How to Disney with toddlers and babies

If you have young kids and you're on the fence about going to Disney, just do it. If they're under 3, even better, because kids are FREE. They eat for free and they get into the parks for free, and that saves so much money. Also, kids that young live on snacks, so as long as you have that covered you're golden.

We just got back from taking our 4 month old and 2 year old, and I've never had so much fun in my life. Sure, they won't remember it, but my husband and I will. And I wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world. We were also able to go all out and make the trip about what we wanted, too, because 1, our kids were free so we had more money for things we wanted to do, and 2, they're too young to know anything about Disney so we decided what we wanted to do and what parks we wanted to spend time in. Plus, meltdowns are totally understood at Disney because everyone has kids, so no pressure to drag your kid out of a restaurant because literally every single person has been in your shoes or will be the next day.

I can't stress enough how wonderful of a time Disney is with young kids. Children are the magic and you'll never regret spending time with them and seeing their faces light up. BUT it can be a lot for them so here are some tricks that helped us avoid meltdowns and make the most of our trip:

1. Activities for the plane. We got one of those trendy snack spinners and some sticker books, and loaded up the tablet with movies as a backup. They did great!

2. Start early and don't skip naps. Rope droppers are a thing for a reason. Kids are already up early so take advantage of getting to the park early, too, while also beating the heat. The crowds are the smallest first thing in morning, so you can knock out 2 or 3 rides before lunch and nap.

3. Focus on one section of the park at a time. We broke up Magic Kingdom and focused on Tomorrowland one day, then Adventureland, then Fantaysland. It's the best way to cluster things and ride the most rides. You can also generally avoid the need for lightning lane if you do it this way, too. There's really just 1 ride in each "land" that has a long wait. Do that one first on each day.

4. Rideshare for adult rides! We did not do this, but for any ride your kids can not go on, you can go all the way up to the front of the line with them and then take turns riding the ride while the other watches the kids. That way you can both ride the rides you want.

5. Character breakfasts. I can not stress this enough. Characters at meals are the only way to get through meals. If you have a toddler, you know they don't sit still. Like ever. But with princesses or Mickey and the gang, you have a chance at a semi-civilized meal.

6. Rapunzel's castle. This was our rest stop to go to the bathroom or nurse the baby. It's right next to it's a small world and there are always seats. Bonus: it's shaded. We stopped there at least once a day.

7. Playgrounds. If your kids get antsy and need to get some energy out, there are several Playgrounds around the park. The one inside the Dumbo ride is adorable and usually quiet. That whole section by Dumbo is never that crowded, so it's nice to just take a beat and let kids be kids.

8. Hotel groceries. We got fruit, snacks, bagels, and water delivered to our hotel and made out just fine skipping breakfast and lunch this way on most days. We largely just snacked and then made dinner reservations. We found that sitting down for meals took away from the park experiences and also made our toddler restless. There are a lot of companies, but we used Garden Grocer for our groceries and they were great.

9. Stay on the monorail if you can. This made nap time a breeze. When our kids started getting a little sloppy, we were able to make a break for it and get back to the hotel fairly quickly for naps.

10. Plan a pool day. Disney is amazing, but it can be a lot. It's a lot of walking and stimulation, and a down day is needed. The resorts all have incredible amenities with pool bars and restaurants, and it gives the kids a nice break from the constant go, go, go, while you enjoy a cocktail by the pool.

There's a ton more, but that's my top 10. You'll never look back and say I wish I spent less time with my kids or that trip was a waste. They get one childhood and you get to watch it once. Sure, they may not remember, but you will.

Good luck!