Hi Dayra!
Welcome to planDisney!
I did that exact same thing with all 3 of my boys – we headed to Disney World RIGHT before they each turned 3. It’s been one of my absolute favorite ages to take our kids because seeing the magic through their eyes is just incredible…but they’re also essentially free, which is such a huge perk! It’s good to note that you will not need to stop by Guest Relations to enjoy any of these benefits.
Ok, let’s get into the details.
At this time, kids under 3 get complimentary admission to the theme parks at Disney World, so she will not need a park ticket. Plus, if your family will be purchasing
Lightning Lane services, your not-quite-3 year-old won’t need those either. She’ll be able to head through the Lightning Lane at attractions with your family as long as those she’s riding with have a booked Lightning Lane.
Since your daughter will not need park admission or Lightning Lanes, she will not need a
MagicBand either. I will say, though, that my boys always get such a kick out of scanning into the Lightning Lanes! So, when they were under 3, we would just let them scan our MagicBands for us.
As far as dining goes, kids under 3 eat free at all family style and buffet meals. And that includes some of the
character dining! Even though she’ll eat for free at these meals, you’ll still want to add her to the dining reservations so the restaurant can plan accordingly for space.
Finally, you’ll find that there’s
plenty to do around the parks and resorts for an almost 3-year-old. In fact, the majority of the attractions have
no height requirement. Beyond that, there are lots of shows, character meet and greets, and fun activities to keep her entertained. I think my boys could spend hours hanging at the play areas around Epcot!
Disney World really does have the littlest ones in our party covered, from
Baby Care Centers at the parks to
providing cribs or bed rails at the resorts and everything in between. That way, we just get to focus on all the fun. I know you guys will make such great memories together!
If any other questions pop up as you plan, feel free to come back to visit us! We’re always happy to help!
Jenn J.