Their little faces may light up when every character skips by, but patience and planning goes a long way when visiting Walt Disney World with toddlers, as we found out with our test child—18-month-old Kinsley. She visited the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom.

Favourite Meal

Our entire family enjoyed resting at the tables near the Flame Tree Barbeque in the Animal Kingdom, where we devoured the delicious onion rings. But Kinsley’s favourite meal was the chocolate-dipped Mickey-shaped Rice Krispie treat.

Favourite Attraction

For our eager 18-month-old, it was the Kilimanjaro Safaris in the Animal Kingdom, because pointing and shouting out animal names is always allowed. My husband and I liked it because it felt so removed from the rest of the park. The Affection Section petting zoo was low-key and fun, too.

Favourite Must-do Freebie

The parades! Our toddler tester went gaga for Goofy and Pluto. Every parade we watched was the perfect “Disney moment,” full of hugs and kisses. And, here’s a hint: find the start gate of the parade and head straight there—it’s always the least crowded.

Favourite Find

Knowing Disney has rental strollers at every theme park meant we could leave ours at home. Pro tip: tie a ribbon on the rental’s handle so you’ll be able to find it in the sea of strollers. Also, the PhotoPass card system was great for those magical moments with the Disney characters. By letting the Disney photographer take the shots, we could enjoy the moment. Once back home, we went online and picked the perfect photos for keepsakes.

Favourite shopping or souvenir

The Mickey Mouse and Friends Squeeze toy set for US$16 was the ideal purchase.

Found in stores throughout the Magic Kingdom, it travelled in its own clear plastic case on the plane and makes for a great tub-time toy.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney World