Hi Lendie,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel and thank you for asking us a question.
As a mama to a 3 1/2 year old who has visited Walt Disney World Resort 6 times (and Disneyland Resort once), I can tell you that longer trips are even better with little ones! The main reason for this is because we head back to our Walt Disney World Resort hotel every afternoon for either a swim or a nap when both the crowds and heat are at their peak. A nap helps keep my little guy (and, let’s face it, his mama!) happy and makes sure that he can stay up later for dinner and, usually, fireworks at the end of the day.
The other reason why I’ve found that having more days to spend in the Theme Parks is best with young children is because you need to go at a much slower pace with them, even if they’re still in strollers. My son can get fascinated by the most unexciting (to me, anyway) things - if we have more days to spend in the Parks, I don’t have to rush him to the next attraction or event. Allowing him to explore the Parks to his heart’s content has led to some of my happiest memories, including many nights where he was mesmerized by the lighted pavement in Future World at Epcot (right outside
Innoventions). The little things are magical to little ones and a longer vacation allows the entire family to soak it all up.
Please don’t hesitate to come back and see us if you have any other questions! For even more "toddler tips", don't forget to visit the
Planning for Pre-School Kids & Little Ones page.
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne