I feel like a trip to Disney World is like a wedding, you plan and plan and then it is just over :( We took my daughter who had just turned two and I had heard "don't do it, it's not worth it, she won't remember it, etc." We had the absolute best time and I wouldn't trade it for the world. As stressed as I was ahead of time to plan the "perfect Disney trip," it all turned out perfect in the end. Here are my tips for traveling to Disney with a toddler . . . (FYI we went during the beginning of February . . . this is considered their "dead time.")
2. Plan ahead - it is NEVER too early to start planning for Disney. Things there fill up quick (character dining, boutiques, etc.) and I believe that they start booking 180 days out. Sounds crazy, but people start booking that far ahead. You don't have to have an agenda, but simply have an idea of things that you must do and go ahead a book them as soon as you can. Plus, planning ahead can save you some serious money, I'll explain in a minute.
3. Save some money! Who doesn't want to save money? Disney can add up quick, with $5.00 bottles of water, $15.00 parking, $90.00 park passes, etc . . . it can get a little out of control. Anywhere I could save some money, I wanted to! Here are a few ways I did . . .
> Get Creative and make things: You know you want an autograph book but lets be honest, the Disney ones are ugly and way overpriced! Make them yourself for half the price. I made Kinley's for about $5.00 and bought cute scrapbook stickers to put on the pages ahead of time where the character were going to sign.
> Bring things with you: Anything you can bring or fit in your suitcase, DO IT (especially if you fly Southwest and it is free.) As expensive as Disney World is, I will say they are fantastic about letting you bring things in. They will check your bag as you enter, but they are only checking for things like weapons/alcohol/etc. They will let you bring food, water, etc. (you just have to be willing to carry it around - which I will get to in another point) The Electrical Parade at night is amazing! All of the kids want glow sticks and for 15.00 you can get one from one of the Disney carts and it will last you 2 hours :) Go to the Dollar Store and purchase them ahead of time.
> If you are flying and allowed free bags (thank you Southwest!), pack smart and whatever you can!: When I say bring things with you, bring things with you! Disney World is expensive! So is every grocery store and drug store around there. If you are wanting to have food in your room (especially if your room has a kitchen), pack some things ahead of time that you will want and won't go bad on the plane. If you are going to a grocery store around the Disney World area, don't be surprised when a tiny thing of mayo is $5.00. I went ahead of time to the grocery store and grabbed a few small things that I knew we would want in the room that could be purchased ahead of time (ie: mayo/mustard/snack chip bags/goldfish/etc.) If they want to send your bag for free, load it up!
4. Fast Pass - This was new to me! If you are staying at Disney Resort, you will get a bracelet that you can just scan. Find a Fast Pass kiosk as soon as you get there. They will allow you to pick 3 things to get a Fast Pass for (if they are available). Characters book up first thing in the morning and the Fast Pass system is first come first serve. When we went about 1pm, we weren't getting Fast Pass times until that evening. Simply snap a pic of the screen to remember your times, and you are good to go!
5. Download the Magic Guide App (a timer of all the rides) - I downloaded several Disney wait time apps and this one is by far the best! It provides maps, wait times, park dining, hours, etc. I can't remember if it cost or if it was free, but either way it was well worth it. Nobody wants to hike across the park to find out their destination is 120 minute wait. Plus, the maps and other features really come in handy.
6. The Stroller Debate: BRING IT! You may think your 3 year old has all of the energy in the world, but trust me after all of the walking you do, if I could've fit myself in a stroller I would have! It is a fantastic option for tired kiddos that need a nap, a place to snack while you are moving, or even to carry bags around. There are few options for strollers if you want one . . . .
. . . . You can always rent one at the park, not sure what it cost. I will tell you it is a solid piece of plastic that doesn't recline, have any storage, and is terrible to steer. Do people do it all the time? Yes. It is completely up to you.
. . . . You can rent one and have it waiting for you at your resort. I have heard of people doing this and loving it. I personally have not tried it because the thought of being in an airport without a stroller sounds stressful for me. But like I said, I have heard people doing it and loving it. The most popular rental company that I know of is Kingdom Strollers. * * Click here to go to their website * *
. . . . You can bring your own, which is what we did. I personally like to fly with mine and have it with me in the airport which is why we brought ours, which brings me to my next point - Stroller Parking and what to pack for the park!
7. Stroller Parking & What to pack in your stroller: Strollers are not permitted in all areas of the park. For example, if you are going to ride Dumbo, you will "park" your stroller in a designated area near Dumbo but not directly next to. There are designated Cast Members that are in charge of strollers that are constantly moving them to squeeze more in. Which brings me to my first point. . .
. . . . . Identify your stroller. You are not the only person in America with a black/red/brown stroller. When there are hundreds of strollers, literally hundreds, you want to be able to identify your stroller quickly and move on. I made a tag for mine * * see my Crafting before Disney post * * and had several things hanging from it that made it quick to identify. People use balloons also which are a great idea, but they are $8.00-$10.00 (which would be about $50-$60 a week :)
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| This was a small section by a restaurant we were eating at. Fantasyland and the carousel area are crazy! |
What's in my stroller? Well, let me show you. . .
To start, I purchased a basic velcro carrier for extra accessible storage on the go which is what you see hanging from the back of the stroller. (From left to right)
. . . Binder and Autograph book. The binder contains all important info (where to see characters, restaurant menus, hours, rides with no heights, flight/travel info etc.) I wanted the Autograph book accessible so that you are ready when you see characters - I also always had a pen handy in the stroller tray. You can see all of the details of the binder and autograph book * * here * *.
. . . Velcro carrying bag: I purchased this a Babies R Us for about $12.00. I just wanted something quick and accessible for items I would be using throughout the day.
. . . Hand Sanitizer: Trust me, you will want it throughout the day! I kept it in the center of the velcro carrying bag.
. . . Johnson&Johnson Baby Hand/Face Wipes: Traveling with a toddler we went through a lot of these.
. . . Sunglass Wipes: These little packets are super handy and do not take up a ton of room.
. . . Clorox Wipes: Disney is a very clean place in terms of image. However, there are so many people eating and going quick, the cast members can't keep up with wiping down the tables. It never hurts to wipe down the table :)
The rest are self explanatory: K's sunglasses, pacifier, extra pen for the autograph book, brush, gum (FYI Disney does NOT sell gum anywhere on location), and sticky table placemats (I LOVE these things).
Next, I decided to skip out on the "diaper bag" and go with a backpack. As you leave your stroller, I honestly didn't stress about anyone stealing anything, but in today's world you never know. I wanted something I could just throw on my back to take on the rides. This is also where I carried my wallet and my husbands wallet. Lastly, I baggie everything, which is why you see baggies. It is so much easier just to pull out the baggie I need and go. (From left to right)
. . . Water and bottle: K can not go to sleep without a small bottle of water. Just in case she wanted to nap, I wanted to be prepared.
. . . Extra sunscreen: You will need it!
. . . Changing pad cover: The black folded up mat in back.
. . . Blankets (2): K can not sleep without her snuggle blanket. I also brought an extra to completely cover the stroller once she fell asleep.
. . . 3 Baggies: First, a baggie of all the diapers and things you will need for a change. Next, a baggie for extra snacks and pouches. Lastly, a baggie of extra clothes or pjs if you are going to be out late.
Lastly, I did purchase cheap ponchos before we left - just in case. However, we were very lucky with the weather.
Hanging from the stroller on a "Mommy Hook" are two other things (which also make my stroller even easier to identify).
First Aid Kit and Snack Container (seen hanging from the stroller)
Disney World has several First Aid/Medical stations. I didn't see any for myself but I have read that they have them. However, I always like to carry stuff with me when I travel. Plus, I am not even sure if they sell Advil, Tylenol, etc. It is always good to be prepared and if you need a band-aid, do you really want to hike to find a First Aid Center?
I found this snack container on Zulilly.com one day and am obsessed with it. I usually always have it on my purse but the handle makes it great to clip to a stroller. Even better, you can grab snacks for the snack tray while you are walking, no need to stop.
8. Be flexible with your timing: When you travel with a toddler your normal routine is already out the door. Don't stress if they don't go to bed until 10pm enjoy the week. We did days very differently as far as time and I can give one suggestion. Most families with young kids have the same idea in mind (we were one of those families at the beginning of the week). Get to the park when it first opens and leave around nap time. I will say we did that several times - the crowd to get in is crazy and Fantasyland is packed! We finally got smart and tried a different approach. We spent the morning sleeping in then enjoying the resort (pools, lunch, etc), then after K had a decent nap, we would head to the park about 3:00 or even 4:00. The crowds with young kids were done for the day and heading out and we were just getting there. Fantasyland was still busy (it is always going to busy, it's Disney World) but it was nothing compared to what we saw in the morning.
9. Let the Cast Members take your pic: There are Disney photographers everywhere to capture that "perfect picture of your family." Yes, they are kind of annoying but they are also handy so that someone isn't always left out of your picture. They give you a card to use for your trip and they literally just scan it. As your trip goes on and a month or so later, you can view them online and order what you want.
10. Enjoy yourself and try it all!: Disney World is like your wedding, it is not going to be perfect. Let things go and enjoy yourself. If you don't make everything in one day or a line is too long, just go back a little later. Try everything you can! We thought K would be terrified of the Haunted Mansion but decided to give it a whirl, she LOVED it. She kept waving and wanting to see the ghosts again.
Check out my other posts regarding Disney World . . .
Hope that this was helpful for you! Would love to hear feedback or any advice that you have for our next trip. I am already planning it :)
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