10 TIPS: Disney World with Babies and Toddlers

1. The Stroller Situation

With the amount of walking you’ll be doing at Disney, a stroller is an absolute must for little ones (and even some older kids). If you are going to bring your own stroller, be sure to check the Disney website to confirm that your stroller meets policy for size and style. If you do not want to travel with a stroller, there are options for obtaining a stroller at Disney.

Disney park strollers - Disney has strollers available for rent within the parks. They are first come, first serve and cannot be taken out of the parks.  These strollers are available in single or double. They are hard plastic with no cushioning. For this reason, I recommend that they are best suited for older toddlers, preschoolers, and children who will not be spending a lot of time (especially napping) in the stroller. If you don’t need a traditional stroller and do not require a stroller outside of the parks, this is a good option to avoid lugging bulky strollers on Disney transportation.

Stroller Rental Companies - There are many third party companies that offer stroller rentals. These are traditional, comfort strollers that you may already have for your baby or toddler. Many vendors offer delivery and pick up to your resorts or the airport so that you have the stroller for the entire duration of your trip. This option is best for families with young babies and toddlers and/or who require a stroller outside of the parks as well.

Passalong Facebook groups - There are groups on facebook where people pass along baby gear that they have purchased just for use during their trip. Some people find it more economical to purchase a stroller and have it delivered to their resort, then they pass it along via the group at the end of their trip.

2. Order Groceries

Groceries can be delivered to your resort via many major and local delivery services (ie Instacart, Walmart, Garden Grocer). This is a great way to save money on snacks and drinks. It’s also a great way to order baby essentials such as formula, diapers and wipes. Keep in mind that some resort rooms have beverage coolers which do not get down to the temperature of refrigeration. Refrigerators are available upon request. A request can be made before or after arrival. Availability is limited.

3. Food In The Parks

You can save some money (and keep your little one distracted in long lines) by bringing snacks and drinks to the park! It is important to note that there are no facilities to store food onsite; so plan to bring a cooler if needed. Glass containers and loose or dry ice is not permitted in the park. Ice packs are recommended.

4. Baby Care Centers 

Each of the 4 theme parks has a baby care center offering complimentary amenities for parents with infants and toddlers. These include private nursing rooms with rocking chairs, restrooms, feeding areas with highchairs, a kitchen with microwave and sink, a television room with table and seating, and an on-site shop with essentials such as formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, medication and clothing. (I wish I knew about this when my daughter lost a shoe in Epcot and we couldn’t find toddler shoes for purchase anywhere in the stores!)

5. The Sleep Situation

A complimentary crib, playpen or bumper can be requested at any Disney World resort. Availability may differ by resort. Requests can be made when making your reservation or upon arrival. Quantities are limited. Alternatively, some stroller rental companies offer sleep rental options such as inflatable bed rails, inflatable toddler beds, and full sized cribs.

Speaking of sleep. If you have a baby who wakes easily, you might consider bringing a white noise machine to block out the external noise of other guests moving around the resort. This is especially true for resorts with motel style rooms (ie entry from the outside) and/or rooms located close to the pools or other resort activities.

6. Resort Transportation

Resort transportation options are important for families who are lugging around a stroller to the parks. If at all possible, I recommend staying at a resort with access to the skyliner or monorail when traveling with babies or toddlers. These forms of transportation allow more convenient travel from park or resort. You’ll appreciate this if you plan to take an afternoon nap or break at the resort.  The other benefit is that strollers do not typically need to be folded up when boarding the skyliner or monorail. Strollers must be folded on Disney buses. Note: The monorail travels to Epcot and Magic Kingdom. The Skyliner travels to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. So, if you plan to spend more time at Magic Kingdom, for example, you’ll want to consider a monorail resort.

7. Escaping the heat & rain

Florida can be hot and rainy depending upon the time of year. It is helpful to have a plan in place to keep your baby or toddler cool and dry.  For strollers, be sure you have a sun shade cover. A portable fan attached to the stroller can help keep your baby cool. During the rainy season, a stroller rain cover is great to have on hand. I recommend that you cover your stroller whenever you park it just in case an unexpected rain shower comes through while you are enjoying an attraction.  

Speaking of attractions, there are many covered and indoor options where you can grab cover from the sun or rain. Shows are a particularly great option for getting the smallest travelers indoors and may even offer the added bonus of air conditioning.  You can also plan a break from the heat by making an indoor lunch reservation (or looking for an indoor quick service option) during the hottest time of day. Finally, don’t forget about the baby care center mentioned above!

8. Laundry

Babies and toddlers go through a lot of clothes but you don’t need to over pack. Disney World Resort hotels offer self-service laundry facilities, plus dry cleaning and valet laundry services at an additional cost. Credit and debit cards are accepted at all laundry locations for washers, dryers and soap vending. In addition, all laundry rooms have the ability to request a text message when a laundry cycle is complete! Disney Villas with one or more bedrooms have an in-room washer and dryer at no additional cost. But if you are not into doing laundry on vacation, Disney Resort hotels also offer dry cleaning and valet laundry services. 

9. Water & Swimming

Resort pools are a great way to cool down on a hot Florida day or to take a break from the parks. The great news for families with babies or toddlers is that many Disney resorts offer baby pools, splash pads, and interactive water play areas. Lifeguards are on duty at Disney resort pools and life jackets are available for adults and children.

Pack an extra outfit and shoes if you want the kids to cool down with water play areas in some of the parks. In Magic Kingdom, visit Casey Jr. Splash n Soak Station near Dumbo.  In Epcot, visit Moana’s Journey of Water. In Animal Kingdom, there is no designated water play area; however, you can find some water features near the entrance of Kali River Rapids where kids may be able to get a little wet..

10. Playgrounds

If your little one is getting antsy in the resort room or needs to get some energy out, check to see if your resort has a playground onsite (most do). Playgrounds feature soft and textured surfaces, swings, tunnels and slides designed for interaction. At Epcot, you can find an outdoor playground between Creations Shop and Test Track.

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