Disney,  Disney World,  Family Fun,  Travel

How to Do Disney World with a 3 Year Old {Part 1 of 2}

[Original Post Date: July 2016 | Updated: January 2020]

If you are a regular reader here then I’m sure you’ve caught on by now…Disney is kind of a big deal in our house! I grew up 20 minutes away from Disneyland, so needless to say, Disney was a big part of my childhood. So many of my memories as a little girl involve Disney, and some of my absolute favorite photos in my childhood photo albums were taken at Disneyland. Now that I have children of my own, I want them to experience Disney for themselves, and I hope they will grow to love it just as much as their mama.

We took our oldest, Noah, to Walt Disney World for the first time the summer right before he turned 3. We visited in late August, which made it a great time to visit with relatively low crowds. Most people would say to avoid traveling to Disney World in August due to the heat; however, I disagree. If you can swing a trip towards the end of the month, you will enjoy much less crowded parks, as many families are in back-to-school mode during this time.

I remember the exact moment that Noah first laid eyes on the real Mickey Mouse. It was during the Welcome Show at Magic Kingdom and Mickey and his friends came riding in on the Walt Disney World Steam Train. It was a moment I will never, ever forget as a parent. Both my husband and I agree that that moment was worth the price of admission alone. I admit, I cried lots of happy tears during our trip!

A very blurry, yet priceless photo of this moment from 2015

We have since been to Disney World numerous times with both kids. Noah is now 7 and London is 4. We’ve learned something from every single one of our trips and I’m here to share what has worked well for our family with all of you!

So, you’re likely reading this post because you’re curious what it’s like bringing a 3 year old (or perhaps toddler) to Disney World for the first time, right?!

Well, I’m here to tell you two things:

1) It is totally doable!

2) It’s actually really fun!

In my opinion, this is probably the absolute best age to bring a child to Disney World for the first time. In their little minds, everything is larger than life and the magic is even more real for them.

So, let’s get started with a few tips for the planning phase of your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation.

Make FastPass+ Selections ASAP

First, make sure you are booking your Walt Disney World vacation at least 60 days out (or more). This is a biggie. Especially if you plan to stay at a Disney World Resort Hotel. WDW Resort guests get the luxury of making FastPass+ selections 60 days prior to their trip, which increases the likelihood that you get the ride selections you want, at the times you want. If you are not staying at a Disney World property, you will have to wait until 30 days prior to make your FastPass+ selections. Not the end of the world; however, IF you are planning to stay on-site, you will definitely want to take advantage of this perk!

We are slightly fanatical about our FastPass+ selections (especially when it comes to avoiding long lines with a 3 year old), so the minute that we are allowed to make our FastPass+ selections, we hop online to make sure we get our first preferences.

A few more important notes about FassPass+ selections:

  1. Set an alarm! Disney will open up your FastPass+ selections at 7:00 AM EST 60 days prior to check-in (or 30 days in advance of your park visit)
  2. Disney allows you to make up to 3 FastPass+ selections (per day) in advance. Once those 3 passes are used inside the parks, you are then able to make FastPass+ selections one at a time.
Create a Flexible Schedule for Park Days

Prior to our FastPass+ selection day, the hubby and I sit down together and make a (flexible) schedule for each day we will be visiting. We do know that once we arrive our plans may change, so we try to be realistic and understand that we may not get to everything on our list.

Below are a few key things you want to take into consideration as you are planning out your park days.

First, decide which days to visit specific parks. What park do you want to begin your vacation with? Do you want to schedule a “rest day” or perhaps a day in the middle of your trip to explore your resort? It’s important to consider each of these things before you arrive.

Second, decide which rides and shows are most important to you and your family. Be sure to also consider which character meet & greets you think your children will enjoy. Are they Frozen obsessed or crazy for Toy Story? Take a few minutes to jot down some of their favorite characters from their favorite Disney movies + TV shows.

Lastly, with your list in hand, create a flexible schedule for each day you are in the parks – preferably by “Land” to avoid zigzagging all over the park. Pencil in approximate lunch + dinner times as well as a break for naptime, if needed. I always suggest eating at non-peak times to avoid long lines and hangry kiddos.

Download the My Disney Experience Mobile App

Not only can you plan your entire trip from the app, you can also view all of the rides, shows and attractions for each park – including character meet & greet locations. Check current wait times for rides, modify FastPass+ selections, and even preview your Disney PhotoPass photos all inside the app! Oh, and did I mention Mobile Food Ordering?! Yep, you can do that right from the app, too!

Another awesome fact about Disney World is that there is free WiFi available throughout the property – including resorts and parks, so you can access the app from anywhere! We basically live in this app while we are there! It’s an absolute must-have! More info on the My Disney Experience Mobile app.

Festival of Fantasy Parade Disney World
Bonus Tip: Purchase Memory Maker

If you are a first time (or relatively new) Disney World visitor or traveling with a large party, I encourage you to purchase Memory Maker. I absolutely love the candid photos that the Disney PhotoPass Photographers are able to capture. Enjoy unlimited digital downloads of your vacation photos and cherish these priceless memories for years to come!

In summary, a little planning goes a LONG way when it comes to doing Disney World with a 3 year old. Click here for part 2, where I share some tips on what to do when you arrive – including a sample itinerary of a day at Magic Kingdom with our 3 year old!

xo,

Sumer

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3 Comments

  • Amanda

    I am such a planner too!! My husband and I were there two years ago before we had a baby, and we want to go back so bad! Seriously can’t wait!!

  • Abigail

    We took our son Brecken (who is now 3.5) to Disneyworld when he was 8 months old and I want to go back so bad. The only reason we took him so young was because my sister, mom and Grannie were going and we didn’t want to miss out on a trip with my Grannie. I love Disney as well and am a HUGE planner 🙂 Great tips!

    • Sumer

      Soooo fun! That is awesome he went so young! Such special memories for you and your family. My first trip to Disney as a child was when I was 7 months old 😉

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