Visiting Walt Disney World with a Toddler
Don't Let a Young Child Spoil the Magic
Located in Orlando, Florida, the Walt Disney World theme parks have been a vacation coveted by many for decades. The four parks, The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, can bring back childhood memories for adults and make a child believe there really is magic in the world. The people at Disney World go the extra mile to make sure that all of their guests enjoy their stay at the parks and while taking a Disney trip with a toddler can be difficult, there are many things you can do to make it easy. Walt Disney also offers various activities geared toward toddlers and an exceptional child care program, taking advantage of this makes taking a toddler to Walt Disney World a much easier task.
Disney Theme Park Lines
It;s important to always keep toddlers occupied. The fact is that toddlers get bored easily. Even though there are a lot of attractions throughout the Disney theme parks that they will enjoy, at some point they will have to stand in line. Taking small things to occupy a toddler is a must. Pipe cleaners of multiple colors can be made into shapes and animals to amuse a toddler, small bubbles can easily be stowed away in fanny packs, and even a small pad of paper and a pen can come in handy. When he/she becomes restless in a line, simply whip out one of the activities that were packed solely to entertain them.
Feeding a Toddler at Disney World for Less
Walt Disney World allows guests to bring in food and drinks as long as the food doesn't have to be heated up and nothing is in glass containers. Since toddlers tend to snack all day instead of eating large meals, it's wise to bring along snacks. Baggies can be filled with cereal, pretzels, chips, or anything else the child may like. Parents should also take in water bottles that can be refilled throughout the day. If the child loves milk and can't live without it, most supermarkets carry small boxes of both chocolate and white milk that don't have to be refrigerated, These are normally located in the juice section of the store. For a healthy snack, there are also various fruit stands located throughout the park.
Them Park Rides with a Toddler
It's safe to say that a toddler won't be able to ride some of the scarier and faster rides at the Disney theme parks. However, if the parents want to ride, Disney offers a child swap program. To initiate a child swap the parent simply needs to tell the attendant when they reach the front of the line. The attendant will let one adult ride while the other stays with the small child and then they switch places. This allows both parents to ride without having to stand in line twice. A Disney Fast Pass can be obtained for many of the more popular attractions as well, so that the child won't have to wait in an extremely long line for a ride they won't get to ride.
Parents with small children should also take advantage of the various play parks located in all four theme parks. The Magic Kingdom has a play area for toddlers between Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This makes it easy for the older guests to enjoy the big rides while one person stays with the toddler in the play area. There is also a Winnie the Pooh play area in Fantasyland and a Donald Duck play area located in Toon Town by the Goofy Barnstormer roller coaster. There is also a play area located in Epcot next to the Mission Space ride, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play are in Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the Boneyard play area at animal kingdom.
Visiting Epcot with a Toddler
While toddlers are sure to love the Magic Kingdom, they may not be as enthused about visiting Epcot. Touring the World Showcase often appeals to adults more than young kids. However, located in each "country" is a Kidcot Fun Spot. The Kidcot Fun Spot allows kids to do a small craft for free and collect stamps on their "passport." This feature makes the World Showcase more enjoyable to children and if they visit the Kidcot station in every country, they get a free poster to take home!
Parents Night Out at a Disney Resort
Walt Disney World also offers a child care center for resort guests. Make sure to check the operational hours, but the child care centers are available for when it's "adult time." They have various activities for the children to do while the parents enjoy a nice dinner or an evening at the Disney Boardwalk.
Walt Disney World is one vacation that can easily be done with small children. As long as the parents take their time and don't expect to finish everything in one day, a very enjoyable time can be had by all. Above all remember, take a break during the day whether it's relaxing at a show or short naps at the resort it's well worth it, better to have a happy child than a tired one.
References:
Disney Hotels: Should You Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort?
Planning for Disney World: How to Take Cheap Disney Vacations
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