5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Disney World

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World with a young child is one of the most exciting adventures you’ll ever take, but it can also feel a little overwhelming! Between the flights, the crowds, and the Florida heat, even the most magical place on earth can test little legs (and parents’ patience).

The good news? With a little preparation, you can help your child feel confident, excited, and ready for the magic long before you walk down Main Street, U.S.A. 

Here are my top 5 tips for preparing your child for Disney World, plus a bonus tip just for you!

1. Watch the Movies That Come to Life in the Parks

Not every Disney film has equal park time! Some characters are everywhere - others barely make an appearance.

Before your trip, watch the movies that are well-represented in the parks so your little one recognises what they see.
Think:

• Finding Nemo (EPCOT and Animal Kingdom)
• Toy Story (Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios)
• Frozen (EPCOT Norway Pavilion ride and character meet n greets)
• Disney+ also has loads of classic Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, and Minnie cartoons - these were a HUGE hit with our young son and made the classic characters instantly recognisable. 

On the flip side... Tangled fans will only find Rapunzel in the parade, a meet n greet, and with a beautifully themed restroom... No ride!

Making these films part of your pre-trip fun will help your child connect the magic when you’re actually there!

2. Get Ride-Ready

Rides are a huge part of the Disney experience, but not all children are instantly comfortable with all of them.

A great way to prepare is to:

• Watch ride POVs (point-of-view videos) on YouTube, make them exciting for your little one and chat about how they might feel.
• Visit local theme parks or fairgrounds to try out smaller rides too. 

This helps your child understand what to expect — from “dark rides” like Peter Pan’s Flight to rollercoasters like Slinky Dog Dash. You’ll get a sense of what they love (and what to skip).

And importantly measure your child before you start getting them excited! Know what rides they can go on!! My Disney guide for babies and toddlers breaks down the rides by height and gives you 'watch outs' for rides your chold can go on but might not love! 

3. Practice Walking (and Sitting!)

Even with a buggy, Disney means a lot of walking.

Start doing family walks before your trip to build stamina. If your child hasn’t used a buggy in a while, explain that they might want one in Florida, especially with the heat and long days.

We’ll be having this exact chat with our son before our next visit! Even active kids don’t usually clock 20,000 steps a day in 35°C heat…

4. Tackle Meltdown Triggers Before You Go

Sunscreen? Queues? Restaurants? Whatever your child finds tricky, tackle it now.

Practice sunscreen at home (let them help put it on you/find a way they don't hate having it applied - roller, spray etc!), talk about waiting in lines, and introduce anything new well before you travel. If you don't eat out a lot try to visit a couple of restaurants beforehand, even sitting in at a fast-food restaurant will make it all less alien!

You don’t want your first sunscreen battle to happen in your room when you're trying to get to rope drop - decidely un-magical! 

5. Prep for Travel

The airport and flight can be a big adventure in themselves - especially for toddlers!

We love the Little World: At the Airport book to explain security, busy terminals, and the flight itself. Talk about:

• Putting bags and teddies through security (and getting them back!)
• Holding hands in crowds
• What happens during the flight (having to keep a seatbelt ON!)

Knowing what to expect takes away a lot of anxiety - for all of you.

Bonus Tip: Prep Yourself Too!

Disney with young children is truly magical - seeing the parks through their eyes is something you’ll never forget.

But remember: no one can do everything at Disney World. Even after over a dozen visits, we still have so much left on our list!

Go in with realistic expectations, focus on your must-dos, and treat anything else as the cherry on top of your Mickey-shaped ice cream sundae. 

Ready to Plan Like a Pro?

If you’re planning a Disney holiday from the UK, I’ve got you covered.
Check out the “Taking Your Baby or Toddler to WDW” guide — packed with detailed tips, ride recommendations, and planning checklists for every stage of your trip.

👉 Click here the guides and planning resources

And for even more tips, follow along on Instagram at @MakingWDWMagical for weekly advice, reels, and planning inspiration straight from two decades of Disney experience - no gimmicks!

 

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