Hello! My husband and I will be taking our three kids—DD7, DD4, and DS2–to WDW in June 2025, prior to going on DCL.
My husband did the professional internship at Disney and we took our oldest in 2018 when she was 11 months. We did a two day trip by ourselves last January. So we are not new to WDW, but we are very new to doing this with three littles.
We will be staying at AKL and doing MK and Epcot, just one day each. We may add on a half day (through convention ticket and staff passes if we meet up with a friend who works for the company) at HS or AK.
What experience do others with littles close to this age have with rope drop? I’m thinking about showing up about 15-30 minutes before early entry but not “lining up”. DD7 struggles to get up at 7 for school. DD7 is also sensitive to crowds and loud noise (we will be packing her headphones).
As far as attractions go, I am thinking about skipping 7DMT—DH and I weren’t impressed, and we really don’t want to wait in line, even at RD. Thoughts on whether trying to do this is worth it for these ages? If doing RD, we will likely go to PP and then WtP. Any other tips or touring plan suggestions for these ages? Our kids have not been on a coaster before.
As for Epcot, is RD necessary? We will likely do LLMP both days. RD strategy for Epcot with littles? Suggestions on LL pre selection for MK and Epcot?
How late do you find kids this age are usually able to stay in the park? Should we go back to the hotel for the breaks, or can we go to nearby resort area for a break? Finally, what stroller would you recommend for these ages? We will have a baby carrier, and we have the following stroller options available: single Thule or double Thule.
I’d welcome any other tips you have for this age group or touring strategies!
I have four kids ages 5-12 and we’ve been through WDW / DLR with 2-year-olds on multiple occasions, so I’ll weigh in with my opinions …
It very much depends on the sleeping patterns of your kids, but my recommendation is to make the best use of the time that your kids are at their best. If that’s rope drop, go for it. I usually avoid the most popular attraction: i.e., Peter Pan rather than 7DMT; TSM instead of SDD, etc. Get a LL for the most popular attraction instead.
With a 2-year-old, you will have to use Rider Swap unless they are exceptionally tall for their age (height requirement is 38 inches). That said, my kids in the age 4-7 age range LOVE this coaster. It’s a great way to introduce them to coasters. That said, Slinky Dog Dash is better all around. If you are going to ride 7DMT, I recommend purchasing LLSP. With RS, one or both of your older kids can ride twice (depending on how nice the CM is – officially just one is allowed to repeat).
Since you’re getting LLMP, not really, but it helps to knock out either Remy (if you arrive at International Gateway before Early Entry starts) or Frozen (if you arrive at the beginning of Early Entry). If you don’t rope drop, I recommend starting your day with BG1 for GotG (for the adults and any kids tall enough to ride). The first BG is usually called 15 minutes into EE.
Get Frozen and try to get Remy on a drop (see the Drop thread in La Cava for times).
If they take a nap, take a break in the afternoon and then go back at night. If they don’t do naps, plan to be done by like 7pm, with or without a break. Again, it depends on their sleep schedule though. Do some trial and error and be prepared to cut plans short if they are moody.
If your kids are petite like mine, I recommend a lightweight double stroller like this one:
And yes, the jogging stroller can be bulky—other factor is heading onto DCL and need a stroller that will work for that, but ALSO need one that I can jog with for the 5k (at least with the youngest in it). But, we will be with my parents so they could potentially watch all three during the 5k.
It has a mesh bag on the back that we use for diaper supplies and snacks. It’s great cause it can be seen through for security checks. Not good if you have more substantial supplies to store.
Quick anecdote - last year, Slinky Dog Dash was the first ride we did of the whole trip. I love it and don’t consider it that intense - but my then 7 year old freaked out. However, by the end of the trip, her favorite rides were Everest and GotG.
Just ease them into it a little bit. My non-daredevil then 8 year old liked 7DMT the best of all rides (but we had gone on a few rides before that). I personally would buy the LL (even though I wasn’t impressed either) and go on it with the kids after a few lighter rides.
@Jeff_AZ - thoughts on recommending Barnstormer first? That had been my thought before we went to DHS instead, and then we never actually rode it.
It will depend partly on how hot it is. The middle of the day can be brutal. Hopefully the youngers will nap / chill out in a stroller or carrier, but it may depend on your 7year old’s stamina against sensory overload. Sometimes, some kids, they might need cool dark quiet space that’s not public (as might you - it’s hard work making sure kids behave in public!), or some pool time.
I love AKL, but it’s a bit of a hike from MK (that bus ride feels long).
We did fireworks with a 2 year old, but I think she slept through them (with ear protectors).
Personally I think 7DMT is as tame as Barnstormer and more comfortable. But the fact that kids can see the whole track makes them slightly more amenable to Barnstormer. So it’s a draw IMO.
One nice thing about rope drop at MK and Epcot is you aren’t held at the taps— you wait in the park. So you can find space to wait if you make it that early. We did Epcot yesterday and most of future world was a walk on. For my kids not waiting always helps our trips! So we rope drop.
I would definitely do a stroller— we always rent from Kingdom Strollers.
We also find a break at 1ish is needed for us all to recharge!
Very exciting. I highly recommend being at the park for rope drop. It’s been a few years, and not sure Animal Kingdom still does it, but the swarm of parrots flying over our heads was the coolest rope drop. We found that doing rope drop made the most of when kids were at their best, around lunch time we found an air conditioned restaurant (the crystal palace) to refuel and relax. If need be, don’t be afraid to ruin the kids lunch with a cool ice cream treat. You are in Disney world. And don’t try to do everything, just enjoy, and head back to the hotel pool early afternoon to cool off.
My girls are 8 and 10 now, and have been visiting Disney roughly once a year since they were 3 and 5. We’re definitely a rope drop family, and I agree with everything @Jeff_AZ has already said. Our most common approach to MK is to arrive around 30 before EE (leave resort around 1hr before EE) and line up with the crowd near the tea cups (most of whom are heading for 7DMT), prioritizing PP and then WtP. If the FL crowd is already fully filling the FL bridge by the time you arrive, just wait in front of the castle or even Liberty Square bridge and walk briskly from there to PP (the FL bridge crowd can be a bit intense for littles with sensory issues).
If you arrive in FL around the middle of EE, expect to wait 30-40 min at PPF standby (unless very low crowd day). I’ve heard the wait dips a bit right at the end of EE, but I doubt it’ll go lower than 20 min (whereas if you really head straight there at EE rope I have never waited longer than 10 min).
We usually manage to knock out both PP and WtP during EE, and then head into Frontier/Adventureland for a second RD. If you want to do Jungle Cruise using the stand-by line, I would prioritize that. Unless you’re going on very high crowd days, PoTC will still be a very short wait after that. Haunted Mansion is also a good option in the first hour of park open). I would also definitely grab TBA in the 7am VQ (using BG1) and ride that during the first hour or park open while waits are shorter. And probably book it as my Tier 1 LL again for later!
Alternatively, if you miss the second rope drop into Frontier/Adventureland, you could also stay in FL and just keep riding standby for the first hour or so of park open while standby lines are short. And at some point tap into a Tier 2 ride to unlock your LLMP tiers.
Definitely agree with those who advised not to RD 7DMT - it’s a very competitive/agressive RD and stressful with little kids and a stroller. Not at all the way I want to start an MK day, especially if you’re not sure how your kids feel about coasters.
That said, I also agree with others who have said that 7DMT is perfect for this age groups and my kids have LOVED it from their very first ride. It’s gentle and fun enough to build their confidence for bigger coasters (I actually find Barnstormer rougher/more intense because of the smaller turns, though my kids always liked both of them). I’d suck up the cost and buy LLSP and use it with rider swap for the older two kids. The other parent can ride the carousel with the little one in the meantime.
It helps if you want to ride anything twice, but it not essential. Since you’ll be coming from the front of the park (with AKL bus) I would head to the rope in the middle of the park (looking out at WS) - there is no real line, but more a loosely formed crowd and it’s not particularly stressful (I found it positively relaxed when I rope dropped Frozen from there on a CL6 day this past Saturday). As long as you walk briskly towards Frozen (no need to try to compete with the speed walkers at the front), you should have a wait of less than 10 min at Frozen. I used the rest of my EE time to ride Soarin stand-by, though with kids that a big of a hike back across the park. And/or, assuming the kids have decided they like coasters, you should also use at least the end of your EE time to head towards GotG using VQ (otherwise you’ll wait at least 30-40 min in standby, maybe longer, any other time of the day). My kids have loved his ride since they were 6 and 8 (the first time they had a chance to try it after it opened) - but it’s definitely a lot more intense than 7DMT. I’ve seen children as young as 4 enjoy it (I was sitting next to the dad of one of them on Saturday), but am sure many kids that age would not - and I would not recommend it as your first coaster!
If none of those sound appealing, you could start exploring World Showcase after rope dropping Frozen (which will be much calmer in the morning than in the afternoon/evening though also many performances don’t start until 11.00), including riding Remy as your Tier 1 LLMP booking (the only way to ride Remy without waiting, besides LL, is rope dropping from IG, which from AKL is too much of a logistical pain to consider doing). If you don’t manage to get a Tier 1 LL for Remy in advance, there’s a reliable drop in the afternoons.
You can do most of the Tier 2 LL rides in the front of the park anytime, as you can usually get a LL within a short return time throughout the day. I recommend seeing the Moana walkthrough at dusk/night when it’s lit up - very pretty. Our kids love the Pixar Shorts (there’s also a Mickey M&G in the building that’s usually not busy), and Turtle Talk would probably also be a hit with your age group.
For the parent entertaining your youngest during rider switch, always check the map for splash pads or plagrounds nearby (and bring a change of clothes or two). Our favourite is Casey Jr in MK, but Epcot also has a few of them (Moana being the most extensive).
This is really a balance between personal preference and predicted LL availability (TP has a calendar showing live availability 21 days out, which is super helpful). I tend to get the Tier 1 for my top priority ride to take off the pressure, and try to have one Tier 2 booked very early in the day to unlock LL tiers (even if it’s just for tap and run).
We almost always do midday breaks (even if they nap in the stroller, you’ll appreciate it to get out of the heat in June). And especially if you’re considering staying until HEA or Harmonious (in my opinion, the former is absolutely worth staying up for, while the latter is not). I would watch HEA (with headphones for your older one) from Fantasyland near Beast’s castle where there is tons of space to run and dance. Or if you think it’ll be too loud/scary for them, from the front end of Main St, ready to turn around and quickly get on a bus back to AKL before the crowds start pouring out.
For the third possible half-day, I would totally go for AK, especially as staying at AKL. HS can be tough with young kids as a lot of rides are intense and many areas feel busy all day long due to the compact size. AK is sprawling, but with so many little nooks and hidden gems to explore.
Have a fantastic time (and don’t hesitate to ask if anything is not clear!)
My children are about that same age and we do trips yearly, but as everyone knows every kid is different, so ultimately, you will be the best judge on what they can handle, but from my experience:
For strollers, we prefer the large double stroller. We have a city select baby jogger, with two seats, and the rolling board behind. My kids would complain about the amount of walking without it. We also pack so many waters, extra clothes, etc that it helps contain all our stuff.
Speaking of extra clothes, especially in June, we pack second outfits as the my kids enjoy any splash pad they see in the parks.
We have better luck doing rope drop. My kids are early risers and do great in the morning. One time, we tried a slow morning by the pool and arrived mid day, and it actually went worse as the kids were ready for a nap as we walked in the park.
We have never been a “go back to the resort for a nap” people. Partially because we are mostly off-site, but mostly because our kids are good stroller nappers. We will have them in the stroller with fans blowing and typically find quieter and shady areas to hang out. We use this time to ride any of the rides the kids aren’t tall enough for, since one or two of the kids are sleeping anyways.
Remember, nothing is necessary to have a good time at WDW. Go at your own flow and what the kids can handle.
Oh and to add, while we get there early for rope drop, we aren’t typically lined up and in the rush of rope drop. We use it as a time to get a family photo, lather on sunscreen, one more bathroom break, eat a granola bar or snack and the normal preparation stuff.
This sounds more our speed, especially with DD7 being easily overwhelmed by crowds. Do you find that you’re still able to get a good amount done without lining up?
Oh definitely, even being at the back of rope drop still has advantages. You may not be front of line for the top attraction, but you will still be taking advantage of the low waits on others.
So true. When Avatar opened, I remember people practically knocking our stroller over to get the ride first. We had hundreds of people pass us. We still walked directly onto the ride. I miss those fastpass rope drop days.
So exciting to be taking your kids! They are such great ages for the parks. Y’all will have a blast!!
I have taken my 4 kiddos many times starting when my youngest was 1 and my oldest was 7.
We stayed at AKL our first trip too and they loved that resort. It was such a fun one with all the animals and them getting to experience that part of Disney and I think an excellent choice considering you’re skipping AK this time around. TBH, the bus ride isn’t awful. Maybe 5-7 min longer than from other resorts but you won’t share a bus with other resorts (like WL/Poly/GCF and BC/YC/BW sometimes do).
When we took our kids, we stayed in the parks for 12-14 hours straight. Doing RD-CL a couple nights in a row. My kids slept great in the stroller when they got tired BUT it was in January and cool. I don’t think I’d do it in June unless I was planning to be either (a) at a nearby resort exploring or (b) shopping and going to shows during the 1-5 pm hours of the day. It’s just so hot. And often times that’s when storms blow through.
I really like the advice of being there for EE rope drop but focusing on lower tier attractions that rack up lengthy waits during the day (WtP, JC, HM, etc) and using your LLs for the higher tier attractions. We also always use LL for 7D. Its sometimes unreliable at RD anyway. My kids didn’t like it until they were a bit older (we’re chickens) but loved the barnstormer as soon as they could ride it!
For EP, I’d say be there for RD but don’t stress about beelining to an attraction. Coming from the park entrance the closest attraction is Soarin’ but Frozen is the most in demand closest ride and it’s quite a workout power walking with a double stroller all the way from the main entrance when that summer sun is already soaking up your energy! You having LLMP and being knowledgeable about drop times is a great key to success in EP. Also, especially with non-riders, I highly recommend using BG1 to secure your BG for Guardians and then going there when the park opens. It’ll basically be a walk on whereas later in the day the BG line can push 60+ minutes.
Yes, we are very excited! We know we will be back with the kids, and this being right before DCL, there will be plenty of disney magic that continues! We picked AKL precisely because we don’t plan to do AK and my DD7 says she wants to be an elephant keeper.
One of the break ideas I had was exploring the monorail resorts on MK day and heading to the solarium at the beach club on EP day. I’d welcome thoughts on this.
So for this strategy, would we use BG1, RD Frozen and Remy (or the other way around) and then head to GotG? I don’t want our littles first experience of Epcot to be waiting for Mom and Dad to finish a ride! (DH also isn’t a huge fan of Guardians—we had a really long wait in the queue during our January trip, and he doesn’t like that franchise, so by the time we got to the ride, the long wait and his dislike of the queue primed him to dislike the ride).
For us, we feel like going back to the resort is the best recharge. Just to cool down and relax for a few hours. But I think that depends on where your staying too. We usually get hoppers so we break and do a different park at night or just stay in.
Oh, that is a bummer. Then I’d do a LLSP for Guardians for anyone that wants to ride. Skip the potentially long BG line and avoid having to hit it first thing.
Hmmm. I mean, you could RD FEA. Or just make that your tier one LL selection and once you use it you can snag a later one for Remy and/or Soarin’ at drop times.
You know what might be kind of a fun, chill way to start your Epcot day? RD Moana. That first trip I mentioned earlier with my crew my kids played in the fountains at the walkway between the front of the park and WS forever and had so much fun!! And I bet if you guys went there first you’d have the place to yourselves!
Do you think your kids would enjoy riding around on transport for the afternoon? Mid-day it tends to not be so crowded. You could ride the monorail loop non stop, then ride it again and get out at the Poly, grab a dole whip and let the kids run around on the grass right there or play on the beach. Then take the resort boat back over to MK and take the boat to WL. Explore the lobby and seek out the train model. Maybe grab a snack at Geyser Point and let the kids play in the grassy space there after - I think there are ping pong tables and maybe cornhole?
