A Disney expert took their toddler to Magic Kingdom, and they’re sharing the best tips on making it the best experience possible.
It seems to be a controversial opinion, but I actually love taking my toddler to Disney World. I know for many, the idea of bringing a young kid to the parks may seem like a waste of money. After all, you’re spending thousands on a trip they likely won’t remember. However, for my family, we have loved the experience of bringing my daughter to the parks during some prime years when she loves the characters and stories. She may not remember everything one day, but we always will (and will have the photos to prove it!).
Tips for Taking a Toddler to Magic Kingdom
All that being said, as magical an experience as it may be, it is still a test of patience bringing your toddler to Disney World. Even on a normal day, toddlers are prone to tantrums, so you can imagine that those are turned up to eleven when they’re hot, overstimulated, and surrounded by choices and sugar.
Through multiple experiences taking kids three and under to the parks, these are some of the top tips I’ve learned and recommend.
Take a Break
This one may seem obvious, but taking a break is going to be absolutely essential in making sure you (and your toddler) do not have a meltdown. Disney World can be a very easily overstimulating place for adults, and especially for children. Giving yourself a midday break is going to help you cool down both figuratively and literally, whether you choose to take a nap back at the hotel, hang by the resort pool, or simply sit down for a quiet hour or two within the parks.
Photo by CJ Ayd
At Disney World, time literally is money, so you’d be forgiven for feeling the need to go-go-go and get in as much as you can during your day. But by the second part of the day, you’ll find yourself burnt out and not having nearly as much fun. Make sure to take that time to give yourself and your kid a break so you can avoid that unnecessary meltdown.
They Don’t Need to Be Constantly Entertained
On our first trip to Disney World with a kid, I planned everything out to basically jam pack our schedule. I felt like she’d want to go on all the rides, see the characters, and be constantly entertained with everything the parks have to offer. Turns out, I was putting in far too much effort – there’s something entertaining around every corner.
If you have a kid who loves rides, it can be very worth planning out your day so you can hit low wait times, or even opt for Lightning Lanes to get on certain attractions. But, don’t feel like you need to go from one ride to the next, or do one activity right after another. There are characters, shows, and even just things to see that will constantly entertain your toddler at Magic Kingdom, so planning out every second of your day could be a lost cause.
Character Meals Can Be Great
For us, we quickly found out that the characters were a big deal for our daughter. And for that reason, the character meals were a must-do when bringing our toddler to Magic Kingdom. The Crystal Palace has been a restaurant we’ve now visited multiple times, offering an easy buffet meal for the whole family that gives us a chance to meet a ton of characters.
Photo by Morgan Flaherty
Additionally, if you are looking to do a character meal outside of the parks, you are an easy Monorail ride away from ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
If you have a toddler who doesn’t like characters, that’s okay! There are plenty of other meals you can choose from, most at a less expensive price than the character buffets.
Just Buy the Bubble Wand
Pre-kids, there were certain souvenirs I told myself we’d never buy for our own child. Perhaps top among them was the bubble wand, a Disney World staple that fills the park air with bubbles galore as kids are strollered by. While this may contradict my earlier advice that you don’t have to keep your kids constantly entertained, I’ll make an exception for this – just get the bubble wand.
Whether you’re dealing with a meltdown as you make your way across the park, or simply want to get from point A to point B with your kid entertaining themselves, the bubble wand ends up being a rather magic tool that instantly entrances kids of a certain age. My one piece of advice here would be to buy the bubble wand before you go to the parks, where they are severely marked up. Instead, you can hop on over to Amazon and pick one up for a fraction of the price pre-trip.
