One question I've been getting a lot lately is "Should we even bother taking our toddler to Disney?" People have a lot of misconceptions about taking the under 3 crowd to Disney. Since we have taken our 2 year old to Walt Disney World twice this year I thought it would be a perfect time to write this post. I wrote a similar post awhile back about what is the perfect age to go to Disney and you can read that here. But in this post I will just focus on tips when taking your toddler. 

1. Under 3 is FREE!
​Taking a toddler to Disney makes the most sense financially because Disney does not charge under 3 for theme park tickets and for some dining venues.  This can be a considerable savings when you think about the price of tickets. At all character meals and buffets the under 3 crowd can eat free! Consider that these meals are often over $20 per child and this savings adds up. If you book a resort package, toddlers and infants will still get to pick a Magic Band so they don't feel left out, but they are really just for show. No tickets or fast passes will be linked with them, because they are not required. Even if you go to celebrate your child's 3rd birthday, as long as you check in while they are still 2, then they are charged as a 2 year old the entire trip. No one ages at Disney! No future promotion will compare to this discount! 

2. Focus on Magic Kingdom
At other theme parks around the country you will find a heavy concentration of rides with height requirements. While Disney does have some thrill rides that have these requirements, they have so many other attractions for kids of all sizes. Magic Kingdom has the most offerings with popular rides such as Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight, Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, It's a Small World , Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Jungle Cruise, Under the Sea with Ariel, and so many more rides, character meets and shows. The other 3 parks have plenty to do for toddlers as well, but Magic Kingdom has always been the favorite for our toddlers. Our last couple of trips we have gotten Park Hopper tickets so we could spend part of every park day at Magic Kingdom. Toddlers love reading the same books over and over, seeing the same TV show over and over and the same goes for rides at Disney. We rode It's a Small World about 5 times last trip because our 2 year old was enamored with the song and seeing the kids in each room. Watching her experience the ride was the most fun for us as parents! 

3. Baby Care Centers
Each of the 4 parks have a Baby Care Center complete with changing tables, high chairs, nursing (or pumping) rooms, and they have a small store complete with anything you might have left at home such as diapers, wipes or baby food. Check your park maps and know where this center is in each park. It's worth seeking out for a diaper change as it's much cleaner and less crowded than your standard bathroom. The nursing areas are quiet and private with comfortable chairs. These areas are a sanctuary for moms of littles and I am always surprised how few people know about them. Each park also has family friendly companion bathrooms, so Dad can bring baby sister to a private bathroom to change her or Mom can pile in the bathroom with all 3 kiddos and not worry about losing one. 

4. Rider Switch Pass
If you are bringing older siblings who enjoy thrill rides, or mom and dad want to get their roller coaster fix on Space Mountain then you need to get to know and understand the Rider Switch program- it's your friend! Your whole family arrives to a ride and tells the Cast Member at the standby entrance that you want to use the rider switch program. The Cast Member will give the parent staying behind a Rider Switch pass, which is a paper ticket (don't lose it!) to return to the ride at a later time and go through the fast pass entrance with up to 2 other people/ kids. This way you don't have to wait in the stand-by line twice and both parents get to experience the ride with the older kids. The older kids get to ride twice and the younger kids don't have to hang around and wait, but can go on a nearby attraction. Everyone is happy! You can use this program with fast passes as well. The first parent and kids can have a fast pass so they don't have to wait in the stand-by line either. This can get complicated when making the fast passes, but it's something I often do for my clients and I'm happy to help them get the most out of this program. Also, check the Rider Switch pass. It often won't expire for several days, so as long as you don't lose it you can wait and use it later in your trip.  

5. Plan to Rest 
As a Disney travel agent one thing I hear so often is "We aren't going to leave the park, they can just sleep in the stroller. We'll power through and make the most out of our day." I can't discourage this enough! While it's true you may check more rides off your list and see more shows by staying in the park from open to close, chances are that by the time fireworks come around the day isn't going to feel nearly as magical as it did when you first entered the park and saw the castle for the first time. Without exception we ALWAYS take a midday break. This includes our 10th Anniversary trip when it was just my husband and I. That afternoon rest time to head back to the hotel and enjoy a nap or pool time and then shower and change for the evening is CRUCIAL to the enjoyment of our trip. It's as much needed for us as the parents as it is for our kids. This is also why we now always stay on property. The one time we didn't stay on property we spent several hours in transportation time per day using shuttles and then even trying to park and take the tram and monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Staying on property really helps to make it so easy to work in afternoon rest time and make the most out of your trip. When thinking of what's important for your vacation, you should think quality, not quantity! 

Going to Disney with a toddler is pure magic! Seeing Disney through the eyes of your child for the first time is truly an experience that cannot be described in words! As your kids get older the experience is fun in different ways, but taking them while they are young and seeing them meet Mickey and Cinderella and Winnie the Pooh for the first time with their eyes wide and taking it all in.... it can't be beat! 

One question I get a lot is "What is the best age to take kids to Walt Disney World?" Unfortunately, there is not one right number for every child or every family. Just like a lot of aspects of vacation planning there are a couple of factors to consider and I usually follow up that question with another question.
"Are you only planning to only go to Walt Disney World once?"
If the answer to this question is yes and your family will only be going one time then you should consider a few things. 

• Your child should be old enough to remember the trip

 Think back to the first family vacation or outing you remember as child. It may have just been a carnival in your hometown. How old were you? How much do you remember? If you are only going once you want to make sure your child is old enough to have those great memories last a lifetime.  

• Disney has certain height requirements for some rides

Even if your child isn't the adventurous type, you may want to wait until they reach 48" if you are only going to Walt Disney World once. At 48" or taller they can have their choice of any ride in the 4 main parks as well as the 2 waterparks. This way they won't feel like they were forced to miss out on the fun. 

• Go when they are still young enough to fully experience the magic.

Now don't get me wrong, I still get pixie dust in my eyes every time I see Cinderella's Castle and I was star struck when I saw Mickey Mouse on my most recent trip. But watching my 3 year old come around the corner on Main Street at Magic Kingdom and take in her first viewing of Cinderella's Castle is an experience I can't explain. And seeing my son at 3 give Woody and Buzz Lightyear hugs and beam with joy was pure Disney magic at it's best. 

If you know your family plans to go to Walt Disney World multiple times, then you should consider other things. 

• Under 3 is free! 
  

There is plenty to do for toddlers and preschoolers! So why not consider going before they cost anything. Children under age 3 don't need a park ticket and they can also eat for free at any buffet-style or family-style restaurant with a paying adult. And if you want to go to celebrate their 3rd birthday just make sure you go before their actual birth date. No one gets older at Disney, so in their eyes, if your child checks in as a 2 year old, they are 2 years old for the remainder of the trip even if they celebrate a birthday. (FYI, the airlines don't abide by this- if you fly somewhere when your child is 23.5 months and fly back after they turn 2, you will be buying them a one-way plane ticket for their trip home.) 

• Knowing you will return, don't pack too much into your trip.

Taking young children is fun and magical, but with so much going on you will need time for rest! You should have a planned afternoon break every. single. day. Mandatory. Personally, I plan on seeing Disney this way forever. Mama needs her rest time! But it's even more crucial with young kids. Get to the park when it opens and do rides in the morning when the lines are shortest, then after lunch go back to the resort for a nap. For our first trip our kids were 1 and 3 and we ALL took hard naps in the afternoon and woke so refreshed and ready to get back to the parks to enjoy dinner, more rides and stay for the fireworks. Take cues from your kids. If you are trying to do too much and they get tired, scale back and enjoy a slower pace. 

• Consider getting help with baby brother or sister.   

If your oldest child is ready to get her fill of princesses, but you aren't sure how baby brother will handle the trip consider inviting the grandparents to come along. This way someone can head back to the resort with the baby for naps or hang back while he naps in the stroller. Or maybe grandma and grandpa can come stay with baby brother at home while you enjoy some time away connecting with your oldest. If you know your family will be returning this is a great option!

So, it's not a quick answer, but there you have it. Every age can be the right for Walt Disney World, but you need to weigh all these factors based on your family's wants, needs and expectations. 

XOXO
Mama