Do you want to know the secret to a magical Disney vacation? It’s summed up in one word: intentionality. No matter what you’re doing with your family at Walt Disney World, you get the opportunity to be intentional with your loved ones away from the everyday stressors of “real life.” Disney is one of my family’s favorite places to connect and leave the rat race behind.
Many families consider a trip to Walt Disney World a right of passage. But how do you decide when to go when you have kids of multiple different ages? It is a big investment and we’re all tempted to wait to visit until all of our kids meet the minimum height requirement for everything, but I am here to tell you… Take. Your. Littles. To. Disney! Don’t wait until the youngest is tall enough for everything, or you may end up missing the magic for your oldest.
I suggest going based on the age of your oldest and then deciding if you want to bring the little ones along. I have loved taking my younger ones on our trips and getting alone time with them while we wait. And because they’re free until they turn 3, why not bring them along?!
My experience in the parks with my little ones has helped me find some of the best places to play and have fun with my younger kids while we waited for the rest of our group to conquer the big rides! Thankfully, Disney knows this is a need for a lot of families, so they created intentional places for parents and littles to enjoy waiting together. Here are some of my favorite places to wait with littles in Magic Kingdom!
Dumbo’s Playground
This indoor, air-conditioned playground has it all. Ample seating for adults, air conditioning, and cast members at the entrance and exit making sure no littles escape without their grownup makes this one of my favorite places to wait. There’s even a small section reserved for the youngest guests so babies can have a break from the stroller and crawl around without the fear of their fingers being stepped on by bigger kids.
Located a short walk from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tomorrowland Speedway, and Space Mountain (all have height requirements), this is a good spot to spend time with your smallest kids. Just head to the Dumbo The Flying Elephant attraction’s stand-by line and you’ll be directed inside. Bonus tip: Because it’s inside, this is also a great spot to go when it rains.
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
We love this fun, circus-themed splash pad in Fantasyland. This is the perfect place to cool off on a hot Florida day! I suggest getting a Mickey ice cream and then heading over to the splash pad afterwards as a fun way to wash off the sticky ice cream mess. There are restrooms located right beside the soak station to give you a chance to change out of wet clothes when you’re done. Just don’t forget to pack a change of clothes (socks and shoes, too) in your park bag!
Tom Sawyer Island
Tom Sawyer Island is a great space to let your littles roam and take a break from the stroller. A fun playground (usually less crowded), a cave to explore, and picnic tables to have a snack make this a perfect adventure for little ones. Often overlooked by most guests and located a short raft ride away from Frontierland, this is the perfect place to wait with littles while the big kids take on Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.
You can make any wait or downtime fun by being intentional about how you spend it…together!
However you decide to wait at Disney, do it intentionally. Alone time with your youngest is something that may not happen very often at home. Take advantage of the slower pace of little feet. Put the phone away, play I Spy, people watch, eat a snack, or enjoy the shops. Whatever you do, decide ahead of time to be present in the moment because it won’t be long before the little one you’re waiting with will be off riding the big rides, too.
I know from experience that it’s difficult to plan a Disney World vacation when children of different ages want to do different things. I’d love to help your family plan a magical vacation and give you tips on how to spend intentional time together while traveling. Reach out here so we can get started. And, if you’re already working with an agent from our sister company, Smart Moms Travel, you’re in good hands! Our agents have been trained on how to custom tailor a Disney vacation to your family’s needs.
