How to do Disney World with a Baby, the Ultimate Guide by a former Cast Member

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When Jeremy picked Disney World for his thirty fifth birthday journey, I used to be nervous. I imply, we’ve executed Disney World lots of instances – and I used to be there just about each single day after I was a Forged Member. However we’d by no means, EVER executed 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 thought, 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 using our favourite Disney rides.

However to my absolute shock, Child A LOVED Disney World. She cherished rides. She cherished reveals. She cherished characters. She was actually into birds unexpectedly, and for some cause, lamps? She cherished Forged Members, she cherished dancing to music as we walked via the parks. She LOVED Disney World! And we cherished attending to see it via her eyes. Disney with a child is so price it, y’all!

On this (large) information, we’re sharing ideas and tips for visiting Disney with infants, together with the very best (and worst) parks and sights for infants, the place to remain, and some necessities to pack. Let’s dive in!

Psst: Searching 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 trip. Lia’s faculty internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, in fact! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on probably the most magical place on Earth, plus insider ideas from her time as a Forged Member. We additionally clarify our tried & examined Disney Technique (aka STRAT), as a result of ready in lengthy strains 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 fluctuate wildly by age. When 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 as of late – be happy to skip it. You realize your child greatest!

That stated: whereas Child A was 10 months previous throughout our journey, I’ve additionally executed my greatest 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 take into account us fortunate that in our journey Child A was not but terribly cellular – she’s crawling and standing, however just isn’t 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 wish to take into consideration some baby-wrangling methods (no disgrace in a cute leashed backpack)!

Oh, and eventually – can I simply apologize for the standard of images on this submit? Usually I take advantage of a DSLR digital camera after I’m taking photos 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 entire working/mother factor, y’all. Thanks for not judging me!

OK – onto the ideas for visiting Disney World with an toddler:

• Hearken to Disney music earlier than your journey, particularly songs which are on rides (suppose “It’s a Small World” or the Tiki Room). I feel this actually helped Child A get excited on the parks, as a result of she was listening to numerous 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 lets you guide “Lightning Lane” passes to undergo a shorter line (mainly a paid model of FastPass, when you’re aware of its former incarnation). It’s price it with a child, particularly because you gained’t want to really purchase one on your baby since they don’t want a park ticket. The longest we waited for a trip 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 move.
• Deliver 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 might 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. Unsure if the tables are weirdly excessive or the excessive chairs are weirdly low, but it surely made meals within the parks troublesome. This portable high chair that straps on prime of a chair at eating places or can sit on the bottom wherever for snacks is the right answer.
• Babysitting is out there at Walt Disney World by way of a service referred to as Kids Nite Out. They’ll watch your youngster whilst you bask in your personal inside youngster on the parks! Youngsters Nite Out may also offer you a sitter to accompany you within the parks when you want an additional set of fingers. 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 automotive seat when you keep in a Disney Resort lodge. When you fly with a lap toddler, you possibly can  take a shuttle bus  from the airport, and persist with Disney’s free transportation between the parks and resorts together with buses, the Skyliner, and boats. In a pinch, you can even take Minni Vans, which come outfitted with Graco 4Ever automotive seats. That stated, we have been actually glad that we had a automotive as a result of it made attending to and from parks fairly fast (aside from Magic Kingdom, which is a schlep and a half it doesn’t matter what).

• Use the infant 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 dwelling! They’re often subsequent to the primary support facilities too that are additionally necessary to find out about.
• Use Rider Change. One dad or mum rides whereas the opposite one hangs out with the infant. Simply ask a forged member on the entrance of any trip to assist get you arrange.
• Use single rider, too! Only 4 rides formally have a single-rider lane, however numerous rides will search for single rider to replenish uneven gaps, which implies you’ll get to trip sooner. Maintain an ear out for a forged member searching for a solo rider close to the entrance of most thrill rides. We obtained to trip a number of stuff with out standing in lengthy strains this manner.
• Minnie Vans come outfitted with rear-facing Graco 4Ever seats. When you don’t have a automotive throughout your journey, this service is improbable! Principally, Minnie Vans are Disney-owned SUVs (themed to Minnie) pushed by Disney Forged Members, which you could order via the Lyft app. They arrive with TWO automotive seats! They’re improbable 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 trip kind. Simple.
• Swap who does bedtime so one dad or mum 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!
• Deliver hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes and do your greatest. We used sanitizing wipes on each lap bar and wherever child would put their fingers on a trip, understanding that a whole lot of youngsters had not too long ago put their fingers there, too. Mixed with us carrying KN95s masks, none of us obtained sick throughout our journey. However simply in case, carry toddler Tylenol/Motrin with you so you might have it available.
• Deliver your personal 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 must 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 all the time proper exterior of the doorway – like, when you’re going to The Land pavilion in Epcot, your stroller should keep at Nemo and Mates. Carriers are useful in these conditions, and so is the Tushbaby.

• When you make an Advance Dining Reservation at a Disney sit-down restaurant, cancellations should be made 24 hours upfront. In any other case, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $10 per person (3 and up). Except you go to the restaurant in individual on the identical day and beg your case, by which case they waive the price. Nonetheless, that coverage is …not best for infants. But in addition, Disney meals is definitely worth the danger! So drop these expectations via the ground and do your greatest to simply glide.
• Meltdowns at Disney are inevitable, and I’m not speaking about your child. Do not forget 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.
• Deliver 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 apply tremendous motor abilities like sucking via a straw and squeezing!
  • Freeze dried fruit: soften in your mouth fruit! What’s to not love? Er, aside from the value. It’s costly!
  • Yogurt melts: Child A loves them, however they’re laborious to search out with out added sugar, they make child’s fingers very sticky, and so they appear to make her spit up. And it’s all the time brilliant pink and has that bitter yogurt scent. They usually stain. Not our favourite snack however works in a pinch.
  • Cheerios. Basic. Simple. At all times successful. Not a choking hazard. 10/10. Now we have discovered to all the time 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 diet. However they’re enjoyable to eat and assist infants apply 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 person needs squirrels and their germs on their strollers! Clear up stray Cheerios and tuck snacks away in a bag to ensure 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 greatest to go to with an toddler. Because it seems, not each park is equal with regards to 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 very best Disney World park with an toddler: Epcot! Epcot has the very best steadiness of baby-friendly sights

Hollywood Studios with a Child

Hollywood Studios does one factor higher than the opposite parks: dwell reveals. 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 likely to be price a day go to only for the few sights it does supply – or so that you and your accomplice can do rider swap and trip all of the actually great things.

Finest sights and rides for infants at Hollywood Studios:

• Magnificence and the Beast Stay on Stage: Child A misplaced her rattling MIND singing and clapping alongside at this present. The dancing and songs initially are enjoyable and upbeat and actually well-done, visually – suppose 1930’s period showcase dance numbers. However she kinda misplaced curiosity when issues obtained unhappy and sluggish (“story as previous as time” just isn’t 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 have been involved about bringing her on this trip as a result of it’s 3D, and we have been afraid it would make her nauseous with out the glasses on. However she cherished going across the observe and didn’t appear bothered by the blurry, non-3d pictures on the display. She wished to tug the string to shoot too! Nonetheless, she didn’t like among the loud noises, and cried and squirmed a bit through the loudest half – breaking plates – however settled after we stopped and coated her ears for a bit. This one undoubtedly verges on overstimulating, but it surely’s kinda not that enjoyable when you aren’t in a position to be aggressive and play towards your accomplice.

… 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 trip, however none of us loved it a lot. The trip is very loud and a bit too intense/scary for her. She obtained scared at many of the “battle” components of the story and all of us hated the vehicles dancing – I assumed she was going to fall out at one level. Overstimulating, loud, jarring – this trip 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 primary 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 assume Star Wars is all about ambient spa sounds). It’s the right afternoon nap/nurse spot, although you’ll see that numerous dad and mom have the identical thought – 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 price it, truthfully.

Hollywood Studios Verdict: if you need to choose a park to skip, that is the one. It’s simply not the very best 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 Forged Member, after I labored at Soarin’ within the Land Pavilion. I imply certain sure, there’s a number of joyful nostalgia tied to the park for me. But in addition? I LOVE journey – good day, 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 nations. The World Showcase is sort of a mile of pure journey gasoline, 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, but it surely’s an superior new trip so we’ll go together with it.

Anway: the park is beautiful, 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 prime? For starters, 3 phrases: AIR CONDITIONED PAVILIONS. There are TONS of pavilions all through the park, and most of them are large and air-conditioned. There’s additionally ample seating – like Connections Cafe, which is basically an infinite Starbucks crammed with benches and tables – each indoors and outdoor.

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

Let’s get to the tea:

Finest sights and rides for infants at Epcot:

• The Seas with Nemo and Mates: 10/10 good child trip and Child A LOVED it. Darkish! Cool! Enjoyable! 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 repeatedly. One dad or mum stayed on the aquarium with the infant whereas the opposite one rode Soarin on the Land Pavilion subsequent door, and the Guardians of the Galaxy trip close by. Child A might have stayed right here taking a look at fish all day lengthy (and with the A/C, we have been joyful to remain right here too). There are tons to see in right here and it’s an ideal spot to chill off for some time. Plus, that is additionally the place you’ll discover Turtle Discuss 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 tip portion is mainly simply It’s a Small World however with extra of a concentrate on 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 beautiful.
• Frozen: I feel she wasn’t a fan of the songs switching each scene, however Child A did get pleasure from this trip. She particularly cherished the large backward drop (it’s actually not that huge 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 trip, however we frightened 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 should stroll alllll the best way again to the very entrance of the park after we have been already within the World Showcase near the Skyliner. Too far. I’d give it a attempt when you enter on the huge ball, although!

Rides to Skip in Epcot 

• Figment: That is undoubtedly a baby-friendly trip when it comes to the mechanics of the trip (good and sluggish, enjoyable), however the trip itself was simply okay. There was a number of speaking and all of it went over her head. And albeit, there wasn’t sufficient music to maintain her , both. This trip is extra geared towards barely older youngsters.
• Dwelling with the Land: One other trip that Child A simply discovered kinda boring. There’s numerous 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 doubtless get pleasure from this sluggish, enjoyable trip.

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 nations and guide a desk for lunch! The meals right here is phenomenal – all the Cooks are professionally educated and from their respective nations. Your servers might be from the nation you’re consuming in, too.
• Connections Cafe is a huuuge Starbucks stuffed with tables and benches! It’s an ideal 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 a giant snug nursing room with numerous chairs and footrests. It’s cool, darkish, and quiet – the right spot for a nap. (Epcot is stuffed with good nap spots!)
• There’s a giant playground exterior of the Creations store. Even when your baby can’t play simply but, they’ll in all probability get pleasure from watching huge youngsters enjoying!

Epcot Verdict: fingers 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 sights, we discovered ourselves returning to Epcot repeatedly.

Animal Kingdom with an Toddler

Animal Kingdom is a improbable park for infants, particularly in case your baby has taken an curiosity in animals like ours (she’s a giant fan of birds, particularly). It’s lush and inexperienced and stuffed with locations to see animals – plus some enjoyable rides, too.

For folks, there’s additionally my favourite trip, Everest, which occurs to have a single-rider line that’ll get you on virtually instantly. It’s nice to trip through the child’s nap! There are a number of different nice thrill rides too, however there are many sights and reveals 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 sights and rides for infants at Animal Kingdom:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: That is such an ideal attraction! You’ll be on a giant open-air truck driving via 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 trip is greatest 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 trip again and again, too.
• Na’vi River Journey: A bioluminescent deal with for the eyes. All the pieces on this slow-moving river trip was completely stunning, magical, glowing, and nature-y. The music is calm. It’s an entire vibe. And I feel this was Child A’s FAVORITE trip in any of the parks. She was completely enchanted your entire time and by no means scared. This trip is unquestionably price a Lightning Lane move.
• Pageant of the Lion King Present: Child A loved the lion king present, however misplaced curiosity through the slower components and appeared overwhelmed throughout among the villain songs. We ended up nursing many of the present (it’s an extended 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 Categorical Prepare to Rafiki’s Planet Watch: The Wildlife Categorical Prepare is a peaceable 7-minute journey – a trip 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 is going to in all probability go proper over child’s head, however hey, there’s A/C! Whenever 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 feel 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 via the opposite animal sections. Actually, we might have fortunately spent a number of mornings at Animal Kingdom.
• Drummers of Harambe: Child A is a giant 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 huge youngsters to bop too which infants love to look at! I want we’d made it a degree to catch one in every of their present instances.
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond: This dwell present is stuffed with huge colourful track and dance numbers! In case your baby enjoys music and dancing too, this might be a giant 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 model, with numerous 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 huge, 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 non-public nursing rooms, which is useful in case your child is definitely distracted.

Animal Kingdom Verdict: This can be a nice baby-friendly park in case your baby enjoys animals, and there are many baby-friendly rides, sights, and reveals. 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 

After we have been planning our journey and looking out into which Disney Park has probably the most rides with out top necessities, Magic Kingdom appeared like it might be the best choice for us: there are TONS of rides which are applicable for all ages! … Properly, in principle, 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 another 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 trip with an toddler. A lot of the enchantment 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 sights and rides for child at Magic Kingdom:

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

• Below the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: That is a darkish conveyer belt trip in a shifting clamshell. Child A LOVED the Below the Sea scene, which is brilliant and colourful and enjoyable. It helped that we’d been enjoying the track 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 trip than the rest throughout our journey – and we had a Lightning Lane move. The trip 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 track (we’d been enjoying it for her) and was REALLY excited on this trip. She completely cherished it! It ended up pushing her bedtime again about an hour however I feel it was price it to see her clap with glee and dance for 15 straight minutes.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: This darkish trip was nice! There are some small mild up-and-down hills. The music is usually very calm, and the colourful/trippy Huffalumps and Woozles scene was Child A’s favourite. It’s undoubtedly price a lightning lane move!
• Tiki Room: One other attraction that we prioritized based mostly on Child A’s music preferences. And she or he 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 strains in Magic Kingdom are SO lengthy, we didn’t get to trip the whole lot we wished to. We want we might have ridden on Folks Mover, a slow-moving practice that lightly glides round Tomorrowland – good for infants! And we want we’d had an opportunity to attempt Buzz Lightyear Spin since Child A loved Halfway Mania (principally).

Different rides we thought of however in the end determined to skip attributable to lengthy strains and Child A’s chance of having fun with them have been:

• Jungle Cruise: no music, the trip principally consists of speaking and jokes that may simply go proper over her head
• Pirates of the Caribbean: frankly she may need loved it due to the music, however we didn’t really feel like standing in an extended line
• Haunted Mansion: Child A just isn’t a fan of music in a minor key – I feel she will be able to inform it’s presupposed to be spooky/scary/off – and she or he doesn’t like issues which are chaotic and loud. I feel she would have loved the large graveyard music scene, and located the remainder of it both boring or scary.
• The Mad Tea Get together: Child A didn’t actually appear to get pleasure from fast-paced spinning or shifting. She’s extra into the visuals, music, and sluggish, mild rides. So we’ll wait on this one till she’s a bit older.

Rides to Skip in Magic Kingdom

• Prince Charming Regal Carousel

Child A truly loved the carousel. That stated, that is simply your customary 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 using 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 trip. 

If there is no such thing as a line, give it a whirl. In any other case, reserve it for a county truthful.

• Don’t trip Peter Pan’s Flight. 

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

Principally, this trip has lengthy ass strains. And Child A was not impressed – the trip is a nap and never price a Lightning Lane move.

Worst of all, it’s downright harmful for an toddler. How did we understand how unsafe Peter Pan’s Flight was? As a result of we have been despatched via the trip 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 trip I used to work on, Soarin’, has a harness, a number of security checks, and even a video digital camera on each seat, which Forged Members monitor constantly all through the trip searching for any kiddos attempting to wriggle out – that’s a fall danger from 50 ft. If anybody is getting too wiggly, Forged Members can hit the emergency cease button on the trip and produce it again down manually.

However Peter Pan was in-built 1955, earlier than anybody thought of security rules on rides, I assume. So though your automobile goes approach up into the air, it simply has a lap bar, not a harness. The lap bar routinely lowers about .5 seconds earlier than you allow the sight of a Forged 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 trip within the parks has). 

So, what occurred to us? Child A was seated on the Tushbaby going through me after we boarded the trip. Jeremy was wiping down the lap bar with hand sanitizer and I used to be on the point 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 trip took off so shortly that no person heard us. And, as we discovered, there are not any video cameras. So no Forged Members might see that Child A was squirming round attempting to see and pushing backward off of me with stunning power whereas I clung to her with each arms for pricey life, understanding that if she twisted out of my arms, she would fall. (Bear in mind: this can be a flying trip. We have been up within the air. Simply holding our child. With nothing to maintain her from falling.)

Actually? It was fucking terrifying. As quickly as we obtained off the trip I burst into panicked sobbing and it took fairly some time to settle down. We made an incident report with the affected person Forged Members, however aside from that there wasn’t a lot we might do. 

The incident experiences go to the higher-ups, and I hope it will get escalated to whoever makes selections about upgrading rides, as a result of this trip is frankly horrifyingly unsafe. There must be an extended sufficient time period between the lap bar reducing and take-off for Forged Members to do a security test. My guess is that they’ve prevented doing it as a result of the trip already has such lengthy wait instances and that may add main time, but it surely’s completely obligatory. This trip is horribly old-fashioned.

So, till it’s up to date? Don’t trip Peter Pan’s Flight with an toddler.

• Additionally keep away from the Dumbo the Flying Elephant trip, and its copies, in case your child is cellular.

That is one other older Disney trip that takes fliers up into the air … in a automotive with open sides, and nothing safer than a lap belt. A crawling, squirming child might simply and shortly decrease themselves to the ground and slip proper out the facet of the automotive. (In case your child just isn’t but cellular, 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 trip that’s not protected for infants! I do know, I used to be shocked too. Disney is often the highest of the road with regards to security – I imply good day, I even have photos of myself as a Forged 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 trip and Astro Orbiters, too. And Triceratop Spin in Animal Kingdom. They’re literallly simply the identical trip 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 have 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 among the greatest steak I’ve had in a very long time (and Child A cherished 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 crammed with kid-friendly stuff (although kid-friendly doesn’t additionally imply baby-friendly). You’ll be able to choose up a practice to trip across the park right here, which is a pleasant enjoyable trip in and of itself. However most significantly, there’s a splash floor. On scorching days, a splash floor and a crawling child are a match made in heaven. However aside from that, this space is usually for older youngsters.
• Child care heart: Magic Kingdom’s Child Care Heart is by Primary Avenue, which is … kinda removed from many of the park, truthfully. There are benches out entrance and the middle itself is actually cute and well-themed. It’s an ideal 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 non-public nursing rooms. 

Magic Kingdom Verdict: We thought this park can be successful as a result of it has probably the most all-ages rides, but it surely’s crowded, the rides are a bit 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 another park. Price a visit for it’s a small world and among the reveals, however not a lot else.  We’re wanting ahead to experiencing Magic Kingdom with Child A when she’s older.

Full Record of Child Rides at Disney World

After we have been researching for our journey and searching for issues for infants to do at Disney World, we struggled to discover a full listing of baby-friendly, all-ages rides at Disney World. So, to save lots of you time, right here it’s.

I marked the rides that we loved probably 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 might not be a Forged Member anymore, however I nonetheless have a number of ~opinions about all issues Disney, and plenty of ideas on your subsequent journey. Considered one of my very robust opinions? You need to undoubtedly keep at a Disney World resort, even when you’re on a decent finances! It’s SO price it.

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

There are undoubtedly methods to attain a deal at a Disney Resort, if you already know the place to look. Often, you could find Disney World resorts listed on lodge deal websites – significantly for low season dates! We as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for beneath $150/night time. 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/night time. Whee!

The time of yr that you simply’re visiting and while you guide issues, too. Disney quietly runs deep reductions on low season bookings (often January via April) round October/November, so hold a watch out and  check their special offers page frequently. 

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

We’re huge followers of staying at on the Worth resorts, which actually supply the very best bang on your buck. Artwork of Animation, one of many latest resorts, is a improbable place to stick with a child. There’s a large pool – it’s truly the biggest pool at any Disney World lodge –  with a child space and a giant 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 Automobiles-themed suite).

And better of all, you’ll have straightforward 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 very best: you’re seated with a pleasant view, it’s not crowded, and there’s a cool breeze. Child A cherished using on the Skyliner (and so did we!)

 This resort can be thought of one in every of Disney’s finances choices – but it surely’s actually the very best of the finances choices. An in depth second is Pop Century Resort, which is correct subsequent door and likewise has entry to the Skyliner.

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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 under!

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

Want you possibly can journey to Disney with out leaving dwelling? 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 trip. Lia’s faculty internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, in fact! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on probably the most magical place on Earth, plus insider ideas from her time as a Forged Member. We additionally clarify our tried & examined Disney Technique (aka STRAT), as a result of ready in lengthy strains for rides is a few Bippity-Boppity-BS.

Pay attention above or just click here to launch your Podcast app! Oh, and don’t neglect to subscribe so that you don’t miss new episodes.

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