For a destination called “The Happiest Place on Earth”, it’s odd how many kids and parents look decidedly unhappy at Disney. We’ve all seen them—heck, we’ve been them. You saved up for years to give your kids the most magical time of their lives and instead of skipping together gleefully through Fantasyland, you find yourself trapped in a three-hour queue with a squirming, sobbing, scowling prince or princess who doesn’t understand why they can’t see Dumbo now. The churn of crowds, the unpredictability of lines, and tired little feet can all turn a cherished vacation into a recipe for a meltdown.
There is so much to be said about traveling with kids to Disney World—trying to schedule your trip during the off-season, the benefits of staying on property, making best friends with the staff at First Aid. We found five straight up hacks to keep your kids happy and healthy on your next trip.
1. You can fly, you can fly, you can fly…
Image: Tomás Del Coro, Flickr (license)
Just surviving the flight to Orlando can be a formidable task for parents. Planes have an odd way of transforming even the most serene kids into moaning zombies. There are a few things you can do to help your kids last through that seemingly-eternal flight.
Young children may not know how to adjust the pressure in their ears when the plane reaches altitude. This can lead to headaches and crying fits. Enter the humble juice box. The motion of sucking liquid through a straw and swallowing it can help equalize the pressure. Yes, you will probably need to spring for one in the airport gift shop, but it could be worth it if this is an issue when your kids fly. Gum is another excellent choice. If you want to really get them used to flying, make a game out of teaching them the Valsalva Maneuver.
Image: Stephen Depolo, Flickr (license)
Try booking your flight as early in the morning as possible and get to the airport earlier than you normally would. While it may seem tempting to hope your little one will sleep through a night flight, some kids just can’t sleep sitting up. By leaving early, your kids can look forward to all the wonderful things they’ll see when you arrive.
The ultimate tool in your parental kit is setting realistic expectations. Nothing makes a kid crazier than not knowing what’s about to happen next (particularly for many special needs kids). A good carry-on bag full of activities is a start (don’t rely solely on an iPad), but there’s one particular hack that can really nail this.
2. The magic backpack
Image: David Goehring, Flickr (license)
Delayed gratification is one of the most crucial scenarios a kid can be exposed to during development. If a kid knows something good is coming on a predictable schedule, that can keep them feeling happy and secure during uncomfortable moments that might normally result in a cry fest.
The Magic Backpack trick is simple. Find yourself a backpack, ideally with a Disney theme (you can DIY one if you want). Before your trip starts, fill this backpack with all manner of toys, treats, and kid-friendly tools to give your little one, but don’t let them see it. You’re basically putting together a Disney survival kit. Here’s just a few of the items you could use just for the plane segment.
- Coloring books and crayons
- Brain teasers or a plane-friendly puzzle
- Small crafts with a Disney theme
- A Disney stuffed animal
- A Kid Friendly Disney Travel Guide, like Birnbaum’s “For Kids by Kids”
The idea is to break the trip down into predictable segments. Explain each segment in advance: “After we get off the shuttle, we’re going to stand in a line, give our luggage to the airline then go through security. Once we get to the gate, you can have one item from the backpack.” When each segment is complete, your little one gets one item from the backpack if they behaved. On the plane, you can break the time into thirty minute chunks. Every thirty minutes (or hour) of good behavior, your little one gets a new something from the backpack. If they misbehave, give them a reasonable goal for good behavior, even if it means lowering the time threshold a little bit.
You can carry it through your entire trip. Once you’re in the parks, the threshold can be longer. Kids may only get one item a day out of the backpack during a park day, but you can mix it up however you like. The idea is to have a full Disney kit ready for them. While you can add some items you pick up in the parks, you will save a ton of money getting some items ahead of time online.
Here’s a few other items you could use for your magic backpack:
- A Disney sippy cup
- Autograph book and large pen (the characters need very thick pens to sign autographs)
- A costume of their favorite character
- Pixie Dust (aka a jewelry pouch full of cosmetic glitter)
- A pin trading lanyard and pins (you will save a ton buying these online. I’d also recommend getting some backings that lock since the Disney ones fall off.)
- A bubble wand
- A fake rose, like in Beauty and the Beast
- A foam pirate sword (no toy firearms though)
- Non-meltable treats and snacks
3. Work those little legs
Image: Disney
Strollers are definitely a godsend for travelling with small children. If you’ll be a using a stroller, a small, foldable one will prove far more convenient for navigating crowds than a two-kid wide monster. It’s the nature of many kids that unless they’re hyper, they want to exert themselves as little as possible.
I’m going to suggest something that could prove a contentious point, but it’s a tip that comes with many benefits: if possible, make your kids walk.
Just as exercise produces beneficial chemicals and endorphins in adults, so it does in kids. Getting your kids up and walking can help keep both parents and child on an even pace during the trip—the kid won’t be frustrated because he wants to run ahead and the parents are too slow. It’s okay if they still need rest breaks and some stroller time, but overall, they will be healthier if they are active during the trip.
Image: Disney
It’s also important to keep in mind that, on average, families eat a lot of unhealthy food during a Disney World trip: sugars, fried foods, that Dole Whip Float you just couldn’t resist. A Disney World trip is a great opportunity to teach kids the benefits of being active. You can frame it in terms of superhero or Disney princess training.
There’s another benefit to making the kids walk, one that just might save parents’ feet and sanity…
4. Sleeping beauty
Image: Jack Miller, Flickr (license)
While you don’t want to run your kids to death, particularly the first few days of a Disney trip, there are benefits to keeping them active enough to need a nap about midday. We’ve talked about this tip before, but a mid-day retreat is one of the best tools in a parent’s Disney hack arsenal.
Yes, some kids are going to want to power through and stay the whole day. Making sure the kids know the schedule and sticking to it can help with this adjustment. You can also use the magic backpack to take the edge off. The best thing parents can do is get the whole family to the parks right at opening gate. Crowds are lowest in the morning, and you can usually ride twice as many rides since queues will be short. Right around lunchtime, the late risers show up, lines get long, and kids get squirmy.
Plan to leave the parks shortly after lunchtime—maybe around 1-2pm. If your little one has been walking, you should be able to settle them down for a nap. If your room has a kitchenette or microwave, you can heat up some warm milk to help knock them out.
Once everyone’s had some time to recover, return to the parks for dinner and evening entertainment. Speaking of which…
5. Take the night off
Image: Disney
I’m serious.
Disney is a top destination for adults as well as kids. Instead of spending the entire trip with your kids glued to your side, take a night for yourselves while giving your kids an adventure all their own.
Disney World has four outstanding children’s activity centers—Club Dolphin at the Dolphin hotel, The Sandcastle Club at The Beach Club, Simba’s Cubhouse at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Lilo’s Playhouse at the Polynesian Resort. Kids can spend the evening enjoying movies, board games, activities, and dinner at all four locations. The Sandcastle Club and Lilo’s Playhouse also include educational programming like volcano building, kid’s cooking classes, and pirate training. In turn, Camp Dolphin and Simba’s Cubhouse offer parents discounts for dining at Animal Kingdom Lodge and The Dolphin. If you don’t mind spending extra, Disney also offers an in-room sitter service.
Disney goes above and beyond with their activity centers. When I was a kid, my parents left me at The Neverland Club at the Polynesian Resort so they could have a quiet dinner together. I enjoyed the experience so much, they couldn’t get me to leave. It became a favorite event for every trip. The kids get to enjoy an independent night out, and you get a little much needed alone time.
What are your favorite hacks for travelling with kids at Disney?
