From Parks to Ports: A Mom’s Secrets to Stress-Free Disney Trips

By Mindy Loupe
The thought of taking small children to Walt Disney World or on a Disney Cruise Line vacation can feel overwhelming. As a mom of two boys who have been visiting Disney destinations since they were just six months old, I can promise you it doesn't have to be stressful. With a little planning and a few helpful tricks, your family can create magical memories that will last a lifetime. 

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Walt Disney World

Strollers
First things first, you need a stroller.  For our family, the lighter the better! Our favorite stroller for the parks is the 3-D lite single or double stroller.  Our family loves this stroller because of how easy it is to fold up should you need to ride the bus as your mode of transportation to and from a park.  Speaking of a stroller, get yourself a way to identify your stroller easily.  You will thank me later for this! We have used a flag, a balloon, and Christmas lights during Christmas time.  More times than not, your stroller will be moved by a cast member from the place you left it.  This will save your time and your sanity when you are trying to find it! I also have a sign on my stroller at all times with our last name on it for easy identification.  Stroller fans are a must for surviving that Florida heat.  We like to use one that attaches to the stroller cover and blows directly on their faces.  Also with Florida’s unpredictable weather, bring a rain cover for your stroller. I cannot even count how many times the rain cover has saved us from a wet seat.

Diaper bag/Backpacks
Now, let’s talk about diaper bags/backpacks.  For my family, we always chose a light backpack or diaper bag that fit easily into the bottom of the stroller.  Things to remember to put in your backpack:  diapers, wipes. Sunscreen, sanitizer, change of clothes, snacks, water, cups with lids/straws, changing table covers.  I also like to pack a small little pouch with a diaper, wipes, and a changing table cover to quickly grab when we need to change a diaper.  This has always been helpful so that you aren’t having to carry around the diaper bag WHILE changing a diaper.  Let’s talk about snacks.  Disney is definitely not short on snacks by any means but I always bring extra with me just in case.  I usually bring some type of container with multiple compartments to put different snacks in.  These snacks will come in handy if/when a meltdown happens while in line for a ride.  Those times can truly be the most challenging so being prepared ahead of time can really help.  As far as a cup with a lid/straw, this is handy because Disney does offer free water and ice at any of their quick service restaurants.  This is helpful to save money and keep those kids hydrated. To make meals easier, I always pack those table covers that stick to the table so that the babies can eat directly off the table.  When the boys were smaller I also brought a high-chair cover since some of the high-chairs at the restaurant were too big for smaller children.  

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Souvenirs 
Bubble wands are a must for every child visiting Disney World.  There are different ways you can go about handling these for your family. Some families chose to buy a cheaper option before their trip from Amazon and pack it with them.  For my family, we always let our boys purchase one from the parks.  The most important thing with a bubble wand is the bubble refills.  Depending on how much your child uses the bubble wand, this can get quite pricey.  We always chose to pack bubble refills in our checked bag.  Remember if you are flying without a checked bag, you cannot bring bubbles that are over 3.4 oz in your carry on. 

How do we survive our kids asking for every souvenir from every store we go into? It’s not an easy feat, I will tell you that! Think you can avoid it by not going into gift shops? Wrong again! Disney has gift shops waiting at the exit of many of their most popular rides.  It’s unavoidable and your kids will ask! Here is how we handle it with our boys.  We give each of our boys their own Disney gift card.  Our boys know that it is their choice to spend their money how they choose, on what they choose.  This not only stops the constant asking for every souvenir, but it also teaches them to have to decide what is worth their money and what is not.  Some parents also buy cheaper Disney items before the trip and pack them with them which would be helpful if you are trying to save money! 

Safety
Most parents are worried about their child running off or walking out of their view.  We always teach our boys to find the nearest cast member should they get separated from us. Another helpful tip is to make sure you remember exactly what they are wearing that day.  It may seem simple but if you get separated you might not remember in a time of crisis.  Some parents purchase air tags to place in their child’s shoes should they get separated.  I always get my children temporary tattoos made before our trip.  On Etsy you can get Disney tattoos with your information on them to put on your child.  I usually include “If found please call my mom XXX-XXX-XXXX.”  I put it higher on their arm under their shirt sleeve.  My boys know to show the nearest cast member, should they need help.  Luckily for our family, this has never happened.

Lightning Lanes
If there is one splurge I recommend for families with young children, it's Lightning Lane. Waiting in long lines is often where meltdowns happen, and minimizing wait times can completely change the tone of your day. While it is an additional expense, it allows us to experience more attractions with less stress and fewer tired, cranky kids.  If this seems overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. One of our amazing travel agents at Tink’s can help you understand exactly how it works.  Another feature parents should take advantage of is Rider Swap. If one child isn't tall enough or doesn't want to ride, one parent can wait with the child while the other rides. Then the second parent can ride without waiting in line again. This is especially helpful for families with children of different ages. 

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Eating
Mobile Order is one of the best tools for families. Ordering meals through the My Disney Experience app saves time and helps avoid long food lines when everyone is hungry. We usually place our order while waiting in line for a ride so our food is ready when we arrive. We make sure to always take time to sit down for a meal during the hottest part of the day.  This allows us to rest, escape the heat, and hydrate while enjoying our meal.

Naps
Naps, the most important part of your Disney day being a successful one! If your child usually takes naps, please take my advice and please do not try to push through without a nap.  Save your sanity and future meltdowns and take the break. If we are traveling in the cooler months to WDW it may mean a stroller nap in a quiet part of the park.  If we are traveling during the warmer months, it definitely means going back to the room after lunch to cool down and rest.  I know this can be challenging for families with children of different ages but those younger kids really need the rest time.  You could have one parent go back to the room with the napping children and one parent could either stay at the park with the older children or maybe go for a swim at the pool.  You need to prioritize taking a rest at some point in the day, especially if you are planning on making it for the fireworks! Something you don’t need to remember to pack? A crib or a pack-n-play! You can request to have one in your room ready to go when you get there.  Anything you don’t have to think about packing is a win!

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Disney Cruise Line

If you’re looking for a trip that’s a little more relaxing than the parks, but still Disney for your family–Disney Cruise Line is the way to go.  Don’t get me wrong, our family loves the parks, but since we have discovered Disney Cruise Line, we have been hooked.  Some families are worried about bringing their small children on a cruise in general, but I am here to tell you that it’s a great family vacation for all ages.

Stroller
Our family opted out of bringing a stroller for our cruises just due to the tight hallways.  We did however see many families who did bring one.  It’s really a personal preference.  There are  plenty of places to store your stroller, like under the bed or in the closet, should you choose to bring one with you.  One thing we did utilize similar to a stroller that saved us were the wagons on Lookout Cay.  If your cruise does stop at Lookout Cay, the walk to the island can seem daunting with small children.  My boys were eager to get to the island and walked there with no problem; however, after a day playing in the water and sand, coming back was a different story.  If there is a wagon available, please utilize it so save yourself some very cranky children when you get back to the ship.

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Diaper bag/Backpack
I pack our diaper bag/backpack very similarly to what I pack for Disney World.  It’s easy on a cruise, because while on a ship you are never very far from your room.   Things to remember to put in your backpack:  diapers, wipes, sunscreen, sanitizer, change of clothes, snacks, water, cups with lids/straws, changing table covers.  I also like to pack a small little pouch with a diaper, wipes, and a changing table cover to quickly grab when we need to change a diaper.  This has always been helpful so that you aren’t having to carry around the diaper bag while changing a diaper.  All of these things are the same no matter which Disney destination you are going to.  

Naps
Just as with Disney World, naps should be a priority.  It can be hard to sketch out time in your day to take a rest/nap because there is so much you will want to do.  We always try to get our youngest down for a nap in the middle of the day, especially on nights like Pirate Night that we knew we would be up late.  The great thing about Disney Cruise Line rooms is that it is easy to block out the light and get the room dark and cozy, no matter what time of day it is.  You do not need to worry about packing a pack-n-play or convertible crib so again that is one less thing to worry about.  Also, on the topic of requesting items, don’t forget to request a diaper genie for those stinky diapers, a bottle warmer, or bottle sterilizer.  

Kid’s Clubs
The biggest tip I can give you for cruising with littles is to utilize the kid’s clubs.  Since my boys are little, I only have experience with the Oceaneer’s clubs but they couldn’t have loved them more! I think my oldest, age 7, would have stayed there all day had I let him!  My youngest at the time of our last sailing, age 4, went to the Oceaneers club as well but when children are 4-5 they will stay with a counselor.  This gave me a little more peace of mind knowing that he was with a counselor should he need help.  When your little one is ready to leave the club, the counselors will send you a message letting you know via the app that your child is ready to leave.  It will also let you know which child requested to leave.  Dinners on the ship tend to be quite long so I will give you a tip that worked great for us.  We had the early dining time, 5:45 p.m.  Waiting for the different courses of the meal can be difficult for children.  We let our waitstaff know that we wanted our children’s food out as soon as possible.  Once our children ate, one of us left to go drop them off at the kid’s club.  This let our children get to have fun while we enjoyed the rest of our meal in peace and quiet.  It’s a win for everyone.  After dinner, we stopped by the kid’s club to pick up the kids on the way to the show.  This was our nightly routine and worked great for us.  Speaking of a long dinner, you may want to pack colors, coloring books, travel Magna-Tiles, or some other small toy to keep them occupied while at dinner. 

Helpful Packing Tips
When packing for a cruise it can be overwhelming trying to remember what to bring.  Here are a few things that I was thankful we brought with us.  First up, magnetic hooks! We used these way more than I anticipated when I packed them.  The walls of your cabin are magnetic so they will stick almost everywhere.  We hung up hats, wet swimsuits, Mickey ears, bags, googles, basically, if it hung up, we put it on a hook.  Another must for us would be swim shoes. We wore these at the pool and at the islands.  We never had to worry about taking them off or walking on hot cement or sand.  We also packed collapsable sand buckets.  We knew we couldn't pack all our normal beach toys but these collapsible buckets worked out perfectly for our boys.  We brought each of them a bucket with a small shovel.  Another thing I was glad to have packed is a beach bag with a zipper.  This was especially helpful on the islands to carry toys, clothes, etc.   

Whether you choose Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line, remember that the goal isn't to do everything—it's to make memories together. Some of our favorite moments haven't been the rides or shows, but the little things: watching fireworks, meeting favorite characters, or seeing Disney through our children's eyes. Give yourself grace, take breaks when needed, and enjoy the magic. The memories are worth it.

Ready to start planning your own family vacation? Mindy would love to help you make it happen! As your Tink's Magical Vacations advisor she is here to handle every detail so you can focus on making memories.  Contact Mindy L here!

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