recently. It’s now back, albeit with some caveats. While regular Minnie Vans can be used by anyone on Walt Disney World property via the Lyft app, the airport transfer service is available ONLY to those guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort. For a time it was limited to those guests staying in a Club Level room, but now it’s opened up to Disney Deluxe Resort guests, so it’s possible that Disney may continue to add more resort tiers to this service over time. It’s also important to note that this must be booked by contacting Disney Signature Service directly (it can’t be booked via the Lyft app), and at $199 plus tax for a one way trip, it’s the most expensive option.
Ride Share
These days I’m sure most people are familiar with Uber and Lyft. This can be a great option for a lot of families, depending on your needs. But, as with any service listed here, there are pros and cons.
Pros
Depending on the time and the size of your party, this can be the least expensive option
You can request it when you’re ready. If you like to wing it and go with the flow, this is a good option
Cons
If you like to pre-plan, flying by the seat of your pants might make you nervous
You never know who your driver might be, or the cleanliness level of the car
While Uber offers “Uber Car Seat” in Orlando, you now need to book in advance. You used to be able to land and immediately requests an Uber Car Seat, but that’s no longer the case. Availability for car seats isn’t guaranteed either.
Rider Switch
Walt Disney World is set up for families and there will definitely be no lack of rides & attractions you will be able to do as a family. That said, if there are rides that grown ups want to do that the kiddos are not big enough for, there is a fantastic service called Rider Switch.
This is an issue that a lot of families with young children run into, which is exactly why Disney offers this service. Basically, if a child does not meet the height requirement, one adult can wait with the non-rider (or riders) while the other enjoys the attraction. When the other adult(s) returns, they can then supervise the non-riding child and the waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again! Not all attractions offer Rider Switch, but a good amount of them do! You can ask when you first arrive at the attraction if they’re included.
To Use Rider Switch:
1. First check with a Cast member to see if Rider Switch is offered at the attraction in question.
2. Once at the attraction, approach the greeting Cast Member with your entire party. At least one adult member of your party and the Guests who are not riding will be given a Ride Switch pass and asked to wait in a designated area (usually outside of the attraction). This group is “Party B.”
3. The other party members (“Party A”) ride the attraction.
4. After riding the attraction, Party A locates Party B and gives the Rider Switch pass to the adult member who will be riding. Party A takes over supervision of the non-riding children or Guests.
5. Party B enters and boards the attraction without having to wait in the regular queue a second time. The Rider Switch Pass must be presented to a Cast Member at this time.
If the person in Party B waited alone with the child, he or she may bring one other Guest back to ride the attraction with him or her. Please note that only 2 Guests are allowed per Rider Switch Pass
Owner’s Locker
If you go to Walt Disney World two or more times or more per year & you fly, you may want to consider getting an Owner’s Locker. It’s a storage tote you can leave in Walt Disney World that is delivered directly to your resort hotel, saving you from packing so much each time you travel to Disney World. Find out more here.
Use a Travel Agency
As you can see, there is a LOT of research, time and effort that goes in to booking a trip to Walt Disney World. For most people, a trip to Walt Disney World is a trip they only take once every 5-10 years, and for others, it’s a once in a lifetime trip. Don’t risk spending a lot of money on a Disney trip just to be let down in the end or miss out on things because you didn’t know they existed. That’s where a travel agent comes in. I own a travel agency called People Mover Travel, and although we book trips all over the world, we specialize in trips to Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney.
Your designated agent at People Mover Travel will book your trip for free and always find the best deals & discounts to ensure you’re getting the absolute best and lowest price for your trip! They handle all the details, including helping you plan and book your dining (including helping with those hard-to-get reservations!). They will help you take care of tickets for the parks, help you decide which resort would be best for your family, help you with all the tips and tricks when bringing children, tell you about special events at Disney, and more. They will give you even more tips and answer any and all questions you have regarding Lightning Lane, dining, water parks, resort amenities, and more! You’re in control of your reservation, so you can do as much or as little of the planning as you like.
PLUS People Mover Travel stays on top of all special offers / free Disney Dining Plans that are released. If you’ve already booked a trip with them, they will automatically check your trip against the new special offers as they’re released, and oftentimes can save you even MORE money!
Your agent is always an email or text away, and even on your trip they can help you navigate any issues and answer any questions so that you can focus on having a magical time!
You pay NOTHING to use their services! So why not use People Mover Travel for your next Walt Disney World trip? Get a free no-obligation quote here!
STROLLER-ING DOWN MAIN STREET
Stroller Tips
Look for the Bag Necessities
See my information above under the heading “There’s a Great Big Diaper Bag Tomorrow” for my full run down on how we do bags in the parks in Walt Disney World. For this stroller section, however, I’m just going to reiterate how we do our Transportation Bag, as it’s one of our best tips when it comes to traveling with a stroller.
We suggest bringing along a giant, foldable bag in your diaper bag/backpack. This bag is a giant bag that folds up very small. (Think giant IKEA sized bag that folds down to the size of a dollar bill.) This stays folded within our diaper bag all day until it’s time to head back to our resort. This is for “under-stroller” items that we have to pack up before we can board the transportation back to our hotel. No matter how we may try, somehow, at the end of our time in the parks, we always seem to have more stuff than we arrived at the park with - a popcorn bucket, a stuffy, leftovers from a meal, a new mug (or three) - along with random items like sunglasses, stroller fans, etc - and having one giant bag makes it a million times easier to throw all of that together, then board our transportation. It allows Jess to grab the girls, I can grab the one bag and the stroller, and we’re on our merry little way.
The most important step of this system, however, is that you need to take a minute to gather all this stuff before you even leave the park. Pull your stroller over to the side and collect all your belongings before you even exit the park. That way you’re not stressed and trying to do it AS you’re boarding the bus/boat. (Or, like we have - trying to pack it up while also running to bus depot, because we see our bus is already there!) It relieves a lot of stress if you’re already ready to go and not worried about all the people behind you in line trying to board the bus.
You will ALWAYS have to break down the stroller on a bus. You don’t (typically) have to break down a stroller on the Skyliner unless it’s super wide, and you usually don’t on Monorails. For boats, sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. We always prepare for the worst and are pleasantly surprised when we don’t have to!
Stroller Fans
Saying “Florida gets hot” is sort of like saying there’s a lot of water in the ocean. It’s true, but it seems like a bit of an understatement. One of the best ways to beat the heat when you have little kids in strollers is with stroller fans. We like these. They have the optional water reservoir on top where you can put cold water and turn on a cool mist in addition to the fan. We like to have some on the kids, and we also put one on the handle of the stroller facing whoever is pushing the stroller to give us a bit of a nice cool breeze as well! Remember to treat yo self. Contrary to popular belief, parents are people too.
Rain is an inevitable part of pretty much every Disney World vacation.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Weather
Sun & Rain Covers
The only predictably thing about Orlando weather is that it’s always unpredictable. So, there are two things we HIGHLY recommend you do every single time you park your stroller, no matter what. The first is to ALWAYS pull the sun shade over the stroller as far as possible. That will help to keep the heat down inside the stroller and helps ensure that the plastic and metal parts of the buckles don’t get boiling lava hot. It only takes one screaming kid with a burned thigh and you won’t forget again, trust me. The second is to (almost) ALWAYS put the rain cover put it on when parked, even if you don’t think it’s going to rain. Unless you’re only going to be gone a few minutes and you know there’s a 100% chance it won’t rain, take 30 seconds to put it on. Florida weather is nuts, and I can’t tell you how many times we were certain it wasn’t going to rain when we left to go enjoy a ride….only to return to a wet stroller. No kid wants to sit in a wet stroller, and I’ve got the hastily purchased emergency beach towels in my closet to this day to prove it. Many strollers come with a fitted rain cover specifically designed for use with that stroller, but if not, here is a universal one that fits many strollers
Stroller Blankets
Depending on the time of year, Walt Disney World can get downright chilly, especially in the evenings. Or, if you have a kid like mine, they just need a blanket in the stroller despite the 95 degree heat. These stroller blankets are great. They are soft and cozy, which the kids love, but they are also well thought out. They have velcro straps that you can attach to the stroller so they’re not perpetually falling down under the stroller wheels, and they can be folded up in a small zippered pouch.
In-Line Stroller vs Double Wide
When our girls were both young and in a stroller, we needed a double stroller. I highly, and I mean highly, recommend getting one like this that has two seats that are “in-line” rather than a “double-wide”. Trust me. As someone who has navigated the thickest of Walt Disney World crowds imaginable with a stroller, this is the way to go. As someone who has endlessly loaded and unloaded strollers from busses and boats in Disney Parks and big cities like Chicago, this is the way to go. It doesn’t have to be this one, there are a lot of “in-line” strollers out there, but this is the one we have and we love it. It’s is an investment, no doubt about it, but you can use it from birth (as a bassinet), and all the way to three kids with two seats and a piggyback rider.
Similar less expensive dupe that is VERY similar : Mockingbird Double Stroller
Travel Stroller
If you’re in the market for a travel stroller, I highly recommend the Bugaboo Butterfly. We’ve tried a few “travel strollers”, and this is far and away the best one we’ve tried. It’s by far the easiest to fold, the easiest to maneuver, and it’s the sturdiest one we’ve used. The sun shade extends further than others we’ve tried, the wheels are smoother, and it can even fold up small enough to fit in the overhead bin on most airlines (although we always gate-check our strollers in a bag, because we always find that to be easier). We had the GB Pockit before, and we liked it well enough. We traveled with it all over Europe and the US (including Walt Disney World), but once we switched to the Bugaboo, we realized how hard it was to maneuver compared to the Bugaboo. It requires two hands at all times and two hands to fold, whereas the Bugaboo only requires one hand for both. That makes it easier when you have multiple kids and you’re holding one hand while pushing the stroller with the other. Now, that said, the GB Pockit is quite a bit less expensive and it did indeed treat us well for many years, and it would still be my second pick in the “travel stroller” category!
When All Else Fails….
Try as we might, young kids are still going to have meltdowns and tantrums. Bring a phone holder that attaches to your stroller for when everything else fails. I know, I know, I know, it seems like sacrilege, to have your kid watch Ms. Rachel while in Walt Disney World. But sometimes at the end of the night when nothing else is working, or when they just need to sit in the stroller and calm down for a little while, it’s the only tool left in your arsenal. Don’t “reward” their tantrums with screen time, but once they calm down and need time to relax, sometimes it’s all we parents have. Don’t forget, this is your vacation too*. If this allows you to have 30 minutes of calm, then I think that’s well worth it. When our daughters were babies, we also used a phone clip to attach our phones to the stroller so we could play lullabies to help them sleep in the parks.
*Remember what I said earlier about this being a judgement free zone? That still stands. If anyone dares give you guff, you have them give me a call and I’ll straighten them out.
FUN & FANCY FREE IDEAS
Playgrounds
Playgrounds can be found in Magic Kingdom & Epcot (there used to be one in Animal Kingdom - RIP Boneyard!), as well as at all of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels! Give yourself some time in your schedule to let your kids run around and play on the playgrounds. Having that time to simply play and get their wiggles out can make a huge difference in their moods, and it allows parents to take a moment to sit and relax as well.
“Sticker-Treating”
Cast Members in Walt Disney World are always handing out stickers to young kiddos, and for a long time we would just put them on the kid’s shirts, and then once they fell off five minutes later, they went promptly in to the trash. But recently, we started bringing along sticker notebooks, and every time a Cast Member gives them a sticker, they can put it in their special notebook! Our girls have loved doing this. Taking this idea to the next level - if you have older kids, bringing along a bunch of stickers for them to hand out to young kids is a fun way for them to “Pixie Dust” little kids.
Pin Trading
We’re kind of late to the Pin Trading world, but better late than never. We’ve always bought special pins throughout the years, but we’ve never traded until recently, and we’ve found that our older daughter (starting at around age 6) absolutely LOVES pin trading. She has her little bag of Disney pins and she goes up to the boards from the Cast Members and really takes her time thinking through her selections. You can purchase boxes of inexpensive Disney pins online prior to your trip for trading purposes.
Take Them Outside or Put Them in Water
If your kids are bored or tired or done with Disney World for a while, one of our favorite phrases (in Walt Disney World and anywhere, for that matter), is “Take them outside or put them in water.” Basically, change their environment. If they’re tired of walking around the parks, consider leaving for a bit. That may mean heading back to your resort for some pool time (our typical “go-to”), that may mean leaving Magic Kingdom and doing a loop on the monorail, it may mean leaving Epcot and relaxing on the Boardwalk for a little while. It can mean a lot of different things, but the sentiment is basically to do a “hard reset”. It will be time well spent, and you can return more energized and ready to tackle the rest of the day!
Scavenger Hunts
There are all kinds of cool scavenger hunts to do in Walt Disney World! There are officially sanctioned ones from Disney, like the ones in Epcot that cost about $10-$12 and usually include a prize, or the free ones that most resorts hand out. There are also ones you can purchase from places like Etsy. Those usually only cost a few dollars and can be printed before you leave home. Our kids love doing them, and it’s something to keep them engaged throughout the day while we’re in the parks!
Resort Time
Most resorts have craft & game rooms, like this one at Saratoga Springs Resort!
Depending on how long you’re in Walt Disney World, we highly recommend taking a day (or at least a half day) off from the parks. The Walt Disney World Resort Hotels are all pretty amazing, and it’s nice to take time to enjoy the amenities they offer. Take a day to sleep in, enjoy time at the pool, go to the arcade, or see if the resort has any special events going on. Some resorts even offer boat rides, horseback riding, bike rentals, and more. You could also consider going to Disney Springs for a few hours on an “off day”.. I know it’s tempting to fill every minute of your time in Disney with park time, but taking a relaxing day halfway through can really recharge your batteries and make your entire trip more enjoyable.
Kidcot in Epcot is always a hit with youngsters!
Kidcot & Wilderness Explorers
Disney has some pretty cool activities in the parks that don’t cost extra for your kids! Specifically, a few that come to mind are the Kidcot Fun Stops in Epcot, and the Wilderness Explorers in Animal Kingdom. At the Kidcot Fun Stops in World Showcase, your kids can pickup an activity card that they can color in each country that features facts about the culture and traditions of each country. Wilderness Explorers in Animal Kingdom is a series of nature-themed challenges that, once completed, earn you a badge. You can collect over 25 badges to earn the right to echo the Wilderness Explorer call! There are also free little booklets in places like The Seas Pavilion and at Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll find all kinds of fun activities around.
Earning Disney Dollars
For a few months leading up to our trip, our girls suddenly become very helpful around the house. They clean their room, they set the table for dinner, unload the dishwasher…and it’s all through the goodness of their hearts. I’m kidding, of course, it’s because we bribe them with cash. In exchange for helping around the house, they can earn “Disney Dollars”, and those then get loaded on to a Disney gift card prior to our trip. Whatever money they earn, they are welcome to spend on any souvenirs they like (within reason - some of those giant stuffies aren’t fitting in our luggage). It teaches them they need to work hard to earn money to spend on our trip, and once we’re there, it teaches them to be discerning about what they can and can’t buy. Because it’s their money, they don’t have to beg us for stuff, but they have to decide if they REALLY want something enough to spend their own money on it. It’s a good early lesson in patience, budgeting, and discernment.
While it’s not free, the First Haircut package at the Main Street Barber Shop is really adorable and well worth it if you have a little one at the right age for their first haircut.
Toy Story
Toys in the Parks
We don’t typically bring too many toys with us to the parks, but we do bring a few things just in case, especially for those “waiting” times - both in line but also at a restaurant. Here are a few of our favorites.
One of my all-time favorite reasons to travel is that I get to see the world through my kid’s eyes. We bought my daughter her first camera a few years ago, and it was so entertaining seeing what she thought was worth taking pictures of. Now, I need you to hear me on this - the pictures and video that come out of this camera below are not good. It says that you get 48MP photos and 4k video. I don’t know how they get away with it, but those are most definitely lies. If I were to guess, we’re closer to the range of 4MP and 720P, and even that may be a little generous. But it doesn’t really matter. The quality of the photos and videos aren’t really important. It’s more fun watching her walk around and take pictures and film what we’re doing, and then I back everything up on my computer for posterity. As she gets older and I’m less concerned about her breaking or losing it, I will buy her a nicer camera, but for now, it’s fun watching her “film” our travels from her perspective.
If you have an even younger child, this camera is an even better option. This was my older daughter’s first camera, and it’s the one my younger daughter (age 3 now), currently has. Again, it doesn’t take very good pictures or videos, but they both love playing with it. It also has a few built in games and fun filters that they’ve loved playing with over the years. It comes in quite a few colors and patterns, great for kids ages 3-7.
These things are so fun even I love playing with them. You can draw on them, play games like Tik Tac Toe, practice writing, play Pictionary - the possibilities are endless. Once you’re done, you simply hit the button at the bottom and it wipes the screen blank. This comes in a pack of 2 and they’re very thin and easy to throw in a day bag.
If your kids don’t enjoy playing with these, then you probably will. I know I do. These are waxy little sticks that you can be twisted and shaped into any design your kids can think up. They make no mess (always a plus), and they provide something tactile for your kids to do with their hands. They can be laid out on a table in order to make a piece of art, or sculpted into 3d pieces, or even turned into jewelry. Then, they can be put away and used again and again. They take up almost no room in your bag, especially if you take them out of the plastic container they come in and transfer them to a Ziplock bag. My suggestion would be to buy at least two packs. I’ve found that when I’m creating my own masterpieces, I always run out of Stix and have to start stealing my kids’ in order to finish.
Melissa & Doug Water Wow Reusable Water Coloring
I’m always amazed at how much my girls love these things, both my younger daughter and my older daughter. You simply fill up the little pen with water and they color the white pages to reveal the colors underneath. Then, once the pages dry, they can be used again. Melissa & Doug sells a hundred variations of these - from simple scenes like jungle & safari, to educational versions, to branded versions like Paw Patrol.
If you bring other toys, my one piece of advice - avoid bringing toys with lots of little pieces. If you bring things to occupy them, the fewer pieces, the better.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Perhaps the most important thing we can tell you is to be patient. It’s not easy, but just to try your best to enjoy the trip, go with the flow, and know that this trip may be different than what you expected, and different from it what was before, but will still be amazing and memorable. Knowing that you won't be able to hit every ride or see every show is an important mindset. Always operate with the mindset that, someday, you will return.
Now, keep in mind, these are all tips & tricks to know once you’re in the parks. There are also other logistics to think through - where to stay, what kind of tickets you’ll need, etc. For those questions, as I mentioned above, I own a travel agency that focuses on Disney Travel, and over the years we’ve sent thousands of families to Walt Disney World. We work for you for free - you pay the same amount whether you book directly with Disney or if you book with us - and your dedicated agent can help you from the moment you begin thinking about your trip until the moment you get home, and they can give you even more information about visiting with children. Visit PeopleMoverTravel.com for more information!
Watch our podcast episode about bringing kids to Disney!
Did you know that the amazing travel agents over at our partner agency People Mover Travel can help you plan your next Disney Vacation completely free? That’s right, planning services are totally complimentary! Visit the People Mover Travel website for more information!