Disney is a magical destination for families with young children, but a first visit can feel overwhelming. What should you pack, where should you stay, and how do you structure your days to keep little ones happy? This guide covers everything we’ve learned to help you enjoy Disney with young kids.
Our family’s Disney adventures began when our daughters were 6 and 2. We wanted our oldest to experience that truly magical age, and since children under three don’t require a ticket, the timing worked well. We were total beginners, so I spent a lot of time learning how Disney works before our trip. After several trips over the years, we refined our approach and I’m sharing the practical tips that made our visits easier and more fun.
Our Disney Experiences
Our first trip as a family was a major learning experience. Since then we’ve returned multiple times—once for a slower, make-up trip when parks were quieter, and another time with extended family where we rode some of the newest attractions. Across these visits we tried different resorts, character meals, and learned to use Disney’s line management systems. Below are the practical lessons and recommendations that worked best for our family.
Disney Tips by Category
Where to Stay
We’ve stayed at three Disney resort categories: value, moderate and preferred rooms. Each choice affects convenience, cost, and transit time.
Art of Animation (Value)
The Little Mermaid rooms are charming and budget-friendly, but value resorts can be far from bus stops and park transportation. Rooms are compact and layout may be inconvenient with a stroller or many bags.
All-Star Movies (Value – Preferred)
A preferred room here places you closer to the lobby and buses, which is a major convenience. However, bus routes sometimes connect multiple All-Star resorts, which can lengthen travel time.
Caribbean Beach (Moderate)
We love Caribbean Beach for its Skyliner access to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, excellent kid-friendly pools with slides and splash areas, and its proximity to dining options like Primo Piatto and the Riviera’s Topolino’s Terrace. Preferred rooms near the Skyliner and main pool are especially convenient when traveling with young children.
When you plan future trips, consider proximity to park transportation, pool amenities if your kids love swimming, and whether a preferred room is worth the extra fee for shorter walks and faster access to buses or Skyliner stations.
Character Dining
Character dining is a highlight for many families. We prioritized character meals on our first trip and found them memorable—but expensive. If you plan carefully, you can limit bookings to a few must-have experiences and meet the other characters using Lightning Lanes or meet-and-greets in the parks.
- Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom – Dining in the castle is a quintessential experience; perfect for lunch and a rest during a long day.
- Topolino’s Terrace (Riviera Resort) Breakfast – Our favorite: excellent food and perfectly themed character interactions with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy.
- Tusker House at Animal Kingdom (Breakfast) – A fun family-friendly option with classic characters.
- Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast at Trattoria Al Forno (BoardWalk) – Previously a favorite featuring Rapunzel and friends; check current availability before planning.
- Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom Dinner) – Beautiful setting; character presence is more limited now than in the past.
- Akershus Banquet Hall (EPCOT Breakfast) – Great for meeting multiple princesses in a relaxed setting.
- The Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom Lunch) – Classic Winnie the Pooh characters and a bright, casual dining atmosphere.
Topolino’s Terrace stands out for service, food quality, and character interaction—ideal for a rest day or a slower morning. Cinderella’s Royal Table is incredible for the castle experience. Some character meals we liked less due to cost or dwindling character interactions; be mindful of whether a meal fits your must-do list or duplicates other character opportunities.
Daily Schedule with Little Kids
With toddlers who won’t nap in a stroller, our strategy was early mornings and mid-afternoon hotel naps. Arrive before rope drop, ride high-demand attractions while crowds are small, enjoy lunch in the park, then return to the resort for naps during the busiest hours. After naps we’d return for dinner, shows, and evening attractions. If you prefer to stay in the parks all day (and your kids are older), schedule a long sit-down meal during the hottest part of the day to rest and recharge.
Favorite Rides for Little Kids
Some rides are perfect for young children and we prioritized these early in the day:
- Magic Kingdom: Barnstormer (great for toddlers), Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid.
- Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King live show, Na’vi River Journey for gentler thrills.
- EPCOT: The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (for older kids).
- Hollywood Studios: Toy Story Mania, Slinky Dog Dash (for bigger kids), Frozen Sing-Along.
Early Entry and Extra Time
Staying at a Disney resort grants early entry—typically 30 minutes before official park opening. To make the most of early entry, plan to be at your resort transportation about an hour before park opening so you’re ready at the bus or Skyliner line in time for those extra quiet minutes in the park.
Memory Maker: Are Disney Photos Worth It?
Yes—if you want to capture professional photos without constantly juggling a camera. Disney photographers take photos at character meet-and-greets and many park locations, and a photo package gives unlimited access to those images stored in your account. Buying early often provides a small discount.
Daily Surprises and Small Gifts
To avoid excessive toy purchases in the parks, I packed small daily gifts and left a note “from Minnie” with a little clue about the day’s plan. Simple items like coloring books, small toys, glow sticks for evening parades, or themed pajamas made our days extra special without breaking the bank.
Strollers at Disney
Rent a sturdy stroller for children up to about age 7 if they’ll struggle walking long days. We rented double and single strollers from a reputable provider and they were lifesavers. Even on days when a child rarely used the stroller, having one available for nap times and carrying bags made years of travel much easier.
What to Pack for Disney with Kids
- Packing cubes to organize each person’s clothes and keep small resort rooms tidy.
- Belt bag or fanny pack to carry essentials hands-free through rides and queues.
- Pop-up laundry bag and travel detergent for mid-trip laundry if staying longer than a few days.
- Stroller hooks to hang water bottles, bags, or purchases from the stroller handle.
- Plenty of snacks and refillable water bottles — you may bring food and non-alcoholic drinks into the parks and free water is available at quick-service restaurants.
- Portable chargers—the Disney app drains batteries, so bring at least one portable phone charger.
- Disposable ponchos — Florida weather is unpredictable and ponchos are cheaper than buying rain gear onsite.
- Soft-sided cooler if you plan to bring perishables; Disney allows soft coolers only.
- Blister bandages and multiple pairs of comfortable walking shoes—expect lots of walking each day.
- Dish soap and a bottle brush for cleaning water bottles or baby items in your room.
Planning Essentials
Even with research, a few planning tools and services made a big difference for us. Following data-driven daily park plans from experienced planners helped optimize rides and breaks. We also used a third-party service that can automate Lightning Lane bookings once you’ve purchased Genie+—this saved a huge amount of time and frustration and allowed us to focus on family time rather than constantly juggling ride reservations.
Final Thoughts
A Disney trip with little kids is magical and memorable, but preparation matters. Choose a hotel location that minimizes walking for naps and stroller transfers, prioritize key character or dining experiences rather than trying to do everything, and pack thoughtfully for comfort and convenience. If you prefer to relax on your first visit, consider working with an experienced Disney travel planner who can handle bookings and craft an itinerary that fits your family.
If you have questions or tips from your own trips, feel free to share them—experiences from other families can be incredibly helpful when planning a successful Disney vacation with little ones.
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- What to Take to the Beach with a Toddler
- Organizing Kids’ Art and Memorabilia
- The Best Easter Basket Ideas for Kids