do Disney World with a Child, the Final Information by a former Solid Member

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When Jeremy picked Disney World for his thirty fifth birthday journey, I used to be nervous. I imply, we’ve completed Disney World a lot of occasions – and I used to be there just about each single day after I was a Solid Member. However we’d by no means, EVER completed Disney World with a child. And this journey, we’d be bringing alongside Child A for child’s first Disney journey!

Would she hate it? Would we hate it?! I had no concept, however I feared the worst. We each braced ourselves for a cranky, overstimulated child that we’d be spending 5 days straight entertaining within the parks whereas switching off using our favourite Disney rides.

However to my absolute shock, Child A LOVED Disney World. She liked rides. She liked exhibits. She liked characters. She was actually into birds swiftly, and for some purpose, lamps? She liked Solid Members, she liked dancing to music as we walked by the parks. She LOVED Disney World! And we liked attending to see it by her eyes. Disney with a child is so value it, y’all!

On this (large) information, we’re sharing ideas and tips for visiting Disney with infants, together with the perfect (and worst) parks and points of interest for infants, the place to remain, and some necessities to pack. Let’s dive in!

Psst: In search of extra ideas that can assist you plan your Disney journey? Try a few of our different Disney World posts:

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Ideas for Visiting Disney World with a Child

Earlier than I dive in, a small disclaimer: all infants are completely different, and child wants range wildly by age. In case you learn one thing that doesn’t apply. to you – like in case your child isn’t on solids but, as a result of we spend a lot time eager about feeding Child A as of late – be happy to skip it. You recognize your child finest!

That mentioned: whereas Child A was 10 months previous throughout our journey, I’ve additionally completed my finest to include ideas from our travels with Child A when she was youthful (we began touring along with her round 3 months) within the hopes to make this a extremely useful information even for youthful infants. And truthfully, y’all – the youthful they’re, the simpler they’re to journey with!

Yet one more factor: I contemplate us fortunate that in our journey Child A was not but terribly cell – she’s crawling and standing, however is just not but strolling or crawling lengthy distances. So I didn’t have to fret about chasing after her. In case your child is on that mobility life, you’ll wish to take into consideration some baby-wrangling methods (no disgrace in a cute leashed backpack)!

Oh, and at last – can I simply apologize for the standard of photographs on this submit? Usually I exploit a DSLR digicam after I’m taking footage for a weblog submit, however all I used to be capable of handle this journey was to make use of my telephone! Nonetheless adjusting to this complete working/mother factor, y’all. Thanks for not judging me!

OK – onto the ideas for visiting Disney World with an toddler:

• Hearken to Disney music earlier than your journey, particularly songs which are on rides (suppose “It’s a Small World” or the Tiki Room). I feel this actually helped Child A get excited on the parks, as a result of she was listening to a lot of acquainted songs! There’s a nice Disney Parks playlist on Spotify that we performed for a few weeks earlier than the journey.
• Splurge on Genie +. Genie+ is a paid service that lets you guide “Lightning Lane” passes to undergo a shorter line (mainly a paid model of FastPass, in case you’re aware of its former incarnation). It’s value it with a child, particularly because you gained’t want to really purchase one in your baby since they don’t want a park ticket. The longest we waited for a experience throughout our 4-day journey was half-hour for It’s a Small World, and that felt like an eternity – more often than not we just about walked on or solely waited a few minutes. Occupying a child in line sucks. Get the cross.
• Deliver a journey excessive chair for meals. This foldable excessive chair was a HUGE assistance on our journey. We used it in our resort room for all of our meals, and if we’d had area for it in our stroller, we’d have introduced it into the parks too. Whereas all Disney eating places have excessive chairs, they’re not child sized. Child A is extraordinarily tall, and she or he discovered herself chin-heat at most. of the tables within the parks. Undecided if the tables are weirdly excessive or the excessive chairs are weirdly low, however it made meals within the parks troublesome. This transportable excessive chair that straps on high of a chair at eating places or can sit on the bottom wherever for snacks is the right resolution.
• Babysitting is obtainable at Walt Disney World through a service referred to as Youngsters Nite Out. They will watch your baby whilst you take pleasure in your individual inside baby on the parks! Youngsters Nite Out also can give you a sitter to accompany you within the parks in case you want an additional set of arms. Assessment: https://touringplans.com/weblog/kids-nite-out-your-familys-next-vacation-win/
• You may go to Disney World with no automotive seat in case you keep in a Disney Resort resort. In case you fly with a lap toddler, you possibly can  take a shuttle bus  from the airport, and persist with Disney’s free transportation between the parks and resorts together with buses, the Skyliner, and boats. In a pinch, you too can take Minni Vans, which come outfitted with Graco 4Ever automotive seats. That mentioned, we have been actually glad that we had a automotive as a result of it made attending to and from parks fairly fast (aside from Magic Kingdom, which is a schlep and a half it doesn’t matter what).

• Use the newborn care facilities in every park for nursing, altering, snacks, cool-down time, microwave, and to purchase any emergency child provides you might have left at house! They’re normally subsequent to the primary support facilities too that are additionally necessary to learn about.
• Use Rider Change. One mum or dad rides whereas the opposite one hangs out with the newborn. Simply ask a solid member on the entrance of any experience to assist get you arrange.
• Use single rider, too! Solely 4 rides formally have a single-rider lane, however a lot of rides will search for single rider to replenish uneven gaps, which implies you’ll get to experience sooner. Maintain an ear out for a solid member in search of a solo rider close to the entrance of most thrill rides. We bought to experience plenty of stuff with out standing in lengthy strains this fashion.
• Minnie Vans come outfitted with rear-facing Graco 4Ever seats. In case you don’t have a automotive throughout your journey, this service is unbelievable! Mainly, Minnie Vans are Disney-owned SUVs (themed to Minnie) pushed by Disney Solid Members, that you would be able to order by the Lyft app. They arrive with TWO automotive seats! They’re unbelievable for getting round Disney property, although they aren’t very low cost. To make use of them, open up the Lyft app, and select Minnie Van because the experience kind. Straightforward.
• Swap who does bedtime so one mum or dad will get to roam across the park solo whereas the opposite one chills within the room with child. We switched off and every had 2 nights free out within the parks!
• Deliver hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes and do your finest. We used sanitizing wipes on each lap bar and wherever child would put their arms on a experience, understanding that lots of of youngsters had lately put their arms there, too. Mixed with us carrying KN95s masks, none of us bought sick throughout our journey. However simply in case, carry toddler Tylenol/Motrin with you so you have got it available.
• Deliver your individual stroller. Those they lease on the parks aren’t good for infants. We suggest one which folds down simply, like this one, since you’ll must fold it up on Disney transport. That mentioned, you possibly can’t take your strollers inside in all places, and stroller parking isn’t all the time proper outdoors of the doorway – like, in case you’re going to The Land pavilion in Epcot, your stroller should keep at Nemo and Mates. Carriers are useful in these conditions, and so is the Tushbaby.

• In case you make an Advance Eating Reservation at a Disney sit-down restaurant, cancellations should be made 24 hours upfront. In any other case, you will be charged a cancellation price of $10 per individual (3 and up). Except you go to the restaurant in individual on the identical day and beg your case, through which case they waive the price. Nonetheless, that coverage is …not very best for infants. But in addition, Disney meals is well worth the danger! So drop these expectations by the ground and do your finest to only glide.
• Meltdowns at Disney are inevitable, and I’m not speaking about your child. Do not forget that most marital disputes at Disney could be solved by some mixture of snacks, A/C, sitting quietly for some time, and/or a Mickey Bar.
• Deliver Snacks! In case your toddler is round 8 months or older, you’ll want snacks for them in between meals. If not, you’ll want snacks for your self – parenting whereas hangry isn’t a good suggestion! Listed here are our favourite baby-friendly snacks for Disney:
  • Pouches! We love the natural fruit and veggie pouches from Costco. They’re hydrating, pretty nutritious, and assist infants follow fantastic motor expertise like sucking by a straw and squeezing!
  • Freeze dried fruit: soften in your mouth fruit! What’s to not love? Er, aside from the value. It’s costly!
  • Yogurt melts: Child A loves them, however they’re exhausting to search out with out added sugar, they make child’s arms very sticky, and so they appear to make her spit up. And it’s all the time vivid pink and has that bitter yogurt odor. They usually stain. Not our favourite snack however works in a pinch.
  • Cheerios. Basic. Straightforward. At all times successful. Not a choking hazard. 10/10. We’ve got realized to all the time have a ziploc baggie of cheerios on us always!
  • Bombas or Gerbers puffs. We discovered some natural Gerber puffs which have a sprinkling of veggie powder in them and that made us really feel good although I’m positive they provide little or no precise diet. However they’re enjoyable to eat and assist infants follow their pincer grip!
• Don’t go away snacks out in your stroller, particularly at Animal Kingdom. We noticed a couple of uninvited critters making the rounds at stroller parking in Animal Kingdom, and no one needs squirrels and their germs on their strollers! Clear up stray Cheerios and tuck snacks away in a bag to verify your stroller isn’t a goal.

Disney World with Infants: Which Parks Are Greatest?

One factor I want we knew earlier than our journey is which Disney World parks are finest to go to with an toddler. Because it seems, not each park is equal with regards to visiting Disney with an toddler. Some parks skew extra towards adults, some extra towards older youngsters. Some parks are sorely missing in shade and air-conditioned indoor areas to take naps or cool off.

To my shock, there was a transparent winner as the perfect Disney World park with an toddler: Epcot! Epcot has the perfect steadiness of baby-friendly points of interest

Hollywood Studios with a Child

Hollywood Studios does one factor higher than the opposite parks: reside exhibits. Child A LOVED the Magnificence  and the Beast reside efficiency. And that was … about it. The remainder of the park simply isn’t actually designed for infants. That mentioned, it is perhaps value a day go to only for the few points of interest it does supply – or so that you and your associate can do rider change and experience all of the actually good things.

Greatest points of interest and rides for infants at Hollywood Studios:

• Magnificence and the Beast Reside on Stage: Child A misplaced her rattling MIND singing and clapping alongside at this present. The dancing and songs in the beginning are enjoyable and upbeat and actually well-done, visually – suppose 1930’s period showcase dance numbers. However she kinda misplaced curiosity when issues bought unhappy and gradual (“story as previous as time” is just not a child bop, it seems). Fortunately we sat on the finish of the aisle so we may make a fast getaway. This was positively Child A’s favourite exercise at Hollywood Studios.
• Halfway Mania: We have been involved about bringing her on this experience as a result of it’s 3D, and we have been afraid it would make her nauseous with out the glasses on. However she liked going across the observe and didn’t appear bothered by the blurry, non-3d pictures on the display. She needed to drag the string to shoot too! Nonetheless, she didn’t like a number of the loud noises, and cried and squirmed a bit throughout the loudest half – breaking plates – however settled after we stopped and coated her ears for a bit. This one positively verges on overstimulating, however it’s kinda not that enjoyable in case you aren’t capable of be aggressive and play in opposition to your associate.

… and that’s it. Yeah: this park actually wasn’t designed for infants.

Rides to Skip in Hollywood Studios: 

• Mickey’s Runaway Railroad: We held Child A on our laps for this experience, however none of us loved it a lot. The experience is very loud and a bit too intense/scary for her. She bought scared at many of the “battle” elements of the story and all of us hated the automobiles dancing – I believed she was going to fall out at one level. Overstimulating, loud, jarring – this experience is only a lot.

Ideas for Hollywood Studios with a Child

• There’s a pleasant place to nap on the entrance to Galaxy’s Edge proper on the border with the Toy Story part. It’s a quiet aspect space with ambient chicken noises enjoying and no loud noises, and it’s off the principle path so there aren’t any crowds. There’s additionally a conveniently positioned bench.
• One other nice nap spot is within the tunnel on the opposite aspect of Galaxy’s Edge. It’s absolutely shaded and has a pleasant breeze and ambient spa music (I suppose Star Wars is all about ambient spa sounds). It’s the right afternoon nap/nurse spot, although you’ll see that a lot of mother and father have the identical concept – it’s not as quiet as the opposite spot we discovered.
• The Child Care heart is on the very entrance of the park and also you’ll have to chop the Visitor Relations line to get to it, which is irritating and inconvenient. Not value it, truthfully.

Hollywood Studios Verdict: if you need to choose a park to skip, that is the one. It’s simply not the perfect park for infants!

Epcot with a Child

Ahhh, Epcot. My favourite park. And never simply as a result of this was *my* park throughout my time as a Solid Member, after I labored at Soarin’ within the Land Pavilion. I imply positive sure, there’s plenty of completely satisfied nostalgia tied to the park for me. But in addition? I LOVE journey – hi there, that’s my job now – and a complete half of Epcot is all about celebrating journey and letting you step foot into immersive miniature lands representing completely different international locations. The World Showcase is sort of a mile of pure journey gasoline, and I completely find it irresistible.

And on the opposite half of the park are lands celebrating Earth and area. And, er, the Guardians of the Galaxy, which … truthfully, doesn’t match in any respect, however it’s an superior new experience so we’ll go along with it.

Anway: the park is beautiful, effectively laid out, stuffed with fascinating issues to see and do, and – drumroll please – the BEST Disney World park for infants!

Why did we rank Epcot on the high? For starters, 3 phrases: AIR CONDITIONED PAVILIONS. There are TONS of pavilions all through the park, and most of them are enormous and air-conditioned. There’s additionally ample seating – like Connections Cafe, which is basically an infinite Starbucks stuffed with benches and tables – each indoors and outdoor.

The Child Heart is conveniently situated within the excellent heart of the park, with a big, snug nursing room that has area for a number of households. And there’s a vast number of baby-friendly actions, from baby-friendly rides to a big playground to a unbelievable aquarium. Epot makes it straightforward to entertain or nap a child on a sizzling Florida day!

Let’s get to the tea:

Greatest points of interest and rides for infants at Epcot:

• The Seas with Nemo and Mates: 10/10 excellent child experience and Child A LOVED it. Darkish! Cool! Enjoyable! Fish! Songs! Nothing scary or loud or jarring. And afterward, AN AQUARIUM! Child A misplaced her thoughts on the aquarium and we returned right here time and again. One mum or dad stayed on the aquarium with the newborn whereas the opposite one rode Soarin on the Land Pavilion subsequent door, and the Guardians of the Galaxy experience close by. Child A may have stayed right here fish all day lengthy (and with the A/C, we have been completely satisfied to remain right here too). There are tons to see in right here and it’s a fantastic spot to chill off for some time. Plus, that is additionally the place you’ll discover Turtle Discuss with Crush which is one in every of our favorites, although we sadly didn’t try it out with Child A this time.
• Grand Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros: This was one in every of Child A’s favorites! A lot of scenes of Mexico and upbeat music, and the tip portion is mainly simply It’s a Small World however with extra of a concentrate on Mexico. Plus, there’s just about by no means a line, and you need to undergo the Mexico pavilion to get right here which is totally beautiful.
• Frozen: I feel she wasn’t a fan of the songs switching each scene, however Child A did get pleasure from this experience. She particularly liked the large backward drop (it’s actually not that large of a drop, however it’s to a child!) and appeared to benefit from the music too.

Rides we didn’t have time to expertise however I wager Child A would have loved:

• Spaceship Earth: I completely love this experience, however we nervous that Child A may discover it boring because it doesn’t have a lot music. Nonetheless, we absolutely deliberate to attempt it … till we realized we’d should stroll alllll the way in which again to the very entrance of the park after we have been already within the World Showcase near the Skyliner. Too far. I’d give it a attempt in case you enter on the large ball, although!

Rides to Skip in Epcot 

• Figment: That is positively a baby-friendly experience when it comes to the mechanics of the experience (good and gradual, enjoyable), however the experience itself was simply okay. There was plenty of speaking and all of it went over her head. And admittedly, there wasn’t sufficient music to maintain her , both. This experience is extra geared towards barely older youngsters.
• Residing with the Land: One other experience that Child A simply discovered kinda boring. There’s a lot of speaking about vegetation and the setting and such (not thrilling for a child, however very cool for the remainder of us) and there’s no music. That mentioned, a really small child would possible get pleasure from this gradual, enjoyable experience.

Ideas for Epcot with a child

• Make a lunch reservation at one of many eating places within the World Showcase. Decide a delicacies from the 11 international locations and guide a desk for lunch! The meals right here is phenomenal – the entire Cooks are professionally skilled and from their respective international locations. Your servers will probably be from the nation you’re consuming in, too.
• Connections Cafe is a huuuge Starbucks stuffed with tables and benches! It’s a fantastic place to chill down and rejuvenate.
• The fountain in Morocco – not the one on the entrance, the one within the Riad contained in the plaza – is a superb place to chill down within the shade and do some refreshing water play, or a pleasant shaded nap with built-in white noise.
• Epcot has a really good child care heart, proper in between the World Showcase and the remainder of the park. There’s a giant snug nursing room with a lot of chairs and footrests. It’s cool, darkish, and quiet – the right spot for a nap. (Epcot is filled with good nap spots!)
• There’s a giant playground outdoors of the Creations store. Even when your baby can’t play simply but, they’ll in all probability get pleasure from watching large youngsters enjoying!

Epcot Verdict: arms down the winner of Disney World’s most baby-friendly park! From the large air-conditioned pavilions to the ample seating to the centrally situated child care heart to the baby-friendly rides and points of interest, we discovered ourselves returning to Epcot time and again.

Animal Kingdom with an Toddler

Animal Kingdom is a unbelievable park for infants, particularly in case your baby has taken an curiosity in animals like ours (she’s a giant fan of birds, particularly). It’s lush and inexperienced and stuffed with locations to see animals – plus some enjoyable rides, too.

For folks, there’s additionally my favourite experience, Everest, which occurs to have a single-rider line that’ll get you on nearly instantly. It’s nice to experience throughout the child’s nap! There are a couple of different nice thrill rides too, however there are many points of interest and exhibits for infants.

The caveat? There aren’t many locations indoors to flee from the warmth – and Animal Kingdom is definitely about 10 levels hotter and extra humid than the opposite parks by design, for the wildlife – type of like of a tropical rainforest. So we suggest visiting Animal Kingdom very first thing within the morning and leaving earlier than or proper after lunch. Right here’s the tea:

Greatest points of interest and rides for infants at Animal Kingdom:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris: That is such a fantastic attraction! You’ll be on a giant open-air truck driving by the savannah and seeing animals up shut – nearly like a zoo however with none of the enclosures. Child A LOVED Kilimanjaro and was clapping for all of the animals! This experience is finest early within the morning when the animals are most lively and being fed, so head straight right here very first thing when you arrive. Every journey is completely different so it’s nice to experience time and again, too.
• Na’vi River Journey: A bioluminescent deal with for the eyes. All the things on this slow-moving river experience was completely stunning, magical, glowing, and nature-y. The music is calm. It’s a complete vibe. And I feel this was Child A’s FAVORITE experience in any of the parks. She was completely enchanted the whole time and in no way scared. This experience is certainly value a Lightning Lane cross.
• Pageant of the Lion King Present: Child A loved the lion king present, however misplaced curiosity throughout the slower elements and appeared overwhelmed throughout a number of the villain songs. We ended up nursing many of the present (it’s a protracted present) however may simply have left as a substitute.

Rides we didn’t have time to expertise however I wager Child A would have loved:

• Wildlife Categorical Practice to Rafiki’s Planet Watch: The Wildlife Categorical Practice is a peaceable 7-minute journey – a experience in and of itself – to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, a quiet, air-conditioned pavilion devoted to the preservation and conservation of animals. You’ll see some fascinating stuff right here and a few animals. Most of it’ll in all probability go proper over child’s head, however hey, there’s A/C! While you’re prepared, take the practice again to the remainder of the park.
• Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight: Just like the Tiki Room however with actual birds (and fewer singing). I feel Child A would have actually loved seeing the colourful macaws hovering and swooping overhead!
• Animal Encounters: From lions to tigers to gorillas (oh my!) there are TONS of locations to see animals right here! There’s even a petting zoo. I want we took extra time to stroll by the opposite animal sections. Actually, we may have fortunately spent a number of mornings at Animal Kingdom.
• Drummers of Harambe: Child A is a giant fan of drumming and dancing to a beat, and this reside road efficiency within the Africa part of the park would have been superior for her to see. They pull up large youngsters to bounce too which infants love to observe! I want we’d made it a degree to catch one in every of their present occasions.
• Discovering Nemo: The Large Blue… and Past: This reside present is filled with large colourful track and dance numbers! In case your baby enjoys music and dancing too, this will probably be a giant hit.

Ideas for Animal Kingdom with a child

• For lunch, Tusker Home is nice. It’s character eating with Mickey and mates (Child A was tentatively within the characters as soon as they began enjoying peekaboo along with her) and the meals is buffet fashion, with a lot of baby-friendly meals and yummy meals for everybody.
• Napping right here and being right here within the afternoon is a problem. It’s 10 levels hotter and extra humid than the opposite parks. And there aren’t any large, quiet indoor locations with A/C to chill off and calm down (apart from Rafiki’s Planet Watch). When naptime hit, it took us fairly some time to search out a great spot. We finally discovered some picnic tables below a tree that was kinda shaded and quiet… after which some loud a** water present began up and I about misplaced my f***king thoughts.
• The Child Care Heart is centrally situated and fairly good. It has personal nursing rooms, which is useful in case your child is definitely distracted.

Animal Kingdom Verdict: This can be a nice baby-friendly park in case your baby enjoys animals, and there are many baby-friendly rides, points of interest, and exhibits. However go away earlier than midday or simply after lunch, when the warmth turns into insufferable. The animals are most lively early within the morning anyway.

Magic Kingdom with an Toddler 

After we have been planning our journey and looking out into which Disney Park has probably the most rides with out peak necessities, Magic Kingdom appeared like it could be the best choice for us: there are TONS of rides which are acceptable for all ages! … Nicely, in principle, anyway.

What we truly found was that the beloved Magic Kingdom was one of many WORST Disney Parks for infants. It’s crowded as hell, takes longer to get to than some other park, doesn’t have many choices for cooling off, and people all-ages rides? A lot of them are so outdated that they’re simply not protected to experience with an toddler. Many of the enchantment of Magic Kingdom is all concerning the characters and beloved Disney properties, which frankly, infants don’t care about in any respect.

Right here’s the tea on Magic Kingdom:

Greatest points of interest and rides for child at Magic Kingdom:

The winners for us in Magic Kingdom have been colourful, slow-moving rides with upbeat, acquainted music:

• Beneath the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid: That is a darkish conveyer belt experience in a shifting clamshell. Child A LOVED the Beneath the Sea scene, which is vivid and colourful and enjoyable. It helped that we’d been enjoying the track for her within the weeks main as much as our journey so she instantly acknowledged it. The Mad 
• It’s a Small World: We truly waited longer for this experience than the rest throughout our journey – and we had a Lightning Lane cross. The experience itself is quarter-hour lengthy, so with a 30-minute wait this finally ends up being fairly a time suck. That mentioned, Child A LOVES the track (we’d been enjoying it for her) and was REALLY excited on this experience. She completely liked it! It ended up pushing her bedtime again about an hour however I feel it was value it to see her clap with glee and dance for 15 straight minutes.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: This darkish experience was nice! There are some small light up-and-down hills. The music is usually very calm, and the colourful/trippy Huffalumps and Woozles scene was Child A’s favourite. It’s positively value a lightning lane cross!
• Tiki Room: One other attraction that we prioritized primarily based on Child A’s music preferences. And she or he was actually into most of it! Plus, it’s good and lengthy and had fantastic A/C, so we relished the chance to take a seat in cool air for some time. After which get a Dole Whip (which we needed to eat out of her sight).

As a result of the strains in Magic Kingdom are SO lengthy, we didn’t get to experience all the things we needed to. We want we may have ridden on Folks Mover, a slow-moving practice that lightly glides round Tomorrowland – excellent for infants! And we want we’d had an opportunity to attempt Buzz Lightyear Spin since Child A loved Halfway Mania (largely).

Different rides we thought of however finally determined to skip as a result of lengthy strains and Child A’s probability of having fun with them have been:

• Jungle Cruise: no music, the experience largely consists of speaking and jokes that will simply go proper over her head
• Pirates of the Caribbean: frankly she might need loved it due to the music, however we didn’t really feel like standing in a protracted line
• Haunted Mansion: Child A is just not a fan of music in a minor key – I feel she will be able to inform it’s speculated to be spooky/scary/off – and she or he doesn’t like issues which are chaotic and loud. I feel she would have loved the large graveyard music scene, and located the remainder of it both boring or scary.
• The Mad Tea Celebration: Child A didn’t actually appear to get pleasure from fast-paced spinning or shifting. She’s extra into the visuals, music, and gradual, light rides. So we’ll wait on this one till she’s a bit older.

Rides to Skip in Magic Kingdom

• Prince Charming Regal Carousel

Child A truly loved the carousel. That mentioned, that is simply your customary carousel. It’s older than the parks, so it’s not terribly Disney-themed (although we did get to see the Ugly Stepsisters from Cinderella using it and insulting onlookers) and, extra importantly, there is just one baby-safe seat: a single bench amidst a sea of carousel horses that infants can not safely experience. 

If there isn’t a line, give it a whirl. In any other case, put it aside for a county truthful.

• Don’t experience Peter Pan’s Flight. 

For causes that no one fairly understands, Peter Pan is the most well-liked experience in all of Magic Kingdom with wait occasions constantly topping 60 minutes. It’s a very common experience, so my working principle is 1) nostalgia, 2) child enchantment, and three) poor experience design that didn’t account for the demand it could be experiencing 70 freaking years after being constructed.

Mainly, this experience has lengthy ass strains. And Child A was not impressed – the experience is a nap and never value a Lightning Lane cross.

Worst of all, it’s downright harmful for an toddler. How did we understand how unsafe Peter Pan’s Flight was? As a result of we have been despatched by the experience with no lap bar on our child. Which was terrifying. And intensely harmful.

You see, most flying rides are outfitted with a harness for security. The experience I used to work on, Soarin’, has a harness, a number of security checks, and even a video digicam on each seat, which Solid Members monitor constantly all through the experience in search of any kiddos attempting to wriggle out – that’s a fall danger from 50 toes. If anybody is getting too wiggly, Solid Members can hit the emergency cease button on the experience and produce it again down manually.

However Peter Pan was inbuilt 1955, earlier than anybody thought of security laws on rides, I suppose. So regardless that your car goes means up into the air, it simply has a lap bar, not a harness. The lap bar robotically lowers about .5 seconds earlier than you allow the sight of a Solid Member – which isn’t sufficient time to make sure everyone seems to be safely seated. There’s additionally no lap bar verify (which just about each different experience within the parks has). 

So, what occurred to us? Child A was seated on the Tushbaby dealing with me after we boarded the experience. Jeremy was wiping down the lap bar with hand sanitizer and I used to be on the point of flip Child A round and sit her on my lap, when – shock! The lap bar closed, and we took off. Earlier than we had an opportunity to get Child A seated below the lap bar. She was simply sitting on me, above the lap bar. 

We screamed for assist, however the experience took off so rapidly that no one heard us. And, as we discovered, there aren’t any video cameras. So no Solid Members may see that Child A was squirming round attempting to see and pushing backward off of me with stunning energy whereas I clung to her with each arms for pricey life, understanding that if she twisted out of my arms, she would fall. (Keep in mind: it is a flying experience. We have been up within the air. Simply holding our child. With nothing to maintain her from falling.)

Truthfully? It was fucking terrifying. As quickly as we bought off the experience I burst into panicked sobbing and it took fairly some time to relax. We made an incident report with the affected person Solid Members, however apart from that there wasn’t a lot we may do. 

The incident experiences go to the higher-ups, and I hope it will get escalated to whoever makes choices about upgrading rides, as a result of this experience is frankly horrifyingly unsafe. There must be a protracted sufficient time frame between the lap bar reducing and take-off for Solid Members to do a security verify. My guess is that they’ve averted doing it as a result of the experience already has such lengthy wait occasions and that can add main time, however it’s completely mandatory. This experience is horribly old-fashioned.

So, till it’s up to date? Don’t experience Peter Pan’s Flight with an toddler.

• Additionally keep away from the Dumbo the Flying Elephant experience, and its copies, in case your child is cell.

That is one other older Disney experience that takes fliers up into the air … in a automotive with open sides, and nothing safer than a lap belt. A crawling, squirming child may simply and rapidly decrease themselves to the ground and slip proper out the aspect of the automotive. (In case your child is just not but cell, you don’t have anything to fret about as lengthy you retain a decent grip on them.)

So, yup – yet one more older Magic Kindom experience that’s not protected for infants! I do know, I used to be shocked too. Disney is normally the highest of the road with regards to security – I imply hi there, I even have footage of myself as a Solid Member in entrance of one of many many indicators backstage that claims Secure D Begins with Me (see them on this submit)! WHERE IS THE SAFE D ON OUTDATED MAGIC KINGDOM RIDES, Disney!?!?!

Anyway. Because you’re avoiding Dumbo, go forward and add the Flying Carpet experience and Astro Orbiters, too. And Triceratop Spin in Animal Kingdom. They’re literallly simply the identical experience with completely different theming.

Extra ideas for Magic Kingdom with a child

• We ate lunch at Tony’s City Sq., which is true by the doorway of the park. Child A likes pasta, we like pasta, we simply figured we’d have some first rate pasta. We have been NOT ready for a way shockingly good it was. I imply!!! It was AMAZING. I extremely suggest the Orecchiette With Spicy Italian Sausage and the Butcher’s Steak, which was a number of the finest steak I’ve had in a very long time (and Child A liked the crispy roasted yukon potatoes.) We additionally ordered a Bellini to take the sting off the entire Peter Pan fiasco, which was scrumptious. 
• Storybook Circus is a complete part in Magic Kingdom stuffed with kid-friendly stuff (although kid-friendly doesn’t additionally imply baby-friendly). You may choose up a practice to experience across the park right here, which is a pleasant enjoyable experience in and of itself. However most significantly, there’s a splash floor. On sizzling days, a splash floor and a crawling child are a match made in heaven. However apart from that, this space is usually for older youngsters.
• Child care heart: Magic Kingdom’s Child Care Heart is by Predominant Road, which is … kinda removed from many of the park, truthfully. There are benches out entrance and the middle itself is actually cute and well-themed. It’s a fantastic quiet place for a snack or a diaper change. It’s not as nice for nursing although, as a result of there are solely 2 personal nursing rooms. 

Magic Kingdom Verdict: We thought this park can be successful as a result of it has probably the most all-ages rides, however it’s crowded, the rides are a bit outdated and missing in baby-proof security checks, and it’s heavy on the characters and film properties which infants actually don’t care about. Plus, it takes longer to get to and from MK than some other park. Value a visit for it’s a small world and a number of the exhibits, however not a lot else.  We’re wanting ahead to experiencing Magic Kingdom with Child A when she’s older.

Full Record of Child Rides at Disney World

After we have been researching for our journey and in search of issues for infants to do at Disney World, we struggled to discover a full listing of baby-friendly, all-ages rides at Disney World. So, to avoid wasting you time, right here it’s.

I marked the rides that we loved probably the most with 10-month-old Child A in daring and put those we suggest skipping in italics. Our two favourite parks at Disney World for infants are Epcot and Animal Kingdom, which I marked with asterisks.

The place to Keep at Disney World with an Toddler

I might not be a Solid Member anymore, however I nonetheless have plenty of ~opinions about all issues Disney, and plenty of ideas in your subsequent journey. Certainly one of my very robust opinions? It’s best to positively keep at a Disney World resort, even in case you’re on a decent finances! It’s SO value it.

From the $$ you’ll save on parking and a rental automotive (thanks to Disney’s airport pick-up service and large free transportation community) to the unbelievable comfort and Further Magic Hours, the resorts are WELL value it. And much more so, in case you can rating a reduced price 😉

There are positively methods to attain a deal at a Disney Resort, if you recognize the place to look. Often, you could find Disney World resorts listed on resort deal websites – notably for low season dates! We as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for below $150/evening. Whee! So simply in case, have a look – we noticed a BUNCH of them listed lately on  Resorts.com  and  Priceline ! That’s how we as soon as scored a keep at Port Orleans for below $150/evening. Whee!

The time of yr that you just’re visiting and if you guide issues, too. Disney quietly runs deep reductions on low season bookings (normally January by April) round October/November, so hold an eye fixed out and  verify their particular presents web page incessantly. 

And at last, final minute bookings can web you STEEP reductions! I’ve seen rooms hovering round $150 per evening about 3 days upfront. You may normally rating one by  Priceline . My suggestion is to guide a good-enough resort by  Reserving.com  so you possibly can cancel it as much as the day earlier than your journey, then hold checking  Priceline  simply in case you possibly can rating a last-minute room at a steep low cost.

We’re large followers of staying at on the Worth resorts, which actually supply the perfect bang in your buck. Artwork of Animation, one of many latest resorts, is a unbelievable place to stick with a child. There’s a enormous pool – it’s truly the most important pool at any Disney World resort –  with a child space and a giant sprayground, plus 2 different swimming pools for good measure. There’s all kinds of meals, and the theming is fairly cute (we ended up getting upgraded to a Automobiles-themed suite).

And better of all, you’ll have straightforward walkable entry to the Skyliner, which takes you in airborne pods to Epcot and Holywood Studios. Of all of the Disney World transportation choices, the Skyliner is by far the perfect: you’re seated with a pleasant view, it’s not crowded, and there’s a cool breeze. Child A liked using on the Skyliner (and so did we!)

 This resort can also be thought of one in every of Disney’s finances choices – however it’s actually the perfect of the finances choices. An in depth second is Pop Century Resort, which is true subsequent door and likewise has entry to the Skyliner.

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I hope you discovered this (large) information useful for planning your journey to Disney World with a child! Do you have got questions that we may help reply? Drop us a remark beneath!

Psst: In search of extra ideas that can assist you plan your Disney journey? Try a few of our different Disney World posts:

Want you can journey to Disney with out leaving house? We created an immersive digital Disney world tour so you possibly can make a journey from the consolation of your couch!

We even have a Podcast episode all about Disney! A futuristic utopia that’s positively not a cult. A suicide-themed experience. Lia’s school internship. What do all of them have in widespread? Disney World, in fact! On this episode, Lia spills all of the Mad Tea on probably the most magical place on Earth, plus insider ideas from her time as a Solid Member. We additionally clarify our tried & examined Disney Technique (aka STRAT), as a result of ready in lengthy strains for rides is a few Bippity-Boppity-BS.

Hear above or simply click on right here to launch your Podcast app! Oh, and don’t overlook to subscribe so that you don’t miss new episodes.

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