Activities abound for toddlers at Walt Disney World

Even though toddlers may not remember their time at Disney, it does not mean the family can’t have a memorable experience.

Walt Disney World offers plenty of activities to entertain toddlers and young tykes alike. Without a Fast Pass, wait lines at Toy Story Mania (Hollywood Studios) can exceed 60 minutes on any given day. It would take a special type of masochist to attempt to entertain toddlers for that long on a most likely warm Florida day.

Here are some tips for having an enjoyable day at Disney World with toddlers (which includes avoiding bouts of frustration due to boredom).

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom (in order of brightest smiles for toddlers)

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – By far, the biggest hit for our toddlers. They loved this ride, starting with the fun little playground at the entrance. The ride’s characters and little honey pot cars generated the most laughs and smiles. In fact, it was the only attraction where the boys wanted to go on again after it was over.
• It’s a Small World – No Magic Kingdom visit with young children would be complete without this journey through the cultures of the world. The canoe travels slow and there is plenty for the kids to focus on. The animatronics, the music, the lights make me wish I had one of these at home. I envision my boys riding this around the house with that look of awe on their face all day long. Fast Pass is a available for this ride and is worth using to skip the line.
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin – This ride seemed a little bit scary for the kids as it ascends fairly high. After psyching them up about riding a carpet and they observed how fun it looked, the kids were quite comfortable on it once it started.
• Jungle Cruise – The cruise is hit or miss with toddlers. It may be fun for them to be on a boat but the novelty will wear off, so just make sure you’re close to the edges so you can point out things and make your own story time to add to the slowness of the boat’s speed.
• Walt Disney World Railroad – Trains run every 4-10 minutes so waiting isn’t too painful. If your kids are anything like mine, they are completely obsessed with trains and the “choo choo” sound so seeing one up-close and personal is a treat. The train ride is a relaxing 20 min ride – use this time to take a break and get off your feet for a while.
• Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor – Unfortunately, this show does NOT hold the attention of toddlers. SKIP THIS SHOW if you have toddlers as you will be the one responsible for entertaining them the entire time and will probably drive those around you nuts in the process.

Disney World’s Hollywood Studios

• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure – of our two day encounter at Disney World, this attraction was the hardest to pry the kids away from. They loved the cavernous slides and the web of climbing ropes. They could have played here all day and then again the next day. This is a MUST VISIT for a trip to Disney World for toddlers. If you visit one entertaining attraction, it would be this one.
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid – Little Mermaid is not a ride – to our surprise – but more of a show. We were worried that boredom would set in but the kids actually loved it. It had live-action actors and laser lights that kept them quite entertained, unlike Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. We sat in the front row, but that was not the best seating choice because you can’t see all the lights. Try to sit in the middle where you can get the full experience of the special effects.
• Toy Story Mania – Attempt to get a Fast Pass for Toy Story Mania. Toy Story Mania is a fun ride for young children, even if they are too young to wear the 3D glasses. You can sit them on your lap and have fun playing while the kids watch the various screens.