I thought I knew Disney World—until I took my toddler by myself. Here are five parenting mistakes I made and how you can avoid them on your next family vacation.

Before becoming a parent, I thought I knew Walt Disney World inside and out. I’d visited countless times, knew the transportation system by heart, and could probably navigate most parks without looking at a map.

Then I took my three-year-old on a daddy-and-son trip – with no other adults to help.

It didn’t take long to realize that knowing Disney and traveling to Disney with a young child are two very different things. Some of the biggest challenges weren’t the ones I’d spent weeks planning for—they were the little things I never even considered until I was in the middle of them.

Looking back, these are the six biggest Disney World mistakes I made as a parent, and why I’d do things differently on our next trip.

The Biggest Disney World Mistakes Parents Can Avoid

I felt confident (perhaps maybe too confident) about taking a small child by myself to Disney World. After all, outside of where I live, it is probably the place I know the best and can get around without a map. In fact, my friends and co-workers probably think I know a little too much about the most Magical Place on Earth. 

But it’s not until you’re at Disney as the only person responsible for your child that you quickly make mistakes that you hadn’t even anticipated. So I’m here to share those mistakes so that you can avoid making them on your next Disney World trip as a parent!

Don’t Skip the Stroller—Even If Your Child Usually Walks

My son is a very energetic boy. So it’s no surprise that he didn’t want his stroller when he found out he could walk (or run, in most cases) instead. Whether we’re walking around the neighborhood or hiking on a trail, he always preferred not to be confined to a stroller or carrier.

So when I took him by myself to Disney World, I didn’t bother bringing a stroller. And since it also meant one less thing to bring on the plane, I had no complaints.

And sure, at first, he loved walking and running everywhere around the hotel when we arrived. But the next morning, we headed to Animal Kingdom, our first theme park of the trip. Once my little guy saw other kids in strollers, he immediately wanted to ride in one too. And this was right after we got to the park, so it was way before he was even too tired to walk!

Photo by Cliff Wang

Needless to say, I got some good workouts on that trip either carrying my 3-year-old in my arms or giving him a ride on my shoulders or back. (Yes, I could’ve rented a stroller, but I didn’t want to pay top dollar for one.)

So what’s the lesson here? Bring a stroller, even if your kid doesn’t usually like riding in one!

Always Check Disney Menus for Allergy-Friendly Options Ahead of Time

My son has a minor nut allergy. Nothing that’s life-threatening or anything. So most of the time, we don’t have to be too worried and just have him avoid foods that explicitly contain nuts.

But one night, we decided to take the Skyliner from our room at Pop Century over to the EPCOT station to grab dinner from the Boardwalk Deli. At this point, my son was in his grilled cheese phase, so I ordered one for him.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

Also, bonus mistake I made: I didn’t realize the Boardwalk Deli has no indoor seating. And because it started pouring rain, we ran with our food back to the Skyliner to eat at our hotel.

Once my son started eating his sandwich, I realized his fancy bread looked like it could contain nuts. I quickly told him to stop eating it, and scoured the Boardwalk Deli menu on my phone, but couldn’t find anything that specifically said the grilled cheese contained nuts.

I couldn’t find a number for the Boardwalk Deli, so I asked the Pop Century front desk if they knew, which they didn’t. Unfortunately, we decided the safe thing was for my son not to eat it, which was a bummer that we had gone all the way to the Boardwalk (with a surprise rainstorm on top of everything).

So if your kids have a food allergy, check the entire menu to see if they have an allergen-free section. It’s easier to remember at table service restaurant since the wait staff typically asks about any allergies. But at quick-service restaurants, it can be easier to forget, especially if it’s a food item that typically is not associated with a particular allergen.

Don’t Underestimate Disney World’s Weather

Before our son was born, we had once visited Disney World in August. That trip should’ve convinced me that going over the summer is a terrible idea. Think of the hottest and most humid environment you can think of. Then multiply that by 10.

However, due to multiple factors, the first time we took our son to Disney World was in July. It’s not until you see your own child sweating through his shirt that really reminds you how hot and humid Orlando gets. 

Photo by WDW Magazine Photography Team

So if you’re bringing young ones but your schedule only allows going in the summer, I’d highly recommend visiting as early as you can (late May – early June). If you have to go during the summer, drink PLENTY of water, bring fans, and find ways to cool off indoors throughout the day.

On the other hand, for our daddy/son trip, we went in early December. I had looked at the forecast, and the temperatures looked like they were going to be warm (80s). However, many of the days ended up being overcast and breezy, and I didn’t realize how chilly it would feel (especially in the pool!) 

So if you’re going in the non-summer months, bring some pants and/or sweatshirts. Despite what the forecast says, the actual temperature may feel much cooler depending on the conditions.

Give Yourself More Time Than Disney Transportation Seems to Need

Buses usually get the worst rep when it comes to Disney transportation. After all, no one wants to be crammed like sardines with a bunch of other sweaty (read: smelly) people. And buses can have long wait times on top of long travel times.

The Skyliner, on the other hand, is continually moving, which keeps lines short and gets you to your destination quickly. This causes me to repeatedly underestimate the travel time on the Skyliner. In my head, I assume the time from Art of Animation and Pop Century to EPCOT is just a few minutes. However, the reality is it’s closer to 20 minutes. 

Photo by Laurie Sapp

Same with the monorail. I always think doing the monorail loop through the resorts and Magic Kingdom is a relatively quick ride. But it also can take 15-20 minutes. This usually isn’t a problem. But if you have antsy kids or needing to get to a dining reservation, give yourself more time than you think is needed, especially if a bus is involved for part of the distance.

Think Ahead Before Your Child Falls Asleep

This is only really applicable if you’re the only adult on a trip with a young child. But on the first night of our daddy/son trip after my 3-year-old fell asleep, I realized I was stuck in the room. I couldn’t go out to the cafeteria to grab a snack, fill up my refillable mug, or swing by the pool bar to pick up a cocktail.

I also realized I forgot to pack my razor. So I had to wait until the next day to see if the front desk had any available as part of their free complimentary toiletries. (Answer: they do, but it will be the worst razor you’ve ever used.)

So if you are visiting Disney World with kids as the only adult, be sure to grab everything you think you may need for the evening before bedtime!

Not Taking an Afternoon Resort Break

Before having kids, I used to think leaving the parks in the middle of the day was wasting valuable Disney time. After all, tickets are expensive, and if you’re already inside Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom, it can feel like you should stay as long as possible.

But with young kids, I’ve learned that pushing through the afternoon can backfire quickly. Disney days are overstimulating, especially when you add in heat, crowds, long walks, loud shows, and missed naps. Even the happiest kid can hit a wall by mid-afternoon, and once that happens, the rest of the day gets a lot harder.

Photo by CJ Ayd

Now, I think of an afternoon resort break as part of the plan, not a break from the plan. Going back to the hotel for a nap, swim, shower, snack, or even just an hour of quiet in the air conditioning can completely reset the day. It may feel like you’re losing park time, but in my experience, that break often makes it possible to enjoy the evening instead of dragging everyone through it.

This is especially helpful if you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel close to the parks or on the Skyliner, monorail, or boat route. But even if your transportation takes a little longer, a midday reset can still be worth it if your child is tired, hot, or overwhelmed.

The lesson? Don’t feel like you have to prove anything by staying in the parks from open to close. Sometimes the smartest Disney parenting move is leaving before everyone melts down, then coming back later with a much happier family.

Parents at Disney World Bonus Tip

Now that I’ve shared several mistakes I’ve made, let me share a tip that’s not always guaranteed to work, but it made my daddy/son trip a thousand times better. Rather than checking in early online, I waited to check in until I got to the hotel to see if we could get a room in a convenient building that wasn’t too far from everything. I mentioned to the front desk Cast Member that I was on a trip by myself with my 3-year-old.

Upon learning that fact, she noticed my room was in the furthest building and moved us to a centrally located building, which was exactly what I was hoping for! It was amazing to literally be steps from the Skyliner station, the pool, and the food court. Again, there’s no guarantee, but you never know what a helpful (and sympathetic) Cast Member might be able to do for you! 

Going to Disney World as a parent is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a parent. Yes, it’s exhausting and can be expensive. But experiencing the magic through my child’s eyes is something I will never forget. I hope my mistakes will help you have a wonderful Disney trip with your kids!