We have been to Disney World twice with our kids. And let me tell you, we have had the BEST experiences each time! The first time that we went was when my son was 5 months old, and the second time was when our kids were 6 and 3. While each trip brought different experiences, they were both completely worth it and absolutely MAGICAL!
If you are planning to visit Disney World for the first time with your young kids, you’re at the right place!
Here are my 5 tips for visiting Disney World with little ones that can help you save some money and time!
1. Stay On-Site
This is one of the best tips that I can share! With young children, convenience is EVERYTHING as it saves us so much time! Because I’m a teacher, we were able to book at a special rate at the Walt Disney Dolphin and Swan Resort.
Not only that, the resort offers complimentary transportation to Disney’s themed parks, water taxis to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood, Disney Extra Magic Hours Benefits, and on-site Character Dining!
2. Beat the Crowd
If you are able to take advantage of the Magic Hours, do so! Get to the park early or as soon as it opens to avoid waiting in long lines. I can’t imagine anything more anxiety-inducing for me as a mom than to have to wait in long lines with two young children. Since our children wake up pretty early naturally, it was perfect for us to get to the park as soon as the gates opened.
When we went early, Magic Kingdom was not at all crowded and we were able to snap so many pictures without many people around!
Also, download the DisneyWorld App to request Fast Passes! Those were so worth it and made our trip much more enjoyable!
Photo Tip: Next to the Dumbo Ride is a Photo Op that is perfect for family pictures!
3. Pack Light Snacks
Our kids are constantly hungry and the best way to re-energize our little darlings is with their favorite snacks! To do so, we packed some light snacks in their strollers and our backpack. It was extremely convenient while we were waiting to meet the characters and going from ride to ride.
4. Line Up for the Parade Early
Seeing the parade in the afternoon just doesn’t get old! How else could you ever see all of your favorite characters going down Main Street together with so much fun and excitement?! We lined up about 15-20 minutes early to ensure that we had the best view. We’re so glad we did because it started getting so busy and crowded so quickly.
The kids absolutely had the BEST time and waved to every single character!
5. Don’t Skip Naptime
Because we stayed on-site, we were able to take the free shuttle back to our hotel for a quick lunch break and afternoon nap. Our kids are nappers and so are WE! Since we were able to do all the kid rides, meet all the characters, and watch the parade all by noon, we headed back to the hotel to rest up.
After we woke up and freshened up, we had dinner at the hotel and headed back to the park.
We then rode more rides and watched the fireworks before calling it a night.
DisneyWorld is truly a magical place and we were so excited to share such fun memories with our children. We will definitely come back and hope that post this inspires you to make memories with your little ones too!
