Disney on Ice is a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy! It brings a bit of the Disney magic into every day life. I recently saw the new Magic in the Stars show with my almost 3 year old and infant. Bringing babies and toddlers to Disney on Ice is fun, but definitely takes some prep work and patience to keep everyone happy! Whether you want to bring your toddler to see their favorite Disney stars come to life, or your younger kids are tagging along for their older siblings, you may find yourself wondering how to survive a 90 minute show with your littles.
Here are my 10 tips for Going to Disney on Ice with Babies and Toddlers:
1. Book a Showtime around Naps and Meals
Depending on your venue, there are usually multiple shows per day to choose from. I suggest choosing a show that allows your baby or toddler to remain on their nap and mealtime schedule. This way, your little ones will hopefully be as happy as possible during the show instead of hungry and overtired.
2. Help Them Recognize Disney on Ice Characters
Introduce your toddler to the characters that are featured in the show you are attending if they don’t know them already! They will be so excited to see some of their favorites in real life. I know my son was so excited to see Mickey and all of his friends, as well as Lightning McQueen, and Elsa! If your toddler knows their favorites are going to show up, they might have a bit more patience while sitting in their seats.
3. Bring your own Disney Toys
Disney on Ice official merchandise is EXPENSIVE to say the least. I’m talking up to $45 for a bubble wand. Not everything has a price that high, but if you want to try and save some money and let your toddler participate in all of the light and bubble wand fun, I suggest bringing your own to the show. You can bring ones from previous shows, the Disney Parks, target, Walmart, or even amazon! If your little one isn’t excited over the bubbles and fun light wands, you can bring their favorite stuffy, too. Here are some cheap alternatives I have found on Amazon to bring along with you to the show:
4. Let Them Snack in Their Seat
I don’t know any toddlers who don’t enjoy a good snack! Most venues will not allow you to bring in outside food or drink (with the exception of baby formula/ breastmilk). Buying some of the overpriced snacks in this case is completely worth it. Whether you go the sweet or savory route, set your toddler up with a fun treat to enjoy while watching the show to keep meltdowns to a minimum. It’s even better when they get to eat a snack out of their favorite character!
5. Don’t Arrive Too Early
You might think the earlier you get their, the better, but I wouldn’t suggest that. Give yourself enough time to use the bathroom, change diapers, and grab a quick snack. I found it best to not get in our seats until about 5 minutes before show time. Toddler and babies don’t love to sit and wait, so the less of that, the better!
6. Research Disney on Ice Venue rules Ahead of Time
Venue rules are going to be different everywhere. For my particular venue, we were not allowed to bring in any outside bags with the exception of a diaper bag. We also had to park in a parking garage that was at least a 10 minute walk to the venue entrance. I was happy I knew all of this information prior to our arrival because I was able to better plan out our arrival time, and pack accordingly.
7. Reserve an End Seat
If you have an antsy baby, or a potty training toddler, an end of the row seat is a MUST. Our venue had seats that were small and tightly packed together, so anytime we needed to get up and leave, the entire row had to stand up. It’s always awkward making people move, especially small children, for your convenience. Booking an end seat if you are anticipating you are going to need to get up frequently throughout the show, minimizes this added stress.
8. Utilize the Family Restrooms
This will depend on your venue, but if there is a family restroom offered, use it! If you have a little one in diapers or a newly toilet trained toddler, this will save the hiccup of trying to manage small kiddos in a crowded space. I found going right when we got the venue, a few minutes before intermission time, and then during the last couple minutes of the show, minimized family restroom wait times.
9. Noise Cancelling Headphones
If you have a little one who is sensitive to loud sounds or has sensory needs, I would suggest brining noise cancelling headphones. I noticed that the Disney on Ice soundtrack was not nearly as loud as a typical show or concert, but the volume was definitely still a bit loud for some.
10. Baby Wearing
If you are bringing a baby who cannot walk yet, I highly recommend baby wearing. Not only does it allow you to carry them around hands free, but it makes for an easier napping spot, discreet breastfeeding, and keeps them safe.
