Hi Ashley! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
I know EXACTLY what you are going through! I have three children 5 years of age and under. My youngest is almost two years old and our next trip will be her first time. We also are looking forward to some of our favorite character experiences but in my opinion, the key to keeping these little one’s happy is all about the scheduling!
I know that mornings are my toddler’s best time of day. We tend to schedule a lot of character breakfasts. Some of our favorites include the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch at
‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Tusker House restaurant hosted by Safari Donald Duck and friends at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort.
We NEVER, let me repeat NEVER schedule anything around lunch time and we most certainly never miss nap time. We are always sure to stick to the same schedule that we do at home when we are on vacation. So the other sit down meals that we schedule are for dinner. My favorite character dinner is at the Garden Grill at Epcot. The food here is delicious and I love the scenery. When we do schedule our dinners, we make every effort to schedule dinner between 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM. We want to make sure that our little ones are rested and not over hungry.
I suggest brining little treats for your child such as books, crayons and paper, a small blanket, and lots of snacks. I am save them until they start getting restless. They are often a welcome and helpful distraction. Always make sure to never underestimate the power of a nap for both your child and yourselves. Lastly make sure to take it slow. Let your little one explore, and take the time to just enjoy being in the magic!
~Heather~