Taking a Baby to Walt Disney World: Magic vs Tragic

Traveling to Walt Disney World with a baby can feel intimidating—but with the right expectations, it can also be incredibly magical. After 3 trips with a baby in 2025, I have learned that the key is focusing on your baby's needs, not the theme park clock. The positives always outweigh the struggles, and hopefully my review of these 3 trips will help you when determining when is the best time to take your baby to Walt Disney World!

January 2025 - 6.5 months old 

• Magic

  • First time rolling over fully was in our Art of Animation Finding Nemo Suite

  • Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT for easy access and not folding up the stroller

  • Lyra got used to the stroller and was happy to sit at various points throughout the day

  • No issues with over heating because of the winter temperatures

  • Easy to breastfeed throughout the day in the parks

  • Plenty attractions with no height requirements that the whole family could enjoy 

  • Naturally woke up at a good time in the morning for rope drop

  • Slept on the plane rides

  • My parents came with us so we had extra helping hands and did rider switch for a handful of rides

    
    

• Tragic

  • Co-sleeping in a queen bed vs our king bed at home

  • Lyra was used to contact naps, so napping in a stroller was nonexistent, the multiple naps a day were hard 

    
    

Vacation Specialist Tip: Baby Care Centers will be your saving grace. Clean place to change diapers, quiet nursing room, and equipment for bottle feeding (water filter stations, bottle warmers) and even microwaves. There is one located in each of the theme parks, so be sure to make mental note of where each one is.

July 2025 -  12 months old (turned 1 on the trip)

• Magic

  • We stayed at Art of Animation in a Lion King Suite to give her dedicated space for sleep (we do not mess around when it comes to her sleep at night) and she ended up sleeping through the night several times, which was not happening at home

  • Lyra had started to walk, so she was still new to it but could move around on her own and explore = more personality 

  • Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, again 

  • Pool breaks! Little ones love the pool more than anything 

  • Plenty to do with no height requirements, we did not do any rider switch this trip

  • Lyra was able to stay out a bit later in the evening, extending our park day compared to the previous trip 

  • My cousin came with us to help and as a birthday treat, so we had someone to assist 

    
    

• Struggles

  • Finding quiet places in the parks to get her settled for a nap, then usually holding her for the naps since she did not stay asleep in the stroller and we were too stubborn to go back to the room to nap (was still taking 2 naps a day)

  • The summer heat made all of us more cranky 

  • Now that she could walk, sitting in the stroller was rare, she prefers to move on her own, or be carried (my husband's poor arms)

    
    

Vacation Specialist Tip: I love renting a full sized crib from Kingdom Strollers. No meet up required drop off and pick up, just waiting for me at bell services. This, plus a Hiccapop (and the Hatch sound machine, and the baby monitor) make for a like-home sleeping setup for the little one. 

December  2025 -  17 months old

• Magic

  • We stayed at Pop Century in a Preferred room, quick access to transportation and amenities 

  • Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT…yes again

  • Lyra was consistently sleeping through the night at home and on the trip, made such a positive impact on the trip 

  • She started hugging characters, Dale had the honor of getting her 1st ever character hug

  • Consistent 1 nap a day, sometimes in the room and sometimes in the park (with a bit of stroller napping, what an improvement from earlier in the year)  

  • We loved watching stage shows, anything with non stop music is a must 

  • We did one day of Multi Pass, everything day had a very loose structure 

  • Got to do sit down meals (just walk-up availability to make sure it worked with our schedule)

    
    

• Tragic

  • Warm enough to swim but didn't pack the bathing suits 

    
    

Vacation Specialist Tip: Do not skip out on Sci-Fi Dine In Theater at Hollywood Studios. We joined a 15 minutes wait list, and cruised through a delicious meal with built-in entertainment for Lyra. 

Low Expectations, High Reward

Traveling with Lyra in 2025 was such a privilege, and even though it was hard at times, it was 100% worth it. My husband and I made countless memories with her, and both agree that our recent December trip was the best, and makes us even more excited for our trips in 2026. The main reason our December trip went so well was the lack of a schedule. We flowed with what worked best for Lyra, and set our expectations low, which meant we would end up exceeding our expectations if we got only a few items accomplished! 

Being a parent is stressful enough. That is why at Allonsy Travel, we love to take the stress of planning a family vacation off your shoulders. With our years of experience, we know how to tailor a trip to your families needs and children's ages. Click the link below to start planning your next family adventure!

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Hey there! I’m Emma Hancock-Bontempo, your guide to a trip filled with magical moments! After traveling to Walt Disney World countless times growing up, I decided to put all this “Disney knowledge” to good use and help others plan their vacations to the most magical place on earth. After becoming a planner in 2022, I discovered a love for curating vacations for couples, families and groups of friends, all with different wants and needs. Now married and mother to a little girl, I’ve learned how to best set up my clients for success, because as Edna Mode says. “Luck favors the prepared”, and my clients are always prepared to a tee!