Disney World with Young Kids (Tips & Shopping List)

Disney World is the most magical place on Earth! And yet, it can be kind of stressful … especially when you’re taking young kids. Disney World with kids can feel more like a “trip” than a “vacation” if you know what I mean. But there are definitely things you can do ahead of time to prepare for a smoother trip. I’ve put together this list of tips and things to buy before your trip to help make things easier. Whenever possible, I provided links (mostly Amazon) or suggest stores to get the item. Be sure to read beyond just looking at the images because I give more tips and ideas than what you see in the photos. I hope this helps your family have a magical time in one of my favorite places. Tip: Many of these items would also be great if you’re planning to tell the kids about your Disney World trip as a birthday gift, Christmas present, or want a Disney-themed Easter basket.

First, here are my disclaimers:

I’m not going to talk about things like Genie +, Lightening Lanes and/or DAS passes.

These recommendations are all based on my own family’s experiences. I’ve been going to Disney Word with my parents since I was a toddler myself, I’ve gone twice with friends as a teen/young adult, and I’ve now taken my young kids three times. Take what you think might work for you and leave the rest.

A few tips:

• If proximity allows, take mid-day breaks! Go early, then head out around lunch or shortly after. Mid-afternoon is going to be the hottest time of the day, most crowded, and usually the time of day that has the greatest chance of thunderstorms. It’s a great opportunity to take naps, swim, explore your resort, and then freshen up before going back to the parks around dinner. It’ll be cooler and less crowded in the evening, and you’re all more likely to make it to fireworks after getting that break.

• Get snacks, drinks and a few breakfast items delivered to your hotel unless you’re able to shop yourself. (I used Amazon.) Having a few breakfast options in the room means you can be eating something while you’re getting ready. It makes it easier to get out the door, and you don’t waste ride time finding something to eat. Yes, you’ll want to get Mickey waffles at some point, but having cereal, breakfast bars, mini muffins, bananas, etc. really helps. I also like to have a few favorite snacks on hand for the room and to bring in baggies or small containers to the park. It helps save money, distract in lines, etc. Some of my go-tos: Mickey Goldfish, peanut butter crackers (also good to have on hand for meals for picky eaters!), applesauce pouches, fruit/nut bars, Cheerios, baby carrots, bananas, grapes. If you’re someone that gets tired of drinking just water, but you don’t want to buy other drinks, I also brought some of THESE cold brew tea bags. Easy to throw in my backpack and then give my water bottle extra flavor!

• This deserves its own bullet: Get a case of water delivered! You can get free ice water at quick service restaurants, but it just makes it so much easier to have some in your room/on hand.

• Food portions tend to me large in Disney World. For my 2 kids, I found it made more financial sense to have them share one adult meal (usually chicken fingers) rather than each get their own kids meal. And I would often order one kids meal for myself! (The photo above is of a kids meal at Regal Eagle Smokehouse in EPCOT.)

• When you go through security at Disney World, hold anything that you know is metal in front of you with your arm stretched out. This includes cameras, eyeglass cases, umbrellas … Doing this sometimes saves you from having your entire back searched. ALSO, don’t put bags underneath your stroller until you get through security. They will make you get them out.

For Travel:

Packing Cubes: I hadn’t used packing cubes before my 2021 Disney trips, and now I love them so much that I even use them for weekends at the shore. They make it easier to roll clothes so you can fit more in your suitcase. You can organize by category (shirts, shorts …) or by outfits, making it easier to unpack in your hotel and get ready. For my kids, I liked to put their individual outfits inside quart size Ziploc bags and then gave them each their own cube. I have 2 different sets linked HERE and HERE.

Crayola Wonder Mess Free: Love these for the plane, and they’re also good if your kids get restless at restaurants. There are several Disney options: Frozen, Princesses, Fancy Nancy, Disney Baby. (You’ll need markers for this set.)

Card Games: There are several Disney card games out there that are cute for travel. I especially like THIS one because it’s an easy one to pull out in long lines.

Tablets/Headphones: If your kids will be using tablets, which I DO recommend for at least part of the trip, you’ll want to get them comfy headphones. My son used THIS soft headband style when he was 10 months to watch some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the plane. Both of my kids used THESE last year.

My kids have Amazon Fire Kid Tablets, and they’ve worked out great for our needs for almost 2 years now. (Tip: They’re often part of Amazon Prime Day Deals and Black Friday sales!)

LCD Doodle Board: These Reusable drawing boards are awesome when you’re tight on space and want entertainment that isn’t messy. Kids of all ages will like drawing on them, and they’re also great for games like tic-tac-toe, hangman, etc. Here’s a great deal for ONE and if you need TWO.

Magnetic Set: A set like THIS would be great for a toddler on the plane. Just put it in a big Ziplog bag to keep the pieces contained.

Waterproof Phone Pouch/Lanyard: There are great photo ops at the resort pools and on water rides. Slip your phone into one of these pouches.

Sound machine: We don’t sleep anywhere without a sound machine. Hotels are loud; this can help.

Tip: Head to Dollar Tree before your trip and stock up on cheap entertainment – coloring books, crayons, stickers, etc.

For the park:

Stroller: If your kids are under 6, I say rent/bring the stroller. (Over 6, you might still consider it based on your child.) Yes, you need to deal with it getting off/on transportation and you’ll need to park it before rides. But it is well worth it to not have my kids whine about their legs being tired. (I have no desire to carry a kid in that heat.) They can take little naps in it, AND it’s somewhere to put your stuff! I rented from Kingdom Strollers twice in 2021 and had great experiences. I used a double (my kids were 3 and 4) umbrella stroller for the airport and then switched to City Mini Double for the parks.

Insulated Water Bottles: Bring a water bottle for everyone! My kids like THESE made by Thermos, and they come in a variety of Disney characters, which is fun. I personally use Contigo. Fill with ice at the hotel in the morning. Bring a few bottled waters and add to your insulated bottle as you go. It’ll stay colder that way. You can also ask for free ice water at any quick service.

Stroller Fan: I recommend at least one stroller fan. I actually prefer two! It was so nice to point one at the kids and one at myself because you work up a SWEAT pushing a stroller around the parks.

Stroller Organizer: I’ve see people get really creative using things made of shoe holders, but I found that I didn’t need anything that complicated. My stroller rental included an organizer, and I wanted another one (since I was pushing a double) so it could hold 4 water bottles within easy reach.

Wet Bag: This is great for holding bottles of water, clothes that might get wet, umbrellas, etc. Bags like the one I linked are easy to snap on/off the stroller, which is especially great when you need to fold it up for buses.

Insulated cooler bag: If you’re going to be bringing food that you want to keep cold (cheese sticks, sandwiches, milk, etc), it might be worth putting an insulated bag in the bottom of the stroller. Note that some stroller rentals include a small insulated cooler bag, so check if you need to BYO! Keep in mind that Disney does NOT allow loose ice. So bring ice packs or freeze water bottles. Or put ice from the hotel in Ziploc bags.

Backpack: There are tons of cute Disney options, but I keep it practical. Even though my kids aren’t in diapers anymore, I like to use this diaper bag backpack I’ve been using since my son was born. It’s pretty water resistant (nice in a Florida downpour!), it has enough pockets to keep things organized without being a TOTAL pain for security, and it has the clips that allow you to hang from the stroller handle if your back needs a break.

Foldable Potty Seat: If your kid has trouble with standard toilet seats, bring THIS. It folds up small and comes with a drawstring bag. I like to throw in a pack of wipes and a pack of Post-Its to cover up the automatic flush sensor.

Ziploc (or similar) bags: Whether it’s snacks or leftovers from a restaurant, chances are good that at some point, you’ll wish you had a little bag to put food in. I brought a box of Mickey baggies like THESE, but you could also get reusable.

To Wear:

Shoes: I’m not going to link shoes because I think they’re super personal. I will say that I like to bring at least 2 pairs for myself – comfortable flip flops and sneakers. I usually switch off and wear one in the morning and the other at night. It seems to help with blisters and sore spots. Last year, I also brought water shoes that I had for Sesame Place. My family thought I was weird, but guess what – it worked GREAT in a down pour! I hate sliding around in wet flip flops and sneakers take forever to dry out. For kids, I bring sneakers and comfortable sandals. Water shoes for walking to the pool etc.

Fanny Pack: There’s a reason these were so popular in the 80s/90s. They’re practical! I wore THIS one on both my recent Disney trips, and I’ve worn it a few times since, too. I like it because it holds what I need without being bulky, it’s cheap and comes in a few colors. I put my phone and wallet in there, the things that would ruin the trip if I lost them. Then I have the option of leaving the backpack with the stroller if I want to.

Minnie Fanny Pack: Found this super cute Minnie option if your little one would wear one for little things she’d like to have for the stroller or in line. (I’d do sunglasses, snack, a little toy …)

BitBelt: If you’re wearing Magic Bands, THESE are worth the money for some extra security. For some reason, I put them on my kids’ bands but not my own on our first trip last year. Guess who lost their Magic Band on the second day? ME.

T-shirts: T-shirts are the most practical for park days. My favorite places to buy for myself and the kids: Jane.com, Amazon (Women’s Minnie Shirt, Women’s Best Day Shirt, Men’s Intelligent Life Shirt, Men’s Mickey Shirt, Boys Mickey shirts linked), Target, Old Navy, Kohl’s, H&M.

Princess Dresses: My daughter’s favorite dresses were from Great Lakes Kids Apparel and Presley Couture/Jane.com. I also found similar on Amazon – here’s links to Ariel and Minnie.

Sunglasses: Bring a few pairs and make sure they’re comfortable/stay on when you’re sweating!

Hats: Style and function. HERE‘s a link to some cute Mickey kid hats.

Minnie Hair Clips: My daughter doesn’t really leave headbands in, but she likes these Minnie ear clips. They look especially cute with pigtails or space buns.

Anti-Friction Stick: If anything rubs when you walk, this stuff is great. Heels, thighs, etc.

Tiara: If you have a princess lover, get THIS tiara! It’s just like the one they use at Bippity Boppity Boutique and so much less expensive.

The Extras:

I fully admit that I’m a little “extra” when it comes to Disney and going places with my kids in general. I love to give them little surprises and be on theme. BUT, I hate to spend a lot of money! So I compromise by picking up things ahead of time so that I don’t spend as much in the park, and it tends to help with meltdowns from my kids. I let them pick out a few souvenirs in Disney World, but I mostly stayed out of the stores and packed little surprises to distract them as needed. Target Dollar Spot and Dollar Tree are great for this, and here are few links to other finds.

Bubble Wands: Keep an eye on Shop Disney for sales! This is how I got my kids Ariel and Lightning McQueen. For cheaper alternatives, here’s a cute one from Amazon.

Fidget Poppers: Fun for lines, waiting for shows, food, etc.

Disney Figures: A set like THIS could be good for playing on the plane or waiting in lines. You can usually find figures at Dollar Tree, too. And both of my kids love Disney Doorables! (These are small, so better for kids 3 and up.)

Bath/pool toys: This is definitely an “extra,” but my kids loved having a few bath toys for the room, and they can also be fun to take to the pool. HERE are a few cute Disney options.

Sand toys: Along those same lines, I brought THIS sand toy set for my kids last year. The bucket collapses, so it didn’t take up a lot of luggage space. It was fun for them to use in the kiddie pool/sand area at the Yacht & Beach Club.

Glow sticks: Fun for evenings at the park. I usually grab them at Dollar Tree, but HERE‘s a link to a big batch if you’re buying more than a few.

Wallet Lanyard: I got these for my kids last year, and they loved them for holding little prizes (figures, cars, stickers, etc) while they were in the stroller. They’re also a great idea if your child wants to collect the pressed pennies around the parks.

Disney Die-Cast Cars: Another cute set for when you need a distraction/little treat.

Books: My kids are so set in their routine that they even wanted stories before bed after a long day in the parks. A set like THIS would be cute to surprise your kid with a new book each night. (Or read on the plane!)

* As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases.

I hope these tips for traveling to Disney World with young kids help!