If you didn’t know, I was raised in Orlando, Florida, and trips to Disney happened every month growing up. My very first job was in the Entertainment Department at the Magic Kingdom and it’s still one of my life highlights to this day! Knowing my way around Disney World absolutely comes in handy now that I have three little girls that love it there just as much as I do!
Tips for Disney with Small Kids
My favorite Disney park in Orlando is hands down, Epcot. I feel like it’s the best of all the parks rolled into one and it doesn’t feel as overwhelming, especially for a first-timer, so here are some tips.
- Pro Tip: If you have girls who like to dress up, I highly recommend buying the princess dress at Target instead of the park to save some money.
- Download the My Disney Experience app and that will help you with wait times for rides, restaurants, and character meet and greets.
- Plan out kid-friendly rides in advance and remember that just because they might be tall enough, they might not be old enough. We found that out the hard way. Take into account your child, their needs, and whether or not the ride will be appropriate for them, or will freak them out. Thanks, Nemo.
Baby Care Centers at Disney
At Epcot, the Baby Care Center is near Mexico and it’s a Godsend. It’s hot in Orlando and if even for a few minutes, it’s good to get out of the sun and into some air conditioning. They have changing tables, nursing rooms, and baby items just in case you forgot anything. Even if you have older kids, it’s still worth checking out to regroup.
What to Bring for a Day at Disney with Kids
My must-haves for a day at Disney.
- Wipes. Lots and lots of wipes.
- Hand Sanitizer
- Snacks – we have food allergies in the family so I brought snacks accordingly, but my suggestion would be to bring snacks for the in-between meal times and possible melt-down times. If you know, you know.
- Change of clothes for the kids just in case because of spills, etc.
- A reusable water bottle, especially for the kids. We use this one, but they have really cute Disney-themed ones too.
- While it’s unlikely, it’s still possible to get lost in a place like Disney so I recommend some sort of temporary tattoo with a parent’s phone number on it, just in case. Here are the ones I use, but you can search on Etsy and see all of the other options.
Characters at Disney
Since COVID-19, the character meet and greets have been put on hold and I’m not sure when they’ll go back to being able to hug your favorite Disney character. However, downloading the My Disney Experience App will give you an idea of when they’ll be out and about. The Princesses have a cute little parade, and we loved seeing Pluto and Goofy out in front of Spaceship Earth the last time we went, even though we had to keep our distance and they were behind a fence.
Strollers at Disney
We brought our stroller for the baby and we absolutely knew we were going to rent one at the park for our older two. It’s Orlando and it’s always HOT so the chances of everyone walking for hours in the heat without complaining were slim to none. So, stroller it is! I’m looking into this stroller for airplane travel, and I’d love to know if you have any experience with it!
Odds and Ends at Disney
- Wear comfortable shoes. Your back will thank you later.
- The weather usually clears up 20 minutes after it starts but be prepared for afternoon showers and bring an umbrella.
- If you can, try to plan a trip in the off-season…. aka NOT summertime.
- Dining reservations open 180 days in advance, so if you have time to plan don’t forget to make your reservations that far in advance!
- If you’re celebrating an occasion, you can visit any store and let them know what you’re celebrating and they’ll get you and your family celebration pins for your trip! We get one for every birthday and it adds a sweet touch!
I hope this was helpful and if you have any other Disney tips, I’d love to hear them!
xx, C
