Walt Disney World is one of the best places to take young children without too many challenges in “managing” them.
During my trips, I’ve seen many families with very small children—even just a few months old.
Federico was 5 and a half years old the first time we visited WDW as a family, and everything went smoothly.
Family trip to Orlando in 2015
Walt wanted to create a place where parents could have fun *together* with their children, and I can confidently say—he succeeded.
Almost all attractions at Walt Disney World are suitable for young children.
Height restrictions are clearly marked at the entrance of each ride, on the paper maps, and also in the park’s official app.
In this article, I’ll describe the services the Resort provides for families with young children:
- Strollers
- Baby Care Centers
- Lost children services
- Rider Switch
- Cribs
STROLLERS
Stroller management at WDW is incredibly well-organized.
Near almost every attraction, you’ll find a sign indicating the designated stroller parking area.
A cast member will make sure it’s parked neatly with the others, and you can retrieve it once you exit the attraction.
My tip: personalize it with a colorful ribbon, balloon, or sign—otherwise, finding it among dozens of similar strollers can turn into a real scavenger hunt and waste a lot of time!
American families are incredibly creative at making their strollers stand out.
You have several stroller options:
- Bring your own from home
- Buy one locally
- Rent one on site
- Use one for free
Bring your own from home
This is probably the most obvious and reassuring solution for most parents.
Many airlines allow stroller check-in at no extra charge, but I recommend checking directly with your airline.
PROS
You already own it, and it doesn’t cost anything extra.
CONS
Managing a stroller on top of your luggage during long travel days can be stressful.
If you rent a car, consider how much space it will take up in the trunk.
And after walking so many kilometers in just a few days, there’s a chance it could get damaged—or worse, lost!
Buy one locally
It might sound crazy, but in my experience, buying gear specifically for your vacation can actually make a lot of sense.
You can find good-quality strollers at Walmart for just a few dollars.
PROS
If your child is at that stage where you’re unsure whether they’ll use it, this is a great solution—you can wait and buy one only if needed.
Your nice stroller back home in Italy stays pristine, and the one you buy locally can be left at the hotel as a gift.
CONS
The only downside: you can’t buy a stroller inside WDW. You’ll need to go to a large store using Uber or your rental car.
Rent one on site
At the entrance of all 6 Disney parks and at Disney Springs, you can rent two types of strollers: single and double.
Single strollers cost $15 per day, or $13/day for multi-day rentals.
Double strollers cost $31 per day, or $27/day for multi-day rentals.
Even if you rent it for multiple days, you can’t take it outside the park.
If you plan to visit multiple parks in the same day, you’ll need to return the stroller at the first park’s exit and present your rental receipt at the next park to receive another one.
For more info, visit the park’s official stroller rental page.
PROS
You rent it only when and if you need it.
CONS
You can’t take it outside the parks.
The cost adds up quickly if you’re staying multiple days.
Being made of hard plastic, it’s not the most comfortable option for kids—especially under the Florida heat!
Use One for Free
As I mentioned in my article on where to stay in Orlando, it’s quite common to find strollers in the vacation homes and villas you can rent throughout the city.
They might be a bit worn out or not in perfect condition, but in 2015 we used one when Federico wasn’t feeling 100%—and it was a lifesaver.
PROS
It’s free!
CONS
Not guaranteed to be available.
BABY CARE
Located inside all four Disney theme parks, Baby Care Centers offer a convenient place to feed, change, and nurse little ones.
They offer more than just privacy—these fully equipped centers provide a variety of helpful services for parents with infants and toddlers.
Open during regular park hours, each full-service facility is free to use and includes:
- Private nursing room with rocking chairs
- Changing room with tables and a women’s restroom
- Feeding area with highchairs
- Kitchen with microwave and sink
- Main room with TV, table, and seating
- On-site shop offering formula, baby food, juice, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, over-the-counter meds, and clothing
While water parks, Disney Resort hotels, and Disney Springs don’t have Baby Care Centers, changing tables are available in most restrooms.
Where to Find Them
At Magic Kingdom, it’s located next to The Crystal Palace restaurant.
At EPCOT, it’s near the Mexico Pavilion.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’s just to the left as you enter the park.
At Animal Kingdom, it’s located far to the left of Discovery Island.
LOST CHILDREN
The biggest fear for us parents is losing sight of our kids.
But rest assured—Disney parks are among the safest places in the world.
If a Cast Member spots a child in distress, they’ll be taken straight to the park’s BABY CARE CENTER, where parents can go to be reunited with them.
Okay, maybe it sounds a bit too easy, but it does happen—and it’s always best to be prepared for anything.
RIDER SWITCH
Rider Switch is such a simple, useful system that I honestly can’t believe it doesn’t exist in Italy!
If a child doesn’t meet the height requirement or simply doesn’t want to go on a particular ride, no problem.
With Rider Switch, one adult can wait with them while the rest of the group enjoys the attraction.
It’s a great option if you don’t want to (or can’t) use the single rider line.
How to Use Rider Switch:
- Check the park map or app to confirm that the service is available for the attraction.
- Go to the ride entrance and let a Cast Member know you want to use Rider Switch. They’ll divide your group into two. The first group (“Party 1”) will enter the regular queue, while “Party 2” will wait in a designated area and receive the Rider Switch entitlement.
- After riding, “Party 1” notifies the Cast Member and meets up with “Party 2” in the waiting area.
- “Party 1” then takes over supervising the child(ren).
- “Party 2” is allowed to board the attraction without waiting again.
Trust me—it’s way easier to do than to explain 😅
We used this system several times at Universal Studios, where many rides are aimed at older guests.
At Walt Disney World, we never actually needed it.
Which Attractions Offer It?
Magic Kingdom Park
- The Barnstormer
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
EPCOT
- Frozen Ever After
- Mission: SPACE
- Soarin’
- Test Track
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue
- Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
- Kali River Rapids
- Na’vi River Journey
- Primeval Whirl
CRIBS
If you’re staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, you can request a free crib at the time of booking or upon arrival.
If you know in advance that you’ll need one, don’t hesitate to ask—availability is limited.
CONCLUSION
Now you have no excuse not to visit WDW with your little ones.
Every service is designed to make your day easier as a parent—so you can truly enjoy the magic with the whole family.
