How to have happy and magical days in Disney World with the little ones.
I know at some time or another, we all doubt about how worth is it to go to Disney when your kids are so little. But, my friend is all worth it! To see their happy little faces and excited eyes with Mickey and all his friends, pays the ticket. They might not remember the whole thing in the future, but imagine if you did everything thinking they will remember, you ended up doing nothing. At this stage in their lives is all about the experience and the stimulation that comes with it.
We live in Miami, so I believe Disney World will be a go-to place for many years to come. The first time we went, Samuel was 20 months, almost 2 years. Which is a good time if you live in Florida and know that you will be back soon. If this is not the case, and going to Disney implies a very long trip to do once or twice in a lifetime, I would wait until he or she is a bit older. At least 3 years old so she/he can enjoy more.
No matter when you decide to go, I would love to share with yo my 5 TOP tips to consider when you plan your trip to Disney;
1. WHEN TO GO: Since toddlers are less patient than older kids, I would suggest not going on high season. (Not during school holidays if possible, or not during summer). We like going in January when the weather is nice enough to be able to wait in line. Halloween and early December is also a beautiful and fun time to go.
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2. WHERE TO GO: The must-go parks for toddlers are Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. They have characters, amazing attractions and beautiful shows for all the family. The first thing you need to have once you get your tickets, is the Disney World app, it will give you a guide of everything in every park with waiting times in real time. You will also have access to three (3) free fast passes to use per day, you can also book passes in advance. I highly recommend booking those fast passes at least one week before your visit. Try to use them in the most wanted attractions. Which brings us to my next point.
3. MUST SEE ATTRACTIONS: The must-see things to do in any park that you are visiting with your toddlers is the shows and characters. In this age from 1 to 5 years old, the little ones really appreciate watching the shows and favorite Disney friends. At Magic Kingdom, I recommend the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade (3:00 pm)*- try to be at least half an hour before, to get a first row spot. The same goes for the Happily Ever After show, which is the grand finale show with fireworks. For the characters, it is very personal depending of your kid’s favorites. However, you at least have to meet Mickey Mouse, it's a very nice experience for the kids. The other attractions and rides depend mostly on the kid's height, here are my top 3 for kids under 40’:
Prince charming Regal Carrousel
Under the sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
It’s a small world
For kids taller than 40’: I recommend the ones mentioned above plus these roller coasters (if you think your kid is up to it). Mine loves them, but some kids are not into them yet.
The Barnstormer
The Big Thunder Mountain railroad
Splash mountain
At Animal Kingdom, I recommend the following shows: Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo (preferably if your kid has seen the movie), and the Tree of Life Awakenings. At Animal Kingdom is also a good opportunity to meet other characters, the lines are not as long as in Magic Kingdom. As far of the attractions: the Must-go attraction is the Kilimanjaro Safari, this one allows strollers into the line (huge help). If your kids are taller than 38’ also try to go to the Kali River rapids. A new section that is spectacular is the Pandora - World of Avatar, it’s very nice. If the waiting time is less than 60 mins try to go to the Na’ river journey (if the line is longer that one hour is not worth the wait). However, the Avatar flight of passage is out of this world (the only thing is that is has a height limit of 44’).
4. WHERE TO EAT: Try to relax as much as you can with the food situation. As any park in the world, most of the options are fast food. However you would be surprised to find at least one healthy option in almost every restaurant. In Magic Kingdom, you can have lunch/dinner at Pinocchio Village Haus, Tomorrow land restaurant or Tony's Town Square Restaurant. For this last one, you will have to book in advance through the app as well. At Animal Kingdom, you have more restaurant options. We love Yak & Yeti, an asian restaurant with a variety of good dishes, that can give you a fresh boost compared to the common options. One thing that I would advice is to always go at least half an hour ahead of your kid's meal time, because every restaurant has lines or at least some wait time, that you will not want to have with a hungry and tired kid.
5. WHAT TO BRING: Finally, don't forget to bring the stroller, snacks, water, sunglasses and hats/caps. It's usually a very fun but long day so try to take it easy, visit what you can but do not stress about it. Remember, the whole idea is to enjoy and have fun as a family.
Hope you have a great and magical time!
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