Disney World With a Two-Year-Old: My Tips, Tricks, and What We Ate
My daughter Olive just turned two a few weeks ago, and lately she has been completely obsessed with Disney characters. It started with Minnie Mouse, and now she is all about the Disney princesses. She is fully in her Disney princess era and wants to wear costumes every single day. So, for her second birthday, we decided to make the trip to Disney World. Plus, kids are free until they turn 3, so we figured... why not?
We live in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Magic Kingdom is only about an hour and a half away. We left on a Wednesday around 1 PM so Olive could nap in the car during the drive. When we arrived, we checked into our hotel and headed straight to Disney Springs. We love it there because there are lots of characters to see, a huge Disney store, and fun photo ops. One of our favorite spots is the Rainforest Café. I used to go there growing up, and it brings back all the nostalgia. Every thirty minutes or so, the lights dim and the animals throughout the restaurant start moving. It’s such a fun experience for kids.
A Little Backstory
The last time we went to Disney was actually during a hurricane evacuation. We were stuck in Orlando for a week because our home had no power, no water, and a tree had fallen on the roof. Olive was just over a year old then, and since we were already in Orlando, we decided to make the most of it and go to Disney. That trip was very spontaneous and unplanned, but it helped us know exactly what Olive would love the second time around.
Food at Disney: What I Did Differently
One thing I learned from our first trip was that I really didn’t enjoy the food inside the park. It was greasy, overpriced, and just not good. Nothing left me feeling great, and Troy agreed. This time, I planned ahead and packed our own food. Disney actually allows you to bring in outside food and drinks, which is such a great option, especially with little kids.
Since we were bringing our stroller, I packed a cooler and tucked it underneath with our snacks, lunch, and water for the day. Here’s the one I would recommend.
Here’s what we packed:
Deli sandwich (for Troy) and gluten free wrap (for Olive and I) from Publix
Beef sticks
Apples
Cheese sticks
Protein bars
Nuts and seeds
Raisins
Cottage cheese, individually portioned
Yogurt, individually portioned
Electrolytes (A MUST)
We also brought a bunch of water bottles. I froze a few of them the night before and kept them in the cooler, which helped keep everything cold. It also gave us ice-cold water throughout the day. Just keep in mind that glass water bottles are not allowed, so stick to plastic or metal.
If you’re gluten-free, I also put together a video of what I ate during the day. Everything was totally gluten-free, easy to pack, and toddler-approved. You can watch that reel here!
Timing Our Day
The park opens at 9 AM. We pulled into the parking area at 8:15 AM, which ended up being the perfect time. From the parking lot, there’s a long walk to the tram. Then you take a tram to the ticket area. By the time we made it to the gates, it was just before 9 AM.
We wore good walking shoes and lots of sunscreen, and I packed an extra outfit for Olive. Between the heat and the splash pad inside the park, I knew she’d want to change at some point, and I’m glad I brought it.
Product recs!!
Tallow sunscreen (Olive uses this too)
Prioritizing Rides and Characters
Since we knew Olive’s favorite things from last time, we planned our morning around those. We started with Buzz Lightyear, then went to It’s a Small World, and then The Little Mermaid ride. After that, we shifted our focus to character meet-and-greets because that’s really what Olive loved most. She got to meet so many of her favorite princesses and has been looking at the photos every day since.
It was so sweet watching her interact with them. Although I will say, there were quite a few adults in line ahead of us who were also very into the characters. I’m talking full-on conversations with Ariel and Cinderella, like they were six years old. It was definitely interesting, and I will leave it at that.
One thing I wish I had packed: a character autograph book. The characters all have pens and will sign things, and so many kids were handing over their little books to get signatures. I regretted not having one, so definitely add that to your list if your little one loves characters
The App That Helped
The Magic Kingdom app was so helpful. You can select your park and see real-time wait times for all the rides, plus show times! This made it easier to decide where to go next without wasting time walking across the park only to find a long line.
Don’t Miss These!!
If you’re going with a toddler, here are two things I highly recommend:
1. Magical Friendship Faire Show
This happens right in front of the castle and includes characters like Elsa, Ana, Rapunzel, and Tiana. The first show is at 11 AM, and then it plays every hour or so. We ended up catching it twice and Olive was mesmerized.
2. Disney Parade
This is a must. All the characters come out, and the music is fun. Try to get a front-row spot by showing up about 20 minutes early. Otherwise, it can be hard for little ones to see over all the taller (Disney adult) people.
Toddler Nap Break
Around 2 PM, Olive fell asleep in the stroller completely on her own. We ended up finding a large store with air conditioning where we could sit and let her nap while we took a break too. It’s located right by the Minnie and Daisy character meet-and-greet area. It was honestly perfect timing for all of us to cool down and recharge.
My Top Disney Tips (Especially With a Two-Year-Old)
Bring your own food in a cooler. Saves money, keeps everyone happy, and gives you better options.
Pack a stroller: So you don’t have to wear a backpack, its shade for your little one and you can store the cooler underneath.
Freeze water bottles. They keep everything cold and give you icy water throughout the day.
Arrive early. Aim for parking by 8:15 to avoid the big crowds.
Wear good walking shoes. You’ll be on your feet all day.
Bring sunscreen and a change of clothes for your toddler. Especially if they’ll be using the splash pad.
Bring a character autograph book. The characters will sign them and your toddler will treasure it.
Hit your must-do rides first. The lines are shorter earlier in the day.
Focus on character meet-and-greets if your toddler loves them. It’s worth the wait.
Don’t miss the Magical Friendship Faire and the parade. Both are full of characters and fun for little ones.
Find an AC break for stroller naps. There are big stores near the Minnie and Daisy area that work great.
Download the Magic Kingdom app. It helps you plan and avoid long wait times.
Your Disney Q&A
Was it crowded?
It’s always crowded! But honestly, it wasn’t horrible. Lines for the basic rides and character meet-and-greets were typically around 20–30 minutes. Totally manageable with snacks, a good attitude, and a game plan.
Did you bring a carrier or stroller for Olive?
Stroller, all the way. It was a lifesaver. We walked close to 20,000 steps, and having the stroller made a huge difference. It gave Olive a place to rest (and nap!), plus we could store our cooler and diaper bag underneath. There are stroller parking zones all over the park, and it also provided some shade for her during the hot afternoon.
What tickets did you buy?
We got regular one-day tickets to Magic Kingdom. They were around $175 each. But I believe they differ during times of the year.
Did you have Lightning Passes?
No, we were a little late to the game. Lightning Lane passes open up 3 days before your visit (if you’re not staying at a Disney hotel), and by the time we looked, all the times left were during the parade… and there was no way I was going to miss that. If you want Lightning Lane, definitely set a reminder and book them ahead! They let you skip the line for some of the more popular rides, but you have to reserve time slots in advance.
Where did you stay?
We didn’t stay at a Disney resort this time. That’s definitely on our bucket list for the future, but we wanted to go the more affordable route. We stayed about 10 minutes from the park at the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, Lake Buena Vista/Orlando, and I actually loved our room. It had a full kitchen, living room, dining area, and a giant bathtub. Perfect setup with a toddler.
This trip was so much more seamless than the first time because we were prepared. Traveling with a toddler doesn’t have to be stressful if you go in with a plan. It ended up being such a special day for Olive, and I already know she’ll be talking about it for months!
Have you done Disney with a toddler? I’d love to hear your tips or hacks, drop them in the comments or message me on Instagram so we can keep this list growing.