Real Moms Share Their Pre-Planning Tips For Walt Disney World

"No joke. My husband and I downloaded a map of Walt Disney World, which you can get on the site, and spent days pouring over it and discussing the rides we wanted to hit and others we could skip. It was like a daily ritual that helped us figure out the layout of the park while getting excited about the trip. Instead of bickering over where we were going or having to stop and look at that map constantly, we knew exactly where to go. Bonus? No one had a tantrum, including me." —Sarah, mom to an 8-year-old

"Download all apps, especially MyDisneyExperience, which includes all of your FastPass+ modules and has the ability to change on the go. We heard about this app from a fellow line-waiter while at the park and couldn't believe we hadn't done this before we had arrived. The app lets you check availability of different rides and experiences (including meeting characters) and sign up like 30 days in advance." —Donna, mom to a 3-year-old and 5-year-old

"I was amazed to find out you can make restaurant reservations months and months in advance, and I really suggest you do it before heading to the park. We made reservations for lunch at the same place and time every day while we were at the park, and it really made the visit. We knew that the restaurant we selected had all of our little guy's favorites. He loved knowing what to expect and made several staff friends." —Megan, mom to a 3-year-old

And, as a special bonus, Guests of Disney Resort Hotels, including Disney Vacation Club Guests, can enjoy an extended window for making dining reservations. Starting 180 days in advance of your arrival date, you can book dining for the entire length of your stay.

"Make a checklist of all the random things you know you are prone to forgetting and go shopping. I always pack extra travel-sized sunblock and toothpaste. Don't forget a reusable water bottle, band-aids, and hand wipes or hand sanitizer. Literally think like you're packing a diaper bag for your toddler who doesn't really need one anymore." —Jena, mom to a 4-year-old

"I made the big mistake of promising my daughter that we'd see Tinker Bell while we were at the park without doing any research before heading out. Turned out the wait to see her was over an hour and my little cutie had a complete breakdown. My husband wasn't having it, so went on a big-kid ride while we waited it out. Use your FastPass+ to sign up for time to meet your child's favorite characters. Seriously. Do it now." —Lisa, mom to a 4-year-old and 7-year-old

"I don't know about you, but I'm constantly taking pictures on my phone. Then I can't stop myself from posting everywhere and I'm caught up in a social wormhole. I didn't want to miss anything while at the park, so signed up for Memory Maker from Disney's PhotoPass. You can also rely on Disney's PhotoPass, where photographers throughout the parks take guest photos. I was a bit skeptical, but it really worked and I was able to live in the moment instead of trying to get pictures of everything. I even got myself in a couple of pictures, which was really nice." —Izzy, mom to a 2-year-old, 5-year-old, and 9-year-old

From first words to first steps to the first day of school, there are so many special “firsts” for families with little ones to experience. Walt Disney World guests traveling with little ones are sure to add to the many “firsts” in their preschoolers’ lives. Check out disneyworld.disney.go.com/preschool for help in planning that perfect vacation with your preschooler.