Skip to main content

Tips for Toddlers and Young Children at Walt Disney World


Splash Pads and Play Areas: 
Casey Jr. Splash N Soak Station
  • Casey Jr. Splash N Soak Station, Fantasyland/Storybook Circus, Magic Kingdom 
  • Epcot splash pads in Future World: near Test Track
  • Disney Springs splash pads: near the Christmas store, and outside Once Upon a Toy.  
  • The Boneyard play area and dino dig site: DinoLand, Animal Kingdom 
  • Indoor playground: indoor queue at Dumbo. Enter the line, and when you get inside, you’ll receive a pager instead of standing in line. The kids can play on a wonderfully themed play area, while the adults can sit and rest! 
  • The “Laughing Place”: a small play area for younger ones near the exit of Splash Mountain, under the Train Station. 
  • Jumping water fountains near the Imagination Pavilion in Epcot: not for playing on/in, but fun!
  • Splash and play areas throughout resorts (most Deluxe Resorts and some Moderate Resorts have added great splash areas for the kids in recent years!)
  • Disney Springs: the Lego Store has free building activity tables, where kids can design and create a racecar, and race them down a small track. 
  • T-REX Cafe has a dino-digging area, located just outside the gift shop. Just head into the gift shop, to the right of the restaurant, and make a sharp right into the dig site.  
Free Activities/ Interactive Games 
  • Epcot: Kidcot. Pick up a free craft at any of the countries. Take it “around the world” to decorate it with free supplies. Learn to say “hello” in all the languages 
  • Epcot: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure (Download the Play Disney Parks app to access and enjoy Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure!) 
  • Animal Kingdom: Wilderness Explorers. Pick up a free field guide, and complete challenges around the park. Earn a badge (sticker) with each completed task. Geared toward older children (above toddler age).
  • Magic Kingdom: Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, a free interactive game that leads you on challenges throughout the park.
  • Hidden Mickey searching. This is an 'unofficial game' you can play by yourselves. There are hidden Mickey's everywhere- and some other hidden characters as well. Have fun searching for these fun details!
Interactive Queues:  
Interactive playground queue in Dumbo!
  • Winnie the Pooh  
  • Haunted Mansion 
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (height requirement: 38”) 
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant (see above: indoor playground) 
  • Slinky Dog Dash (with the Play Disney Parks App)
  • Not quite interactive, but well themed to keep little ones interested: Toy Story Midway Mania, Under the Sea, the Seas with Nemo and Friends.
Baby Care Centers*:
Located in each park.  A quiet place to step out of the heat for a few moments; change diapers; feed; etc.  Many baby/kids supplies available for purchase, as well as some OTC products if needed.  
  • Magic Kingdom: Between Casey’s and Crystal Palace 
  • Epcot: Odyssey Center, between Test Track and the World Showcase 
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: By main entrance, to the left as you walk in 
  • Animal Kingdom: Near the Tree of Life and Pizzafari
*Diaper changing stations available in all bathrooms as well.

Magic Kingdom Baby Care Center
Great Rides or Areas to Cool Down with Little Wait

 Magic Kingdom: 
  • Carousel of Progress 
  • Peoplemover 
  • Hall of Presidents
  • Enchanted Tiki Room
Epcot: 
  • The Seas with Nemo and Friends 
  • Journey into Imagination with Figment 
  • American Adventure.  Check the Times Guide for schedule. 
  • Quiet areas throughout the World Showcase.  Take some time to explore the different pavilions. You'll find nice quiet areas tucked away in many of the countries.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Check the Times Guide for schedule.
  • Quiet area towards the exit of Tower of Terror, as well as the courtyard near Rock N Roller Coaster.  While some of your party rides, these are two nice places to relax.
Animal Kingdom: 
  • Finding Nemo the Musical and Festival of the Lion King.  These are scheduled at certain times throughout the day, so check the times guide or schedule a FastPass.  Each lasts about 25 minutes, and is a great way to get out of the heat (not to mention must-see shows!)
Extra Tips: 
  • You are allowed to bring in food and snacks.  No glass containers or large coolers are allowed. With all the extra walking and excitement, being able to have a quick snack can help prevent hunger-related meltdowns and make your day go smoother! 
  • Stay hydrated. Free cups of water are available at quick service locations. 
  • Take a quick break on transportation! At the Magic Kingdom, you can ride the train around the perimeter of the park.  You can even step right outside the park to ride the monorail once around the Lagoon, or take a boat to a nearby resort to grab a quick snack.  Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios have boat transportation and the Skyliner to nearby resorts as well, and Epcot has the Friendship boats that will transport you across the World Showcase Lagoon. 
  • If you have a refillable resort mug, these can be used at any resorts- so make the most of it by hopping over to the closest resort to refill your mug and cool down for a few moments!
  • Characters!!  Be sure to make time to meet the characters.  They can be a HUGE hit with younger children.  Some are available with FastPass+, while others tend to have less of a wait. Check out the many Meet and Greets at Hollywood Studios with popular characters, Character Spot in Epcot, or Pete's Silly Sideshow at Storybook Circus in the Magic Kingdom.
  • If you've been before, go back and re-stage pictures from previous visits. These make for great memories!
  • Go at their pace. You'll still fill your days with plenty of fun and attractions, but you'll be amazed at how many wonderful details there are to explore when you see the world through their eyes! 
  • Don't over-plan, and don't be afraid to modify your plans. You're probably not going to see everything in one trip, so make sure that you enjoy what you do see, instead of rushing to fit everything in. Just have a great time and enjoy being with your family!
Make time for characters!! A big hit many with young kids
What is your favorite tip for families with young children?


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cruising with a Baby: A Complete Guide

You took a baby on a cruise!? Yep, and I'd do it again knowing what I know now. So, say goodbye to months of research - Everything you need to know is here!! One of the biggest challenges of traveling with a baby is planning what you need to bring. I wanted to share what worked for us, and hopefully help others who are planning their cruise! Remember, babies can only cruise after their 6-month birthday on sailings from the U.S. If you are going transatlantic, or have more than three days out at sea, they must be 12 months old by the first day of your cruise. Pre-Cruise   We flew to the cruise port, and I couldn’t bring all the food and snacks I needed, so I placed an Instacart order for pick up near the port. I chose Publix in Cocoa Beach which is a few miles from Port Canaveral. I placed the order a few days before we left home, and set the pickup time to 11:00 a.m. I ordered formula, a box of diapers, swim diapers, bottle brush, dish soap, baby food, and baby snacks. I also broug
Post a Comment
Read more

The Villas at the Disneyland Hotel Review

I love staying at the Disneyland Hotel so when I got the opportunity to stay at the new Villas at the Disneyland Hotel during opening weekend, I couldn’t pass it up. Because it was opening weekend, we were greeted in the entrance way of the lobby with balloons and many photo opportunities. When we arrived, there was a mural of the Haunted Mansion. I love how the seats in the main lobby were designed like the teacups in the parks. You can check in using the Disneyland app, drop your bags with bell services and head into the parks or use the amenities why you wait until your room is ready. When your room is ready, the resort will send you a text and you can use the Disneyland app on your mobile device to unlock the room. We dropped off our bags and went straight to the parks. We received a text around 1PM that our room was ready. In the new Discovery Tower (the Villas), you'll find that the lobby is very spacious with many places to sit while you read or wait for your family. Th
Post a Comment
Read more

Complete Guide to Disney's Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Disney's new Bahamian island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is a pristine, secluded paradise reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests. The cruise port is located on the island of Eleuthera (pronounced uh-loo-tr-uh) at it's southern tip, amidst a nature preserve called Lighthouse Point. Far from any towns, Lookout Cay feels like a tropical oasis that is separated from the outside world by mangrove forests. The landscaping is gorgeous with flowers like plumerias, and tall swaying palm trees. Whether you want to just kick back and relax or go for a thrilling banana boat ride, this port has something for everyone. There are family friendly areas as well as those reserved specifically for adults. Expert Tip: If you want a view of the island from your stateroom, be sure to book a starboard (right) side stateroom. Disney Magic docked at Lookout Cay After disembarking your Disney Cruise ship, you'll cross the pier to the island on foot. (It looks longer in
Post a Comment
Read more