Tips for a Stress-Free Trip to Disney World with Kids

Disney World through a child’s eyes is absolute magic! And I don’t want you to miss out on seeing that for yourself! Here are some tips I’ve come up with over the years of going to Disney with my kiddos to keep everyone happy, so you can have a stress-free trip to Disney World. That magical vacation you’ve been dreaming of is right around the corner!

Don’t schedule a jam-packed day.

I get it…you pay a LOT of money to go to Disney. You want to feel as if you got your money’s worth.  BUT I promise you that if your kiddo is overtired or overstimulated and starts melting down, the Disney magic will be overshadowed. (And let’s be honest, it’s not just the kids who feel this way. I’ve even seen adults melting down at Disney before!).  

Not everyone will agree with me on this one, but I personally recommend allowing for some downtime each day. We tend to be a family that goes to the theme park early in the morning, heads back to the resort for a midday nap or relaxation time, then ends the day back at the parks. That seems to be our “special sauce” for avoiding crazy meltdowns and keeping our time at Disney stress-free.

Consider taking a day or two off from going to the theme parks.

If your vacation time allows, plan to have a non-park day or two. Spend time enjoying the amenities at your resort, hang by the pool, or check out other things that Disney has to offer (such as Disney Springs).

Non-park days are my favorite time to plan a special meal, such as character dining or Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. It’s nice to be able to take time to enjoy those without feeling like you have to rush to the parks.

Utilize the baby care centers.

There is one baby care center in each of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World. To find them, just tap the search icon in your My Disney Experience app. Then, type in “baby care center.”

These centers provide a quiet, air-conditioned area to feed, nurse, and change your child. They also sell baby products if you realize you forgot something you need.

Don’t focus solely on rides at the theme parks.

Disney is so much more than rides! You can totally use that to your advantage to give your kiddo other experiences if they’re done waiting in lines. 

My kids could spend hours at the play places around theme parks (for a full list of the playground in the theme parks, check out this article). And it’s always a nice break to stop by to watch one of the shows.

If you give yourself a chance to really take in all the sights and sounds (and even smells! Yes, Disney pumps scents into different areas!), you’ll get wrapped up in that Disney magic you hear so much about. Maybe you’ll even find a hidden Mickey!

Think about purchasing Genie+ to limit your wait times for attractions.

If you’ll be visiting Disney World during a busy time, using Genie+ will help you decrease your wait times for your top priority attractions.

I’ve really found that it helps the flow of our park days, and it allows us to get on more attractions back-to-back. Check out my full Genie+ review here to help you decide if purchasing the service is worth it for your family.

Find a less crowded area in the park to take a few minutes to relax.

I don’t know about your kids, but mine can get haaangry! We love to find a quiet, shaded area (bonus if there’s a good view!) to enjoy a snack. After a little break and full bellies, everyone is happy to be right back at it!

Don’t expect to do EVERYTHING at each theme park. 

It’s just not possible.  Choose a few rides or experiences that you DEFINITELY want to do. Prioritize those so you don’t miss out on something your heart was set on. But otherwise, just do what you can without overwhelming yourself.

And my final tip for a stress-free Disney trip with kids…

Don’t expect perfection. 

Yes, Disney World is the “most magical place on Earth.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean your trip will go off without a hitch. Have a general plan going into each day, but be flexible and roll with the punches if they come your way.

Your kids will likely only remember the good times they had at Disney, especially if you don’t make a big deal out of the things that go wrong. Don’t let something ruin your day…there will be more Disney magic around the corner!

So, there you have it! Those are my top tips to help you avoid stress on your next Disney vacation with kids! I hope you have THE best time. And make sure to come back here to let me know which tip helped the most! For packing tips, take a look at my favorite do’s and don’ts for packing for a Disney trip!