Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers

What kid doesn't dream of going to Disney World? Even children as young as 2 and 3 get a kick out of the idea of going to visit their favorite Disney characters live and in person. But the idea of meeting Mickey Mouse and coming face-to-face with this iconic wonder can be an overwhelming experience for a child of any age. After all - he's about 10 inches tall on the TV but he's as big as Mom and Dad when you get right down to it. Add this to a sudden immersion into loud, pushy, rude crowds of people in the Florida heat who are all there for the same thing, and the long lines to get on something you're just sure they're going to love only to have them come off the ride shrieking in terror. As you carry your screaming preschooler away from Peter Pan's Flight you wonder if this was the right idea after all.

The pitfall of many parents of preschoolers is assuming that their child is going to be having so much fun that they'll be able to keep up with the running around from ride to ride (even if they are being pushed in a stroller most of the time) and never want to leave. That they will be just as excited as you to be at the Magic Kingdom. The truth is they're kids. And while they are excited to be there it's all just a bit too much for them. The spectacle of walking in though the front gates and seeing that beautiful castle staring back at you down Main Street can be all it takes to throw some kids right over the edge. And this is before their day has even begun!

The trick to planning a Disney World trip with young children is to plan around their mood. Most kids are up early, and if promptly fed, they are in the best mood of the entire day. As luck would have it - this is when the temperatures are the coolest and the crowds are at their calmest. If you can get up and out to the Magic Kingdom when it's opening and immediately hit Fantasyland, you're setting yourself up for a great day!

First of all, renting a Disney stroller for the parks is well worth it. You don't have to worry about folding up your own bulky stroller and hauling it on and off Disney transportation. You merely have to get from the bus to the front gate and pick up your Disney stroller there. By all means - bring your own stroller if you plan on going anywhere other than Disney or to Downtown Disney. But for the parks - take theirs! It should go without saying that you will want to bring along sippy cups and snacks to dole out when the going gets rough or the lines get long. Make a plan for each park - each day should include a trip back to the hotel for some down time during the hottest part of the day. If they're not willing to nap you can always hit the pool.

Hotels: Obviously it's easier to stay on Disney property. You're constantly part of the action and you are a Disney guest for your entire trip. It's also a lot easier to get from the park back to your room since Disney property buses are continuously running throughout the day. While some off-property hotels have buses they generally rotate on a half-hourly basis, leaving you with possibly 29 minutes to deal with your tired child in a line that doesn't move. At all. The Value resorts are completely geared toward kids, from their easy food court style dining to their larger-than-life themed pools and rooms. The drawback is they are the farthest away from all the parks, save Animal Kingdom. The Moderate resorts are just as much fun for the kids and still have the food court style dining. They're closer to Epcot, so it's not a long trip to any park.

Magic Kingdom: Check in at stroller rental directly under the train depot and immediately proceed to train boarding. You will take this to the Mickey's Toontown Faire. There you will pick up another stroller and make your way through the park from the back. If you think your child can handle a character greeting go into the Judge's Tent and get in line for either Princesses or regular Disney characters. The Princesses generally have a longer line but if your child is really into them and truly wants their autograph and picture taken it is well worth the wait. If you want to test the waters go to one of the shorter lines and see how they do. After exploring this area move on to Fantasyland. Every ride in Fantasyland is suitable for every age of child. They are all slow moving rides with no jerking motion. Some are a little scarier than others so if you have a very sensitive child stay away from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Most preschoolers will be happy to spend their entire day in this area, but should you choose to move on you can safely hit up Adventureland and Frontierland for a few of their slow rides. If you make it back to the park for the nightly fireworks just park yourself on the Tomorrowland Terrace early and you'll have one of the best views in the park.

Epcot: This one isn't really made for smaller kids but most will get a kick out of The Living Seas with Nemo. The kids also really love to Talk with Crush. In order to make Epcot more kid-friendly they have 'Kidcot'. There are stations throughout Epcot especially for children to color do crafty things related to the area that they're in. You'll see Kidcot stations marked on your park map. Make sure if you're planning on touring the countries you give the kids a chance to play at the Kidcot stations.

Hollywood Studios: Can you say Playhouse Disney? Ok so some of the more thrilling rides in all of Disney World Resort are at this park, such as Tower of Terror and Aerosmiths' Rockin' Roller Coaster. But this park also has some of your children's beloved characters from their every day TV shows. This is where you'll find The Little Mermaid show, the Playhouse Disney show and character greetings with The Little Einsteins. If you schedule it in advance you can even have breakfast or lunch with these characters. The backlot studio tour may not be spectacularly entertaining for the smaller kids but then some may like the leisurely tram ride. Just be sure to protect them at Catastrophe Canyon. It can be frightening to a lot of smaller children.

Animal Kingdom: This is basically Disney's equivalent to the most awesome zoo ever. There are always animals to see from the time you walk into the park until you leave. There are trails that take you through jungles where you can safely view some truly magnificent creatures. This isn't the best park for rides for the preschoolers, as most of these rides have a height limit that usually accommodates children over 5. The best course of action at Animal Kingdom is to head there as soon as the park opens, go straight to the Safari ride in Africa and enjoy the best time of the day to see some great animals. It's a bit bumpy, so make sure you've got a good grip on little hands - but they're sure to love it!

Downtown Disney: Yes, it's mainly a shopping and adult entertainment area (not THAT kind of adult entertainment - we're talking bars and dance clubs, folks!) but there are a few things there for the kids to enjoy. There's a giant Lego store with every Lego set and individual piece imaginable. You can go to the giant wall of Lego pieces and pick out a bag full of whatever pieces you like for a few dollars! There's a huge play area to just go mad with Legos and build to your heart's content. One of the biggest Disney stores around is also located here. Be sure to bring your stroller here as you cannot rent one in Downtown Disney.

Wherever you decide to stay and however you decide to plan out your trip - it's most important to keep an open mind and know when to call it quits. You may have just spent 7 days in the land of the Mouse but the only thing your child will remember that horrific tantrum he or she had outside the Family Robinson Treehouse when they had just had enough of sun, fun and being dragged from ride to ride. Try to keep routines as close to your normal schedule as possible. If they eat at noon - eat at noon! If they nap at 1:30 - head back to the hotel for a nap at 1:30! Get them out of the park before that horrific tantrum and you'll be creating wonderful memories for years to come.

By Danielle Friedl