There is Tired and then there is Disney Tired: Tips and tricks to a day at disney with kids!!!
Growing up in Orlando, you would think I would be a “Disney girl” but I have very vivid memories of being at my dear friends 5th Birthday Party, riding Thunder Mountain (a roller coaster for ya’ll that don’t know…) with her and her GRANDMOTHER- believe it or not - and I was completely and utterly terrified. lol. So needless to say, a few weeks back watching my six year old boy BRAVELY ride the same ride was something really special. SO much has changed since I went all those years growing up - and a lot for the better!!! I’ll be sharing a list of the Amazon MUST HAVES and a few Tips and Tricks for a Day at Disney with your littles!!!!!
Tips and Tricks:
Use a Disney agent. We used and LOVED Kristen Berney with Wishes Travel. For those of ya’ll that are not aware - you no longer pay travel agents (!!!) the companies they represent do (!!) and news flash - they are up-to-date on EVERYTHING and will send you itineraries, tips, tricks etc. Do yourself a favor and book one!
Order a few “pre-park” surprises for the kids that EVERYONE will love!!! I found these Mickey Pajamas for a GREAT price on Amazon - would definitely size up as they shrunk after the first wash. The kids LOVED (and gosh supplied the best breeze!!) their personal fans - just don’t forget batteries. Sissy wore her Minnie Headband and Whit LOVED his Mickey Hat the whole day!! Couldn’t pass on this $15 red twirling dress for Sis with the cutest button detail on the back and these gigham boy shorts - do NOT get any cuter. And ya’ll I seriously LOVED wearing this LINED ruffle sleeve mini dress - but you have to bite the bullet and wear tennis shoes - I ended up purchasing a pair of women’s mesh slip on shoes and was very grateful especially after the water rides! Dried quickly and were so comfy for all the walking because somehow we did THREE PARKS IN ONE DAY (!!!) Yes we are crazy people and have more energy than most (lol).
MUST PACK Items & MUST DO TIPS for a day at the park with littles:
Stroller - whether you rent, purchase, bring your own - I cannot recommend enough - the stroller is the SOLE reason we even made it to 3 parks in 1 day and ya’ll I do NOT have napping children anymore (6 and almost 4) and yes THEY NAPPED and in the stroller (!!!) The Bob - the one I have linked is the worlds best stroller. Period. It weighs a million pounds but as an adventure mom, runner, up for anything - promise its worth its weight in GOLD.
Water Bottle - my dear friend introduced me to this water bottle and ya’ll if you are SLIGHTLY competitive and want to do your body good - its literally the best. It even has a filter if you want to “infuse” your water with any fresh fruit or veggies - but honestly we have loved it so much I’ve even gotten BB (my mother) and Brax (my sweet husband) on board!!
Bring a Backpack/use your stroller to store snacks such as goldfish. yogurt covered raisins, apples, grapes, any “happies” that do the trick when needed and also to carry other essentials such as hand sanitizer, wipes, your COFFEE, said water bottle etc. :)
Coffee - so for your ONE DAY at Disney (or maybe if its a big vacation for ya’ll and your family is up with the sun like ours - lol) promise this will change your life. Ribbon cutting is no longer on Main Street and happens in front of each of the “lands” so the Coffee Shop on Main Street is PACKED and instead of wasting your time waiting in line for your burst of sanity/energy I promise you will be grateful you brought your own :)
Get the My Disney Experience App - ya’ll this thing is AMAZING - you most likely already have it because your travel agent would have recommended it but ya’ll this App is seriously AMAZING. It show wait times, travel, height restrictions - its seriously AMAZING.
Utilize Disneys Mobile Food & Beverage Service (!!!) Pretty sure this is a Covid thing but ya’ll IT IS MAGIC. You can order snacks, lunch, dinner WHATEVER and then you just show up and PICK UP!! I mean talk about MAGIC!!! We actually didn’t do this and am counting down the days for a Dole Whip in Adventure Land - next time :)
BUY the Popcorn Bucket - Melanie (my said childhood bestie who forced me to ride Thunder Mountain at her 5th Birthday Party with her grandmother) is a Disney GENIUS and long time annual pass holder gave us this tip and ya’ll refills are like $2 - probably the cheapest thing at Disney (lol) and it hits all the spots and the kids think their getting something awesome - just trust me - do it.
Have an Itinerary - being a “planner” by trade you would THINK that I would be this way with all of life but I think because I have to be so “perfect” in my job, that in my real life - I totally just let. it. all. go. (LOL). So I was not really looking forward to following an “itinerary” but after Magic Kingdom we took on Animal Kingdom and Epcot (without Itineraries) and it wasn’t pretty lol. We survived but having an itinerary makes you THRIVE. Here is ours from Magic Kingdom (that was AMAZING) now please note we brought our 2 “big kids” 6 & 3 so our itinerary reflects that :)
Adventure Land Ribbon Cutting at 8:30
Jungle Cruise (classic - GREAT first ride for the kids)
Pirates of the Caribbean (also great to do later in the day because its dark and COOL lol)
Thunder Mountain (only Whit was tall enough to ride) so watching Splash Mountain patrons and/or a quick trip over to Huck Finns Island is a great thing to do while waiting :)
Small World (classic)
Little Mermaid (big hit by Sis)
Peter Pan (the ONE THING we missed but ya’ll heard the BEST THINGS about !!!!!)
Dumbo - also has a inside playground (think Chickfila on steroids or a maze similar to the trampoline parks - BIG HIT with my two)
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Speedway (HILARIOUS - possibly take Dramamine because your kids are horrific drivers lol)
*****LUNCH ***** we ate at Cosmic Rays Cafe and ate inside the main dining room with the Alien who is playing the piano and ya’ll it was perfect. On all the levels - was also given the recommendation of going back to Be Our Guest IF characters were top priority.
People Mover - arguably the best ride in the park - ya’ll I mean PERFECT for after lunch break (!!!!)
Carousel of Progress - got my 10 min power nap during the show and was set for the rest of the day (!!!!)
Buzz Lightyear - Whits favorite ride
Rocket Ships
Tea Cups (classic)
*****At this point, the kids were fading and we needed a real WIN - so we hit up the Carousel in hopes of trying for Peter Pan again and again failed - also tried for our Dole Whip -fail #2 and then in the Lords kindness He sent a “parade” and we were satisfied with the day and decided to do the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse on our way out of the Park WHEN THE STROLLER NAP SAVED THE DAY and that second Coffee in your back pack/stroller - told you it would be the best!!!!!***
Not sure if this happens at the same time everyday but we were near the main entrance of the park (to leave) around 3/3:30 and that is when the real magic happened - EVERY classic character was dancing on the band stand, and then EVERY Princess followed in a parade and THEN the quartet sang I mean truly it was magic.
We then hopped on a bus to Animal Kingdom - easy ride - honestly felt so good to sit and be in the AC (lol) so there were ZERO complaints without an itinerary - highlights were…..
Safari Ride - unreal - like really really cool
Kali River Rapids - Sissy was JUST tall enough (got a lap bar) and it was by FAR the BEST FAMILY ride - we got SOAKED and didn’t care a single bit. SO much fun.
Dinosaur - Sis was too short - Whit LOVED IT and during that Sis got to ride something else (lol) but that entire Dino land area was INCREDIBLE and going back I for sure want to do some of the LIVE shows (!!!!!!)
****At that point we were ready for good food and fireworks and thus our trip to Epcot began. First off, Fireworks at Epcot do not go off until 10:00 pm (THE WORST) So I would for sure recommend making it back to Magic Kingdom as that firework show begins closer to 9 :) Especially for your real little ones :) Melanie also gave us the tip of taking the BOAT (instead of the monorail) back to our car and you can even watch the fireworks on the boat on your way back!! I mean BRILLIANT!!!!
Ya’ll overall (as you know if you have littles) life is already exhausting, magical, hilarious, humbling and so so rewarding but there is tired and then there is DISNEY TIRED (lol) but ya’ll I wouldn’t trade our Day at Disney with the big kids for anything. So grateful for the ability and gift to make memories with the kids and together. Hope this post helps some of ya’ll in some way - there is always something to celebrate so don’t wait to celebrate - book the trip, plan the vacation, do the bucket list - life is so short - soak up every single second!!!!!!!
xoxo - Kalee