Walt Disney World News

By Magic Maker® Melissa Ludwig

As a Magic Maker®, a common question that I get asked is, “What is a good age for my child to have their first trip to a Disney Park?”  This decision is mainly contingent on the experiences that you are envisioning for your vacation. As always, the Walt Disney Travel Company has thought of everything to make your vacation magical for the whole family, including your little ones! Even if you are traveling with a toddler or a baby… or have one on the way… there are ways to make your trip run smoothly so that you can enjoy all that Disney Destinations have to offer.

Many parents wonder if traveling to Disney Parks with a toddler is “worth it”, since he or she may be too little for some attractions. In actuality, the majority of attractions at Disney Parks do not have height requirements. Plus with character meet-and-greets, dining stops, and parades/shows, your toddler can still have a very full day of fun!

For the attractions that do have height requirements that your little one may not meet yet, Disney Destinations offer the option of a Rider Switch Pass. This means that one adult may wait with the child while the other adult rides the attraction. After this, the adults may “switch out” and the second adult can walk onto the ride with a minimal wait in line a second time!

Traveling to Disney Destinations with a baby can also be a very magical experience!

Top things to keep in mind would be:

• Staying at a Disney Resort Hotel that is on property so that you can easily travel back and forth between your hotel and the parks for naptime.
• Do not limit your dining choices with the assumption that you cannot bring your baby, because every restaurant welcomes babies (with the exception of Victoria & Albert’s)!
• Baby Care Centers are located in the theme parks and they include changing tables, unisex bathrooms, private nursing rooms, rocking chairs, and feeding areas.
• Single and Double strollers are available to rent throughout the theme parks and in the Disney Springs™ Area!

If you are pregnant, you can also visit the Disney Parks and have a fantastic time! However, there are many attractions that are considered unsafe for expectant mothers, so you will want to consult the signage posted outside the entrance of each attraction that you visit.

Cast members are not allowed to ask you to leave the queue if they think that you are pregnant, so you cannot expect to be notified in person if the ride may not be safe, though you can always approach the Cast Member yourself to check. Also, if you have to travel by air to get to the Disney Destination of your choice, you will want to consult with your health care provider before you fly, and flying is, in general, not recommended during your third trimester.

As always, your Magic Maker® is with you every step of the way to help with any specific questions you have about traveling with members of your family in various age groups. Happy traveling!