Discover tips for visiting Walt Disney World with young children. Including packing must-haves and how to make the most of Disney’s amenities to create a fun trip for the whole family.
Here's what our 7 day Disney World vacation with our 1 year old (okay, 15 month old) entailed. I'm sharing what we did, what we learned, what we ate, what we packed, and what we'll do differently next time.
If you're heading to the Most Magical Place on Earth with a baby or toddler, this guide is for you! We have been to Disney World as childless adults a handful of times, but navigating the parks with a little one is a smidge different. *Wink, wink!* Here's what you need to know...
Packing essentials
Slumberpod: This vacation would not have been possible without the Slumberpod, truly. It’s basically bottomless blackout sleep tent that blocks 95% of light, so baby is able to rest while in the same room. We fit it over the mini crib that the hotel provided, though it fits over most pack n plays and play yards, too. My favorite features are the breathable fabric, adjustable ventilation panels, pouches for a fan, monitor, or sound machine, and how quick and easy it is to assemble and takedown.
Travel stroller: We have the Inglesina Quid stroller in alpaca beige. It’s super lightweight at just 13 pounds, making it ultra-compact and easy to assemble. My favorite features are the extended canopy, peek-a-boo window in hood, smooth ride, and use up to 50 pounds. Plus it’s reasonably priced!
You’ll definitely want the raincover stroller attachment for your Disney World trip. The rain can come out of nowhere and a damp stroller seat can ruin your otherwise magical time. And the stroller carry bag was very convenient for gate checking.
By the way, sometimes cast members will move your stroller to make space for others. Since I knew that was a possibility, I decided to buy a pack of AirTags.
Baby carrier: We have and love the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier and it's great for travel days. I used this to go through security with baby and during boarding both times. I'm so glad we also brought the Tushbaby as a secondary carrier, so he wouldn't get too warm while strapped in.
Diaper bag: I went back and forth on whether to bring our nice day-to-day Freshly Picked diaper bag and I'm so glad we did. It's roomy, comfortable, and most importantly it's what we use on a regular basis so we know where everything is located. I would also suggest packing a fanny pack for Disney so the parent who goes into the parks solo has somewhere to store their belongings.
Sound machine: This is an absolute must if your kid is used to sleeping with white noise!! At home we use the Hatch, but this travel sound machine was a workhorse. Of course this was useful during nap time and overnight, but also in the airport when things got a little overstimulating.
Stroller fans: You may only need one fan, but I liked the option of having one for keeping little one cool and one for whoever was pushing the stroller. We have this standard portable fan and this large bladeless stroller fan.
Toys: Bring both familiar and new toys for the airplane and downtime in the hotel. This set of suction cup fidget spinners were great for the plane ride, this popper sensory toy was strapped onto his stroller a majority of the days, and of course we had to gift him his very first Mickey Mouse plush! We also brought a few teethers and board books, which also came in handy.
First aid: Don't forget to pack travel essentials like medication, bandaids, and sanitizing wipes!
Snacks: Our son is at the age where he can eat nibbles off our plates, but I wanted to bring some trusty snacks just in case. Pouches, puffs, yogurt melts, and cheerios were all a big hit.
Extras of everything: I'm talking everythinggg... For every traveller! Diapers, wipes, daytime clothes, nighttime sleepers, socks, at least two pairs of shoes, etc.
Miscellaneous items: These are all unintentionally related to baby eating but they made mealtimes a little less stressful. We brought straw cups from home, along with the sippy cup holder strap that attaches to a highchair. And lastly, these disposable stick-on placemats and silicone bibs were great for keeping messes contained.
The three things I wish we would have brought with us was a thermometer for the random bug little one caught, a portable high chair for the hotel room, and a small playpen since the rooms aren't exactly baby-proofed.
Transportation
We fly into Orlando International Airport typically with Southwest or American Airlines. We opt for baby to be a lap infant and switch off who holds him throughout the flight.
Previously, we would take Mears Connect or a Lyft to Walt Disney World Resort but since we needed a rear facing car seat, I was willing to spend the extra money to confirm safe and reliable transportation. Tiffany Towncar was spectacular and we will 100% be using them time and time again.
Our first car was a a large van with plenty of space for our luggage, bags, and stroller. And the second car was a large suburban that was also roomy and comfortable.
My favorite aspect of this car service was the complimentary grocery stop at a nearby Publix. Had we not been able to stop for groceries, we would have had to venture back out or set up a delivery.
Where to stay
Staying at a Disney Resort Hotel has so many benefits that I can't imagine what our trip would have been like had we not stayed on property. The Disney transportation is just too convenient! Depending where you stay, you'll have easy access to getting around via bus, ferry boats, and/or skyliner gondola lift system.
Also, when you stay at a Disney hotel you have access to booking dining reservations 60 days in advance of your trip. Plus, once you're there, Disney Resort hotel guests get early theme park entry, which is super helpful for knocking popular rides out first thing in the morning.
We stayed at Disney's Pop Century Resort and enjoyed the ease of getting to and from Hollywood Studios and Epcot via the Skyliner. The bus system was also great for getting to and from Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom, as there's only one centrally located bus stop.
Regardless where you stay, you can request a mini crib (also called a rolling crib) or a pack n play. Since our little dude is on the larger side, we lucked out with the crib but either would have worked. I just recommend bringing your own crib sheets.
If you do want to stay outside of the Disney bubble, I highly suggest looking into a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel or Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress!
Inside the theme parks
My top three tips for enjoying your time in the parks would be to plan for naps. We tried to skip the morning nap and have baby sleep in his stroller but that only worked our first two days. He just isn't an on-the-go napper. We're almost at the point where we'll drop to one nap but not quite. You know your kid, so plan accordingly!
Know where each of the baby care centers are located in each park. They offer a more comfortable place to change your kiddo, take a break with comfortable seating, feed in a quiet place, and purchase basic necessities. Where a baby care center is, first aid is close by.
Lastly, have an idea of what attractions, parades, shows, and character meet-and-greets you don't want to miss! Check height requirements, know show times, and make a loose plan for each day.
Our itinerary
I know I'm always curious how other families plan their Disney vacations, so here's what our entailed. We spend 5 days in the parks with park hopper and had 2 resort days, for checking in and out of our hotel.
Saturday
We took an afternoon flight into MCO, which was much nicer than waking up before the sun and racing through the airport at the break of dawn. That did mean that we arrived to Orlando in the early evening, so we didn't have time to really explore until the next day. Once we got to our hotel room, we got everyone and everything situated then celebrating being at Disney!
Sunday
Magic Kingdom day! We wanted to keep little one on his schedule as much as possible, so we started each day at 8AM. After eating breakfast, getting everyone ready, and onto the shuttle, we were walking into the parks around 10:30AM. Our first park day we were able to take plenty of family pictures, get a cut-paper silhouette, grab lunch, and go on a couple rides. Our little one really enjoyed Prince Charming Regal Carrousel and Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, which is a dark ride.
Looking for unique experiences? Check out my top hidden gems at Disney.
We ate lunch at Columbia Harbour House then headed back to our resort for little one to nap. For lunch I had the plant based crispy mushroom roll, a somewhat newer item to the menu. It had great flavor but was pretty messy to eat. Zack got the fish platter, which he's enjoyed before and gives a 9/10 rating, and our little one had the side option of a PB&J uncrustable, which was also quite messy.
I got baby down and Zack headed to Epcot to do some shopping. (We forgot our tea infuser at home, so he was on the hunt for one, which he found in the United Kingdom Pavilion.) When baby woke up, we took the Skyliner to Epcot to make our 6PM dinner reservation at Rose & Crown Dining Room.
I ordered the vegan Savory Impossible Hot Pot with seasonal vegetables in a plant-based meat casserole topped with mashed potatoes and it was incredible. Zack got the Bangers and Mash, and we both shared bites of our meals with little E. After dinner, we were able to hop on The Seas with Nemo & Friends for one last ride before bed.
Tip of the day: Take turns with who does naps and bedtime so one parent gets to have solo time in the park, while the other hangs back with the baby.
Monday
Animal Kingdom day! Both Zack and I really wanted to experience Nomad Lounge, a unique lounge with specialty cocktails and appetizers. When we entered the park, I immediately got us on the Walk-Up Waitlist. Since DinoLand is closing in early 2025, we headed in that direction.
We ended up catching the 25 minute stage show of Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond and then our table was ready. Our plan was to enjoy a couple drinks but when we saw the food menu, we had to grab a couple snacks.
After enjoying the relaxing atmosphere at Nomad Lounge, we explored the Pandora section of the park and grabbed lunch at Satu'li Canteen before heading back to the hotel for baby's afternoon nap.
Zack headed to Hollywood Studios and I chilled in our room while baby napped. Zack was able to fit in nearly every ride during that 2 hour window! When baby was up from his nap, we took the Skyliner to meet Zack and had dinner at Catalina Eddie's. The allergy-friendly pizza was good, thick, and fluffy.
Tip of the day: Use the My Disney Experience app to plan your activities. Not only can you check wait times but you can also use Mobile Order to skip long lines, pre-order, and pre-pay for food at most quick service restaurants.
Tuesday
Hollywood Studios day! Unfortunately little one wasn't feeling like his usual energetic self, so we took it easy before heading into the park for our lunch reservation at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. This restaurant was super-well themed but not the best for little, little ones due to the seating set-up. If you go here, be sure to get a vegan milkshake! They have 4 flavors using dairy-free milk and it was delicious!
After a solid nap at the hotel, little one and I headed back to Hollywood Studios on the Skyliner to meet Zack for dinner at Backlot Express. This counter-service restaurant blew me away and is now one of my must-dos when we visit. The Teriyaki Tofu bowl with jasmine rice, veg, and vinaigrette was seriously impressive and filling.
Since we were visiting Disney World during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Magic Kingdom had some early night closures. But, on the nights when the party wasn't happening, the park stayed open until 10PM. After bath time for baby and getting him down, Zack took the shuttle over and was able to ride the new Tron roller coaster for the first time.
Tip of the day: All table-service restaurants have high chairs that can be requested. They are usually tray-less and pull right up to the dining table.
Wednesday
Back to Animal Kingdom! We were able to get over to the park earlier this day and headed straight for Kilimanjaro Safaris. Baby loved watching all the animals and it was a nice ~20 minute ride in an open-air vehicle.
This day we were able to join the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind so while baby napped, Zack took the first ride and then we used Rider Switch so I was able to bypass the line and get right on. Zack took baby around Epcot then the Skyliner back to the resort. I stayed back and rode Soarin and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.
For dinner, we snacked around the booths set up for International Food & Wine Festival. Here's an overview of what we got:
- France: The frozen french cosmo was good but not out of this world. Though, Zack really enjoyed his boeuf bourguignon.
- Tangierine Cafe: We both really enjoyed our meals here. I got the plant-based falafel sandwich and Zack got the grilled kebab.
- Greece: I was blown away with how great the plant-based impossible moussaka was! I only wish it were larger. Zack enjoyed his gyro there, as well.
- India: We split the plant-based potato and pea samosas and both really loved the flavors and textures.
- America: Zack ordered the chicago-style hot dog. It was missing celery salt and very bready.
- The Fry Basket: We split an order of the yuca fries and both agreed they're delicious!
- Hawaii: Zack ordered the rice bowl and really enjoyed it. Only complaint was that it was small, which is to be expected at these festivals.
- CommuniCore Hall: My winner of the fest was in this new festival center. The plant-based chili cheese macaroni and cheese from Macatizers was out of the world! Great flavor, surprisingly filling, and paired great with the wine flight that's also offered at the booth.
Technically these aren't part of the festival, but you have to try the $4 baguette from Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in Paris and the Kringla from Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway.
By the way, if you're heading to Universal Orlando Resort during your vacation, be sure to check out my Guide to Vegan Options at Universal.
Tip of the day: Utilize rider swap or the single rider line when available! When one parent rides, have the other go cool off indoors, find a comfortable spot, or hit the bathrooms.
Thursday
This was originally going to be our second Magic Kingdom day but we loved the Guardians ride so much, we wanted to ride it another time. After that, Zack and I switched baby duty and I took the monorail from Epcot to Magic Kingdom.
I was able to ride Tron Lightcycle Run, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and take in the views of Tom Sawyer Island. Zack and baby met me at Skipper Canteen for our final dinner reservation and we feasted. The food was flavorful and the atmosphere was relaxed and fun.
Tip for the day: Our dining reservation was initially made for lunch time but we realized with little one's nap schedule, a dinner would be better. We lucked out and were able to make the change using the app. So, if you're wanting to snag a last minute reservation, be sure to refresh the app a few times throughout the day and you might get lucky.
Friday
We had a slow morning, so decided to grab breakfast at our resort. I got the iconic Mickey Waffles made allergy-friendly, which I highly recommend, and Zack got the hearty breakfast bowl. Then packed up and checked out! Our car service was ready and waiting to take us back to MCO, where we grabbed a quick lunch, then made our way back home.
Tip for the day: Most Disney resorts offer late checkout if you ask a cast member kindly. We were able to get a 12:30PM check out, which was perfect! I ordered the allergy-friendly waffles from our hotel's food court but see what other options surrounding hotels have or check out Disney Springs if time permits.
Here are my other favorite allergy-friendly foods at Disney World! And don't forget to ask to see a Disney World allergy menu or talk to a chef.
TLDR
Just want the basics? Here ya go:
- The Slumberpod was the MVP of the trip. 10/10, highly recommend!
- I suggest an easily collapsible travel stroller for your Disney trip.
- A travel sound machine is a must.
- Bring all the snacks! This snack spinner doubles as a toy!
- Do a little extra planning to understand what services Disney offers like Rider Switch, Minnie Vans, Disney Genie, and Lightning Lane.
Be sure to let me know if you have any questions and I'll try my best to answer. Have fun making memories with your family. Bye for now!
SlumberPod The Original Blackout Sleep Tent
Inglesina Quid Stroller
Leave a Reply