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 finished Disney World a lot 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 finished 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 concept, 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 liked rides. She liked exhibits. She liked characters. She was actually into birds abruptly, and for some cause, lamps? She liked Solid Members, she liked dancing to music as we walked by way of the parks. She LOVED Disney World! And we liked attending to see it by way of her eyes. Disney with a child is so value it, y’all!

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

Psst: On the lookout for extra ideas that will help 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 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 traces 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. 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 eager about feeding Child A nowadays – be happy to skip it. You already know your child finest!

That stated: whereas Child A was 10 months outdated throughout our journey, I’ve additionally finished my finest 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 truthfully, y’all – the youthful they’re, the better they’re to journey with!

Yet one more factor: I think about us fortunate that in our journey Child A was not but terribly cell – she’s crawling and standing, however will not be 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 photographs on this submit? Usually I exploit a DSLR digital camera once I’m taking footage for a weblog submit, however all I used to be in a position to handle this journey was to make use of my telephone! 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 are on rides (suppose “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 plenty 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 means that you can guide “Lightning Lane” passes to undergo a shorter line (mainly a paid model of FastPass, if you happen to’re acquainted with its former incarnation). It’s value it with a child, particularly because you gained’t want to really purchase one in your baby 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 go.
• Carry 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 house 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, nevertheless it made meals within the parks tough. This portable high chair that straps on high of a chair at eating places or can sit on the bottom anyplace for snacks is the proper 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 can even offer you a sitter to accompany you within the parks if you happen to want an additional set of palms. Evaluation: https://touringplans.com/blog/kids-nite-out-your-familys-next-vacation-win/
• You’ll be able to go to Disney World and not using a automobile seat if you happen to keep in a Disney Resort lodge. Should you fly with a lap toddler, you possibly can  take a shuttle bus  from the airport, and stick with Disney’s free transportation between the parks and resorts together with buses, the Skyliner, and boats. In a pinch, you can too take Minni Vans, which come outfitted 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 newborn care facilities in every park for nursing, altering, snacks, cool-down time, microwave, and to purchase any emergency child provides you might have left at house! They’re normally subsequent to the primary assist facilities too that are additionally vital to learn about.
• Use Rider Change. One mother or father rides whereas the opposite one hangs out with the newborn. Simply ask a solid 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 plenty of rides will search for single rider to refill uneven gaps, which implies you’ll get to experience sooner. Hold an ear out for a solid member on the lookout for a solo rider close to the entrance of most thrill rides. We bought to experience loads of stuff with out standing in lengthy traces this fashion.
• Minnie Vans come outfitted with rear-facing Graco 4Ever seats. Should you don’t have a automobile throughout your journey, this service is incredible! Principally, Minnie Vans are Disney-owned SUVs (themed to Minnie) pushed by Disney Solid Members, that you may order by way of the Lyft app. They arrive with TWO automobile seats! They’re incredible 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. Straightforward.
• Swap who does bedtime so one mother or father 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!
• Carry hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes and do your finest. We used sanitizing wipes on each lap bar and anyplace child would put their palms on a experience, figuring out that tons of of children had not too long ago put their palms there, too. Mixed with us carrying 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.
• Carry your individual stroller. Those they hire on the parks aren’t good for infants. We suggest one which folds down simply, like this one, since you’ll have to fold it up on Disney transport. That stated, you possibly can’t take your strollers inside in every single place, and stroller parking isn’t at all times proper outdoors of the doorway – like, if you happen to’re going to The Land pavilion in Epcot, your stroller must keep at Nemo and Associates. 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 must 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 particular person on the identical day and beg your case, by which case they waive the price. Nonetheless, that coverage is …not perfect for infants. But additionally, Disney meals is definitely worth the danger! So drop these expectations by way of the ground and do your finest to only drift.
• Meltdowns at Disney are inevitable, and I’m not speaking about your child. Keep in mind that most marital disputes at Disney could be solved by some mixture of snacks, A/C, sitting quietly for some time, and/or a Mickey Bar.
• Carry 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 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 observe nice motor abilities like sucking by way of a straw and squeezing!
  • Freeze dried fruit: soften in your mouth fruit! What’s to not love? Er, apart from the value. It’s costly!
  • Yogurt melts: Child A loves them, however they’re arduous to search out with out added sugar, they make child’s palms very sticky, they usually appear to make her spit up. And it’s at all times brilliant pink and has that bitter yogurt scent. And so they stain. Not our favourite snack however works in a pinch.
  • Cheerios. Basic. Straightforward. At all times successful. Not a choking hazard. 10/10. We’ve 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 vitamin. However they’re enjoyable to eat and assist infants observe their pincer grip!
• Don’t depart snacks out in your stroller, particularly at Animal Kingdom. We noticed a number of uninvited critters making the rounds at stroller parking in Animal Kingdom, and no one needs squirrels and their germs on their strollers! Clear up stray Cheerios and tuck snacks away in a bag to verify 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 finest to go to with an toddler. Because it seems, not each park is equal in the case of 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 perfect Disney World park with an toddler: Epcot! Epcot has the perfect stability of baby-friendly points of interest

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 perhaps value a day go to only for the few points of interest it does provide – or so that you and your associate can do rider swap and experience all of the actually good things.

Finest points of interest and rides for infants at Hollywood Studios:

• Magnificence and the Beast Dwell 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 – suppose 1930’s period showcase dance numbers. However she kinda misplaced curiosity when issues bought unhappy and gradual (“story as outdated as time” will not be a child bop, it seems). Fortunately we sat on the finish of the aisle so we might 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 would make her nauseous with out the glasses on. However she liked going across the monitor and didn’t appear bothered by the blurry, non-3d pictures on the display. She needed to tug the string to shoot too! Nonetheless, she didn’t like a few of the loud noises, and cried and squirmed a bit throughout the loudest half – breaking plates – however settled once we stopped and lined her ears for a bit. This one undoubtedly verges on overstimulating, nevertheless it’s kinda not that enjoyable if you happen to aren’t in a position to be aggressive and play in opposition to 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 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 many of the “battle” components of the story and all of us hated the vehicles dancing – I believed she was going to fall out at one level. Overstimulating, loud, jarring – this experience 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 facet space with ambient chicken noises enjoying and no loud noises, and it’s off the principle path so there are not 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 absolutely shaded and has a pleasant breeze and ambient spa music (I suppose Star Wars is all about ambient spa sounds). It’s the proper afternoon nap/nurse spot, although you’ll see that plenty of dad and mom have the identical concept – 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 value it, truthfully.

Hollywood Studios Verdict: if you need to 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 certain sure, there’s loads of pleased nostalgia tied to the park for me. But additionally? I LOVE journey – hey, that’s my job now – and an entire 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 gas, and I completely find it irresistible.

And on the opposite half of the park are lands celebrating Earth and house. And, er, the Guardians of the Galaxy, which … truthfully, doesn’t match in any respect, nevertheless it’s an superior new experience so we’ll go together with it.

Anway: the park is gorgeous, nicely 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 unlimited Starbucks stuffed with benches and tables – each indoors and outside.

The Child Heart is conveniently positioned within the excellent heart of the park, with a big, comfy nursing room that has house for a number of households. And there’s a huge number of baby-friendly actions, from baby-friendly rides to a big playground to a incredible aquarium. Epot makes it simple to entertain or nap a child on a sizzling Florida day!

Let’s get to the tea:

Finest points of interest and rides for infants at Epcot:

• The Seas with Nemo and Associates: 10/10 excellent child experience and Child A LOVED it. Darkish! Cool! Stress-free! 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 time and again. One mother or father 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 experience close by. Child A might have stayed right here fish all day lengthy (and with the A/C, we had been pleased 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 one in every of our favorites, although we sadly didn’t check it out with Child A this time.
• Grand Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros: This was one in every of Child A’s favorites! A number of scenes of Mexico and upbeat music, and the top portion is mainly simply It’s a Small World however with extra of a deal with Mexico. Plus, there’s just about by no means a line, and you need to undergo the Mexico pavilion to get right here which is completely gorgeous.
• Frozen: I believe she wasn’t a fan of the songs switching each scene, however Child A did get pleasure from this experience. She particularly liked the large backward drop (it’s actually not that massive 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 nervous that Child A would possibly discover it boring because it doesn’t have a lot music. Nonetheless, we absolutely deliberate to attempt it … till we realized we’d must stroll alllll the way in which again to the very entrance of the park once we had been already within the World Showcase near the Skyliner. Too far. I’d give it a attempt if you happen to enter on the massive 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, enjoyable), 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 plenty of 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 probably get pleasure from this gradual, enjoyable experience.

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 – the entire Cooks are professionally skilled and from their respective international locations. Your servers can 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 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 an enormous comfy nursing room with plenty of chairs and footrests. It’s cool, darkish, and quiet – the proper spot for a nap. (Epcot is stuffed with good nap spots!)
• There’s an enormous playground outdoors of the Creations store. Even when your baby can’t play simply but, they’ll most likely get pleasure from watching massive youngsters enjoying!

Epcot Verdict: palms down the winner of Disney World’s most baby-friendly park! From the massive air-conditioned pavilions to the ample seating to the centrally positioned child care heart to the baby-friendly rides and points of interest, we discovered ourselves returning to Epcot time and again.

Animal Kingdom with an Toddler

Animal Kingdom is a incredible park for infants, particularly in case your baby has taken an curiosity in animals like ours (she’s an enormous fan of birds, particularly). It’s lush and inexperienced and stuffed 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 virtually instantly. It’s nice to experience throughout the child’s nap! There are a number of different nice thrill rides too, however there are many points of interest 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 suggest visiting Animal Kingdom very first thing within the morning and leaving earlier than or proper after lunch. Right here’s the tea:

Finest points of interest and rides for infants at Animal Kingdom:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: That is such an awesome attraction! You’ll be on an enormous open-air truck driving by way of the savannah and seeing animals up shut – virtually like a zoo however with none of the enclosures. Child A LOVED Kilimanjaro and was clapping for all of the animals! This experience is finest early within the morning when the animals are most energetic and being fed, so head straight right here very first thing when you arrive. Every journey is totally different so it’s nice to experience time and again, too.
• Na’vi River Journey: A bioluminescent deal with for the eyes. Every thing on this slow-moving river experience was completely stunning, magical, glowing, and nature-y. The music is calm. It’s an entire vibe. And I believe this was Child A’s FAVORITE experience in any of the parks. She was completely enchanted all the time and under no circumstances scared. This experience is certainly value a Lightning Lane go.
• 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 many of the present (it’s a protracted present) however might simply have left as an alternative.

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

• Wildlife Specific Practice to Rafiki’s Planet Watch: The Wildlife Specific Practice 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 should 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 way of the opposite animal sections. Actually, we might have fortunately spent a number of mornings at Animal Kingdom.
• Drummers of Harambe: Child A is an enormous 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 massive 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 occasions.
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond: This dwell present is stuffed with massive colourful tune and dance numbers! In case your baby enjoys music and dancing too, this can be an enormous hit.

Suggestions 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 along with her) and the meals is buffet type, with plenty 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 are not any massive, quiet indoor locations with A/C to chill off and calm down (aside from Rafiki’s Planet Watch). When naptime hit, it took us fairly some time to search out a great spot. We ultimately 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 Heart is centrally positioned and fairly good. It has personal nursing rooms, which is useful in case your child is well distracted.

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

Magic Kingdom with an Toddler 

Once we had been planning our journey and looking out into which Disney Park has essentially the most rides with out top necessities, Magic Kingdom appeared like it will be the most suitable choice for us: there are TONS of rides which are applicable for all ages! … Nicely, in idea, 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 every other park, doesn’t have many choices for cooling off, and people all-ages rides? Lots 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:

Finest points of interest and rides for child at Magic Kingdom:

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

• Below the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: That is a darkish conveyer belt experience in a transferring clamshell. Child A LOVED the Below the Sea scene, which is brilliant and colourful and enjoyable. It helped that we’d been enjoying the tune 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 go. 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 tune (we’d been enjoying it for her) and was REALLY excited on this experience. She completely liked it! It ended up pushing her bedtime again about an hour however I believe it was value 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 value a lightning lane go!
• Tiki Room: One other attraction that we prioritized based mostly 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 traces in Magic Kingdom are SO lengthy, we didn’t get to experience every part we needed to. We want we might have ridden on Individuals 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-about however finally determined to skip because of lengthy traces and Child A’s probability of having fun with them had been:

• Jungle Cruise: no music, the experience largely consists of speaking and jokes that may 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 will not be a fan of music in a minor key – I believe she will be able to inform it’s alleged to be spooky/scary/off – and she or he doesn’t like issues which are chaotic and loud. I believe she would have loved the large graveyard music scene, and located the remainder of it both boring or scary.
• The Mad Tea Celebration: Child A didn’t actually appear to get pleasure from 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 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 experience. 

If there isn’t any line, give it a whirl. In any other case, reserve it for a county truthful.

• Don’t experience Peter Pan’s Flight. 

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

Principally, this experience has lengthy ass traces. And Child A was not impressed – the experience is a nap and never value a Lightning Lane go.

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 way of the experience and not using a lap bar on our child. Which was terrifying. And intensely harmful.

You see, most flying rides are outfitted 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 constantly all through the experience on the lookout for any kiddos making an attempt to wriggle out – that’s a fall danger 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 thought of security laws on rides, I suppose. So though your car goes approach up into the air, it simply has a lap bar, not a harness. The lap bar mechanically lowers about .5 seconds earlier than you allow 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 once 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 beneath the lap bar. She was simply sitting on me, above the lap bar. 

We screamed for assist, however the experience took off so rapidly that no one heard us. And, as we discovered, there are not 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 surprising power whereas I clung to her with each arms for expensive life, figuring out that if she twisted out of my arms, she would fall. (Bear 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 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 studies 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 decreasing 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 occasions and that may add main time, nevertheless it’s completely vital. 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 might simply and rapidly decrease themselves to the ground and slip proper out the facet of the automobile. (In case your child will not be 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 normally the highest of the road in the case of 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 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 respectable pasta. We had been NOT ready for a way shockingly good it was. I imply!!! It was AMAZING. I extremely suggest the Orecchiette With Spicy Italian Sausage and the Butcher’s Steak, which was a few of the finest steak I’ve had in a very long time (and Child A liked 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 an entire part in Magic Kingdom stuffed 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 enjoyable experience in and of itself. However most significantly, there’s a splash floor. On sizzling 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 Heart is by Fundamental Avenue, which is … kinda removed from many of the park, truthfully. There are benches out entrance and the middle itself is absolutely 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 personal nursing rooms. 

Magic Kingdom Verdict: We thought this park can be successful as a result of it has essentially the most all-ages rides, nevertheless 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 every other park. Price a visit for it’s a small world and a few of the exhibits, 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 had been researching for our journey and on the lookout for issues for infants to do at Disney World, we struggled to discover a full checklist 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 suggest 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 is probably not a Solid Member anymore, however I nonetheless have loads of ~opinions about all issues Disney, and many ideas in your subsequent journey. Considered one of my very robust opinions? It is best to undoubtedly keep at a Disney World resort, even if you happen to’re on a decent funds! It’s SO value it.

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

There are undoubtedly methods to attain a deal at a Disney Resort, if the place to look. Often, you could 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 beneath $150/evening. Whee! So simply in case, have a look – we noticed a BUNCH of them listed not too long ago on  Hotels.com  and  Priceline ! That’s how we as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for beneath $150/evening. Whee!

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

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

We’re massive followers of staying at on the Worth resorts, which actually provide the perfect bang in your buck. Artwork of Animation, one of many latest resorts, is a incredible place to stick with a child. There’s a big pool – it’s truly the biggest pool at any Disney World lodge –  with a child space and an enormous 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 liked driving on the Skyliner (and so did we!)

 This resort can be thought-about one in every of Disney’s funds choices – nevertheless it’s actually the perfect 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 can assist reply? Drop us a remark beneath!

Psst: On the lookout for extra ideas that will help you plan your Disney journey? Try a few of our different Disney World posts:

Want you would journey to Disney with out leaving house? We created an immersive virtual Disney world tour so you possibly can 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 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 traces for rides is a few Bippity-Boppity-BS.

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