So, you’re visiting Walt Disney World with kids! It’s one of the most exciting and highly anticipated holidays you’re ever likely to take – but boy, oh boy, can it be tricky with children in tow! The overwhelming heat and humidity, the long distances to walk, the sensory overload, and the long queues… it’s a lot to manage. But don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. There are ways to make things run more smoothly so that you can all get the best out of your time at Walt Disney World.
I visited Walt Disney World in September 2022 with my three children, who were aged 9, 7, and 6 at the time. As a huge Disney fan myself, it was a trip I had been desperate to take since childhood, but it took me 40 years to save for – so I was determined to make the most of it.
I spent years doing as much research as possible, but I still made some rookie mistakes, and there are definitely things I would do differently next time. The good thing is, I can now pass on the tips and tricks I learned along the way to you!
So without further ado, here we go:
Hire A Stroller
I was in two minds about doing this, as my children are older and haven’t used a stroller at home for over five years. However, I’d heard a lot about how draining the heat and humidity combined with long park days and lots of walking can be for children, so I decided to hire one. I didn’t want to pay the $50 per day charge for a double stroller from Disney, so I hired one from Strollerfy online. I paid around $100 in total for a double stroller for the entire two-week trip, and it was well worth it. My kids used it most days to take naps in and rest while we were queuing, as the heat really did wipe them out! I don’t think we would have managed to fit as much in without it.
Plan Around The Weather
This can be easier said than done if you have to stick to visiting during school holidays, but it’s definitely worth considering the impact of the weather on your trip. The intense heat and humidity during September proved to be a lot for my children to handle. They also struggled with the daily storms due to hurricane season – they’re scared of thunder and lightning, so this was not great planning on my part, as it happened numerous times every single day. Next time, I would plan our visit for January, as it tends to be cooler and less stormy, which I know will work better for my children.
Have Plenty of Cooling Supplies
Although I didn’t personally find any of the cooling items recommended to me particularly useful, my kids did! I think it helped them feel like they had some level of control over the heat, so they enjoyed using handheld fans and cooling towels throughout the day. It also meant that whenever they complained about the heat, I could hand them something to help. I think a lot of it was the placebo effect (and of course, we took lots of regular rest breaks too!), but having things on hand was definitely handy.
Schedule Regular Breaks
Even if it seems like everyone is powering through just fine, don’t forget to keep everyone fed and watered at regular intervals. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience here! Walt Disney World with kids is total sensory overload, and there was one day in particular when my daughter was extremely grumpy, and I just couldn’t figure out why her mood wouldn’t lift. It wasn’t until I realised that it was 6 pm and she hadn’t eaten since breakfast! The day had just slipped away from me, and I hadn’t realised the time. The rest of us had grabbed snacks while she’d been napping, and I didn’t realise she had gone all day without anything – no wonder she was grumpy! It’s so easy to think, “Oh, we’ll stop for a drink after the next ride…” but before you know it, another hour has passed, and you’re dehydrated. Schedule regular breaks and make sure to eat and drink during them. Don’t make my mistakes!
Leave The Parks Around Midday
Especially if you’re visiting Walt Disney World with kids during the hotter months – the middle of the day is like being in Satan’s armpit! The air feels thick and sticky, like inhaling soup. It’s as though there’s no air, and you can feel your skin tingling with the sun beating down, even when you’re slathered in sun cream. There is honestly just no fun in trying to stick it out and battle on around the parks in heat like that with children in tow. The best thing you can do is head back to your resort or villa, chill out in the air conditioning, or relax at the pool for a while. Come back to the parks later when the heat has eased a little.
Don’t Make Promises
This is one I need to take my own advice on! I have a tendency to get overexcited and carried away by things, so when I find out about something I know my kids will love, I tell them all about it! Of course, this gets them excited, but the problem with a holiday like this is that you just never know what might happen. For example, I told my daughter all about how her favourite Star Wars character, Rey, wanders around Galaxy’s Edge meeting guests. My daughter was so excited to meet her and even wore her Rey costume in anticipation. But could we find Rey anywhere? Nope! We tried on multiple days and never once managed to find her. My daughter still talks about how sad she was not to meet Rey. Lesson learned: keep it to yourself, and if it happens? Then it’s a great surprise!
Budget Their Spending Money
One downside of visiting Walt Disney World with kids is that you exit almost every ride and restaurant through the gift shop! When you’re travelling with kids, this can be every parent’s nightmare. I found the best way to deal with this was to give each of my children their own spending money that needed to last them for the entire trip. I kept each child’s money in separate purses and helped them keep track of how much they had left each time they bought something. This helped avoid meltdowns, as they knew they could buy things if they chose to – but it also helped them plan their spending more sensibly, as they wanted to save some money in case they saw something better later in the trip.
Make Use of Refillable Popcorn
Snacks can be expensive at Disney World, so one of my favourite things was the refillable popcorn. You buy a bucket from one of the many popcorn vendors around the park, and as long as you have that bucket with you, you can have it refilled for around $3 as many times as you want! The best thing to do is buy a bucket at the start of your trip and be sure to bring it with you to the parks each day. Having a constant supply of popcorn to snack on was a lifesaver for my kids!
Water Parks & Pools Are Your Friend When You’re at Walt Disney World with Kids!
We skipped the water parks, as I’m usually not a fan of them, but Disney’s water parks are out of this world! Our day at Typhoon Lagoon ended up being one of my favourite days of the whole trip. It’s such a welcome break from the busy parks and hectic running around! It also gives the chance to relax and have some fun in the water, as the parks can be sensory overload for the kids too. The same applies to chill-out time at the pools – my kids loved doing this as they usually made friends there, and they really enjoyed the downtime.
Don’t Forget to Apply for DAS If Your Child Has Certain Needs
The Disability Access Service (DAS) can be applied for online before your visit or at Guest Services in any of the four Disney parks. Guests with physical disabilities are not usually given the DAS pass, as all queues are accessible to mobility aids. However, those with mental or sensory needs can make use of the DAS pass, which allows you to queue virtually for rides instead of physically standing in the queue. This can be a real game changer for neurodivergent children who struggle with queuing.
Respect Their Boundaries
Again, this is a mistake I personally made. My youngest two children are not fans of rides, but I had all these ideas in my head of how much fun it would be to go on certain rides as a family. I wasn’t ready to let go of that vision, so I encouraged my kids onto rides they didn’t want to go on. But it rarely went well! Kids have their boundaries for a reason, and trying to force them to do things they don’t want to do is unlikely to result in a positive experience. Instead, make use of Disney’s rider swap service!
Don’t Forget to Make Time for Play!
It’s so tempting as an adult at Disney World to want to cram as much into your time there as possible. I found that I was often rushing us around the parks to get a good spot for the fireworks or make it to a ride before the queue got bigger. But a lot of the time, my kids just desperately wanted to stop and play! Disney has lots of fun play areas and interactive elements around the parks, such as drums to play in Animal Kingdom or a soft play area in the queue for the Dumbo ride. My kids loved these things, and in hindsight, I wish I’d allowed them more time to just play at these instead of always rushing us on to the next thing.
I hope these tips are useful for your trip! Remember, as much fun as a visit to Walt Disney World can be, it can also be overwhelming – even for adults! So, make allowances for the kids, and don’t expect them to be in the best mood ever 100% of the time. It just isn’t realistic. They will get tired and grumpy, even in the Happiest Place on Earth!