Traveling to Disney World with two young children scared me. So after my first trip there in 40 years, I compiled my top 5 Disney World tips to make it easy for the next person.
I felt very intimidated by the trip, especially when traveling with a four-year-old and a two-year-old. However, after a couple of days at the park, we figured out some things.
Hopefully, my experience can help you plan your Disney World trip more effectively, so you can have the most stress-free time possible.
Minimize Your Time In Lines
The first Disney World tip seems obvious, but try to minimize your time in line, especially when you have smaller kids with you.
We purposefully chose our day at the Magic Kingdom when they closed early for a special event. People don’t want to visit a park that closes early, so attendance is significantly reduced, which means fewer people to wait in line with.
While we missed out on the nighttime fireworks, we hardly ever had to wait in line. In fact, over half of the rides we rode that day had a wait time of less than 5 minutes.
You do miss out on a full day at the park, but we planned it for our last day in the parks, and we were tired, wet, and ready to go.
Also, when you stay at a Disney Resort, you’ll get early access to the parks as well. We used this strategy to get there before the lines formed.
Finally, be sure to use the Disney World App to check the wait times for your ride. While you might try to do all the rides in one section, it might be better for you to zigzag through the park, looking for the shortest wait times.
Waiting Entertainment
Even if you find rides with shorter-than-normal wait times, you’ll still have to wait in some lines. To combat the wait times, we brought things to keep our kids occupied..
You probably don’t want to bring a tablet, but a few small toys can keep them occupied and make the times you do have to wait bearable.
For my youngest, we brought some little squishy toys as well as a Woody doll to keep him entertained during the wait. The oldest brought a personal whiteboard and a dry-erase marker with him.
Most of the rides had a spot to store things like bags and little toys, so we didn’t have to worry about them on the rides often. I would put the smaller toys in my pockets during rides.
Anything you can bring that is easy to secure and will keep them occupied will take you a long way.
Strollers with Storage
Part of this Disney World tip shocked me. Disney allowed strollers in. I figured you could rent them, but I didn’t know that you could bring your own. I would highly recommend bringing your own to help you get around everywhere. But I would emphasize that bringing a stroller with plenty of storage is essential.
If you follow my advice and bring some toys and some snacks, you’ll need a place to put them while you’re enjoying yourself on a ride. A stroller with a good storage section will take you pretty far. Plus, you know you’ll end up buying some souvenir and a popcorn bucket on your trip as well.
That storage space will make you happy when you’re on breaks or getting on rides, as you can store so much inside it.
Another stroller tip is to bring canvas bags or other items to help you organize your stroller storage. When you get on a bus or Skyliner, you’ll have to fold up your stroller. Grabbing a couple of bags filled with everything will make it easier for you to fold up your stroller. Additionally, when you enter the park, security personnel will require you to remove all items from your stroller, making the process of getting in and out quicker.
Snacks Can Help Everyone
Unlike movie theaters and sports stadiums, you can bring in outside food to the parks, so make sure you think about using this perk.
Snacks helped us temper upset children when we wouldn’t buy them the expensive toy they would never play with outside the park. Plus, while you’re in line, you can take a little snack break to help pass the time.
There are water stations around the park, and you can ask some of the quick-stop food places for water refills, so make sure you bring some water bottles as well.
Of course, you’ll still want to try some of the snacks inside, so don’t stock up too much on snacks.
I would recommend getting a popcorn bucket, as popcorn refills are among the cheapest snacks you can buy.
Enjoy Your Time
Don’t get caught up in only looking at your phone and eating snacks from home. Remember to look up and make the most of your time. You won’t be able to do everything, and lines might make some of the things you want to do take forever.
I found it better to focus on the opportunity rather than the schedule. We waited in line early so it would be shorter. That allowed us to knock some things out of the way and get surprised later. It also allowed us to enjoy some shows towards the end of the day, even though everyone was exhausted.
Also, don’t forget that if you stay at a Disney property, you get early access to the parks.
If you have too much of a plan, things can always go wrong and ruin your experience.
Furthermore, make sure you are taking advantage of everything Disney has implemented to make your time memorable. Ask your resort for things like your first-timer’s pin, or ask your bus driver for a sticker, and be surprised by everything he showers you with.
Also, don’t forget about the weather. In your stroller storage, I would pack a few ponchos, as they came in handy. Get one for your stroller as well, as you will leave it behind, and it might get rained on.
And finally, make sure you have comfortable shoes, as you’ll be doing a ton of walking.
Hopefully, My Disney World Tips Can Help
This might be things some of you Disney-fanatics already know, but if this is your first time going, it’s been a long time since you went, or you’re visiting with children for the first time, I hope these tips help you.
We used all of these to help make our time at Disney World just a little more magical. Also, make sure you check out my episode of Adventure and Mousecapades to hear me discuss my trip and all things Disney-related.
Do you have any straightforward, magical tips for first-timers? Let us know in the comments or on Threads.
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