14 Random Things You Might Not Know (and should consider) When Going to Disney World

Disney

Jan 23

It’s been a bit of a crazy time in our household these past few months - road trip, family wedding, quarantine, the holidays, and so much more. And throughout all of that, our 4 year old keeps begging us to go back to Disney World. Little does she know, we are planning a surprise trip. All the pieces are coming together. As a family who is now planning their third (and forth) trip to Disney World (yes, we are already planning the next one too), in less than two years, I realize there are quite a few things I wished I had known the first time we went as a family. For your enjoyment…

14 Random Things To Keep in Mind When Doing Disney World with Littles

Microwaves are not standard in your hotel room. You can request one by but this is not a guarantee. There are microwaves available in the food court areas of most hotels but if you’re not close to the center, walking back and forth to heat up mac and cheese for your toddler after a long park day might not sound appealing. And this brings us to our next point.
Some hotels are LARGE and spaced out. Be strategic when choosing your preferred room. If you want to be close to the pool, lobby (where all of the main food areas are located), transportation (bus, skyliner, etc.), or something else, be sure to select that type of room. In most cases, a preferred room will be the room closest to the action. HOWEVER, closer to all of the action might mean you’re further away from the top transportation (I’m looking at you, Caribbean Beach Resort). And, if views of fireworks are most important, your best bet is to select a “Theme Park View”.
Fridges are smaller than you think. Be strategic and mindful when purchasing items to keep cold. On our most recent trip we were able to fit a gallon of milk into the minifridge but had to put it on it’s side and basically have room for little else. My children can easily finish a gallon of milk in one week, so we knew it was a necessity. Two half gallons would have fit more easily BUT I was trying to save some money. Another thing to keep in mind, not all resorts have the freezer section of the fridge either. While this gives you more room, it was a pain not being able to freeze our icepacks each night. And speaking of icepacks
Loose Ice is not allowed in any Disney World theme park. Your best bet, pack sandwich or freezer bags and fill them with ice at your resort. As long as they are contained within a bag, you are allowed to bring them.
Grocery delivery is your best friend. You are allowed to bring food into Disney World theme parks with no cost. This is a lifesaver when you have little kids who basically survive on goldfish crackers and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. No judgement - we all know toddlers can be a challenge.
Measure your kids BEFORE heading to Disney World, then map out the rides they can ride and avoid the ones they cannot. This will help avoid so many tears. And if you have two kids of different heights, be sure to find a ride very close by for your shorter child while your taller child is on another. On our last trip, my daughter was finally tall enough to ride Test Track at Epcot and of course, my son was not. So while Abby was cruising with my husband, Gregory and I ran over to Journey Into Imagination with Figment, and he had a blast!
If you can choose a resort with more than one transportation option, do it! When you stay at a Disney World resort, you have access to free Disney Transportation throughout the resort (to theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs). Busses can get full pretty fast, especially during peak times. Having the luxury of being able to choose the monorail, Skyliner, a boat, or even the ability to walk to a Theme Park will save you time and crankiness. Keep in mind, these will have a higher price tag, so be sure to weigh what is more important to you - closer proximity or less cost.
Only Disney World transportation can take you directly to the gates of Magic Kingdom. If you plan to drive your own car, take a shared ride, or are staying at a non Disney World resort that has transportation to Magic Kingdom, those will take you to the Ticket and Transportation Center. From here, you must board a ferry boat or the monorail in order to get to Magic Kingdom. BUT, if you take a Disney Bus, you’ll be dropped off right at the gates to Magic Kingdom. Skipping the trip from the Ticket and Transportation Center will save you time and tears (especially on hot and busy days).
Driving is faster (minus Magic Kingdom, see point above) but more expensive. We love having a car when we travel but it can be expensive. It is so much easier to hop in your car and drive to the theme park versus waiting for some sort of transportation, especially if the bus has to make multiple stops throughout your resort. However, parking is not free. If you’re staying on property, you’ll pay between $15 and $25 per night to park at your hotel (but you’ll be able to park at each theme park for free). If you’re staying off-property, you’ll pay $25 per park but you can come and go on that day as you please (and head over to another park without having to pay a second time).
Quick Service (Counter Service) kids meal can be a wallet saver! These are significantly cheaper than adult meals but still satisfying. In most cases, these meals will come with a main, two sides, and a drink (usually milk, chocolate milk, or water). And those sides can range from a variety of things - from salad or fresh fruit to yogurt pouches or macaroni and cheese to scrambled eggs or Mickey Waffles! In most cases, my kids would eat the main dish and save the other item for a snack later on. Or they would even split a meal. And on some days, I’d order a kids meal for myself.
Disney World resorts provide life jackets in adult and child sizes (this includes for those under 30 pounds). I was able to easily find life jackets for kids. This is a huge suitcase saver as we know that packing your own can take up valuable souvenir space!
Just because you didn’t score that Dining reservation at your 60 day mark, does not mean all is lost! I’ve scored some pretty amazing reservations the days leading up to or even just hours before the desired meal time. Keep checking because something might still pop up.
Know your stroller inside and out prior to Disney World. Depending on which hotel you pick, you will be unfolding and folding your stroller more times than the number of Mickey shaped food you will see in the parks.
Your stroller may be moved when you’re on an attraction. And by maybe, I mean you will probably be scrambling to find your stroller each time you leave an attraction. Your stroller, though a lifesaver in Disney World, cannot accompany you inside most restaurants or attractions. Stoller parking is conveniently located and often times cast members (Disney World employees) will move strollers to make room for more. Decorate your stroller with bright ribbon or a balloon to make it easier to spot in these situations. And never leave valuables with your stroller.