In our family, we have such a special relationship with Disney World. Ben and I were both Cast Members, we became engaged at Disney World 14 years ago (!!!) and over the years, Disney vacations have become something we genuinely treasure… something we come back to again and again with Ben’s family — and now, ours!

When we started thinking about Ollie’s first Disney vacation, there was never really a question of if — only when and how. The when is early summer, and the how has actually been so much fun for me, because we’re planning around what Ollie loves and what’s going to make the experience feel magical for her.

Here’s everything we’re doing for our upcoming summer vacation in Florida — and everything I’d share with a friend planning the same thing.

Children Under 3 Get Into Disney World for Free

First, this is one of the best-kept secrets for families with little ones: children under 3 years old do not need a park ticket at Disney World. For us and for families early in the planning process, knowing this can meaningfully shape your budget and timeline.

How to Choose Where to Stay When Visiting Disney World With a Toddler

Staying on Disney property is the classic recommendation. We’ve been lucky enough to stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, The Polynesian, and more — and for many Disney trips, staying on property absolutely makes sense. It’s a wonderful way to feel immersed in Disney magic from the moment your vacation begins. There are also so many conveniences — like dining and park transportation.

If you choose to stay on property, my personal recommendation is Beach Club. The atmosphere is both fun and relaxing, the pools are amazing, the resort is alongside The Boardwalk, and you’re in close proximity to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

For our upcoming vacation, though, we made a different choice, and here’s why: Knowing Ollie, we can sense that Disney World — particularly the parks and transportation — has the potential to be an overstimulating place for her. She loves people and action (She calls every group of people “Friends having a party!”) but she also deeply loves home and the calm, comfortable feeling we create there. We wanted her to have a calm, relaxed feeling to come back to at the end of each day.

We’ve decided to stay at Evermore Resort, and we are beyond excited. It’s a family-friendly resort with beautiful outdoor spaces, a wonderful pool, on-site restaurants, and villas that have many comforts of home. We also rented a minivan so we can leave the Disney parks in our own timing and in a private, quiet space. The flexibility and ease are really valuable for Ollie’s age.

I believe, whether you choose to stay on or off Disney property, the most important thing is choosing a home base where your toddler and family can rest, reset, and feel comfortable. (And that’s going to look different for every family!)

Why Magic Kingdom Is the Best Disney Park for Toddlers

Disney World has four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

While every park is wonderful, we believe Magic Kingdom is the most classic, most toddler-friendly park of the four. There are toddler-accessible attractions, and the entire scenery of the park is designed to feel warm, whimsical, and wonderful for little ones. We’re most looking forward to Dumbo the Flying Elephant, where Ollie will get to control how high her elephant goes. Other toddler favorites are It’s a Small World; The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh; Peter Pan’s Flight; PeopleMover; and Jungle Cruise.

Beyond the attractions, Magic Kingdom has characters everywhere, fun and lively parades, and so much to simply experience and soak in. Ollie knows Mickey from the books we read at home, and she is so excited to meet him. That meet and greet is at the very top of our list, and I already know it’s going to make both Ben and me cry.

We chose a single-day ticket rather than a park hopper, because we believe one park done slowly and joyfully will be more than enough for this particular trip. New experiences are exciting but can also be tiring, and I want to be really mindful of that. (We can always add on more Disney parks leading up to our vacation — or once we’re there and have a feel for how everything is going!)

Why Disney Springs Is a Perfect Day for Families With Toddlers

If you’re not familiar, Disney Springs is Disney World’s outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment district, and the best part is that it’s completely free to visit. It sits right on the water and has a relaxed, strollable feel that can be a wonderful contrast to a full theme park day.

For toddlers specifically, there’s a carousel and a little train in the Marketplace area, both perfect for little ones. There are two splash pads where kids can cool off and run through the water — so bring a change of clothes! There’s live music in the evenings, beautiful waterfront views, and so many sweet shops and experiences to wander through at your own pace. (Here’s a resource that shares all the places kids will enjoy at Disney Springs!)

We’re spending a full day there and are so looking forward to the slower rhythm of it. For lunch we’re going to eet, and for dinner we have a reservation at Summer House on the Lake, which has such a beautiful atmosphere right on the water. If you’re planning a Disney trip and haven’t considered adding a Disney Springs day, I’d really encourage you to. It’s truly one of our favorite parts of any Disney visit.

The Best Disney World Toddler-Friendly Restaurants We’re Visiting

Disney dining reservations open 60 days before your trip, and I’d encourage anyone planning a visit to book as early as you possibly can. You can make reservations through My Disney Experience or on the Disney World website.

We planned our meals around spaces that felt a little quieter and cozier, with menus that have something for everyone. At Magic Kingdom, we’re having lunch at Columbia Harbour House — a quick service spot tucked inside a charming nautical building that’s one of the calmer, more low-key dining options in the park — especially upstairs. For dinner, we’re going to Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, a table service restaurant with an adventurous, story-filled atmosphere that Ben and I both love. At Disney Springs, lunch at eet and dinner at Summer House on the Lake round out our dining plans.

How to Plan Your Disney World Toddler Schedule Around Nap Time

Everything I’ve read points to the same advice: Don’t skip the nap, and don’t wait until your toddler is overtired to think about napping. Without rushing the morning, we’re planning to arrive as early as we can at Magic Kingdom and then pause mid-day for Ollie’s nap.

We’re bringing our Nuna TRVL stroller, which reclines fully, along with a portable sound machine and a clip-on fan — so if nap needs to happen on the go, we’ll be ready. We also know the quieter pockets inside Magic Kingdom where we can slow down, find some shade, and let Ollie decompress. Knowing plans can change, we’ll do our very best to build rest into every day.

Download the My Disney Experience App Before Your Trip

This is one of the most practical things you can do before you arrive. The My Disney Experience app is where all of your park tickets, dining reservations, and plans live in one place. It also shows real-time wait times for every ride and attraction, which is incredibly helpful for planning your day as you go. If you choose to use Lightning Lane — Disney’s service for shorter wait times on popular rides — that’s managed through the app as well. I’d recommend downloading it well before your trip and taking some time to get familiar with it. It makes everything smoother once you’re actually there.

The Best Toddler Packing Essentials for a Disney World Trip

A full Disney vacation packing post is coming soon, but a few things are worth calling out now because they’re genuinely shaping how this trip is going to work for us.

The SlumberPod and SlumberTot are the biggest ones. Creating a dark, familiar sleep environment for Ollie wherever we are means she can nap and sleep the way she does at home — which is everything when you’re traveling with a toddler. These have been a game-changer for us.

Our Nuna TRVL stroller is coming with us too. It’s lightweight, travels easily, and reclines fully — which means it can double as a nap spot on the go if we need it to.

And then there’s Ollie’s camera, which we’re gifting her for the trip. Every time I mention that she gets to take her own pictures, she absolutely lights up. I cannot wait to see what she captures.

One more tip: Disney allows you to bring your own snacks and drinks into the parks. We’re packing plenty from home, which makes it so much easier to keep a toddler happy and saves money, too!

What I’m Looking Forward to Most About Ollie’s First Disney World Trip

Truly, just being together. Focused, present, all three of us, without the busyness of everyday life. I know Ben and I are going to be crying tears of joy non-stop. It’ll be so surreal to bring our sweet Ollie to a place that’s been so meaningful to us for so long. I just know we’ll both be sobbing when Ollie meets Mickey Mouse.

Sharing Disney with Ollie, watching her discover it in her own way, at her own pace… that’s the whole gift. And I can’t wait.