If you are only planning on ever going to Disney World once in a lifetime, then okay, maybe I can understand why you'd want to wait until the kids are older. But most people go more than once in a lifetime, so why wait? You don't stop celebrating Christmas or birthdays when you have infants and toddlers just because they won't remember it, right? Those memories are cherished for years to come in pictures, and the stories we tell our kids about when they were babies. The same holds true for Disney vacations.
As far as what infants and toddlers can and can't do at Walt Disney World, you might actually be surprised. The large majority of attractions can be experienced even by the littlest mouseketeers! For instance, at the Magic Kingdom, there are over 40 rides & attractions, and only 5 of which babies & young children can't go on. That means your little one still can experience almost 90% of the park!
For a list of which attractions have height/age/safety restrictions, CLICK HERE!
Note: if you're pregnant at Walt Disney World, you'll also want to check out the link above for safety recommendations!
Note: if you're pregnant at Walt Disney World, you'll also want to check out the link above for safety recommendations!
There are a lot of very convenient tips & tricks to planning a vacation with young kids. Keep reading...
Baby Centers:
Each of the 4 main theme parks has a convenient Baby Center that is free to use. You and your little ones will enjoy quiet nursing rooms with rocking chairs, several large change tables, high chairs, and a little getaway from the hustle-bustle of the parks. In case you forget to bring anything for your child, the Baby Centers have a selection of diapers, wipes, creams, Tylenol, formula, baby food, etc. for purchase. Check your park map for the location!
Baby Swap (Rider Switch) Pass:
Let's say that my husband Mike & I are at Disney World with both my kids, but we want to go on one of the height-restricted rides (eg. Dinosaur). But the kids are too little to go on the ride. Here's what you do.
1. We all go up to the Cast Member at the entrance of the Dinosaur ride, and ask for a Baby Swap Pass (also known as a Rider Switch pass). It will be a little ticket they hand us, that looks like this: (pictured)
2. Mike and the kids hold on to that Baby Swap pass, and go enjoy an ice cream, do some shopping, whatever, while I get in the lineup and go enjoy the Dinosaur ride!
3. When I'm done my ride, I come out to babysit the kids. Mike is now able to take his turn on Dinosaur, but with little to no wait time! If he shows his Baby Swap Pass, they'll let him into the faster-moving Fast Pass lineup! That way, we both get to experience the thrill rides even though we have kids with us.
NOTE: The Baby Swap pass is good for up to 3 people! So if there are a group of adults or older siblings in your group, they can all go in and "swap" together as a group!
Strollers:
You have 4 options if you're considering using a stroller at Disney...
1. Don't use one. Carry your kids all day, make them walk, and hope they don't complain (yeah right!).
2. Bring one from home. Let your kid be comfortable in the stroller that they're used to sitting and napping in.
3. Rent one from Disney World. I can not stress enough how much I don't like this option. First off, they're hard plastic & don't recline, so definitely not suitable for young babies or children that might want to nap. Second, you can only use them at the parks, so you can't bring them back to your resort with you. And third, the price is ridiculous. For a double-wide stroller (pictured, left) you will be paying $31.00 PER DAY. For a single stroller (pictured, right), you will be paying $15.00 PER DAY. That is outrageous.
4. Rent from a third-party dealer. This is what I recommend. There are 2 companies that I have dealt with and both are equally as fabulous. For around $75 - $80 A WEEK, you will be delivered a quality, clean & comfy double-wide stroller the day you arrive at your resort. (Single strollers are also available for less!) These are fully-reclining jogging-style strollers (orange coloured, pictured right) with large sun shades, and they hold even larger kids (my 6 year old still fit!) Orlando Stroller Rental is great and the customer service is wonderful. But lately I've been going with Kingdom Strollers because they carry the same exact style, only with cup holders for Mom & Dad! They also offer free rain covers if quantities last.
Regardless of the stroller you choose, there will be "Stroller Parking" outside of all rides & attractions. You will be required to park your stroller and carry or walk your child through the lineups. Sometimes, Cast Members will neaten up the parking areas so don't worry if you come out of the ride and your stroller has been moved a few feet away. That's why I like to put some kind of identifying ribbon on the handlebars -- it makes it easier to spot my stroller in the sea of others that look alike! You are not allowed to lock your strollers to anything at Walt Disney World but rest assured your stroller will be safe & sound. Just don't leave anything important in there. You can carry bags on all the rides so it shouldn't be a problem.
Feeding Your Baby:
Moderate and Deluxe resorts offer free in-room refrigerators (they are available at Values for an additional charge) so you can store any baby food, formula, etc. for your vacation. All restaurants offer highchairs and specially reclined seats for younger infants, and usually you are allowed to roll your stroller into restaurants if your infant is sleeping. The Baby Care Centers in each park offer a limited selection of feeding items if you are desperate, and toddlers are welcome to eat free from their parents' plate (or buffets). It's fairly easy to find toddler-friendly foods like small fruit, cereals at breakfast, Mickey crackers (think Goldfish) and more.
*Tip: We used to bring a small cooler bag during the day, with pre-filled tupperwares of baby food, bottles, and snacks that just fit perfectly under our stroller. A small ice pack (frozen overnight in the resort room fridge) was all that was needed to keep everything fresh all day!
Waking Up Tinkerbell:
This is just a neat little surprise for young kids that you can do at the Magic Kingdom. If you are the first family of the day to enter "Tink's Treasures" (a store behind Cinderella's Castle in Fantasyland), you can ask the Cast Member to "Wake Up Tinkerbell". Get ready for a really neat surprise! And, even if you're not the first family of the day & Tink has already been "awoken", go ahead and ask if you can "Call Tinkerbell" for a smaller surprise! (hint: it's very cute and sparkly!)
Agent P's Epcot World Showcase Adventure:
For something really neat & interactive for older kids (think 5-10 years old), you've got to try the Agent P's Adventure in Epcot's World Showcase. (yep! It's Agent P from Phineas & Ferb!) You stop by one of the kiosks around Epcot, and you'll be given a special cell phone and a unique mission within one of the eleven countries of World Showcase. Your phone starts to give you clues as you try to find Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his "Inators"! You'll be asked to find certain landmarks within the pavilion, and when you activate your phone, something around you will move & change to give you your next clue! It's really fun for kids (and... ahem... adults too...), and you can play it at your own pace! Each mission takes about 30 minutes to complete.
KidCot Fun Stops:
At each pavilion around World Showcase, they will have a KidCot Fun Stop where your kids can colour a Duffy Bear paper puppet. (Tip: they're usually located near the back of each pavilion) It's a nice break - letting the kids chat with other kids while sitting around the craft table. But that's not all! If your child has an autograph book (or if you purchase a fancy Epcot Passport from one of the gift shops) someone from that particular country will sign their books in their native language, as well as stamp it with a special World Showcase stamp! My kids, even as young as 3 years old loved collecting the stamps and messages in their books, staring at how their names look when written in Chinese or Arabic! The Cast Members from each country are often more than willing to talk to the kids about their homeland so it's a neat experience for children!
Baby's First Haircut:
You can commemorate your baby's first haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. Your little one will receive a complimentary Mickey Ears hat with the words "First Haircut" stitched on the back, as well as a special certificate of the occasion! Price is $18.00, and walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are recommended. Call 1-407-WDW-DINE and ask for Children's Activities.
Meet The Characters!
Some of my favorite pictures are of the kids meeting the various Disney characters. When they're that little, they truly believe they're standing next to a celebrity! It's the real Cinderella or Goofy. You can find a listing on each park map where you'll be able to meet your favorite characters -- and don't forget those autograph books! Something that's new is the "Town Square Theatre" (close to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom) where you can now pick up a Fast Pass to meet Mickey Mouse himself! That means little-to-no waiting in line. Perfect!
Collecting: Pennies, Pins & Figures:
If you have a collector in the family, there are many great, inexpensive items to find at Disney World.
Pressed Pennies: These little machines are located outside most big attractions, at resorts and restaurants all across the World. Insert 50-cents into the machine, as well as a shiny penny, and choose your favorite design! (Each machine has a choice of 3-4 different designs) The machine literally crushes the penny into the design you've chosen! Small albums to hold your collection are available at most gift shops.
Trading Pins: Most gift shops sell various Disney pins, as well as the main store at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Cast Members and guests wear their pins on lanyards, as an invitation to trade pins! So go ahead, ask if you can trade one of your pins for one of theirs!
Vinylmation Figures: These are the latest collectable craze at Disney World. They are vinyl Mickey figurines, and each one is the same size and shape. But they are each painted differently (some by celebrity artists) to look like various characters, or patterns. You can also purchase a "mystery" package, where you don't know which Vinylmation you'll receive. Some stores even offer a trade-up service where you can trade a Vinylmation for a different one from a collection.
All in all, when you're travelling with kids at Disney it forces you to slow down and really enjoy everything. So relax! Go back to your resort mid-day for a family nap! Soak it in! Your babies will only be young for such a short time, so capture as much of these memories as you can!
Let's say that my husband Mike & I are at Disney World with both my kids, but we want to go on one of the height-restricted rides (eg. Dinosaur). But the kids are too little to go on the ride. Here's what you do.1. We all go up to the Cast Member at the entrance of the Dinosaur ride, and ask for a Baby Swap Pass (also known as a Rider Switch pass). It will be a little ticket they hand us, that looks like this: (pictured)
2. Mike and the kids hold on to that Baby Swap pass, and go enjoy an ice cream, do some shopping, whatever, while I get in the lineup and go enjoy the Dinosaur ride!
3. When I'm done my ride, I come out to babysit the kids. Mike is now able to take his turn on Dinosaur, but with little to no wait time! If he shows his Baby Swap Pass, they'll let him into the faster-moving Fast Pass lineup! That way, we both get to experience the thrill rides even though we have kids with us.
NOTE: The Baby Swap pass is good for up to 3 people! So if there are a group of adults or older siblings in your group, they can all go in and "swap" together as a group!
Strollers:
You have 4 options if you're considering using a stroller at Disney...
1. Don't use one. Carry your kids all day, make them walk, and hope they don't complain (yeah right!).
2. Bring one from home. Let your kid be comfortable in the stroller that they're used to sitting and napping in.3. Rent one from Disney World. I can not stress enough how much I don't like this option. First off, they're hard plastic & don't recline, so definitely not suitable for young babies or children that might want to nap. Second, you can only use them at the parks, so you can't bring them back to your resort with you. And third, the price is ridiculous. For a double-wide stroller (pictured, left) you will be paying $31.00 PER DAY. For a single stroller (pictured, right), you will be paying $15.00 PER DAY. That is outrageous.
4. Rent from a third-party dealer. This is what I recommend. There are 2 companies that I have dealt with and both are equally as fabulous. For around $75 - $80 A WEEK, you will be delivered a quality, clean & comfy double-wide stroller the day you arrive at your resort. (Single strollers are also available for less!) These are fully-reclining jogging-style strollers (orange coloured, pictured right) with large sun shades, and they hold even larger kids (my 6 year old still fit!) Orlando Stroller Rental is great and the customer service is wonderful. But lately I've been going with Kingdom Strollers because they carry the same exact style, only with cup holders for Mom & Dad! They also offer free rain covers if quantities last.Regardless of the stroller you choose, there will be "Stroller Parking" outside of all rides & attractions. You will be required to park your stroller and carry or walk your child through the lineups. Sometimes, Cast Members will neaten up the parking areas so don't worry if you come out of the ride and your stroller has been moved a few feet away. That's why I like to put some kind of identifying ribbon on the handlebars -- it makes it easier to spot my stroller in the sea of others that look alike! You are not allowed to lock your strollers to anything at Walt Disney World but rest assured your stroller will be safe & sound. Just don't leave anything important in there. You can carry bags on all the rides so it shouldn't be a problem.
Feeding Your Baby:
Moderate and Deluxe resorts offer free in-room refrigerators (they are available at Values for an additional charge) so you can store any baby food, formula, etc. for your vacation. All restaurants offer highchairs and specially reclined seats for younger infants, and usually you are allowed to roll your stroller into restaurants if your infant is sleeping. The Baby Care Centers in each park offer a limited selection of feeding items if you are desperate, and toddlers are welcome to eat free from their parents' plate (or buffets). It's fairly easy to find toddler-friendly foods like small fruit, cereals at breakfast, Mickey crackers (think Goldfish) and more.
*Tip: We used to bring a small cooler bag during the day, with pre-filled tupperwares of baby food, bottles, and snacks that just fit perfectly under our stroller. A small ice pack (frozen overnight in the resort room fridge) was all that was needed to keep everything fresh all day!Waking Up Tinkerbell:
This is just a neat little surprise for young kids that you can do at the Magic Kingdom. If you are the first family of the day to enter "Tink's Treasures" (a store behind Cinderella's Castle in Fantasyland), you can ask the Cast Member to "Wake Up Tinkerbell". Get ready for a really neat surprise! And, even if you're not the first family of the day & Tink has already been "awoken", go ahead and ask if you can "Call Tinkerbell" for a smaller surprise! (hint: it's very cute and sparkly!)
Agent P's Epcot World Showcase Adventure:
For something really neat & interactive for older kids (think 5-10 years old), you've got to try the Agent P's Adventure in Epcot's World Showcase. (yep! It's Agent P from Phineas & Ferb!) You stop by one of the kiosks around Epcot, and you'll be given a special cell phone and a unique mission within one of the eleven countries of World Showcase. Your phone starts to give you clues as you try to find Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his "Inators"! You'll be asked to find certain landmarks within the pavilion, and when you activate your phone, something around you will move & change to give you your next clue! It's really fun for kids (and... ahem... adults too...), and you can play it at your own pace! Each mission takes about 30 minutes to complete.
KidCot Fun Stops:At each pavilion around World Showcase, they will have a KidCot Fun Stop where your kids can colour a Duffy Bear paper puppet. (Tip: they're usually located near the back of each pavilion) It's a nice break - letting the kids chat with other kids while sitting around the craft table. But that's not all! If your child has an autograph book (or if you purchase a fancy Epcot Passport from one of the gift shops) someone from that particular country will sign their books in their native language, as well as stamp it with a special World Showcase stamp! My kids, even as young as 3 years old loved collecting the stamps and messages in their books, staring at how their names look when written in Chinese or Arabic! The Cast Members from each country are often more than willing to talk to the kids about their homeland so it's a neat experience for children!
Baby's First Haircut:
You can commemorate your baby's first haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom. Your little one will receive a complimentary Mickey Ears hat with the words "First Haircut" stitched on the back, as well as a special certificate of the occasion! Price is $18.00, and walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are recommended. Call 1-407-WDW-DINE and ask for Children's Activities.Meet The Characters!
Some of my favorite pictures are of the kids meeting the various Disney characters. When they're that little, they truly believe they're standing next to a celebrity! It's the real Cinderella or Goofy. You can find a listing on each park map where you'll be able to meet your favorite characters -- and don't forget those autograph books! Something that's new is the "Town Square Theatre" (close to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom) where you can now pick up a Fast Pass to meet Mickey Mouse himself! That means little-to-no waiting in line. Perfect!
Collecting: Pennies, Pins & Figures:
Pressed Pennies: These little machines are located outside most big attractions, at resorts and restaurants all across the World. Insert 50-cents into the machine, as well as a shiny penny, and choose your favorite design! (Each machine has a choice of 3-4 different designs) The machine literally crushes the penny into the design you've chosen! Small albums to hold your collection are available at most gift shops.
Trading Pins: Most gift shops sell various Disney pins, as well as the main store at Downtown Disney Marketplace. Cast Members and guests wear their pins on lanyards, as an invitation to trade pins! So go ahead, ask if you can trade one of your pins for one of theirs!
Vinylmation Figures: These are the latest collectable craze at Disney World. They are vinyl Mickey figurines, and each one is the same size and shape. But they are each painted differently (some by celebrity artists) to look like various characters, or patterns. You can also purchase a "mystery" package, where you don't know which Vinylmation you'll receive. Some stores even offer a trade-up service where you can trade a Vinylmation for a different one from a collection.