An Idiot's Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids

This is my idiot's guide to taking kids to Walt Disney World. We'll cover all ages (toddlers, preschool, teenagers), when to book, what gear to bring, touring tips, dealing with queues, characters, scary attractions, rider switch, where to stay, food, merchandise, and baby care centers.

Would love to hear from your on experiences in the comments (I'll be taking notes) :)

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LINKS

Third Party Stroller Stroller Rentals (recommended):

Child restraint regulations (Florida):

Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking:

Epcot Restaurant Ranking:

Animal Kingdom Restaurants

Mobile Ordering Guide:

Guide to best attractions for Toddlers:

Guide to best attractions for grade school kids:

Restaurant reservations guide

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Packing list:

⁃ Travel sickness medication
⁃ Kids antihistamine and syringes
⁃ Calpol
⁃ Hooded towels
⁃ Fanny packs/Bum bags
⁃ Caps
⁃ Sunglasses
⁃ Presents to keep busy on plane and in airport queues
⁃ Snacks for plane
⁃ Water for plane
⁃ stainless steal water bottles
⁃ Lanyards for park tickets
⁃ Swim trunks
⁃ Swim tops to protect from sun
⁃ Roller sun cream for face
⁃ Spray sun cream for body
⁃ Sun cream lip balm
⁃ After sun
⁃ Mini toothpaste
⁃ Travel toothbrushes
⁃ Comb
⁃ Plasters/band aids
⁃ Blister plasters
⁃ Shorts
⁃ T-shirts
⁃ Kids Crocs for water parks
⁃ Socks
⁃ Underwear
⁃ Trainers/Sneakers
⁃ Presents from home for queues
⁃ Kids themed outfits
⁃ Headphones
⁃ Ipad/tablet
⁃ Chargers
⁃ Back up chargers
⁃ Nintendo Switch
⁃ Pijamas
⁃ Rain Ponchos
⁃ Kids Back packs
⁃ Nail clippers
⁃ Goggles
⁃ Night light
⁃ Hoodie for plane
⁃ Passports
⁃ Park tickets
⁃ Travel insurance
⁃ Money
⁃ Vitamins

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CONTACT:

[woooooooo]

I agree, 6 and under a stroller is pretty much essential. Our youngest was 5 during our 2015 trip and it was a godsend! We even have a photo of his 15 years old brother getting a midday sleep in said stroller, which we still like to embarrass him about now and again! 😂

[candidwings]

3rd party stroller rental was WONDERFUL. Really nice, comfortable double stroller for my 2 kids under 6 and the shade canopy was a lifesaver. A few naps were had in it and it was a great "home base" for the kids anytime there was an upset. We had the same one all week so we could use it even when we weren’t in the parks and it wasn't much more expensive than renting one for park days.

[Chrissyhappy]

Meltdowns and tantrums and the kids can also cause you problems….love your humour!

[jenniferlorimer]

This video is amazing. You can tell you are a tried and tested Disney dad. Taking the kids next May (1 and 4 years old). Il certainly be watching this video a few more times on the led up. Appreciate all the tips and honesty.
A little suggestion for the long queues with the kids is playing the Skittles game (or any coloured sweets). Let each kid pick out a sweet from the pack and depending on the colour they carry out an action.
Eg red = sing a song
Green=tell a joke
Yellow=balance on one leg etc.
This game got us through a few long queues in Disneyland Paris this year.
Very long comment but thanks again. The work you produce is excellent 👍

[aliraza]

Stumbled onto your channel contemplating planning the big trip. Your message and tone is very genuine, helpful. Thanks so much

[khdr]

Just back from our 1st Universal. We were completely surprised and pleased with Universal’s designated rider swap rooms with benches, tvs, and changing tables. It helped to keep our party together. For their newer rides, I wish WDW had considered these.

[reytech]

I’m sorry but your channel should be called The Frugal AWESOME Brit. I absolutely love your videos.

[edvaira]

Both of my kids took their first visits as toddlers (my son is four years older than my daughter, so he at least remembered the trip when his sister made her first visit as he was six…we smartly got one of those “Leave a Legacy” pictures taken at Epcot that visit, which has been delightful to seek out in all of our subsequent visits)…One of the fringe benefits of my wife requiring a wheelchair (she has mild Cerebral Palsy) is we never really needed a stroller since the kids could generally ride on one of the side rails of Mom’s wheelchair…Overall, wonderful advice, as usual!

[michaelutsumi]

Wonderful advice. We took our first trip when our daughter was four y.o., but we stayed on-site and fit in the pool break each midday. We were then fully refreshed and ready to take on the afternoon/evening! Animal Kingdom Lodge is a wonderful option for first timers. Great property.

[allanbrown]

Another super video. You sound like a very thoughtful parent and I couldn’t agree more with all your points.

[hippiehayley]

I’ve been to Disney multiple times but taking our kids who will be just turning 2 and 5 in May for the first time and this was really helpful! Love the idea of taking an early lunch. We are staying at the contemporary in a villa and can’t wait! Another rule I’m setting for myself to help with costs is they can only pick 2 toys per day 😅

[larryeakin]

Brilliant! Thank you, we will be going with 2 Grands (4.5 and a 7.5) in 2023 and really appreciate all the thoughtful insight. Also, love the humor.

[markturner]

Great video! Thank you. Finally we are 11 days from our long awaited trip. Although my kids are now 17 and 15 I totally agree with your tips based on our earlier visits.

[joancayaban]

This was verrrry helpful! Your videos are so easy on the eyes and so organized!

[wrc]

Yet another excellent video as always! Thanks for the advice - I've traveled to Orlando and the parks as a couple many times, but when I (hopefully) get a chance to return it will be as a parent for the first time, which will obviously be a completely different experience to just sprinting round the thrill rides, at Universal, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, so its really valuable to have some straight forward advice and tips without the spin or hidden agenda that's sometimes the case on YouTube!!

[IlovTrunks]

This is a perfect video. <3 I'm really enjoying your content! We've been offered a last minute trip while my husband attends a conference, so I've got 3 weeks to learn as much as I can about all the updates since our last trip (2018), plus now I'll have an almost 2 year old in tow! 😱

[AmyAmore]

We’re going for my sons 6th bday and he wants to do slinky dog and big thunder more than anything else there so we’ll make sure to do both of those first thing in the day at those parks. Everything else will be easy pest play it by ear and I’m really excited!

[amethyst]

I'm taking my 8 year old daughter for Christmas break. All of your videos are so helpful.

[williamjack]

That brought back memories Jonathan. Some very good advice 👍

[muhammadkhan-hdoc]

I’m so glad I found this video. I’m planning to take my kids there next week and I was lost coz there’s so much to do.