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 completed Disney World loads of instances – and I used to be there just about each single day once I was a Solid Member. However we’d by no means, EVER completed 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 using our favourite Disney rides.

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

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

Psst: In search of extra suggestions that can assist you plan your Disney journey? Try 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 undoubtedly not a cult. A suicide-themed experience. Lia’s school internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, in fact! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on probably the most magical place on Earth, plus insider suggestions 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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Ideas for Visiting Disney World with a Child

Earlier than I dive in, a small disclaimer: all infants are completely different, and child wants fluctuate wildly by age. Should you 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 interested by feeding Child A today – be happy to skip it. You realize your child greatest!

That stated: whereas Child A was 10 months outdated throughout our journey, I’ve additionally completed my greatest to include suggestions from our travels with Child A when she was youthful (we began touring together with her round 3 months) within the hopes to make this a extremely useful information even for youthful infants. And actually, y’all – the youthful they’re, the better 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 cell – she’s crawling and standing, however just 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 eventually – can I simply apologize for the standard of pictures on this publish? Usually I take advantage of a DSLR digital camera once I’m taking footage for a weblog publish, however all I used to be in a position to handle this journey was to make use of my telephone! Nonetheless adjusting to this entire working/mother factor, y’all. Thanks for not judging me!

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

• Hearken to Disney music earlier than your journey, particularly songs which might be on rides (assume “It’s a Small World” or the Tiki Room). I believe this actually helped Child A get excited on the parks, as a result of she was listening to numerous 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, in the event you’re conversant in its former incarnation). It’s price it with a child, particularly because you received’t want to really purchase one to your toddler since they don’t want a park ticket. The longest we waited for a experience 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 cross.
• Convey a travel high chair for meals. This foldable excessive chair was a HUGE assistance on our journey. We used it in our lodge room for all of our meals, and if we’d had area for it in our stroller, we’d 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 she or he 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, however it made meals within the parks troublesome. This portable high chair that straps on prime of a chair at eating places or can sit on the bottom anyplace for snacks is the right resolution.
• Babysitting is on the market at Walt Disney World through a service referred to as Kids Nite Out. They’ll watch your baby whilst you bask in your individual inside baby on the parks! Children Nite Out may offer you a sitter to accompany you within the parks in the event you want an additional set of fingers. Evaluate: https://touringplans.com/blog/kids-nite-out-your-familys-next-vacation-win/
• You’ll be able to go to Disney World with out a automobile seat in the event you keep in a Disney Resort lodge. Should you fly with a lap toddler, you may  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, it’s also possible to take Minni Vans, which come geared up with Graco 4Ever automobile seats. That stated, we had been actually glad that we had a automobile 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 infant care facilities in every park for nursing, altering, snacks, cool-down time, microwave, and to purchase any emergency child provides you’ll have left at residence! They’re often subsequent to the primary support facilities too that are additionally vital to learn about.
• Use Rider Swap. One dad or mum rides whereas the opposite one hangs out with the infant. Simply ask a forged member on the entrance of any experience to assist get you arrange.
• Use single rider, too! Only 4 rides formally have a single-rider lane, however numerous rides will search for single rider to replenish uneven gaps, which suggests you’ll get to experience sooner. Maintain an ear out for a forged member searching for a solo rider close to the entrance of most thrill rides. We bought to experience loads of stuff with out standing in lengthy strains this fashion.
• Minnie Vans come geared up with rear-facing Graco 4Ever seats. Should you don’t have a automobile throughout your journey, this service is improbable! Principally, Minnie Vans are Disney-owned SUVs (themed to Minnie) pushed by Disney Solid Members, you can order by means of the Lyft app. They arrive with TWO automobile 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 experience kind. Simple.
• Swap who does bedtime so one dad or mum 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 anyplace child would put their fingers on a experience, realizing that tons of of youngsters had just lately put their fingers there, too. Mixed with us sporting KN95s masks, none of us bought sick throughout our journey. However simply in case, carry toddler Tylenol/Motrin with you so you might have it readily available.
• Convey your individual stroller. Those they hire on the parks aren’t good for infants. We advocate one which folds down simply, like this one, since you’ll must fold it up on Disney transport. That stated, you may’t take your strollers inside in every single place, and stroller parking isn’t at all times proper exterior of the doorway – like, in the event you’re going to The Land pavilion in Epcot, your stroller must keep at Nemo and Pals. Carriers are useful in these conditions, and so is the Tushbaby.

• Should you 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). Until you go to the restaurant in individual on the identical day and beg your case, through which case they waive the charge. Nonetheless, that coverage is …not best for infants. But additionally, Disney meals is well worth the threat! So drop these expectations by means of the ground and do your greatest to only float.
• Meltdowns at Disney are inevitable, and I’m not speaking about your child. Do not forget that most marital disputes at Disney may 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 isn’t a good suggestion! Listed here 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 nice motor abilities like sucking by means of 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 arduous to search out with out added sugar, they make child’s fingers very sticky, and so they appear to make her spit up. And it’s at all times vivid pink and has that bitter yogurt scent. They usually stain. Not our favourite snack however works in a pinch.
  • Cheerios. Traditional. Simple. 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 certain they provide little or no precise diet. However they’re enjoyable to eat and assist infants follow their pincer grip!
• Don’t go away snacks out in your stroller, particularly at Animal Kingdom. We noticed a couple of 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 Greatest?

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 youngsters. 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 most effective Disney World park with an toddler: Epcot! Epcot has the most effective steadiness of baby-friendly sights

Hollywood Studios with a Child

Hollywood Studios does one factor higher than the opposite parks: dwell exhibits. 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 companion can do rider change and experience all of the actually good things.

Greatest sights and rides for infants at Hollywood Studios:

• Magnificence and the Beast Reside on Stage: Child A misplaced her rattling MIND singing and clapping alongside at this present. The dancing and songs firstly are enjoyable and upbeat and actually well-done, visually – assume 1930’s period showcase dance numbers. However she kinda misplaced curiosity when issues bought unhappy and gradual (“story as outdated as time” just isn’t a child bop, it seems). Fortunately we sat on the finish of the aisle so we may make a fast getaway. This was undoubtedly Child A’s favourite exercise at Hollywood Studios.
• Halfway Mania: We had been involved about bringing her on this experience as a result of it’s 3D, and we had been afraid it’d make her nauseous with out the glasses on. However she beloved going across the observe and didn’t appear bothered by the blurry, non-3d pictures on the display screen. She needed to drag the string to shoot too! Nevertheless, she didn’t like a number of the loud noises, and cried and squirmed a bit through the loudest half – breaking plates – however settled after we stopped and coated her ears for a bit. This one undoubtedly verges on overstimulating, however it’s kinda not that enjoyable in the event you aren’t in a position to be aggressive and play in opposition to your companion.

… 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 experience, however none of us loved it a lot. The experience is very loud and somewhat too intense/scary for her. She bought 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 experience is only a lot.

Ideas 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 facet space with ambient chook noises enjoying and no loud noises, and it’s off the principle 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 facet of Galaxy’s Edge. It’s totally shaded and has a pleasant breeze and ambient spa music (I suppose Star Wars is all about ambient spa sounds). It’s the right afternoon nap/nurse spot, although you’ll see that numerous mother and father 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 it’s important to decide a park to skip, that is the one. It’s simply not the most effective 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 certain sure, there may be loads of completely satisfied nostalgia tied to the park for me. But additionally? I LOVE journey – hey, 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 completely different international locations. The World Showcase is sort of a mile of pure journey gas, 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, however it’s an superior new experience so we’ll go together with it.

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

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

The Child Middle is conveniently situated within the excellent heart of the park, with a big, comfy 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:

Greatest sights and rides for infants at Epcot:

• The Seas with Nemo and Pals: 10/10 excellent child experience 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 repeatedly. One dad or mum stayed on the aquarium with the infant whereas the opposite one rode Soarin on the Land Pavilion subsequent door, and the Guardians of the Galaxy experience close by. Child A may have stayed right here taking a look at fish all day lengthy (and with the A/C, we had been completely satisfied to remain right here too). There are tons to see in right here and it’s a fantastic spot to chill off for some time. Plus, that is additionally the place you’ll discover Turtle Discuss with Crush which is one in every 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 one in every of Child A’s favorites! Numerous scenes of Mexico and upbeat music, and the tip portion is mainly simply It’s a Small World however with extra of a concentrate on Mexico. Plus, there may be just about by no means a line, and it’s important to undergo the Mexico pavilion to get right here which is completely beautiful.
• Frozen: I believe she wasn’t a fan of the songs switching each scene, however Child A did take pleasure in this experience. She particularly beloved the massive backward drop (it’s actually not that large 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 wager Child A would have loved:

• Spaceship Earth: I completely love this experience, however we frightened that Child A may discover it boring because it doesn’t have a lot music. Nonetheless, we totally 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 had been already within the World Showcase near the Skyliner. Too far. I’d give it a attempt in the event you enter on the large ball, although!

Rides to Skip in Epcot 

• Figment: That is undoubtedly a baby-friendly experience by way of the mechanics of the experience (good and gradual, stress-free), however the experience itself was simply okay. There was loads of speaking and all of it went over her head. And admittedly, there wasn’t sufficient music to maintain her , both. This experience is extra geared towards barely older youngsters.
• Dwelling with the Land: One other experience that Child A simply discovered kinda boring. There’s numerous speaking about vegetation and the setting 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 seemingly take pleasure in this gradual, stress-free experience.

Ideas for Epcot with a child

• Make a lunch reservation at one of many eating places within the World Showcase. Choose a delicacies from the 11 international locations and guide a desk for lunch! The meals right here is phenomenal – the entire Cooks are professionally skilled and from their respective international locations. Your servers might be from the nation you’re consuming in, too.
• Connections Cafe is a huuuge Starbucks filled with tables and benches! It’s a fantastic 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 superb 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 comfy nursing room with numerous chairs and footrests. It’s cool, darkish, and quiet – the right 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 most likely take pleasure in watching large youngsters enjoying!

Epcot Verdict: fingers 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 repeatedly.

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 filled with locations to see animals – plus some enjoyable rides, too.

For fogeys, there’s additionally my favourite experience, Everest, which occurs to have a single-rider line that’ll get you on nearly instantly. It’s nice to experience through the child’s nap! There are a couple of different nice thrill rides too, however there are many sights and exhibits 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:

Greatest sights and rides for infants at Animal Kingdom:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: That is such a fantastic attraction! You’ll be on a giant open-air truck driving by means of 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 experience 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 completely different so it’s nice to experience over and over, too.
• Na’vi River Journey: A bioluminescent deal with for the eyes. Every little thing on this slow-moving river experience was completely stunning, magical, glowing, and nature-y. The music is calm. It’s a complete vibe. And I believe this was Child A’s FAVORITE experience in any of the parks. She was completely enchanted your complete time and in no way scared. This experience is unquestionably price a Lightning Lane cross.
• Competition of the Lion King Present: Child A loved the lion king present, however misplaced curiosity through the slower components and appeared overwhelmed throughout a number of the villain songs. We ended up nursing a lot of the present (it’s a protracted present) however may simply have left as an alternative.

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

• Wildlife Specific Prepare to Rafiki’s Planet Watch: The Wildlife Specific Prepare is a peaceable 7-minute journey – a experience 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’s going to most likely go proper over child’s head, however hey, there’s A/C! Once you’re prepared, take the practice 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 believe 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 by means of the opposite animal sections. Actually, we may 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 avenue efficiency within the Africa part of the park would have been superior for her to see. They pull up large youngsters to bop too which infants love to look at! I want we’d made it some extent to catch one in every of their present instances.
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond: This dwell present is filled with large colourful music and dance numbers! In case your toddler enjoys music and dancing too, this might be a giant hit.

Ideas for Animal Kingdom with a child

• For lunch, Tusker Home is nice. It’s character eating with Mickey and buddies (Child A was tentatively within the characters as soon as they began enjoying peekaboo together with her) and the meals is buffet fashion, with numerous 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 large, quiet indoor locations with A/C to chill off and loosen up (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 underneath 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 personal nursing rooms, which is useful in case your child is definitely distracted.

Animal Kingdom Verdict: This can be a nice baby-friendly park in case your toddler enjoys animals, and there are many baby-friendly rides, sights, and exhibits. However go away 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 

After we had been planning our journey and searching into which Disney Park has probably the most rides with out peak necessities, Magic Kingdom appeared like it could be the best choice for us: there are TONS of rides which might be applicable for all ages! … Properly, 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 protected to experience with an toddler. Many of the attraction 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:

Greatest sights and rides for child at Magic Kingdom:

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

• Underneath the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: That is a darkish conveyer belt experience in a transferring clamshell. Child A LOVED the Underneath the Sea scene, which is vivid 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 experience than the rest throughout our journey – and we had a Lightning Lane cross. The experience 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 experience. She completely beloved it! It ended up pushing her bedtime again about an hour however I believe 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 experience 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 undoubtedly price a lightning lane cross!
• Tiki Room: One other attraction that we prioritized primarily based on Child A’s music preferences. And he or she was actually into most of it! Plus, it’s good and lengthy and had great A/C, so we relished the chance to sit down 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 experience every part we needed to. We want we may have ridden on Folks Mover, a slow-moving practice that lightly glides round Tomorrowland – excellent for infants! And we want we’d had an opportunity to attempt Buzz Lightyear Spin since Child A loved Halfway Mania (largely).

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 had been:

• Jungle Cruise: no music, the experience largely 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 a protracted line
• Haunted Mansion: Child A just isn’t a fan of music in a minor key – I believe she will be able to inform it’s purported to be spooky/scary/off – and she or he doesn’t like issues which might be chaotic and loud. I believe she would have loved the massive graveyard music scene, and located the remainder of it both boring or scary.
• The Mad Tea Social gathering: Child A didn’t actually appear to take pleasure in fast-paced spinning or transferring. She’s extra into the visuals, music, and gradual, 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 using 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’t safely experience. 

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

• Don’t experience Peter Pan’s Flight. 

For causes that nobody quite understands, Peter Pan is the preferred experience in all of Magic Kingdom with wait instances constantly topping 60 minutes. It’s a totally common experience, so my working concept is 1) nostalgia, 2) child attraction, and three) poor ride design that didn’t account for the demand it could be experiencing 70 freaking years after being constructed.

Principally, this experience has lengthy ass strains. And Child A was not impressed – the experience is a sleep and never price a Lightning Lane cross.

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 had been despatched by means of the experience with out a lap bar on our child. Which was terrifying. And intensely harmful.

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

However Peter Pan was in-built 1955, earlier than anybody considered security rules on rides, I suppose. So regardless that your automobile goes method up into the air, it simply has a lap bar, not a harness. The lap bar mechanically 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 test (which just about each different experience within the parks has). 

So, what occurred to us? Child A was seated on the Tushbaby dealing with me after we boarded the experience. Jeremy was wiping down the lap bar with hand sanitizer and I used to be on the brink 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 underneath the lap bar. She was simply sitting on me, above the lap bar. 

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

Truthfully? It was fucking terrifying. As quickly as we bought off the experience I burst into panicked sobbing and it took fairly some time to relax. We made an incident report with the affected person Solid Members, however aside from that there wasn’t a lot we may 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 experience is frankly horrifyingly unsafe. There must be a protracted sufficient time frame between the lap bar reducing and take-off for Solid Members to do a security test. My guess is that they’ve prevented doing it as a result of the experience already has such lengthy wait instances and that can add main time, however it’s completely needed. This experience is horribly old-fashioned.

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

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

That is one other older Disney experience that takes fliers up into the air … in a automobile with open sides, and nothing safer than a lap belt. A crawling, squirming child may simply and shortly decrease themselves to the ground and slip proper out the facet of the automobile. (In case your child just isn’t but cell, 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 experience that isn’t protected for infants! I do know, I used to be shocked too. Disney is often the highest of the road relating to security – I imply hey, I even have footage 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 experience and Astro Orbiters, too. And Triceratop Spin in Animal Kingdom. They’re literallly simply the identical experience with completely different theming.

Extra suggestions 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 had been NOT ready for a 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 number of the greatest steak I’ve had in a very long time (and Child A beloved 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 crammed with kid-friendly stuff (although kid-friendly doesn’t additionally imply baby-friendly). You’ll be able to decide up a practice to experience across the park right here, which is a pleasant stress-free experience 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 youngsters.
• Child care heart: Magic Kingdom’s Child Care Middle is by Foremost Road, 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 a fantastic 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 personal nursing rooms. 

Magic Kingdom Verdict: We thought this park could be a success as a result of it has probably the most all-ages rides, however it’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 number of the exhibits, however not a lot else.  We’re trying ahead to experiencing Magic Kingdom with Child A when she’s older.

Full Listing of Child Rides at Disney World

After we had 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 probably 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 might not be a Solid Member anymore, however I nonetheless have loads of ~opinions about all issues Disney, and many suggestions to your subsequent journey. One among my very sturdy opinions? It’s best to undoubtedly keep at a Disney World resort, even in the event you’re on a decent funds! 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 Additional Magic Hours, the resorts are WELL price it. And much more so, in the event you can rating a reduced fee 😉

There are undoubtedly methods to attain a deal at a Disney Resort, if you realize the place to look. Sometimes, you’ll find Disney World resorts listed on lodge deal websites – notably for low season dates! We as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for underneath $150/evening. 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 underneath $150/evening. Whee!

The time of yr that you just’re visiting and whenever you guide issues, too. Disney quietly runs deep reductions on low season bookings (often January by means of April) round October/November, so preserve a watch out and  check their special offers page frequently. 

And at last, final minute bookings can internet you STEEP reductions! I’ve seen rooms hovering round $150 per evening about 3 days prematurely. You’ll be able to often rating one by means of  Priceline . My suggestion is to guide a good-enough lodge by means of  Booking.com  so you may cancel it as much as the day earlier than your journey, then preserve checking  Priceline  simply in case you may rating a last-minute room at a steep low cost.

We’re large followers of staying at on the Worth resorts, which actually supply the most effective bang to your buck. Artwork of Animation, one of many latest resorts, is a improbable place to stick with a child. There’s a enormous pool – it’s truly the biggest pool at any Disney World lodge –  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 most effective: you’re seated with a pleasant view, it’s not crowded, and there’s a cool breeze. Child A beloved using on the Skyliner (and so did we!)

 This resort can also be thought of one in every of Disney’s funds choices – however it’s actually the most effective of the funds 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 might have questions that we will help reply? Drop us a remark beneath!

Psst: In search of extra suggestions that can assist you plan your Disney journey? Try a few of our different Disney World posts:

Want you would journey to Disney with out leaving residence? We created an immersive virtual Disney world tour so you may make a journey from the consolation of your couch!

We even have a Podcast episode all about Disney! A futuristic utopia that’s undoubtedly not a cult. A suicide-themed experience. Lia’s school internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, in fact! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on probably the most magical place on Earth, plus insider suggestions 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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