All the extra challenges might make you think it would be crazy to attempt a trip to Walt Disney World with toddlers, but it really shouldn't.
One of the best things you can do while kids are still young is to plan a trip based on what they are into. Though the days may seem long with toddlers, the phase passes quickly and before you know it, they are doing all of the grown up things in the parks.
We can help you with the logistics so you can stick to the fun. Here's how....
In this article
- Before you leave
- Where to stay at Disney World with toddlers
- General Disney World with toddlers touring advice
- Touring plans for families with little ones
- Best Disney World dining choices for toddlers
- Shop this post
Before you leave
Counting down to the trip
When to tell them?
While waiting to go to Disney World with toddlers, it's good to get your little one involved so they can get excited and know what to expect.
One dilemma for parents of little ones is knowing how far ahead to tell them because every day could become "when are we leaving? are we leaving now? how about now?"
You might want to talk about Disney World (the rides, the hotels, etc.) but without telling your child that a trip is planned. That way they know what Disney World is and what you can do there, but can't nag daily asking if it's time to go yet.
You could decide to tell your child just before the trip begins and use a fun countdown to count down the final days before your trip. Depending on your child's age you might want to keep the countdown short (10 or fewer days).
Here are some countdown ideas on Pinterest:
Follow Shannon, WDW Prep School's board Counting down to Disney World trips on Pinterest.
What to watch
There are a lot of things you can watch to get your toddler prepped and excited.
- Order and/or watch the free Disney planning video online
- Watch ride/attraction videos on YouTube
- Watch Disney-related videos on Netflix
What to read
Although toddlers can't read yet, the Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids book is great for all ages. It has big pictures and ratings by kids to give you an idea about what kids will like.
If this is going to be your first time in a plane or on a long distance road trip, you might also consider reading books about flying or traveling by cars.
Toddler-friendly trip itinerary
Trip itineraries are great for helping kids know what to expect. For little ones, that means using more pictures than words to show the daily plans.
Check out the itinerary templates to put together your own.
Where to stay at Disney World with toddlers
When choosing an on-site hotel that your toddler will love, you might want to look in the Value and Deluxe categories. Moderate theming is beautiful, just not super toddler-friendly.
Best Value Resorts for toddlers
For Values, Pop Century and Art of Animation are our top recommendations.
Art of Animation
Art of Animation is especially fun (and maybe worth the extra $$$ compared to other value resorts) if your toddler happens to be really into Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King or Little Mermaid.
As a bonus, most of the rooms at Art of Animation (all of them except for the Little Mermaid rooms) are suites, allowing you to have separate rooms, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchenette which could be really handy (and the suites allow up to 6 people - a rarity when staying on-site).
Pop Century
Pop Century is another great option. Unlike the All Star Resorts, Pop Century doesn't share its transportation with any other resorts. This is a nice bonus when you're trying to get a sleeping toddler back to your resort.
Rooms at Pop Century are also in the process of being refurbished, and the new layout will likely appeal to many families.
At the completion of the refurbishment, the standard rooms at Pop Century will all have queen-sized beds, one of which is a Murphy Bed that folds down from the wall.
Many guests have reported that they really like the ability of being able to fold the one bed up when it isn't in use because it gives them more floor space, which is nice if you have little ones that need some room to play.
Another nice feature of the refurbished rooms is a sliding door between the sink area of the bathroom and the sleeping space. This makes it a lot easier for people to get ready in the morning without disturbing those that might still be sleeping.
The room refurbishment project at Pop Century should be completed Summer of 2018, so if traveling before then make sure you request a refurbished room at check-in.
Best Deluxe Resorts for toddlers
Polynesian Village Resort
If you are considering a Deluxe Resort, you can't beat staying at The Polynesian with toddlers.
It's super easy to catch the monorail right at the hotel to Magic Kingdom, just a short walk to the monorail to Epcot, and it's in a location where you can view Magic Kingdom fireworks from your hotel (which is nice if your little one likes the look of fireworks but not the sound).
Contemporary Resort
The Contemporary Resort is another Deluxe worth considering.
With the monorail going right through the building and the ability to walk to Magic Kingdom, it's hard to imagine it not being fun for anyone, especially families with little ones. It also has Chef Mickey's restaurant located right inside - a popular choice for families at Disney World.
Bed rails and Pack 'n Plays
With all the families traveling to Walt Disney World, Disney is prepared when it comes to beds.
To help make bedtime easier, Disney has both bed rails and Pack 'n' Plays available to borrow.
You can request one when you get there or, even better, you can call (407) 934-7639 to have the request added to your reservation.
General Disney World with toddlers touring advice
Before getting into the specifics of each park, let's talk about some general park touring advice first.
How many days to spend in each park?
Step 3 in the 6-step process is to make a daily plan. That includes deciding how many days to spend in each park.
It's really hard to tell people how they should spend their days, but here's some advice and you can adjust based on your family.
For people who want a toddler-focused trip, this is how you might want to split up your days.
- For a 3 day trip, do 2 days at Magic Kingdom and then either Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom.
- For a 4 day trip, do 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Hollywood Studios and 1 day at Animal Kingdom.
- For a 5 day trip, do 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom and 1 day at Epcot.
- For a 6+ day trip, do the same as a 5 day trip but with a break day (or days) in the middle to rest at the hotel, visit Disney Springs, swim, etc.
Packing with a toddler
Traveling with a toddler usually means you'll be packing some extra stuff.
We have an Ultimate Disney World Packing List of items to help you out, but some of the must-have items you'll want to make sure you include:
- child-friendly sunblock
- stain stick or Shout wipes, etc.
- backpack or diaper bag that you can carry into the parks
- large Ziploc bags (for holding wet clothes, snacks, etc.)
- multiple pairs of shoes (in case one pair gets wet from rain or playing in splash zones)
- Post-it Notes to cover the toilet sensor if auto-flush toilets are scary to them
What to do about strollers?
Your toddler may not use a stroller any more, but they will very, very likely need one at Disney World (unless they're ultra toddler marathoners who can go 10+ miles per day).
Strollers are very handy for not only providing your little one with a spot to rest their feet, but they also provide a place for you to store some of that extra stuff toddlers need.
You'll have lots of options when it comes to strollers - renting offsite, renting from Disney, bringing one from home, shipping a new stroller to yourself, etc.
Be sure to read our comparison of stroller options to decide how you will want to handle strollers for your trip.
Whatever stroller you decide to use we highly recommend you also consider bringing along, renting, or purchasing a rain cover.
Going when the temperatures are predicted to be hot? If you're using a stroller, you'll likely want one of these stroller fans, too.
Transportation with toddlers
When visiting Disney World and staying onsit,e you'll have access to lots of different transportation options. The monorail, buses, and boats are all free to use and can be a fantastic choice for many families.
If you have your own car, however, sometimes it might make more sense to drive than it does to use Disney's bus transportation.
When you drive your own car at Disney World, you are guaranteed that everybody in your group will have a seat. With the buses in particular, that isn't always the case. During busy times like mornings and evenings, you might find that some people in your party will need to stand and that can be tricky if you have little ones.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that recent Walt Disney World parking changes means you'll pay to park at your resort, so make sure you factor that into your budget when weighing all the pros and cons.
Disney also offers a premium transportation option called Minnie Vans. These adorable polka-dotted vehicles operate much like Uber or Lyft, but are driven by Disney Cast Members and come equipped with convertible car/booster seats.
If you are running short on time or are planning to go from resort to resort (like for a dining reservation), Minnie Vans are your fastest option. They are a little pricey at $25 per ride, but they can really cut down on the stress.
Using a stroller on the ferry, buses, monorails, trams, and resort boats (launches)
Some transportation options allow your little one to remain in the stroller, but most do not.
- Monorails and ferries - strollers can stay open and a child can stay in them
- Buses and trams - strollers must be folded up. Even if your little one is sleeping and the bus is totally empty, you'll still need to fold your stroller.
- Resort launches and Friendship boats - strollers can be left open if space allows, but your child must be seated with you
When traveling with a toddler, when should you drive and when should you leave the driving to Disney?
Folding and unfolding a stroller multiple times can be a hassle, especially at the end of the day when all your stuff has multiplied.
Because of that, whenever possible, we recommend that you choose the mode of transportation that allows you to minimize all the folding and unfolding.
If buses are your only transportation option, just make sure you are prepared to fold up your stroller before you board. Having an extra empty bag you can toss things into can make that process easier and less stressful.
If you have a car available and you plan on getting to the parks at least 45 minutes before they open, we recommend driving. Guests that arrive in plenty of time for Rope Drop often park close enough to the front of the park that they can walk to the entrance without using a tram.
What height requirements affect toddlers?
Since this trip plan is focused on little ones, the thrill rides (which all have height requirements) aren't included in our touring plans for families with little ones. However, there are a few non-thrillers that also have height requirements, and those are indicated on each of the touring plans.
You can also check out the overview of attractions with height requirements for a complete list.
For parents who want to ride bigger rides
Although each of the touring plans is focused on doing just things that toddlers would like to do, adults may still want to enjoy some of the bigger rides as well. Disney provides a perk called Rider Switch which allows adults to take turns riding which can help you do that.
How do I discipline while at Disney World?
Ahhh, that nasty subject that comes up a lot with toddlers. Believe it or not, they will not magically be perfectly behaved at Disney World so you'll need to plan ahead.
Prevention is sooo important. Ideally the more you can prevent the things that cause meltdowns the more you'll be able to avoid needing to discipline.
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- Don't overdo it. Unless your little one is used to going non-stop don't try to go from sunup to sundown. Schedule lots of down time and allow them to just do their own version of relaxing. Being overstimulated is a common reason for meltdowns in people of all ages - including toddlers.
- Make sure they aren't hungry. Being "hangry" is a real thing, and when your toddler gets hungry, you may see that manifest in bad behavior. Be proactive and ready with snacks to help avoid situations where an empty stomach causes a meltdown. You can bring food and drinks with you into the parks (just no alcohol or glass containers) which makes it very easy to always have your child's favorites with you.
- Allow everybody enough time to sleep. Even adults could use a nap daily at Disney World. The heat, extra activity, and excitement wears you out. Be sure you allow everybody the opportunity to get the sleep they need which sometimes may mean early nights or sleeping in.
- Try to limit lines as much possible. Our touring plans are optimized to keep you moving and out of lines. Whenever possible, try to make sure you stick to those to help avoid long waits.
- Prepare for the weather. Weather extremes can make even the most pleasant of people cranky. Be it rain or heat or cold, make sure you know what to expect when you go and how to handle the weather when you are there.
Try to stick to routines. Even adults like routines, and toddlers are especially sensitive to changes in theirs. Whenever possible, try to make sure you'll have the necessary items to keep major routines in place. Things like having a special blanket or pillowcase from home can help at bedtime, and familiar snacks (and snack times) can also help keep everybody smiling.
If you don't want to worry about packing all your favorites, you can order groceries and snacks for when you are there. If you have little ones still in diapers or Pull Ups, you can also order those supplies as well.
Leave if necessary. At home, you might be willing to leave places if your toddler starts acting up, but at Disney World...that's not so easy. It's difficult to leave a park and get back to your hotel room. It often takes an hour and includes a lot of waiting. That's really hard to do with a toddler in meltdown mode.
Instead, you might want to consider "leaving" in a different way - leave the line you're in (or the gift shop you're shopping at or whatever it is), and head somewhere more private for a little downtime. You can head to a restroom, a quiet bench out of the way, or even one of the Baby Care Centers.
The Baby Care Centers can be a great option because they are clean, air conditioned, have some seating, private rooms, sink, microwave and changing tables.
Use positive reinforcement. Using rules attached to positive things like Tinker Bell gifts or an afternoon treat can often work the best.
Want to learn more about how to avoid meltdowns at Disney World? Check out the WDW Prep to Go podcast episode #116 - How to avoid being one of those parents for lots more tips and suggestions.
Let them lead (kinda)
Although this site is all about planning, it's really important to be flexible. Your toddler wants to ride Buzz Lightyear over and over again? Do it!
Have a tot that really likes parades? See them all!
That's the benefit of having a trip focused around them: you can do the things they like to do.
Using FastPass+ with toddlers
There are touring plans for each of the parks below which include the use of FastPass+. The FastPass+ system is a bit of a challenge for people with toddlers because it's hard to know what they will want to do before your trip. The plans below include all of the attractions that most toddlers will enjoy, as well as suggestions for which FastPass+ reservations to get.
FYI - if your child is over the age of 3, they will need their own Walt Disney World ticket. Children under the age of the 3 do not.
Touring plans for families with little ones
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is tot mecca! So much for them to do and this is the perfect age to do it.
Epcot
With the addition of Frozen Ever After, a meeting spot for Anna and Elsa, and other fun attractions, Epcot has become increasingly toddler-friendly in the last few years. Check out the plan below for the best way to cover it all with little ones.
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is the hardest park to plan because of all of the show times, but it does have several toddler-friendly things to do.
Animal Kingdom
With so many animal attractions, great shows, and some interesting rides, Animal Kingdom can be an amazing place to visit with little ones. Check out the touring plan below which incorporates the new family-friendly Pandora attraction.
Best Disney World dining choices for toddlers
Here are some fun places to eat in the parks with little ones:
- Magic Kingdom - Be Our Guest, Columbia Harbour House, Crystal Palace, Cinderella's Royal Table
- Epcot - Garden Grill, Sunshine Seasons, Teppan Edo
- Hollywood Studios - Hollywood and Vine, ABC Commissary
- Animal Kingdom - Pizzafari, Restaurantosaurus, Tusker House
Here are some favorite places to eat with little ones at Disney World outside the parks:
- Chef Mickey's - located in The Contemporary, this buffet character meal is just pure fun. The fact that you get there by monorail makes it even better.
- Beaches and Cream Soda Shop - located in The Beach Club, just outside the International Gateway entrance/exit at Epcot, this place offers cheeseburgers and ice cream, always a hit with little ones.
- Whispering Canyon Cafe is located at The Wilderness Lodge and serves down-home style food and a rowdy atmosphere. Ask for some ketchup and see what happens!
- The T-Rex Cafe Restaurant is located in Disney Springs and is perfect for a dinosaur-loving tot.
Some of the dining options listed above are character meals. Be sure to check out an overview of all Disney World character meals for even more info on all options for your trip.
Shop this post
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WDW Prep members have lots of features that come in handy for people doing Disney World with toddlers.
Level 2 WDW Prep Members can use the dining tool to filter by restaurants that are good for little ones.
The touring plans for little ones are built in to the touring tool.
And as you build your touring plans, they are grouped by hour (for the first 3 hours) and then your whole plan is plotted on a map at the bottom of the page so you can see how it all lays out.
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116 Comments on "A trip plan for doing Disney World with toddlers"
Would love to hear what yah think the best moderate resort is for a toddler.
We are planning a trip in December with our almost 4 year old and 18 month old. We will be at the parks 4 days. Should we do a day at each park or no go to Epcot and go to Magic Kingdom 2 days?
Shannon, this article is a little old. Now that Epcot has Frozen Ever After and lots of things are closed at Hollywood Studios, would you change your recommendations? My 3-year-old will be bored by shows at HS so we were thinking 2 days at MK and one at Epcot.
Yes, we will be updating lots of content over the next couple of months, including this post.
I don’t think a toddler would enjoy Haunted Mansion. Also, I am pretty sure a toddler should not go on Barnstormer or Seven Dwarves Mine Train but please correct me as I have not ridden/seen those rides before. I thought they were roller coasters basically? How would a toddler be safe? Thanks! Going in May with a 2-year-old.
Yep, many kids do those attractions, including mine when they were toddlers. Barnstormer is a coaster designed specifically for little kids. Haunted Mansion is fine as long as kids can handle the dark. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is kind of a medium-intensity coaster that will depend on the child. Just have to decide what will work best for your little one.
Wow, this is amazing and incredibly helpful for an organized freak like me. I am heading to WDW with my 4 yr old son & 2 yr old daughter. We will be staying with family in Orlando, but I plan on doing two days at MK and 1 day at HS. Any extra tips for a single mom?
Hello,
I am just curious as to why you recommend not using the fast pass on some rides???
I guessing it’s because you will waste it on a ride that you may be able to get on early if you follow his recommendations then use the FP for peak times at those popular rides.
His? 🙂
Hey! This is a great post! We are going to WDW in the fall. We’ve planning on 2 MK days, 1 HS day and a “rest day” where we will go to chef Mickey and the Halloween parade. My LO’s will be turning 3 and 5 during our trip. So are we missing out not going to AK? We plan on going back in 2 years with my third child, but just want to make sure we don’t miss the really fun stuff during this trip.
There’s very little a 6 month old can’t do that you’re 22 month couldn’t do when you went. Except the few rides the 22 month old was just talk enough for. My son is 21 months and can only ride 2-3 rides he couldn’t before.
Basically any ride without a height requirement can take a baby of any age. We took our son to Disneyland when he was 8 weeks old. And he rode everything he still rides today (minus those 2-3 he’s now tall enough for).
Hi Meghan! My family and I are going to Disney this month! My daughter will be 22 months as well. What park/attractions did your son enjoy the most? Any advice on taking an energetic almost 2 year old to Disney? Thanks in advance for any info!
We are doing 5 days in the parks; 2 MK, 1 AK, 1HS, and 1 EP. Would you split up the MK days or do them back to back? Also, your daily itinerary above is 1 days per park, correct? Do you have an itinerary for day 2 at MK?
Thanks so much! You’re a lifesaver!
This is the second time I am planning my Disney World trip using this guide!!! Thank you!!!
Hollywood studios is a must see for toddlers simply because of the Disney Jr. Show! And of course the character breakfast (also Disney Jr.) at Hollywood and Vine. My then almost 2 and 4 year old LOVED it! We are going again when they will be 3.5 and 5.5 with a 6 mo. old and we are definitely going the breakfast again as it might have been the highlight of the trip. I highly recommend that you take your toddler there.
They also appear at lunch AND you can get the Fantasmic dining package at lunch so it’s a great deal – food, characters, and great Fantasmic seating.
Is the food good during lunch? I have been going to Disney for my entire life and I always felt disappointed at lunch/dinner brunches. You’re thoughts? Also, is the fantasmic dining package worth it for a 5, 3 and 6 month old? I’ve never done it but would be totally game if it’s age appropriate.
You mentioned some Animal Kingdom attractions on that list (Nemo musical and Triceratop Spin). The things that seem to appeal to people at HS right now include the Frozen Sing-Along, Disney Jr. characters (the only park where you can meet them), and now the new Star Wars stuff.
Hi, I am coming to Disney World in late Oct on a one day park hopper ticket with my 11 year old (not an avid rider) and my almost 3 year old. How would you suggest I break down my day and what attractions would warrant the FP?
I wish I could afford more but this is a once in a lifetime for us!
Thank you for your help!
Awesome post.
We did Disneyworld last year for the Food & Wine Festival with a 5 month old and we’ll be going back this fall for f&w. Our baby will be 18 months so I’ve been Googling things to do with her. I’m sure it will be mostly the same rides/activities we did last time but she can walk now and actually play on the resort playgrounds, etc… We’re so excited!
Thanks for outlining some of the rides/activities. Helps me figure out what we missed last time and what we are actually able to do with her this time.
Shannon, love the site. Thanks 🙂 I’m planning a Disney World trip with my daughter, who will almost three, and my son, who will be 1 and a half (he’s only 10 months now). Any suggestions about what to do on the off day when we are not at the parks? We will be staying on Disney property.
Rest! Walk around your resort and take pictures, go to the pools and playground, spend extra time in the gift shop and food court. You will love having one day that you don’t have to rush for a fast pass or dining reservation. Plus, if your trip is like mine, you’ll be exhausted! 🙂 Have a magical time!!!
Thank you so much. I’m an Orlando native and still find Disney overwhelming. Taking my 3 kids in June, ages 4, 2 and 6 months.
Oh my gosh our kids will be the same ages and we are going in July! I’m excited and terrified at the same time 🙂
I just booked our first wdw as a family for beginning of december. My daughter will be 14 months and I am nervous. These suggestions all seem centered around 2+ years old. We love characters and love everything disney has to offer but are wondering if at 1 a child recognizes the characters or anything like that. We arent so concerned about the rides as we are about transportation with her. She is a great baby and super patient. But we dont know what she will be like in 7 months. Any travel suggestions?
Thanks for this awesome info! We are taking our sons for their first WDW experience in late October. They will be 3.5 and 1 at the time. We are only doing two days of MK with a pool day between. I’m especially interested in the way that you were able to look at the wait times the day before. Can you talk about where you found that info and maybe even how you strategized?
Hi Amanda, where did you find your info to plan around the wait times?
Thanks,
Jamie
We took our son the week after his first birthday and he loved everything! It’s by far my favorite trip we’ve been on. He knew his characters well from the toys and watching MMCLUBHOUSE. He really enjoyed the parades too along with the rides which they can do nearly everything but the big ones on your lap. Yall will have a great time.
I think your babe will love it! Our 5 month old loved it so much we’re taking her back at 18 months this fall. She 100% recognizes Minnie Mouse (because of all her Minnie toys) and she love love loves looking at pictures of our last trip. Just this morning she pulled our family picture from epcot off the fridge and walked around the house with it. She’s only 12 months (13 months on June 3rd)… lol.
Just want to say thank you! Our trip is almost entirely planned around your suggestions… I would have been so lost without this post.
Thank you so much I am taking my 2 year old and I want this trip to be all about her. This really help me so much thank you.
Hello! We are leaving soon for our second Disney World vacation. We have a 2 year old and I am wondering if on top of rider swap we can go through the queue as a family and have the little guy and a parent exit before the ride. That way he can still enjoy the big kid rides.
Thanks!
I have never even been to WDW, but we are planning a trip, and I did read on another blog that getting in line early at MK and making a beeline to Elsa & Anna just like you said, is the best way to get to see them in a reasonable amount of time. Hopefully someone can chime in and confirm 🙂
Animal Kingdom is actually a great park for little ones. So much fun for them there. Lots of great characters, the Kilimanjaro Safari is awesome, The Tusker House is fun with Mickey & friends, The Festival of the Lion King and The Flights of Wonder (bird) Show are both beautiful. Also, there is Rafiki’s Planet watch with a train ride over and animals to pet. Then there is a spot where kids can dig out a huge dinosaur fossil in the sand. Mine loved that even though they weren’t crazy about dinosaurs.
Do NOT miss Epcot; despite what the author says Epcot is far too unique and interesting to miss. Your kids will love it.
So exciting! I’m just pregnant now but I’m trying to get some family vacation ideas in mind when baby is about 2-3, I really appreciate this article!
It’s really hard to tell people how they should spend their days but you gave such a nice idea that you can adjust based on your family.
Thanks for the tips. We used this page to plan the trip we took last week. We loved Epcot with our toddler (27 months) and could have stayed longer. There is so much to do between the rides, playgrounds, aquarium and Innoventions. My thoughts: Maelstrom is overrated and very short – I wouldn’t waste a FP+ on it if you would rather rider-switch some of the “adult” rides that typically have longer lines. Just my two cents. Thanks again for your dedication!
I heard your podcast about flying to Disney but wasn’t sure if renting a car seat from the airline is a good idea or should we just bring our own?
Thanks so much for the tips! I used a lot of them and we had a great trip. We just returned with our three kids yesterday.
Is Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade no longer happening after June?
Correct. It’s going away at some point in June.
Oops I meant kids not kudos…. Darn autocorrect.
Hi Shannon,
We are planning our trip for the last week of October 2014. My daughter is 6, my son 4. We initially planned for 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, and 1 day at Animal Kingdom. Now after all the research, I am contemplating doing just 1 day at Epcot and 3 days at Magic. We will not be doing any of the Water Parks. What would you recommend for a 6 and 4 year old?
Why don’t you leave one day open and just figure the park on the day of…. If you feel like you need more MK, you can go there but if you feel like you still have a lot of ground to cover at Epcot and your kudos enjoyed it…. do that instead. Also, you may want more downtime or consider doing MNSSHP and taking a morning off.
This might be a silly question, but if you’re making fastpass reservations online for a family that has toddlers and big kids, can you get different fastpass reservations for different members of the family? I’m sure we’ll want/need to split up some to make everyone happy.
Yes, you can customize. You’ll likely have to book everybody as a group initially and then you can go in to individual reservations and modify as necessary.
It’s hard to come up with 3 FP+ to get at Epcot but the My Disney Experience system requires you to pick 3 so it’s on the list. We actually have run in to lines there occasionally but I really think the FP+ is only necessary during a peak travel time.
Great information as always Shannon! Do you think the updates to Fast Pass + which will allow more than 3 fast passes, and the ability to use them at different parks be updated by July or August of 2014?
Honest answer: I have NO idea. 🙂
I keep trying to print these plans, but they come out really small. Any advice?
Hi, this blog post was fantastic. Very detailed. Disney should pay you! I am trying to plan a family vacation and when we go my son will just turn 2 years. How old was your toddler when you made this trip? I think there’s a vast difference between a 2 year old and a 3 year old. Would you suggest Disney for a 2 year old?
My son was 3 1/2 on his first trip but our 2 1/2 year old nephew was with us and did well. I think it kind of just depends on the kid.
I totally agree. It can depend on the child & also how the parents and/or other adults are around the child. I’ve seen it all. From parents getting really angry at their overtired child to parents that talk to their children to see what the problem is. Just remember to be very patient, reserve ur fast pass rides a.s.a.p., have drinks/snacks with u for the kids, have naptime scheduled in somewhere, & take/rent a stroller just in case.
Hi,
Thanks for all this information. You have noted to send a fast pass volunteer to get a fast pass for you. Where can you find these volunteers?
I am particularly referring to the safari ride in AK.
Thanks.
Sarah,
I believe she was referring to nominating a member of your family to run and get fast passes 🙂 while the rest of you move on to standing in line for something else. Hope that helps 🙂
And don’t forget to send that family member with ALL of the tickets of people who plan to ride! You have to feed the park ticket into the machine to make it work.
There’s no more feeding of the park tickets since everything has switched over to FastPass+. I haven’t updated this trip plan to reflect the changes but you can find toddler touring plans on my FastPass+ articles – http://wdwprepschool.com/using-fastpass-plus-at-all-disney-world-parks/
I think that it’ll be a good idea to have a friend/family member help reserve the fast pass rides/times that u want/are available.
That’s no longer necessary since FastPass+ reservations can all be made ahead of time.
This is AWESOME! I’ve been researching how to navigate the parks with a 1 year old… and I feel as if I’ve hit the mother-load with your site!!! Thank you!! 🙂
I have made note of these for traveling with small children; however, I just received the new trip planning guide in the mail for magic bands and fast pass + sign up from home. How do I go about choosing times for fast pass + based on the toddler planning guidelines? Example, if I enter MK now and Peter pan will be the 4th thing I do, how will I know what time to request with the new system?
I would definitely recommend fitting in some character dining experiences with toddlers, if at all possible. The lines to meet characters can be just as long (or longer) as the most popular rides. It really gives the kids a little one on one time with characters without the stress of waiting on line. You get to take pictures and enjoy a meal. Then get back out there to enjoy rides. This worked out well for my 3 year old and 16-month old this past October.
These are great tips for planning a toddler focused trip. They are so important and sweet as toddlers, and they do definitely change so fast.