Hi there Ashley! Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. I have been taking my little ones to the Walt Disney World Resort every year since my oldest child's first birthday, so I completely understand the unique challenges that traveling with a preschooler can bring. I also know that watching my toddlers face light up when he meets his very best pal, Buzz Lightyear, makes every single moment worth it.
As I am sure you know, toddlers and preschoolers have plenty of energy that needs to be released! Luckily, there are more than enough places to do this in each park. In the Magic Kingdom, one of my favorite not so hidden gems is
Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Inside the standby line for this attraction is an air-conditioned fully-enclosed play area. Another great area is
The Boneyard in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Here, your little one can dig for fossils and enjoy rope ladders and slides.
While I know that all children are different, at 2 years old, my son loved everything Mickey Mouse and Toy Story. For this reason, we made a point to make
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin our very first attraction when we entered the Magic Kingdom. If you have a little thrill-seeker on your hands,
The Barnstormer is a toddler-friendly roller coaster with a height requirement of just 35 inches. When visiting Epcot, our little one's favorite thing to do is to visit the enchanted kingdom of Arendelle in
Frozen Ever After.
In terms of things to stay away from, you know your child best but the vast majority of non thrill-ride attractions are preschooler friendly. If I am ever unsure if my children would like a particular attraction, I show them a video of it. That way, even if they are not scared and want to ride it, they feel a little more confident in trying something new.
Ashley, did you know that each park is also equipped with a
Baby Care Center? Children of all ages are welcome in these centers, and I have been known to take my toddler in for a few minutes of air conditioning and to relax with a show while big brother and daddy run on ahead.
When traveling with preschoolers, I always make sure to build in a little rest into our itinerary. Generally, we head to the parks as soon as they open, and head back to the hotel after lunch for a nice long nap and sometimes a swim. Not only does this give my little ones some time to recharge their batteries, but it allows us to stay out of the heat of the day as well. We generally head back to the park around 3 or 4 and stay until the evening nighttime spectacular, which is a can't miss for my little ones!
Ashley, I hope that I have helped you plan your itinerary and given you a few ideas of what your two-year-old would like. Please stop back by the Disney Parks Moms Panel if we can help you with any other questions as you plan your magical vacation!
Sarah B.