12 Tips for Taking Your Toddler to Walt Disney World

Traveling to Disney World with a toddler, much like other things in life, requires a little bit of extra planning.  Toddlers aren’t as easy to cart around as babies or mature enough to understand everything that’s going on like older kids.  But taking your little tyke to Disney World can make for an amazing family vacation!

Drew and I have been several times solo (duo?) but this past May we took A for the first time.  It was so. much. fun.  Here are a few toddler-specific tips from our trip.

1. Consider Bringing Your Own Stroller

While Disney does have strollers for rent, you may want to bring your own.  Disney’s strollers can’t be carried from park-to-park, so if you do any park hopping you’ll have to return them and get a new one at the next place.  And since they can’t be taken from the park, you also can’t use them to transport kiddos to the bus stops or around your resort.

Another pro of bringing your own stroller is that your kiddo can nap in it!   We had planned to return to our room each day for A’s midday nap, but he quickly fell asleep in his stroller while still in the park.  (When the kid is tired, he goes to sleep as soon as he gets still. Lol)  One of us would either walk around or sit with him in a quiet, shaded area while the other rode rides that A isn’t quite big enough for yet.  Win win!

And while we’re talking about strollers…

2. Decorate Your Stroller to Stand Out

Cast members often must relocate strollers to either clear walkways or to make room for more.  Add a little pizzazz to your stroller so you can spot it a little easier.

3. Be Prepared for Rain

Make sure to have ponchos (The ones sold in the park are pricey but good.  Another bonus is they’ll replace them if they break!) and rain cover for your stroller.  The only predictable thing about the rain in Florida is that it will rain.  We walked into Spaceship Earth when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  After the ride ended I swear to you it was hailing.

Always take your ponchos with you, and always cover the stroller with the rain cover.

4. Amazon Prime Now is Your Friend

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’re eligible for free two-hour deliveries from Amazon’s Prime Now service.  (There is a suggest $5 tip.)  They deliver groceries and other items straight to your resort.  We ordered milk, snacks, and diapers two or three times during our stay.  We also got sunscreen and batteries delivered.  Saves you the trouble of getting out and finding a grocery store and since things can be delivered in two hours you don’t have to worry about running out of anything!

At the end of our week we still had several snacks left that we didn’t want to fly home with us.  I bagged in all up and gifted it to a family I saw checking in.

5. There’s One Starbucks in Every Park

Magic Kingdom – Main Street Bakery on Main Street

Epcot – The Fountain View near the fountains in Future World

Hollywood Studios – Trolley Car Café on Hollywood Boulevard

Animal Kingdom –Creature Comforts located on the way to Africa

You’re welcome.

6. Cheetos are Extremely Difficult to Find in the Parks

This may seem oddly specific, but if you have a toddler you know why I’m listing this.  A was obsessed with Cheetos during our trip.  I think I ever only saw them at one place (The Commissary in Hollywood Studios).  So if you’re kiddo is a Cheeto-addict like mine, make sure to order some with your groceries.

7. Don’t Sweat It If You Run Out of Diapers in the Parks

At the entrance of each park there is usually a little shop selling basics like diapers, wipes, sunblock, etc.  While they’re definitely more expensive that what you’ll spend outside the park, it’s a lifesaver when you’ve just arrive and realized no one restocked the diaper bag.

Each park also has a baby care center where you can buy supplies, change your little one, rock them to sleep, feed them, etc.  I can’t speak to these specifically since we didn’t use them during our trip.

8. Buy the Bubble Wand

No one likes waiting in line, and little kids are no exception.  I’m not so sure what’s so intriguing about bubbles, but those bubble wands are a fabulous distraction tool.  The parks sell refill bubbles but I had thrown a few bottles in our suitcase from the dollar store for our trip.  A still plays with his months later.  (In fact, we took it to the zoo with us this past weekend.)

9. If It Breaks, Disney Will Replace It

This goes for toys and ponchos!  If you purchased it within the park and it breaks, just show it to a cast member in the store.  They’ll likely exchange it for another!  This came in handy when our poncho buttons ripped halfway through the trip.

10. Use a Disney Character Encyclopedia as an Autograph Book

I picked up this tip from DisneyTouristBlog.com.  Each character signs on their own page in the book.  It’s a great way for younger kids to remember the experience of meeting characters. We often look through A’s book during bedtime stories, and he’ll say in a singsong voice, “Mickey signed my book!”  It’s such a special souvenir.

Pick up a book for your own trip here.

11. Buy the Disney Memory Maker Photo Pass

Especially if you plan on meeting a bunch of characters.  I loved being able to just take in the experience of Anderson meeting Buzz Lightyear instead of fumbling with my phone to try to capture the moment.  Not only do you get all the photos taken by in-park photographers, you also get the ones snapped on rides.  (I was always too cheap to buy those in the past so it’s fun to have them!)

12. Relax!

“Relax.  You’re on vacation.”  These are the words our Disney Magical Express driver said to me as I frantically pulled A from the stroller, took all our items out, tried to collapse it, guide A back to us, grab the things we needed for the drive out of our suitcase. 

It clicked.  I’m on vacation.  I should be relaxing.  I’m heading to the most magical place on earth.  I’m taking my son to see something Drew and I have loved for years.  This is supposed to be fun.

So this is my final tip for you. 

Relax. 

Have fun. 

You’re not going to be able to see and do everything the parks have to offer.  Your kid will probably have at least one meltdown.  It may rain during the fireworks.  Your child may be terrified of It’s Tough To Be a Bug.  And that’s ok.

Just take it in and remember, “Relax.  You’re on vacation.”

Have you been to Disney World?  What’s your favorite memory?

Mine is when we met Buzz Lightyear immediately after riding Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin where you battle Zurg.  A ran up to Buzz and scream “I beat Zurrrrggg!!!”  He was so excited to tell him, and Buzz obligingly reacted.  So sweet.