Disney World With Toddlers

Two trips, two little kids, and why Animal Kingdom won us over.

TRIPS: November and February

AGES: 21 months on our first trip; 4 years and 16 months on our second

LENGTH: Two days each trip

FAVORITE PARK: Animal Kingdom

TRAVEL STYLE: Low-key, stroller-friendly, no pressure to do everything

WOULD WE GO AGAIN? Absolutely.

We've taken our children to Disney World twice.

The first time, our son was 21 months old. We were already traveling to Orlando for my husband's work, so we decided to add a couple of Disney days.

The second time, our son had just turned four and our daughter was 16 months old.

Both trips were short. Both were planned ourselves. And neither involved waking up at 5 AM, racing to every ride or trying to squeeze every possible dollar out of our park tickets.

We're not huge Disney people.

But we love family adventures, and Disney gave us a fun place to spend time together while our kids were little.

Here’s what was worth it, what we’d skip, and why we’d choose Animal Kingdom every time.

THE QUICK TAKE

BEST PARK FOR OUR FAMILY Animal Kingdom

BEST EXPERIENCE Kilimanjaro Safaris

BEST SHOW Festival of the Lion King

BEST TODDLER PLAY AREA The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom

BEST MAGIC KINGDOM BREAK Dumbo’s indoor play area

BEST SOUVENIR The Scar popcorn bucket

BEST WAY TO SAVE MONEY Travel off-season, bring snacks and don't feel obligated to visit every park

BIGGEST LESSON Know where your stroller is—and never leave valuables in it.

HOW MANY PARK DAYS? One or two was perfect for us.

01 | WHY WE TOOK OUR KIDS SO YOUNG

People sometimes ask whether it's worth taking a toddler to Disney when they won't remember it.

For us, yes.

I don't need my children to remember every trip for it to be worthwhile.

I love knowing how happy and engaged they were in that moment. I love experiencing new places together as a family.

Our kids love wild animals, being outside, warm weather, climbing on things and seeing the world around them.

At their ages, they didn't need to understand every character or ride to have a wonderful time.

Sometimes they were just excited to be somewhere new.

That's part of the beauty of traveling with little kids.

02 | ANIMAL KINGDOM

★★★★★

Animal Kingdom is our family's favorite Disney park.

We loved it so much on our first trip that when we returned with two kids, it was the only park we chose to visit.

Our children love animals, and Animal Kingdom gives them so much to experience without needing to know Disney movies or characters.

There are animals, walking trails, shows, themed play areas and plenty to look at.

It feels more like an adventure than a day spent moving from ride to ride.

VERDICT: OUR FIRST CHOICE EVERY TIME ✓

03 | KILIMANJARO SAFARIS

★★★★★

The safari ride was one of our favorite experiences.

Our kids love wild animals, so getting to ride through the animal habitats was a highlight for the whole family.

It's also an activity that adults can genuinely enjoy alongside young children.

VERDICT: DON'T SKIP IT ✓

04 | THE ANIMAL WALKING TRAILS

★★★★★

We loved walking through the animal areas and seeing the tigers and gorillas.

This was exactly the kind of experience our children enjoyed: being outside, exploring and seeing animals up close.

It also gave us the freedom to move at our own pace rather than constantly waiting in lines.

For our family, these experiences were just as valuable as the rides.

05 | FESTIVAL OF THE LION KING

★★★★★

We love The Lion King as a family, so seeing the live show was especially fun.

The music, costumes and performances were exciting for the kids, and it was something we all enjoyed together.

VERDICT: WORTH MAKING TIME FOR ✓

06 | THE PARROT FLYOVER

★★★★★

We also loved the bird experience near the Tree of Life, where parrots fly overhead.

It was one of those moments that didn't require a long line or a complicated plan.

Just stop, watch and enjoy it.

Our kids were fascinated.

07 | NA’VI RIVER JOURNEY

★★★★☆

Our kids enjoyed the boat ride through Pandora.

It's dark, colorful and full of interesting things to look at.

We didn't do many rides overall, but this was one that worked well for our young children.

• 

• 

08 | THE BONEYARD

★★★★★

When our son was little, he loved the dinosaur-themed play area at Animal Kingdom.

There were places to climb and explore, along with a sand-pit excavation area.

Honestly, this is the kind of thing that can be more exciting to a toddler than an expensive attraction.

They get to move their bodies, explore and play.

VERDICT: LET THEM PLAY ✓

You don't have to spend every minute chasing the next ride.

09 | MAGIC KINGDOM

★★★★☆

We visited Magic Kingdom on our first trip.

It was fun, and I'm glad we experienced it with our son.

But our family personally prefers Animal Kingdom.

We don't do much screen time, so our children aren't familiar with many of the Disney characters. That means some of the character-based attractions don't have quite the same appeal for them.

Still, Magic Kingdom had some wonderful moments.

10 | SWISS FAMILY TREEHOUSE

★★★★★

Our son loved exploring the Swiss Family Treehouse.

It was another example of how young kids can be entertained by something that isn't necessarily the biggest or most exciting attraction in the park.

He loved climbing and exploring.

And we loved watching him enjoy it.

11 | DUMBO’S INDOOR PLAY AREA

★★★★★

The indoor play area associated with Dumbo was another favorite.

It gave our son a chance to climb and play while we got to sit down for a little bit.

When you're walking several miles through a theme park with a toddler, those little breaks are valuable.

VERDICT: A GREAT TODDLER STOP ✓

12 | THE PARADE

★★★★☆

Even though our son didn't know many of the characters, he enjoyed watching the parade.

There was plenty to see, and it was a fun experience for him.

You don't necessarily need a child who knows every Disney movie for them to enjoy the atmosphere.

13 | CHARACTER DINING AT ANIMAL KINGDOM

★★★★☆

We ate at the safari-themed character buffet at Animal Kingdom.

The kids loved meeting the characters, and it was a fun experience.

It was also a very expensive lunch.

But sometimes, when you're at Disney, you decide to splurge.

And the mac and cheese was excellent.

VERDICT: WORTH IT AS AN EXPERIENCE, NOT NECESSARILY AS A MEAL.

I wouldn't book character dining every day, but doing it once was fun for our family.

14 | THE FOOD

★★☆☆☆

We're foodies, so our standards for dining are probably a little higher than average.

Some of the vendor food we tried was underwhelming, especially considering the price.

We didn't make dinner reservations, and we weren't trying to build our trip around Disney dining.

For us, the food was not a highlight.

VERDICT: DON'T EXPECT EVERY EXPENSIVE MEAL TO BE AMAZING.

I'd rather spend money on an experience we really want than assume a pricey theme-park meal will automatically be worth it.

15 | THE SCAR POPCORN BUCKET

★★★★★

My son got a Scar-themed popcorn bucket.

And it was literally his favorite part of the entire trip.

Not the expensive attractions.

Not the carefully planned experiences.

The popcorn bucket.

Which is a pretty good reminder that children don't always value the same things we do.

VERDICT: SOMETIMES THE SOUVENIR IS THE EXPERIENCE.

16 | MEETING MICKEY

★★★☆☆

We paid for an opportunity to meet Mickey and get pictures.

It was nice, but I personally didn't think it was worth the cost.

I'm also not a huge Disney person, so someone who loves character experiences might feel differently.

For our family, the animals and play areas were more memorable.

VERDICT: KNOW WHAT YOUR KIDS ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT.

17 | OUR FIRST HOTEL

★★☆☆☆

On our first trip, my husband's work covered our hotel because we were already in Orlando for a work trip.

That saved us a significant amount of money.

But the hotel was older, away from the parks and not somewhere I'd specifically recommend for a Disney vacation.

It served its purpose.

I just wouldn't choose it again if we were planning the trip entirely ourselves.

18 | OUR SECOND STAY: A VRBO CONDO

★★★★★

For our second trip, we rented a three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo through VRBO.

We got a great deal because we traveled in February, during a quieter time of year.

It was about a 15-minute drive to the parks, which didn't bother us at all.

The condo also had a nice walking area for evening stroller walks, a playground and a pool with slides.

Having extra space with two young kids was wonderful.

VERDICT: WE'D STAY THERE AGAIN ✓

For our family, a spacious condo was a better fit than paying a premium simply to stay on Disney property.

View the exact condo we stayed in: Windsor Hills Resort — 3-Bedroom Condo

19 | OFF-SEASON TRAVEL

★★★★★

Our first trip was in November, and our second was in February.

The crowds were manageable during both visits.

We didn't purchase Lightning Lane passes, and I think our longest wait was around 30 minutes.

That made a huge difference with young children.

We weren't spending the entire day standing in lines or feeling pressured to maximize every minute.

VERDICT: TRAVELING DURING QUIETER PERIODS WAS WORTH IT FOR US.

Crowd levels vary by exact dates, so I would still check current calendars and school-holiday periods before booking.

20 | THE STROLLER SITUATION

THE THING I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME

This was probably our biggest practical lesson.

On our first trip, we brought a very basic, lightweight umbrella stroller.

It was easy to fold and convenient for getting on the parking-lot tram.

On our second trip, we brought a foldable double stroller.

Both worked, but there were trade-offs.

I would have loved the comfort of a larger BOB stroller, especially for long days of walking. But getting a larger stroller onto transportation would have been more challenging.

The bigger surprise was how often we had to leave the stroller outside attractions.

We didn't realize we'd be parking it out of sight so frequently.

One time, a Disney employee apparently moved our stroller from where we'd left it, and we couldn't immediately find it.

That was scary.

MY STROLLER ADVICE

✓ Bring a stroller your child can comfortably nap in

✓ Consider how easy it is to fold and transport

✓ Use a recognizable stroller tag or accessory

✓ Take a photo of where you park it if needed

✓ Never leave valuables in the stroller

✓ Expect that cast members may move strollers to organize parking areas

✓ Check current stroller size rules before bringing a large stroller

VERDICT: COMFORT MATTERS, BUT SO DOES PORTABILITY.

21 | STROLLER NAPS

Our daughter napped in the stroller during our second trip.

We didn't feel the need to return to the condo for every nap.

We also didn't push the kids to stay at the parks until closing.

We were pretty low-key about the whole thing.

If they needed rest, we made room for it.

22 | OUR DAILY PACE

NO ROPE-DROP PRESSURE

We didn't rush to get to the parks at opening.

We arrived when we were ready, enjoyed the day, and left in time to maintain a relatively normal bedtime routine.

The kids were definitely tired by the end of the day, but we didn't have any major meltdowns.

They were so excited to see everything.

For us, the slower pace made the trip more enjoyable.

VERDICT: YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO DISNEY LIKE A COMPETITIVE SPORT.

23 | WHAT WE BROUGHT INTO THE PARKS

We brought a diaper bag with plenty of snacks.

That helped save money and gave us easy options when the kids were hungry.

We also brought a stroller accessory to hold water bottles because our umbrella stroller didn't have cup holders.

Those little conveniences make a difference when you're walking around all day.

WHAT I'D BRING AGAIN

✓ Plenty of snacks

✓ Water bottles

✓ Diapers and wipes

✓ A comfortable stroller

✓ Stroller cup holders

✓ A change of clothes

✓ Weather-appropriate layers

✓ A small bag for valuables that stays with us

24 | HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU REALLY NEED?

For our family, one or two park days was perfect at these ages.

On our first trip with one young child, we did two parks in two days.

On our second trip with two kids, we chose one park day.

That was enough for us.

Disney gets expensive quickly, especially as your family grows.

I don't think you need to visit every park to make the trip worthwhile.

If I had only one day with young kids, I'd choose Animal Kingdom.

25 | WAS IT WORTH THE MONEY?

YES, FOR US.

I don't regret spending money on family adventures, even when our children are too young to remember every detail later.

They're part of our family now.

I love making memories with them now.

I love seeing them happy, curious and engaged in a new place.

And I love that we get to experience those things together.

That doesn't mean every family needs to take a toddler to Disney.

If the cost would create financial stress, or if you're hoping for a trip where you can do every major ride and attraction, waiting might make more sense.

But if you enjoy spending time together and are happy to let the trip move at your children's pace, I think Disney can be wonderful with little kids.

WHAT I'D DO AGAIN

✓ Visit Animal Kingdom

✓ Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris

✓ Walk the animal trails

✓ See Festival of the Lion King

✓ Let the kids spend time in play areas

✓ Bring plenty of snacks

✓ Travel during a quieter time of year

✓ Stay somewhere spacious and comfortable

✓ Keep the itinerary flexible

✓ Leave before everyone is completely exhausted

✓ Take lots of pictures

WHAT I'D DO DIFFERENTLY

✕ Spend money on character experiences we don't particularly care about

✕ Expect expensive park food to be amazing

✕ Forget extra clothing

✕ Leave anything valuable in the stroller

✕ Feel obligated to visit every park

✕ Plan a trip around maximizing every ticket dollar

THE SHORT LIST

BEST PARK Animal Kingdom

BEST ANIMAL EXPERIENCE Kilimanjaro Safaris

BEST SHOW Festival of the Lion King

BEST TODDLER PLAY AREA The Boneyard

BEST MAGIC KINGDOM STOP Dumbo’s indoor play area

BEST SOUVENIR The Scar popcorn bucket

BEST ACCOMMODATION STYLE FOR US A spacious condo near the parks

BEST MONEY-SAVING DECISION Traveling during quieter dates

BIGGEST STROLLER LESSON Never leave valuables behind.

BIGGEST PACKING LESSON Bring extra layers.

HOW MANY DAYS? One or two was enough for us.

WOULD WE TAKE TODDLERS AGAIN? Absolutely.

THE PART THEY MAY NOT REMEMBER

My son probably won't remember every detail of his first Disney trip.

But I remember how happy he was.

I remember him exploring the treehouse, watching the animals, enjoying the parade and being completely delighted by a Scar popcorn bucket.

And I remember how much fun we had being together as a family somewhere new.

That's enough for me.

They don't have to remember every adventure for it to be worth having.

THE FAMILY FIELD GUIDE

Real experience. Honest recommendations. Just the useful parts.

Last updated: September 2026