Taking a Toddler to Disney? Don't Leave these Items at Home!

Our family of five which includes 2 adults, 2 tweens, and 1 toddler recently returned from a week long trip to Disney World. I knew we would be spending long days at the Disney parks and wanted to make sure I was fully prepared. Our last trip to Disney with a toddler was over 8 years ago, but I still had an idea of what was necessary and would be useful. Below I've listed the top 5 items I would suggest packing for Disney if traveling with a toddler. I even listed one that I neglected to bring yet fully regret after the fact!

The toddler age is special when visiting Disney. While everything is very exciting for them, the uncontrollable elements like heat, rain, and time can often be too much for them to handle. In my opinion, everyone in your party will be much happier at Disney if your toddler is comfortable. Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links for a few of the items.

1. Battery Operated Fan. Our Disney trip was at the end of May and I knew the heat would be too much for my toddler to handle. Hands down this was my best purchase and I highly recommend this for anyone visiting Disney with a toddler. Honestly even if you aren't a toddler a hand held fan will come in very handy! The fan I purchased has a clip which we attached to our stroller shade and is also rechargeable so no need to bring along additional batteries. We made sure to turn it off when it wasn't being used and only once did the battery charge not last all day long. The fan was powerful enough to keep our toddler nice and cool while walking through the parks and small enough to carry with us while standing in line.

2. Stroller. I've listed stroller here mainly to say DO NOT bring an umbrella stroller. You definitely need a more substantial stroller when visiting Disney with a toddler. Not only will your toddler be using the stroller as a means of transportation, a nap location, a storage for all your bags, and even an easily accessible diaper changing station, but you will also be pushing this multi-functional ride all day long! I watched way too many crouching parents pushing an umbrella stroller with a slumped over, sleeping toddler through Disney while carrying multiple bags on their shoulders! Don't be like them!

3. Stroller Hooks. Most strollers can only hold one bag under the seat of the stroller. Being a family of 5 we were carrying 3 bags into the park each day (a cooler for waters and snacks, a diaper bag, and a camera bag). These stroller hooks use velcro to secure around the stroller's handle and your bag then clips to the attached carabiniere. They may seem a little small, but trust me they were sturdy enough to hold our bags with no trouble at all!

4. Rain Cover for Stroller. The item I didn't pack! It is inevitable you will get rained on in Disney. Everyone will tell you to bring ponchos, but ponchos are only good for the walkers in your group, not so much the toddler riding in the stroller. During one of our more rainy days at Disney our poncho wearing toddler sat in his stroller in a pool of rain water that had puddled underneath him. I jealously watched as other moms pushed their dry toddlers sitting underneath the clear stroller rain cover. Once the rain had subsided my toddler's stroller seat was soaked for the remainder of the day. Live and lean I guess, but lucky for you, you can learn from my mistakes!

5. Extra Clothes plus more extra clothes. I kid not our toddler went three shirts a day and because I didn't pack enough shorts he ended up pantless by the end of the day! One day he threw up 4 times! That day we had to buy extra clothes. It's no secret toddlers have a way of making messes and at Disney those seem to be tripled! When packing that bag for your toddler for Disney, trust me, double what you carry on a normal day!

My goal was to provide you with a list of truly useful items to bring to Disney and possibly even a few that weren't on your list when you first started reading this blog. I can promise you the items I listed will make your visit to Disney with your toddler!

#disney #travel #toddlertravel