10 Disney World Toddler Tips + Candid Snaps

Disney World toddler tips . . .

When I found out I was pregnant with Mary Jane, I started saving my pennies to celebrate her first birthday at Disney World. It’s one of my most favorite places, and I have so many fond memories roaming the parks as a kid–we always had annual passes while my family lived in Florida. So, in my Minnie-loving head, it made perfect sense that Mary Jane kicked things off with some Disney magic, too.

Real talk: I knew taking a toddler to a theme park would be a lot of work. After hours of online research + crowd sourcing from Disney going friends, I dove into planning mode. I’m not saying I have everything figured out. Every little one is different, and every family has their own idea of Mickey-themed fun. But, here are my 10 Disney World toddler tips, a few tricks and things I learned through trial and error.

Backpack Diaper Bag

As a mom, the best accessory is one that keeps your hands free. I purchased an inexpensive backpack diaper bag similar to this style (it comes in multiple colors!) and loved using it. It required no extra thought because I could do everything I needed to do with it strapped on my back. No fuss = one very happy mama.

Things To Pack for Your Little One

• Full Extra Outfit (socks, jacket, etc.)
• Swimsuit, Weather Permitting
• Diapers + Wipes*
• Light Blanket (for stroller naps on-the-go)
• Hat/Sunglasses
• Sunscreen Stick (we love this one!)
• Sippy-Cup 
• Food + Snacks
• Pacifiers with Pacifier Clips (so you don’t lose them)
• Rain Gear, Weather Pending

*I highly recommend packing 3-4 extra diapers than you think you need. There’s nothing worse than realizing you’ve run out mid-change. However, you can purchase baby essentials from Baby Care Centers located in each of the parks. They’re a bit more expensive, but it’s a good option if the situation is desperate.

Bring Your Own Food

It’s no secret that the park food is expensive. Rather than chance whether or not Mary Jane would like it, I packed a few meals and snacks in the diaper bag each day. Things like apple sauce + fruit puree pouches, toddler-friendly crackers and peanut butter sandwiches. She could easily eat these anywhere we were in the park. We also mixed in a few things that we knew she’d like from our park food purchases (fresh fruit, bites of our treats, etc.). Fed is always best–the forethought made a world of difference.

Stroller Doubles as Changing Station

I got this travel stroller for our trip to Disney, and it exceeded my expectations. It’s very light (only 11 pounds!), folds up neatly and has a large storage compartment underneath that can hold a diaper bag. Plus, the back lays flat so the stroller doubles as an on-the-go changing station. This came in handy when the lines were too long in the bathroom or we just needed a fast-fix.

Break Up the Day with Shows/Parades

Mary Jane loved watching the parades we happened to stumble across. The music, dancing and costumes kept her entertained without being overstimulating. Plus, it gave everyone a break from walking/standing. You can find parade times and locations listed in the park maps once you arrive, or you can browse this list to plan ahead.

Download the App

I can’t stress this enough. Download the free My Disney Experience mobile app. It’s every vacation planners dream! The app acts as your all-in-one view of FassPass availability, attraction wait times, park maps, restaurant reservations + menus, showtimes of parades, etc. We created a ‘My Disney Experience’ account and used our app the entire time we were in the parks. It also came in handy each night as we went to solidify our plans for our next day.

Get FastPasses for Everything

Wanna skip the lines? FastPasses are free with your park ticket purchase. Buy your tickets ahead of time, and you can start scheduling your FastPasses 30 days in advance (or 60 days in advance if you’re staying at a Disney resort). We reserved our FastPasses for each day/park we were visiting weeks in advance. Initially, you’re allowed to reserve three FastPasses for each person in your party. You can manage and reserve FastPasses using the My Disney Experience app I talked about above (they’ll be loaded to your account). Then, once you use a FastPass at the park, you can get back get back on the app to book your next set of passes.

For example, we made a list of the top rides/shows/etc. that we knew Mary Jane would love. We scheduled these FastPasses for the beginning of the day when we knew she’d be happiest. At Magic Kingdom, this meant Dumbo, a character experience and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It’s one of the main reasons we all had such a great time.

Spend the Extra $13 for a MagicBand

I’m sure you can imagine why it didn’t take long for me to misplace my paper park ticket. You scan it every time you redeem a FastPass, and mine must have slipped out of my pocket somewhere. Rather than worry with trying to replace it, I purchased a MagicBand. They simply linked the band to our ‘My Disney Experience’ account, and we were back in action. It was the best $13 I could have spent because I wore it every day after.

Consider Buying a Photo Pass

It’s only in retrospect that I regret not taking full advantage of the Photo Pass Service. It really is a great way to capture high quality photos of your Disney experience. What exactly is it? Photographers are stationed throughout the parks, and they’re ready to snap your pictures. This means photos in front of Cinderella’s Castle, the candid captures on rides and any snaps they take while your little one gets to know the characters. The photographers will then either hand you a card with a download code or scan your MagicBand to add the photos to your account. At the end of your trip, you can view + purchase the photos online or in the My Disney Experience app.

As an added bonus, having the Disney pros take your pictures means that you can be device free in the park and really focus on family time. I always love the idea of not having my cell phone or camera as a distraction!

Do a Character Dining Experience

After reading a lot of reviews, we decided to make reservations for the Goofy & His Pals character breakfast at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. The food was delicious, and Mary Jane got a lot of one-on-one time with Goofy, Minnie and Mickey. We also loved that the restaurant wasn’t as crowded as the dining experiences offered on site at the Disney World parks. It was fun for the whole family, and we all left feeling happy, well feed + that the morning was worth the money spent.

Things Mary Jane Liked:

DISNEY SPRINGS

• Meeting the Coca-Cola Bear

MAGIC KINGDOM

• It’s A Small World (ride)
• Dumbo (ride)
• Country Bear Jamboree (show)
• Jungle Cruise (ride)
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (ride)
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin (ride)
• Mad Tea Party – Tea Cups (ride)
• People Mover (ride)
• Dole Whip (treat)
• Churro (treat)
• Mickey Mouse Bar (treat)
• Character Experiences 
  • Pooh + Tigger

EPCOT

• Grand Fiesta Tour in Mexico (ride)
• EPCOT Dancing Fountain of Nations Show
• Drum Show at the Japan Pavillion
• The Seas with Nemo + Friends (aquarium)
• Turtle Talk with Crush (ride at aquarium)
• Character Experiences 
  • Minnie, Mickey + Goofy
  • Daisy Duck
  • Classic Disney Princesses (around World Showcase)
    • Mary Poppins – UK
    • Belle – France
    • Snow White – Germany
    • Princess Jasmine – Morocco

Things Mary Jane Didn’t Like:

MAGIC KINGDOM

• Haunted Mansion – It was very dark, and the music was loud. Mary Jane did not enjoy this ride at all (I should have known better!  This was a major #momfail). 

EPCOT

• Fireworks + Light Show – If you’re planning to stay for the closing show, I highly recommend bringing a pair of noise canceling headphones for your little one. Mary Jane has a pair of these that she wears on airplanes. I wish I would have thought to pack them for the firework show. It would have made the experience far more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Have your own Disney World toddler tips? I’d LOVE to hear!