What to Do at Disney with a Toddler

The sheer enormity of Walt Disney World can make deciding what to do at Disney with a toddler seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The parks and activities at Disney were designed with kids of all ages in mind.

Magic Kingdom Park

No visit to the Magic Kingdom would be complete for a toddler without a boat ride through the many countries of It’s a Small World . It grips the attention and imagination of even the most active child.

If the cotton candy from Main Street Confectionery has your little one bubbling with energy, hurry over to Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station and watch your toddler frolic in the spray from Dumbo and other animals on the train fountain. Then take a raft ride back in time to Tom Sawyer Island where your toddler can run along trails, practice balance on a swinging bridge, walk through caves, seek treasures, and explore a fort.

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Downtown Disney

Disney’s massive shopping and entertainment complex, Downtown Disney, is a treasure-trove of entertaining toddler activities.

LEGO Imagination Center inspires your toddler’s creative side with giant LEGO sculptures. At the LEGO activity center toddlers can build their own masterpieces.
World of Disney is Disney’s largest retail store in the world, but the big fun is inside Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique . Girls three and up can be transformed into their favorite Disney princess, and boys three and up can become knights and other cool dudes.
Once Upon A Toy has themed toy rooms, and your little ones can build their own lightsaber, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and My Little Pony.
Playgrounds and Splash Fountains are scattered throughout Downtown Disney to satisfy the energetic toddler.

When hunger strikes, T-REX serves Prehistoric Pop ‘n Shrimp or Jurassic Chicken Tidbits that satisfies your toddler’s colossal appetite. Dine under the watchful eyes of an animatronic woolly mammoth or in an Ice Age cave alongside the skeleton of a towering T-REX. After lunch, let your little one visit the PaleoZone and go on a bone dig or discover treasures while panning Discovery Creek, then browse the Dino Store and Build-A-Dino by Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Blizzard Beach Water Park

At Tike’s Peak toddlers delight in racing down the slides, playing on the snow-castle fountain, shooting water guns, and wading in the pool. A lazy float down Cross Country Creek or some gentle wave riding in Melt-Away Bay is fun for the whole family. Runoff Rapids , Snow Stormers , Teamboat Springs , and Toboggan Racers have no height requirements and might challenge the more adventurous toddler. Blizzard Beach loans toddler life jackets at no charge.

Don’t want to head back to your vacation rental for nap time? No problem. Pull a couple of lounge chairs into one of the many shaded areas and relax while your little one naps.

Animal Kingdom Park

Animal Kingdom features an African safari with elephants, lions, zebras, hippos, giraffes, and many other live animals that is perfect for the animal-loving toddler. The young adventure seeker who doesn’t mind the dark can explore a tree through the eyes of a bug inside the Tree of Life . In the 3D theater inside the roots, It’s Tough to be a Bug! engages all the senses—the stink bugs are particularly fun. Head over to The Boneyard , a dinosaur-themed playground where your little one can dig up bones, climb on a Jeep, zip through tunnels, explore a multi-level play set, and whisk down slide chutes.

Hollywood Studios Park

If you’re wondering what to do at Disney with a toddler after dark, Hollywood Studios is an excellent choice. You will mesmerize your little dreamer at Fantasmic , a spectacular fireworks and laser water show, and best of all, Mickey Mouse is the star of the show. At Honey, I Shrunk the Playground your “shrunken” toddler can crawl atop bugs and wander through towering blades of grass. The street parade, Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun! , features Disney-Pixar films that are favorites with young Disney fans.

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

For the little golfer, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf is the place to get in a few holes. Your toddler can practice putting on the snow covered winter course complete with Santa, Christmas music, and a snow Cinderella castle. The summer course features a surfing Santa, a beach setting, and a sand Cinderella castle.

When you create your itinerary, leave time for a midday visit to your vacation rental so your toddler can nap and you can rejuvenate before the afternoon activities. Scheduling rest is one of the most important things to consider when deciding what to do at Disney with a toddler.

Disney World is perfect for the whole family, and so are Disney World vacation rentals. Skip the cramped hotel rooms and expensive resorts. A spacious and affordable vacation home - with amenities like a private pool, gourmet kitchen, and game room - are a much better way to experience Orlando.