Is this your first trip to a Disney park with your little one? Maybe you’ve done it before but it’s been a while (lots of things have changed just in the past couple of years!).
Disney World or Disneyland?
If you are interested in taking your toddler on a Disney vacation the first thing you’ll need to decide is whether you want to go to Disneyland or Disney World.
Is one resort better for toddlers? Which has the best rides for younger children? Where should you stay? Keep reading to gain insight into these questions and help you make the best decision for your family.
Planning Your Trip
If you are hoping to take a trip in the near future, planning a trip to Disneyland will probably take less time than a Disney World trip. This isn’t entirely true across the board — if you aren’t planning on seeing EVERYTHING at Disney World you could take a shorter trip. But for the most part, just due to the difference in sizes between the two you can plan a Disneyland trip quicker than a trip to Disney World.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
For families who are envisioning a trip in the next couple of months, Disneyland will probably be your best bet. There are a lot of aspects to a Disney World trip that take much more advance planning, like on-property accommodation and dining reservations. It can be more difficult to plan a Disney World vacation last-minute and fit in a good amount of your wish list. Keep this in mind when choosing where to go!
These Are The Hardest Dining Reservations To Get In 2023
Length of Your Trip
Again, when it comes to the length of your trip, you can also get away with a shorter trip at Disneyland. The Disneyland park is smaller than Magic Kingdom (85 acres as opposed to 107 acres), so just that alone can help you understand how easy it can be to hit all your must-dos in a shorter period of time. If you only have a short period of time available for vacation, you can visit Disneyland and leave without feeling like you missed out on anything.
Partner’s Statue in Disneyland
However, if you want to do a longer trip, perhaps with more family members, Disney World might be a better bet because there is plenty to see and do to fill your time. After two days in the Disneyland theme park you might feel like you’ve done it all, while Disney World has four massive parks, two water parks, and more.
These Are Our Best Tips for Disney World With Toddlers
Where to Stay
Both Disneyland and Disney World hotels are designed to be kid-friendly. You’re definitely going to have more options at Disney World though! Some accommodation might be a little less suited for younger kids (like the Grand Floridian), but Disney World has plenty of places with fun Disney theming that little kids will love.
All-Star Resorts
Check out any of the All-Star resorts, or stay somewhere close to the parks for an easy trip back to your room after an exhausting day of walking. This is where Disneyland has a leg up on Disney World; their hotels are extremely close to the turnstiles, so less travel time in between!
The Pros and Cons of Staying At Disney World’s Value Resorts
Attractions and Theming
This is where each park has its own appeal. Let your toddler take the lead — what sort of Disney movies and characters are they into? Disneyland has Cars Land as well as the Avengers Campus for any Marvel fans. Disney World has Toy Story Land, with a brand-new restaurant. There are also a variety of character meals you can enjoy, with classic characters like Disney Princesses and Mickey Mouse to other favorites like Stitch and Donald Duck!
Car’s Land
Both Disney resorts have live shows too, like Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage in Disney World and the Disney Junior Dance Party at Disneyland. We have tons of resources on our site for all the attractions, character dining, and entertainment that kids will love, so have fun reading up on what you can look forward to on your trip!
This should help get you on the right track for planning a Disney vacation your entire family will enjoy. Stay tuned to our site for more tips and tricks to use on your trips!
Before heading out to Disney World, check out this list of the best rides for toddlers in the parks!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Which Disney park do you think is best for older kids? Share your ideas below!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Hands down, Disneyland for little kids. I’ve done both with my little and for the cost, we felt like we missed so much of Disney world. With Disneyland, we could do the parks until after lunch then pool time the rest of the day and never felt like we missed anything. Waaay less travel time for everything too at Disneyland.
Disneyland wins hands down if you have a little kid. You can get a hotel across the street that’s about 5 minutes away for half the price of Disney World. You can go back to the hotel and let your kid swim or nap without spending a half hour each way on a crowded bus. The hotel we stayed at had a forth floor viewing space where you could see the fireworks perfectly. That sure beats being crammed into a crowd of people that your kid can’t even see over. Plus Oogie Boogie Bash!