How to Travel to Disney World with a Toddler: The Ultimate Guide
This post may contain affiliate links. See my Affiliate Disclosure for more details.
If you're anything like me, you're planning a special trip to Walt Disney World with your toddler but have no clue where to start. I've been there, so I want to share all the things we did, where we stayed, the places we ate, the parks we visited, and more so you can feel confident planning your trip with your little one.
Now, this is all about how to travel to Disney World with a toddler, so I won't touch much on things like budget, but I will share a little, plus what we spent in total for hotel and park passes.
Choosing When to Travel to Disney World with a Toddler
Our trip to Walt Disney World was a special celebration for two reasons. For starters, it was our son's first time going to Disney and we were also celebrating his 3rd birthday. But here's the kicker—children 2 years and under are FREE at Disney, meaning they don't require tickets. We knew we wanted to take advantage of that since there were a number of rides he wouldn't be tall enough for, plus we didn't want to go to Florida in June when it's blazing hot. So around Christmas time is when we started planning our trip for that upcoming April, and it was the perfect time of year!
Now…it's Disney, so we knew we would sweat regardless with all the walking, but we wanted it to be a little more enjoyable, weather-wise, and a little less crowded. So we chose the first week of April, and while it was just as crowded as any typical trip to Disney (lots of people on Spring Break), the weather was incredible! It hovered around 70° to 75°F the 5 days we were there, so most mornings we actually needed a light sweater.
Cost-wise, taking our son before he turned 3 years old saved us a good chunk of money. The park tickets alone would've been around $500, plus he was still so small that we mostly just shared our meals with him instead of ordering his own since we'd have a lot go to waste. We also opted to drive instead of fly since we're in Georgia, so that helped too. All-in-all, we probably saved close to $1,000.
How Many Days Should You Plan For at Disney World
This part can be tricky because you want the trip to be worth the time and money. Plus, traveling with little ones isn't always easy, if ever. One thing you might need to consider too is the time-change, if you'll have one. Luckily, we didn't so we decided to do a five-days/four-nights trip. We used one day for travel and lounge, 3 full days at the parks, and our last day for pool and travel.
To be honest, I think our family could've used one more day at the park, with a pool or water park day in between. Of course, your budget depends on how many days you can swing it at Disney, but I'd recommend at least 3-full park days.
4 Things to Consider When Taking Your Toddler to Disney
1. Height Requirements
This is likely the biggest thing to consider when planning your trip to Disney World, besides price. Obviously, the older they are the more they'll be able to ride, but for a toddler who is 3 and under, you might want to check the height requirements for the different rides. There are 30 total rides that have zero height requirements, and then it goes up from there. Our son was 37.5″ when we went, and I'll go ahead and break the news to you—they will check and check again, and they do NOT budge on height. There were a total of 4 rides that required you to be 38″ and the Disney staff would not let our son ride. I know what you might be thinking “That's half an inch! Are you kidding?”. No friend, I'm not. For safety reasons, it's absolutely necessary that they be tall enough, so just know that it's in the children's best interest. The good news is that there are plenty of rides for little ones under that 38″ mark. Here's a breakdown of just how many:
- Magic Kingdom has 24 rides total
- 17 of those don't have height requirements
- 8 of them DO have height requirements
- Epcot has 11 rides total
- 7 of those don't have height requirements
- 4 of them DO have height requirements
- Hollywood Studios has 9 rides total
- 2 of those don't have height requirements
- 7 of them DO have height requirements
- Animal Kingdom has 8 rides total
- 4 of those don't have height requirements
- 4 of them DO have height requirements
2. The heat
Like I said, one of the biggest things for us when planning our trip was weather. We were not interested in melting our buns off the whole time we were there, so we opted for a cooler time of year. Even if you are pushing your toddler in a stroller or carrying them in a carrier, heat can still impact your experience. Their little legs can only handle so much walking, and we (parents) can only hold them for so long, especially at an incline. We ended up bringing both the stroller and the carrier, but I'll share our packing list soon. The stroller made navigating the park a breeze and kept him safe at all times.
3. Pools or water parks
Our son loves swimming and playing in the water, so we knew we either had to choose a fun hotel with a big pool or have a water park day. We opted for Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, which had a huge pool and the perfect-size water park for our almost 3 year old. Let me tell you…that may have been the highlight of his entire trip. If you too have a water-loving kid, you may want to look into Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. We felt like our little guy wasn't quite ready for a large water park, but if yours is and the weather permits, I highly recommend checking those two out.
4. NAP TIME AND midday BREAKS
If your toddler is still napping like ours was, then that's something you're going to want to plan ahead for. Typically, our little guy will only nap in a crib or pack n' play, so very rarely do we get the luxury of stroller and car naps like we did when he was a baby. If you're in the same boat, I understand! I wouldn't worry about missing out on extra time at the park because once you've been there for several hours, you too will want a little midday break. But if your hotel doesn't have monorail, skyliner, or walking access to the park, then it might not be as convenient for you to go back for a quick break. You have to do what works for your family. We chose to do the parks from 8am to 2pm (some days 3pm), then go back to the hotel for a nap, wake up and do pool for a couple hours, then go back for our character dining reservations. Then of course, we liked to end our night with the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
Which Parks to Visit at Disney
This all depends on how tall your toddler is and what would be worth it for them. If they're under 38″, I think you'll want 3 full park days with park hopper, so you can go back to one if you prefer it over another. We found that on our Animal Kingdom day, we would've preferred to park hop since we wrapped up that day earlier, but now we know! One of the things I'd highly recommend doing, which we did not and deeply regretted it, is Lightning Lane Multi or Single Pass (formerly called Genie+). This allows you to book your rides in advanced, so you don't have to wait in the astronomically long lines. I think we ended up waiting a total of 2 hours for one ride, and that was the roughest part of our trip.
With the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can use it once per ride, per day, and you can book a new ride every 2 hours, or as soon as you've used your first one. So instead of having a 60-minute standby wait, you might have to wait about 5 minutes with the multi pass. Plus, if your toddler is under 3, they'll be able to use your passes with you, since they are still free—no need to buy them their own!
When it comes to park hopper, just know that if you opt for one park per day, you may find that it's not the most efficient way to use your time. There will be things that your toddler won't like at each park or may not be big enough to do. That's why the park hopper is a great option! It gives you the flexibility to please everyone in your party, or spend extra time doing something you or your toddler really enjoys. Plus, if something doesn't go as planned for whatever reason (maybe your toddler is having a rough day) and you only have that one park for the day, park hopper gives the option to come back and try it again. I promise, it's worth it in the end!
All that said, if you are planning 3 full days at the park, here are the ones I would recommend for toddlers:
- Day 1 — Magic Kingdom with Multi Pass (optional: Park Hopper)
- Day 2 — Hollywood Studios with Multi Pass (optional: Park Hopper)
- Day 3 — Animal Kingdom and (Magic Kingdom, Epcot or Typhoon Lagoon) with Park Hopper
But if your family has older kids who meet those height requirements, then I'd highly recommend a fourth day so you can take advantage of all the rides. You'll find that those 3 days go by super quick!
Disney World Transportation To and From the Parks
Disney makes getting to and from the parks a breeze when you choose to stay at one of their hotels. From boats and buses to skyliners and monorails—they have it all and they don't cost extra! Of course, the transportation options all depends on which hotel or resort you end up staying at. We ended up choosing the Polynesian Village Resort, which had monorail and boat access. Our son was obsessed with all things trains and planes, and the monorail was right up his alley.
If you're staying somewhere that doesn't have the Disney transportation, or if you're just in a hurry and need to get back quicker, you can always use Uber Rideshare. There are designated spots at every Disney park, but keep in mind that if your little one is still in a car seat, they will need one. Here are 2 things to consider:
- UberX and UberXL offer car seat options, but they are only forward-facing
- If your child is under 2 years old, it is their policy that the child cannot use Uber Car Seat
- They have to be at least 22lbs and 31in tall. If they are 48lbs and 52in tall, they are considered too big
Walking Around Disney with a Toddler
Just like any trip, you need to know how you're going to get around, especially when you'll be doing a lot of walking. If your toddler still fits in a stroller, I highly highly recommend bringing one with you. Expecting them to walk all around the park, plus stand in line for rides, isn't very realistic and they will tire out pretty quickly. We ended up bringing both our Mockingbird (our regular everyday stroller since it has a lot of storage underneath) and a carrier that could hold the weight of our son, who was 30lbs at the time.
The best part about bringing your stroller with you to Disney World (besides the fact that it makes life easier for you and your toddler) is that you can take them on all transportation services like the bus, monorail, skyliner, and even boats. Though we had great weather, I loved that it also provided shade for our little guy since it is the sunny state after all. He even fell asleep in it one of the days, so we didn't have to go back to the hotel that day for a nap!
One thing worth noting is that you'll have to park your stroller in the designated stroller parking areas when you go on a ride. This is why we brought a backpack with us, so we didn't leave any valuables in our stroller while we were gone. But, don't let that worry you! There are cast members at each stroller parking area to make sure they keep the strollers organized and monitored at all times.
Since you do have to fold up your stroller depending on your transportation method, we would pull out the carrier so our son could take a cat nap (if he needed) and relax while we went from place to place. I honestly didn't think we would end up using it, but we did almost everyday we were there. I'd typically say less is more when traveling, but in this case it was very useful!
Staying at the Disney Polynesian Village Resort
We absolutely loved staying at the Polynesian, which was actually one of the original Walt Disney World resorts. Since we were going to be spending the most time at Magic Kingdom, we wanted a resort that had transfer connected to it. This specific resort had both the monorail and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom (and Epcot), as well as a walking trail.
There's a lot of perks to staying at the Polynesian Resort. Not only do you have free transportation to Disney Springs, and to and from the parks, you also have access to early theme park entry and be able to book your Lightning Lanes 7 days prior to your trip, rather than just the typical 3 days in advance. It's also a Disney Deluxe Resort, which means that guests get extended evening hours in select parks on specific nights, so it's not uncommon to see that standard room rates sell out pretty quickly.
The Polynesian Village is a pretty large resort and has been recently renovated, so you can't go wrong with any room. We stayed in the Rarotonga building, which overlooks the monorail (perfect for Hollis), and is a nice quiet retreat when you're wanting to go back to the room and relax. It was sleek, modern, and functional. It's right outside the lobby (the Great Ceremonial House), and about a minute walk from the pool (Volcano Pool) and mini water park (KiKi Tikis Splash Play Area). They also host regular activities, like movies under the stars and trivia, and also play the live music for the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. It was so cool to just step outside our room and experience that every night! Overall, I'd highly recommend the Polynesian Village Resort to anyone trying to maximize their Disney trip.
Bedtime at Your Disney Hotel or Resort
If your toddler is still in a crib like ours was, the Resorts make it stress-free so you don't have to worry about bringing your own Pack n Play or travel crib. I called in advance, just to triple check, but the Polynesian Resort offered both a rollaway crib (that locked of course), or a Pack ‘n' Play at no additional cost. We opted for the rollaway crib and it worked out perfect! It's a little bit smaller than your average crib, but it fit perfectly in the bathroom and our little one was very content and comfy. We also didn't have to worry about waking him up if we needed to use the restroom because there was a separate bathroom with a door, and it was pretty soundproof. It's almost like Disney designed the bathrooms with our kiddos in mind!
Our son was used to sleeping in a dark room, so we did pack up our Slumberpod and it fit over the crib like a glove! It made bedtime for us so much easier. Once we got everything situated, put the sound machine on, and our toddler was out! If you have toddlers sleeping in a regular bed, all resorts have bed rails available, giving you some peace of mind that your kiddo is safe while sleeping. Plus, it's one less thing you need to pack.
One piece of advice I will give is to list your special accommodations ahead of time, so the resort is aware. But, you will likely still have to request your crib or bed rail at the front desk when you check in. Ours was not in our room when we arrived, so we just called the front desk and it was delivered to our room within 20-30 minutes—just in time for us to take a quick nap before we explored the resort! And if you're worried about housekeeping disrupting nap time, simply put your “do not disturb” sign on your door. Just make sure to remove it afterwards and not leave it on continuously because the resort will likely do a safety check if so.
Restaurants and Character Dining with a Toddler
To be honest, this is one thing I did not stress over. There is an abundance of dining options offered at Disney World, but the one thing I did plan ahead for was Character dining. We opted for 2 character dining experiences (in the event that Hollis got nervous or didn't like it), 1 night at Kona Cafe in our Polynesian Resort (which we also ate breakfast at most mornings), and 2 free nights with no dinner plans.
Our son was a BIG Beauty and the Beast fan, so we scheduled a 7pm reservation at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom, which is in Belle's/Beast's Castle in Fantasyland. We didn't really know what to expect going in, but overall—the ambiance was very moody (which was on par) and the food was fantastic! I got the grilled filet mignon, Hunter got the Trout Amandine, and Hollis got the chicken tenders (and he ate for free since he was under 3). I will say, I was a little disappointed there weren't individual character greetings. This particular restaurant is considered a table service, so you get served by a waiter like a typical restaurant, and once every hour, the Beast walks around and waves to everyone. We lucked out because we got to actually meet the Beast as we were leaving, but he doesn't normally greet those dining. All-in-all, we would go back!
The second restaurant we booked was for lunch at RoundUp Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios. We quickly learned that this restaurant wasn't an actual Character Dining, but it is one of the more popular restaurants at Disney. The quality of the food, plus the portion size was well worth it in our opinion, and we're not even big BBQ people. The atmosphere was super colorful, the gags made it a fun experience, and we liked the menu (Hollis ate for free again because of age). The portions are huge, so keep that in mind if you're not a big eater! We were bummed it wasn't Character Dining, but Woody, Buzz, and Jessie were all doing pictures right outside the restaurant before and after we ate, so it all worked out in the end!
2 out of the 5 days we were there, we chose to wander off to Disney Springs, and we loved it! We were really hoping to get in at The Boathouse, but the wait was about 2 hours so we decided to go somewhere else. We ended up at Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' one evening—which was absolutely fantastic! Everything we got was literally's *chef's kiss*, pun intended. The second evening we went with something more casual, so we ate at Chicken Guy! and it was also delicious. Disney Springs also has a lot more to offer besides food too, like shopping, so it's worth going even if you aren't there to eat.
Our Packing List
Our Packing List for Disney World
Last but not least, let's talk about packing! We…okay I, tend to be an over-packer. I always say I'd rather be over prepared than less while staying away from home. That being said, it's definitely a better idea to pack light and only bring the essentials when going to Disney, especially if you're flying. Since we drove, we probably packed a little more than we should have. You can see our packing list above or download a copy here, but these are the top 6 things I would recommend.
1. Stroller or wagon
I genuinely don't know how we would've survived at Disney without our Mockingbird stroller. Carrying a 30lb toddler around all day may not seem like a lot, but I beg to differ. And truth be told, it's a lot to expect an almost 3 year old to walk around a theme park all day. Our stroller was not only convenient for getting our toddler around, but it was also nice to have the storage (which is something I love most about ours). From our backpack and diaper bag to our fans and water bottles—the stroller made life so much easier and far more enjoyable, especially when it got hot. If you're wanting an easy-to-travel and more compact type stroller, I highly recommend the Babyzen Yoyo Stroller, since it easily folds up and you can can just pop it over your shoulder. A wagon would also be a great option, and maybe even better for those who have multiple kiddos. We really love our Evenflo Wagon, but if you have more than 2 kids, this Keenz 4-Seater Wagon is top-notch!
2. backpack and fanny pack (or crossbody bag)
We almost didn't bring a backpack to Disney and boy am I glad we did—it was an absolute game changer! When we had to park our stroller to get in line for the rides, we didn't want to leave our belongings out in the open (event though they're being monitored). We were able to put everything we needed in it, like: our portable fans, ponchos, phone charger, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, lunch box with snacks, water bottles, etc… There was one particular line we waited in for 90 minutes, which is rough with a small toddler, but we had snacks and a few small toys to entertain us all thanks to our backpack. In the fanny pack (or crossbody bag), we kept our phones, wallets, chapstick, and reusable straws. TIP: if you didn't already know, Disney only gives out paper straws if you purchase a drink (like Starbucks), and while I love saving the planet, I don't love sipping on a soggy straw.
3. airtags & airtag bracelet
As I mentioned, you'll have to park your stroller or wagon for most rides. AirTags are a great way to track your belongings, if they happen to go missing. We also put them in our luggage (which is even better if you're flying), and on our backpack with this mount. You can even put an AirTag bracelet on your toddler, which we did! We opted for putting it on his ankle so he wouldn't mess with it on his wrist, and it worked like a charm—didn't bothered him one bit. Just gave us a little peace of mind!
4. portable Fans
I'm not sure it's possible that one can go to Disney and not sweat, but having a handheld and neck fan definitely helps! Like I said, we went in April so we lucked out with weather, but we still used them everyday. We used this clip-on stroller fan for our little guy, which he never wanted to turn off, and I even snuck in a compact handheld fan to keep in my fanny pack 🙂 If you're traveling to Disney during the warmer months, I'd definitely recommend grabbing some cooling neck towels to make you a little more comfortable…trust me on that one, friend.
5. Water bottles
One thing you will not want to forget is your refillable water bottles, which you can bring into Disney as long as they're not glass. Whether you're walking around the park or waiting in line, you'll want some water nearby to keep you hydrated. Hunter and I had this water bottle, while Hollis had his own. And don't worry about needing to bring extra bottled water with you to refill—there's plenty of water stations throughout the parks.
6. portable phone charger
I highly recommend having some sort of charging system for your time at Disney. With all the photos and videos you'll be taking, I can almost guarantee your battery won't survive all day. We grabbed 2 of these portable phone chargers, and it's great because it comes with multiple lightning cables. So whether you have an Apple or Android device, you should be set. It plugs right into the wall to charge, so it's super easy! If you're wanting a portable charger that also includes Apple Watch charging, this is a great option.
That's it, friends! We absolutely loved our time at Walt Disney World and made memories we will never forget. We hope our trip inspires you to take one of your own, and offers some helpful tips so you can plan a stress-free vacation.
FAQs:
If you're new to ItsHannahCallahan, you can read more about me here.