Six top tips for taking a baby to Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World with a baby is equal parts challenging and exciting. My husband and I tackled this 10-day adventure with our 9-month-old in July and August 2023. I’d visited the Mouse in Florida a few times before, but this was my first with a little one on my hip and all the responsibility that carries.
The prospect? Daunting. The preparation? Exhaustive. The result? A post for parents who want practical tips based on lived experience to help them achieve their own milestone journey.
Born from the trials and errors of a UK-based couple travelling with a baby, this advice will help you better prepare for your trip: from surviving long-haul flights to finding shade in the Florida heat, all while retaining enough Disney magic so that it still feels like a holiday for you.
Tip #1: Prepare yourself for the flight
There’s no two ways about it – flying long haul with an infant is difficult. The journey from London to Orlando is approximately 9-10 hours. When you’re focused on keeping a wriggly baby contained to a small space, it can feel twice that. Unless you’ve got a very chilled out child, long gone are the days of sleeping, reading and binge watching films.
Our flight out was during the day, and definitely the more difficult of the two. My son decided that sleeping is for wimps, and proceeded to stay awake for 7 HOURS of the flight. Fascinated by everything he could put his hands on, he tried to grab and throw everything he possibly could. My glasses, the in-flight safety card, the window blind…nothing was safe.
The night flight home was easier, because he slept for a lot of it in the sky cot. But BE WARNED. Every time the seatbelt sign comes on, you’ll have to disturb your sleeping baby to hold them on your lap. This happened to us four times and it was a huge pain to have to keep waking him up.
How to keep yourself sane on the plane:
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Reserve seats with extra foot room if possible. The above image shows the impromptu playpen we managed to fashion from a blanket and some seat pillows, which gave our son the freedom to move around in a relatively safe space and gave us a break from holding him for long periods.
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Bring lots of toys for distractions, but expect that your baby will likely get bored of each after 3 minutes. Those with suction pads can stick to windows and tray tables. Just remember that you still need to be able to use the space too.
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Dress them in very comfy clothes that you can layer up when it gets chilly on the plane. We stuck with babygros, jumpers and cardigans. Multiple outfit changes (for them and for you) are also advisable. The last thing you want is to be stuck for six hours covered in pee or a spilled drink!
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Pack double the amount of snacks that you think you would realistically use, as they are also great for occupying idle hands. Mine got through our snack supply at an alarming rate! Pouches will usually receive extra scrutiny from airport security though, so pack with easy access in mind.
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Ensure that all nappy change items are easily portable. The tiny toilets on planes are cramped enough for solo use. With a baby, you’ll need to factor in elbow room, flailing feet and the distinct possibility you’ll find yourself changing a pooey nappy during turbulence!
Tip #2: Prioritise finding or creating shade
Florida in the summer is HOT, especially for us Brits. Surprisingly, there isn’t much natural shade in the parks at all. This is probably by design, to funnel people indoors to shop whilst enjoying the miracle of Floridian air conditioning. Regardless, this is stressful when you’re trying to protect a baby’s delicate skin from the sun. I spent a lot of the day wrestling to keep a hat on my son’s head. He, of course, loved pulling it off at every opportunity.
As we all know, there are no perfect, all-in-one prams out there. Our Airbnb host actually provided us with a few so we had the chance to experiment. Yet even the model with the best sunshade (above) made our son’s back very hot and sweaty over time.
Items to help keep your baby comfortable:
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a Snooze Shade or parasol for the pram
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a pop-up sun tent and picnic blanket for whenever you stop for a break
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cooling towels for the backs of hot little heads
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an electric fan with a spray bottle (which got the most use overall)
Tip #3: Consider how you'll factor in rest
We didn’t know when we’d be coming back to Walt Disney World Florida so we wanted to do as much as possible this time around. Prior to our departure, I read several blogs suggesting that we take midday breaks back in our accommodation. These would avoid the busiest and hottest part of the day. However, while this seemed sensible and logical on paper, we realised fairly quickly that it wasn’t really applicable to us.
If you are staying in a Disney resort hotel, this is a fantastic idea. Unfortunately for us, the 25-minute drive from our Airbnb to the parking lot simply took far too much time. If you leave the parks and then try to return from offsite, do not underestimate how long it takes to:
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Load everything up in the car
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Drive to Walt Disney World (through various traffic conditions)
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Find the correct designated parking lot
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Be directed to an acceptable space (most likely at the back of the lot if it’s later in the day)
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Queue for transportation or walk the ridiculous distance to get to the monorail
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Queue for the monorail
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Stop to all at the hotels along the way that use the monorail
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Queue to go through security
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Finally make it into the park.
Also, prams have their own security line and all bags will be checked. As parents, that’s a lot of bags! On the first day we attempted this, it took nearly 2 hours to get back from our Airbnb to the park.
So if you are considering an Airbnb, then I’d recommend finding a relaxing spot in the park where you can take your time over lunch and get a proper break.
Tip #4: Utilise a baby carrier
I predicted we would be using a carrier when walking around the parks, but not on the rides. He would just sit nicely and calmly on my lap, right? Wrong. On our first ride with him – It’s a Small World – my son was so enthralled with the water that he kept trying to throw himself overboard! It was hugely stressful trying to hold him still.
After this point, we used a front-facing carrier for the majority of the rides that we took him. Ours is the Tula Explore, seen here on Living with the Land at Epcot. We enjoyed it a lot more knowing he was secure, with our hands free to tend to his needs.
Tip #5: Research your rides first!
Just because a ride permits babies doesn’t automatically mean that it’s suitable for them. Every child is different, and you are the best judge of what your baby can handle.
We learned this the hard way when we assumed Frozen Ever After at Epcot was a calm and gentle outing. We were totally unprepared for the part where it got very dark then we plunged backwards down a log flume! I’m sure you can picture the scene…
One moment, my baby is gazing happily at the Frozen animatronics. The next, the world plunges into darkness, people start screaming and cold water splashes everywhere. Cue: traumatised, crying baby. Thankfully, he recovered quickly from the experience, but the Mum Guilt lives on!
Tip #6: Get Genie+ if your budget allows
Our trip got infinitely better when we caved and decided to pay extra money for Genie+. I resisted for the first couple of days, feeling that we’d already forked out enough for park tickets. However, after enduring multiple 60+ minute queues with a restless baby in my arms, it became a necessary investment.
It made our day SO much easier knowing that we could walk onto a ride with minimal queuing time. Perhaps not so crucial for Disney regulars or those with older children, but for us? Worth every penny.
Why this trip was a rollercoaster
On our journey to Walt Disney World with a 9-month-old, we captured countless beautiful memories. Memories like our son:
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watching the parades and fireworks with wide-eyed wonder
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having his first taste of ice-cream (a Mickey bar, of course)
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splashing around in the lazy river at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
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waving his first wand in the Wizarding World during a two-day side-trip to Universal Studios
However, travelling with a baby, especially as first-time parents, will always come with some tougher parts, including:
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getting your baby through jet lag (time and patience, people, time and patience)
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factors beyond your control, like a pilot’s penchant for turbulence or queues after the park’s fireworks (no matter how quickly you think you’ve left)
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an insane heat that is doubly dangerous for your little passenger (maybe try Autumn or Spring for an easier time)
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unexpected twists and turns when navigating parks, rides and interlinking transport on the go with sketchy wi-fi coverage
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dealing with everyone’s emotions at the end of a very long day
My advice to you
The learning curve here is steep but manageable. By the end of our time in Disney World, we could afford to be more spontaneous and problem-solve with our little one on the go. This is a skill we have really benefited from since returning to the UK.
Be prepared to do your homework before you leave and plan for what you bring, i.e. snacks, distractions, means of keeping cool and comfortable, and baby carry options.
But also, remain flexible. Be patient with your baby’s needs, as well as your own. Recognise when plans and budgets might need to change or be scrapped entirely for your family’s overall benefit.
If you do, then this will be more than just a holiday. It will be a testament to your resilience as parents and your willingness to adapt along the way. And the memories that come from that will only be richer for it!
So to all the brave parents embarking on your own Disney adventures, take heart.
Magic awaits!
