Hi Kelly! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
How exciting that you are going to have your first hotel overnight trip with your toddler at the
Walt Disney World Resort! I cannot imagine a better or more memorable time to do so! I definitely traveled to Walt Disney World with my boys when they were that age or close to it, and some of my most treasured memories are of those times. Their excitement at that age is incomparable, and the afternoon stroller naps were a thing to be remembered!
That being said, I can relate to the nerves that come along with such an excursion away from home. I know the feeling of not wanting to disrupt a toddler’s tenuous sleep schedule and bedtime routines. Sleep is important for everyone involved! I would recommend that you do the best you can to mimic the routines you have at home, all while keeping a relaxed outlook, since of course the environment is going to be nothing like home (for most people!)
Pack-n-plays and bed rails can definitely be requested at
Disney Resort Hotels, and my family and I brought our own travel mattress that was sized for a typical Pack-n-play with us every time we traveled to Walt Disney World, as we knew our babies loved it and were used to the feel of it back home. Assuming you are staying on property, rocking chairs or gliders are not a standard offering in Resort rooms, however they can be rented. A local merchant by the name of A Baby’s Best Friend offers many baby care items for rent, including a rocking chair! You can find them at abbf.com.
As a mom and Pediatrician, I know that maintaining routines with toddlers is extremely important. That being said, your 20-month-old’s days might be as different as he/she has ever experienced! But it is still worth pursuing those mid-day rests back at your Resort Hotel if that is what baby is used to, as well as renting a stroller and/or using a baby carrier when you are out and about. Bring baby's favorite toys and foods along, play his/her favorite music, and try to stick to consistent wake-ups and bedtimes. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the
Baby Care Centers conveniently available at all four Theme Parks for any feeding/diapering needs or other necessities. And check out this
handy guide for traveling to Walt Disney World with toddlers and preschoolers in order to plan out your days.
In the end, even if schedules are thrown off slightly, I know you won’t regret it, because what you will receive in exchange is the experience of creating lifelong precious memories with your child!
Kelly, I hope you have a magical visit to the Walt Disney World Resort and please let us know if there are any additional questions we can answer for you.
See ya real soon!
-Clara