Survival Tips For Visiting Walt Disney World With Kids

Walt Disney World is one of the most wonderful places in the world, but visiting with kids presents lots of challenges, meaning it can easily become one of the most stressful. Perhaps you’re a seasoned parent with an entire squadron of younglings under your belt, or maybe you’re new to it all – or at least haven’t visited the resort with them before. Whatever your circumstances, check out these top survival tips!

1. Be Their Guest & Stay On Property

There are dozens of Disney Resort Hotels to choose from, each with a huge number of benefits beyond the practicality of keeping your little roundup as close to the magic as possible. There’s complimentary WiFi to keep them quiet when you’re trying to unwind in the evening, as well as free airport transfers and free transportation to all the parks to make life a little easier – and much more.

2. Be Prepared to Be Exhausted

Any trip to Walt Disney World means you’ll be snoozing like sleeping beauty every night, but add kids to the mix, along with the added challenge of the heat, then you can expect the family to feel tired a lot of the time. So make sure to always pack your day bags the night before – and pack sensibly too, especially if you have babies or toddlers – so that once you’ve eaten breakfast in the morning it’s “Heigh-Ho” and off you go!

3. Know Where the Restrooms Are

If there’s a place kids like to frequent more than an attraction, it’s a restroom. When nature calls, no matter your child’s age, it’s useful to know where the nearest restroom is. Make the most out of the My Disney Experience mobile app’s GPS-enabled map or even a good old fashioned Park Map. There are dozens of restrooms around, so don’t turn looking for one into an adventure of its own!

4. Use the Force of a MagicBand

A MagicBand is designed to help you forget about your worries and your strife. You can use it check in at park entrances and FastPass+ entrances, unlock your hotel room door, make purchases and more. With little ones at your feet, being able to wield the next best thing to the Force without having to rummage through your purse or bag will help make for a more problem-free vacation.

5. Consider a Disney Dining Plan

If there’s something that occupies a child’s mind other than the wonders of Disney, it’s food. As a Disney Resort Hotel guest you can also enjoy the benefits of a Disney Dining Plan, which offers dining options across the whole resort. If you don’t end up staying on property, though, you should at least book your desired restaurants well in advance to avoid any last-minute stresses like hungry children or no available high-chairs.

6. Download the Play Disney Parks Mobile App

In those moments that bridge the gap between one attraction and the next – in other words, waiting in line – kids can grow unbearably bored and impatient. This is where the Play Disney Parks mobile app comes in, which turns wait time into play time. Alternatively, any device-based game will likely keep them occupied, so just be sure to have some form of magic available at the push of a button!

7. Use the Baby Care Centers

For a place to feed, change and nurse babies and toddlers, look out for a complimentary Baby Care Center. They’re located in all four theme parks and are open during normal park hours. They’re also great for nap time too (no, not yours…). And for peace of mind, in the extremely unlikely event your child is separated from you, they’ll be safely escorted to the nearest center by a friendly Cast Member.

8. Use Disney Transportation

A few extra sets of feet also means more mouths, which in turn means more (understandable) complaints about being tired or being too hot. Be sure to take advantage of Disney Transportation, which includes Bus, Monorail and Water Transportation. For babies and toddlers, check out Stroller Rentals which can be found throughout the resort.

9. Be Aware of Ride Restrictions & Scare Levels

It’s important to know that not all rides without height and age restrictions are suitable for younger children. The same goes for things such as Character Greetings and fireworks – some simply find them quite unsettling or even frightening. Just like Monstropolis, Walt Disney World would much rather rely on the power of a child’s joy and laughter than their fear and screams!

10. Accept That You Won’t Always Get Your Own Way Either

If this is your first visit with kids, you’ll need to accept that your vacation will now come with a lot of new challenges. For starters, your enjoyment of things will need to be shared with them. And while you might not get to do all the things you’re used to doing – at least not at your pace – seeing the joy and wonder on your child’s face will be both worth it and magical in its own way.

There are so many other things to consider when taking kids into the resort, such as a change of clothes, making the most out of Extra Magic Hours, Times Guides, Park Maps and mobile apps. But don’t worry – list covers all the bare necessities!

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