Tips for taking a toddler to Orlando

Hi!

We just returned from a wonderful vacation in Orlando with our three-year-old and five-year-old. Though we have visited Orlando many times, I am always discovering new ways to make the trip more memorable for the entire family. Here are my top tips for taking a toddler (or any young child) to Orlando.

Check out ticket promotions

Paying a hefty price for your youngest visitors can be a budget breaker. Many Orlando attractions offer free admission and other deals to entice families to visit the parks even though they have babies and toddlers in tow.

This year, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens brought back a wonderful deal known as the Preschool Card. You can reserve a Preschool Card online at www.seaworldparks.com. This card will get you free admission for children five years and under for the entire year!

Pick the right hotel

There are so many resorts in Orlando to choose from! I recommend choosing accommodations with more than one a room for a memorable and relaxing family vacation. After all, your hotel is a large portion of your budget so it should be remembered as more than a place to sleep.

I have stayed at several dozen Orlando hotels and my family has picked a favorite. The Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is the perfect resort for an Orlando family vacation. The family friendly amenities will impress even the youngest guests. When you are not at the park your kids will have a blast enjoying the hotel, taking part in the Ritz Kids Club, which keeps everyone happy and free from boredom. The location of the Ritz Carlton gives you the sense of seclusion while being minutes from all the local attractions. They also offer transportation to all the large theme parks, saving you the added parking fees.

Have groceries delivered

It is nice to have some familiar snacks when traveling with young kids.  Taking advantage of a a grocery delivery service will save you time and money while vacationing in Orlando. Place an order by shopping on their website. At checkout you simply specify a delivery location and time. I can personally recommend two grocery delivery services: ” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Orlando Grocery Express and Garden Grocer.

Stroller rentals

Bypass the headache of bringing your stroller or having to pay outrageous theme park day rates by renting a nice stroller from a company like Kingdom Strollers. We love and trust Kingdom Strollers because they deliver and pick up the rental free of charge to your hotel even if you are not present. They offer nice single and double strollers in great condition from brands like BOB and City Mini.

If you have ever rented a theme park stroller for a few hours you know how uncomfortable it is. These stroller rental services solve that problem and are a better deal than the theme park rates. Plus, it saves you the hassle of traveling with your stroller from home.

Pack light up souvenirs

Everywhere you go in Orlando, there will be light up souvenirs that are tempting and fun for young kids. When everyone is parading around with brightly colored toys and necklaces it is hard to say no. We always make a stop at the Dollar Tree or Target dollar bin to grab some light up necklaces, bubble wands, swords and stickers before our Orlando vacation. We save tons of money and the kids get to decorate them with stickers in the hotel room before we head to the park.

Take one night to enjoy all the I-Drive 360 attractions.

Most Orlando vacations are packed with theme parks and attractions. Make sure to plan one night of your vacation to include I-Drive 360. There are a lot of attractions up and down International Drive, but if you only have one free night I highly recommend families with young kids to visit the attractions in the I-Drive 360 complex. All ages will enjoy the attractions here including toddlers! The I-Drive 360 attractions include

• SEA LIFE Aquarium,
• the Orlando Eye,
• Madame Tussaud's and
• SKELETONS.

You can often save money at these attractions when you purchase admission online in advance. Read my full review of I-Drive 360 at A Cupful of Carters HERE.

Try a Dinner Show

Dinner shows are a fun way to eat while also experiencing something new. There are a number of family-friendly dinner shows in Orlando. The Hoop-Dee Do Musical Revue at Walt Disney World, Wantilan Luau at Loews Royal Pacific Resort and the Medieval Times are my top three Orlando dinner show experiences. If you have seen the featured parts of The Medieval Times Tournament from the Cable Guy then you may have wondered what it is really like to watch a live medieval tournament.

Read all about our Medieval Times Orlando experience at A Cupful of Carters and see tons of photos.

How else can we help?

Want the best price on tickets in Orlando? There are lots of ways to avoid paying full price!

• Buy discounted Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets from Get Away Today Vacations.
• Save up to 55% at 30+ Orlando area attractions, including LEGOLAND, with the Go Orlando Card.
• Look for deals on Groupon. SEA LIFE Aquarium, dinner shows and other popular attractions often offer deep discounts.
• Toddlers get in FREE at many popular attractions! Check official websites before you buy tickets.

Mandy

Mandy blogs about her family travels at ACupful.com. She wants to inspire parents to explore with their kids! In addition to her favorite job of being the mother to two crazy little kids, she is the owner of a freelance marketing business, a family travel writer, and speaker. All images in this article are copyright by Mandy Carter.