My family and I recently got back from a week-long stay at Walt Disney World. This was our first time taking our boys (2 and 4) and the first time my husband and I had been to a Disney park in many years. It was a great trip but there are definitely things I learned along the way that I’d like to share. Here are my top tips for making your Disney vacation a breeze.
Do Your Research
This is a big one. While we did work with a Disney travel agent (Dreaming of the Mouse Travel Agency) to help us with logistics of the trip, we did plenty of research on our own. We looked into helpful tips for traveling with littles, products to make the trip easier, best places to eat what to prioritize for Lighting Lanes, and more. For us, these were the most helpful tips:
Be prepared for rain
Weather in Florida is very unpredictable and it can start pouring rain very quickly. Be sure to pack: at least two pairs of walking shoes for everyone; travel umbrellas; rain jackets/ponchos; and don’t forget the stroller rain cover. If we thought there was even a tiny chance of rain when parking our stroller, we threw the cover over top to keep everything dry while we were away. Pro tip: Check the weather and call the front desk before promising the kids play time at the pool or splash pad. We learned that the hard way. We had thunder and lightning almost every day we were there, which means the pool areas are closed for at least 30 minutes following the last boom of thunder.
Make your stroller easy to find
Cast members will move your stroller while you’re in the parks to help make space for everyone. To easily find your stroller later, tie a balloon or ribbon to it to make it stand out. Pro tip: Check Disney’s stroller policies before you plan to travel with your stroller. We rented one from Kingdom Strollers and it was great.
Bring a helper or hire a nanny service
We hired a theme park and resort childcare service and this was a game changer for us. The nanny put our boys down for bed a couple nights during our stay, so we could enjoy some kid-free activities.
Get the Lightning Lanes to avoid the lines
The new Lightning Lane system was introduced right before our trip. We opted to do it because it was an easy way to get on more rides in less time. Be sure to book your first ride early in the morning. Then, you can book another one as soon as your first one has been redeemed.
You Can’t Do It All
Taking a trip to Disney is expensive so it’s hard not to get sucked into the “maximize every second” mindset. But this doesn’t always work with toddlers. We planned our days around a few “must-do” activities and rides. After that, the rest was up to the kids.
Did they want to ride The Magic Carpets of Aladdin three times in a row? Yes, we did. Did we spend time at the our resort pool because everyone was tired of walking around? Yes, but that was OK. That was fun for them and we were happy to do it. For us, this trip wasn’t about getting the most for our money and that made it more enjoyable for everyone.
Take Breaks
Florida weather is hot and a full day at the parks is exhausting. It’s OK to take time to sit down for a meal or go back to your resort for nap time. Look at it this way, leaving the parks during the hottest part of the day will allow you to feel refreshed and ready for more fun afterwards.
Don’t Forget to Enjoy It
Taking your kids to Disney is a lot of work. We likely won’t be back again for a couple years, so we tried our best to enjoy it while we could.
There will be little bumps along the way and your toddler will have a meltdown about something at some point. At Disney, you are surrounded by families who are all dealing with the same things and that makes it a little easier to bear.
