How to do Disney World with a Baby, the Ultimate Guide by a former Cast Member

When Jeremy picked Disney World for his thirty fifth birthday journey, I used to be nervous. I imply, we’ve achieved Disney World loads of occasions – and I used to be there just about each single day once I was a Solid Member. However we’d by no means, EVER achieved Disney World with a child. And this journey, we’d be bringing alongside Child A for child’s first Disney journey!

Would she hate it? Would we hate it?! I had no thought, however I feared the worst. We each braced ourselves for a cranky, overstimulated child that we’d be spending 5 days straight entertaining within the parks whereas switching off driving our favourite Disney rides.

However to my absolute shock, Child A LOVED Disney World. She cherished rides. She cherished reveals. She cherished characters. She was actually into birds rapidly, and for some purpose, lamps? She cherished Solid Members, she cherished dancing to music as we walked via the parks. She LOVED Disney World! And we cherished attending to see it via her eyes. Disney with a child is so price it, y’all!

On this (large) information, we’re sharing ideas and tips for visiting Disney with infants, together with the perfect (and worst) parks and sights for infants, the place to remain, and some necessities to pack. Let’s dive in!

Psst: Searching for extra ideas that can assist you plan your Disney journey? Take a look at a few of our different Disney World posts:

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We even have a Podcast episode all about Disney! A futuristic utopia that’s positively not a cult. A suicide-themed journey. Lia’s faculty internship. What do all of them have in widespread? Disney World, after all! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on essentially the most magical place on Earth, plus insider ideas from her time as a Solid Member. We additionally clarify our tried & examined Disney Technique (aka STRAT), as a result of ready in lengthy strains for rides is a few Bippity-Boppity-BS.

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Suggestions for Visiting Disney World with a Child

Earlier than I dive in, a small disclaimer: all infants are totally different, and child wants differ wildly by age. If you happen to learn one thing that doesn’t apply. to you – like in case your child isn’t on solids but, as a result of we spend a lot time serious about feeding Child A as of late – be happy to skip it. You recognize your child greatest!

That stated: whereas Child A was 10 months previous throughout our journey, I’ve additionally achieved my greatest to include ideas from our travels with Child A when she was youthful (we began touring along with her round 3 months) within the hopes to make this a very useful information even for youthful infants. And actually, y’all – the youthful they’re, the simpler they’re to journey with!

Yet one more factor: I take into account us fortunate that in our journey Child A was not but terribly cellular – she’s crawling and standing, however isn’t but strolling or crawling lengthy distances. So I didn’t have to fret about chasing after her. In case your child is on that mobility life, you’ll need to take into consideration some baby-wrangling methods (no disgrace in a cute leashed backpack)!

Oh, and at last – can I simply apologize for the standard of pictures on this submit? Usually I exploit a DSLR digicam once I’m taking photos for a weblog submit, however all I used to be capable of handle this journey was to make use of my cellphone! Nonetheless adjusting to this complete working/mother factor, y’all. Thanks for not judging me!

OK – onto the information for visiting Disney World with an toddler:

• Take heed to Disney music earlier than your journey, particularly songs which can be on rides (assume “It’s a Small World” or the Tiki Room). I feel this actually helped Child A get excited on the parks, as a result of she was listening to a number of acquainted songs! There’s a nice Disney Parks playlist on Spotify that we performed for a few weeks earlier than the journey.
• Splurge on Genie +. Genie+ is a paid service that lets you guide “Lightning Lane” passes to undergo a shorter line (mainly a paid model of FastPass, if you happen to’re accustomed to its former incarnation). It’s price it with a child, particularly because you gained’t want to really purchase one to your toddler since they don’t want a park ticket. The longest we waited for a journey throughout our 4-day journey was half-hour for It’s a Small World, and that felt like an eternity – more often than not we just about walked on or solely waited a few minutes. Occupying a child in line sucks. Get the move.
• Convey a travel high chair for meals. This foldable excessive chair was a HUGE assistance on our journey. We used it in our resort room for all of our meals, and if we’d had area for it in our stroller, we might have introduced it into the parks too. Whereas all Disney eating places have excessive chairs, they’re not child sized. Child A is extraordinarily tall, and he or she discovered herself chin-heat at most. of the tables within the parks. Undecided if the tables are weirdly excessive or the excessive chairs are weirdly low, but it surely made meals within the parks troublesome. This portable high chair that straps on high of a chair at eating places or can sit on the bottom wherever for snacks is the proper answer.
• Babysitting is accessible at Walt Disney World by way of a service referred to as Kids Nite Out. They’ll watch your youngster when you bask in your personal inside youngster on the parks! Children Nite Out can even offer you a sitter to accompany you within the parks if you happen to want an additional set of arms. Overview: https://touringplans.com/blog/kids-nite-out-your-familys-next-vacation-win/
• You possibly can go to Disney World and not using a automotive seat if you happen to keep in a Disney Resort resort. If you happen to fly with a lap toddler, you’ll be able to  take a shuttle bus  from the airport, and keep on with Disney’s free transportation between the parks and resorts together with buses, the Skyliner, and boats. In a pinch, you may as well take Minni Vans, which come outfitted with Graco 4Ever automotive seats. That stated, we have been actually glad that we had a automotive as a result of it made attending to and from parks fairly fast (apart from Magic Kingdom, which is a schlep and a half it doesn’t matter what).

• Use the newborn care facilities in every park for nursing, altering, snacks, cool-down time, microwave, and to purchase any emergency child provides you could have left at dwelling! They’re normally subsequent to the primary assist facilities too that are additionally vital to learn about.
• Use Rider Change. One guardian rides whereas the opposite one hangs out with the newborn. Simply ask a forged member on the entrance of any journey to assist get you arrange.
• Use single rider, too! Only 4 rides formally have a single-rider lane, however a number of rides will search for single rider to refill uneven gaps, which suggests you’ll get to journey sooner. Maintain an ear out for a forged member searching for a solo rider close to the entrance of most thrill rides. We acquired to journey lots of stuff with out standing in lengthy strains this fashion.
• Minnie Vans come outfitted with rear-facing Graco 4Ever seats. If you happen to don’t have a automotive throughout your journey, this service is improbable! Principally, Minnie Vans are Disney-owned SUVs (themed to Minnie) pushed by Disney Solid Members, you could order via the Lyft app. They arrive with TWO automotive seats! They’re improbable for getting round Disney property, although they aren’t very low-cost. To make use of them, open up the Lyft app, and select Minnie Van because the journey sort. Straightforward.
• Swap who does bedtime so one guardian will get to roam across the park solo whereas the opposite one chills within the room with child. We switched off and every had 2 nights free out within the parks!
• Convey hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes and do your greatest. We used sanitizing wipes on each lap bar and wherever child would put their arms on a journey, realizing that lots of of youngsters had just lately put their arms there, too. Mixed with us carrying KN95s masks, none of us acquired sick throughout our journey. However simply in case, deliver toddler Tylenol/Motrin with you so you’ve got it available.
• Convey your personal stroller. Those they lease on the parks aren’t good for infants. We advocate one which folds down simply, like this one, since you’ll have to fold it up on Disney transport. That stated, you’ll be able to’t take your strollers inside all over the place, and stroller parking isn’t at all times proper exterior of the doorway – like, if you happen to’re going to The Land pavilion in Epcot, your stroller must keep at Nemo and Buddies. Carriers are useful in these conditions, and so is the Tushbaby.

• If you happen to make an Advance Dining Reservation at a Disney sit-down restaurant, cancellations should be made 24 hours prematurely. In any other case, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $10 per person (3 and up). Except you go to the restaurant in particular person on the identical day and beg your case, by which case they waive the payment. Nonetheless, that coverage is …not supreme for infants. But additionally, Disney meals is definitely worth the threat! So drop these expectations via the ground and do your greatest to simply drift.
• Meltdowns at Disney are inevitable, and I’m not speaking about your child. Keep in mind that most marital disputes at Disney will be solved by some mixture of snacks, A/C, sitting quietly for some time, and/or a Mickey Bar.
• Convey Snacks! In case your toddler is round 8 months or older, you’ll want snacks for them in between meals. If not, you’ll want snacks for your self – parenting whereas hangry is rarely a good suggestion! Listed below are our favourite baby-friendly snacks for Disney:
  • Pouches! We love the natural fruit and veggie pouches from Costco. They’re hydrating, pretty nutritious, and assist infants follow tremendous motor expertise like sucking via a straw and squeezing!
  • Freeze dried fruit: soften in your mouth fruit! What’s to not love? Er, apart from the worth. It’s costly!
  • Yogurt melts: Child A loves them, however they’re exhausting to search out with out added sugar, they make child’s arms very sticky, they usually appear to make her spit up. And it’s at all times brilliant pink and has that bitter yogurt scent. They usually stain. Not our favourite snack however works in a pinch.
  • Cheerios. Traditional. Straightforward. At all times a success. Not a choking hazard. 10/10. We now have realized to at all times have a ziploc baggie of cheerios on us always!
  • Bombas or Gerbers puffs. We discovered some natural Gerber puffs which have a sprinkling of veggie powder in them and that made us really feel good although I’m positive they provide little or no precise vitamin. However they’re enjoyable to eat and assist infants follow their pincer grip!
• Don’t depart snacks out in your stroller, particularly at Animal Kingdom. We noticed just a few uninvited critters making the rounds at stroller parking in Animal Kingdom, and no one desires squirrels and their germs on their strollers! Clear up stray Cheerios and tuck snacks away in a bag to ensure your stroller isn’t a goal.

Disney World with Infants: Which Parks Are Finest?

One factor I want we knew earlier than our journey is which Disney World parks are greatest to go to with an toddler. Because it seems, not each park is equal relating to visiting Disney with an toddler. Some parks skew extra towards adults, some extra towards older children. Some parks are sorely missing in shade and air-conditioned indoor areas to take naps or cool off.

To my shock, there was a transparent winner as the perfect Disney World park with an toddler: Epcot! Epcot has the perfect steadiness of baby-friendly sights

Hollywood Studios with a Child

Hollywood Studios does one factor higher than the opposite parks: dwell reveals. Child A LOVED the Magnificence  and the Beast dwell efficiency. And that was … about it. The remainder of the park simply isn’t actually designed for infants. That stated, it is likely to be price a day go to only for the few sights it does supply – or so that you and your associate can do rider swap and journey all of the actually good things.

Finest sights and rides for infants at Hollywood Studios:

• Magnificence and the Beast Stay on Stage: Child A misplaced her rattling MIND singing and clapping alongside at this present. The dancing and songs at first are enjoyable and upbeat and actually well-done, visually – assume 1930’s period showcase dance numbers. However she kinda misplaced curiosity when issues acquired unhappy and sluggish (“story as previous as time” isn’t a child bop, it seems). Fortunately we sat on the finish of the aisle so we might make a fast getaway. This was positively Child A’s favourite exercise at Hollywood Studios.
• Halfway Mania: We have been involved about bringing her on this journey as a result of it’s 3D, and we have been afraid it would make her nauseous with out the glasses on. However she cherished going across the observe and didn’t appear bothered by the blurry, non-3d photos on the display. She wished to tug the string to shoot too! Nevertheless, she didn’t like a few of the loud noises, and cried and squirmed a bit throughout the loudest half – breaking plates – however settled after we stopped and coated her ears for a bit. This one positively verges on overstimulating, but it surely’s kinda not that enjoyable if you happen to aren’t capable of be aggressive and play towards your associate.

… and that’s it. Yeah: this park actually wasn’t designed for infants.

Rides to Skip in Hollywood Studios: 

• Mickey’s Runaway Railroad: We held Child A on our laps for this journey, however none of us loved it a lot. The journey is very loud and somewhat too intense/scary for her. She acquired scared at a lot of the “battle” components of the story and all of us hated the vehicles dancing – I assumed she was going to fall out at one level. Overstimulating, loud, jarring – this journey is only a lot.

Suggestions for Hollywood Studios with a Child

• There’s a pleasant place to nap on the entrance to Galaxy’s Edge proper on the border with the Toy Story part. It’s a quiet aspect space with ambient fowl noises enjoying and no loud noises, and it’s off the primary path so there aren’t any crowds. There’s additionally a conveniently positioned bench.
• One other nice nap spot is within the tunnel on the opposite aspect of Galaxy’s Edge. It’s absolutely shaded and has a pleasant breeze and ambient spa music (I assume Star Wars is all about ambient spa sounds). It’s the proper afternoon nap/nurse spot, although you’ll see that a number of dad and mom have the identical thought – it’s not as quiet as the opposite spot we discovered.
• The Child Care heart is on the very entrance of the park and also you’ll have to chop the Visitor Relations line to get to it, which is irritating and inconvenient. Not price it, actually.

Hollywood Studios Verdict: if you must decide a park to skip, that is the one. It’s simply not the perfect park for infants!

Epcot with a Child

Ahhh, Epcot. My favourite park. And never simply as a result of this was *my* park throughout my time as a Solid Member, once I labored at Soarin’ within the Land Pavilion. I imply positive sure, there may be lots of glad nostalgia tied to the park for me. But additionally? I LOVE journey – hiya, that’s my job now – and a complete half of Epcot is all about celebrating journey and letting you step foot into immersive miniature lands representing totally different international locations. The World Showcase is sort of a mile of pure journey gasoline, and I completely like it.

And on the opposite half of the park are lands celebrating Earth and area. And, er, the Guardians of the Galaxy, which … actually, doesn’t match in any respect, but it surely’s an superior new journey so we’ll go along with it.

Anway: the park is gorgeous, properly laid out, stuffed with fascinating issues to see and do, and – drumroll please – the BEST Disney World park for infants!

Why did we rank Epcot on the high? For starters, 3 phrases: AIR CONDITIONED PAVILIONS. There are TONS of pavilions all through the park, and most of them are big and air-conditioned. There’s additionally ample seating – like Connections Cafe, which is actually an infinite Starbucks stuffed with benches and tables – each indoors and outdoor.

The Child Middle is conveniently situated within the good heart of the park, with a big, snug nursing room that has area for a number of households. And there’s a extensive number of baby-friendly actions, from baby-friendly rides to a big playground to a improbable aquarium. Epot makes it simple to entertain or nap a child on a scorching Florida day!

Let’s get to the tea:

Finest sights and rides for infants at Epcot:

• The Seas with Nemo and Buddies: 10/10 good child journey and Child A LOVED it. Darkish! Cool! Enjoyable! Fish! Songs! Nothing scary or loud or jarring. And afterward, AN AQUARIUM! Child A misplaced her thoughts on the aquarium and we returned right here many times. One guardian stayed on the aquarium with the newborn whereas the opposite one rode Soarin on the Land Pavilion subsequent door, and the Guardians of the Galaxy journey close by. Child A might have stayed right here taking a look at fish all day lengthy (and with the A/C, we have been glad to remain right here too). There are tons to see in right here and it’s an awesome spot to chill off for some time. Plus, that is additionally the place you’ll discover Turtle Speak with Crush which is certainly one of our favorites, although we sadly didn’t try it out with Child A this time.
• Grand Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros: This was certainly one of Child A’s favorites! A lot of scenes of Mexico and upbeat music, and the tip portion is mainly simply It’s a Small World however with extra of a give attention to Mexico. Plus, there may be just about by no means a line, and you must undergo the Mexico pavilion to get right here which is totally gorgeous.
• Frozen: I feel she wasn’t a fan of the songs switching each scene, however Child A did take pleasure in this journey. She particularly cherished the massive backward drop (it’s actually not that huge of a drop, however it’s to a child!) and appeared to benefit from the music too.

Rides we didn’t have time to expertise however I guess Child A would have loved:

• Spaceship Earth: I completely love this journey, however we apprehensive that Child A may discover it boring because it doesn’t have a lot music. Nonetheless, we absolutely deliberate to attempt it … till we realized we’d should stroll alllll the way in which again to the very entrance of the park after we have been already within the World Showcase near the Skyliner. Too far. I’d give it a attempt if you happen to enter on the huge ball, although!

Rides to Skip in Epcot 

• Figment: That is positively a baby-friendly journey by way of the mechanics of the journey (good and sluggish, stress-free), however the journey itself was simply okay. There was lots of speaking and all of it went over her head. And admittedly, there wasn’t sufficient music to maintain her , both. This journey is extra geared towards barely older children.
• Residing with the Land: One other journey that Child A simply discovered kinda boring. There’s a number of speaking about crops and the surroundings and such (not thrilling for a child, however very cool for the remainder of us) and there’s no music. That stated, a really small child would doubtless take pleasure in this sluggish, stress-free journey.

Suggestions for Epcot with a child

• Make a lunch reservation at one of many eating places within the World Showcase. Decide a delicacies from the 11 international locations and guide a desk for lunch! The meals right here is phenomenal – all the Cooks are professionally educated and from their respective international locations. Your servers might be from the nation you’re consuming in, too.
• Connections Cafe is a huuuge Starbucks stuffed with tables and benches! It’s an awesome place to chill down and rejuvenate.
• The fountain in Morocco – not the one on the entrance, the one within the Riad contained in the plaza – is a good place to chill down within the shade and do some refreshing water play, or a pleasant shaded nap with built-in white noise.
• Epcot has a really good child care heart, proper in between the World Showcase and the remainder of the park. There’s a giant snug nursing room with a number of chairs and footrests. It’s cool, darkish, and quiet – the proper spot for a nap. (Epcot is filled with good nap spots!)
• There’s a giant playground exterior of the Creations store. Even when your toddler can’t play simply but, they’ll in all probability take pleasure in watching huge children enjoying!

Epcot Verdict: arms down the winner of Disney World’s most baby-friendly park! From the large air-conditioned pavilions to the ample seating to the centrally situated child care heart to the baby-friendly rides and sights, we discovered ourselves returning to Epcot many times.

Animal Kingdom with an Toddler

Animal Kingdom is a improbable park for infants, particularly in case your toddler has taken an curiosity in animals like ours (she’s a giant fan of birds, particularly). It’s lush and inexperienced and stuffed with locations to see animals – plus some enjoyable rides, too.

For folks, there’s additionally my favourite journey, Everest, which occurs to have a single-rider line that’ll get you on nearly instantly. It’s nice to journey throughout the child’s nap! There are just a few different nice thrill rides too, however there are many sights and reveals for infants.

The caveat? There aren’t many locations indoors to flee from the warmth – and Animal Kingdom is definitely about 10 levels hotter and extra humid than the opposite parks by design, for the wildlife – type of like of a tropical rainforest. So we advocate visiting Animal Kingdom very first thing within the morning and leaving earlier than or proper after lunch. Right here’s the tea:

Finest sights and rides for infants at Animal Kingdom:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: That is such an awesome attraction! You’ll be on a giant open-air truck driving via the savannah and seeing animals up shut – nearly like a zoo however with none of the enclosures. Child A LOVED Kilimanjaro and was clapping for all of the animals! This journey is greatest early within the morning when the animals are most lively and being fed, so head straight right here very first thing when you arrive. Every journey is totally different so it’s nice to journey again and again, too.
• Na’vi River Journey: A bioluminescent deal with for the eyes. Every thing on this slow-moving river journey was completely stunning, magical, glowing, and nature-y. The music is calm. It’s a complete vibe. And I feel this was Child A’s FAVORITE journey in any of the parks. She was completely enchanted all the time and by no means scared. This journey is certainly price a Lightning Lane move.
• Competition of the Lion King Present: Child A loved the lion king present, however misplaced curiosity throughout the slower components and appeared overwhelmed throughout a few of the villain songs. We ended up nursing a lot of the present (it’s an extended present) however might simply have left as an alternative.

Rides we didn’t have time to expertise however I guess Child A would have loved:

• Wildlife Categorical Prepare to Rafiki’s Planet Watch: The Wildlife Categorical Prepare is a peaceable 7-minute journey – a journey in and of itself – to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, a quiet, air-conditioned pavilion devoted to the preservation and conservation of animals. You’ll see some fascinating stuff right here and a few animals. Most of it is going to in all probability go proper over child’s head, however hey, there’s A/C! While you’re prepared, take the prepare again to the remainder of the park.
• Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight: Just like the Tiki Room however with actual birds (and fewer singing). I feel Child A would have actually loved seeing the colourful macaws hovering and swooping overhead!
• Animal Encounters: From lions to tigers to gorillas (oh my!) there are TONS of locations to see animals right here! There’s even a petting zoo. I want we took extra time to stroll via the opposite animal sections. Actually, we might have fortunately spent a number of mornings at Animal Kingdom.
• Drummers of Harambe: Child A is a giant fan of drumming and dancing to a beat, and this dwell road efficiency within the Africa part of the park would have been superior for her to see. They pull up huge children to bop too which infants love to look at! I want we’d made it some extent to catch certainly one of their present occasions.
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond: This dwell present is filled with huge colourful music and dance numbers! In case your toddler enjoys music and dancing too, this might be a giant hit.

Suggestions for Animal Kingdom with a child

• For lunch, Tusker Home is nice. It’s character eating with Mickey and pals (Child A was tentatively within the characters as soon as they began enjoying peekaboo along with her) and the meals is buffet fashion, with a number of baby-friendly meals and yummy meals for everybody.
• Napping right here and being right here within the afternoon is a problem. It’s 10 levels hotter and extra humid than the opposite parks. And there aren’t any huge, quiet indoor locations with A/C to chill off and chill out (aside from Rafiki’s Planet Watch). When naptime hit, it took us fairly some time to search out a great spot. We finally discovered some picnic tables beneath a tree that was kinda shaded and quiet… after which some loud a** water present began up and I about misplaced my f***king thoughts.
• The Child Care Middle is centrally situated and fairly good. It has non-public nursing rooms, which is useful in case your child is definitely distracted.

Animal Kingdom Verdict: It is a nice baby-friendly park in case your toddler enjoys animals, and there are many baby-friendly rides, sights, and reveals. However depart earlier than midday or simply after lunch, when the warmth turns into insufferable. The animals are most lively early within the morning anyway.

Magic Kingdom with an Toddler 

Once we have been planning our journey and looking out into which Disney Park has essentially the most rides with out peak necessities, Magic Kingdom appeared like it will be the best choice for us: there are TONS of rides which can be applicable for all ages! … Effectively, in concept, anyway.

What we truly found was that the beloved Magic Kingdom was one of many WORST Disney Parks for infants. It’s crowded as hell, takes longer to get to than another park, doesn’t have many choices for cooling off, and people all-ages rides? A lot of them are so outdated that they’re simply not secure to journey with an toddler. Many of the enchantment of Magic Kingdom is all concerning the characters and beloved Disney properties, which frankly, infants don’t care about in any respect.

Right here’s the tea on Magic Kingdom:

Finest sights and rides for child at Magic Kingdom:

The winners for us in Magic Kingdom have been colourful, slow-moving rides with upbeat, acquainted music:

• Underneath the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: That is a darkish conveyer belt journey in a shifting clamshell. Child A LOVED the Underneath the Sea scene, which is brilliant and colourful and enjoyable. It helped that we’d been enjoying the music for her within the weeks main as much as our journey so she instantly acknowledged it. The Mad 
• It’s a Small World: We truly waited longer for this journey than anything throughout our journey – and we had a Lightning Lane move. The journey itself is quarter-hour lengthy, so with a 30-minute wait this finally ends up being fairly a time suck. That stated, Child A LOVES the music (we’d been enjoying it for her) and was REALLY excited on this journey. She completely cherished it! It ended up pushing her bedtime again about an hour however I feel it was price it to see her clap with glee and dance for 15 straight minutes.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: This darkish journey was nice! There are some small mild up-and-down hills. The music is generally very calm, and the colourful/trippy Huffalumps and Woozles scene was Child A’s favourite. It’s positively price a lightning lane move!
• Tiki Room: One other attraction that we prioritized primarily based on Child A’s music preferences. And she or he was actually into most of it! Plus, it’s good and lengthy and had great A/C, so we relished the chance to take a seat in cool air for some time. After which get a Dole Whip (which we needed to eat out of her sight).

As a result of the strains in Magic Kingdom are SO lengthy, we didn’t get to journey every thing we wished to. We want we might have ridden on Folks Mover, a slow-moving prepare that lightly glides round Tomorrowland – good for infants! And we want we’d had an opportunity to attempt Buzz Lightyear Spin since Child A loved Halfway Mania (principally).

Different rides we thought of however in the end determined to skip attributable to lengthy strains and Child A’s chance of having fun with them have been:

• Jungle Cruise: no music, the journey principally consists of speaking and jokes that might simply go proper over her head
• Pirates of the Caribbean: frankly she might need loved it due to the music, however we didn’t really feel like standing in an extended line
• Haunted Mansion: Child A isn’t a fan of music in a minor key – I feel she will inform it’s speculated to be spooky/scary/off – and he or she doesn’t like issues which can be chaotic and loud. I feel she would have loved the massive graveyard music scene, and located the remainder of it both boring or scary.
• The Mad Tea Occasion: Child A didn’t actually appear to take pleasure in fast-paced spinning or shifting. She’s extra into the visuals, music, and sluggish, mild rides. So we’ll wait on this one till she’s somewhat older.

Rides to Skip in Magic Kingdom

• Prince Charming Regal Carousel

Child A truly loved the carousel. That stated, that is simply your commonplace carousel. It’s older than the parks, so it’s not terribly Disney-themed (although we did get to see the Ugly Stepsisters from Cinderella driving it and insulting onlookers) and, extra importantly, there is just one baby-safe seat: a single bench amidst a sea of carousel horses that infants can not safely journey. 

If there is no such thing as a line, give it a whirl. In any other case, reserve it for a county honest.

• Don’t journey Peter Pan’s Flight. 

For causes that nobody quite understands, Peter Pan is the most well-liked journey in all of Magic Kingdom with wait occasions persistently topping 60 minutes. It’s a totally common journey, so my working concept is 1) nostalgia, 2) child enchantment, and three) poor ride design that didn’t account for the demand it will be experiencing 70 freaking years after being constructed.

Principally, this journey has lengthy ass strains. And Child A was not impressed – the journey is a nap and never price a Lightning Lane move.

Worst of all, it’s downright harmful for an toddler. How did we notice how unsafe Peter Pan’s Flight was? As a result of we have been despatched via the journey and not using a lap bar on our child. Which was terrifying. And very harmful.

You see, most flying rides are outfitted with a harness for security. The journey I used to work on, Soarin’, has a harness, a number of security checks, and even a video digicam on each seat, which Solid Members monitor constantly all through the journey searching for any kiddos making an attempt to wriggle out – that’s a fall threat from 50 toes. If anybody is getting too wiggly, Solid Members can hit the emergency cease button on the journey and convey it again down manually.

However Peter Pan was in-built 1955, earlier than anybody thought of security laws on rides, I assume. So despite the fact that your car goes approach up into the air, it simply has a lap bar, not a harness. The lap bar robotically lowers about .5 seconds earlier than you permit the sight of a Solid Member – which isn’t sufficient time to make sure everyone seems to be safely seated. There’s additionally no lap bar verify (which just about each different journey within the parks has). 

So, what occurred to us? Child A was seated on the Tushbaby going through me after we boarded the journey. Jeremy was wiping down the lap bar with hand sanitizer and I used to be on the point of flip Child A round and sit her on my lap, when – shock! The lap bar closed, and we took off. Earlier than we had an opportunity to get Child A seated beneath the lap bar. She was simply sitting on me, above the lap bar. 

We screamed for assist, however the journey took off so shortly that no one heard us. And, as we discovered, there aren’t any video cameras. So no Solid Members might see that Child A was squirming round making an attempt to see and pushing backward off of me with stunning energy whereas I clung to her with each arms for pricey life, realizing that if she twisted out of my arms, she would fall. (Keep in mind: this can be a flying journey. We have been up within the air. Simply holding our child. With nothing to maintain her from falling.)

Actually? It was fucking terrifying. As quickly as we acquired off the journey I burst into panicked sobbing and it took fairly some time to settle down. We made an incident report with the affected person Solid Members, however aside from that there wasn’t a lot we might do. 

The incident experiences go to the higher-ups, and I hope it will get escalated to whoever makes selections about upgrading rides, as a result of this journey is frankly horrifyingly unsafe. There must be an extended sufficient time frame between the lap bar reducing and take-off for Solid Members to do a security verify. My guess is that they’ve averted doing it as a result of the journey already has such lengthy wait occasions and that may add main time, but it surely’s completely crucial. This journey is horribly outdated.

So, till it’s up to date? Don’t journey Peter Pan’s Flight with an toddler.

• Additionally keep away from the Dumbo the Flying Elephant journey, and its copies, in case your child is cellular.

That is one other older Disney journey that takes fliers up into the air … in a automotive with open sides, and nothing safer than a lap belt. A crawling, squirming child might simply and shortly decrease themselves to the ground and slip proper out the aspect of the automotive. (In case your child isn’t but cellular, you don’t have anything to fret about as lengthy you retain a decent grip on them.)

So, yup – yet one more older Magic Kindom journey that isn’t secure for infants! I do know, I used to be shocked too. Disney is normally the highest of the road relating to security – I imply hiya, I even have photos of myself as a Solid Member in entrance of one of many many indicators backstage that claims Protected D Begins with Me (see them in this post)! WHERE IS THE SAFE D ON OUTDATED MAGIC KINGDOM RIDES, Disney!?!?!

Anyway. Because you’re avoiding Dumbo, go forward and add the Flying Carpet journey and Astro Orbiters, too. And Triceratop Spin in Animal Kingdom. They’re literallly simply the identical journey with totally different theming.

Extra ideas for Magic Kingdom with a child

• We ate lunch at Tony’s Town Square, which is correct by the doorway of the park. Child A likes pasta, we like pasta, we simply figured we’d have some first rate pasta. We have been NOT ready for the way shockingly good it was. I imply!!! It was AMAZING. I extremely advocate the Orecchiette With Spicy Italian Sausage and the Butcher’s Steak, which was a few of the greatest steak I’ve had in a very long time (and Child A cherished the crispy roasted yukon potatoes.) We additionally ordered a Bellini to take the sting off the entire Peter Pan fiasco, which was scrumptious. 
• Storybook Circus is a complete part in Magic Kingdom stuffed with kid-friendly stuff (although kid-friendly doesn’t additionally imply baby-friendly). You possibly can decide up a prepare to journey across the park right here, which is a pleasant stress-free journey in and of itself. However most significantly, there’s a splash floor. On scorching days, a splash floor and a crawling child are a match made in heaven. However aside from that, this space is generally for older children.
• Child care heart: Magic Kingdom’s Child Care Middle is by Primary Avenue, which is … kinda removed from a lot of the park, actually. There are benches out entrance and the middle itself is actually cute and well-themed. It’s an awesome quiet place for a snack or a diaper change. It’s not as nice for nursing although, as a result of there are solely 2 non-public nursing rooms. 

Magic Kingdom Verdict: We thought this park could be a success as a result of it has essentially the most all-ages rides, but it surely’s crowded, the rides are somewhat outdated and missing in baby-proof security checks, and it’s heavy on the characters and film properties which infants actually don’t care about. Plus, it takes longer to get to and from MK than another park. Value a visit for it’s a small world and a few of the reveals, however not a lot else.  We’re wanting ahead to experiencing Magic Kingdom with Child A when she’s older.

Full Checklist of Child Rides at Disney World

Once we have been researching for our journey and searching for issues for infants to do at Disney World, we struggled to discover a full listing of baby-friendly, all-ages rides at Disney World. So, to avoid wasting you time, right here it’s.

I marked the rides that we loved essentially the most with 10-month-old Child A in daring and put those we advocate skipping in italics. Our two favourite parks at Disney World for infants are Epcot and Animal Kingdom, which I marked with asterisks.

The place to Keep at Disney World with an Toddler

I will not be a Solid Member anymore, however I nonetheless have lots of ~opinions about all issues Disney, and many ideas to your subsequent journey. One in all my very sturdy opinions? It’s best to positively keep at a Disney World resort, even if you happen to’re on a decent finances! It’s SO price it.

From the $$ you’ll save on parking and a rental car (thanks to Disney’s airport pick-up service and large free transportation community) to the unbelievable comfort and Further Magic Hours, the resorts are WELL price it. And much more so, if you happen to can rating a reduced price 😉

There are positively methods to attain a deal at a Disney Resort, if you recognize the place to look. Often, you’ll find Disney World resorts listed on resort deal websites – notably for low season dates! We as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for beneath $150/night time. Whee! So simply in case, have a look – we noticed a BUNCH of them listed just lately on  Hotels.com  and  Priceline ! That’s how we as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for beneath $150/night time. Whee!

The time of 12 months that you just’re visiting and while you guide issues, too. Disney quietly runs deep reductions on low season bookings (normally January via April) round October/November, so hold an eye fixed out and  check their special offers page frequently. 

And at last, final minute bookings can web you STEEP reductions! I’ve seen rooms hovering round $150 per night time about 3 days prematurely. You possibly can normally rating one via  Priceline . My advice is to guide a good-enough resort via  Booking.com  so you’ll be able to cancel it as much as the day earlier than your journey, then hold checking  Priceline  simply in case you’ll be able to rating a last-minute room at a steep low cost.

We’re huge followers of staying at on the Worth resorts, which actually supply the perfect bang to your buck. Artwork of Animation, one of many latest resorts, is a improbable place to stick with a child. There’s a big pool – it’s truly the biggest pool at any Disney World resort –  with a child space and a giant sprayground, plus 2 different swimming pools for good measure. There’s all kinds of meals, and the theming is fairly cute (we ended up getting upgraded to a Vehicles-themed suite).

And better of all, you’ll have simple walkable entry to the Skyliner, which takes you in airborne pods to Epcot and Holywood Studios. Of all of the Disney World transportation choices, the Skyliner is by far the perfect: you’re seated with a pleasant view, it’s not crowded, and there’s a cool breeze. Child A cherished driving on the Skyliner (and so did we!)

 This resort can be thought of certainly one of Disney’s finances choices – but it surely’s actually the perfect of the finances choices. An in depth second is Pop Century Resort, which is correct subsequent door and in addition has entry to the Skyliner.

I hope you discovered this (large) information useful for planning your journey to Disney World with a child! Do you’ve got questions that we can assist reply? Drop us a remark under!

Psst: Searching for extra ideas that can assist you plan your Disney journey? Take a look at a few of our different Disney World posts:

Want you possibly can journey to Disney with out leaving dwelling? We created an immersive virtual Disney world tour so you’ll be able to make a journey from the consolation of your couch!

We even have a Podcast episode all about Disney! A futuristic utopia that’s positively not a cult. A suicide-themed journey. Lia’s faculty internship. What do all of them have in widespread? Disney World, after all! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on essentially the most magical place on Earth, plus insider ideas from her time as a Solid Member. We additionally clarify our tried & examined Disney Technique (aka STRAT), as a result of ready in lengthy strains for rides is a few Bippity-Boppity-BS.

Hear above or just click here to launch your Podcast app! Oh, and don’t overlook to subscribe so that you don’t miss new episodes.

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