We’ve all heard that you shouldn’t take a baby to Disney World. “Wait until he’s older,” they say. “He won’t remember it if you take him now.” While we do understand this sentiment, we also completely disagree with it.
It might be true that little Timmy won’t remember the Disney World vacation he went on when he was 9 months old, but there are still enough benefits to taking him to a Disney park at that age that we think it’s worth going anyway. In fact, we’d even go so far as to say going when your kids are babies might just be the best time to go!
Here are the top 9 reasons you should take the plunge and take your baby to Disney World right now, rather than waiting until they’re older.
Babies Enter for Free
Looking to save money on your Disney vacation? It’s worth noting that babies under the age of 3 enter the Disney World parks completely free of charge. This can be an enormous money saver, especially if you have more than one little one, or if you’re visiting for several days.
Tiny Travelers Fly for Free
Another huge money-saving opportunity comes into play if you plan on flying to Florida for your Disney vacation. You see, little ones under the age of 2 can ride in your lap on an airplane for free. Considering how much flights can cost, this is an excellent deal that might just make a big difference for your bank account.
Book a Smaller Room
Yep, this is another money saving benefit, but it’s another that could save you big bucks. Depending on if you have older kids already, and how many you have, adding another person might just require you to upgrade to a family suite in your Disney Resort hotel, something that can make a Disney trip significantly more expensive.
That said, if your baby is under 3, they can sleep in a crib and won’t count toward the total number of people in your Disney World resort room.
Related: Top Pros and Cons for Staying at Art of Animation Resort in Disney World
Kids Under 3 Eat Free
It’s also worth mentioning that kids under 3yo do not need to pay for food in Walt Disney World Resort if they will be sharing with you. This means that when you head to one of those all-you-can-eat family-style meals, your young child can eat as much (or as little) as they want and you won’t spend a single dime, nor do you have to pack baby food if you don’t want to.
Tiny Babies are Easier than Bigger Kids
Having a baby is hard. We definitely aren’t denying that. Many things get easier as kids get older, but in our opinion, going to Disney World isn’t one of them. At least not until your kid is a teenager. This is because tiny babies don’t really have strong opinions about attraction picks, food, or souvenirs, meaning you call the shots and you won’t get any pushback.
Little Ones Can Have Fun in Disney
Babies might not voice strong opinions about what they want to do in Disney World, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time. Many Disney theme park rides were designed with little ones in mind, meaning they’ll have plenty of opportunities to get out of the stroller and do fun things.
Have a Pooh Bear fan on your hands? They’ll love “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” in Magic Kingdom.
Does your baby like Nemo? The Seas with Nemo & Friends dark ride in Epcot will be right up their alley.
Some more of our favorite Disney rides without a height requirement that a small child would love include:
- Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom
- Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid in Magic Kingdom
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Magic Kingdom
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad in Hollywood Studios
Additionally, there are shows and other forms of entertainment that absolutely do appeal to small kids and most will keep an older child entertained as well.
The Photo Opportunities are Fantastic
Photos of babies and young kids at Disney World are seriously adorable. If you’re looking for a great place to snap some tiny baby pics or grab some toddler photos, Disney Theme Parks are the place for you.
Dress your tiny princess up as a Disney Princess and do a photoshoot in front of the castle. Put some Mickey ears on your little guy and get a photo of him on the carousel in Fantasyland. Everywhere you turn you will find a great photo op made even better by the fact that your tiny traveler is in the most adorable stage of life.
You Will Remember It
No, your baby probably won’t remember the fun they have in Disney World. That said, you will remember it, and that is just as valuable. Looking back on this amazing time with your little one is sure to bring a smile to your face even when they’ve grown and moved out of the house. That smile will make absolutely any trip worthwhile.
You Can Always Go Again!
Lastly, we feel like we have to mention the fact that you can always go to Disney again later. If you and your baby have an amazing time during this first trip, we’re betting you’ll be planning your next Disney adventure before you even get on the plane home.
Since you will have saved money on this first adventure-thanks to your child still being a baby-a second trip won’t seem too terribly impossible, and you can go in knowing you’re going to have an amazing time, making the expense completely worth it.
As you can see, there are plenty of wonderful reasons to go ahead and take that Disney trip now, even while your baby is still tiny. If you want to experience the magic of the parks sooner rather than later, go for it! When the naysayers protest, remind them that there is no time like the present, and a trip to Disney now certainly isn’t hurting anyone. Then, you do you, and have an amazing time doing it.
