After spending a week at Disney World with a toddler, here's everything I learned during our trip including where to stay, what to bring, and if it's worth it!
It's no secret that we love Walt Disney World. It's definitely our happy place and one of our favorite spots to vacation. Before having kids, we visited Disney and Universal Orlando at least once a year for a few years.
Now that we have a 2 year old and little one on the way, theme park trips have become a little more complex. They're still fun and full of magical experiences, but they require more planning and flexibility.
For our second babymoon, we decided to head to Disney for 7 days. Since we traveled there a few months prior, we didn't feel it was necessary to trek through all the parks. Instead, we wanted to explore the spots that often get overlooked like the Boardwalk, Disney Springs, and hotel amenities. More than anything, we just wanted to escape reality, relax, and eat good food!
If you're traveling with a baby who's not quite walking, happily sits in their stroller, and still sleeps in a crib, check out my guide to Disney World with a baby, as I include more age-specific tips there.
Where to stay
Since relaxing and hanging out by the pool were top priority for us, I spent a good chunk of time researching the best on-site hotel pools and splash pads for toddlers and young kids. The clear winner is Port Orleans French Quarter!
The Doubloon Lagoon Water Play Area at POFQ is fun and colorful, includes a spacious splash pad with slides, jets, and a big water dumping feature. But my favorite aspects are that the area is fenced in but close to the main pool, pool bar, and restrooms. There's also a nearby playground, but it was a little advanced for our little guy.
By the way, if you hit up the pool bar, Mardi Grogs, be sure to order yourself a Hurricane and Hot Cajun Boiled Peanuts! The boiled peanuts were next level.
Port Orleans French Quarter is also the perfect balance of quaint and lively. It has ferry boats to nearby resorts and Disney Springs, was recently renovated, and has delicious beignets.
If we were spending more time in the parks, I'd consider Art of Animation or Pop Century, as both have skyliner access making it easy to get to and from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. But if Magic Kingdom is your family's priority and you don't mind spending more on a hotel, I'd check out the Polynesian Resort. We also really enjoy Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress if you want to stay off-site and out of the Disney bubble.
I absolutely loved staying at Port Orleans French Quarter for this vacation! The newly refurbished rooms are beautiful with touches of Princess Tiana throughout. We originally booked a standard room with two queens but were upgraded to a king sized room, which was wonderful and overlooked the scenic Sassagoula River.
What to bring to Disney for toddlers
Besides the standard Disney packing list, here are the items that made traveling with a toddler easier!
SlumberPod SlumberTot Inflatable Toddler Travel BedIf your toddler has outgrown the crib, this portable kids air mattress is perfect for travel. 
Inglesina Quid StrollerThis lightweight travel stroller is ultra-compact yet comfortable for kids up to 50 pounds. It's easy to collapse, has multi-position recline, adjustable leg rest, convenient roll-up ventilation window, storage basket, and more. 
Airplane Safety Travel Harness For KidsAmSafe's is the only FAA-approved Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES). It's lightweight, easy to install, and completely hassle-free for safe, convenient travel. Other must-have items for traveling to Disney with a toddler are an insulated water bottle, snack cups, and disposable placemats for mealtimes. This bladeless stroller fan was an absolute must for keeping cool, these flex locks helped baby proof and secure the hotel room, and our portable sound machine was great for noise canceling.
Park day at Magic Kingdom
Our itinerary was quite unique, as we planned for a majority of non-park days. Magic Kingdom is arguably the best park for small kids. That's been our experience at least!
It's full of toddler-friendly rides and attractions, plus has that nostalgic charm. Because we stayed on-site, we got early admission to the park. This was important for us since we take a mid-day break for nap time.
We spent our morning at Magic Kingdom soaking up the sights and sounds, experiencing The Enchanted Tiki Room, and riding The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid.
I had the iconic Dole Whip from Aloha Isle and my husband tried the hand-dipped corndog and house-made chips from Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. (He wants y'all to know the corndog was great but the chips are a skip.) For dessert, he got the Cheshire Cat Tail pastry from the Cheshire Café, which had me drooling!
After nap time, we took the bus back to Magic Kingdom for dinner and a ride on the Walt Disney World Railroad! It was the first time any of us had ridden the train and we loved it. We had dinner at Columbia Harbour House, which is such a hidden gem! I absolutely loved my plant-based Hearts of Palm and Artichoke Roll, but boy was it messy.
If you're heading to Magic Kingdom with toddlers be sure to check their height before you leave to see if they're tall enough for any of the rides that have a requirement. This park is great though because there's over 20 rides with no height requirement!
In addition to the attractions we went on, I'd specifically check out Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, It's a Small World, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan's Flight, Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel, and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
Where we ate
If you've never been to Disney, you might not understand the hype around the food, but trust me, it's worth it! This isn't your average theme park fare. Even the resort dining options are surprisingly impressive. Sure, you'll find the usual pizza and sandwiches, which we both enjoyed, but there's so much more to discover.
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory is the quick-service restaurant at Port Orleans French Quarter. I'm not vegan, but I usually eat plant-based on vacation to stay safe with my dairy and egg allergies. This hotel does an incredible job catering to dietary restrictions, so you can rest easy knowing you'll be well taken care of.
I loved everything I ate here! For breakfast, don't miss the iconic Mickey waffles. The vegan breakfast quesadilla was a pleasant surprise too. For lunch and dinner, I really enjoyed the allergy-friendly chicken strips, the plant-based meatball bowl, the Korean-style burger, and even the allergy-friendly pizza.
My husband took the more adventurous route with lots of themed meals, including jambalaya, beef in gravy, and chicken mojo. The food court also offers plenty of grab-and-go options, which were perfect for our toddler.
A short walk along the river takes you from French Quarter to Boatwright's Dining Hall at Port Orleans Riverside. We were lucky to snag last-minute dinner reservations, and the stroll over was beautiful. I ordered the Creole lentils while my husband had the seafood boil, but the real star was the vegan pecan pie tarts. Oh my gosh, unreal. I'd go back just for dessert!
We thought we'd eat at Disney Springs more often but ended up loving the laid-back vibe of our resort. Still, we made time for a few favorites: burgers at D-Luxe Burger (my husband's top pick), a first-time visit to Yesake where I got the tofu power bowl and he tried the ahi tuna poke, both 10/10, and of course, a stop at Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC, the allergy-friendly bakery I couldn't miss. The cake pop, oatmeal sandwich cookies, and coffee cake were absolute highlights of the trip. Next time, I can't wait to try Summer House for brunch!
Toddler perks
Did you know kids under 3 get in free to every Disney park? It's one of the best perks for traveling with little ones.
Each park has a Baby Care Center, and they are amazing. Think big changing tables, highchairs, quiet nursing rooms, and even a little shop with baby food, diapers, and wipes in case you run out.
You can also bring your own snacks and water bottles, which was a total lifesaver for us. It made things so much easier knowing we had food our toddler would actually eat.
If you want to ride something your toddler can't, use Rider Switch. One parent rides while the other hangs out with the kids, then you trade spots without having to wait in line again.
Disney also makes travel easier with rental options like strollers, mini cribs, pack 'n plays, and bed rails available at resorts.
All Disney transportation is stroller friendly, so you can roll right onto most boats and Skyliners. Just fold your stroller for buses.
What we'd do differently
Next time, we're definitely bringing the grandparents. Having an extra set of hands would make the trip so much easier. Plus, they'd love seeing our little one's face light up at the parades and fireworks.
We'd also plan a character dining experience or two. It's such a fun, low-stress way for toddlers to meet their favorite characters without waiting in long lines. The Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at Epcot, Story Book Dining at Artist Point, and Tusker House at Animal Kingdom are all high on our list.
And speaking of characters, we'll make more time for meet-and-greets in the parks. Our toddler was just starting to recognize Mickey and friends, and seeing those interactions in person is pure magic.
Top tips for taking toddlers to Disney World
These tips helped us keep things fun, flexible, and mostly meltdown-free!
- Plan ahead: Make a short list of rides and attractions you really want to do each day. It helps keep things realistic and focused.
- Schedule airport transfers: Forget dealing with ride sharing apps and book transportation to and from your resort. We love Tiffany Towncar, their reservation includes car seats and a 20-minute stop at Publix to stock up on groceries.
- Use the My Disney Experience app: It has directions for everything in the parks and resorts, wait times, mobile food ordering, and all your reservations in one spot.
- Bring comfort items: A favorite blanket, books, or small toy can make naps, bus rides, and long lines much more enjoyable.
- Take breaks: The heat and excitement can be a lot for little ones (and grown-ups too). Find shaded spots, grab a snack, or hop on a calm ride to recharge.
- Plan for parades and character meet-and-greets: Pick which ones you don't want to miss and build your day around them.
- Reserve dining early: Character meals and popular restaurants fill up quickly, so booking ahead saves a lot of stress later.
Is it worth it?
Absolutely. Visiting Disney World with a toddler is a completely different experience than going as adults, but it's every bit as magical in its own way. You won't ride every attraction or stay out late every night, but you'll see the parks through their eyes-and that makes it all worth it.
The joy of watching your little one wave at Mickey, dance during a parade, or giggle down Main Street, U.S.A. is something you'll never forget. Sure, there are naps to juggle, snacks to pack, and the occasional meltdown, but those moments fade fast compared to the memories you make together.
If you go in with realistic expectations, take things slow, and lean into the magic, it's one of the sweetest trips you'll ever take as a family. Heading to Universal too? Check out my guide to Universal Orlando next!
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