Have a young child? Here’s How to Avoid Meltdowns at Disney World.
We’ve all seen it happen. In the most magical place on Earth, a child wails at the top of their lungs, losing their mind over something totally minimal.
We all would like to think our kids wouldn’t possibly act this way on such an amazing vacation, but the truth is that it happens more often than you’d think.
Here’s our best tips on how to avoid meltdowns at Walt Disney World.
1) Get Plenty of Sleep
Exhaustion can play a major role in how your kids behave at Disney.
It’s super important to make sure your kids are well rested and ready for their day of fun.
This might mean that you go to bed early so that you can rope drop a park. Or, it might mean that you decide to sleep in after staying out for fireworks in the evening.
Young children need more sleep than we do, so getting them well rested is key to avoiding a Disney tantrum.
2) Take a Mid-Day Break
It might sound crazy, but taking a mid-day break and heading back to your hotel room for a rest in the afternoon is a great way to keep your kids well rested.
When our kids were young, we left around lunchtime. We ate and headed back to our hotel for a nap or just some quiet time. In the evenings, we went back into the park for more fun and fireworks!
It was a very relaxing way to do Disney. As our kids grew, some of them were able to handle being in the park the whole day, so I would just take back the little kids for a nap while the older kids got in a few extra rides.
Honestly, I was worried about missing out on the fun in the theme park at first. But in reality, it was really nice to be able to cool off during the heat of the day and then go back into the Disney parks fully refreshed.
3) Eat Well
Making sure your child is eating well during your Disney World trip is crucial to how they will feel.
Too many meals of chicken nuggets and pizza will have your child feeling constipated and sluggish.
Be sure to have fresh fruit on hand back at the hotel or order them something more healthy at meal time to keep them feeling their best.
On that note, taking time for a sit down meal is a great way for the whole family to refresh and get ready for the afternoon. You could choose a character meal or just a nice restaurant to sit down and cool off. It’s a great way to refuel your body for the rest of the day.
If you decide to do a quick-service restaurant, be mindful of which one you choose. Air conditioning and quiet atmospheres are the best places to recharge before heading back to those long lines.
You will know as soon as you enter a quick service restaurant if you have chosen wisely. Oftentimes, you’ll find a more relaxing, less busy restaurant if you eat early or later instead of noon.
4) Add Water
You’ve probably heard the saying “when kids are grouchy, add water!” It’s so true.
So if you have a child headed for a meltdown, make sure they are hydrated. You can carry water bottles with you or you can find free cups of water at quick-service restaurant locations.
If you’re at Epcot, try Moana’s Journey of Water play area for some water fun. Or in Magic Kingdom, check out the the Splash pad near Dumbo.
Also, think about possibly taking an afternoon break and having your kids play in the hotel pool.
Surprisingly, even a bath or a shower can do the trick. Water works wonders for a grumpy child.
5) Conquer Boredom with Play
Disney does an amazing job with interactive queues. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has a super fun queue for kids. They can play as they wait.
Dumbo also has a great playground within it’s line and bonus, it’s air-conditioned for us parents! We’ve definitely spent a lot of time in that tent on hot days.
There’s lots of fun queues at Magic Kingdom to be found including Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and The Haunted Mansion.
Plus, at Epcot, you can find lots of fun interactive areas including after the ride Journey into Imagination, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and more!
And don’t forget that having your child walk can cut down on boredom too. Our family doesn’t use a stroller after age 4 at Disney. Having kids walk keeps them engaged and less likely to be bored, plus you don’t have to worry about managing a stroller.
6) Be Flexible
The best way to avoid meltdowns at Disney is to be flexible. Sometimes, your child is going to need a break from waiting in lines.
Going to a show is a great way to still get to do something fun but without the line. Indoor shows are a great way to relax and cool off in the air-conditioning.
However, outdoor shows are fun too and you can usually bring food into these. (We like to grab Minute Maid Frozen Lemonades from a ice cream cart to enjoy at outdoor shows.)
Be flexible with your schedule and be mindful of when your child is going to need a drink or snack. Being hangry is real!
Also, consider buying the park hopper pass. This is a great way to build flexibility into your trip. So, if you have to cut a day short, you can always have the option to go back to that park for a half day to finish it.
I hope this has been helpful for you as you plan your Disney trip! Just remember to take a deep breath, have realistic expectations of your child, and realize that Disney trips are fun but they can be exhausting.
More Disney Tips
For more Disney tips, be sure to check out our other articles!
Learn all about the Best Age to take your child to Disney here. There’s a sweet spot for the perfect age to enjoy Disney!
Curious about eating in the castle? Here’s our review of eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table with kids (gluten free!).
No one likes to spend their day waiting. Find all of our Best Tips for Avoiding Lines at Disney here.
Hoping to find Grogu at a character meet? Here’s all our best tips for meeting the Mandalorian and Grogu at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Learn all about the Best things to do with Kids at Disney Springs here. There’s a lot of fun options here to explore!
First time to Disney? You’ll have the best time! Here’s our best tips for first timers!
If you want to save these tips for avoiding tantrums in the happiest place on Earth, pin the image below to your Disney Vacation Planning board on Pinterest.
