My family and I recently returned from Walt Disney World, and after surviving Disney with an infant (6 months) and a 6-year-old, we feel that we can conquer almost anything!
To say I was nervous about the trip is an understatement. I envisioned waiting in long lines everywhere, having to navigate through crowds, and feeling overwhelmed by the size of the parks. My vision couldn’t have been further from reality. Sure, those things existed, but despite all of that, we did experience the Most Magical Place On Earth. Here are my tips on how you can do that, too with an infant and child.
Plan, Plan, Plan .
Before even setting foot in a park, have a plan.
- We knew which days we wanted to visit which parks. With a few days in Orlando, we decided to get a two-day pass allowing us to visit the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.
- Downloading the Disneyworld app was our bff before and during the trip. It was helpful having our all our dining reservations, ride times, schedule of attractions, and photos all in once device.
- Know what rides are most important to your kids and send someone there first. Each day upon entering a park, I sent my husband to get in the FastPass line for the most popular rides (Toy Story, Splash Mountain, etc.), so we reduced wait times there. For us, Disney dining and the Star Wars Experience were the focus for this trip, which we successfully conquered. We spent one full day at each park (Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom) and still didn’t have enough time each day. There is just so much to see, do, and experience with so much ground to cover! DW is HUGE!
- Expect lengthier travel times to and from the parks if you’re not staying in the park. From the Magic Kingdom parking lot, you’ll still need to catch a shuttle to the entrance gate, then take the monorail or ferry boat to the main entrance of the Magic Kingdom.
Seek out nursing or resting spots to feed baby and rest. I found respite in the lobby of Star Wars theatre to sit down and nurse. This to me was pure bliss. Air conditioning, dark and quiet with no one around! Another favorite spot to just sit down and relax was at the garden outside Cinderella’s Castle. It was the perfect little outdoor area to people watch. It’s landscaped with turf suitable for little ones to sit and crawl on and it’s surrounded by a lovely flower garden filled with spring blooms.
The Food
Walt Disney World definitely takes it up a notch with their Signature Dining. There are also a ton of walk-up counter service restaurants throughout the parks, and of course a selection of character dining options. The Signature Dining and character dining books up fast so be sure to make your reservations early.
We enjoyed dinner and dessert at California Grill at the Contemporary Resort complete with views of the Nighttime Spectacular Fireworks – what a treat!
1900 Park Fare at the gorgeous Grand Floridian Resort was another favorite where we enjoyed dinner during Cinderella’s Happily Ever After and character visits from Cinderella herself and Prince Charming.
The highlight of our dinners was at Be Our Guest. The ambiance, food, service, and entertainment were most memorable.
Overall, we had an amazing family vacation at the Most Magical Place On Earth. We did what we wanted at our own pace, let Jonah decide on attractions and rides he wanted to experience, we ate well, laughed together, made wishes, and enjoyed being in the moment. For Jonah’s and Baron’s first time to WDW and for us as a family, we’re already planning our next trip. We can’t wait to come back!