In this post, I'll be sharing a few tips and tricks for visiting with toddlers. Keep in mind that my first trip with my own toddler is still about 3 years away, so most of these tips actually come from my mom, who is a pro when it comes to wagging a little tyke around the parks, as well as my own experience actually being a toddler at the parks. (Yes, I remember it very well!) So without further delay, here are my tips for toddlers!
1. What age is the best time for a first visit? This question is one I get asked a lot. The answer is different for every child, depending on their imagination and attention span, but the general rule is anytime after they are potty trained. For most children, this is around 2 or 3 years old. I was 2 1/2 when I had my first visit. My son will be the same age. Some people think this is too young, using the excuse that the child "will not remember it," but this is just what it is: an excuse. I remember every detail of my first visit to the Magic Kingdom (in fact, it's my first vivid memory of life period). Memory is no reason to wait to take your child to the parks. Even if they don't remember it when they are 2, you will. You will remember the magic and light in their eyes during every first moment. That magic dims a little more the older they get. Children age 6 or 7 are not nearly as compelled to believe in make-believe as younger ones. Besides, don't think that you are only going to take your child once in their life. You will probably revisit the parks again and again as they grow.
2. Use a stroller. If you don't think it's worth it, just ask my mom. On my first trip, they opted not to you a stroller for just one day and totally regretted it. There is an insane amount of walking involved in a Disney trip and toddlers will want to be carried for most of it if they are not riding in a stroller. You can bring a stroller from home, or you can rent one from Disney. There is much debate over which option is better. As with anything, it depends on what's right for your family, so I will simply share with you what we are planning on doing. After watching countless tired parents having to lug their big strollers on and off trams, monorails, buses, and boats, it was a no-brainer for us to rent. You can rent single strollers from Disney for just $15 per day (double strollers are available for $31 per day), or you can rent them for the entire length of your stay for $13 ($27 for doubles) per day. Strollers cannot be removed from the parks (a blessing, trust me), so when you are finished at one park and ready to go to another, all you do is return your stroller, go to your next park and show your rental receipt and they will give you a stroller to use there. Easy as that, and great for park hoppers. If you bring a stroller from home, you will be required to fold it every time you get on a tram, bus, or boat. Monorails do not require folding. Every attraction has stroller parking nearby.
3. Get the Park Hopper option on your ticket. This is another one of those things that people debate over. Some say it is a waste of money, but others (like me) couldn't live without it. It's especially handy if you have a toddler. Why? Naptime. If your toddler (or you lol) needs a break to rest during the day, with Park Hopper you can return to your room for a few hours, then head back to the parks later without having to use another ticket day. Park Hopper also allows you to maximize your time and do what you want, when you want. You are not limited to remaining in one place the entire day. With toddlers, variety is a very good thing!
4. Take small snacks. Disney allows you to bring your own food and drinks to the parks (but no coolers), so pack a small baggie of your child's favorite snack to hold them over between meals. You also might want to carry a couple bottles of water. Once your bottle is empty, you can refill it at one of the water fountains. We did this on our last trip and it was very convenient and saved us the extra drink money.
5. Don't push character greetings. This tip comes from a very scared little girl who really did NOT want to meet Tigger as much as he wanted to meet her. Not all kids will love to talk and play with the characters right away. On my first visit, my parents tried to get me to interact with characters like Tigger, Mickey, and Minnie, but I was very shy and scared of them. I was not expecting them to be that BIG! I loved watching them from a distance, but up close meet-and-greets were not my thing yet. I didn't really enjoy the characters until I was 5. Not every child is this way of course. Your child may love the characters. But if they don't, don't try to push it. I know how much you want that classic photo with Mickey, but sometimes you just have to wait until they are ready to come out of their shell.
6. Staying away from loud noises. If your child does not do well with very loud noises, like fireworks, try viewing the show from farther away than normal. At Magic Kingdom, most crowds gather around the statue and hub area in front of the castle. Most people don't realize there is a perfect viewing area from the second level of Main Street Train Station. This is far enough away that the booms aren't so loud, but is still a great view of the entire show. At Epcot, try viewing Illuminations from anywhere on World Showcase. No crowd and a more spectacular view.
7. Rider Swap. Just because your little one is too small to ride the rollercoasters doesn't mean you have to miss out. Disney offers something called Rider Swap. One parent gets in line to ride the attraction and is given a ticket. After they ride, they come back and give the ticket to the other parent who then rides with little to no wait. This way, one parent is always waiting outside with the child. This is very similar to doing the single rider line, which is a super fast and great way to ride the big attractions like Rock n Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, and Space Mountain.
8. See it through their eyes. Don't forget to take an opportunity to see things from your toddler's level. For example, when watching a parade, crouch down to their height and see it from their view. Some of the things you may think are annoying or cheesy are absolutely inspiring to them (ever heard of It's a Small World?). Take the time to enjoy those magical firsts. You won't ever get them back.
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