Taking a baby to Disney World may seem daunting, but I promise you it is totally manageable! I remember the first time I took my baby to Disney. I was stressed, overwhelmed, and wondering if it was even worth it. As someone who has been visiting Disney World for years, even I was worked about the entire situation. Of course, there were some moments that were tougher than others, but I promise you, it was all worth it! It was one of my favorite trips I have ever taken and look back at it with such fond memories. Your child’s first Disney trip is special, but when they are a baby, it is even sweeter as a parent.
There are two things I have found to be extremely important when traveling anywhere with a baby. They are patience and preparation. Taking a baby to Disney as your travel destination is no different. Don’t expect to conquer all of Disney World and spend the entire day at the park, but know you will still create magical moments. Plan a few must-do’s and then see where the trip takes you with your little one. With the right mindset and these 35 useful tips, you will be navigating Disney world with a baby like a pro.
Here are 35 Things to Remember when Taking a Baby to Disney World
1. Bringing a Baby to Disney is Free!
I know a lot of people question if it is worth it to take a baby to Disney because of how expensive it is, but anyone under the age of three is free, so bring those babies!
2. Utilize Baby Care Centers
Each of the four Disney World theme parks has a Baby Care Center. These are indoor (and air conditioned) areas of the park where you can find private nursing rooms, changing stations, high chairs, tv’s, and a small offering of essential baby necessities for purchase. These care centers are game changers when your baby, toddler, or even you as parents, need a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle of the parks.
3. Baby Wearing is Key When Bringing a Baby to Disney
Whether you’re a seasoned baby wearer or new to the game, I highly suggest investing in a good quality baby carrier. Baby wearing allows for on the go nursing, contact naps, comfort for your little one, a safe space for your baby, and the ability to be hands free.
Here are some baby carriers I recommend:
Ergo Baby Carrier for Newborns to Toddlers
4. Let Them Get Their Wiggles Out
If you are taking a mobile baby to Disney World, give them plenty of opportunity to get their wiggles out. There is a large grassy area in front of Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom that is perfect for your little one to crawl or toddle around while you can sit and relax as well. In EPCOT, there are also a lot of grassy areas to let your baby roam, too
5. Find the Perfect Stroller
A stroller is a must for a Disney vacation if you are bringing a baby or toddler. The perfect stroller is going to differ from family to family, but make sure it follows the Disney World stroller guidelines. I think a large basket under the sear for storage, a snack tray, and a seat that can recline are great features to have. The theme parks offer stroller rentals, but these are not ideal for babies as they are hard and require your little one to be a strong independent sitter.
6. Ride some Attractions
Across all four of the Disney World theme parks are attractions that are slow moving, have no height requirement, and allow for lap sitting children and infants. Many may have the misconception that you can’t enjoy the rides when taking a baby to Disney, but that is far from the truth. My son loved the People Mover in Magic Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris in Animal Kingdom, and The Seas with Nemo and Friends in EPCOT the best. He even fell asleep on some of the rides from the low lights and slow movement, it was great!
7. Utilize Family Restrooms
If you don’t want to go to a Baby Care Center, use the family restrooms! These are private and spacious restrooms meant for families to use. Keep your little ones safe and contained while using the bathroom yourself, too!
8. Include Infants in Disney Dining Reservations
Although your infant may not be eating during your dining experiences, they still need to be included in your reservation so the restaurant can seat you at an appropriately sized table.
9. Visit Theme Parks in the Mornings
Morning times are cooler and often less crowded than the afternoons or evenings. This is less stimulating for babies and allows for exploring the parks at a slower pace. If you are staying on property at a Walt Disney World Hotel, then you are able to enter the parks an hour earlier than other guests.
10. Bring Sun Protection
Florida is hot and sunny, no surprise there, so make sure you are protecting your little ones skin! If your baby is still too young for sunscreen, make sure they have a hat and thin clothing that covers their arms and legs. Strollers with a sunshade are a big bonus, too.
11. Use Rider Switch
Rider Switch allows one care giver to ride an attraction while the other is with someone who can’t or does not want to ride the ride. The other caregiver can ride after without having to wait in the line again. This way, your baby is always looked after and no one needs to miss out on their favorite attractions!
12. Take a Mid-day Break from the Parks
I suggest spending time at your hotel or walking around somewhere outside the parks in the middle of the day for your little one to nap, cool off, and unwind from a morning in a busy theme park.
13. Pack Snacks
If you are taking a baby to Disney World who has started solids, snacks are a MUST. Whether it’s baby puffs, purees, or baby led weaning appropriate foods, pack them along in your park bag to keep them full, distracted, and entertained when needed.
14. Don’t Pack Your Schedule Full
Some planning is required when visiting Disney World, but try not to make a super strict and busy schedule when bringing a baby along. Be flexible with how much your baby will be willing to partake in each day of your trip.
15. Nap on the Go
I know not all babies can do this, but if yours can, then take advantage of it. If your baby will nap in their stroller or baby carrier, then enjoy some time exploring the parks while they nap instead of heading back to your hotel.
16. Bring Extra Outfits into the Parks
I know this may be a no brainer, to pack an extra outfit in your diaper bag, but i suggest bringing more than one. I changed my babies outfit frequently due to sweat, rainstorms, food stains, spit up, and blow outs.
17. Bring Your Own Placemat to Restaurants
These were a game changer for us as we did baby led weaning with our son. I felt they were more sanitary than the table and made for a quick clean up. You can buy reusable or disposable. I found disposable more convenient, but the choice is yours.Just be aware, older babies may be able to rip the sticky part off of the table, so keep an eye out. Amazon also sells disposable bibs as well if you don’t want to worry about running to the bathroom to clean yours after every meal.
18. Stick to Meal and Nap Schedules
If you have a baby that is used to a schedule, stick to it as best you can. Not everything will be the same, but try to keep the same times you feed and nap your babies to help keep them happy.
19. Don’t Expect the Characters to Hold your Baby
As cute as you might think it would be for your favorite Disney character to hold your baby for a picture, it’s not possible. This is to keep your little ones safe!
20. Relax!
You’re on vacation, after all! Relax and enjoy your trip and don’t aim to be picture perfect. Be present and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. Disney World is often a trip that involves being busy all day long, so it’s nice to enjoy it at a different and slower pace.
21. Glass Baby Jars are Allowed when Taking a Baby to Disney Theme Parks
Disney theme parks have a no glass rule, but glass baby food jars are allowed if you need to feed your little one purees.
22. Plan to Take Air Conditioning Breaks
The hot and humid Florida environment isn’t the best for a baby to be hanging out in all day, especially if they are not used to that environment. Plan to spend some time enjoying indoor attractions to break up your day and cool off.
23. Be Flexible
Go into your trip expecting to have plans change. There so much to enjoy in Disney World, so don’t be too bothered if you can’t check everything off of your “must-do” list. Take advantage of shopping, exploring, slower rides, and new experiences.
24. Keep a Bedtime Routine
If your baby has a specific routine they follow before bedtime, stick to it. Even if bedtime is a little later than usual, try to keep the routine the same. Not all kids need this, but to help your little one sleep the best in an unfamiliar environment, then keep the routine familiar. Bring your sound machine, sleep sack, lovey, or whatever you need to make bedtime as smooth as possible.
25. Use Delivery Services
Instead of packing a dedicated suitcase for diapers, wipes, formula, and baby food, only bring enough for the first day and have the rest delivered to your resort. There are so many different options to use, such as Amazon Fresh, Garden Grocers, Instacart, and more.
26. Get your Babies First Haircut in Magic Kingdom
The Harmony Barber Shop in the Magic Kingdom offers a first haircut package! Celebrate this milestone with a picture, lock of their hair, and mickey mouse ear hat. The price for this starts at $28 and advanced reservations are highly suggested.
27. You Can’t Take a Baby to Disney and Not Get a 1st Visit Pin!
Celebrate your babies first visit with a “My First Visit” pin and picture! You can get these pins at Guest Relations, some shops in the parks and hotels, or the front desk of your hotel.
28. Plan to Do Laundry
All kids, especially babies, go through a lot of laundry. If you want to keep your luggage to a minimum, then plan to do a load or two of laundry during your stay. Walt Disney World Resorts offer laundry facilities.
29. Resorts Will Help Facilitate Breastmilk Storage
If your are breastfeeding and need to store milk, you know how important it is to store it appropriately. The mini fridges in the hotel rooms do not usually get cold enough for safe storing, so you can either rotate ice in the fridge or have guest services keep the milk in a colder fridge or freezer for you. If you need to keep breastmilk cool in the parks, I suggest a high quality chiller as there is no place to store breastmilk or personal items in the Baby Care Centers.
30. No Need to Bring a Pack n’ Play
If you are staying on site in a Disney World Hotel, request a pack n’ play or portable crib in advance when booking your hotel. They are first come first serve, but I have gone during peak crowd times and have never had a problem getting one. Once you arrive to your room, call down to the front desk and they will bring one up for you.
31. Don’t Spend the Entire Day in the Theme Parks
Whether you want to take an afternoon nap at the hotel, or explore Disney Springs, plan to spend some time away from the Disney theme parks. The crowds and constant stimulation can be a lot for little ones (and parents, too!), so enjoy some of the slower paced activities Disney has to offer. We enjoyed taking our baby around the Boardwalk in his stroller. It was nice to walk by the water, grab a treat, and let him enjoy all of the boats going by.
32. Shop and Eat During Naps
If your baby happens to fall asleep in the stroller or baby carrier, take some time to enjoy all of the shopping and fun treats available. There are so many fun options to choose from. If you happen to be in EPCOT, this is a great time to wander through World Showcase and try all of the fun and unique cuisine and themed shops!
33. Bring a Stroller Fan
By this point we are all well aware that Florida is hot and humid, but a stroller fan is perfect to keep your little one nice and cool. You can even get two and put one on the handle of the stroller to aim at you.
34. Visit the Water Fountains
My sons favorite thing in Disney World when he was a baby were all of the fun water fountains and features. I found EPCOT to have the best fountains for him to enjoy. His two favorites were the Ratatouille fountain in front of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the dancing fountain in front of the Imagination Pavilion.
35. Take Lots of Pictures!
Capture your babies first visit with a ton of pictures and videos. If you visit Disney World again when they are older, it’s so fun to see how much they’ve grown.
