Disney is of course one of the most magical places on Earth! It is an ultimate travel destination for people across the globe. I mean, even if you don’t like Mickey (which maybe you shouldn’t admit that, he is a classic) they pump smells in there and experiences that are unparalleled. But, when there is so much to experience, and so many parks, it can make for long and tiring days. And I don’t know about your kids, but I know my kids could maybe get through one long new day, but like most, once they are over tired, it’s hard to enjoy almost anything. Even if you were offering me the most delicious snacks and drinks that can be found at the parks, they don’t always pair well with tired and grumpy kids crying about not getting their 3rd cotton candy.
So… now you’re thinking, maybe I should avoid that so-called Magical place until my kids are much older and less likely to have those meltdowns!
Well. stick with me.
You can totally take some advice you find here, and make this magical adventure possible!
So how exactly do we do this? We have some easy strategies that can help, so stick with me to keep the magic in Disney.
Let’s start with schedules. What is your kiddos schedule like at home? If they are routine nappers, you need to consider that they will still need to nap if you are going to be there for more than 2 days. Some kids tolerate missing nap okay for a day, but if you combine that with full day Disney adventures, you will be destined for meltdown extremes from tiredness, overstimulation and all around change.
Two primary options. If you stay on property at a Disney resort, going back to your room is an option if your kid needs a long nap. We haven’t personally done that. The idea of getting back on the bus, monorail or boat based on what property you are staying at just isn’t ever planned into our days.
What has worked great for us and our other families going with kids has been getting a stroller comfortable enough for kids to crash in. The Kingdom Strollers company was an awesome option for us. We rented a double stroller from them that was already approved to go to the park, came with under storage, a sun shade, and even a cooler. It also came with pneumatic wheels, so it was easy travel no matter the path. The stroller also came with a waterproof cover! One thing to know about Disney is that you always need to be prepared for a random rain shower.
Remember wagons are not allowed at Disney, so don’t try to bring them and get turned around at the gate. They are also strict with dimensions of strollers, but the Kingdom Strollers are already checked out and Disney safe.
Disney does offer stroller rentals there, but I will say, if I was a kid it wouldn’t be my pick. They are hard plastic, the double wasn’t the best for my 2 kids and there is no storage. We did use it for a one day Disney adventure, but anything more,I recommend a Kingdom stroller rental. Plus, the ease of them delivering the stroller directly to wherever you are staying is perfect! Not to mention we drove to Disney, so that meant we didn’t have to worry about the car space that a double stroller takes up for our long travels to Disney. Which if you only have one kid, it’s a lot! We only needed to fit the stroller in the car from our Air BNB off property to the park, but without luggage, it was doable.
Also, bring your own D hook. It allows you to carry bags on the stroller or, what I like to use it for, a popcorn bucket holder!.
Bonus perk of a rental stroller! After long days at Disney, if you rented a Disney stroller, you would then have to return it and somehow get your tired kids back to the car. However, if you have the rental stroller, you can easily transport the sleepy kids to the car, and not by way of your arms.
Hall of Presidents – Remember this place exists during nap time if you’re in Magic Kingdom. My favorite time to go there is during the hotter months of travel when the kids take a nap. It’s the perfect place to go into, let the kids rest and you get to sit in the air condition. Nap time is also a perfect time because young children are rarely interested in this experience.
When to visit the parks?
Number one – if you can manage, try for a Disney off season. So many people think of a Disney summer vacation, but be prepared for the heat of Florida. Even being from the South, its a bit less magical dealing with that heat for any length of time. Check some various sites for recommended off season weeks. Even on an “off season week” lines can get very long but any help with wait times is better than none. On the same accord. If you can manage it, go to the Disney parks on weekdays, and use Sat/Sun as rest and travel days. The weekends are definitely going to be busier because it’s not only filled with vacationers but locals are going too.
Magic Kingdom is full of Magic in every direction, but a top area to visit with young kids is Fantasy land. This is the area with Small World, and all the iconic Disney character themed rides – Snow White, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo and more.
With that in mind, if you get the opportunity to double back on anything during your trip, I recommend Magic Kingdom as the place to visit twice! And even better than M-F for Magic Kingdom days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday would be top picks for lower crowd days.
FOOD! An obviously important topic! Saved for last, but clearly not the least.
Look up restaurants you want to attend in advance! And as crazy as it is to think about, all Disney restaurants for a sit down meal with table service will need reservations. 69 days in advance if you stay on property and 60 days out if you are staying off property.
What we like to do is plan our sit down meals at lunch. This helps with crowds and also kids are likely to take a nap after they eat. Plus, we are then free to grab food at counter service, and go for dinner.
We can then catch the parades, which when we were there was around 4pm at Magic Kingdom, fireworks at 9pm and 11pm, and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios was around 8pm. The firework show at Epcot was around 9pm. Would hate to miss that because we are in a restaurant and it’s taking longer than expected. Plus kids are likely to fizzle out, no pun intended, at the end of the day anyway, and table service experiences may be less enjoyable. Definitely check the website for accurate times before going because it may change.
Snacks – Did you know you can bring your own food and snacks into Disney. If you are going to Disney with any type of budget in mind, I recommend you think about this in advance. Plan some favorite kid snacks, fruits, and even lunch options like sandwiches (hello uncrustables!). Cutie or other mandarin oranges are an easy to bring snack, plus cheese sticks, bananas, beef sticks, fruit snacks, and more.
Popcorn buckets! I love getting popcorn buckets on our first travel day at the parks. The refills make it a cost effective snack to munch on throughout the day. Plus, I LOVE the maple popcorn you can get at Canada in Epcot.
If you made it through this post, thanks for sticking with me! Hope you found some of these tips helpful and I hope you get the opportunity to bring your family to Disney as often as you wish. It truly can be a wonderful and magical experience.
When we got back from the trip, we made a photo album of our favorite experiences and to this day, our kids still flip through it and enjoy remembering their experiences there.
Make memories and have a tale to tell!
-Heather S.
Tiger Tales Travel
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