Disney with a Toddler

After surviving our 14-hour overnight road trip and finally getting some actual sleep, we were pumped and ready to embrace our Disney adventure! Theo, our little trooper, was just over a year old—16 months to be exact—when we decided to brave the July heat and humidity with him. And when I say, "heat and humidity," I mean the kind that makes you question every life choice that led you to Florida in the middle of summer. But hey, we were here to make memories!

As you can see, Theo was not a big fan of the Florida summer heat!

We planned to hit three different Disney parks: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Typhoon Lagoon (because what better way to escape the heat than with a water park?). First up, Epcot—definitely more of a "mom and dad" kind of experience than a toddler playground. The promise of unique foods and drinks from around the world had us hooked. I’d done some research (thanks, internet) and stumbled upon the “Drinking Around the World” challenge, which sounded like a fun way to, you know, stay hydrated...with alcohol.

Now, my wife and I aren’t big drinkers—more of a “beer on a Friday night” couple. But the challenge? It sounded manageable. I mean, it’s only 11 to 13 drinks, spread across the entire day, right? How hard could it be?

Spoiler alert: very hard. After four beers from four different countries—within an hour and a half, mind you—I quickly realized I’d severely underestimated the Florida heat and humidity combo. By 10 a.m., I was stumbling through Epcot with a grin on my face, buying Theo sugary treats like a dad on a mission. Theo, bless his little heart, happily accepted most of the snacks, though some were clearly not his jam. But hey, when your dad’s on a sugar-fueled high, you roll with it.

Theo absolutely loved the chocolate covered mickey marshmallow on a stick!

Despite the heat, there was plenty to keep us—and even Theo—entertained. The attractions, galleries, and different sites gave us enough to explore without completely melting into the pavement. Around noon, we decided it was time for Theo’s afternoon nap, and the fact that our hotel was only 10 minutes away from the parks felt like an absolute win. Theo crashed immediately, and honestly, so did we. That Florida sun? It doesn’t mess around.

After recharging, we headed back to Epcot for our dinner reservation at the Coral Reef Restaurant. This place was incredible, with a massive 2,000-square-foot aquarium wall filled with all kinds of sea creatures. We figured it would keep Theo mesmerized long enough for us to enjoy a peaceful meal. And it worked...for about 20 minutes. Then Theo, being the energetic toddler he is, decided he’d had enough of the highchair life. So, like all good parents, we rushed through the rest of our meal and took the hint to keep moving.

Our seats at the Coral Reef with an aquarium to distract a toddler.

Despite the whirlwind, it was a day filled with laughter, sweet treats, and a lot of love—and isn’t that what Disney is all about? Well, that and trying to stay cool in the Florida heat.

Epcot had a handful of rides, but only one or two were suitable for someone as little as Theo. At about 32 inches tall, Theo was a compact powerhouse. He didn’t look heavy, but it was like he came pre-installed with muscles! As we walked around, finding more treats and adult beverages, I still felt like garbage from my earlier "drinking around the world" fiasco. Between that and the heat, I tapped out after just one more drink that evening, bringing my grand total to five. Honestly, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that... but let’s just blame it on the Florida sun.

A couple of family photos at Epcot.

On our way out of the park, we spotted a ride that welcomed all shapes and sizes. It’s called Spaceship Earth and is housed in that giant golf-ball-looking structure that’s practically Epcot’s mascot. The ride was slow, mostly dark, with flickering lights and videos playing, so we figured it’d be a nice, calm way to wrap up our day. What we didn’t realize was that this ride was 16... minutes... long. Theo, God love him, is an amazing one-year-old as long as we’re moving and seeing new things. But being stuck in a dark, slow-moving ride for that long? Let's just say the last few minutes were... a challenge.

After we made it off the ride, we headed back to the car and took the short 10-minute drive to our hotel. It was around 9 p.m. when we got back, and we started Theo’s bedtime routine—shower, wind-down, the whole deal. Right at 9:30 p.m., we could hear the fireworks going off. We peeked out the window and caught a few glimpses in the distance—not the most spectacular view, but still worth mentioning. We finished up with Theo’s routine and laid him down to sleep, marking the end of our first successful Epcot adventure, both for him and for me.

A few days later, we geared up for our big day at Magic Kingdom. Now, before anyone woke up that morning, I set my alarm extra early to snag something called “Genie+.” It’s a service that lets you schedule rides and attractions, and you couldn’t purchase it until 7 a.m. on the day of your reserved park day. So, there I was, wide awake at 6:45 a.m., sitting in the dark, waiting like a Disney ninja. At 7 a.m. sharp, I snagged the Genie+ for about $30-35 extra per person and settled in to watch the news while my excitement for the day built up.

I was practically buzzing with excitement because I just knew Theo was going to love Magic Kingdom. Eventually, I woke up my wife, and together we got Theo up. We headed down for another round of Mickey-shaped waffles and chocolate milk to fuel up for the day. The drive to Magic Kingdom was a little further—about 15 minutes total—but when we hit those Disney grounds and saw the iconic Walt Disney World arch with its blue and yellow flags, that’s when it really hit me.

My wife was filming a Snapchat as we drove through, and she added this slow piano version of "When You Wish Upon a Star." I caught a glimpse of it at a red light, and out of nowhere, I was hit with this wave of emotion. I nearly teared up, choking down a lump in my throat. Looking back, I realize that feeling came from knowing I was giving my son something I never had growing up—the chance to experience the magic. And that, right there, was everything.

Anyway, we arrive at the Magic Kingdom parking lot and let me tell you—I had no idea what I was getting into. This parking lot was massive. Turns out, Magic Kingdom is the only park where you don’t just walk from the parking lot to the entrance; you need a shuttle. So, we park, unload all the gear, and head to the shuttle pickup. Thankfully, since we got there early, the wait wasn’t too bad. We folded up the stroller, crammed ourselves onto the shuttle, and took a short five-minute ride to the entrance.

The entrance to the biggest parking lot I've ever seen and Theo enjoying the shuttle ride.

Once we unloaded (again), we were greeted by the security line. The bag and stroller check took about 15 minutes, because apparently everyone comes to Magic Kingdom. Then we had another five-minute wait to get through admissions, and just when I thought we were in the clear—nope, time for the tram! Another ride, another breakdown of the stroller, and finally, we arrived at the entrance to the park.

Now, I’d never been to Magic Kingdom before, so walking onto the iconic Main Street was a total "pinch me" moment. It was like stepping into a dream! We strolled down the street, and there it was: the castle. I had one of those surreal, "is this real life?" feelings, like my inner child was doing cartwheels. It was warming up quickly, so we hustled to grab a selfie with Theo, but he was already over it. Our “picture-perfect” moment? More like Theo looking impatient, ready to bolt. But hey, those imperfect pictures are the ones that mean the most.

Theo was ready to ride some rides...

As we made our way down Main Street, I used Genie+ to book us a spot on It’s a Small World. We had about half an hour to kill, so we hopped on the Mad Tea Party ride—those spinning teacups with the wheel in the center. Theo loved it. I got a video of him grinning from ear to ear, laughing as my wife and I spun the cup. Seeing him that happy was one of those moments where the sentimental parent in me was ready to cry, but I pushed it down and focused on the fun.

Theo on the Mad Tea Party ride. His first ever ride at Magic Kingdom.

Next up: It’s a Small World. Now, I’d been on this ride years ago at Disneyland, but for some reason, this time it felt... weird. Sure, it’s cute, but those animatronics? A little creepy! Theo, bless him, had a look on his face that was somewhere between concerned and slightly freaked out. By the end, we were all ready to get off that boat.

Theo on It's a small world, I think we all looked like this.

Over the next few hours, we hit a bunch of rides—Haunted Mansion, Winnie the Pooh, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Magic Kingdom is super accommodating for little ones, and despite Theo being just over a year old, he could ride most things. But Pirates of the Caribbean? That one threw us for a loop. The ride info mentioned some “moderate thrills,” but since they let Theo on, we didn’t think much of it. At one point, though, the boat takes this surprise drop, and I barely saw it coming because the lighting was so low. I clutched Theo tight as we plunged down, water splashing everywhere. I fully expected him to be terrified, but when I looked down, he had this huge grin plastered on his face. He loved it.

As most of us know, Florida weather is like a toddler on a sugar rush—completely unpredictable. Right after finishing our ride, the skies opened up, and it started pouring. Now, normally I can’t stand being wet, but honestly, after enduring the 90-degree heat and sticky humidity, the rain felt like a weirdly refreshing shower from the heavens. It was about noon, and Theo was ready for his nap, so we made our way back to the hotel. This time, catching the tram and shuttle was a breeze—no wait at all. We took the quick 10-minute drive, and before we knew it, all three of us were snoozing, gearing up for the second half of the day.

After our power nap, we got ready and headed back to the park, going through the whole routine—shuttle, security, tram ride, admissions—it’s like a mini-marathon just to get back in. But we managed to get through it all in about 30 minutes. Our first stop was Casey’s Corner for some good ol’ comfort food. Two massive hot dogs, fries, and a happy toddler—what more could we ask for? Theo, being a fry enthusiast, was all about it. With full bellies, we were ready for more rides.

Theo having the time of his life.

As the evening rolled on, we took a chance and got in line for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. It’s a slow-moving, theater-style ride that rotates in a big circle, showcasing scenes from Walt Disney’s life with animatronics and voiceovers. To be honest, we were a little nervous because Theo isn’t exactly known for his ability to sit still for long. We debated leaving, but figured, "Why not? Let’s see how this goes."

And wouldn’t you know it—Theo surprised us! He sat there, quietly watching each scene, totally absorbed. About halfway through, I looked down at him, and he was staring up at me. Then, out of nowhere, he gave me the biggest, sweetest smile—just pure, innocent joy. That familiar rush of emotion hit me hard, and I had to fight back tears. I leaned down, gave him a hug and a kiss on the head, and in that moment, everything else just faded away. Those little moments make every challenge worth it.

Theo loved seeing and pointing out all the Disney characters.

We hopped on a few more rides, and as it started to get dark, we made our way to the castle for the famous fireworks show. Now, earlier in the day, we noticed people already camping out for prime viewing spots. We were kind of shocked—there are so many things to do at Magic Kingdom, but these people were holding their spots for hours, just waiting for fireworks! By the time we got there, the crowd was packed in, and it felt like a human mosh pit. People were pushing, shoving, and squeezing their way into any available inch of space. It was the first time we saw the less magical side of Disney.

Finally, the fireworks started, and all the chaos melted away as Theo’s face lit up in total awe. For 15 minutes, he was completely mesmerized. When the show ended, the park turned into a sea of people all trying to leave at once. But we decided to take our time, wandering around a bit longer while the crowd thinned out.

Nighttime at Disney with a toddler is so special.

For our final ride of the night, we took Theo on The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. It’s a cute ride with flying carpet seats that go around in circles, with a lever to make them go up and down. Theo was all in—laughing and smiling the whole time. But when the ride came to an end? Cue the waterworks. He didn’t want it to stop and started crying, but we managed to calm him down and slowly made our way back down Main Street.

Before we left, we popped into a few more shops, making a final stop at a candy store. We picked up a few treats for ourselves, and of course, we couldn’t leave without getting Theo another Mickey-shaped marshmallow covered in chocolate. He had already devoured a couple of these throughout the day, and this one? Just as much of a

hit.

What a magical sight.

As we left the park and got in line for the train ride back to the parking lot, we quickly realized our plan of waiting out the crowds was, well, a bit too optimistic. The line stretched out long, and we were stuck waiting for about 25 minutes. Fatigue was creeping in, and I was feeling every bit of it. But then, in one of those heart-melting, out-of-nowhere moments, I looked down at Theo. There he was, all lounged out in his stroller, completely unfazed by the chaos, with chocolate and marshmallow smeared all over his little face. He looked up at me with this sleepy, innocent smile, and in that moment, my heart turned to mush right there on the concrete.

Theo with ANOTHER marshmallow treat and eventually settling down after a fun filled day.

Eventually, we made our way back to the car and headed to the hotel. We cleaned Theo up, but thanks to all those sugary treats, he got a second wind. And then, one of the funniest moments of the entire trip happened. Earlier, I had bought a pair of oversized white Mickey hands, and Theo decided now was the time to put them on. So, there he was, running around the hotel room, clapping those giant hands together like a little cartoon character. My wife and I couldn’t stop laughing. It was one of those moments where you think, “I’ll remember this forever.” Eventually, Theo settled down, and we managed to get him to sleep after what was, overall, a mostly successful first Disney vacation.

Looking back, I honestly wouldn’t change a single thing about our adventure with our one-year-old. Theo was an absolute rockstar at both Disney parks. I was impressed with how many rides we could actually take him on. Also, just to note, at that time, I was weighing around 320 pounds. I’m a big guy—broad shoulders, just a larger frame in general. But even so, I had no issues getting on rides with Theo and my wife. So, for any parents out there who might be worried about that, don’t be. Magic Kingdom is super accommodating, even for us bigger folks with little ones in tow.

One thing I absolutely recommend is getting Genie+ (or whatever fast pass system they’re using now). It saved us so much time! I think we paid about $30-$40 per person, and Theo, being under three, didn’t need a pass. For busy parents with toddlers who have the patience of, well, toddlers, it’s a no-brainer. You don’t want to spend hours in line when you can be making memories.

Speaking of which, let me address something that I heard a lot before we went to Disney: “Why are you taking a one-year-old? He’s not going to remember any of it.” I can’t even count how many times I heard that from coworkers, friends, even some family. But here’s the thing: they’re right. Theo won’t remember this trip. But we will. The memories my wife and I made, the photos, the videos, those priceless, sentimental moments—that’s what we’ll carry with us forever. And THAT, my friends, was worth every single penny.

So, if you’re on the fence about doing something like Disney with a little one, just go for it. Sure, your kid might not remember it, but you will. You’ll be making memories that will last a lifetime, and trust me, those memories are priceless. I hope this helps someone out there take that leap. Remember, your child’s childhood is a beautiful reflection of your journey as a parent. Make those memories while your kids are still small—because they only stay that way for so long. Take care!