Hey Travellers,
If you’ve ever been to the most magical place on earth with your children, you’ll know that it can sometimes be difficult but we are here to make your life easier by sharing our tips and tricks for taking your kids to Walt Disney World.
Tip 1: Prepare for long lines.
Long wait times at Walt Disney World are pretty much unavoidable, but definitely worth the wait. However it is important to prepare for the long lines. Make sure your children are aware of how long they will be waiting, take a bathroom visit before you get into line. It would also be a good idea to bring things to keep your children entertained while they wait, e.g charade cards or the app “Heads Up” depending on their age.
Tip 2: Be Flexible.
This is one of the most important tips we can offer, be FLEXIBLE. Having a step by step, minute by minute itinerary when traveling with little ones is not advisable. We are not saying don’t plan, of course we suggest booking activities and dining reservations ahead of time, but your children (and you) will be much happier if you just plan to go with the flow. Listen to your children’s needs, prioritise your must-dos and enjoy being in the parks with your family.
Tip 3: Bring Help.
If possible, bring other family members or friends to help you. We know this isn’t an option for everybody, and it definitely isn’t necessary but it can be helpful if you have the ability to make it work. Having some extra hands to keep track of the kids can make the trip less stressful for everyone, and if you have enough people then you can even switch off watching the kids and taking breaks. A couple of spare adults can also help with rider swap. If some children don’t want to go on a certain Disney World ride, someone can stay behind to wait with them while the rest of the group waits in line and rides. Then, the group can come back and take over watching the children while the person who waited behind (and a friend) get to skip the line and ride.
Tip 4: Practice Walking.
This might seem like a silly tip, but when visiting Walt Disney World you will walk A LOT. If you/your children are not used to that, it can become overwhelming and tiring very easily. We would suggest building walking into your family routine to get more comfortable with the long distances that you’ll be enduring on your trip. We would also recommend bringing a Stroller or renting one at the parks, even if your children are on the older side, they might be grateful for a place to sit down and rest or take a nap.
Tip 5: Take a Nap.
Speaking of naps, we recommend a mid day break to take a nap, especially if you’re visiting Walt Disney World during the Summer when it can be unbearably hot. Even if nap time isn’t mandatory at home, you might want to consider it at Disney World. And it’s even more important if your kids are used to the downtime in the middle of the day! We suggest getting to the parks early in the morning, coming back to your resort mid-day and napping/relaxing at the pool and then returning to the parks in the evening – especially if you’d like to watch the fireworks.
Tip 6: Have groceries/snacks in the room.
Walt Disney World has great food/snacks but if you’re looking to budget a little more, having groceries/snacks in the room can definitely help with that. This is also a great tip for if your children are suddenly hungry!
Tip 7: Buy souvenirs ahead of time/ create a budget for your children.
Souveniers can be costly at Walt Disney World, and a great idea is to purchase some in advance and take them with you to present to your children at certain times. Additionally, you can create a souvenir budget ahead of time so that your children know how much they are able to spend for the duration of your visit.
We hope this helps with your planning for your family visit to Walt Disney World. We would love to help you book your most magical vacation yet, just click here to be connected to an Academy Travel Agent.