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What To Do With A Toddler In Disney World!

What To Do With A Toddler In Disney World!

People love to criticize what we do with our kids. The minute you mention that you’re bringing a baby or a toddler to Walt Disney World, we’re sure someone had something to say like “There’s nothing for them to do there!”, or “They won’t even remember it!”. Tell those people to be like Thumper.

If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

We here at WDW Vacation Tips are happy to dispute both of those claims by the Karens of the world. There is so much for toddlers and preschoolers to do in Walt Disney World, and tons of memories to be made. Let's break down the best things to do with a toddler in Disney World!

Attractions Toddlers Can Ride

Because all toddlers are different sizes, let’s just focus on what Disney likes to call “family-friendly” rides. This means that there is no height restriction so everyone from pregnant mothers, infants, toddlers, teens, and even grandma can enjoy it.

Magic Kingdom

  • Astro Orbiter
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Country Bear Jamboree
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • The Hall of Presidents
  • Haunted Mansion
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Liberty Square Riverboat
  • Mad Tea Party
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
  • Under the Sea ~Journey of the Little Mermaid
  • Walt Disney World Railroad
  • Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
  • Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

EPCOT

  • The American Adventure
  • Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
  • Bruce’s Shark World
  • Canada Far and Wide
  • Coral Reefs
  • Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
  • ImageWorks - The “What If” Labs
  • Invertebrates at EPCOT
  • Journey Into Imagination with Figment
  • Living With The Land
  • Manatees
  • Reef Fish
  • Reflections of China
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • Sea Turtles
  • SeaBase
  • The Seas with Nemo and Friends
  • Sharks and Rays
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Turtle Talk with Crush

Hollywood Studios

  • Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Toy Story Mania!
  • Vacation Fun - An Original Animation Short with Mickey & Minnie
  • Walt Disney Presents

Animal Kingdom

  • Affection Section
  • African Birds
  • African Elephants
  • African Hogs
  • African Lions
  • The Animation Experience
  • Black Rhinos
  • Butterflies at Conservation Station
  • Conservation Station
  • Cotton-Top Tamarins
  • Discovery Island Trails
  • Flamingos at Africa
  • Gibbons
  • Giraffes
  • Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
  • Hippopotamuses
  • Invertebrates
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug!
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Maharajah JungleTrek
  • Migratory Birds
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • The Oasis Exhibits
  • Okapis
  • Tigers
  • Tree of Life
  • TriceraTop Spin
  • Vultures
  • White Rhinos
  • Wildlife Express Train
  • Zebras

Disney Springs

  • Marketplace Carousel
  • Marketplace Fun Fountains
  • Marketplace Train Express
  • Splitsville Luxury Lanes

Activities That Toddlers Will Love

What To Do With A Toddler In Disney World! 2

Toddlers are amazingly curious creatures. Disney has created a safe environment for the most curious of guests to explore their wonder and learn something new.

So often people are racing through the parks to go from ride to ride, but with toddlers, you really want to slow down sometimes and take in the day. Disney World is full of different activities and scavenger hunts that the youngest Mouseketeers are sure to love.

Unlike the attractions, it’s possible you have never even heard of some of these activities included with your ticket to Walt Disney World.

Want to know more details about these activities? Comment below and we can give you more articles on the activities at Walt Disney World!

Magic Kingdom

  • The Dapper Dans
  • Disney Adventure Cavalcade
  • Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
  • A Pirate’s Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas
  • Tom Sawyer Island

Characters to Meet in the Magic Kingdom!

  • Ariel in her mermaid form
  • Belle
  • Cinderella
  • Donald Duck
  • Daisy Duck
  • Goofy
  • Mickey
  • Minnie
  • Tiana
  • Rapunzel
What To Do With A Toddler In Disney World! 3

EPCOT

  • EPCOT Festival (Depending on the time of the year you have Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine, and Festival of the Holidays)
  • Festival scavenger hunts with prizes!
  • JAMMitors
  • Mariachi Cobre
  • Voices of Liberty

Characters to Meet in EPCOT

  • Alice
  • Anna
  • Elsa
  • Snow White
  • Belle in her village dress
  • Mary Poppins
  • Mickey

Hollywood Studios

  • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
  • Disney Junior Play and Dance
  • Fantasmic
  • Green Army Drum Corps
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

Characters to Meet in Hollywood Studios

  • Olaf
  • Buzz
  • Woody
  • Bo Peep
  • Kylo Ren
  • BB 8
  • Darth Vader
  • Mike & Sully
  • Mickey
  • Minnie

Animal Kingdom

  • The Boneyard
  • Feathered Friends in Flight!
  • Festival of the Lion King
  • Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
  • Harambe Village Acrobats
  • Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe
  • Viva Gaia Street Band

Characters to Meet in Animal Kingdom

  • Donald Duck
  • Kevin
  • Mickey
  • Minnie

Let’s Talk Memories…

What To Do With A Toddler In Disney World! 4

When taking very young children to Disney World, the most common thing the Karens would say is “They won’t remember it”, or “Wait until they are older so they will remember”.

Sometimes it isn’t about the kids remembering Disney. It’s about the parents remembering their children’s innocence, youth, joy, and absolute wonder as they saw the castle for the first time. It’s true that your 2 and 3-year old may not remember much of their trip if anything, but we guarantee that you won’t forget their face while watching the parade, or how shy they were meeting Mickey Mouse, or their little giggles as they braved their first roller coaster.

Disney World is a magical place for families. Not just for the children, but for the parents to enjoy their children. Disney is outside of reality. There are no electric bills, job assignments, school, or any other unpleasantries that reality can bring.

Take the trip. Enjoy your babies when they are babies. Remember their sweetness.

Tips For Taking Toddlers to Disney World

  • Keep Their Schedule:
     If your toddler is used to a nap in the afternoon, let them nap. Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones whose kid can sleep in the stroller, but if you’re not, plan on going back to the hotel in the afternoon. We know it’s a huge time suck, but trust us, it’s worth it.
  • Don’t Push Them:
    Just because you bought 4-day park passes doesn’t mean that you have to use all of those days in a row. Take a break in between. Try to schedule a full day off in the middle of your vacation. Let that day be a full recharge day. Sleep in. Watch movies. Swim at the pool. Be lazy! It’s vacation!
  • Be Prepared for the “I Wants”:
    Almost every ride empties into a souvenir shop. Your kids will see a ton of stuff that they “have to have”. Come prepared! We have had a lot of luck with giving 3 friends a hug in each shop (plushies only), or asking to touch 3 things. They soothe that need to “see” and you won’t end up broke by the end of the trip.
  • Find Quiet Time:
    There are places in all 4 parks that is away from the crowds to just unwind a bit. Check out shows and quiet grass spaces.
  • Lose the “Get Your Money’s Worth” Mentality:
    We get it. Disney is pricey, but pushing your kids past their breaking point is a bigger waste of money because you will spend your vacation with tantrums. Letting them take breaks to run and play is not a waste of money or time. Relax, momma!
  • Choose ONE Nighttime Spectacular:
    Pick an eye, babe. Pick one. Pick. One. Follow the advice of Tomatoa on this one. Disney has amazing nighttime spectaculars and fireworks shows in Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT. Your small kids are not going to be able to handle staying up past 10pm multiple nights in a row on top of all of the stimulation in Disney. That’s just too much. Pick one.  We suggest Fantasmic in Hollywood Studios because the show is in an arena with seats. Seats are amazing after a long day.