Hey there, Rebekah, and welcome to planDisney! It’s exciting to hear that you’ll be embarking on your first Walt Disney World vacation soon! September usually brings lowers crowds, more pleasant temperatures, and the
EPCOT Food and Wine Festival — which makes it one of my favorite times to visit the Theme Parks. But the real reason I’m there is to ride the attractions! Even with the kids in tow, my goal is to get as many attractions in as I can. I’d love to help you navigate the Theme Parks with both a teenager and a tot.
Rebekah, in my experience, I have never had any issues waiting in the standby queue with my daughter — who is also 13 — even if I was not planning to board the attraction. This holds true even when waiting in the lightning lane standby queue. Simply let the Cast Members stationed at the entrance to each attraction know that you would like to wait in line with your teen but will not be boarding the attraction. As you near the boarding zone of the attraction, you will also let the Cast Members there know that you are not planning to board, and they will give you instructions on where to wait for your daughter to exit the attraction.
And as a dad with a teenager and also 3 toddlers, I’d love to share a few tips that have helped me navigate the Theme Parks with my family over the years. Be sure to rent a stroller! Strollers have helped my family maximize our times in the Theme Parks because my toddlers can get a comfortable nap while my teenager continues to experience everything Walt Disney World has to offer. I suggest considering a
stroller rental from Disney’s Authorized Stroller Rental Provider, Scooterbug. Theme Park stroller rentals must be returned as you exit the parks. But with Scooterbug, you can use the stroller inside the parks and throughout your resort hotel. The stroller is my number one priority Disney Vacation accessory because I do not want to carry tired toddlers all day long! Additionally, each Theme Park has a
Baby Care Center available for Guest use. Each Baby Care Center has changing tables, quiet nursing rooms, and even bottle warming stations. They also have diapers, onesies, and wipes available for sale for the moments when our little ones throw us a curveball. Trust me - we’ve all been there! I find that the Baby Care Centers are the perfect place to take a bathroom break, cool off, and have a quiet place for my kiddos during long Theme Park days.
I hope this helps, Rebekah!
Let me know if you have more questions while planning your vacation.
You’ve got a friend in me,
PG