Disney with Toddlers and Young Kids - Guest Post

Hello Growing up Geeky Readers! I’m Rebecca, and I am an Agent over at Wishing Well Travel! I have been a Disney only Travel agent for quite some time, while it sure does take a lot of my time; I simply love making others dreams come true. I’m filling in for Mama G while they accomplish their move. (good luck guys!)

Mama G has asked me to give you guys a few tips on planning a Disney Vacation with toddlers and young children. And, I gotta say as an agent I get a lot of questions from parents asking if their kids are too young to take on a Disney Vacation. My answer is always ‘No!’ (with a smile of course). After all Disney is for families: including, young children and toddlers. But, as with everything you do with your kids it has its own set of rules to help make the experience go as ‘fit free’ as possible. I would like to go over a few of the most important ones here.

1. Pay attention to Naps - Nap schedules are also a big part about which hotel you pick. If your child is content to sleep in their stroller then this may not be a big issue for you. But if they are like my oldest and would only sleep in a bed – with you next to them. Then finding a hotel close or central to the parks might be your best option. Luckily, both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World have a wide variety of these to spare. So look at all your options, and if you are using a travel agent, fully express your needs on this. We all have a wide knowledge of the resorts around each Disney Park and can help you find the Perfect hotel for you!

2. Watch their cues with the Characters – Characters can be scary to kids, even the ones without masks on. They are larger than the tiny picture on their TV or in books. And because of that each kid treats them differently. One may be terrified of some, while being perfectly fine with others. Or your kids may be indifferent either way, each kid is different. That’s why it is important to watch their cues. And to be willing to get them out of there before the situation turns dire, no matter how much you want a picture of them with Winnie the Pooh.

3. Utilize the Parent swap –The parent swap is Disney’s brilliant way to make everything accessible for families and those traveling with the super little ones. Simply put, a parent swap is a pass given to families who have a small child that can’t ride a ride and needs a parent to stay behind with them. The Parent Swap pass gives both parents a chance to ride (and the older child a chance to ride twice) with only having to stand in line once. This is a huge help to families, and I truly cannot thank Disney enough for providing this service.

4. Know about restaurant selection and locations before hand – Weather you are dealing with food allergies or stubborn preferences it’s always smart to know a little bit about the food at the parks before you go. If you have a smart phone you can find several apps that will help you find the food you’re looking for. My personal favorites are Disney Dining by VersaEdge Software. They have one for Disneyland and Disney World, and each one allows you to search by Park and even by your current location. These apps allow you to pick favorites that you can come back to later and also shows a comprehensive menu and price list for each food location. Now if you don’t have a smart phone you can also visit The Disney Food Blog which is a great comprehensive resource for all things Disney Food (although the focus is mostly on Walt Disney World). Now, if food allergies are your problem, don’t worry Disney is absolutely wonderful on accommodating this. All you have to do is alert your server to your problem and they can help you through it and possibly find something that works. Now, not all places can make items special order, so make sure you ask before you get your heart set on Gumbo without Okra (that’s not going to happen). But, I think you will find that the Disney cast members can be very accommodating and helpful when it comes to things such as this.

5. Know your child’s ride limitations – Did you know that at the Disney Parks there are more rides that kids of all ages can go on then there are rides that have height limitations? However, just because kids can go on some rides doesn’t mean that they should. Every child should be prepared as much as possible for each ride before they ride. If you can have them watch the ride a few times before they board and talk to them about what they see and what they will experience. You can even do this before you leave on your vacation; by watching ride videos on You Tube to help get your kids ready. Even with all the preparations your Child's reactions may still surprise you, the big thing here is just to watch your Child's cues and make the best decision for them.

Most importantly, don’t forget to cherish every moment. A Disney Vacation is family a vacation full of everlasting memories, and, as much as you want to go on Space Mountain 20 times, your daughter really wants to meet Cinderella. And I guarantee you that her face when she finally meets Cinderella is worth 100 rides on Space Mountain. Find a balance in your vacation and I think you’ll find that you can fit everything in, while making those family memories that you will treasure forever.

Well that’s it from me! I have quite a bit more on this subject on Wishing Well Travels Blog. If you’re ever in the market for a Disney Vacation, drop me a line. My services are free, and I would love to help you plan a great Disney Resort Vacation.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!

M and I have decided to take Carina to Disney World next Fall, so I know these tips will come in handy in our planning. Thanks so much, Rebecca!