Heading to Walt Disney World with preschoolers can be extra special. Seeing the magic through their eyes as they experience the magic is truly amazing. This doesn’t mean that traveling with preschoolers is without struggles.
We have some top tips for taking preschoolers to Walt Disney World to help this be an even more magical experience for everyone. Knowing these tips ahead of time made a huge difference during a Disney vacation.
Plan Bathroom Breaks
No matter how successful your preschooler is when it comes to not having accidents, getting wrapped up in the excitement of Disney can cause issues for everyone.
When you have been waiting in line for a ride or a show is just getting ready to start, you don’t want to hear “I have to potty”. Get ahead of the issue by taking breaks ahead of time.
Disney actually has the bathrooms listed in the My Disney Experience app making it easy to find them throughout a Disney Park.
Be proactive when it comes to bathroom breaks so you don’t get frustrated.
Baby Care Centers
Another area that is important for parents to know about are the baby care centers in each of the four Disney Parks.
Baby care centers offer a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the Disney Parks for big and little kids that need to step away for a little bit.
Here Guests can find changing tables as well as nursing rooms. There are also a variety of over the counter medications and other items that Guests might need with little ones.
If you are traveling with a preschooler, make note of where the baby care centers in each Disney Park so you can use them as needed.
Prepare for Characters
We all want adorable pictures of our kids with Mickey and Minnie, but this doesn’t mean that our little ones will be ready to say hello.
When traveling with little ones, be aware that meeting the characters might not be as magical as you dream it to be. A lot of kids find the characters to be intimidating and scary, so take some steps to prepare.
Start by seeing characters from a distance such as in the Festival of Fantasy parade or during the Cavalcades. This will allow the kids to see the characters and get to know what they look like up close.
Next we would suggest trying out meeting what Disney calls the face characters. These are characters such as the princesses. Face characters are often less intimidating for little ones.
If that all goes well, then consider heading in to meet Mickey or other characters.
When looking at character dining, we do recommend scheduling those for later on in the trip so little ones can become more comfortable with characters before they show up at meal time.
Don’t rush little ones into meeting characters as it might not go well.
Check Height Requirements
One of the great things about taking kids to Walt Disney World is that there is so much that they can enjoy. Even though there are a lot of experiences in each Disney Park preschoolers can enjoy, making sure you know what rides have height requirements is important.
Take time before leaving home to measure your little one so you know what they will and will not be able to ride when you are at Walt Disney World.
Knowing these important facts before arriving at a Disney Park can really make a big difference and prevent meltdowns when little ones can’t ride.
Ride Swap
Since there will be some rides that your preschooler won’t be able to ride, make sure you know about the rider switch option. Just because your little one can’t ride something doesn’t mean that you and others can’t.
Ride switch is Disney’s solution to this common problem. One adult can wait out with the preschooler while others wait in line. Once the first group or adult is off of the ride, then they adult that was waiting with the preschooler can ride typically bringing someone with them.
Guests wanting to use this option will need to see a Cast Member at the ride for assistance.
Bring a Stroller
No matter how amazing your preschooler is at walking around, make sure that you bring a stroller. No one is used to all the walking that is required at Disney so those little legs will get tired even faster.
You can bring a stroller from home or there are many companies that you can rent from including Disney.
No matter what stroller you use, make sure you mark it somehow to identify it as yours. Tie ribbons on it or make a laminated sign. This will help you keep track of it in the sea of strollers.
You will probably feel like you need to bring one of everything into the Disney Park when traveling with a preschooler. Because of this make sure you have a good, comfortable bag that is easy to wear.
There are lots of items you can have in your Park bag, but a few items we would suggest with a preschooler would be the following:
Change of clothes
Protection from the weather
Water
Snacks
Toys
These can really help make the day at a Disney Park that much easier.
Use PhotoPass Photographers
You will want to capture all those magical moments with your preschooler, so we highly recommend taking advantage of the outstanding Disney PhotoPass Photographers throughout the Disney Parks.
Not only will these talented Cast Members work hard to capture your magical memories, if you purchase a Memory Maker ahead of time all the photos are included.
This is an amazing way to capture those magical moments.
Stick to Routine
Finally, make sure you stick to your preschooler’s routines as much as possible during your Disney vacation. By doing this it will help prevent some major meltdowns.
Try to stick to the same eating and sleeping schedule even in the magic. This will help your little one and will help you as well.
There is something extra magical about going to Walt Disney World with your preschooler. The excitement and magic that they experience is amazing and wonderful. We hope these tips will help make your travel even better.
