Planning to take your toddler to Walt Disney World could have you feeling overwhelmed, you’re probably wondering if you’re crazy to even think about taking on such a challenge. Let me put your fears to rest, taking your little one to Disney World will be worth it. I’ve done it, I know many other moms and dads who have done, heck I even know grandparents who have taken little ones and loved it. It just takes some planning and following these tips that have worked well for so many families. 

Be Flexible with your plans

I’m sure you’ve already read plenty of articles talking about how you need to plan your Disney vacation, and some would have probably made you feel a little overwhelmed about the whole situation. But here’s the thing, you could plan out every single detail if that makes you stress less and if your family is great with a strict schedule, but I know my toddler doesn’t care what kind of schedule I create, so I know that kind of planning doesn’t work for us. We plan our days loosely. We book sit-down meals first, then plan our days at the parks accordingly. For example, let’s say we book a sit-down meal at Teppan Edo Japan inside the Japanese Pavilion at Disney’s Epcot for 2:30 pm. We then plan to go to the park early in the morning when my daughter wakes up, usually about 7 am. We’ll book some fastpasses at Hollywood studios, then gauge how she is feeling around 11 am. She usually naps from 11 am to 2 pm. If she has no problem napping in the stroller, we’ll continue to walk around the park, probably grab a coffee, watch some shows, etc. If she refuses to nap in the stroller but appears tired, we’ll head back to the resort for her nap, then head to Epcot for lunch. After lunch, we’ll tour through Epcot, do some rides etc. Maybe take a break in the early evening for a swim. Most of what we do and how we plan is based around our daughter and we fully understand that her moods could change during the day. So to avoid heat tantrums, tears, and frustration, we understand that being flexible with our plan is a must. That’s why it’s my first tip for you.

When you plan a Disney vacation, plan to be flexible. Plan that your little one will be affected by the heat, crowds, excitement, overstimulation, essentially everything. Take breaks often. Even if it’s just sitting down on a bench, there’s still plenty to see even when you sit down. Grab a snack and sit down.

Use the FastPass System

Most adults don’t like waiting in long lines so imagine what it’s like for an impatient tot. The Fastpass system allows you to book times for some attractions. It’s included in the price of your ticket and you can reserve access 30 days before you arrive or if you are a Disney World Resort hotel guest, up to 60 days before your arrival. So here’s how it works:

Purchase your Disney Parks tickets or an annual pass. I recommend purchasing your tickets through Undercover Tourist, they offer discounts on Disney World tickets, as well as other theme park tickets, and are extremely reliable, you won’t have to worry about being turned away at the gates for purchasing fake tickets. You can buy your tickets online, add them to your Disney account. I have used them numerous times, saved money, and have never had an issue.

Anyways, once you purchase your tickets, add them to your Disney World account or use the My Disney Experience app to link them (you’ll find the app in the Apple Store or Google Play apps. I recommend having the app downloaded before you start your Disney vacation).

Once your tickets are linked, you can start booking your fastpasses (30 days for Annual Passholders and ticket holders, 60 days for Disney resort hotel guests with tickets). When it comes to fastpasses and toddlers, I would recommend trying to book fastpasses for rides like Frozen Ever After (Epcot), Character Meet & Greets, especially with princesses, Peter Pan’s Flight (Magic Kingdom), Navi’ River Ride (Animal Kingdom), and Toy Story Mania! (Hollywood Studios). There are plenty of attractions for you and your toddler to see and do. I actually wrote a post about it some months ago, it’s called So You’re Taking Your Child to Disney World.

Once you reach the parks, double check the times of your fastpasses. You’ll be reserving a time slot. For example, you make a FastPass for Peter Pan’s Flight for 10:35 am to 11:35 am. You can head over to the attraction at any time within that time slot. Head to the Fastpass queue, scan your magic band or ticket, and head inside. Sometimes there might be a short line but nothing as long as the regular queue.

RELATED:So you’re taking your child to Disney World

So take advantage of those fastpasses. They cost you nothing extra and will save you a lot of time waiting in lines that could be as long as 200-minutes or more…I don’t like waiting in those lines and I’m sure you and your toddler won’t either.

Purchase Memory Maker before you go

It might seem like a waste of money but trust me it’s not. Having been a photographer, I always bring a camera with me to Disney World but I still purchase the Memory Maker. Memory Maker is an addon photography package. Every time you stop for a photo, taken by a Disney Photographer, you’ll get those photos added to your Disney account, every single photo. Even a skilled photographer can appreciate this package. You’ll receive some of the most magical photographs, especially with character meet and greets. Some of my favourite Disney photos of my daughter at Disney World were taken by Disney Photographers. Plus if you aren’t camera savvy or don’t want to lug a camera around all day, this package is perfect for you. You won’t have any trouble finding a photographer either. They are everywhere and you can find them using the Disney App and on the location map on the Walt Disney World website. Want a photo in front of Cinderella’s Castle, walk up Main Street and you’ll find a photographer every few feet. Plus Disney has started to include attraction photos and some dining photos. Like photos from Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger’s Spin, or the Polynesian’s Ohana dining photographer.

Purchase small souvenirs before your trip

This is a tip I keep seeing over and over on Mommy planning groups and Disney groups. To avoid tantrums or spending an outrageous amount of money, purchase some small Disney items before your vacation. Go to your local dollar store, there are tons of Disney books, little toys, stickers, etc that won’t cost an arm or a leg. You could also check out Amazon for some more items, like Mickey ears. Then when you’re on vacation you can surprise your little one with small surprises every night, for added magic pretend one of the characters left the item especially for them. It’ll give them something to look forward to, and maybe reduce those tears when you’re walking through shops. I’m sure you’ll still have those moments, the thing to remember is Disney World is full of colourful, interesting, and stimulating toys. They want you to buy their stuff, they want your kids to want you to buy their stuff and many times it’s going to cost you a lot of money so this is a way to reduce your little one’s wants and reduce your stress.

Take it slow

We all know that toddlers are not known for their efficiency. My daughter does not appreciate being rushed to do anything. If I do rush her, I find it’s going to take me longer to get out the door. So I know that I need to slow it down to her pace sometimes. The thing about Disney World is no matter how many days you spend there or how many times you go, you will never do everything. The parks are constantly changing, there’s so much to see and do that it can feel overwhelming. Just slow down. If you want to make memories with your toddler at Disney World, you need to slow down and see the world through their eyes. You don’t need to rush from attraction to attraction. I see parents do this all the time and what I also see are tired tots, angry and tired parents, and a whole lot of complaining. Slow it down. Some of the best smiles I’ve seen on kids faces, besides running up to Mickey and other characters, have been when parents and kids take their time walking up to Cinderella’s castle. The look of awe in some of their eyes sometimes brings a tear to mine.

Some people might try to convince you that if you don’t hop from attraction to attraction you are just wasting money, after all those tickets are expensive. But, and hear me out, you want to go to Disney World with your kids because you believe they will enjoy it. You want to give them a wonderful experience? You want wonderful memories, right? Then those tickets are only worth as much as the memories you make with your kids. To see my daughter laugh with Mickey, watch fireworks with awe in her eyes, eat a Mickey shaped snack and repeat ‘Mickey Mickey Mickey Mickey’ about a hundred times, those are the memories that I cherish. Those are the experiences that’ll make your ticket worth whatever price you paid. So if you need to take it slow to enjoy your vacation and create those memories, then you are not wasting any money. You are creating magic and memories that will last a lifetime.

Rent a Stroller

Being Canadian we tend to travel to Walt Disney World by plane most of the time. There is no way I would risk damaging my own stroller or having my stroller stolen while vacationing. So every time we’ve taken Wendy, I rent a stroller. The last few times, I’ve used Orlando Strollers, we’ve had a problem once in the past with them. Somehow they lost payment for the stroller and when we arrived at our resort there was no stroller. A phone call quickly fixed the mess and they handled it beautifully. There are other stroller companies available as well. Kingdom Strollers and Magic Strollers are also wonderful to work with. All three companies, allow you rent a stroller for your stay. They even deliver to Disney Resorts and some will deliver to other resorts in the Orlando area.  They also offer insurance just in case the stroller is stolen while on the property, which does happen. So don’t leave any personal belongings in those strollers like bags, purses, wallets etc.

The other option is to rent strollers directly from Disney. I would not recommend this option with young kids. Disney strollers are made of hard plastic and do not look comfortable at all. While it might be cheaper, your little one might not be comfortable or able to nap in those strollers.

Book a character meal or two

If you don’t want to wait in long lines to meet characters, book a few character meals. There are so many options all over Walt Disney World. Plus your family will be fed and happy as the character visit each table. Our favourites are Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Hotel, Ohana’s Character breakfast at Disney’s Polynesian resort, Tusker House at the Animal Kingdom, and the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast at Disney’s Boardwalk Trattoria al Forno. Each of these offers a different experience when it comes to food and characters, as well as price.

Another thing to keep in mind is that reservations are highly recommended. Some of these restaurants book up pretty quickly and may not have tables open for walk-up guests. You can book a reservation online starting 180 days before your vacation. I would recommend booking right away. If you forgot to book, you could go to the concierge desk at your Disney Resort and ask them if they could help you book a dining reservation. I’ve heard that sometimes they may find a reservation for you.

Bring lots of snacks

Fed toddlers are happy toddlers…mind you the same goes for any adult too. I carry snacks anywhere I go. My purse feels like it has an endless supply. This is because snacks keep us all happy. These snacks don’t have to be unhealthy, think granola bars, bananas, applesauce, fruit pouches, etc. Our favourites are the GoGo squeeZ Applesauce on the Go. Wendy enjoys them as we stroll through the parks. It’s also a great way to save some money since you don’t need to purchase snacks at the parks. Disney allows you to bring in snacks, sandwiches, etc. Just no glass containers and you can’t bring in alcohol.

Keep everyone hydrated

Florida is hot and that humidity can be brutal. So when you and your family are there, keep hydrated. I see people fainting every single time I go and it doesn’t seem to matter what time of the year it is. You will be walking a lot, bracing the heat and the humidity, it can be exhausting. So bring a refillable water bottle with you. There are drinking fountains all over where you can refill your bottles. If you don’t want to bring a water bottle, you can also head to just about any quick service restaurant and ask for ice water. It’s totally free and they will give you as many cups of water as you need for your family. Trust me the last thing they want is to have anyone fainting and getting hurt on their property.

Bring an extra outfit

Accidents happen. Whether it’s because your little was too excited that they ‘forgot’ they had to go, or maybe they got that applesauce all over themselves, bring an extra outfit to save yourself from having to purchase a new one or having to make a quick exit out of the park. The second time we took Wendy to Disney World we learned our lesson. She was 6 months old and had two accidents within an hour…it was unpleasant mostly because we were not prepared. The only extra piece of clothing I had was a onesie and that didn’t hold up very well. So learn from my mistake and bring an extra change of clothes.

Locate the Baby Center at each park

Most parents don’t know about these, but each park at Disney World has a Baby Center. They are easily located on park maps, or you could ask a Cast Member to point you in the right direction. You’ll find private areas for nursing, microwaves for heating up bottles or food, change tables, sitting areas for tired children with a television playing Disney cartoons, and it has air conditioning which is so nice during those hot days. You’ll also find that these centers sell items like diapers, pull-ups, formula, food, wipes, etc. I wouldn’t recommend stocking up on supplies for your whole trip as there is a markup on these items, but it’s convenient when you have a kid emergency…like a leaky pull-up or you ran out of wipes at the parks.

EXTRA TIP: If you want to save some room in your luggage and some money on snacks, consider ordering items from Amazon.com or from Garden Grocer. Order before your vacation and have them shipped to your hotel. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort there may be a small fee for holding items at reception.

The thing to take away from all these tips is that a Disney Vacation should be fun, especially with little ones. Tailor your vacation to your little one. Find things that they love doing. Meet characters that they recognize, even if that means counting down your vacation by watching classic Disney films together. This is your opportunity to take advantage of those wonderful years where magic still exists, cartoon mice come alive, and believing in pixies makes them fly. So don’t waste the opportunity and go make some memories.