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This
FAQ is maintained by Jeff Crimm.
Comments and suggestions should be mailed
to Jeff at: crim701@bellsouth.net
INTRODUCTION
: This FAQ page is designed to help you plan a trip to
Disney with your child, not whether or not you should take your child
to Disney. Each child is different and reacts to stimuli differently
than other children their same age. This page will help to guide you as
you search for useful information on how to have a wonderful trip with
an infant or toddler.
Deciding to Go
Is
it possible to take a trip to Walt Disney World with an infant or toddler
and still have a great time?
What
do you mean plan and prepare? Can't I just run down to Disney and not
worry about things?
What
is the purpose of taking an infant if he/she isn't going to remember anything
about it?
I
have been to Disney before and have seen kids and families screaming and
not having much fun at all. Won't any trip with a child be like that?
Where
should I start my planning?
Will
I still be able to enjoy the Disney experience if I am taking care of
a child the whole time?
How
can I tell if my child is ready to take a trip like this?
Preparation
When
is the best time of the year to visit with a baby?
Where should
we stay?
Should
I bring a stroller on the trip?
Transportation
Should we have
access to a car during our stay?
What are
the laws regarding children riding in cars in Florida?
Inside the Parks
What
is the admission cost for an infant?
How
do I protect my infant from the intense Florida sun and heat?
Can
I take snacks into the park?
Where do
I go first in the parks?
What
if I want to ride an attraction that my child is too small to ride?
What
is FastPass and how will it help me?
What
are the baby stations?
Where
are these Baby Stations?
Why should
I leave the park to take a nap?
What are
some good dining options?
Character Encounters
I
can't wait for my child to see the characters, is there anything that
I need to keep in mind?
What if
my child loves the characters, how can we get a really close experience
with them?
Other Issues
Does
Disney offer baby-sitting services?
Veterans' Tips
See
what others have done to make their trips more enjoyable.
Deciding to Go
Is
it possible to take a trip to Walt Disney World with an infant or toddler
and still have a great time?
Absolutely!!! It has been done
many, many times by many, many families successfully. You will
need to plan accordingly and prepare yourself to take care of your child
in a very unique situation. Disney can be overwhelming for the
average adult, but without the proper care, it can be even more so for
an infant or toddler.
What
do you mean plan and prepare? Can't I just run down to Disney and not
worry about things?
A trip to Disney takes
a great deal of planning in itself. But with an infant the demands of
the trip will require even greater preparation to ensure that you and
your family have a fun and rewarding vacation.
What
is the purpose of taking an infant if he/she isn't going to remember anything
about it?
The purpose is
to enjoy spending time with your family at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Depending upon the age of your child, they will remember some experiences
for a limited amount of time. There are many different lights and sounds
to keep them interested as you visit. It is quite enjoyable to see your
child engrossed by the attractions.
Dave Reich adds
that it is a priceless moment they see the castle, or the Spaceship
Earth for the first time, and how their eyes light up and they start
pointing and squealing, and it is a great photo opportunity.
I
have been to Disney before and have seen kids and families screaming and
not having much fun at all. Won't any trip with a child be like that?
Not at all. A carefully
arranged trip with adequate preparation will ensure that you will have
a great time. This FAQ will help you to plan the many phases of your
trip until your child is older.
Where
should I start my planning?
Well first you should
realize that this trip will be different from any other trip you have
taken or will ever take to Walt Disney World. You child's happiness and
well being will have to take precedence over your own desires to see every
single attraction at Disney. If you can relax on your trip and realize
that you are not going to see every single thing, then you can have a
great time. If you are the commando type that must see and do everything
from sun up to sun down, then you might want to consider waiting for your
child to get a bit older.
Will
I still be able to enjoy the Disney experience if I am taking care of
a child the whole time?
Of course. You won't
be able to see quite everything, but with some planning and flexibility,
you will be able to experience the majority of attractions in and out
of the parks. It just takes a little more work and a little better planning.
Remember that you are taking this vacation to spend time with your family.
Including your baby in your trip can be a very rewarding experience as
you see their reaction to all the stimulation of the parks.
How
can I tell if my child is ready to take a trip like this?
You need to take a look
at the patterns of your child. This will help you to plan around their
schedules and habits. Disney is not the place to try new patterns with
your child. It will be much easier to follow their schedule than for them
to follow yours. Some things to ask yourself:
How do they act in
a public place?
Do large and loud crowds frighten them?
Does the dark frighten them?
Do they have scheduled nap times or are they flexible?
When and what do they eat?
Are they fussy or do they seem to be more calm?
Have they traveled before and how did they do?
What type of toys or props helps to comfort them?
How do they sleep in a strange location?
These are just some of the questions
you need to ask yourself about your child. Most are just common sense
and none should preclude you from taking your child to Disney.
Thinking about them will help you to plan a little better
and make sure that all involved have a good time.
Preparation
When
is the best time of the year to visit with a baby?
With proper care, any
time of the year can be enjoyed, but there are a few times that are better
than others. It is best to visit with a child when it is less crowded
and cooler. See the Historical Attendance and
the Weather pages for some additional information.
One of the best times is in December
up to the week before Christmas. The crowds are light, the weather cool,
and the parks are decorated for the holidays. Another good time is in
January after the first week until mid-February.
Additionally, from the end of
spring break (early April) to Early May before school lets out is good.
Early October through early November sports great weather and low crowds.
Summers tend to be too crowded
and extremely hot. It is very taxing on anyone, but especially so on
a small child. Holiday periods are very crowded and make pushing a stroller
very difficult. Long attraction lines lead to restlessness and limit
the amount of attractions that can be experienced. Spring Break is very
crowded and warm.
Where
should we stay?
All the Walt
Disney World Hotels are great and go out of their way to make sure
you have a great trip. Something to make your trip easier is to enjoy
one of the home-away-from-home resorts. These resorts offer extra amenities
that can aid in the care of an infant. Some of these include; a kitchen
to cook meals and refrigerator to store formula and milk, separate bedroom
to offer the child peace while napping, and larger living rooms to give
your child space to play. The Wilderness Cabins
in Fort Wilderness are extremely good, because they are very quiet
and sedate. Your child will be able to rest peaceably without hearing
rolling suitcases and running children outside your door.
Consider staying in a lagoon
view room over at one of the Magic Kingdom hotels, either The
Grand Floridian, The Polynesian,or
The Contemporary if you can afford it.
Our two year old daughter would sleep and my husband and I would go
out on tour verandah with snacks and watch the water parade and fireworks
over the Magic Kingdom. (Barbara Anderson August '00)
The Beach
Club, Yacht Club and the Boardwalk
Villas are great places as they are only a five minute walk to Epcot.
Should
I bring a stroller on the trip?
Bringing a stroller
is a definite with a small child. Remember that Disney does not rent
strollers outside of the parks. So if you are touring the resort hotels,
the Boardwalk, or the Downtown Disney area and you do not have a stroller,
you will have to carry a tired little one. You will want to have a stroller
available. Renting a stroller within the parks versus carrying your
personal stroller into the parks is a personal decision. Read
the Stroller FAQ for
further details.
Transportation
Should
we have access to a car during our stay?
While many people like the freedom
from having to drive while at Disney, it is probably best to have a
car if you are planning to take an infant. Flexibility is the key with
an infant and having your own transportation will aid you in being able
to change plans at a moments notice.
A few reasons to have a car with
an infant:
You can make a quick getaway
from the parks if necessary. Sometimes waiting for a bus with an infant
is not the best situation. With your own automobile, you will be able
to leave immediately.
Some bus rides can be very long.
Holding exhausted children, bags, strollers and souvenirs while hot
and sweaty for a 30 to 45 minute bus ride is not very fun. In your own
transportation, every one has their own seat and is much more comfortable,
plus all of the junk goes in the trunk.
You will have immediate transportation
if you need it when the busses are not running.
You will be able to change route
if necessary very quickly. As unpredictable as kids are, this is an
important feature.
You can leave your car seats
in your own transportation. You don't have to transfer car seats from
taxi to taxi to go off-property. Cab drivers will not allow a child
to ride unrestrained in their cab.
You can go off-property if needed.
Many times off-property restaurants are less crowded and offer a more
relaxed dining experience.
For more information to help
you decide about your transportation, see the Transportation
Options page.
What
are the laws regarding children riding in cars in Florida?
According to the 2000
Florida Driver Handbook:
Florida law requires all occupants
of cars, pickup trucks, and vans who are 6 years of age or older to
wear seat belts, regardless of seating position. Passengers 16 and older
can be fined individually for violating this provision. Drivers will
be held responsible and fined for passengers 15 years old and younger
who are found unrestrained. Children infant through 3 years of age must
be properly secured using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint
device. Such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle
manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5
years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt
may be used. This seat belt law applies to passenger cars manufactured
beginning with the 1968 model year, and trucks beginning with the 1972
model year.
ALL CHILDREN
5 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER MUST USE A RESTRAINT DEVICE WHEN RIDING IN A
MOTOR VEHICLE. The law requires every driver to secure children five
years of age or younger in child restraint devices riding in a passenger
car, van, or pick-up truck, regardless of whether the vehicle is registered
in this state. Infant carriers or children's car seats must be used
for children three years old and younger. Children's car seats or safety
belts may be used for four- and five-year-olds. All infant carriers
and car seats must be crash-tested and approved by the U.S. Government.
Children being carried or riding bicycles should wear properly fitted
bicycle helmets.
Inside the Parks
What
is the admission cost for an infant?
Infants and toddlers under the
age of three are admitted to the parks free.
How
do I protect my infant from the intense Florida sun and heat?
The Florida sun, heat, and humidity
is always a factor when you travel to Disney.
Because most pediatricians recommend
not using sun screen on infants, make sure that you keep the direct
sun off of your child by shielding them with a blanket or the stroller's
cover. Make sure that you allow them air to circulate. Dress your child
in light colored clothing that is cool.
Keep your child hydrated at all
times. Ask your pediatrician what you need to give your child to keep
them from dehydrating. This is critical as the heat can be dangerous
to a young child.
Venture into the air conditioned
shops at frequent intervals to help keep everyone cool.
Get a battery-operated portable
fan to help keep everyone cool. Some even have water bottles attached
that sprays a mist of water in addition to cooling. They really work
well to beat the heat, but try to buy one before you reach the parks
as they tend to become expensive on Disney property.
Can
I take snacks into the parks?
Officially Disney does
not allow you to bring food into the park. However, it is a policy that
is not strictly enforced if you are discreet. It is very advisable for
you to bring some of your child's favorite small snacks in resealable
sandwich bags in their diaper bag for a quick treat when needed. When
your child gets a little hungry, then you have a snack that they like
and you don't have to stand in line.
Where
do I go first in the parks?
You will want to arrive early
to make sure that you can get as many attractions in as possible with
as few lines as possible. This is best accomplished first thing in the
morning right when the park opens.
A great idea is to get a park
map and mark the attractions that you think the children would like
to see and the ones that you are sure that they wouldn't. That way you
will be sure to visit each attraction that you wish to see. In addition,
start in the back of the park first. Many times it is uncrowded at the
beginning of the day as most guests ride the first attraction that they
see. (Dave Reich)
What
if I want to ride an attraction that my child is too small to ride?
Try the baby-swap. The baby
swap is designed to allow both parents to experience an attraction that
your little one may be two small to ride and not have to wait in line
twice to do so.
It works like this. At the entrance to the attraction, you mention to
the cast member that you would like to do a baby swap. They will instruct
you on how to proceed on that particular attraction. You will all go
into the attraction line and one parent will ride the attraction while
the other stays with the child. When the first adult is finished, they
will take the child and the second adult will then ride. This is especially
fun for an older brother or sister who is large enough to ride the attraction.
Many times the cast members will allow the child to ride with both adults
which gives the child the chance to experience the attraction twice
without having to wait in line.
This procedure is changing for
many of the rides that are now offering FastPass so be sure to ask the
CM at the entrance of the attraction which procedure you are to follow.
What
is FastPass and how will it help me?
FastPass is a newer system which
helps guests eliminate some of the longer lines by receiving a time
frame in which they can ride the attraction with out having to wait
in the longer traditional queue. For more information on FastPass visit
the FastPass FAQ.
The FastPass system lets you
as a parent plan more efficiently around longer waits by getting a time
frame to return to the ride and enjoy other portions of the park. Although
the Fastpass line can involve some waiting, it is generally less than
the traditional queue.
FastPass is a great way to keep
your child motivated through the longer lines, a fussy period, or even
getting them to nap. By knowing when you're going to go on Winnie the
Pooh, you can use that as incentive to take a nap, eat, or give them
something to look forward to during a tough time of the day. (Dave Reich
What
are the baby stations?
Baby stations are cast
member staffed areas in each of the four major parks that are set up for
helping you to care for your child. They have changing areas, high chairs
for feeding, breast feeding rooms, adult restroom, hot water, sinks for
washing, and a room with toys and videos for your older children. These
amenities are free for guest of the parks.
In addition, the stations can
supply, for a small charge, emergency items that you may have forgotten
to take to the park that day. Things such as, formula, diapers, Disney
baby clothes, children's medicines, and other small necessities to help
you get through the day. Use these stations often to get away from the
hustle and bustle of the parks and to get off your feet.
These are not day care facilities
so there is no place for your child to nap, but they are a great place
to get your baby out of the sun for a few minutes. You will love these
stations once you use them.
Where
are these Baby Stations?
Magic Kingdom --
at the end of Main Street, behind the Crystal Palace Restaurant on you
way to Adventureland. It is tucked away in a small courtyard near the
first aid station.
Epcot -- on the backside
of the Odyssey Restaurant on the walkway from Test Track to Mexico.
This is a very neat station as many times the workers from the Mexican
Pavilion come over to relieve the cast members. It is great to talk
to them about their travels and country while you are taking a break.
MGM-Studios -- just
inside the entrance near guest services on the left as you enter.
Animal Kingdom -- near
the Creature Comforts gift shop in the Safari Village on the left side
of The Tree of Life.
Why
should I leave the park to take a nap?
A mid afternoon nap is
a very good idea for all involved in the trip, not just your infant or
toddler. A Disney trip is very tiring with all of the walking that is
done during the heat of the day. In addition, the parks are very stimulating
which causes additional fatigue for everyone. Arriving when the parks
open, enjoying the attractions with the smaller crowds and then leaving
in the mid afternoon to go back to the hotel is one of the better ways
to feel refreshed throughout your stay. After a short rest for recharging,
you and your whole family will feel much better for the evening activities.
Return to the parks and you will notice quite a difference between how
you feel and the guests who did not rest during the day. Many will not
be enjoying their evenings.
What
are some good dining options?
Check out the Kid
*Friendly* Restaurant page for some great suggestions. Also you
can check out the latest offerings of each restaurant on Disney property
on the menus
page.
Character Encounters
I
can't wait for my child to see the characters, is there anything that
I need to keep in mind?
Character experiences with your
children can be one of the best events of your trip. There are a few
tips to remember. The characters are very large (compared to a toddler)
and can be very intimidating to small children. Do not try to force
your child to hug Mickey's neck if it is obvious that they don't want
to have anything to do with him. Although a toddler's behavior can be
considered unpredictable at best, you can try to prepare them for their
first meeting with a Disney character.
Some ideas include:
- Get the Disney Vacation
Video and let the child see the characters on TV so that they know
what to expect. The animated character is very different from the
live character.
- Talk to your child about
the size of the characters. It depends upon the maturity of your
child, but continual positive reinforcement about the "Big
Mickey" or "Big Minnie" at the park can help prepare
your child for the meeting.
- Watch movies or Disney Channel
with the various characters in the show. Talk to your child about
how "nice" the character is and how they want to be friends
with your child. This can help to create a favorable opinion of
the character before the child ever sees them.
- Take your child to a themed
restaurant in your local area if possible. Some have characters
which are lesser known but are offer the same type of feeling that
your child will experience at Disney. Judge from their reaction
to these large characters how they might do at the parks.
- While at the park, allow
your child to see the characters from a distance and see how they
react. If they seem to accept the character with no problem, then
you can approach a little closer. If the child is very reluctant
to get closer to the character, then wave to Mickey from a distance
and head to another attraction. Your child is not quite ready to
have a close up experience with a six foot, costumed character.
Their time will come and they will eventually come around, if not
on this trip then on another.
These may help to make that first
experience magical rather than terrifying. By gauging your child's reaction
to these large animals, you can help to make this a great trip for you
and your child.
What
if my child loves the characters, how can we get a really close experience
with them?
You might consider having
enjoying a character meal. This is a meal that will be visited by the
characters of a certain theme. Read all about Character
Meals and also the Character
Meet and Greet FAQ .
Other Issues
Does
Disney offer baby-sitting service for infants and toddlers?
Unfortunately, Disney does not
have organized child care programs for children under four years old.
However there are some alternatives. Read about these at the Child
Care FAQ.
Veterans'
Tips
Victoria
L. Moynihan suggests: If you can, purchase small window clings for the
Airplane window. They are reusable, and keep my little girl busy peeling
and resticking them to the window for most of the trip! When she gets
bored with them, I tell her a little story about them, and animate it
with the characters. This refreshes her interest. It is also good for
the LONG van ride to Disney. She puts them on my Mom's van window. A
sheet usually costs around two dollars. (August 2001)
Karen Cangero adds that Downtown
Disney is a nice place for families to have a fun, but low-key outing.
There's a small playground at the start of the walkway leading to Rainforest
Cafe, which is just the right size for toddlers. Lego World is a fun
stop too, plus there are a lot of places to sit down, relax, eat ice
cream, etc. (May '00)
Joy Zeh mentions, I have breast
fed at LOTS of locations in WDW including: on the bus (!), in a rocking
chair outside the gift shop near Splash Mountain, during stage shows,
on Tom Sawyer Island (find a quiet bench), in the exit area of Tower
of Terror & right outside the gift shop. Done discreetly with a
strategically placed blanket, no one can tell you are breastfeeding!
(May '00)
Joy also reminds us that For
toddlers there are plenty of places where they can GET WET! Especially
the Little Mermaid autograph area & Donald's boat play area, just
across from Mickey's house. I have found it helpful to have my kids
wear a bathing suit under their clothes, and to pack a small towel &
dry undies in my fanny pack. Then when it is hot and we are at the play
area, just pull their clothes off, let the kids run around & get
wet (don't forget sunscreen), and when they are finished go in bathroom
or behind discreetly placed shrub pull off wet suit (don't forget a
plastic bag to put it in), put on clean panties & dry clothes, &
off to another attraction. (May '00)
Craig Putnal says do not expect
to even come close to following any kind of "Disney or Die"
program. It won't work, and everyone will be miserable. Pick out one,
possibly two key attractions daily. Make sure you are at them early.
(April '00)
Dave Reich adds a number of great
suggestions. First make sure to get a map of the park(s) you plan to
visit and mark off the attractions you think the children would like
to see, the ones you think they may be too scared, the ones that may
be too popular, the "older kid" rides such as Space Mountain,
and list them in preference and location so you can see as much as you
want, and make sure to hit the attractions the kids will like the best.
Any of the Disney guidebooks, or AllEarsNet™ can help you with
what's where. Another interesting factoid is that you can do much better
with the lines by getting there early and get to the BACK of the park
as soon as possible. The attractions will be less crowded earlier in
the day when people are going on the rides as soon as they get in the
gates.
Secondly, taking snacks into
the park is a must. Often times when the kids want to eat, they get
cranky, and waiting on a line to get food makes it worse since the only
thing worse than a child crying that they are hungry is one who also
has to wait on a line with nothing to do but be hungry. Drinks are easy
to get at a moment's notice, and you might want to take a container
full of cereal or carrots along with you.
Also, at almost every attraction
in every park, Cast Members (CM's) have rolls of stickers of everything
from the Disney characters to Trolls (Norway, EPCOT). The shops around
the parks, at the resort properties and even the Disney shopping village
have CMs with these little gems. Don't be shy about asking for four
or five of them. They will calm a child like (Disney) magic.
Use the "parent swap."
Give each adult some "quality alone" time while the other
parent takes care of the kids. Being alone for an evening without spouses
and children really gives you an opportunity to look around. We also
give each other a half day to ourselves. I head off to the spa while
he does something special with our daughter and then on his half day,
he usually heads to the golf course while I do something special with
our daughter. (Barbara Anderson August '00)
An alternative to a stroller
for infants and lightweight toddlers is a sling. Our two year old walked
a lot, but at times she got tired and we put her in the sling. She could
nap there and going through lines was a breeze because she didn't have
to stand. When we took our 9 month old son we put him in the stroller,
but when we had to park the stroller we would just pop him in the sling.
(Michelle July '01)
Your first priority is
to plan around your child's schedule!
Consider arriving at the
park as soon as it opens. The crowds will be the most manageable right
after the parks open. You will see more attractions with less waiting.
Enjoy the park for a few hours and then head back to the hotel for some
relaxation and naps. This is not only good for your child, but you as
well.
Remember to respect the people
around you. If your child is tired, irritable and screaming at the top
of their lungs, don't try to wait it out. Yes, you spent a great deal
of money, but so did the other folks around you. A screaming child
means that something is wrong, they may be hungry, they may be wet,
or they may be tired. Whatever the problem, take the time to remove
your child from the situation and fix the problem. A few moments with
your child can save everyone a great deal of frustration.
Allow some fun into the schedule
rather that continually following a rigid touring plan. Let the children
play in the fountains at Epcot and the Downtown Disney. Go back to the
hotel and play in the pool. Revisit attractions that your child particularly
enjoyed. When asked what their favorite part of a trip to Disney
was, many small children answer The Pool!
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