Disney

Disney, Family Travel, Motherhood
A Guide to Walt Disney World with Toddlers
- 12:37 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know to plan a trip to Walt Disney World with Toddlers.

Walt Disney World is a magical place whether you’re one or one hundred! There is a little magic for all of us to enjoy even the tiniest people like my toddler. I’ve been intentional about spending special time with each of my children this year and I realized that I haven’t done anything really special with her yet so while we were in Orlando, I was grateful to receive media passes to take her to Walt Disney World for her first visit. A day after my sweet girl turned 17 months, we had a magical time together enjoying everything Walt Disney World has to offer it’s smallest visitors. This was my third trip with a little one — I took my firstborn was just a few days shy of her second birthday and my son when he was three years old (a preschooler) so, fortunately, I have a little experience going to Disney with little ones.

I knew exactly which rides at Walt Disney World would make her day very special and my only regret was not being able to visit all four parks with my girl but we will do that in the future with the whole family. Anyway, seeing her little chubby cheeks smiling and the wonder in her eyes made it all worth it. One thing I know for sure though, to enjoy Walt Disney World with a toddler, you must plan your trip. So I put together this guide to Walt Disney World with a toddler to help other parents. There is so much that I wish I knew before my first visit and I’ve learned so much more with each trip. So here’s how I prepared, the age-appropriate rides we loved and a few tips so you too can have a magical time at Walt Disney World with toddlers.

My tips for enjoying Walt Disney World with a toddler.

Use a stroller.

Walt Disney World is big and requires a lot of walking. If you’re taking a toddler to Walt Disney World, you need to make some type of preparation for all of the walking since it will be tiring on toddlers. I usually wear my daughter but I decided to also rent a stroller when we arrived at the park, as it was easier to take her in and out of the stroller as we got on different rides at the parks. I’ve rented a stroller during all of our trips to Walt Disney World and never had any issues. The strollers come with a parking plate where you can write your family’s name and you can use your receipt to pick one up at any of the Disney parks you visit within the period you rented it for. Of course, you can also bring your own stroller but if you plan to do so, check Walt Disney World’s new stroller policy here to ensure that your stroller fits the new requirements. “As of May 1, 2019, strollers must be 31” (79cm) wide and 52” (132cm) long or smaller.”

Create an itinerary.

I’m not a big planner, I love to explore when I’m traveling and wander around but I know that at Walt Disney World I needed some structure so we could use our time wisely, and have a stress-free experience. I made a realistic plan to visit two parks Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Creating an itinerary for us based on the layout of the parks made it a smooth experience for us. Remember to schedule downtime and don’t make any plans during your toddler’s nap schedule.

Reduce waiting time with FastPass.

Take advantage of the Disney FastPass to avoid waiting on lines. As most of us moms know, toddlers are not big fans of waiting so using FastPass will remove the angst of waiting online for rides.

Use the Disney My Experience App.

Along with FastPass the Disney My Experience App streamlines your experience at Walt Disney World. We were able to get our photos, check wait times, find characters around the park and use the maps on the app.

Take advantage of Baby Care Centers.

If you’re worried about tending to your toddlers in a busy park, keep in mind that there are baby care centers with private nursing rooms, changing rooms and even feeding rooms to feed toddlers comfortably in high chairs (I haven’t personally used the feeding rooms). We didn’t use the baby care center during this trip but I used it when my older daughter was a toddler. It’s also just a relaxed space where your child can relax if they’re getting anxious or overwhelmed from the activities at the park.

Toddler-Friendly Attractions at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom & Epcot.

Photo: Walt Disney World News

Dumbo

Dumbo the Flying Elephant was my older children’s first ride at Walt Disney World so, in the spirit of tradition, I headed to Dumbo as soon as we got to the Magic Kingdom. Just like her brother, she seemed a bit unsure at first but as we soared into the sky she got excited. She didn’t want to get off when we were finished and immediately ran to stare as the ride started to go again before pulling my hand to take her back for a second time. So we went on the Dumbo ride twice, and even after that she still didn’t want to leave. I was happy that she enjoyed her first ride so much.

Mad Tea Party

Next, we went on the Mad Tea Party ride, the spinning could be a hit or miss depending on your child’s personality but she loved the twirling. Her giggles were so contagious I was laughing the entire time.

Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire

Photo: Walt Disney World News

After having lunch at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café which is next to the Mad Tea Party ride, we caught one of Mickey’s performances, Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire, at Cinderella’s castle.

Photo: Walt Disney World News

I always love these performances and my little girl, although she doesn’t know the characters yet, was clapping and very engaged during the performance. We had Mickey ice cream and then we did a little shopping on the main street for souvenirs for her siblings and then hopped on the monorail to Epcot.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

This is my favorite ride at Walt Disney World for tiny people (and maybe even for myself). My toddler and I boarded one of the clamobiles and took a slow ride through “The Seas”. The ride follows the search for Nemo who is found at the end. It’s the perfect ride for toddlers, a visual feast and truly magical experience. My toddler’s favorite part of the ride was seeing the group of beautiful jellyfish over clamobile. The fun doesn’t even finish at the end of the ride because there is a giant aquarium for kids to explore. My toddler kept waving at the manatees, in awe of the massive sea creatures.

The Goodness Garden Butterfly House (Seasonal)

It’s currently the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot so when I mentioned to my friend Nellie, I was taking my toddler she suggested taking her to The Goodness Garden Butterfly House. We had fun looking at the butterflies together before she decided that it was more fun to chase the butterflies as they fluttered around. Don’t worry though, the butterflies were all safe, she wasn’t fast enough to catch them.

In between rides, we took in the truly breathtaking topiarys and landscapes at Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival. How amazing is this Daisy Duck topiary?

Frozen Ever After

This was the ride that I was really excited about during this trip! I’ve never been on the Frozen Ever After ride so it was a priority. All of my friends love this ride so I had really high expectations and it lived up to those expectations. It was such a fun experience, my toddler loved the ride and while I was concerned that it would be a little dark for her she didn’t mind at all.

Meet Mickey and Friends at Future World Epcot

No trip to Walt Disney World with toddlers is complete without a visit with Mickey and friends. Future World at Epcot is one of my favorite spots at Walt Disney World for meeting Mickey and his crew. I’m going to frame this photo of Minnie Mouse giving my sweet girl a kiss.

Anyway, that’s all my little lady and I did during our magical day trip to Walt Disney World. You can find more things to do with little ones at all four Walt Disney World parks here.

If you’ve visited Walt Disney World with toddlers, what were your favorite things to do there?

Wondering where to stay at Walt Disney World? Read about our family’s experience staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge here.

Photo courtesy Walt Disney World
Disney, Events, Lifestyle, Motherhood
Ambitious Teens Must Apply to the Disney Dreamers Academy 2019
- 2:02 pm
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
Two things that I encourage my kids to do daily are to dream big and to be fearless. I want them to understand that their race, gender, family history aren’t barriers but rather springboards for them to become great, to live the life they desire even if it seems impossible. Whether it’s taking them to another part of the world or letting them try out a new extracurricular activity, I give them space — even as little kids to dream and explore. So, it’s inspiring when I see programs that inspire and give kids the resources and tools to go after big goals fearlessly. One of the programs that do this exceptionally well is the Disney Dreamers Academy. When I received an invitation to the Disney Dreamers Academy “100 Minutes to Empower Your Dreams” seminar at the iconic Schomberg Center, the first event outside the Disney Parks, I had to attend. If you’re not familiar, the Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine and is a four-day immersive all-expenses-paid educational experience for 100 high school students ages 13-19 to dream and more importantly create a plan for their dreams to become a reality alongside with industry leaders, celebrities and Disney cast members.

Attending this seminar wasn’t just great because I got to behave like I’m ten again and giggle next to Mickey Mouse but it helped me to understand the impact of this program. I had the chance to speak with three of the program’s alumni who shared that the program gave them tools and mentors to help them realize their dreams.

Mickey Mouse posing with guest speakers, from left: Julee Wilson, senior fashion director for ESSENCE magazine; Jonathan Sprinkles, motivational speaker; Brandi Harvey, motivational speaker; Tracey Powell, Disney Executive Champion.

Alongside, the New York City high school students in attendance, I got a taste of the inspiration attendees of Disney Dreamers Academy 2019 will get from motivational speakers, Brandi Harvey, and J. Sprinkles. They encouraged the kids by sharing the importance of a winning mindset and going after their goals even if they’re fearful. It was an inspiring experience even for me as an adult, and I saw the kids who came in excited to meet Mickey Mouse, leave excited to live their dreams.

Brandi Harvey, Disney Dreamers Academy

One thing I learned as an adult is that we need mentors and a plan outside of education to achieve our goals. It was a hard lesson but fortunately, there are more resources for the next generation, and I believe it starts with having the right mentors, people who have walked the path and are thriving in the careers. That’s what Disney Dreamers Academy does, the 100 kids all get the individual attention they need to flourish, receive encouragement and pursue their dreams even when the going gets tough. During her beautiful speech, Julee Wilson, the Fashion and Beauty Director of ESSENCE shared her story of how she found her way to her dream job. She shared her story of courage and fearlessness — an encouraging testimony to the high school students to keep going even when the going gets tough.

Julee Wilson, Fashion and Beauty Director at ESSENCE Magazine

I think my favorite thing about the Disney Dreamers Academy is that the #Be100 will get to meet and build relationships with professionals who look like them, including Disney Executive Champion Tracey Powell, who spoke at the seminar. Representation matters to young people, seeing someone else who looks like them doing what they dream of doing lets them know that their goals are possible.

I believe that this is a program that will be beneficial to young people and I texted all my friends with kids in this age group to encourage them to apply. I’ve even told strangers to have their kids apply because I know it will positively change their lives. There are only 100 spots so have them apply here, the deadline is on October 31, 2018. They will have to write an essay themselves, one of the tips was to truly allow the kids to write it themselves so Disney Dreamers Academy can get a real sense of who they are and their dreams. This experience will not just be work but also lots of play Walt Disney World for four days and their parents wouldn’t have to pay a cent. An awarding experience where they can network, form lifelong friendships, meet mentors and receive the tools to achieve their dreams. Good luck to your little ones!
Disney, Family Travel, Motherhood
Did You Hear About Disney Cruise Line Marvel Day at Sea?
- 11:31 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
About 5 years ago, I had a coworker who had the nerve to take a Disney Cruise with her adorable little family and tag all of us in almost every photo she posted on Facebook. We called her a total showoff and I told her she just wanted to upset us with her pictures skipping around Disney’s Castaway Cay in the Bahamas all while we stifled under scarves and heavy coats in the midst of winter. I promised her that I was sure to get back at her one day when my family and I take our own Disney Cruise. Well, Disney Cruise Line recently invited me to lunch to learn about their new Marvel Day at Sea and I think I found the experience that would make her green with envy. If your family is filled with Marvel fans or you want to crush your vacay with some Disney magic mixed with Marvel super powers then Marvel Day at Sea experience aboard the Disney Magic may just be for you. Here’s a few cool things about these voyages:

Marvel Day at Sea Voyages will kick off in New York City.

It’s no secret you need to be a superhero to raise a family in New York City so it’s only natural seven special voyages with Marvel Day at Sea will depart from the Big Apple this fall. Of course, you don’t have to be a New Yorker to take advantage of this experience as you can make this incredible city part of your vacation. There will be Bahamian voyages departing Oct. 28 ; Nov. 4, 11 and 18, 2017 with a stop a t Disney’s private Castaway Cay and a fun day Walt Disney World as well as Canadian Coast cruise which departing New York on Oct. 21, 2017 with stops at Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax. If you can’t make these don’t worry. You can catch Marvel Day at Seas on eight special voyages from Miami departing January through April 2018.

It’s a Full Day of All things Marvel.

One of the first things they told us was remember to pack your Marvel costumes for this voyage because it’s going to be a FULL DAY of all things Marvel. I can just imagine my son thinking he’s actually Spiderman after a full day in character hahaha or worst my husband. There is going to be the first time that so many super heroes and super villains will be on board together.

Interactive Doctor Strange Show

Disney knows a thing or two about putting on some amazing shows so hearing about the new Doctor Strange at the Disney Theatre I have very high expectations based on the shows I’ve been too in the parks. I’m a huge fan of interactive entertainment so I love that the audience gets to also participate in the Doctor Strange Show.

The Black Panther will debut on Marvel Day at Sea.

I don’t know anyone who isn’t excited about the new Black Panther movie. Well, the Black Panther character will debut on the Marvel Day at Sea 2018 voyages for interactions and photos. Imagine the Black Panther as part of your vacation? #Epic

Photo Credit: Chloe Rice

Exclusive at-sea screenings

One of the coolest things about Marvel Day at Sea is the exclusive screenings. You can enjoy viewings of both Marvel classics from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as the latest releases. I mean how fun would it be to be on-board and view the latest release at midnight?

MARVEL’s Avengers Academy

Part of a new experience on the Disney Dream is the MARVEL’s Avengers Academy where your kids can participate in arts and crafts as well as “swoop into the top-secret command post of S.H.I.E.L.D. and wield the weaponry of your favorite Avenger—including Thor’s hammer, Captain America’s shield, and Iron Man’s armor!” I know my little ones would absolutely love this.

Disney superhero cast members will take care of the kids so you can enjoy some grown-up time.

Heading on a cruise vacation with little ones is fun but geesh when you really want to get down at the Marvel Deck party it can take away from your fun running after the kids. One of the things I really took away from the luncheon was how much attention Disney puts into ensuring that parents are able to enjoy some time away from the kids on-board knowing the little ones are safe. Did you know that you can cruise with babies as young as 6 months on Disney Cruises? I had no idea but they offer childcare options for all kids on-board at the It’s A Small World Nursery. Just keep in mind that you would need to make special reservations for babies ahead of your voyage to secure care.

Friends sharing all that I learned at lunch with Disney Cruise Lines is making me really excited about planning and taking our family’s first Disney Cruise when the new baby settles in. Of course, I will share the full experience with all of you but in the meanwhile, if you’ve been on a Disney Cruise or planning a trip I want to hear all about it below!

ps: You can book your Marvel Day at Sea here! I checked and there are still dates available. WooHoo!
Disney, Family Travel, Sponsored
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge with Kids
- 10:34 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
Welcome, Home! That was the greeting our family got as we walked into Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. We immediately felt good at our home away from home, we were scheduled to stay there for a week while on our Walt Disney World press trip back in June. As we got off Disney’s Magical Express from the airport and walked into the magnificent lobby we were greeted by staff dressed in traditional African clothing and the warm smiles. Everyone said “Welcome home!” with what seemed like genuine happiness to have us and it felt like visiting relatives. The Super Knight looked at me and questioned “Home?”….”Mommy, is this our new home?”

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort | Lobby at Kidani Village

We stood in the lobby stunned by its beauty, the intricate woodwork, African art, and sculptures. In true Disney Magic, the African inspiration is brought to life in an incredible way with the largest collection of African art in the United States. Our room was ready so we were able to check in right away. The process was easy and we got our magic bands at that point. If you haven’t stayed at a Disney property before, the magic bands can also be used as room key in addition to entry to the park/rides/fast pass etc.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is divided int0 two buildings, Jambo House and a Kidani Village. The distance between the two is about a 15 minute walk but you can catch a complimentry 5 minute shuttle ride between the two. We stayed at Jamb0 House and had a room on the second floor with a savannah view. As we walked to our room the kids screamed with excitement as they started to spot different animals through the floor to ceiling windows in the hallways. There were also a few balconies for animal gazing with binoculars and the kids couldn’t wait to put their bags down and start to explore. When I told them there are over 200 animals and birds at the resort they tried counting.

Rooms

Keeping with the theme of the hotel, our room was decorated in earth tones with beautiful African art work. We had a savannah view room with two queen beds. I think what the kids loved most was our balcony. I don’t blame them because with 30 species of animals to spy on, there was always an animal in view. On the day we arrived it was raining and my son stood out there worrying about the two giraffes who were getting wet. I explained to him that the giraffes are fine and didn’t want to come inside with us. Since giraffes are his favorite animals he stayed outside a great deal trying to get their attention. Thankfully, the way the hotel is designed you can’t go into the savannah nor can the animals get close to your room.

Restaurants

The Animal Kingdom Lodge have several restaurants but we only got to try two during this trip for breakfast. The Mara is perfect for a quick bite to go, my husband got up early and went down to grab us food there one of the mornings before we went out to the park. We also had breakfast at Boma Flavors of Africa, a gorgeous restaurant with really good food. The Jungle Juice was so tasty that I couldn’t have enough of it and while breakfast was buffet style the food was just fantastic.

Photo credit: Walt Disney World Resorts

Pools

Just outside the Boma Flavors of Africa restaurant is the hotel’s beautiful pool area, there is a waterslide, hot tub as well as the Hakuna Matata Playground playground for the little ones. We were a bit bummed that we didn’t get to enjoy the pool but we had limited time, next time we go I would add an additional day to the trip just to take in the pool and all of the resort’s amenities.

Disney Transportation

There are shuttle buses that run about every 20 minutes from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to all of the Disney theme parks and Disney Springs. We found that the ride was comfortable and generally we were one of the few families on the buses except at night when the park was closing and the buses were full. The ride to Epcot and Disney Springs was about 15 minutes while the ride to the Animal Kingdom was only about 5 minutes away.

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort

Kids Activities

There is also a kids club called Simba’s Cub House at the hotel and I chatted with another mom who told me that her kids loved it there. You can leave your kids ages 3-12 in the care of professional at the kids club to enjoy a little “me time” or a date night.We planned to enjoy the campfire activities on the last night but we were so tired from our fun time at the Animal Kingdom that we didn’t have the energy but I heard it’s really fun, you can roast marshmallows and some nights even enjoy a movie outdoors under the stars.

Gift Shop

The gift shop at this resort which is called Zawadi Marketplace is one of the best I’ve been to, there is an inventory of beautiful African arts and crafts and even African style clothing that would make you feel like you’re visiting a marketplace in the motherland. We were also able to purchase lovely Disney souvenirs as well as necessities like a case of water (which we get whenever we travel).

Would you stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge?
Disney, Family Travel, Kids Natural Hair, Motherhood, Things to do
Our Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Experience
- 12:41 pm
- 9 Comments
- by Adanna Dill
My family was invited and hosted by Walt Disney World Resorts. As usual, all opinions expressed are my own.

Listen, I’ve been bursting with anticipation to share all of the details our Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience, it was even more fantastic than I imagined. If you aren’t familiar Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique it is an “enchanted beauty salon” for kids ages 3 to 12. The stylists who are affectionately nicknamed Fairy Godmothers-in-training did an exceptional job with both of my kids, The Princess Fairy and The Super Knight. In this post, I wanted to share all of the details from Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience from our arrival to our departure.

Our first step was to select our services, for my daughter, we purchased a dress (Elsa’s summer dress) as decided she would do her hair, makeup, and get a manicure. For my son, we went with hair styling. There was only one option for boys costumes, a shirt that wasn’t really his style so we skipped it since he was really excited about getting a sword and shield like a real knight. I’ve never heard anyone mention services for boys at Bibiddi Bobbidi Boutique so I was surprised that they had a package to make him feel special too. Next, the kids Fairy Godmothers-in-training came out to introduce themselves.

They then led them to a magical dressing room with a talking mirror with a special message for them. This really got the kids excited about their makeovers.

My son’s stylist was also from our area so she was happy to have him in her chair. She kept calling him her little neighbor which was sweet. One of my fears as a mom of kids with naturally kinky curly hair is having products used in their hair that could possibly dry or damage their hair but they used a brand that I love and trust, Giovanni gel and conditioner. She then molded my son’s natural curls and they look really shiny. Next, she used her magical wand to sprinkle pixie dust on him, bringing his power as The Super Knight to life.

Meanwhile, my daughter was getting her hair done by two talented ladies, they were incredible and aI shared a few video clips of them working on her hair my Instagram stories and many of you commented that you were also impressed by how well my daughter’s natural 4C hair texture was handled. I even joked with my husband that they did it much better than me.

Once her gorgeous bun was done, they applied her makeup and gave her a manicure. She was excited to have the chance to wear makeup since she always ask us for permission and the answer is always no. They used a kiddie makeup palette with nude and subtle shades. Her manicure was princess perfect, silver glitter which her dad and I found to be age appropriate.

Once it was all done, her Fairy Godmother-in-training spun around her chair so she could face the mirror and that’s when the magic occurred, she saw herself as a pretty princess. Her Fairy Godmother-in-training then sprinkled her with pixie dust to activate her royalty.

What I loved about this salon was that everything you could possibly think of to make the occasion special was available. My little princess and knight were then whisked off to take photos into a studio at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. They posed in front of a carriage for photos to create memories of their visit that I know they would never forget.

On her way out, The Princess Fairy was given a cute baby pink and gold backpack with goodies to maintain her makeover. It included product samples, a comb, brush, nail polish, decals, and aftercare instructions.

We visited the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Disney Springs but there are also locations at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.

We had a really wonderful Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience and I’m looking forward to going back again when our new baby is big enough.

Have you ever taken your kids to Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique?

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If you enjoyed this post, you would love this post on things to do with preschoolers at all Walt Disney World parks and Disney Springs. Read it here!

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Disney, Family Travel, Motherhood, Sponsored, Toddler
Things to do at Walt Disney World With A Preschooler
- 1:02 pm
- 6 Comments
- by Adanna Dill
That Mickey Mouse sure knows how to use his magic well! I say that because it was only a week after my husband and I started discussing taking the kids to Walt Disney World that we magically received an invitation for our family to visit one of the happiest places on earth. How did Mickey Mouse know our plans? Must be magic. Anyway, my excitement got the best of me and I told the kids immediately. My son was especially excited since it was going to be his very first trip and he asked every single day until we got there. I’ve never seen him happier and he’s already asking to go back. If you have a preschooler too, I wanted to share some of our favorite things to do at Walt Disney World with a preschooler. We also took our daughter when she was a preschooler so I’m including all of the theme parks and Disney Springs.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Let’s start at the Magic Kingdom, my son’s saw so many photos of Cinderella’s Castle that he immediately got excited when he saw it in real life. He shouted “It’s Mickey’s house!” and he even tried to spot Mickey as we walked through it.

Fantasyland

We took him directly to Fantasyland, as we decided to make it a family tradition for our kids to ride Dumbo The Flying Elephant as their first ride at Walt Disney World, it was the first ride my daughter went on when she first visited as well so that made it really special. My son loved it, I could tell he was little nervous at first but within no time a big smile spread across his face as we went flying through the sky.

Fantasyland is the perfect place for this age group, they’re still young enough that the characters seem real and that makes it even more exciting. We spotted so many characters like Winnie The Pooh, Tiger and Goofy and all I heard was excitement in his little voice. Fantasyland is just majestic and experiencing it through the eyes of a three-year-old is a wonderful experience.

Move it! Shake it! Dance it! Street Party

Don’t you just love when you spontaneously run into some epic fun? That was the case with us and the Move it! Shake it! Dance it! Street Party. After grabbing a bite, we walked right into the party. It was perfect for preschoolers because of the combination of Disney and Pixar characters. Even I screamed when I saw Officer Hopps on Main Street. My little guy was dancing and pointing out all of his favorite characters as the floats went by. If you’re planning a trip, be sure to check the times for the street party while planning your trip so you can find a good spot to enjoy it from.

Happily Ever Fireworks

It’s so easy to sound like I’m exaggerating but this fireworks display is nothing short of mindblowing. I know my kids were taken away and my son still says it’s his favorite part of his Walt Disney World trip. It’s inspired by all of our favorite classical stories and movies like The Lion King, Moana, Alladin, The Princess and the Frog, Frozen and much more. I know many parents of young kids like to have them in bed early but the Happily Ever After fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom is worth missing bedtime.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Junior Live on Stage

My little guy was filled with excitement when I told him that we were going to see Disney Junior Live on Stage at Hollywood Studios. The show we saw was It’s a Surprise Birthday Bash where with the help of characters from Disney Junior shows help plan a party for Minnie’s birthday. I asked my little guy who he thinks would be there and she called out his favorite characters from shows like Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Doc McStuffins. The Disney Junior Live on Stage show was really fun and since I watch the channel with my little ones all the time, I felt like I deserved to have that experience too.

Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

To say the Frozen Sing-Along was fun is an understatement! This is a must-do for little Frozen fans. Besides singing their little hearts out, the storytelling is fantastic and hilarious for both kids and parents. They even made a man romper reference which was a fun integration of pop culture

Starwars March of the First Order

We were lucky enough to witness the March of the first order which was really cool. My son was in the stroller and immediately demanded to get out and march around in one spot.

My little guy also enjoyed Mickey ice-cream pops (apparently they taste different from regular ice-cream pops) while my hubby and daughter got their thrills on the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Epcot

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot is at the top of my list of attractions for preschoolers! The fun started even before we got inside as my little ones giggled at the seagulls next to the sign saying “Mine, mine, mine!” My son is a huge fan of the movies Finding Nemo and Finding Dory so he enjoyed every moment of searching for Nemo on a ride that took us through Nemo’s world under the sea. We sat in a little clamshell that slowly took through our search for Nemo and the imagery is just majestic. At the end of the ride, imagination and inspiration combine the kids got to spot different sea creatures in the huge 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium. We used our fast passes but as awesome this attraction was I was surprised that it wasn’t crowded at all.

Epcot Character Spot

I found that Epcot to be was one of the easiest parks to find and meet the kid’s favorite characters. They met Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Minnie Mouse and Baymax. There were also many other characters that we spotted as we walked around the park. It was really important to my son to meet Mickey, that was at the very top of the list of things he wanted to do. Actually, I used the My Disney Experience app to determine which characters were at what parks, where to find them and the wait times. We were also able to use our fast pass so the wait as really short, only about 10 minutes.

Frozen Ever After Ride

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the Frozen Ever After Ride but every mom I talked to at the park couldn’t stop raving about how good it was. It’s on the top of our list for our next visit.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Pandora- The World of Avatar

I fell in love with Animal Kingdom theme park, it was our first visit and I was slightly upset with myself that I never visited before. Our first stop was Pandora- The World of Avatar attraction that opened up only last month. While my husband and daughter got on the Flight of Passage ride (which they swore was their most incredible experience ever) my son and I made music at the drum circle. Then the entire family did the Na’vi River Journey which was really fun for my little guy with so many fascinating sounds and sights inspired by the movie Avatar.

DinoLand USA

My son also loved DinoLand USA, in the cute Dinosaur, inspired carnival we did preschooler friendly rides and played a few games which he remained a good trooper through even though he didn’t win.

Kali Rivers Rapids

My husband really wanted to do this white water rafting ride so we made our way over in the rain from Pandora to check it out. I was a little worried about my little guy but he absolutely loved it. We were wearing ponchos so we didn’t get soaked but others who took the ride with us did. I think my preschooler would definitely recommend Kali River Rapids especially after we went full speed down one of the slopes and got splashed he yelled out:”That was awesome!”

Nightly Discovery Island Carnivale

As most of you know, I am a Caribbean girl so I am always down for a carnival celebration. My kids are the same so we had to stop and join in the fun Discovery Island Carnivale. I loved the fact that the kids were able to dance along with the dancers. They loved every second of it, I felt really nostalgic. Everything about this carnival from the music, bright costumes, dances to the scenery gave you the feeling like you were on an island.

Disney’s Character Breakfast

My little guy was lucky enough to not just visit Mickey at the theme park but also to hang out with him the next morning for breakfast. We headed over to the Disney Yacht Club Resort’s Cape May restaurant for breakfast with our favorite Disney characters. The best part of the character dining experience is that they came to our table several times to play, dance with the kids, give autographs and take photos. This is a really comfortable setting for preschoolers, my son certainly seemed more relaxed with each round the characters made.

Shopping at Disney Springs

World of Disney

In the past, I’ve taken in just the theme parks so I was excited to explore Disney Springs, which offers fantastic shopping, entertainment and dining. It’s perfect for a laid back day with the family. We were really excited to check out the World of Disney store which is the biggest Disney store in the world. If there is anything you ever wanted from Disney and couldn’t find it, it’s probably here. We took the opportunity to get some souvenirs and my little guy was happy to get a new pair of Disney binoculars.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

After shopping, we headed over to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for my little guy to get a transformation into The Super Knight he really is (hence his nickname). He looked so handsome and loved his sword and shield that he got as part of the package. This made me really happy because I wasn’t sure how the transformation of a boy would go but they did a fantastic job. While boys became handsome knights, girls became Disney princesses. The experience definitely deserves its own post which I will share soon.

We did so much at Walt Disney World with my little guy that I could keep writing for days but these were our absolute favorite and if you’re planning a trip with a preschooler, you should add them all to your itinerary.

Have you taken your preschooler to Walt Disney World? What was your child’s favorite attraction?

Disclosure: Our family was invited and hosted by Walt Disney World Resort. As usual, all opinions expressed are my own.