Taking a baby to Walt Disney World for the first time can feel a little intimidating.
How do naps work? What do you do with the stroller? Where can you feed your baby? Can babies actually go on rides? What happens when the adults want to ride something with a height requirement?
If these questions are running through your head, you’re definitely not alone.
The good news is that Walt Disney World can actually be very baby-friendly, and a little preparation can make your first trip much easier.
From Baby Care Centers and stroller tips to Rider Switch and choosing the right resort, here’s our guide to visiting Walt Disney World with a baby or toddler.
Yes, Babies Can Go on Disney World Rides!
This is probably the biggest thing first-time parents are surprised to learn.
There are dozens of Walt Disney World attractions with no minimum height requirement, meaning babies and toddlers can experience them with you.
At Magic Kingdom alone, families can ride attractions like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, “it’s a small world,” Peter Pan’s Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean together.
EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom also have rides, shows and experiences without minimum height requirements.
In fact, Magic Kingdom has the most attractions without a height requirement, making it our top park recommendation for families visiting with babies and toddlers.
You don’t have to spend your entire Disney vacation taking turns sitting with the baby while everyone else has fun. There is SO much you’ll actually be able to experience together.
Take Advantage of Disney’s Baby Care Centers
One of the most helpful resources for parents is something you might not even know exists before your first trip: Baby Care Centers.
Each of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks has a Baby Care Center designed to give families a comfortable place to take care of little ones during a busy park day.
These can be incredibly helpful when you need somewhere quieter to feed your baby, nurse, change a diaper or simply get away from the stimulation of the parks for a little while.
They’re especially nice during hot Florida afternoons when both baby AND parents could use some air conditioning!
We recommend finding the Baby Care Center on your park map when you arrive so you already know where to go if you need it later.
Bring a Stroller—or Rent One
A stroller is one of our biggest must-haves when visiting Disney World with a baby.
Even if your toddler normally prefers walking, Disney park days involve a LOT of steps. A stroller gives little ones somewhere to sit, rest and potentially nap throughout the day.
It also gives parents somewhere to keep the diaper bag, water bottles and other baby essentials you’re inevitably carrying around.
You can bring your own stroller as long as it meets Disney’s current size requirements, or you can rent one during your vacation.
If you’re bringing your own, make sure you can easily recognize it.
Disney has designated stroller parking areas throughout the parks, and Cast Members may rearrange strollers as needed. A brightly colored stroller tag or another easy-to-spot identifier can save you from wandering around trying to remember exactly where yours went.
Your Stroller Probably Won’t Stay Exactly Where You Left It
This deserves its own section because it catches SO many first-time Disney parents off guard.
You park your stroller, go experience an attraction and come back…
It’s gone.
Don’t panic!
Cast Members regularly organize and move strollers within designated stroller parking areas to keep walkways clear and the parking areas organized.
Before assuming your stroller disappeared, look around the surrounding stroller parking area. There’s a good chance it has simply been moved a few rows away.
Another reason that noticeable stroller tag comes in handy!
Use Rider Switch for Attractions Your Baby Can’t Ride
Having a baby doesn’t mean Mom and Dad have to skip every thrill ride.
That’s where Rider Switch can be incredibly helpful.
For participating attractions, Rider Switch allows your group to take turns experiencing an attraction when someone needs to stay with a child who can’t ride.
For example, one parent can stay with the baby while the other rides. Then you can switch so the second parent gets a chance to experience the attraction without your entire group having to repeat the full process.
Ask a Cast Member at the attraction about Rider Switch before entering the queue so they can explain how it works for that particular attraction.
It’s one of the most useful Disney features for families traveling with babies, toddlers or children who don’t meet a ride’s height requirement.
Don’t Try to Maintain Your Exact Home Schedule
This can be a difficult one for first-time parents.
You may have an amazing nap and bedtime routine at home—and then Disney happens.
There’s excitement everywhere. You’re walking more than usual. Meals happen at different times. Your baby may fall asleep in the stroller when they normally wouldn’t.
Our advice?
Give yourself some flexibility.
You don’t necessarily need to abandon your baby’s routine completely, but trying to recreate your exact home schedule inside a theme park can sometimes add unnecessary stress to your vacation.
Follow your baby’s cues and build breaks into your day.
Some babies nap beautifully in the stroller. Others need to head back to the resort for a proper afternoon nap.
There’s no single correct way to do Disney with a baby. Figure out what works best for YOUR family.
Consider Taking a Midday Resort Break
Disney World doesn’t have to mean arriving before the park opens and staying until the final fireworks every single day.
With a baby or toddler, a midday resort break can completely change the experience.
Head to the parks in the morning, enjoy several attractions and then return to your resort during the afternoon.
Baby can nap, parents can relax, everyone can cool down and then you can head back to the parks later feeling refreshed.
This can be especially helpful during the warmer months when the Florida afternoon heat can become intense.
And if staying close to the parks is within your vacation budget, convenient transportation can make those midday breaks even easier.
Your Disney Resort Choice Matters More With a Baby
Before having children, you might choose your Disney Resort based almost entirely on theming or price.
With a baby, transportation and convenience become much more important.
Think about which parks your family plans to visit most often and how you’ll get there.
Some Disney Resorts offer access to transportation options like the Monorail, Disney Skyliner, boats or buses.
Being able to quickly return to your resort for a nap, clothing change or early bedtime can be incredibly valuable when traveling with a little one.
This doesn’t mean you have to book the most expensive Disney Resort. It simply means it’s worth considering transportation and location when deciding where your family should stay.
Pack Your Park Bag Strategically
You don’t want to carry your entire nursery through Magic Kingdom.
At the same time, you also don’t want to discover that you forgot something important when you’re halfway across the park.
A good Disney baby bag might include:
- Diapers and wipes
- Changing pad
- Extra outfit—or two!
- Bottles or feeding supplies
- Baby food or snacks
- Bib
- Pacifiers
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Stroller fan
- Lightweight blanket or nursing cover
- Small toys or teethers
- Refillable water bottle for parents
- Portable phone charger
- Zip-top bags for wet or dirty clothing
Adjust your bag depending on your baby’s age and needs.
And don’t forget an extra shirt for yourself. Babies have an incredible ability to make THEIR mess become YOUR wardrobe problem.
Prepare for the Florida Heat
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World during warmer months, keeping your baby comfortable in the heat should be a priority.
Dress them in lightweight clothing, use appropriate sun protection and plan regular breaks in air-conditioned spaces.
A stroller fan can also be incredibly helpful.
Try alternating outdoor attractions with indoor rides, shows, restaurants and other air-conditioned experiences rather than spending hours continuously outside.
And remember that Florida can feel hot even during months when you might expect cooler weather, so check the forecast before packing.
Don’t Cover the Stroller to Block the Sun
It can be tempting to drape a blanket over the stroller to create shade while your baby sleeps, but restricting airflow can make the stroller warmer.
Instead, use the stroller’s built-in canopy or another product specifically designed to provide shade while maintaining appropriate ventilation.
A portable stroller fan can help keep air moving as well.
Feeding Your Baby at Disney World
Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding or your baby has already started solids, you can absolutely work feeding into your Disney day.
You don’t have to schedule your entire vacation around finding the perfect place to feed your baby.
Baby Care Centers provide a dedicated option when you’d prefer a quieter environment, but depending on your family’s needs, you may also find plenty of opportunities to feed your little one while taking a break throughout the parks.
If your baby is eating solids, packing familiar snacks and foods can also make things easier.
Pack More Baby Essentials Than You Think You’ll Need
Disney has a magical way of making babies go through diapers, outfits and snacks faster than expected.
Pack extras.
Then pack a few more.
A backup outfit isn’t excessive when you’re going to be away from your hotel room for several hours. Neither are extra diapers, wipes, pacifiers or snacks.
You’d rather bring something home unused than discover you desperately need it halfway through your park day.
Bring Baby-Friendly Hearing Protection
Disney World can get LOUD.
Fireworks, nighttime spectaculars, shows and certain attractions may be much louder than your baby is accustomed to.
Consider bringing appropriately fitted infant hearing protection, particularly if you plan to watch fireworks or other loud entertainment.
It takes up very little room in your park bag and can make those experiences more comfortable for your little one.
You Don’t Have to See and Do Everything
This may be the most important tip on this entire list.
Slow down.
Walt Disney World is enormous, and you’re not going to experience absolutely everything in one vacation—especially with a baby.
And that’s okay!
Choose the experiences that matter most to your family and let everything else be a bonus.
Your Disney trip doesn’t need to be measured by how many attractions you accomplished.
Sometimes the best memories are watching your baby see Mickey for the first time, taking their first picture in front of Cinderella Castle or letting them stare at “it’s a small world” with absolute amazement.
Those moments ARE the vacation.
Take the Pictures—Even If They Won’t Remember the Trip
We hear it all the time:
“Why would you take a baby to Disney? They won’t remember it.”
They’re right about one thing.
Your baby probably won’t remember it.
But you will.
You’ll remember their first character interaction. You’ll remember taking them on their first Disney ride. You’ll remember the tiny Mickey outfit you picked specifically for the trip.
And you’ll have those pictures forever.
You don’t have to wait until your child is old enough to remember Walt Disney World for the vacation to be meaningful.
Disney World With a Baby Can Be Magical
Visiting Walt Disney World with a baby is definitely different from visiting without children.
Your days might be slower. You might stop for more breaks. You might miss an attraction because someone desperately needs a nap.
But you also get to experience Disney through your child’s eyes for the first time.
And that’s pretty hard to beat.
With dozens of attractions without height requirements, Baby Care Centers, Rider Switch and plenty of ways to build breaks into your vacation, Walt Disney World has a lot to offer families traveling with babies and toddlers.
The key is planning your vacation around your family’s needs rather than trying to plan the “perfect” Disney itinerary.
Let Us Help Plan Your First Disney World Vacation With a Baby
If this is your first Walt Disney World vacation as a parent, you don’t have to figure everything out alone.
An Academy Travel agent can help you plan your Walt Disney World vacation at no additional cost, including choosing the right Disney Resort, determining how many park days your family needs, selecting tickets and helping you understand the planning details before you arrive.
Traveling with a baby requires a little extra preparation, but it doesn’t mean you have to wait years to experience the magic.
Pack the stroller, bring the diaper bag and get ready to make some very special first Disney memories.
