There's plenty of adventure to be had with little ones at Disney!

Happy New Year Friends! 

2019 is here and ready to start with a bang!  My 2018 was a great year, and I'm excited to see what 2019 brings us.  The other day, I met some of my oldest and dearest friends to watch the Seahawks game and catch up over some yummy food.  We're all old married ladies now, and one of my friends mentioned she thinks it's time to take her kids to Disney.  This started a conversation about how old some of our kids were when they first went to Disney.

This is actually something I'm pretty passionate about - I don't believe there is a right or wrong age to visit Disney for the first time.  Some families want to wait until their kids are old enough/tall enough to ride all the rides.  Some families can't wait for their kiddos to meet their favorite Disney Characters.  Some want to wait until they think their kids will actually remember the trip.  There isn't a right answer - it has to be what works best for your family.  I can tell you though, there are plenty of good reasons to visit before they can actually ride Indiana Jones or Expedition Everest.

My daughter was 4 when we first took her, and my son was just 6 months at the time.  I have precious memories from that trip for both of them.  My son may not ever remember his first three trips to the Most Magical Place on Earth, but I sure do.  A common misconception about both Disneyland and Walt Disney World is that if they can't ride the rides, they won't be able to do anything.  There's actually a ton of activities, entertainment and rides without any height restrictions! Read below to see what you can still do with your youngest at Disney.  If you are wanting to plan a Spring Break Trip, or even your Summer trip, now is a great time!  We have some fantastic offers available.  

Have a magical week, sweet friends!

There's plenty of adventure to be had with little ones at Disney!

Don't avoid going to Disney because your littlest one isn't tall enough to ride the biggest rides.  There is something to be said for visiting while your princess still believes in the magic of Disney and wants to visit the Disney Princesses!  Or when your youngest still wants to meet Doc McStuffins, or Sophia the First from Disney Junior.  The Fireworks are sure to dazzle the young and old, and Mickey will always be there for a hug. 

Here are 10 things you can do with your child, regardless of height or age!

1.  Stage Shows - Each of Disney's Parks is filled with entertainment.  From Frozen Live at the Hyperion Theater at Disney's California Adventure to the Festival of the Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom park.  These shows are a great place to rest your feet and soak up the Disney experience, but also great for little ones.  

2.  Activity experiences - Does your little one love Dinosaurs?  Be sure to stop by the Boneyard in Disney's Animal Kingdom for your little one to learn more about Fossils and get some energy out climbing rocks and walking across rope bridges.  Over at Disney's California Adventure, they can take the Redwood Creek Challenge and earn Wilderness Explorer badges!  

3.  Character Experiences - No matter the age, the character experiences are a fun part of the trip to Disney.  You can visit the characters individually at their Meet & Greets, or see them in some of the Character Dining experiences available across each of the parks and resorts.  If your child has a favorite character, let me know so we can try to find out where their best chance of meeting their favorite is!  Unfortunately, not all Disney characters are available for meeting, but there are so many available - we can find someone on their list!

4.  Cruising Rides - there are several rides across both Walt Disney World and Disneyland that are a 'cruising style' meaning you all load up into a ride vehicle to meander through one of Disney's visual storytelling experiences.  Some of these rides include 'it's a small world,' Jungle Cruise, Frozen Ever After, and Pirates of the Caribbean.  

5.  Interactive Shows and Experiences - shows like Turtle Talk with Crush and very popular with young children.  They get to sit in a theater style room and interact with characters on the screen.  Animal Encounters at Animal Kingdom Park are also great for young children.  They get to learn more about the animals they are observing and do it at their own pace.  Enchanted Tales with Belle at Walt Disney World is another favorite of mine - if you're lucky, you'll get to be part of the show!

6.  Transportation Classics - maybe it's just my kids, but they love to ride the train around Disney, over and over again.  For me it's a nice chance to take a break and enjoy watching the sights and plan our next stop in the parks.  The buses that go up and down main street are another classic. 

7.  RIDES!  Yes, there are plenty of rides you can go on with your young one.  Even if you are pregnant, you can experience many of these.  Some of my favorites are Peter Pan's Flight, Toy Story Mania, Little Mermaid's Journey under the Seas, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (DL), and some others already mentioned above (Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean).  Haunted Mansion is another one your littlest one can ride - whether or not they'll enjoy it is up to them.  My kiddos only really like riding it during the holidays at Disneyland when it's been taken over by Nightmare before Christmas.  

8. On the Spot entertainment.  One thing I really love about visiting the parks is all the entertainment you can find without having to stand in a line!  From daily parades to dance parties in the street, there is always something to feast your eyes on.  My little ones especially loved the dance party in Carsland at California Adventure.  There is a new dance party outside the Guardians of the Galaxy Mission:Breakout ride that includes our favorite Guardians.  

9. Nighttime Spectaculars! Disney is famous for their Fireworks Displays and other Nighttime shows.  Most of their parks have some kind of entertainment at night involving lights, music and sometimes Fireworks.  They have a few shows in transition - Epcot's nighttime show is going to be retiring soon, and World of Color has been under refurbishment, but the other shows are sure to dazzle you and your little ones.

10. Don't forget to rider swap!  This one isn't necessarily for those littlest ones, but for you!  You traveled all the way to Disney, and you want to experience some of those big rides, even if your little one can't (or won't!) ride them.  Be sure to utilize Rider Swap.  When you arrive at the ride, ask for a Rider Swap Pass.  If you have older children riding with their other parent, you can get a rider swap so that when they get off the ride, you can ride it with them.  So you don't miss out on the ride, but you also get to experience it with your older child.  You won't have to stand in line twice, and everyone is happy.  While you are waiting for the first set of riders to go on the ride, you can meander around looking at what else is available close to that ride.  Chances are there's a fun souvenir shop, snack shack or Character nearby to pass the time.

I understand a Disney trip is an investment in your family - sometimes it's a once in a lifetime trip.  I will help you make the most out of your trip so you don't miss anything, and your kiddos can still experience the magic of Disney!