Wondering what to expect when you take a toddler to Disney World? I got you! Preston had just turned 19 months old, and we decided it was the perfect time to go to Disney World. Why? For starters, young children (Under 3 years old!) are considered “guests of Mickey” and do not need a ticket. Secondly, he still takes good naps around lunchtime, giving Derek and me enough time to ride adult rides!
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First, I want to shout out to Lori Davis at Small World Big Fun! She was incredible in helping us plan this magic vacation. It costs you nothing to use their services, and I highly recommend them!
Where We Stayed
We knew we wanted to stay on Disney Resort property; we just had ZERO clue where to begin. Lori gave us three options based on our priorities (ease of going to and from parks and space). The options she presented us were a Cars Suite at Art of Animation (Value Resort), a standard room at the Beach Club (Deluxe Resort), and a Savanna View room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Deluxe Resort). Ultimately, we decided to stay at the Beach Club because of its ease of walking to Epcot and the Skyliner, it’s a quick ride to Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom, AND being a Deluxe Report you got early entry into Parks.
We adored the Beach Club. The service was incredible. We had groceries and diapers delivered to the hotel, and guest services delivered them, along with the pack-and-play, upon our arrival! The beds were also raised, so it played a huge part in having additional space in the room by sliding our luggage under the bed for storage.
Where We Ate
Lori was so helpful in helping us find great places to eat! We did not think we would want to eat a full dinner every night, but we did, so we ended up placing last-minute reservations a few times. One thing I recommend is if you are having a quick-service lunch in the park without a reservation, get on your Disney App and schedule your food for pickup as soon as you get to the park. Doing so will eliminate the need to wait for food if you have a hangry toddler. Note that none of the food we had at Disney was exceptional, but it was good and themed. That’s what we were looking for!
- Rainforest Cafe, Disney Springs | The food was pretty good! Being at Disney Springs was the best part, and Preston loved the show inside; if your child is scared of thunder or animatronics, this would not be the place for you. Preston is in his “everything is real” phase, and he did fine and really enjoyed it! The only thing he did not love was the fire show that happened outside of the restaurant. *Reservation Recommended*
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Magic Kingdom | We ordered our lunch around 10 am when we got into the park for a noon pickup. We did not have to wait for it very long once we checked in. It was a nice place to sit inside, get out of the heat, and have lunch. I had the Greek chicken salad, and it was delicious!
- Crystal Palace Character Dinner, Magic Kingdom | This is a buffet, and the food selection was pretty good! The best part of dining here was meeting Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore. *Reservation Recommended*
- Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria, EPCOT | This was, unfortunately, one of our least favorite meals. The food was good, but we were a little biased because our server forgot to put in our order (she was training someone), and it took us over an hour to get our pizza. We had our son’s pizza come out, but by the time ours came, he had been done for 30 minutes, and he was ready to GTFO. IYKYK. *Reservation Recommended*
- Be Our Guest, Magic Kingdom | This was probably some of the best food we had there! You are eating in Beast’s Castle, and while the Beast does not come up and greet every table, he does appear in each of the three dining rooms and walk around and wave. Preston enjoyed this one! *Reservation Recommended*
- Cape May Cafe, Beach Club | Cape May Cafe was one of our favorite places to eat! The breakfast was great, and you had so much time with Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, and Goofy! Not only do they come around and greet each table, but they also have a dance party so the kids can get up and dance with the characters. So cute! *Reservation Recommended*
- Satu’li Canteen, Pandora, Animal Kingdom | Pandora was probably one of my favorite places within Disney World, and this food was delicious, especially for a Quick Service Option. I ordered it while Derek was going to ride Flight of Passage, and when we got done, we had the food at the table waiting for him!
- Rodeo Round-Up BBQ, Hollywood Studios | This is probably the most bang for your buck restaurant. It has a pre-fix menu, and you get so much food – unlimited, too. It is pretty good! There are no characters, but it is heavily themed and SO cute. *Reservation Recommended*
Premiere Pass
The Premiere Pass is a premium upgrade to Disney’s Lightning Lane system, offering flexibility and convenience. Unlike traditional Lightning Lane reservations, which require you to select specific return times, the Premiere Pass lets you access eligible rides near you without a schedule. It’s perfect for families or anyone looking to make the most of their park time without the hassle of strict itineraries or long walks across the parks. Here’s how it worked for us at each park:
The Premiere Pass was absolutely worth it—100,000% at most parks! Its convenience is unmatched, allowing you to hop on nearby rides without sticking to a set schedule or running across the park. At Magic Kingdom, we arrived at 10 a.m. and managed to ride 13 attractions by 4:30 p.m., even with a 45-minute lunch break—Preston enjoyed 10 of those rides! EPCOT, on the other hand, wasn’t the best fit for the Premiere Pass. While we used it for Guardians of the Galaxy, Turtle Talk with Crush, Nemo, Frozen, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the real value came from avoiding the stress of rushing across the expansive park. At Animal Kingdom, we skipped the Premiere Pass and stuck to regular Lightning Lane options. For Hollywood Studios, the Premiere Pass truly shone. In just four hours before dinner, we tackled Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. It’s a game-changer for maximizing your park experience!
Rides that Our Toddler Loved (and Hated)
When it comes to rides with a toddler, Preston had some clear preferences. At Magic Kingdom, Pirates of the Caribbean was not a hit. Despite having no height requirement, the complete darkness, sudden drop, and squirting water frightened him. Over at EPCOT, also with no height requirement, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure was also too much for Preston. The immersive experience, with its jolty movements, 3D effects, and the sensation of falling, overwhelmed him. It’s likely this ride will be better suited for him when he’s around four years old. At Hollywood Studios, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway had its moments of fun but still scared Preston in parts due to the sudden, jolty movements. He might enjoy this ride more in another year.
On the brighter side, Preston had a blast on several rides. At Magic Kingdom, he loved all the classic attractions, including Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, It’s a Small World (where he even fell asleep!), Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid. At Animal Kingdom, the Kilimanjaro Safaris was an obvious favorite, and he enjoyed the glowing lights on the Na’vi River Journey. He also had fun on Triceratops Spin. At Hollywood Studios, Preston liked Toy Story Mania, though he preferred it once the car stopped moving. He loved pulling the string to play the game and watching all the screens, even if he didn’t wear the 3D glasses. However, the jolty movements during the ride were not his favorite.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
We absolutely loved Mickey’s Christmas Party! The shorter lines made it so easy to enjoy all our favorite attractions without the usual wait, and the festive holiday spirit was truly magical. Everywhere we turned, the decorations, music, and special touches created an atmosphere full of cheer and joy. The weather was perfect! We went during the week of Veteran’s Day, so it was warm during the day, but the evenings got chilly. With themed shows and parades, every moment felt like a celebration of the season. Even though Preston fell asleep during the parade and we did not make it to the fireworks show, we all had a blast.
We had the absolute best time at Disney—it was everything we hoped for and more! Seeing Preston’s excitement on rides, meeting characters, and just soaking in all the magic together as a family was so special. Mickey’s Christmas Party really made it extra memorable with the holiday vibes and shorter lines—it felt like the perfect mix of fun and festive. Disney just has a way of making everything feel magical, and we already can’t wait to go back and do it all over again!
