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 accomplished Disney World a lot of occasions – and I used to be there just about each single day after I was a Forged Member. However we’d by no means, EVER accomplished 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 using our favourite Disney rides.

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

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

Psst: Searching for extra suggestions 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 positively not a cult. A suicide-themed trip. Lia’s school internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, after all! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on probably the most magical place on Earth, plus insider suggestions from her time as a Forged 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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Ideas for Visiting Disney World with a Child

Earlier than I dive in, a small disclaimer: all infants are totally different, and child wants range wildly by age. For those who 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 serious about feeding Child A nowadays – be at liberty to skip it. You realize your child finest!

That mentioned: whereas Child A was 10 months previous throughout our journey, I’ve additionally accomplished my finest to include suggestions from our travels with Child A when she was youthful (we began touring together with her round 3 months) within the hopes to make this a extremely useful information even for youthful infants. And actually, y’all – the youthful they’re, the simpler 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 cell – she’s crawling and standing, however shouldn’t 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 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 pictures on this publish? Usually I exploit a DSLR digicam after I’m taking photos for a weblog publish, however all I used to be capable of handle this journey was to make use of my cellphone! Nonetheless adjusting to this entire 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 might be 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 (principally a paid model of FastPass, in the event you’re aware of its former incarnation). It’s value it with a child, particularly because you received’t want to really purchase one in 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 go.
• Convey 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 area 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. Undecided if the tables are weirdly excessive or the excessive chairs are weirdly low, nevertheless it 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 anyplace for snacks is the proper resolution.
• Babysitting is offered at Walt Disney World by way of a service referred to as Kids Nite Out. They’ll watch your youngster when you take pleasure in your personal internal youngster on the parks! Youngsters Nite Out may also give you a sitter to accompany you within the parks in the event you want an additional set of arms. Assessment: https://touringplans.com/blog/kids-nite-out-your-familys-next-vacation-win/
• You possibly can go to Disney World and not using a automotive seat in the event you keep in a Disney Resort lodge. For those who fly with a lap toddler, you may  take a shuttle bus  from the airport, and keep on with Disney’s free transportation between the parks and resorts together with buses, the Skyliner, and boats. In a pinch, you may also take Minni Vans, which come outfitted with Graco 4Ever automotive seats. That mentioned, we had 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 will have left at dwelling! They’re normally subsequent to the primary assist facilities too that are additionally vital to find out about.
• Use Rider Swap. One guardian 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 plenty of rides will search for single rider to replenish uneven gaps, which suggests you’ll get to trip sooner. Hold an ear out for a forged member searching for a solo rider close to the entrance of most thrill rides. We received to trip numerous stuff with out standing in lengthy traces this manner.
• Minnie Vans come outfitted with rear-facing Graco 4Ever seats. For those who don’t have a automotive throughout your journey, this service is implausible! Principally, Minnie Vans are Disney-owned SUVs (themed to Minnie) pushed by Disney Forged Members, you can order by way of the Lyft app. They arrive with TWO automotive seats! They’re implausible 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 guardian 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!
• Convey hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes and do your finest. We used sanitizing wipes on each lap bar and anyplace child would put their arms on a trip, realizing that a whole lot of children had lately put their arms there, too. Mixed with us carrying KN95s masks, none of us received sick throughout our journey. However simply in case, convey toddler Tylenol/Motrin with you so you have got it available.
• Convey 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 mentioned, you may’t take your strollers inside in all places, and stroller parking isn’t all the time proper exterior of the doorway – like, in the event you’re going to The Land pavilion in Epcot, your stroller should keep at Nemo and Buddies. Carriers are useful in these conditions, and so is the Tushbaby.

• For those who make an Advance Dining Reservation at a Disney sit-down restaurant, cancellations should be made 24 hours prematurely. 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 charge. Nonetheless, that coverage is …not perfect for infants. But in addition, 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. Do not forget that most marital disputes at Disney might be solved by some mixture of snacks, A/C, sitting quietly for some time, and/or a Mickey Bar.
• Convey 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 isn’t 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 follow wonderful 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, aside from the value. It’s costly!
  • Yogurt melts: Child A loves them, however they’re onerous to seek out with out added sugar, they make child’s arms very sticky, and so they appear to make her spit up. And it’s all the time vibrant pink and has that bitter yogurt scent. They usually stain. Not our favourite snack however works in a pinch.
  • Cheerios. Basic. Simple. All the time a success. Not a choking hazard. 10/10. We now have realized 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 positive they provide little or no precise vitamin. However they’re enjoyable to eat and assist infants follow their pincer grip!
• Don’t depart snacks out in your stroller, particularly at Animal Kingdom. We noticed just a few uninvited critters making the rounds at stroller parking in Animal Kingdom, and no one desires 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 Greatest?

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 one of the best Disney World park with an toddler: Epcot! Epcot has one of the best stability of baby-friendly points of interest

Hollywood Studios with a Child

Hollywood Studios does one factor higher than the opposite parks: stay reveals. Child A LOVED the Magnificence  and the Beast stay efficiency. And that was … about it. The remainder of the park simply isn’t actually designed for infants. That mentioned, it could be value a day go to only for the few points of interest it does supply – or so that you and your companion can do rider change and trip all of the actually good things.

Greatest 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 at first are enjoyable and upbeat and actually well-done, visually – suppose 1930’s period showcase dance numbers. However she kinda misplaced curiosity when issues received unhappy and gradual (“story as previous as time” shouldn’t be a child bop, it seems). Fortunately we sat on the finish of the aisle so we might make a fast getaway. This was positively Child A’s favourite exercise at Hollywood Studios.
• Halfway Mania: We had been involved about bringing her on this trip as a result of it’s 3D, and we had been afraid it’d make her nauseous with out the glasses on. However she beloved going across the monitor and didn’t appear bothered by the blurry, non-3d pictures on the display. She needed to drag the string to shoot too! Nevertheless, she didn’t like a few of the loud noises, and cried and squirmed a bit in the course of the loudest half – breaking plates – however settled once we stopped and coated her ears for a bit. This one positively verges on overstimulating, nevertheless it’s kinda not that enjoyable in the event you aren’t capable of be aggressive and play in opposition to your companion.

… 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 somewhat too intense/scary for her. She received 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.

Ideas 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 fowl 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 totally shaded and has a pleasant breeze and ambient spa music (I assume Star Wars is all about ambient spa sounds). It’s the proper afternoon nap/nurse spot, although you’ll see that plenty of mother and father have the identical concept – it’s not as quiet as the opposite spot we discovered.
• The Child Care middle 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, actually.

Hollywood Studios Verdict: if you must decide a park to skip, that is the one. It’s simply not one of the 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 positive sure, there’s numerous blissful nostalgia tied to the park for me. But in addition? I LOVE journey – hiya, 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 gas, and I completely like it.

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

Anway: the park is beautiful, effectively 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 actually an infinite Starbucks full of benches and tables – each indoors and outdoor.

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

Let’s get to the tea:

Greatest points of interest and rides for infants at Epcot:

• The Seas with Nemo and Buddies: 10/10 excellent 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 time and again. One guardian 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 fish all day lengthy (and with the A/C, we had been blissful to remain right here too). There are tons to see in right here and it’s a fantastic spot to chill off for some time. Plus, that is additionally the place you’ll discover Turtle Speak with Crush which is one among 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 among Child A’s favorites! A number of scenes of Mexico and upbeat music, and the tip portion is principally 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 must undergo the Mexico pavilion to get right here which is totally beautiful.
• Frozen: I believe she wasn’t a fan of the songs switching each scene, however Child A did take pleasure in this trip. She particularly beloved 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 guess Child A would have loved:

• Spaceship Earth: I completely love this trip, however we apprehensive that Child A may discover it boring because it doesn’t have a lot music. Nonetheless, we totally deliberate to attempt it … till we realized we’d should 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 in the event you enter on the huge ball, although!

Rides to Skip in Epcot 

• Figment: That is positively a baby-friendly trip by way of the mechanics of the trip (good and gradual, enjoyable), however the trip itself was simply okay. There was numerous 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 plenty of speaking about vegetation and the atmosphere and such (not thrilling for a child, however very cool for the remainder of us) and there’s no music. That mentioned, a really small child would doubtless take pleasure in this gradual, enjoyable trip.

Ideas for Epcot with a child

• Make a lunch reservation at one of many eating places within the World Showcase. Choose a delicacies from the 11 nations and guide a desk for lunch! The meals right here is phenomenal – all the Cooks are professionally skilled and from their respective nations. Your servers shall be from the nation you’re consuming in, too.
• Connections Cafe is a huuuge Starbucks stuffed with tables and benches! It’s a fantastic 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 middle, proper in between the World Showcase and the remainder of the park. There’s an enormous snug nursing room with plenty of chairs and footrests. It’s cool, darkish, and quiet – the proper spot for a nap. (Epcot is filled with good nap spots!)
• There’s an enormous playground exterior of the Creations store. Even when your baby can’t play simply but, they’ll most likely take pleasure in watching huge youngsters enjoying!

Epcot Verdict: arms 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 middle 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 implausible 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 trip, Everest, which occurs to have a single-rider line that’ll get you on nearly instantly. It’s nice to trip in the course of the child’s nap! There are just a few different nice thrill rides too, however there are many points of interest 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 – form 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:

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

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: That is such a fantastic attraction! You’ll be on an enormous open-air truck driving by way of the savannah and seeing animals up shut – nearly like a zoo however with none of the enclosures. Child A LOVED Kilimanjaro and was clapping for all of the animals! This trip 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 trip time and again, too.
• Na’vi River Journey: A bioluminescent deal with for the eyes. Every part 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 believe this was Child A’s FAVORITE trip in any of the parks. She was completely enchanted the whole time and under no circumstances scared. This trip is unquestionably value a Lightning Lane go.
• Competition of the Lion King Present: Child A loved the lion king present, however misplaced curiosity in the course of the slower components and appeared overwhelmed throughout a few of 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 guess Child A would have loved:

• Wildlife Specific Practice to Rafiki’s Planet Watch: The Wildlife Specific Practice 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’ll most likely 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 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 stay avenue 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 observe! I want we’d made it some extent to catch one among their present occasions.
• Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond: This stay present is filled with huge colourful music and dance numbers! In case your baby enjoys music and dancing too, this shall be an enormous hit.

Ideas 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 together with her) and the meals is buffet model, 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 huge, quiet indoor locations with A/C to chill off and calm down (apart from Rafiki’s Planet Watch). When naptime hit, it took us fairly some time to seek out a great spot. We ultimately discovered some picnic tables below 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 definitely 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 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 

Once we had been planning our journey and looking out into which Disney Park has probably the most rides with out peak necessities, Magic Kingdom appeared like it might be the best choice for us: there are TONS of rides which might be acceptable for all ages! … Properly, 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 some 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 trip with an toddler. A lot 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:

Greatest 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:

• Beneath the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: That is a darkish conveyer belt trip in a shifting clamshell. Child A LOVED the Beneath the Sea scene, which is vibrant and colourful and enjoyable. It helped that we’d been enjoying the music 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 go. The trip itself is quarter-hour lengthy, so with a 30-minute wait this finally ends up being fairly a time suck. That mentioned, Child A LOVES the music (we’d been enjoying it for her) and was REALLY excited on this trip. She completely beloved 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 trip 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 positively 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 trip the whole lot we needed to. We want we might have ridden on Folks 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 (principally).

Different rides we thought-about however in the end determined to skip on account of lengthy traces and Child A’s probability of having fun with them had been:

• Jungle Cruise: no music, the trip principally consists of speaking and jokes that might 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 an extended line
• Haunted Mansion: Child A shouldn’t be a fan of music in a minor key – I believe she will be able to inform it’s speculated to be spooky/scary/off – and she or he doesn’t like issues which might be 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 Social gathering: Child A didn’t actually appear to take pleasure in fast-paced spinning or shifting. 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 mentioned, 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 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’t 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 preferred trip in all of Magic Kingdom with wait occasions constantly topping 60 minutes. It’s a very common trip, so my working idea is 1) nostalgia, 2) child attraction, 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 traces. And Child A was not impressed – the trip is a sleep 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 trip and not using a lap bar on our child. Which was terrifying. And very 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 digicam on each seat, which Forged Members monitor constantly all through the trip searching for any kiddos making an attempt 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 considered security rules on rides, I assume. So though your car goes means up into the air, it simply has a lap bar, not a harness. The lap bar robotically 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 verify (which just about each different trip within the parks has). 

So, what occurred to us? Child A was seated on the Tushbaby dealing with me once we boarded the trip. 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 below 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 one heard us. And, as we discovered, there are not any video cameras. So no Forged Members might see that Child A was squirming round making an attempt to see and pushing backward off of me with surprising energy whereas I clung to her with each arms for pricey life, realizing that if she twisted out of my arms, she would fall. (Keep in mind: it is a flying trip. 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 received 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 apart 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 choices about upgrading rides, as a result of this trip is frankly horrifyingly unsafe. There must be an extended sufficient time frame between the lap bar reducing and take-off for Forged Members to do a security verify. My guess is that they’ve prevented doing it as a result of the trip already has such lengthy wait occasions and that can add main time, nevertheless it’s completely crucial. This trip is horribly outdated.

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 cell.

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 shouldn’t be but cell, you don’t have anything to fret about as lengthy you retain a good grip on them.)

So, yup – yet one more older Magic Kindom trip 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 hiya, 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 suggestions 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 first rate pasta. We had been NOT ready for the 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 beloved 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 full of kid-friendly stuff (although kid-friendly doesn’t additionally imply baby-friendly). You possibly can decide 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 apart from that, this space is generally for older youngsters.
• Child care middle: Magic Kingdom’s Child Care Heart is by Important Road, which is … kinda removed from many of the park, actually. There are benches out entrance and the middle itself is admittedly cute and well-themed. It’s a fantastic 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 could be a success as a result of it has probably 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 some other park. Value a visit for it’s a small world and a few of the reveals, 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 searching 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 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 numerous ~opinions about all issues Disney, and many suggestions in your subsequent journey. Considered one of my very robust opinions? You need to positively keep at a Disney World resort, even in the event you’re on a good 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 large free transportation community) to the unimaginable comfort and Further Magic Hours, the resorts are WELL value it. And much more so, in the event you can rating a reduced charge 😉

There are positively methods to attain a deal at a Disney Resort, if you recognize the place to look. Often, you will discover Disney World resorts listed on lodge deal websites – significantly for low season dates! We as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for below $150/night time. Whee! So simply in case, have a look – we noticed a BUNCH of them listed lately on  Hotels.com  and  Priceline ! That’s how we as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for below $150/night time. Whee!

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

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

We’re huge followers of staying at on the Worth resorts, which actually supply one of the best bang in your buck. Artwork of Animation, one of many latest resorts, is a implausible 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 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 Automobiles-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 one of the best: you’re seated with a pleasant view, it’s not crowded, and there’s a cool breeze. Child A beloved using on the Skyliner (and so did we!)

 This resort can be thought-about one among Disney’s funds choices – nevertheless it’s actually one of the best of the funds choices. A detailed second is Pop Century Resort, which is correct subsequent door and likewise has entry to the Skyliner.

I hope you discovered this (huge) information useful for planning your journey to Disney World with a child! Do you have got questions that we will help reply? Drop us a remark under!

Psst: Searching for extra suggestions 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 may make a journey from the consolation of your couch!

We even have a Podcast episode all about Disney! A futuristic utopia that’s positively not a cult. A suicide-themed trip. Lia’s school internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, after all! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on probably the most magical place on Earth, plus insider suggestions from her time as a Forged 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.

Hear 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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