Disney 101: Tips for First Timers With Young Children
Our family has countless Disney trips under our belts and I consider myself an experienced Disney traveler. However, this wasn’t always the case. I’ve been reflecting on our family’s trips over the years, especially our very first.
The first trip we took to Walt Disney World with our son was very magical, but there are some lessons I learned that I applied to my vacations moving forward and continue to reference today.
Create a Packing List
This may seem obvious, but sometimes you get so caught up in the excitement of the trip that you forget things. On our first trip I made the mistake of forgetting my contact lens container and solution. I didn’t realize it until we made it to the hotel we were staying at in Jacksonville. We drove on our first trip and spent the night before driving the rest of the way. Unfortunately, I was so stressed out worried about what I forgot to pack that I didn’t enjoy the journey. We ended up taking time out of our morning to stop at a nearby Walmart to pick up my contact solution and container. I was relieved, but it meant we were later getting to WDW. It all worked out, but had I made a packing list the whole debacle could’ve been avoided.
Order Groceries to be delivered
When my son was very young he was a picky eater. He liked fruit, apple juice, and milk. We packed Goldfish crackers for him, but not drinks or fruit. We thought we would just buy those things when we arrived, which is fine but can be hard to find and more expensive. Looking back, I wish we had placed an Amazon Prime order to be delivered to the hotel or an InstaCart delivery. Having bottled water delivered would’ve been nice too since it’s so expensive in the park. Better yet, a refillable water bottle would have been a sustainable option.
Make Your Child Rest In Stroller
Of course my son was super excited to be at Disney for the first time. With excitement comes a lot of energy. He was willing to do a lot of walking, often refusing the stroller. Unfortunately, after a long day in the park on your feet in the heat can take a toll. My son crashed hard and got a stomach ache after the second day. This forced us to take more breaks and not go from park open to close every day. Kids need breaks, even if they don’t act like it at first.
Stay On Property If Possible
I know staying on property can be expensive and some may not find it worth it. However, for a family with young children, staying on property is beneficial because it allows you the convenience to go back to the room for a midday break easily. On our first trip we stayed off property, which made going back to the room in the middle of the day more challenging. Towards the end of the trip we were having our son take naps in his stroller. It would’ve been nicer to go back to the room and rest, maybe even change into fresh clothes and come back later in the evening refreshed.
Go With The Flow
On our first day at Magic Kingdom I was so excited for my son to see everything in the park. The day started off magical right away with the Fire Chief stopping and giving us a ride in the fire truck. When we departed, the Chief offered to have my son sit in the truck to get his picture, which I was thrilled. However, my son was not having it and got upset. He refused. Of course I tried to coax him into the truck by telling him it would be really fun, but he just didn’t want to. I was disappointed, but the Fire Chief gave me some good advice which I still think of every time we go to Disney. He told me not to push him, especially since it’s his first time. He said the park can be overwhelming for children and to just let things happen at your son’s pace. He said that he would come around, just give him time. He was definitely right. My son had a great time. I’ll never forget going to brunch at Chef Mickey’s that day and seeing his reaction to meeting characters for the first time. I was nervous at first because I didn’t know how he’d react, but I took the Chief’s advice and didn't push him to do anything. To my surprise, he was so excited to give each one a hug and a high five. Pure magic.
Don’t Over-schedule
Disney is a place where you want to do and experience everything, but that’s impossible. It’s important to have a schedule to keep you focused throughout the day, but not every second needs to be timed. You shouldn’t feel like you can’t stop and look at something because you don’t have time. I made that mistake on our first trip because I tried to pack as much in as possible. Over the years, we’ve learned that our most memorable and enjoyable trips are those where we take time to stop and smell the roses. Letting our son frolic and play around the skipping water fountains at Epcot outside Journey Into Your Imagination With Figment is one of my son’s favorite things to do. We make a point now to stop there and let him have fun. That’s often one of his favorite memories.
Final Thoughts
The best advice I can give to first time travelers with kids to Disney is in the words of the Fire Chief “Let them go at their own pace. Don’t push.” I’m so grateful for that advice. Just remember that your kids are not going to remember how they rode 10 attractions in one day, but they are going to remember playing with a fountain or saying hi to their favorite character or having popcorn while relaxing on a bench. It’s often the simple things that are the most memorable.