Headed to Disney World with your kids soon? Save this post for tips and tricks on making the trip a breeze!
The time has come…I am taking Grayson to Disney World for the first time this year! I took Leighton for her first time right before she turned 4, and I took Amelia for her first time shortly after she turned 4. And now this year, Grayson will almost be 4! I am so excited and cannot wait! It is going to be so fun and special…but yes, it will also be expensive, tiring and hot. The best thing we can do is plan for them as much as we can while also trying to slow down, relax, go with the flow and say yes some. Remember how special of a day this is to your kids! But you also want to keep your calm mama. These tips below can help set you all up for success though!
Tips for Taking Kids to Disney World
1.) Plan out your days and parks in advance – …but also know that you might have to go with the flow. Plan breaks or down times the day you arrive and the day before you fly home. We typically fly in early and spend all day the pool just relaxing and get in bed early the night before our first Disney World Day. On our last day, we do the same thing. We spend the day at the hotel pool swimming and then get in bed early again to prep for an early flight out.
You could also do a park hopper or go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party after an afternoon nap. Have a plan, but see how each day goes too. If they are grouchy, overstimulated and tired one day, try going to the park later the next day or leaving early to get in bed. You want them to have fun, not be miserable. = )
2.) Know height restrictions and make a game plan on rides – We usually plan to ride the most popular rides first that we absolutely don’t want to miss, and then we fill in the rest of the day with other fun rides with short lines. I make a list of all my kids heights, the rides we all want to ride and the restrictions so I know which kids can ride which. I try to start with a super popular ride that they all can ride first, and then I alternate rides after that that the older and younger kids can ride.
It is typically just me between the kids, so I have to make a game plan so no one is left behind or gets upset that they haven’t ridden in a while. If you have a spouse who goes with you, bonus points if you have hands for all the kids you have. = ) If you don’t like me, just relay the expectations to everyone in advance so they will understand you are only one person and you will all have to take turns or which child gets to ride with the adult each time. They will be energetic and emotions can run high, so just try to plan for what you can and take the rest with a grain of salt and just have fun! You are creating memories together!
3.) Plan for family outfits – Sure, they look cute…but they’re also so practical! I usually try to pick a color that isn’t SO overdone. I feel like red and white are the colors I see the most, and I make sure we all have on the same t-shirt. It really does help! And it makes family pictures at the park super cute!
4.) Book direct flights – There is no other way to fly to Orlando lol! It really is so nice and convenient to fly direct. If you can book direct, do it. It will save so much time and stress. And you want to set yourself up for success as much as you can before a long, fun week with the kids!
5.) Book character dining in advance and have a game plan on where to eat when – We always love Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest and the Crystal Palace. Reservations open at 5:00am cst 60 days in advance. After you decide which nice dining you want, take a look at the other casual dining options and make a plan where you might be and which food options look best. The last thing you want is for everyone to be starving and the lines to be so long everywhere. You can also place a mobile order at most restaurants, and that came in handy a lot with the kids! It was also nice so I could see the gluten free dining options in advance on my phone while ordering.
6.) Rent a stroller at the park – It is super quick to rent one, and they have single and double. They cost between $13-$31 a day, and it is so much more convenient than bringing your own and having to fold it up flat when you get on the shuttle! Sure, looking for stroller parking at every ride isn’t fun, but if you have a young child, it is essential. And the extra storage on the stroller is nice too!
7.) Pack a diaper bag – Don’t forget the sunscreen (put it on before you leave the hotel), bandaids, chapstick, a notebook and pen, hand sanitizer, wipes and a change of clothes for any really young children. You can also bring a lovey for any young Disney-goers in case they get a little overstimulated and just need some quiet, snuggle time.
8.) Bring water bottles – It is HOT in Florida y’all. And most of the lines are outside in the sun. Don’t forget your water bottle for you and the kids that you can refill throughout the park. It will be a lifesaver!
9.) Pack snacks – Make sure you pack some protein packed snacks for both you and the kids. It will be long day, and there will be a lot of walking. You’re going to need all the energy you can get!
10.) Utilize Genie+ the day of your park visit – Starting as early as 7:00am, you can sign up to make your first Lightning Lane selection. You can only make one selection at a time, so make sure it is the most popular ride that YOU and the KIDS want to ride! You will get to enter the lightning lane and will get in much quicker! After you use it, check again to see if there are any others you want to purchase. They are typically pretty inexpensive, but worth it!
11.) Plan for character experiences – This is always one of the girls’ favorite parts of visiting Disney! It’s so special to see their reactions when they meet characters. Make sure you give them the notebook so they can save the autograph. It’s also a great way to slow down and take a break from all the go, go, go!
12.) Visit the gift shops last – No one wants to be toting around tons of more stuff all day long. So, we always plan for souvenirs before we leave for the day. We always have a dollar amount or souvenir number in mind and let them know in advance how many things they can get or how much money they can spend. They get the responsibility of deciding which things they want the most, and then they get to play with it on long shuttle ride back to the hotel. = )
Have you been to Disney World with littles yet? What are your best tips?
