How you can do Disney World with a Child, the Final Information by a former Solid Member

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When Jeremy picked Disney World for his thirty fifth birthday journey, I used to be nervous. I imply, we’ve performed Disney World loads of occasions – and I used to be there just about each single day after I was a Solid Member. However we’d by no means, EVER performed 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 unexpectedly, and for some motive, lamps? She beloved Solid Members, she beloved dancing to music as we walked by means of the parks. She LOVED Disney World! And we beloved attending to see it by means of her eyes. Disney with a child is so price it, y’all!

On this (huge) information, we’re sharing ideas and tips 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: In search of extra ideas that will help you plan your Disney journey? Take a look at 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 faculty internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, after all! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on essentially the most magical place on Earth, plus insider ideas from her time as a Solid 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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Suggestions for Visiting Disney World with a Child

Earlier than I dive in, a small disclaimer: all infants are completely different, and child wants fluctuate wildly by age. When you 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 occupied with feeding Child A today – be happy to skip it. You recognize your child finest!

That stated: whereas Child A was 10 months outdated throughout our journey, I’ve additionally performed my finest to include ideas 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 very useful information even for youthful infants. And truthfully, 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 need 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 images on this submit? Usually I exploit a DSLR digital camera after I’m taking photos for a weblog submit, however all I used to be capable of handle this journey was to make use of my telephone! 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 (assume “It’s a Small World” or the Tiki Room). I feel this actually helped Child A get excited on the parks, as a result of she was listening to a number 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 permits you to e book “Lightning Lane” passes to undergo a shorter line (mainly a paid model of FastPass, in case you’re aware of its former incarnation). It’s price it with a child, particularly because you gained’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 cross.
• Convey a journey excessive chair for meals. This foldable excessive chair was a HUGE assistance on our journey. We used it in our resort room for all of our meals, and if we’d had area for it in our stroller, we’d 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. Unsure if the tables are weirdly excessive or the excessive chairs are weirdly low, however it made meals within the parks troublesome. This moveable excessive chair that straps on high of a chair at eating places or can sit on the bottom anyplace for snacks is the proper answer.
• Babysitting is accessible at Walt Disney World by way of a service referred to as Youngsters Nite Out. They’ll watch your baby when you take pleasure in your individual inside baby on the parks! Youngsters Nite Out may also give you a sitter to accompany you within the parks in case you want an additional set of arms. Assessment: https://touringplans.com/weblog/kids-nite-out-your-familys-next-vacation-win/
• You possibly can go to Disney World with no automotive seat in case you keep in a Disney Resort resort. When you fly with a lap toddler, you may  take a shuttle bus  from the airport, and follow 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 stated, we have 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 might have left at residence! They’re normally subsequent to the primary assist facilities too that are additionally vital to find out about.
• Use Rider Swap. One mum or dad rides whereas the opposite one hangs out with the infant. Simply ask a solid member on the entrance of any trip to assist get you arrange.
• Use single rider, too! Solely 4 rides formally have a single-rider lane, however a number of rides will search for single rider to replenish uneven gaps, which implies you’ll get to trip sooner. Maintain an ear out for a solid member on the lookout for a solo rider close to the entrance of most thrill rides. We acquired to trip a variety of stuff with out standing in lengthy traces this manner.
• Minnie Vans come outfitted with rear-facing Graco 4Ever seats. When you 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 Solid Members, that you could order by means 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 sort. Simple.
• Swap who does bedtime so one mum or dad 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 lots of of children had just lately put their arms there, too. Mixed with us carrying KN95s masks, none of us acquired sick throughout our journey. However simply in case, carry toddler Tylenol/Motrin with you so you have got it readily available.
• Convey your individual stroller. Those they lease on the parks aren’t good for infants. We advocate one which folds down simply, like this one, since you’ll must fold it up on Disney transport. That stated, 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 case you’re going to The Land pavilion in Epcot, your stroller should keep at Nemo and Mates. Carriers are useful in these conditions, and so is the Tushbaby.

• When you make an Advance Eating Reservation at a Disney sit-down restaurant, cancellations need to be made 24 hours prematurely. In any other case, you will be charged a cancellation payment of $10 per individual (3 and up). Until you go to the restaurant in individual on the identical day and beg your case, through which case they waive the payment. Nonetheless, that coverage is …not best for infants. But additionally, Disney meals is definitely worth the threat! So drop these expectations by means of the ground and do your finest to only flow.
• Meltdowns at Disney are inevitable, and I’m not speaking about your child. Do not forget that most marital disputes at Disney will 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 superb motor expertise like sucking by means 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 laborious to seek out with out added sugar, they make child’s arms very sticky, they usually appear to make her spit up. And it’s all the time vibrant pink and has that bitter yogurt scent. And so they stain. Not our favourite snack however works in a pinch.
  • Cheerios. Traditional. Simple. At all times 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 certain they provide little or no precise diet. 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 Finest?

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 children. 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 steadiness of baby-friendly points of interest

Hollywood Studios with a Child

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

Finest points of interest and rides for infants at Hollywood Studios:

• Magnificence and the Beast Reside on Stage: Child A misplaced her rattling MIND singing and clapping alongside at this present. The dancing and songs in the beginning are enjoyable and upbeat and actually well-done, visually – assume 1930’s period showcase dance numbers. However she kinda misplaced curiosity when issues acquired unhappy and gradual (“story as outdated as time” shouldn’t be a child bop, it seems). Fortunately we sat on the finish of the aisle so we may make a fast getaway. This was positively Child A’s favourite exercise at Hollywood Studios.
• Halfway Mania: We have been involved about bringing her on this trip as a result of it’s 3D, and we have been afraid it would make her nauseous with out the glasses on. However she beloved going across the observe and didn’t appear bothered by the blurry, non-3d pictures on the display. She wished to drag the string to shoot too! Nevertheless, she didn’t like among the loud noises, and cried and squirmed a bit throughout the loudest half – breaking plates – however settled once we stopped and lined her ears for a bit. This one positively verges on overstimulating, however it’s kinda not that enjoyable in case you aren’t capable of be aggressive and play towards your accomplice.

… 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 a little bit too intense/scary for her. She acquired scared at many of the “battle” components of the story and all of us hated the vehicles dancing – I believed she was going to fall out at one level. Overstimulating, loud, jarring – this trip is only a lot.

Suggestions 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 hen noises taking part in and no loud noises, and it’s off the principle path so there aren’t 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 suppose Star Wars is all about ambient spa sounds). It’s the proper afternoon nap/nurse spot, although you’ll see that a number of dad and mom have the identical concept – it’s not as quiet as the opposite spot we discovered.
• The Child Care heart 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 price it, truthfully.

Hollywood Studios Verdict: if it’s important to choose 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 Solid Member, after I labored at Soarin’ within the Land Pavilion. I imply certain sure, there’s a variety of pleased nostalgia tied to the park for me. But additionally? I LOVE journey – whats up, that’s my job now – and a complete half of Epcot is all about celebrating journey and letting you step foot into immersive miniature lands representing completely different nations. The World Showcase is sort of a mile of pure journey gas, and I completely find it irresistible.

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

Anway: the park is gorgeous, nicely 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 high? For starters, 3 phrases: AIR CONDITIONED PAVILIONS. There are TONS of pavilions all through the park, and most of them are enormous and air-conditioned. There’s additionally ample seating – like Connections Cafe, which is actually an unlimited Starbucks crammed with benches and tables – each indoors and outdoor.

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

Let’s get to the tea:

Finest points of interest and rides for infants at Epcot:

• The Seas with Nemo and Mates: 10/10 good child trip and Child A LOVED it. Darkish! Cool! Stress-free! 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 mum or dad 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 may have stayed right here fish all day lengthy (and with the A/C, we have been pleased to remain right here too). There are tons to see in right here and it’s an excellent spot to chill off for some time. Plus, that is additionally the place you’ll discover Turtle Speak with Crush which is considered one of our favorites, although we sadly didn’t try it out with Child A this time.
• Grand Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros: This was considered one of Child A’s favorites! A lot of scenes of Mexico and upbeat music, and the tip portion is mainly simply It’s a Small World however with extra of a give attention to Mexico. Plus, there’s just about by no means a line, and it’s important to undergo the Mexico pavilion to get right here which is completely gorgeous.
• Frozen: I feel she wasn’t a fan of the songs switching each scene, however Child A did get pleasure from this trip. She particularly beloved the massive backward drop (it’s actually not that large 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 need to stroll alllll the best way again to the very entrance of the park once we have been already within the World Showcase near the Skyliner. Too far. I’d give it a attempt in case you enter on the large ball, although!

Rides to Skip in Epcot 

• Figment: That is positively a baby-friendly trip when it comes to the mechanics of the trip (good and gradual, enjoyable), however the trip itself was simply okay. There was a variety of speaking and all of it went over her head. And admittedly, there wasn’t sufficient music to maintain her , both. This trip is extra geared towards barely older children.
• Residing with the Land: One other trip that Child A simply discovered kinda boring. There’s a number of speaking about vegetation and the setting and such (not thrilling for a child, however very cool for the remainder of us) and there’s no music. That stated, a really small child would probably get pleasure from this gradual, enjoyable trip.

Suggestions 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 e book a desk for lunch! The meals right here is phenomenal – the entire Cooks are professionally educated and from their respective nations. Your servers will likely be from the nation you’re consuming in, too.
• Connections Cafe is a huuuge Starbucks stuffed with tables and benches! It’s an excellent 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 good 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 heart, proper in between the World Showcase and the remainder of the park. There’s a giant comfy nursing room with a number of chairs and footrests. It’s cool, darkish, and quiet – the proper spot for a nap. (Epcot is stuffed with good nap spots!)
• There’s a giant playground exterior of the Creations store. Even when your baby can’t play simply but, they’ll in all probability get pleasure from watching large children taking part in!

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 heart 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 a giant 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 throughout 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 – kind of like of a tropical rainforest. So we advocate visiting Animal Kingdom very first thing within the morning and leaving earlier than or proper after lunch. Right here’s the tea:

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

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: That is such an excellent attraction! You’ll be on a giant open-air truck driving by means 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 lively and being fed, so head straight right here very first thing when you arrive. Every journey is completely different so it’s nice to trip time and again, too.
• Na’vi River Journey: A bioluminescent deal with for the eyes. All the things on this slow-moving river trip was completely lovely, magical, glowing, and nature-y. The music is calm. It’s a complete vibe. And I feel this was Child A’s FAVORITE trip in any of the parks. She was completely enchanted the whole time and in no way scared. This trip is certainly price a Lightning Lane cross.
• Competition of the Lion King Present: Child A loved the lion king present, however misplaced curiosity throughout the slower components and appeared overwhelmed throughout among the villain songs. We ended up nursing many of the present (it’s a protracted present) however may simply have left as a substitute.

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 in all probability go proper over child’s head, however hey, there’s A/C! Whenever you’re prepared, take the prepare 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 feel 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 means of the opposite animal sections. Actually, we may have fortunately spent a number of mornings at Animal Kingdom.
• Drummers of Harambe: Child A is a giant fan of drumming and dancing to a beat, and this dwell avenue efficiency within the Africa part of the park would have been superior for her to see. They pull up large children to bop too which infants love to observe! I want we’d made it some extent to catch considered one of their present occasions.
• Discovering Nemo: The Massive Blue… and Past: This dwell present is stuffed with large colourful tune and dance numbers! In case your baby enjoys music and dancing too, this will likely be a giant hit.

Suggestions 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 taking part in peekaboo together with her) and the meals is buffet type, with a number 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 aren’t any large, quiet indoor locations with A/C to chill off and loosen up (apart from Rafiki’s Planet Watch). When naptime hit, it took us fairly some time to seek out a great place. 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 well distracted.

Animal Kingdom Verdict: This can be 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 lively early within the morning anyway.

Magic Kingdom with an Toddler 

Once we have been planning our journey and searching into which Disney Park has essentially the most rides with out top necessities, Magic Kingdom appeared like it could be the best choice for us: there are TONS of rides which might be acceptable for all ages! … Effectively, in principle, anyway.

What we really 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 every 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 secure to trip with an toddler. Many 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:

Finest points of interest and rides for child at Magic Kingdom:

The winners for us in Magic Kingdom have been colourful, slow-moving rides with upbeat, acquainted music:

• Below the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: That is a darkish conveyer belt trip in a transferring clamshell. Child A LOVED the Below the Sea scene, which is vibrant and colourful and enjoyable. It helped that we’d been taking part in the tune for her within the weeks main as much as our journey so she instantly acknowledged it. The Mad 
• It’s a Small World: We really waited longer for this trip than the rest throughout our journey – and we had a Lightning Lane cross. The trip itself is quarter-hour lengthy, so with a 30-minute wait this finally ends up being fairly a time suck. That stated, Child A LOVES the tune (we’d been taking part in 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 feel it was price 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 light 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 price a lightning lane cross!
• Tiki Room: One other attraction that we prioritized primarily based on Child A’s music preferences. And he or she was actually into most of it! Plus, it’s good and lengthy and had fantastic 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 every thing we wished to. We want we may have ridden on Folks Mover, a slow-moving prepare that lightly glides round Tomorrowland – good 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 finally determined to skip on account of lengthy traces and Child A’s probability of having fun with them have been:

• Jungle Cruise: no music, the trip principally consists of speaking and jokes that will simply go proper over her head
• Pirates of the Caribbean: frankly she may need loved it due to the music, however we didn’t really feel like standing in a protracted line
• Haunted Mansion: Child A shouldn’t be a fan of music in a minor key – I feel she will be able to inform it’s imagined to be spooky/scary/off – and she or he doesn’t like issues which might be chaotic and loud. I feel she would have loved the massive graveyard music scene, and located the remainder of it both boring or scary.
• The Mad Tea Celebration: Child A didn’t actually appear to get pleasure from fast-paced spinning or transferring. She’s extra into the visuals, music, and gradual, light rides. So we’ll wait on this one till she’s a little bit older.

Rides to Skip in Magic Kingdom

• Prince Charming Regal Carousel

Child A really loved the carousel. That stated, 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 not 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 no one fairly 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 principle is 1) nostalgia, 2) child attraction, and three) poor trip design that didn’t account for the demand it could 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 price a Lightning Lane cross.

Worst of all, it’s downright harmful for an toddler. How did we understand how unsafe Peter Pan’s Flight was? As a result of we have been despatched by means of the trip with no 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 digital camera on each seat, which Solid Members monitor repeatedly all through the trip on the lookout for any kiddos attempting to wriggle out – that’s a fall threat from 50 ft. If anybody is getting too wiggly, Solid Members can hit the emergency cease button on the trip and convey it again down manually.

However Peter Pan was in-built 1955, earlier than anybody considered security rules on rides, I suppose. So although your automobile goes manner up into the air, it simply has a lap bar, not a harness. The lap bar routinely lowers about .5 seconds earlier than you permit the sight of a Solid Member – which isn’t sufficient time to make sure everyone seems to be safely seated. There’s additionally no lap bar test (which just about each different trip within the parks has). 

So, what occurred to us? Child A was seated on the Tushbaby going through me once we boarded the trip. Jeremy was wiping down the lap bar with hand sanitizer and I used to be on the point 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 rapidly that no one heard us. And, as we came upon, there aren’t any video cameras. So no Solid Members may see that Child A was squirming round attempting to see and pushing backward off of me with stunning power whereas I clung to her with each arms for expensive life, realizing that if she twisted out of my arms, she would fall. (Bear in mind: this can be a flying trip. We have 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 acquired off the trip I burst into panicked sobbing and it took fairly some time to relax. We made an incident report with the affected person Solid Members, however apart from that there wasn’t a lot we may do. 

The incident experiences go to the higher-ups, and I hope it will get escalated to whoever makes selections about upgrading rides, as a result of this trip is frankly horrifyingly unsafe. There must be a protracted sufficient time period between the lap bar decreasing and take-off for Solid Members to do a security test. My guess is that they’ve averted doing it as a result of the trip already has such lengthy wait occasions and that can add main time, however it’s completely vital. This trip is horribly old-fashioned.

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 may simply and rapidly 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 – one more older Magic Kindom trip that isn’t secure 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 whats up, I even have photos of myself as a Solid Member in entrance of one of many many indicators backstage that claims Protected D Begins with Me (see them on this submit)! 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 completely different theming.

Extra ideas for Magic Kingdom with a child

• We ate lunch at Tony’s City Sq., which is true by the doorway of the park. Child A likes pasta, we like pasta, we simply figured we’d have some respectable pasta. We have been NOT ready for the way shockingly good it was. I imply!!! It was AMAZING. I extremely advocate the Orecchiette With Spicy Italian Sausage and the Butcher’s Steak, which was among 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 a complete part in Magic Kingdom crammed with kid-friendly stuff (although kid-friendly doesn’t additionally imply baby-friendly). You possibly can choose up a prepare 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 children.
• Child care heart: Magic Kingdom’s Child Care Heart is by Most important Road, which is … kinda removed from many of the park, truthfully. There are benches out entrance and the middle itself is de facto cute and well-themed. It’s an excellent 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 essentially the most all-ages rides, however it’s crowded, the rides are a little bit 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 every other park. Price a visit for it’s a small world and among the reveals, however not a lot else.  We’re trying ahead to experiencing Magic Kingdom with Child A when she’s older.

Full Listing of Child Rides at Disney World

Once we have been researching for our journey and on the lookout 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 essentially the most with 10-month-old Child A in daring and put those we advocate 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 will not be a Solid Member anymore, however I nonetheless have a variety of ~opinions about all issues Disney, and many ideas in your subsequent journey. Considered one of my very sturdy opinions? It’s best to positively keep at a Disney World resort, even in case you’re on a good finances! It’s SO price it.

From the $$ you’ll save on parking and a rental automotive (thanks to Disney’s airport pick-up service and big free transportation community) to the unbelievable comfort and Further Magic Hours, the resorts are WELL price it. And much more so, in case you can rating a reduced fee 😉

There are positively methods to attain a deal at a Disney Resort, if the place to look. Sometimes, you will discover Disney World resorts listed on resort 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 just lately on  Motels.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 e book issues, too. Disney quietly runs deep reductions on low season bookings (normally January by means of April) round October/November, so hold a watch out and  test their particular affords web page continuously. 

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 means of  Priceline . My suggestion is to e book a good-enough resort by means of  Reserving.com  so you may cancel it as much as the day earlier than your journey, then hold checking  Priceline  simply in case you may rating a last-minute room at a steep low cost.

We’re large followers of staying at on the Worth resorts, which actually provide 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 enormous pool – it’s really the biggest pool at any Disney World resort –  with a child space and a giant 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 Vehicles-themed suite).

And better of all, you’ll have straightforward 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 considered one of Disney’s finances choices – however it’s actually one of the best of the finances choices. An in depth second is Pop Century Resort, which is true subsequent door and in addition has entry to the Skyliner.

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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 may also help reply? Drop us a remark under!

Psst: In search of extra ideas that will help you plan your Disney journey? Take a look at a few of our different Disney World posts:

Want you might journey to Disney with out leaving residence? We created an immersive digital 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 faculty internship. What do all of them have in frequent? Disney World, after all! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on essentially the most magical place on Earth, plus insider ideas from her time as a Solid 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.

Pay attention above or simply click on right here to launch your Podcast app! Oh, and don’t overlook to subscribe so that you don’t miss new episodes.

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