A quick star planning guide for doing Disney World with toddlers, straight from an expert whose done the trip.
Disney World is truly a destination for everyone. No matter how old or young you are, or what your interests are, there is plenty to see and do. In this series, we’ll share tips and recommendations on how to plan a magical vacation for all ages and stages of life.
Disney World With Toddlers
Many people associate Disney World with little kids, and for good reason. There are countless attractions geared towards young children. But a common question is how young is too young? After all, Disney trips can be expensive, and you may not want to spend a ton of money on something that your toddler may not even remember.
But as someone who has taken my son when he was one and three, I can tell you that it was worth it both times. Sure, he doesn’t remember his first visit much. But as parents, we will never forget the moment he lit up when he met Mickey for the first time. And ever since I took him on a special daddy/son trip when he was three, he hasn’t stopped talking about it.
The most important thing to remember when taking a toddler is to have the right expectations and a reasonable plan. I’m a strong proponent of taking multiple shorter Disney visits rather than one mega vacation. This allows you to enjoy specific things each time and not feel pressured and frustrated when you can’t see and do everything you want to do.
Photo by Morgan Flaherty
So how should you plan a Disney World trip with a toddler? Here are some tips.
Hotels to Consider
When traveling with toddlers, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a hotel. First, there are some amenities that little ones won’t be able to take advantage of and probably aren’t worth paying for. A Deluxe Resort may have nice features, such as pools with waterslides and table-service restaurants. But if your child can’t swim yet or sit still well at dining establishments, there’s no reason to stay at an expensive hotel.
Instead, opt for a Value resort. My picks for a toddler would be either Art of Animation or All-Star Movies. Both of these offer larger-than-life figures of popular movie characters throughout the hotel, as well as kid-friendly pools and playgrounds.
Art of Animation Cars section. Photo by Laurie Sapp
The main advantage of Art of Animation would be access to the Skyliner and the larger family suites. However, All-Star Movies provides more budget-friendly room rates.
While I don’t recommend Deluxe resorts with a toddler for the reasons I mentioned above, if you absolutely must stay at one, your best options would be either the Grand Floridian or The Contemporary. Not only are they accessible through the monorail (a fun option for kids), these hotels are within walking distance of Magic Kingdom, making them convenient for midday naps and breaks.
And speaking of Magic Kingdom…
Disney World Parks With Toddlers
Any of the four parks would be fun to visit with a toddler. But if I had to pick which would be the most toddler-friendly, I would choose Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom not only has a lot of entertainment like parades and castle shows, it also has the most rides without height requirements. And since your pace slows down with a toddler, this is a perfect park to spend two days at. Animal Kingdom is also great for toddlers as it allows visitors to get up close with animals and has some of the best stage shows at Disney World, such as Festival of the Lion King and the Finding Nemo musical. And while both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT have things to do for toddlers, these parks are geared towards slightly older audiences and may not be as appealing to a two-year-old.
Disney World Food for Toddlers
Eating out with toddlers can be tricky. They may have picky tastes or can be too squirmy to sit in a restaurant. Luckily, Disney World has a plethora of dining options that span a wide variety of cuisines, price ranges, and atmospheres.
Quick service restaurants were my go-to when I visited with my toddler. They tend to have “safe” kid-friendly options if your child doesn’t have a very adventurous palate. But the main reason I liked quick service restaurants was the ability to mobile order at many of them. This helped us to save time and avoid waiting in long lines for our food. It was also convenient to be able to pick up food from our hotel food court and bring it back to our room for a few meals.
If you have an older toddler, it may be worth splurging on a character meal. When I brought my son, he was three and we did the character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace. It was a lot of fun because he was old enough to recognize and interact with the characters as they walked around. It was definitely worth it at that age, but I’m glad we didn’t spend the money on his first visit when he was just a year old.
Photo by Danny Shuster
However, it is important to remember for table service – if you are doing a buffet or family-style meal, kids under three eat free. So for many character dining meals, you would only be paying for the adult portions. Topolino’s Terrace is different with an a la carte menu, which you would have to pay separately for for all ages.
Other Activities to Consider
Whether you are a toddler or an adult, I always recommend taking a day (or more) off from the parks to enjoy all the other things Disney World has to offer. Here are some of my recommendations to do with a toddler:
- Enjoy the hotel pool (Disney resorts even offer complimentary life jackets!)
- Check out what other activities are available around the hotel (e.g., crafts, s’mores, movies, etc.)
- Ride free Disney transportation, such as the monorail, Skyliner, and boats
- Explore other resorts, especially those with fun theming like Art of Animation. The holidays are another great time to resort hop and see all the decorations.
As you can see, it is totally possible to plan an amazing trip to Disney World with a toddler. Sure, it can be challenging and stressful at times. You may need to slow down and miss out on some things. But they’ll remember more than you think. And if even if they forget specific memories, you’ll remember and treasure those special moments forever.
