DisneyWithKids.net: Parks

Parks

What to Do

Walt Disney World is enormous—47 square miles. It is literally impossible to ride every attraction,
see every show, and eat in every restaurant in a month, let along a week’s vacation. The parks are
so popular that ride lines can exceed 120 minutes long. Here are some strategies to increase your
attraction time—and minimize your waiting time.

Planning Your Trip
Here are some thoughts about planning your trip.

Visit during the least crowded times of the year. Traditionally these are January to mid-February,
the end of August until early October, and after Thanksgiving to mid-December. (A good clue to this
is the price of hotel rooms. Value season, the lowest rates, is the least busy time to visit.)

Buy ahead. Purchase your tickets and make car rental, hotel, and dining reservations in advance.
Every phone call you make from home is a line you don't have to stand in later.

Read up on attractions in advance and let every family member choose three or four must-see
attractions per park. Parents often make the mistake of planning the vacation for the kids without
consulting them about what they'd most like to do.

Time it right. If you’re traveling across time zones, consider not going to a park the first day to let your
kids adjust to the new time zone first.

Check out a few key things about each park before you get there. Become familiar with the
general layout of the park. If you have an infant or toddler, find baby care centers and restrooms.
There are restrooms all over the parks, and in addition almost all of the full-service restaurants in the
parks have restrooms. They can be handy in an emergency.

Prepare yourself that you can't do it all in one visit. Walt Disney World is enormous—47 square
miles. It is literally impossible to ride every attraction, see every show, and eat in every restaurant in a
month, let along a week’s vacation.

Arrive in the parks early each morning, go back to the hotel to rest in the afternoon, and return to
the parks at night. Disney World can be exhausting!

Try to stick to your child's schedule as much as possible. If she is used to an afternoon nap, take
her back to the hotel to rest.

Refrain from park hopping--visiting more than one park a day. Park hopping sounds simple, but not
with young children. If you really want to visit more than one park in a day, go to the first park in the
morning, then go back to your hotel for a nap or a swim in the afternoon, and then go to a different
park for the evening.

Rent a locker to avoid having to carry a lot with you in the parks. They're available at each park. Once
rented, you can use it the entire day.

Plan to take days off. Some parents advise taking one day off after each park day. Others suggest
taking a day off after two or three days in the parks.

Before leaving home, check your child’s height. Many rides at Disney World have height restrictions
and knowing her height beforehand may help avoid some disappointments at the parks.

Planning Your Day
These ideas are for planning a specific day.

When you enter a park, head left. Research shows that most people turn right.

Don't stop at the first ride you see. Most people do this, which is why, for example, Spaceship Earth
in EPCOT has huge lines at the beginning of the day.

To keep things moving along for kids, alternate between rides with short lines and rides with long
lines. The short lines give kids some quick satisfaction.

Make meeting plans. If some members of your family are riding an attraction and others are sitting
it out, meet up in the ride’s gift shop. Many rides exit into a gift shop and it’s a convenient, air-
conditioned place in which to meet.

Keep a routine. Stick to your kids' schedules as closely as possible during your vacation.

Be patient. At the end of the day, if you’re taking a Disney bus back to your hotel and the bus is
standing-room only, consider letting the people behind you in line go ahead of you. You’ll wait a few
minutes for the next bus, but you’ll be rewarded with a seat!

Strollers
You can rent strollers at each park. Here are some hints and tips.

Consider renting a stroller for your young child. But know that they have very little storage.
Single strollers cost $10 per day, and double strollers cost $18 per day. You need go give a
$250 credit card imprint for deposit to rent a stroller.
Get a length of stay rental ticket for a stroller. You just pay once for as many days as you
need. Single strollers cost $8 per day, and double strollers cost $16 per day. When you get to
the park each day, show your receipt and they’ll wave you through the line with little or no wait.
Know the stroller rental locations:

Magic Kingdom: The Stroller Shop, just inside the main entrance to the park.
Epcot: On the east side of the Entrance Plaza and at the International Gateway.
Disney's Hollywood Studios: Oscar’s Super Service just inside the main entrance.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Garden Gate Gifts at the park entrance.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon: None available to rent.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach: None available to rent.
Downtown Disney: West Side Guest Relations, at Pleasure Island near Mouse
House, and at Marketplace Guest Relations.

If you rent a stroller, save your receipt. If you park hop, you can transfer your stroller rental.
That is, if you rent a stroller at Magic Kingdom in the morning and then visit EPCOT in the
afternoon, your Magic Kingdom rental receipt entitles you to use a stroller at EPCOT without
having to pay the rental fee again.
If you rent a stroller, bring a blanket or towel to cushion the seat. The hard plastic seats on
the rental strollers are not very comfortable, especially for infants.
When you enter an attraction, put a large poncho or rain cover over the stroller if even a hint of
possible rain is showing. Sudden Florida rains can drench the stroller while you are inside
an attraction.
Don’t panic if you come out of an attraction and can’t find your stroller. Disney cast members
often rearrange the strollers that are parked outside of attractions in an effort to keep the area
neat and safe.
Leave your stroller in a central spot and don't move it for several rides. For example in
Fantasyland, you can park near Mickey's PhilharMagic, ride it, Peter Pan's Flight, and Dumbo,
and stop in the restrooms without moving the stroller.
When you go on rides, it is probably safe to leave your big diaper bag in the stroller. However,
take your wallet, camera, one diaper, wipes, sippy cups, and snacks in a smaller, lighter bag
in the line.

Fastpass
Disney's Fastpass is a free system that helps guests avoid waiting in long lines. Basically, it allows
you to make a reservation to ride the most popular rides in the parks. Here's how Fastpass works.
As you approach a attraction that uses the Fastpass system, you will see three lines:

The Fastpass distribution line: This is where you make your reservation. You insert your park
pass into a machine that looks slightly like an ATM. It give you back your pass and also gives
you a Fastpass, which is a small slip of paper that tells you the time your reservation will be.
Above this line, you'll see a clock that shows what times the tickets are being issued for.
The Fastpass entrance: This is where you come back to when you're returning to ride after
making your Fastpass reservation. Above this line, you'll see a clock with the current time. At
the end of the line, you have to turn your Fastpass in to a cast member.
The Standby line: This is the line for guests not using Fastpass. Above this line, you'll see the
current wait time posted.

Here's an example of how you would use Fastpass. Let's say it's 9 am, and you want to go on Test
Track, but there's a 90 minutes wait posted outside the Standby line. The clock above the Fastpass
distribution line shows that passes are being issued with a return time of 11 am to noon. You get
your Fastpass and instead of waiting on a one hour line, you have two free hours before coming
back, bypassing the standby line and getting on Test Track through the Fastpass entrance with little
or no wait.

Here are a Fastpass facts:

For attractions, the assigned time will give you a one hour window to return, so you don't have
to run back to be there the minute it goes into effect. With theater attractions, you'll have a
Fastpass for a specific performance.
Generally, you can't get another Fastpass until the current one is in effect. (In the above
example, that's 11 am.) The time when you can get your next Fastpass will be printed on the
bottom of your pass. In other words, you can't run around the park first thing in the morning
gathering Fastpasses.
Everyone in your party has to turn in a Fastpass at the attraction.
The cast member checking Fastpass return times won't let you on the ride until your
Fastpass time. (In the above example, that's 11 am.)

Fastpass will help you get on more popular rides, such as Dinosaur, pictured here.

Child Swap
Imagine this scenario: Mom, Dad, and Baby are at the Magic Kingdom. Dad waits in line to ride
Space Mountain while Mom watches Baby. An hour later, Dad watches Baby for an hour while Mom
rides the ride. There has to be a better way, and there is! It's a free program called Child Swap.
You can search all over Disney World for signs of Child Swap, which is sometimes also called baby
swap or rider swap, and you won't find a single one. That's because this program isn't advertised.
But here's how it works:
Both parents get into line at the same time. Mom, for example, rides the ride while Dad waits with
Baby. As soon as Mom gets off the ride, Dad can rides the attraction without waiting in the long line
again. Cast members handle these exchanges cordially and efficiently. They are clearly very used to
working with guests on the child swap.

Here are some Child Swap facts:

Always let the cast members at the entrance and loading areas of the attraction know that
you're using a child swap.
Riders are never expected to ride alone. This can work to your advantage. Since each parent
is permitted to ride with another guest, an older child or a third adult can enjoy the attraction
back-to-back.

Child Swap is especially helpful for rides little ones aren't likely to go on, such as the Haunted
Mansion, pictured here.

What to Bring to the Parks
Here are some ideas for what to bring for a day at the park.

Baby carrier: A Snugli or Baby Bjorn–type carrier or Playtex Hip Hammock for infants or toddlers
between 15 and 35 pounds keep you hands-free while waiting for the bus, standing in line, tending
to your older kids and browsing in shops. You can also take your toddler on some rides in them.

Beach towel: This will come in handy if you let your little ones splash in the fountains and water play
areas. You can also use a large beach towel to make a canopy over your stroller. This will offer more
sun protection and privacy for naps.

Bicycle lock: If you’re concerned about your stroller being stolen, bring a bicycle lock to secure it.

Blanket or towel: If you rent a stroller, bring something soft to cushion the hard plastic seat.

Change of clothes: Many parks have water rides and water play areas, such as Donald’s Boat in the
Magic Kingdom.

Coins: Kids love to toss coins into the fountains. Pennies are also great to use in the pressed penny
machines. (Keep them away from small children because they’re a choking hazard.)

Diapers, diaper wipes, and diaper rash ointment: Bring lots of them; you'll use as many as ten
diapers per day (or more!).

Disposable camera: Give an extra one to your toddler or child. Disney looks very different from a
stroller. Sure you’ll get some shots of the ground, but you’ll likely get some other great photos.

Earplugs: If your little one is frightened by loud noises, bring a pair of ear plugs.

Fanny pack: Get one for each member of your family and stash them with sunglasses, snacks, wet
wipes, and toys for the kids.

Feeding supplies: Bring formula and bottled water and/or baby food, dishes, and spoons. Bottles
that use disposable bags are more convenient for trips.

Harness: If you have a young child of “bolting” age, she can run around with a harness on with
limited freedom and you don't have to cling to her hand. Or you can buy a hand holder—an
elasticized band that Velcros around your child's wrist with a loop on the other end for you to hold or
slip over your wrist.

Hats and sunglasses: That Florida sun can be brutal.

Key chain light, pen light, or glow worm: If your child is apprehensive of the dark, with a small light,
she’ll feel a bit in control. But these lights are not so bright that they’ll disturb anyone else.

Medicine: Remember Tylenol drops, Mylicon drops, nasal aspirator, and prescription medications
your child takes.

Ponchos: You can buy these in the parks, but they’re far cheaper at home.

Straws: If your kids prefer to drink with straws, bring extra long straws from home. These come in
handy when you buy bottles of water or soda. Regular straws are too short.

Stroller cover: Stroller covers cost around $9 and can also be used safely with the child in the
stroller because they have mesh for air to circulate. They keep rain out, and don’t blow off like
ponchos.

Sunscreen: The American Academy of Pediatrics now believes that sunscreen in small amounts is
safe for young babies, even younger than 6 months old.

Toys: Quiet toys will be especially helpful as distractions when there are lots of other people nearby.
Plastic links that can attach the toys to your baby’s stroller or highchair will help keep the toys within
reach. Small toys, such as Matchbox cars and blowing bubbles can occupy older kids in lines.

Travel size toiletries: Small containers of tissues, wipes, Band-Aids, and sunscreen are much
easier to tote around the parks than their full-size bottles.

Who’s Shoes ID: You place these creative ID tags under the shoelaces in a child's shoes. They have
space to write in your child’s name, your name, phone number, and medical information, and they
cost $7.99 at www.whosshoesid.com.

Health and Safety
Here's some advice on your child's health and safety in the parks.

To keep your child more comfortable and everyone happier, try to follow his normal nap and
eating routine as much as possible and fit in a few attractions in between.
Teach your child that if she gets lost she should approach a security worker, a salesperson
with a name tag, a person in an information booth, or a mother with children. Tell your child
that you’ll never send someone she doesn’t know to pick her up.
Dressing your child in bright colors will make her easier to spot in a crowd.
If you have more than one child, dress them in similar, if not matching, clothing. This makes
spotting them much easier. Also, if one child should get lost, you can use the other as a
visual aid to find the lost one.
Take a digital photo of your child with your digital camera or cell phone first thing in the
morning each day. That way if he gets lost, you have a photo showing what he’s wearing.
For small children, consider some sort of identification. For example, you can buy ID tags
called Who’s Shoes ID. You place these creative ID tags under the shoelaces in a child's
shoes. They have space to write in your child’s name, your name, phone number, and
medical information, and they cost $7.99 at www.whosshoesid.com. Or you could write your
child’s name, your name, phone number, and medical information on a piece of paper,
laminate it, and pin it to her clothes or tuck it into her pocket each day. Or you could write your
name and cell phone number onto the hem on the inside of her shirts or on a rubber-band
type bracelet.
Consider dressing your child in sun-protective clothing. You can buy this type of clothing from
companies such as One Step Ahead (www.onestepahead.com) and Lands End (www.
landsend.com).
Apply SPF 15 or 30 sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply it every 2 hours,
and after your child has been swimming. You’ll need an ounce of sunscreen for a toddler;
two ounces for an adult.
When you enter a park, note where the baby-care centers and first-aid centers are. Baby
centers provide facilities for changing diapers and warming bottles and food. They also offer
comfortable chairs for nursing mothers and sell baby supplies such as diapers and formula.
You can also watch Disney movies there. And there child-size toilets, which are great for
children who are toilet training. Here’s where the baby-care centers are located:

Magic Kingdom: next to the Crystal Palace, to the left around the central hub
EPCOT: on the World Showcase side of the Odyssey Center
Disney-MGM Studios: at Guest Relations inside the main entrance
Animal Kingdom: in Safari Village, next to the Creature Comforts Shop
Disney’s Blizzard Beach: There is no baby care center, but restrooms do have baby
changing stations.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon: There is no baby care center, but restrooms do have baby
changing stations.
Downtown Disney: There is no baby care center, but restrooms do have baby
changing stations.

Talk to your child about what to do if he gets frightened while on the ride. Tell him not to try to
get out. Explain to small children that amusement rides might seem scary, but they’re not
dangerous as long as riders hold on tight, stay seated, and keep their hands and feet inside.
All restrooms in Disney World have baby changing stations.
Teach older children to call your first and last name in a crowd. “Mom” will get a reaction from
every mother within earshot.
Make sure your child knows what to do if he gets lost. Tell him to stay where he is as much
as possible. Explain that cast members wear name badges and to go to one of them
immediately if he gets lost. With older kids, arrange a place to meet if they get lost.
If she’s old enough to remember it, teach your child the name of your hotel and room number.
Keep an especially close eye on your kids during character encounters. The most common
way for kids to become lost at Walt Disney World is in informal character encounters, where
lots of people are milling around.
On your first day in the parks, have a “I'm lost” drill. Walk though what your kids should do if
you get separated. You might want to go so far as to take your child to a cast member and
ask what would happen in the event of an actual emergency.
Consider using a harness or hand holder. A hand holder is an elasticized band that Velcros
around your child's wrist with a loop on the other end for you to hold or slip over your wrist.
If your child is potty training and still uses a potty chair, start getting him used to going on the
toilet before your trip. Or you can buy a portable folding plastic travel potty seat for kids who
fear the toilet will swallow them whole.
Most of the toilets at Disney World flush automatically, quite dramatically and loudly. Warn
little ones about it beforehand. Or place your hand over the sensor to keep the toilet from
flushing until your little one has moved out of the way.
Before you head off to the park, wet a washcloth and place it in a zipper-lock bag with some
ice and stick it in your cooler if you have one. You can wash off with it later in the day for a
refreshing wipe down.
Teach your children that it’s ok to walk quickly, but no running! Unless you’re in the marathon,
there’s no running allowed in Disney.
Skate sneakers (also known as heelys) aren’t permitted in any park in Florida.
Be sure to follow safety rules on all rides. Keep all body parts inside the ride vehicles and
make sure your child can’t slip under lap bars. If she’s afraid of a ride, skip it. Otherwise she
might try to wriggle out of it and get hurt.

Character Encounters
These can be a huge part of your vacation. Here's how to make the most of them.

Many children warm up faster to “face” characters—such as Cinderella, Snow White, Belle,
and Peter Pan—who don’t wear masks over their heads. They look more like Mommy and
Daddy plus face characters are the only characters who speak, which can be comforting to a
child. “Masked” characters—such as Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy—mime only. In fact they’re
trained never to speak regardless of the provocation.
You’ll likely have to stand in line to meet the characters, but the lines are usually well
organized by the characters’ managers, who will let you know how long each character will
be there and if they leave when they’ll be back.
If your child is intimidated by a character, such as one he hasn’t met before, go with him to
approach the character.
Always approach characters from the front, especially masked characters. Characters can’t
see well around the masks. If your child approaches from the side or back, a character many
not see him at all. The duck costumes (Donald, Daisy) are especially challenging. A
Character may overlook a small child, even one who’s right in front of them. Either back up or
pick your child up so she is at character-eye level.
Many kids like to collect character autographs. You can buy autograph books in the parks or
bring them from home. Some people put a photo of their children on the pages of the album
opposite each characters’ signature. This makes it easy to identify the signatures, too.
Instead of using an autograph book, you could have the characters sign your child’s hat or
shirt.
Before you and your child approach the character, open the autograph book to a blank page
and have the pen ready for signing.
Consider having your child wear a name tag. Cast members will likely pay her special
attention and characters may even write personalized autograph messages.
If you make a character breakfast reservation in one of the parks at 8 am, you get to enter the
park around 7:45 am, before the park actually opens. You can take some photos of your
family in the park with hardly anyone else in them!

The Parks
Many parents with small kids recommend visiting the parks in this order—Animal Kingdom, EPCOT,
Disney-MGM Studios, then the Magic Kingdom—saving the most kid-loved for last! Here's some
information about each park, along with the most kid-friendly rides.

Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, under the supervision of Walt Disney's brother, Roy
Disney. Although the Magic Kingdom shares the same name as it's sister park in California, there
are subtle differences throughout the park. When you first arrive in the Magic Kingdom you are
whisked away to Main Street USA, a town modeled after the early 1900s. From there the Magic
Kingdom is divided into six themed lands: Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland,
Mickey's Toontown Fair, and Tomorrowland.

Here are some preschooler-friendly attractions and tips to enjoy your Magic Kingdom visit.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Cinderella’s Golden Carousel
Country Bear Jamboree: This is an ideal attraction to take in while waiting for your Fastpass
return time to ride Splash Mountain.
Donald’s Boat
Enchanted Tiki Room
Fantasyland Play Area
Harmony Barber Shop: Take your kids for a haircut at this shop on Main Street.
It’s a Small World: Disney Magical Moments pins are designed to interact with this attraction.
Jungle Cruise: While you are in line for this ride, be sure to read the signs on the walls and
the labels on the boxes; they're hilarious!
Magic Carpets of Aladdin: If you’re in the front seat, the level controls the height the carpet
flies. If you’re in the back seat, the level controls the carpet’s pitching forward and back.
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Disney Magical Moments pins are designed to interact
with this attraction.
Mickey’s Country House: Disney’s Magical Moments pins with game buttons interact with this
attraction.
Mickey’s PhilHarmagic: For this and other theater shows, don’t rush to get into the theater.
Everyone they let in the doors will get a seat. They strongly encourage people to move to the
far side of the theater, so if you go in too soon you’ll be sitting at the far left side. If you can
position yourselves behind a large group of people, you’re more likely to end up in the center
of the row.
Mickey’s Toontown Fair: Check out the gags built into the architecture, such as the cake in
Minnie's oven. Toontown Fair is a great place to meet characters. To see Mickey, go to the
Judge's Tent.
Minnie’s Country House
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor: Check out this new attraction, which opened in spring 2007.
Parade: Many kids love parades. Check the guidemap for sure, but it usually starts at 3:00
pm.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Playgrounds: There are kids’ playgrounds at the Fantasyland Play Area, Pooh’s Playful Spot
across from the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland, and in Toontown Fair.
There is a little play area that younger preschoolers really enjoy under the bridge near the exit
of Splash Mountain. This is also a great meeting place for the smaller toddlers to play while
the bigger kids ride Splash or Big Thunder mountain.
Riverboat ride: Take a quiet ride down the river.
Sword in the Stone Ceremony: This is held behind Cinderella Castle. Check park maps for
times.
Tom Sawyer Island: Check out the caves, suspension bridges and more. It’s a fun place to
take kids to play and relax.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Walt Disney World Railroad: This is great relaxing break. It’s a 20-minute trip around the park.

Epcot
Epcot, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, opened on October 1, 1982.

Here are some preschooler-friendly attractions and tips to enjoy your Epcot visit.

Circle of Life: Before the show, check out the lobby for environmental fun facts.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
Fountains: Kids love to cool off and play in the fountains between Mission: Space and Test
Track and in the dancing fountains near the Imagination pavilion.
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Kidcot Fun Spots: Make sure to stop at the Kidcots in each country. These craft centers are
located at more than 14 pavilions where kids can draw, stamp, and color. If they’re old
enough, you might want to teach your kids how to say a few words in some of the native
languages of the Epcot countries.
Living Seas
Seas with Nemo and Friends
Space Base: This kids’ playground is in Mission: Space
Spaceship Earth: First thing in the morning, the lines here can be very long. Try back later in
the day, or even just before the park closes.
Test Track: If your child is too small to ride Test Track at Epcot, a nice alternative is to duck
into Test Track's gift shop and let him ride on the cars in the shop.
Turtle Talk with Crush
Voices of Liberty: If you watch this popular U.S.A. Pavilion show, sit close to the front if you’d
like to get picked to be part of the show.

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios opened May 1, 1989. It is a theme park devoted to bringing the magic of
television, radio, and movies to the public in a way that only Disney can.

Here are some preschooler-friendly attractions and tips to enjoy your Disney's Hollywood Studios
visit.

“Honey I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure: This kids’ playground is in the back of Disney-
MGM Studios.
Muppet Vision 3-D
Playhouse Disney Live: Don't sit in the front. The segments with Jo Jo, Winnie the Pooh and
Stanley are with puppets that come from underneath the stage and they aren't very tall.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid: You might want to hold your little one on your lap so she can
see all the action.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The theme park opened on Earth Day April 22, 1998. Disney's Animal Kingdom is 500 acres of exotic
landscapes with 600 species of trees, 350 species of grasses, and 1800 different shrubs, ferns,
mosses, vines, and perennials.

Here are some preschooler-friendly attractions and tips to enjoy your Animal Kingdom visit.

Affection Section: Your child can pet goats, sheep, chickens, llamas, and more. Ask the
animal experts if you’d like to learn how to brush them. Be sure to wash your child’s hands
very well after touching the animals. There are cleaning stations nearby.
Boneyard: This kids’ playground is in Dinoland.
Conservation Station
Dino-Sue
Discovery Island Trails
Fossil Fun Games: Note that there’s an extra charge to play these carnival-style games.
Fountain: Cool off in the fountain near the exit to Kali River Rapids.
Habitat Habit
Harambe: Not only are you treated to several good shows each day by traditional African
drummers, you and the kids can take part in them!
Kids Discovery Clubs: Kids can collect stamps at these six stations, located throughout the
park, to become “Rafiki’s Planet Watch Friend.”
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Pangani Forest Expedition Trail: Disney’s Magical Moments pins with game buttons interact
with this.
Wildlife Express Train: It’s a 5-minute trip out to Conservation Station.

Take some time looking at the incredible animals carved into the Tree of Life, like this one here.

Blizzard Beach

Tike’s Peak: This kid-size version of Blizzard Beach includes a snow-castle fountain play
area.

Typhoon Lagoon

Ketchakiddie Creek: This kids’ area features scaled-down water attractions, including slides,
floating boats, and waterfalls.

Disney Marketplace

Fountains: Bring a towel and swimsuit for water fountain fun.