Most parents dream of when they can bring their kids to Walt Disney World. However, many wonder whether visiting Disney with toddlers is worthwhile.Will it be too much for them? Will they enjoy it?
Fortunately, the Walt Disney World Resort ensures delight for all ages, even those energetic little ones, is never-ending.
My son is almost 2 years old, so we are fully immersed in toddler lifestyle. Now that I am visiting Disney World with a little one, I can confidently share the best activities and attractions for toddlers. I also throw in my best tips for making the most of your time at Disney World with toddlers.
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Table of Contents
Best Walt Disney World Attractions for Toddlers, by Park
Magic Kingdom with Toddlers
By far, the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World has the most attractions well-suited for toddlers. If only having one day to visit Disney World with toddlers, the Magic Kingdom will provide the most entertainment.
Most of the attractions at Magic Kingdom do not have height requirements and are gentle enough that many children enjoy experiencing them. Additionally, kids love seeing their favorite Disney princesses and movie characters around the theme park.
Highlight attractions at Magic Kingdom best suited for small children:
- Astro Orbiter
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- “it’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Walt Disney World Railroad
Epcot with Toddlers
Epcot has historically had a standing as being more oriented towards adults and having insufficient activities for young children. In my view, this is still accurate, but the Walt Disney Company has made considerable effort to include kid-amenable experiences to the park.
Best Epcot Attractions for Toddlers:
- Advanced Training Lab at Mission: SPACE
- Frozen Ever After
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- Journey Into Imagination With Figment
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Turtle Talk With Crush
Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Toddlers
Hollywood Studios has the fewest child-friendly attractions suitable for toddlers. Most of the rides have height requirements that young ones will not be able to meet. However, the park has several locations to meet their favorite Disney characters.
The Disney Junior dance celebration is an enjoyable place for toddlers to run around freely and spend time with Disney Junior characters. Additionally, young children truly appreciate playing in Toy Story Land because of the enjoyable, colorful design.
Best Hollywood Studios Attractions for Toddlers:
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Jr Play & Dance!
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Toy Story Mania! in Toy Story Land
Disney’s Animal Kingdom with Toddlers
It is no secret that most toddlers delight in visiting the zoo, and Animal Kingdom is a mix of a zoo and an amusement park. There are several toddler-friendly attractions in addition to seeing the animals. The walking routes in Africa, Asia, and Discovery Island allow toddlers to explore and see animals at their own pace.
Best Animal Kingdom attractions for toddlers:
- Affection Section
- The Boneyard
- Conservation Station
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo – The Musical
- It’s Tough to be a Bug!
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na’vi River Journey
- TriceraTop Spin
- UP! A Great Bird Adventure
- Wildlife Express Train
Things to Do With Toddlers at Disney World
I’ve got a full guide to what activities are available at Disney World, but below I’ve curated the top things to do specifically with toddlers!
Play Areas
Three Disney World theme parks have dedicated play zones: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom. Within Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom, toddlers can even play in the splash pad near Pete’s Silly Sideshow located in Storybook Circus. Plus, most Disney resort hotels contain playgrounds or green spaces allowing kids to release pent-up energy.
Kidcot Fun Stops (Epcot)
Adults particularly enjoy exploring the World Showcase at Epcot, especially during festivals. Young children can sometimes find this Disney World park boring. Thankfully, Kidcot Fun Stops are strategically placed within each country pavilion where parents can eat and drink while kids color and collect small memorabilia.
Festival Scavenger Hunts (Epcot)
Throughout most of the year, there is a unique festival running at Epcot. Each festival has a theme-based scavenger hunt around the park. For example, during the Food & Wine Festival you can take part in Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak.
The map and stickers can be purchased for a nominal fee. Once they’ve found all the items, toddlers can collect a festival keepsake.
Meet Characters
All Disney parks have character meet-and-greets. You can use the My Disney Experience app to find nearby characters and see wait times.
Lines can get pretty long for popular characters, like the princesses. One of the best ways to meet characters is to get advanced dining reservations for character meals.
👉 Pro Tip: If meeting Mickey Mouse himself without a long wait interests you, dine at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Attempting booking breakfast there before heading next door to the Magic Kingdom could provide an option.
Wilderness Explorers – Animal Kingdom
If you’ve seen the movie Up, you already know about the Wilderness Explorers. Disney World brought this group to life at Animal Kingdom. Toddlers and children can explore the park and earn badges for learning about animals and the environment.
Recreation Activities
If your Disney World vacation is at one of the Disney resorts, then you can take advantage of several recreational activities. Every Disney hotel has a pool area and several also have a kids` water play space.
Across each day, recreation team members will provide special activities, like evening campfires. Your toddlers can release energy freely playing outdoors after being with crowds at theme parks.
📚 Related Topic: Looking for additional activities you can do with the children? I created an article on the Primary Activities to Do with Kids in Orlando.
Tips for Visiting Disney with Toddlers
Use the Baby Care Centers
All the parks have a Baby Care Center, stocked with a nursing area, changing room, restroom, feeding area, and small kitchen. There is also a small seating section with a television. If your toddler is getting overwhelmed or overheated, this is a great spot to unwind and recharge.
Don’t Miss the “Adult” Rides
Simply because one is visiting Disney World with toddlers doesn`t mean that one needs to miss out on the thrilling rides. Rider Switch is offered at most of the attractions with height needs. Ask a member of the cast how the service works at each attraction because the protocols can be different.
Get the Right Stroller
Disney World offers stroller rentals, however it may be better to skip them if possible. They are constructed of hard plastic and only have a small sunshade piece, so children can easily become overheated. Bringing a compact stroller that is easy to maneuver will be preferable. A large shade or rain cover will likely prove useful given the weather conditions common in Florida.
👉 Pro Tip: Multiple rental companies offer stroller hire in Orlando. For travelers with a car, strollers can be picked up at the airport. They also offer delivery to hotel accommodations.
Stay at a Fun Hotel
🚲 Best for: Saving travel time
💵 Cost: Low cost
👉 Where to Book:Velib’
For toddlers, I recommend remaining at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.The quarters are inspired by classic Disney movies. The pools are stunning and toddlers will delight in riding the Skyliner.
Watch the Fireworks From Outside of the Parks
Often, the pyrotechnics can be too loud and arousing for toddlers. As they are an essential part of the Disney magic, most families still want to find a way to observe the presentation. There are a few spots around Disney property where you can watch the fireworks display.
The beach at Disney`s Polynesian Village Resort offers the premium vantage point for viewing the fireworks show with matching music playing.
Use the Minnie Van Service
If you are staying at Disney World with toddlers, you need to know about the Minnie Vans. The service is a joint venture between Lyft and Disney World, with Disney cast members driving the ride-share vehicles.
Each Minnie Van comes equipped with two child seats! These are particularly useful when traveling between two resorts or not wanting to wait for Disney transportation at the end of the night.
📚 Related Topic: Using the Minnie Vans is one of my top Disney recommendations. Check out my other 48 Disney World hints!
Bring Snacks and Entertainment
Visitors to the Disney resort are permitted to bring their own food to the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs shopping and entertainment complex. It is recommended that parents add their toddler`s favorite snacks to their Disney packing list to prevent hunger throughout the day. Small toys that don`t mind getting lost are also advised to keep the little ones entertained.
Don’t Visit During the Summer
Summer in Orlando can be quite warm and crowded. With young children, you may want to avoid spring break season and the winter holidays as well. The ideal time to visit Disney World with toddlers is the months of January or October. If your visit does fall during a busier or hotter period, be sure to take breaks and find opportunities to get away from large crowds.
Purchase Memory Maker
Most families experience one parent capturing all the photographs and ending up absent themselves in the pictures. When opting for Memory Maker, access is granted to every image taken by PhotoPass photographers. Remember, no Disney vacation is complete without an iconic family portrait in front of Cinderella Castle.
Visit Before Toddlers Turn 3
Children underneath the period of 3 do not necessitate theme park tickets all through your Disney trip. If you have a toddler close to changing 3, take into consideration exploring ahead of their birthday to help save a lot of money by not obtaining them a Disney park ticket.
📚 Related Reading: There are numerous ways to save money on a Disney vacation. I assembled an entire article with my best tips for Disney World on a budget.
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I enjoy visiting Disney World with my toddler and I hope these Disney tips have you ready to appreciate Disney World with toddlers too!
