Our first trip to Disney with kids occurred when my children were 2.5 years and 6 months old. Now, I do realize that the majority opinion regarding this is that this is a waste: “They won’t remember it” and “You will spend too much time in hotel rooms for naps” are most commonly what I heard. I would agree that if you are taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney, these are probably truisms. However, we have family in Florida and we end up taking small side trips of one or two days to Disney, so it was a good time to try it out. After much research and experience, here is what I can tell you about taking an infant and a toddler to Disney.

1. They can ride most rides. This is true even for infants. Any ride without a height requirement will allow any child, including babies. This means pretty much anything except a roller coaster (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain). There is even a child roller coaster for those over 36 inches in Mickey’s Toontown fair.

1. Strollers are not allowed in line. This is a huge problem in the Magic Kingdom. Most attractions (especially in Fantasyland) are extremely close together. You can only leave your stroller in stroller parking where you get a ticket to retrieve your stroller later. We found that it was easier to just not use the stroller in the Magic Kingdom. I used a sling/baby carrier for the infant and my husband just carried our toddler when she got tired. Otherwise, you feel like you are just constantly pushing a stroller from parking lot to parking lot. I used a sling for when the baby slept/nursed so he could lay down. I used a baby carrier when he was awake so he could look around and be upright. We did use a stroller in the other parks (such as Epcot) because the attractions are further apart.

1. Kids under 3 are free. This is the best part. They are admitted for free AND they eat for free at buffets and any place not ordering off a menu. This is a huge plus if you are thinking of taking a vacation with little ones. It will dramatically cut your costs.

1. Bring your own stroller. They definitely rent strollers at all the parks, but it was much easier to use a folding umbrella stroller. It is easier to spot in a crowd of strollers, cheaper than renting, and most of all, you can use it getting on a monorail, tram, or bus. I found a great double umbrella stroller for my two kids. Also, don’t forget a rain cover for your stroller. It will save you headaches on a cloudy day!  If you are flying, consider buying a cheap umbrella stroller and donating it to a family when you are done.

1. Stay in a Disney Resort with boat or monorail transportation to the parks. Our favorite is the Wilderness Lodge. It has boat access to the Magic Kingdom (the only park you need for toddlers) and isn’t as ridiculously priced as some of the others with transportation to the parks. This is so nice for a quick trip back to your room for a nap. You won’t spend all day loading up in cars just to go back for a nap. Plus, the boat is *so* much easier for transporting children. You don’t have to worry about carseats, trams, and waiting for buses!