Visiting Walt Disney World with kids can be intimidating, but a planDisney expert breaks down how you can have a magical time across all age groups.
Long lines, lots of steps, 16-hour days, and intense Florida heat: It can be a recipe for disaster when you have little ones. But this is all part of the experience at Walt Disney World.
To make sure you can have a magical time at the parks, I spoke with Christina Skowronek, a planDisney expert, to get her top tips for going to Disney World with kids.
Here’s what she had to say:
1. Don’t Try to Do It All
Photo by Marisa Alvarado
Disney World is massive, and there is so much to do across its four theme parks, two water parks, 20-plus resort hotels, the major shopping and dining complex (Disney Springs), golf and mini golf courses, and more. You simply cannot do it all.
Case in point: I’ve been going to Disney World for 30 years, and I still haven’t done it all.
“Pick those things that are most important to you and your family, and really hone in on that,” Christina told me.
Even if you won’t be back for several years, you’ll have a much better time truly enjoying the magic of a handful of things than speeding through a bunch of things to check them off a list.
2. Pack Food and Drinks
Disney is a foodie’s paradise, but you don’t always have to eat the food sold in the parks. Instead, pack your own snacks, such as pretzels, trail mix, or even fruits and veggies, so your kids can snack throughout the day. A snack in line is a good way to help pass the time.
“I feel like a lot of people don’t know they can bring their own food,” Christina said, but it’s totally permissible.
Plus, Christina says to add a refillable water bottle to your park bag. “Stop at the refillable water bottle stations,” she advised, to save money and reduce plastic usage.
You can also stop at quick-service restaurants to ask for cups of ice water, if you forget your bottle at home.
3. Take Time to See the Shows
Disney World is about more than just roller coasters and dark rides. Each park has a plethora of live entertainment (and screen-based shows) to take in.
“It’s important to remember the shows,” Christina told me. “Sometimes we think of toddlers as not being able to keep attention, but it’s not true. The Encanto show at EPCOT is phenomenal, and it just gets them up and dancing and moving and shaking. So it gets those wiggles out as well.”
Our planDisney expert also highlighted the importance of shows in indoor theaters. The chance to sit in the AC for 20 to 30 minutes can be a game-changer.
4. Use Strollers
Photo by Cliff Wang
Even if your little has recently graduated from strollers, make sure you bring one or rent one. There is a lot of walking at Disney World, and kids have to take double the amount of steps that longer-legged parents take.
“Some parents are like, ‘Well, my kid is seven. They don’t need a stroller,’” Christina said. “But it’s a long day, especially in the heat. Bring the stroller.”
5. Take Breaks at Your Hotel or Baby Care Centers
Your Walt Disney World ticket allows you to leave and re-enter the park as many times in a day as you would like — and if you get Park Hopper, you can even leave one park and enter another later.
Christina stressed the importance of using this to your advantage. Before it gets to the peak heat of the day, head back to your resort using Disney’s complimentary transportation to take a nap or splash in the pool.
But what if you’re worried about losing time on transportation? You can relax in the parks.
“The Baby Care Centers are a blessing,” Christina said. As a mother of two little girls, Christina told me she’s used these — one in each park — many times. “You can go in there, and it’s a quiet space. You can nurse. There are TVs in there. You can microwave food in there. It’s just a really nice space to actually get out of the hustle and bustle in the parks with your little ones if they need a nap or if they just want to eat.”
6. Enjoy the Playgrounds
It can be tempting to skip some of the basic activities, such as playgrounds and yard games, that you’ll find around the parks. After all, you can do that back home.
But Christina emphasized the importance of these spaces for kids who need to run out their big feelings.
“A lot of the parks have play areas for all the little ones, so let them go run around a little, and then you can get back to your day.”
This is a good idea before a particularly long line.
7. Use Character Dining to Your Advantage
Photo by Morgan Flaherty
Our planDisney expert also told us about dining strategically. Choosing a sit-down meal each day to slow down and reset in the air conditioning can be super helpful.
Better yet, book character dining to make the meal more of an experience for your kid. It may also mean you can skip one or two character meet-and-greets in the parks, which can save you lots of time spent waiting in lines.
“Some of these character experiences are phenomenal,” Christina told me. “They get up, and they dance with kids. And then maybe you don’t have to go wait in line to meet Mickey, because you’ve already done it.”
Final Thoughts for First-Time Parents at Walt Disney World
Planning a trip to Disney with kids can be intimidating, but you don’t have to go it alone. Here are two resources to lighten the load and help you have more fun with your kids at Disney World:
- Get our Rope Drop Guide app: Our Rope Drop Guide app has planning resources to help you strategize before you head to Disney, plus helpful in-park features to find the shortest wait times and plan your day around the crowds.
- Book with a Disney Travel Agent: Using our travel agent partner, The Vacationeer, is totally free, and they can help with everything from purchasing tickets to booking hotels and dining. They’re also your lifeline when you’re in the parks and need help.
