Walt Disney World Parks for Toddlers

I love Typhoon Lagoon as the best place to visit with kids under five, but if the water parks are closed, you need other options. Plus, my ideas on Disney World park alternatives if you’re on a budget are great low-key non-park options when visiting Disney World with a Toddler, but you came to Disney for the Pixie Dust; to go into the parks to experience the parades, the rides, and the sound of magic.
There are four fantastic parks from which to visit: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Yet, two of these are especially suitable for young children. Here is why these are my two favorite Disney World Parks for young children:

Favorite Walt Disney World Parks for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Animal Kingdom. Most attractions here are toddler-friendly. Whether it is a show, or the Kilimanjaro Safari, kids can experience more as there are very few rides with height restrictions. Plus, animals are always a great hit with kids. Animal Kingdom also has a large ‘sandbox’ in Dinoland, and a more child-friendly ride area as well. Take the train to the back of the property in the Africa area of the park for a fun change of pace and for a place to run around. At the entrance to Animal Kingdom is the Rainforest Cafe. It is very child friendly with its animal animatronics. With the thunder and lightening and animal noises, you don’t have to worry about the kids making a lot of noise themselves.
Magic Kingdom. Once the new expanded Fantasyland opens in early December (check out my coverage of it here), it will be the best park to visit when traveling with young children. Some suggestions are to visit the Fantasyland area as soon as the park opens. The lines can get very long. I don’t know about you, but my toddler cannot stand still for 45 minutes, in a line, waiting for a ride. Yet, there are other areas of the park that have attractions they would enjoy. The People Mover in Tomorrowland; the Pirates of the Carribean, the Jungle Cruise, and Tom Sawyer’s Island in Frontierland and Adventureland. Also consider taking the Disney Train around the perimeter of the park. You can embark right at the entrance of Magic Kingdom on Main Street USA. It will let you off in Frontierland, which will save some walking energy. Or consider a ride around the entire property when you need to give the kids some downtime.
Do you have any Disney vacation experience and tips to share?
Side Tip:
Buy a balloon when you enter the park and attach it to your stroller. Pull out a permanent marker that you brought from home (hint, hint) and write your name on both sides of the balloon. This way when you have to park your stroller for the shows or attractions, you will be able to find it later in the sea of similar looking strollers. Don’t rely on the fact that the stroller will be where you left it either. Disney employees often move strollers around to make room for other strollers. Why the marker suggestion on the balloon? There will be other similar balloons from other savvy parents. This way, you’ll even be able to tell which stroller with the blue balloon is yours.
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Charlene is a Mom now, but she remembers the magic for the first time in 1982. She remembers the days when Epcot was Epcot Center, when there was a place called River Country and MGM Studios, and when she was a lot skinnier in Disney photographs.