Minnie Mouse; Young girl; Magic Kingdom
  • On Jan 16, 2025
    David from Hampshire Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Any general tips for first timers visiting with young children. Any help would be much appreciated

    Hi David! Welcome back to planDisney!

    There is nothing quite like your first visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. This is especially true when you get to share the experience with your little ones. I think back often to the first time I stepped foot in the Magic Kingdom with my family and began our adventure walking down Main Street, U.S.A. Let's discuss some tips that will help you have a magical first visit.

    When traveling with young children, planning each day properly will set you up for a successful trip. The biggest tip I always share with families is to build in multiple breaks throughout each day. Exploring the parks can get tiring quickly and having the proper rest will help everyone enjoy the day. This may include stopping for lunch at a table-service or quick-service dining location to fuel up and get off your feet. Looking back at the previous question you asked, it seems like you purchased 14-Day Magic Tickets. Having this many days will allow you to take your time and not try to overload any of your park days.

    If riding attractions is a high priority, I suggest arriving at the parks as early as you can. If you are staying in a Disney Resorts hotel, you can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry. This perk allows you to enter the parks 30 minutes before the official park opening time. It will give you a head start on the rest of the Guests visiting that day. We like to take advantage of this because you can ride more attractions with lower wait times. Wait times for attractions are usually lower in the morning since most Guests are still on their way to the park. Typically, we'll take a mid-day break when arriving early and head back to our resort to relax for a bit. Since the Park Hopper Option is included with your ticket package, you then hop to a different park later in the day if you prefer. 

    David, I highly recommend renting a stroller regardless of the age of your young children. While my kids stopped using strollers at home years ago, we still rent one at times at Walt Disney World. You will be walking a lot each day, and their little legs will tire out quickly. We tried recently to do without it but within a few hours of exploring EPCOT, we quickly realized this was a mistake. Stroller rentals are available at each park and can be rented for daily use. You can also contact the Disney Featured Provider, ScooterBug, and rent one for the duration of your visit. They will drop it off at your Disney Resorts hotel and pick it up when your trip has concluded. 

    If meeting characters is something you think will be important, I suggest booking some Character Dining experiences throughout your stay. While you can meet many characters at each of the parks, you may need to wait in line depending on how busy each meet and greet is. This can be tough with young children to have to wait to meet each character. At a Character Dining meal, there will be a specific set of characters that you will meet and interact with. They will come around to your table and spend time with you during your meal.  

    David, the best tip I can provide is to take your time and don't try to jam everything into each day. You have a ton of time to explore the parks, resorts, and everything that Walt Disney World has to offer.

    Happy planning!
    Greg
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Meet the Panelist: Greg, South Carolina

Hello friends! Greg here from Charleston, SC. I am a Disney-loving husband and dad to two wonderful daughters. Walt Disney World Resort offers everything you want in a vacation and touches all the senses. From the sights to sounds and even the smells, there is something for everyone to enjoy! When our family is not riding "it’s a small world" or going on a Journey Into Imagination With Figment, we are readily planning our next Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Learn More About Greg

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