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Solo parenting toddlers is hard. Whether you only have to do it occasionally or you’re a single parent who is solo full-time, being the sole caregiver to your children regularly, for any length of time, can cause exhaustion, burnout, and even a loss of sense of self. But that doesn’t mean you have to put the things that bring you joy on hold! Traveling, especially to Disney World, is what brings me joy. We’ve made several trips there over the past year. As a result, I’ve had the chance to perfect the art of traveling to Disney World alone with my two toddlers (currently 1.5 and 3 years old). Here are 17 essential tips for traveling to Disney World alone with toddlers!

1. Pack Light

When traveling to Disney World alone with toddlers, it’s essential to pack light to make the journey easier. I’m a light packer to begin with, but when I travel alone with my kids, I pack the bare essentials. I don’t travel with car seats, Pack ’n Plays, SlumberPods, or any of the other items marketed to parents to make traveling easier. For me, especially when I’m alone, these items only complicate our situation. Consider what you really need to be comfortable and know what your destination offers in terms of solving these issues. For example, in Disney World, you can get rental cars with car seats, private transport with car seats, and free cribs are available at hotels.

2. Utilize Premium Parking

I park in the parking garage at the airport so that I am as close as possible to the check-in desk. That way, I have the shortest walk possible from the car while pushing the stroller and carrying luggage. Economy parking is cheaper, of course, but consider whether it’s worth the long walk with your hands completely full or the complication of getting a stroller, luggage, and wiggly toddlers on and off a shuttle bus.

3. Check Bags (Even if They’re Small)

I use a carry-on-sized suitcase, but I still check it at the airport. It’s hard to push a stroller, wrangle toddlers, and drag luggage around, especially if you’ve got a connection in a different terminal at a busy airport. I carry a backpack (hands-free!) with our essentials onto the plane and check the rest through to our destination. 

4. Fly First Class

Okay, this one isn’t really necessary. And it’s not something I usually do. But I had the opportunity to fly first class on our last trip to Disney World, and it was honestly a game changer. The biggest benefit was the extra room. My 1.5-year-old still travels as a lap infant, and having the space for her to wiggle around without kicking other seats was magic. On top of that, we were able to board early to get situated, disembark first after a long flight to stretch our legs, and the flight attendants were extra attentive to the fact that I was alone. One of them even dug my 3-year-old’s blanket out of our carry-on for us while I was trapped under a sleeping 1-year-old.

5. Seek Out Play Spaces and Playgrounds

There are play spaces everywhere. I find them in airports, malls, at hotels, and even in the Disney parks. I take advantage of these at every opportunity. Toddlers have lots of energy, and these spaces help get those wiggles out so that you have an easier time getting them settled on airplanes, in the stroller, in line for rides, and for sleep at the hotel. It also gives them some independence in a day that is otherwise pretty well dictated by an adult, which can help their mood overall.

6. Utilize Family Restrooms

Scope out family restrooms whenever possible. You can push a stroller right into them, which means you can keep your toddlers contained while you use the bathroom yourself. And they always have changing tables!

7. Find a Good Travel Stroller

I’m obsessed with the Zoe Twin+. It is my lifeline when I travel alone with my kids. It meets all my needs and travels so well with us. That’s always my top recommendation. But if it’s not the right fit, not in the budget, or you don’t need a double stroller, here are the features that I find particularly helpful when traveling alone: folds up easily with one hand while you have the other hand occupied by a little one, light enough to carry with one hand while carrying a child with the other, light/small enough to gate-check with your airline (some airlines have weight/size restrictions!), and has a single push bar instead of two handles so that you can push it with one hand if your other hand is occupied with a child, suitcase, or coffee.

8. Use a Handle Attachment for Your Stroller

I love this simple handle attachment for our stroller. My 3-year-old is old enough that he prefers walking a lot of the time, but there are certain situations where I need to keep him close, like crossing a street or walking through a crowded area. This allows him to walk while I keep my hands free to push the stroller when we don’t have another adult available to hold his hand.

9. Know Disney Transportation Stroller Rules and Plan Accordingly

Disney World is amazing in the transportation department. They offer a whole slew of free transportation options between their parks and resorts—bus, monorail, boat, and Skyliner. But each of these has different stroller rules, and it’s important to know what to expect before you go so that you can plan strategically. For example, most transportation requires a side-by-side double stroller to be folded up before boarding. Since it’s hard for me to wrangle two toddlers while folding and carrying a double stroller, I prefer to rent a car or to stay within walking distance to the parks we want to visit (or on the monorail line since they don’t need to be folded up on the monorail!).

10. Place Mobile Food Orders

The My Disney Experience app has a mobile order feature for almost every quick-service restaurant throughout the parks and resorts. This feature is a lifesaver—I can order food from my phone before we leave to pick it up, and then it’s ready to grab when we arrive. No standing in long lines or waiting on slow orders with hangry toddlers!

11. Use Lightning Lane Passes

I absolutely love using Lightning Lane passes. It’s Disney’s system for skipping lines. It can turn a 90-minute queue into a walk-on ride. But I also love it for rides with shorter wait times. Skipping even 10 minutes in line with a toddler can be a complete game changer. It comes at a (relatively low) cost, but for me, it’s worth every penny.

12. Use the Baby Care Centers

There is a baby care center located in every park across Disney World and Disneyland. These care centers are invaluable, as they have everything you need to care for and rest with a little one while in the midst of a busy park day. They include:

• changing stations

• private nursing rooms

• bottle warmers

• microwaves

• a kitchen sink

• small tables

• tiny toilets

• high chairs

• the ability to purchase supplies you may need like formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, pacifiers, and over-the-counter medication

 

13. Use Accessible Entrances

Every building you enter in a Disney park will have an accessible entrance. Look for these when entering buildings because they will have a ramp leading up to them (if necessary) and a button to open the door automatically. It’s a huge help when pushing a stroller alone!

14. Take Afternoon Breaks

Don’t skip out on an afternoon break at the hotel. Florida is HOT. Theme parks are overwhelming. Everyone will need a break. A few hours napping or resting at the hotel during the hottest part of the day will be the perfect reset, allowing you to get back out there and enjoy the rest of the day.

15. Utilize Toy and Food Bribes

I promise this isn’t as bad as it sounds. I just like to save fun toy and food purchases to use strategically when my toddlers are getting antsy but I need them to push on a little longer—like when we’re up past their bedtime waiting for fireworks to start. Sometimes a new toy or a fun snack is the perfect distraction to get a little more time out of them.

16. Be Flexible

This one is HUGE. Go into this knowing that your vision of the trip likely won’t play out exactly the way you had hoped. Lean into making changes as you go based on everyone’s moods.

17. Enjoy the Magic

Sharing this special time with your kids is a feeling unlike any other. You will make memories that will last a lifetime. And you will feel so proud for conquering this all on your own.

I do want to note that I realize some of these tips cost extra money and that not everyone has the extra funds to spend on things like first-class tickets or premium parking. That’s okay! These things are not necessary, and not being able to or not wanting to spend the money on them won’t change the fact that you can absolutely do this on your own!

With the right preparation and mindset, traveling to Disney World alone with toddlers can magical experience and lead to unforgettable memories.