The great thing about all of the Disney theme parks is that there really is something for everyone. We often feel that once we have paid our day’s admission, we need to get our money’s worth and hit absolutely every attraction there is! Well, this wouldn’t be the approach to take when doing a park with toddlers! And since many of the attractions aren’t suitable or allowable for the under 5 set anyway, your planned trek can be a little less hectic and at a slower pace. I learned a lot by doing the parks with “under 5’s” and would like to share some of my knowledge gained!
The first thing you should do is check the parade schedule and plan your day around this. We found it best to plan a meal at the time of the parade. You need to get your spot about an hour or so before it starts and of course entertaining little ones while waiting can be challenging. Sit them down on the curb and feed them lunch while waiting. I always packed books and read to them too. The parade always seemed to be one of the biggest hits of the day!
Upon entering the park, we always headed straight for Fantasyland to do the Dumbo ride first before the lines got too long and then took in the other attractions in this area as that’s where you’ll find the favorites for the younger set. Not to be missed are Cinderella’s Golden Carousel, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Avoid Snow White’s Scary Adventures as it will more than likely frighten younger children. Mickey’s Philharmagic is a great show, however, the 3-D experience always bothered my children, so I would recommend saving this for when they are a bit older!
There is very little in Frontierland or Tomorrowland for toddlers, but the Country Bear Jamboree is a very nice show that most little ones will enjoy. Depending on the attention span and patience level of your child, if you’d like to add one more show to the agenda, The Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland would be a good choice. So, choose one or both of these. While in Adventureland, take in The Magic Carpet Ride.
If it’s getting close to nap time and your child is good about sleeping in the stroller, then this may be an opportunity for you to try out some of the less child-friendly attractions. They offer a baby swap at the Disney parks so that your family only has to wait in line one time. When one of you disembarks ready to stroller-sit, the other can go right on!
After naptime, have a wander around Mickey’s Toontown which is geared for small children and should not be missed. Little ones love to visit Mickey and Minnie’s homes and Donald’s Boat offers some wet fun on a hot day. If a personal visit with Micky himself is something your toddler would enjoy, the striped tent is the place! A word of caution – this does tend to get crowded.
Depending on your interest, Walt Disney World Railroad, Liberty Square Riverboat and the Jungle Cruise are 3 remaining attractions that are child-friendly if time permits.
Enjoy this time with your children! The look on their faces as they experience Disney for the first time is priceless!
The first thing you should do is check the parade schedule and plan your day around this. We found it best to plan a meal at the time of the parade. You need to get your spot about an hour or so before it starts and of course entertaining little ones while waiting can be challenging. Sit them down on the curb and feed them lunch while waiting. I always packed books and read to them too. The parade always seemed to be one of the biggest hits of the day!
Upon entering the park, we always headed straight for Fantasyland to do the Dumbo ride first before the lines got too long and then took in the other attractions in this area as that’s where you’ll find the favorites for the younger set. Not to be missed are Cinderella’s Golden Carousel, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Avoid Snow White’s Scary Adventures as it will more than likely frighten younger children. Mickey’s Philharmagic is a great show, however, the 3-D experience always bothered my children, so I would recommend saving this for when they are a bit older!
There is very little in Frontierland or Tomorrowland for toddlers, but the Country Bear Jamboree is a very nice show that most little ones will enjoy. Depending on the attention span and patience level of your child, if you’d like to add one more show to the agenda, The Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland would be a good choice. So, choose one or both of these. While in Adventureland, take in The Magic Carpet Ride.
If it’s getting close to nap time and your child is good about sleeping in the stroller, then this may be an opportunity for you to try out some of the less child-friendly attractions. They offer a baby swap at the Disney parks so that your family only has to wait in line one time. When one of you disembarks ready to stroller-sit, the other can go right on!
After naptime, have a wander around Mickey’s Toontown which is geared for small children and should not be missed. Little ones love to visit Mickey and Minnie’s homes and Donald’s Boat offers some wet fun on a hot day. If a personal visit with Micky himself is something your toddler would enjoy, the striped tent is the place! A word of caution – this does tend to get crowded.
Depending on your interest, Walt Disney World Railroad, Liberty Square Riverboat and the Jungle Cruise are 3 remaining attractions that are child-friendly if time permits.
Enjoy this time with your children! The look on their faces as they experience Disney for the first time is priceless!