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Disney World, the most magical place on Earth, is the ultimate vacation for many kids and parents alike. Many parents dream of seeing their kids’ faces as they ride the tea cups or hug Mickey Mouse for the first time. However, visiting the mouse is expensive, and often, parents want to know if it is worth it to visit Disney World before their kids will remember everything about their vacation. This guide to Magic Kingdom with toddlers should help you determine whether or not a Disney World trip is worth it for you right now and give you the inside scoop on having the most magical trip ever with your toddler!
Reality Check
Before even considering a Walt Disney World vacation, you need to have a reality check. If you haven’t ever been to Disney and have a dream vision of your family in complete bliss wandering Magic Kingdom with no crowds, I’m going to go ahead and ruin that vision for you right now. Disney World is crowded, like REALLY CROWDED. Particularly the iconic Magic Kingdom. There are times of year when waits are lower, but rarely is there a time when Magic Kingdom will be empty.
Magic Kingdom is also big, as in 107 acres. Kids tired from walking and waiting in lines don’t always end up the happiest, and the same goes for the parents. Massive crowds and cranky kids can quickly ruin your perfect vacation. However, with a little bit of planning, you can learn to avoid some big mistakes and have the best Disney vacation ever with your family!
Quick Park Overview
Those new to Disney World need to know park basics. Disney World is located in Florida and consists of four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Disney World is not the same thing as Disneyland. Disneyland is the original park, and it is located in California along with Disney California Adventure. In addition, Disney World DOES NOT have The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; that is at Universal Studios, Disney’s main competitor.
Magic Kingdom: This is the park with the iconic Cinderella’s castle that most people think of when they talk about Disney World. It also has the most classic rides and the most rides for toddlers.
Magic Kingdom consists of the following lands: Adventureland; Fantasyland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; Main Street, USA; and Tomorrowland.
Epcot: Epcot, the second Disney theme park in Florida, has a purpose of both educating and entertaining its visitors. It has gone through numerous updates and currently houses four sections: World Showcase (highlighting eleven countries around the world), World Celebration (celebrating the connections among all people), World Nature (teaching about the natural world), and World Discovery (exploring technological advancements).
(Check out our post “A Guide to Epcot for Toddlers” to see what all there is to do for toddlers in Epcot!)
Hollywood Studios: Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the third Disney park that opened in Florida. This one is all about being immersed into Disney films that everyone loves. Unfortunately, it has the least amount of attractions for toddlers of the four parks.
Animal Kingdom: Disney’s last Florida theme park is Animal Kingdom, a celebration of animals and adventure. This park is really cool in that it is part theme park and part zoo.
When to Go
If you are only travelling with toddlers, you’re in luck! You can choose times of the year when older kids are in school to avoid major crowds. Summer break, Christmas break, and spring break are some of the busiest times in Walt Disney World because parents want to bring their school-aged children without them having to miss school. We always use Undercover Tourist’s Orlando Crowd Calendar to determine best times to travel to Disney World.
Tickets
If you don’t have a vacation package through Disney, Undercover Tourist often has the best deals on discounted tickets. We have used them several times and have been very satisfied. (This is also a great place to get add-on tickets to nearby attractions such as Universal or SeaWorld if you want to expand your Disney vacation.)
What is there to do in Magic Kingdom with toddlers?
There are so many options of things that you can do in Magic Kingdom for kids and adults of all ages, making Disney World an ideal family vacation. In fact, there is so much to do that it would be absolutely impossible to do it all in one trip, which is part of the reason that families come back for more year after year.
The layout of Magic Kingdom is that of a hub with Cinderella’s Castle in the center. I am going to place all attractions with links in the order that the lands appear as you walk to the right when entering Magic Kingdom. This is because only Tomorrowland and Fantasyland have early entry for guests staying on property, so this is the direction that most people go in the morning.
Here are all of the attractions (rides, characters, and shows) available for toddlers. Some of these appeal to toddlers more than others, but they are all listed as attractions that toddlers can do. I have included rides that have height restrictions up to 40″. If your toddler is taller than that, you’ll need to look at big kid rides!
Main Street, U.S.A.
Your Magic Kingdom adventure begins and ends on Main Street, U.S.A. This is where you can find stroller rentals, some shops, a couple of dining options, and all of those fantastic parades!
Rides:
Main Street Vehicles — Did you know that you can ride down Main Street in a vintage vehicle? Stops are in Town Square or in front of Cinderella Castle.
Walt Disney World Railroad–Main Street, U.S.A. — Travel around Magic Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Railroad. Stops include Frontierland and Fantasyland.
Entertainment:
Casey’s Corner Pianist — This is a 20-minute outdoor piano performance.
The Dapper Dans — The Dapper Dans is a barbershop quartet that performs 20-minute shows.
Happily Ever After — Happily Ever After is the current nightly fireworks/projection show at Magic Kingdom. It is a must-see! Make sure that you get there at least 30 minutes early; once Main Street is full, cast members will block it off, and you will have to watch the show from an overflow area where you will not be able to see the projections. (Ask me how I know . . . .) There is a truly magical moment near the end where Tinkerbell flies through the sky from the castle (and yes, it is a real person!).
Let the Magic Begin — Yet another reason to rope drop! Let the Magic Begin is the park opening show with Mickey and friends in front of Cinderella Castle. What better way to start your day than to have Mickey wishing you the best day ever?
Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire — Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire is a 23-minute show in front of Cinderella Castle with characters from Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, Frozen, and Mickey’s gang. This show takes place multiple times per day and includes some daytime fireworks!
Parades:
Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade — The Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade includes favorite characters from Encanto and Coco as well as many more!
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade — The Festival of Fantasy Parade is probably Disney’s most popular parade. It lasts 12 minutes and includes Fantasyland favorites such as characters from Peter Pan, Tangled, Frozen, and The Little Mermaid. There is even a dragon that spits fire at various points along the route. Your toddler is sure to love this one! On an average day, you’ll typically want to claim a spot 30-45 minutes early so that your toddler can see. Pro tip: Grab a snack at Casey’s Corner or the Main Street Confectionery to help your toddler with the wait!
Character Meet and Greets:
Meet Mickey at Town Square — It’s only right that you should greet and thank your host when in Magic Kingdom! Meet Mickey at Town Square is where you get to do this.
Must-Do Attractions for Toddlers on Main Street, U.S.A.:
There are two absolute must-do activities on Main Street, U.S.A.–Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade and Happily Ever After. These two shows are some of Disney’s finest and very well might create those core Magic Kingdom memories for you and your children. However, the timing of these can be tricky for toddlers. Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade often occurs during naptime, and staying for Happily Ever After means that you will probably have to push your toddler’s bedtime back. If messing with your toddler’s schedule is going to create sheer chaos in his/her life, you can catch these when he/she is a little older.
The other attraction that I suggest on Main Street, U.S.A. is to meet Mickey Mouse. However, if you are visiting all of the parks, there will be other opportunities to do this, and some of them will have a much shorter wait time. When we are visiting multiple parks, we typically meet Mickey Mouse somewhere else just because there is so much to do at Magic Kingdom that we are already rushing to fit in all that we can. Our favorite place to meet Mickey Mouse is actually in Epcot. The meet and greet station is somewhat hidden and always has a short line.
Where to Eat:
The best sit-down option on Main Street is The Crystal Palace, which is also a character dining location with Winnie the Pooh and friends. Once again, this is fixed price dining, and you are paying more for the character experience than for the food. Breakfast costs $48 per adult and $30 per child (3-9) before tax and gratuity. Lunch and dinner are $61 per adult and $40 per child before tax and gratuity. It is best to make reservations in advance for any table service restaurant in Disney World.
Casey’s Corner is the best option here for quick service dining. It serves mainly hot dogs; the corn dog nuggets here are a cult classic.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland is a favorite land in Magic Kingdom due to having two of the best thrill rides. There are some things for toddlers to do here, but this land has more appeal for the older kids in your party.
Rides:
Astro Orbiter — Astro Orbiter is a Dumbo-style ride, but it is really high off the ground. Avoid if your toddler has height issues.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a game-style ride where you are in a spinning car shooting targets. Any arcade fans in your family will love this one!
Tomorrowland Speedway — Tomorrowland Speedway is a mini-racetrack (with cars only going up to 7mph). Little kids love riding in these cars, but the wait can often be long for an attraction that you can find many other places.
Height restriction: 32″
Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover — Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover is a slow-moving ride that takes you behind the scenes of Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Toddlers will probably not be excited about this ride, but it gives everyone a great 10-minute break from walking and standing in lines.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress — Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a 21-minute four-scene animatronic show that explores changes in technology throughout the 20th century. Will your toddler love this? Probably not. Does it make for a good nap outside of the heat? Yes, if your toddler is tired enough to sit still.
Shows:
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor — Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is a comedy show in which animated monsters try out jokes to convert laughter into energy. There are lots of audience interactions in this show, so don’t be surprised if your family ends up being part of the attraction! Your toddler will probably enjoy seeing the various monsters (unless they are scared of them), but the jokes will appeal much more to the older kids and adults in your family.
Must-Do Attractions for Toddlers in Tomorrowland:
There is not really a “must-do” in Tomorrowland for toddlers, but older toddlers will probably enjoy the gaming aspect of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin or being able to drive the cars on the Tomorrowland Speedway the most out of all attractions in Tomorrowland.
For Older Kids:
Toddlers will not be able to ride Space Mountain (44″ height restriction) or Tron Lightcycle/Run (48″ height restriction), but these are two of the most popular coasters in the park. If you are travelling with older kids as well as toddlers, these two rides should be on your must-do list for them!
Where to Eat in Tomorrowland:
Honestly, don’t eat in Tomorrowland. There are so many better options throughout the park! If you are so hungry that you absolutely cannot make it to another land to eat, The Lunching Pad is probably your best option, but it mainly serves hot dogs. It also has pretzels or some breakfast options that could tide you over until you make it to a land with better food options. Or you could always just grab some popcorn or a Mickey Ice Cream Bar from Tomorrowland Popcorn Cart.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is a complete toddler’s playground! You could spend most of your day in this section alone!
Rides:
The Barnstormer — The Barnstormer is a perfect starter coaster! It’s a quick ride with small drops.
Height Restriction: 35″
Dumbo the Flying Elephant — Dumbo is a toddler staple! Bonus: The queue to this ride is a playground inside the shade of a circus tent. You receive an alert when it is your turn to ride.
“it’s a small world” — “it’s a small world” is a Disney classic. It is a 14-minute boat ride that takes you through scenes of children all over the world. Toddlers love the bright colors and all of the animatronics in costume. Be careful though–that song will get stuck in your head.
Mad Tea Party — Mad Tea Party is another classic Disney ride, and this one typically has short wait times. It is a spinning ride in tea cups.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is one of my favorite rides for toddlers! For this one, you get to sit in a Hunny Pot and ride through a Winnie the Pooh picture book. If you don’t have a lightening lane for this one, there are some fun toddler activities in the queue.
Peter Pan’s Flight — Peter Pan’s Flight is another classic. Soar over London and to Neverland in a flying pirate ship, encountering animatronics from the Peter Pan story along the way.
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel — Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is beautiful and good for a filler attraction. However, if your child has ridden a carrousel before, this might be something that you could skip to make time for other attractions.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — If your toddler is tall enough and likes coasters, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train could be their favorite ride; it is one of the best attractions in the park. If you are travelling with older kids, they are going to want to do this one. It is considered a family coaster; it doesn’t go upside down or have steep drops, but it does have cars that swing back and forth throughout the ride. There is also a cute section of the ride that shows the Seven Dwarfs as they are mining.
You can buy an Individual Lightening Lane for this, or attempt to get to the park as early as possible to rope drop it. Just be aware that everyone will be trying to rope drop this at the same time. Lines will be long for this ride the entire day.
Height Restriction — 38″
Under the Sea–Journey of The Little Mermaid — For whatever reason, this attraction often has a low wait time. It’s an adorable ride in a clam shell through the story of The Little Mermaid, and your toddler will love it!
Walt Disney World Railroad — Fantasyland — Stops on the railroad include Main Street and Frontierland.
Character Meet and Greets:
(Note: Character Meet and Greets are subject to change. Characters might not appear every day, and many characters are only out at certain times, so you’ll have to check your app to see what’s available.)
Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Fairytale Hall
Meet Daring Disney Pals as Circus Stars at Pete’s Silly Sideshow (Donald Duck and Goofy)
Meet Dashing Disney Pals as Circus Stars at Pete’s Silly Sideshow (Minnie Mouse and Daisy)
Meet Mirabel at Fairytale Garden
Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Fairytale Hall
Meet Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at the Thotful Spot
Shows:
Enchanted Tales with Belle — Enchanted Tales with Belle is a 20-minute show with some pretty spectacular effects! Audience members get to participate in this one, making it different from a general Disney show. The premise is that chosen audience members are supposed to reenact the story of Beauty and the Beast for Belle’s birthday. Those chosen to be in the play get their picture taken with Belle afterwards.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic — Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a 12-minute 3-D film with lots of Disney characters and special effects. All toddlers are different; some might love this, and others might be scared by Donald Duck getting hit by musical instruments.
Other Attractions:
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station — Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is a water play area. This is great for hot days, but your toddler will need a bathing suit or a change of clothes!
Extras:
Bibbidi Boppidy Boutique — If you’re looking for a little extra magic, Bibbidi Boppidy Boutique, located under Cinderella’s Castle, might be just what your toddler needs! This salon gives kids ages 3-12 a royal makeover as a princess (packages from $100 to $450) or knight (packages from $20 to $80). Advanced reservations are recommended. Sessions last up to 90 minutes depending on the package.
Must-Do Attractions for Toddlers in Fantasyland:
Almost everything listed! Fantasyland is the absolute best land for toddlers in the Magic Kingdom. There are plenty of adorable, slow rides with lots of visual effects, and this land also has the most characters of all the lands in Magic Kingdom. Plan on spending much of your day here!
Where to Eat in Fantasyland:
For an extra special treat, book a character meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table. You’ll meet various princesses (often Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, Snow White, and Jasmine) and get to eat inside of Cinderella Castle. Prices are fixed and hefty: $69 per adult and $42 per child (ages 3-9) before tax and gratuity for breakfast, and $84 per adult and $49 per child before tax and gratuity for lunch or dinner. However, if you have a child who is obsessed with princesses, this is a way to meet several at once while being inside the castle. If you want to do this, you should try to book it the minute that dining reservations open for you. (Literally, as in have your fast fingers ready at 5:59 a.m. 60 days before your trip.)
Be Our Guest Restaurant is another table service restaurant located in Fantasyland. The atmosphere inside is really cool, but the meal takes a long time and is expensive. It has another fixed-price menu: $70 per adult before tax and gratuities and $41 per child before tax and gratuities. For the price, you would probably get more out of character dining packages at other locations with toddlers. Advanced reservations are recommended.
For quick service, Gaston’s Tavern is a great stop for a snack. The Grey Stuff Cupcake, warm cinnamon roll, and LeFou’s Brew are all favorite Disney snack options. The Friar’s Nook also has decent lunch options with various types of tots, macaroni and cheese dishes, and hot dogs/bratwurst.
Liberty Square
Liberty Square has very little to do; however, there are two different attractions here that could be great for a quick toddler nap if you’re not planning on returning to your hotel for an afternoon break. It also has one of the best (and least crowded) quick service restaurants on property.
Rides:
Haunted Mansion — Haunted Mansion is one of Disney World’s most beloved rides. It could be a bit scary for little kids, but there is no gore and most of the ghosts are friendly. If you are concerned about this frightening your toddler, you could watch a ride-through video here to help you determine whether or not you want to include it on your agenda.
Liberty Square Riverboat — Liberty Square Riverboat is a 17-minute river voyage that takes you around Tom Sawyer Island where you will see different scenes from the American frontier, such as an early American settlement and a Native American village. The ride is long and slow, making it a great place to rest for a bit.
Shows:
The Hall of Presidents — The Hall of Presidents is a 23-minute show that begins with a film about the start of our nation. The curtain then rises to reveal animatronic figures of our 45 presidents. Will a toddler be interested in this? Absolutely not. Is this a great attraction for your toddler to nap out of the hot sun? If he/she is tired enough to sit still, then yes.
Must-Do Attractions for Toddlers in Liberty Square:
None. Haunted Mansion is a must-do for any older kids or adults in your party, but not necessarily a must-do for toddlers.
Where to Eat in Liberty Square:
Liberty Tree Tavern, which essentially serves a Thanksgiving feast, is the table service restaurant in this section of the park. This is another fixed-price restaurant, with adult meals costing $42 and children’s meals (ages 3-9) costing $23 before tax and gratuities. (Side Note: The Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland serves the same menu; however, it is not always open.) Reservations are recommended.
Liberty Square also offers two of the best quick service restaurants in the park, Columbia Harbour House and Sleepy Hollow. Columbia Harbour House serves various seafood dishes and chicken strips, with the lobster roll being a fan favorite. Sleepy Hollow serves famous sweet-and-spicy chicken waffle sandwiches and fresh fruit waffle sandwiches as well as turkey legs and hot dogs.
Frontierland
Frontierland is also light on toddler attractions, but toddlers nearing big kid status (40″+) and your older kids will love Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain) when it opens in summer 2024.
Rides:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is one of the popular mountain rides (along with Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure–formerly Splash Mountain, and Seven Dwarves Mine Train). If you’re travelling with big kids, you’ll want to hit all of the mountains as they are some of the most thrilling rides that Magic Kingdom has to offer. Most toddlers, however, will not be tall enough for these. If you do have a 40″+ toddler, this roller coaster would probably be classified as a medium family coaster; it’s more intense than The Barnstormer and Seven Dwarves Mine Train, but it’s not as scary as Space Mountain.
Height Restriction — 40″
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has not yet opened (scheduled for summer 2024), but it is taking the place of Splash Mountain, so we can expect the same water ride structure with a grand drop at the end. According to the Disney World website, the re-theme follows Tiana and alligator Louis as they prepare for a Mardi Gras celebration.
Height Restriction — 40″
Walt Disney World Railroad — Frontierland — Stops on the railroad include Main Street and Fantasyland.
Shows:
Country Bear Jamboree — Country Bear Jamboree consists of audio-animatronic hillbilly bears singing. It is currently getting a refresh, but the newly updated show should be ready by summer 2024.
Other Attractions:
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade — Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is a traditional shooting gallery with an additional fee to play. There are nearly 100 targets that use infrared technology and sensors. Your toddler would certainly need help with this if he/she wanted to play but would probably love seeing the targets react to the shots.
Tom Sawyer Island — Tom Sawyer Island is an area of on-foot exploration with caves, a frontier fort, and suspension bridges. Log rafts transport you to and from the island.
Must-Do Attractions for Toddlers in Frontierland:
Unless you have a thrill-seeking toddler who is 40″ or taller, there are no must-do attractions in Frontierland. However, your toddler might enjoy exploring Tom Sawyer Island if you need a break from crowds and lines.
Where to Eat in Frontierland:
Your best dining option in Frontierland is Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, although even it comes with mixed reviews. The menu here is a mixture of Tex Mex and burgers.
Adventureland
Fantasyland by far has the most entertainment for toddlers, but Adventureland comes in second. It has two of the best rides in Magic Kingdom, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise, and both are suitable for toddlers. In addition, toddlers can ride The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and watch Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. And don’t forget that Adventureland is home to the most beloved snack in the park, the Dole Whip.
Rides:
Jungle Cruise — Jungle Cruise is a 10-minute riverboat ride with animatronic animals and a cheesy comedic tour guide. This ride gets really long lines due to slow loading times, so it is a good use of a Genie+ reservation.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin — The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is another Dumbo-like spinner ride. Watch out for the camel when you’re walking nearby; he spits water!
Pirates of the Caribbean — Pirates of the Caribbean is absolutely one of the best attractions at Magic Kingdom, and all ages can ride it! In fact, it is so popular that it inspired all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The ride itself is a boat dark ride that shows pirates ransacking a 17th century Caribbean town. Highlights include a cannon fire scene from a pirate ship and a tiny drop that could get you a little wet.
Character Meet and Greets:
Meet Characters from Aladdin — Princess Jasmine and Aladdin
Shows:
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room — Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room is a room full of 225 audio-animatronic birds, flowers, and statues that sing. It’s not a must-do, but it’s not a bad option for a place to rest when you’re hot and tired. Toddlers might be dazzled by all of the audio-animatronic characters, but do know that there are some loud noises from a thunder storm and volcano that could startle them.
Other Attractions:
A Pirate’s Adventure ~ Treasures of the Seven Seas — A Pirate’s Adventure is an interactive treasure hunt throughout Adventureland. You’ll start by getting a mission and map near Golden Oak Outpost. From there, you can use your Magic Band to follow the instructions and set off special effects. This attraction is for older kids, but toddlers will love using a Magic Band to make special effects happen even if they don’t know that they are on a mission.
Swiss Family Treehouse — If your toddler needs a place to break free from the crowds and move, Swiss Family Treehouse could be your answer. There are bridges, treehouses, and lots of stairs. If you can make it to the top, there are great views of Adventureland.
Must-Do Attractions in Adventureland:
Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean are must-do rides that the entire family will enjoy (which is the magic of Disney!). Toddlers will also enjoy all other rides and attractions in Adventureland, but they don’t necessarily need to be on your must-do list.
Where to Eat in Adventureland:
Magic Kingdom is known for having the worst dining of the four Disney World theme parks. However, it is home to one of the absolute best snacks at Disney World: the Dole Whip. A Dole Whip is a dairy-free pineapple ice-cream-like dessert that can come in a plain cup or as a float. The Dole Whip is the only food in Magic Kingdom that I would call a must-try. You can find these at Aloha Isle.
Similar to Aloha Isle is Sunshine Tree Terrace, where you can find an orange juice slushy/vanilla soft serve mix or an orange Dole Whip.
If you want table service, Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen is a good option. The menu here is adventurous (you’re in Adventureland), but people consistently give it good reviews. As with all table service restaurants in Disney World, reservations are highly recommended.
Strollers
Magic Kingdom is huge. You are definitely going to want to have a stroller for your toddler while you are there. You can do this by bringing your own stroller, renting a stroller from Disney World, or renting a stroller from an outside company. We have actually done all three.
The easiest way to handle the stroller situation is to bring your own. This saves you valuable time in the morning by keeping you out of a stroller line once you arrive to Magic Kingdom and cuts down on the daily cost of a stroller.
However, there are times that travelling to Disney World with a stroller is just not feasible. The second best option is to rent a stroller before going on your vacation to be picked up at your hotel. (You need to do this several days in advance.) You will want a stroller to get from the bus to the entrance of Magic Kingdom, and you will want a stroller to walk the length of your hotel to get to your park transportation if you are staying on property. In addition, it cuts out time waiting for a stroller in the morning, which is valuable time that you could be walking to rides.
Our favorite stroller rental company is ScooterBug Orlando. This is the only stroller rental company that Disney resorts will allow to drop off a stroller with bell services without the guest present, and the same goes for pick-up. This is so much nicer than having to schedule times to meet with outside companies to both get and return a stroller.
Our last Disney vacation was absolutely last minute (as in we decided to go on a Saturday and were on an 8:00 a.m. flight on Sunday). We didn’t want to bring the stroller with us, and our plans were too late to rent a stroller for hotel drop-off. We had no choice but to get a stroller in the parks.
This was a hassle on so many levels. First off, our hotel was huge, and I almost broke my back trying to carry our two-year-old from the room to the bus. I also misjudged how far it would be from the bus to the actual park entrance, and I didn’t think about the fact that I would have to hold her while waiting in line for rope drop. Once in, we wasted valuable time standing in line for the stroller. The situation was unavoidable for us, but if at all possible, have your stroller before going into the park.
Baby Care Center
All four of the Disney theme parks have a Baby Care Center, where you can feed, change, or nurse your baby. This is also a great place to take toddlers (anyone five and under) just to get out of the crowds and rest a bit. In addition, there is an on-site store where you can buy diapers, sunscreen, or baby medications. Most people don’t know about these, so they typically aren’t crowded. The Baby Care Center for Magic Kingdom is located on Main Street, U.S.A. between Casey’s Corner and The Crystal Palace restaurant.
Nap
Speaking of rest, Disney transportation makes it easy to go back to your room for a nap mid-day if you are staying on property. (This is one of the main reasons that I suggest people with toddlers stay at an on-site resort.) After lunch is one of the most crowded and hottest times in the park, so it makes a great time for a break. (Early morning and late afternoon/night are the most enjoyable times to be there.)
All members of your party will be tired by early afternoon, especially if you are going to the parks from rope drop to close. Adults will get cranky and exhausted, and your toddler will be even more so. A couple of hours out of the heat will work wonders in terms of everyone enjoying their time. It is so tempting to try to do it all and push through the fatigue, but please don’t do this with a toddler! You would rather remember the great time you had even though you couldn’t fit everything in than remember the misery that you had while making sure that you got to every attraction on your list.
If you are not staying on property, you might not be able to leave mid-day. In this case, use the Baby Care Center or one of the long, slow rides (People Mover, Carousel of Progress, Riverboat Cruise) to try to get some rest in. If your toddler will nap in a stroller, even better. It will be hard to go from rope drop to close with a toddler if you cannot in some way take a break mid-day. You might also just decide to do morning to early afternoon or afternoon to night instead of an all-day endeavor.
Tips for Beating Crowds
Rope drop and Genie+ are your best friends in Magic Kingdom. Rope drop is when you arrive at the park before opening; they used to physically drop a rope to let people into the park. Plan to be in line at the entrance an absolute minimum of 30 minutes early (45 minutes is better). Typically, Magic Kingdom will let you check in the entrance gates and get closer to the lands 30 minutes before opening, and sometimes they will fully open before the posted opening time.
If you are staying at a Disney resort, you will have early entry, which means that the park will open for you 30 minutes early. (For example, if Magic Kingdom opens at 9:00, you will be able to enter at 8:30. This means that you should be at Magic Kingdom by 8:00 at the latest; 7:30-7:45 would be preferable. Opening times vary, so check the website.) Only Tomorrowland and Fantasyland are open for early entry. Go to Fantasyland first and knock out whatever has a reasonable wait (for the most part, this means under 30 minutes). If you are there on a particularly busy day when everything gets busy fast, you could also head towards Adventureland and beat the people with regular entry while everyone else tackles Fantasyland.
If you do not have early entry, head straight to Adventureland when the park opens. You still need to arrive at least 30 minutes before park opening. (For example, if Magic Kingdom opens at 9:00, you should be there at 8:30 at the latest; 8:00-8:15 would be preferable. Once again, opening times vary, so check the website.)
Magic Kingdom has the potential to get really crowded; getting there super early is the best way to tackle rides without a wait.
About two hours after the park opens, rope drop is over and lines will start to form everywhere. This is when you need Genie+. It is an additional charge (prices vary by date), but you absolutely need it in Magic Kingdom; just go ahead and factor it into your ticket price.
Genie+ is the service that allows you to skip lines in the park and enter a Lightening Lane entrance. (Fair warning, you will still wait in a bit of a line in the Lightening Lane entrance, but it is nothing like the regular line.) Genie+ is too complicated to explain in depth here (it needs a full post itself), but essentially, you can choose one ride at a time to skip the line. Genie+ will tell you the time to return to the ride to enter the Lightening Lane. You need to have a good understanding of how to use Genie+ before entering the park so that you don’t waste your money. This video by Mammoth Club does a great job of explaining everything.
Rider Switch
Let’s face it; there are times when you as an adult really want to ride something, but your toddler isn’t big enough. If you have at least two adults in your party, you can take turns riding an attraction without fully having to wait in line twice through rider switch. While adult one rides, adult two waits outside the attraction with the child. Once adult one exits, adult two can enter the Lightening Lane line to ride. An added bonus to this is that if you have an older child who wants to ride, he/she can go with each parent (but only one child can do this).
What does an average day look like?
Honestly, there is no such thing as an average day; there are just too many variables. Here is what our last two (vastly different) days in Magic Kingdom looked like.
Day 1:
This was actually our travel day. Our hotel wasn’t ready when we arrived, so we grabbed lunch at our hotel and went ahead to Magic Kingdom to do some things that Ellie’s older boy cousins wouldn’t want to do.
We got to Magic Kingdom around 3:00, and it was pouring rain. The park was absolutely empty; every single ride and attraction was a walk-on. Had I realized what it would look like two days later, we would have stayed there all night! (Hint: Absolutely go into the parks even if it is pouring rain! You might get a little wet, but there will be no lines.)
I wasn’t sure what Ellie would like, so we started easy with the teacups. (She actually hated this.) I then thought that maybe she would do better with characters, so we saw Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Minnie, Tiana, and Rapunzel with essentially no waits. We also ran into Peter Pan, who was just standing outside waiting for someone to notice him. We both looked like drowned rats in all the pictures, but it was worth it. In terms of rides, we hit Under the Sea–Journey of the Little Mermaid and Jungle Cruise, once again both without lines. For dinner, we headed into Columbia Harbour House and had our choice of table. We were both cold, wet, and tired from travelling all morning, so we decided to head back to the hotel around 6:00.
Day 3:
We headed back to Magic Kingdom with the cousins. We had Genie+ but arrived near dinner since we had been at other parks all day.
I have never in my life seen a park so crowded! This is probably due to the fact that everyone cancelled their plans with the rain two days earlier. If it had just been Ellie and me, we would have turned around and gone to a different park. However, it was my brother’s family’s first trip to Disney, and they wanted pictures in front of the iconic castle and to experience what everyone thinks of when planning a Disney trip before leaving to go home. They only had one day left, so in we went.
We started stacking our Lightning Lanes, but we had a couple of hours before our ride times began. Due to this, we ate dinner at Sleepy Hollow (the only short line in the park) and sucked up the fact that we were going to have to wait in line for a ridiculous amount of time for at least one ride. We ended up waiting for Pirates of the Caribbean for 75 minutes (yikes!!!), but then we were able to start cashing in some of our Lightening Lanes. Our nighttime attractions were The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the fireworks show, and It’s a Small World. We were in the park from about 4:00-10:00, and crowd levels were at a 9/10 (projected 6/10). We were still able to have fun, but it definitely wasn’t our favorite Magic Kingdom experience.
Is Magic Kingdom with toddlers worth it?
This is one of the biggest questions people ask. It is true that Disney World is extremely expensive, and toddlers won’t remember their experience. However, you will remember it, and seeing the wonder in your toddler’s eyes is absolutely worth it in my opinion! Some of my favorite memories and pictures are of taking Ellie to Disney World over the past couple of years. (Also, all kids under three are free!) Disney World brings a different level of magic with each age group, which is why it is such a worthwhile family vacation and one that people continue to repeat over and over throughout their kids’ childhoods and beyond.
