Disney with Little Kids

From Meltdowns to Magic: Our Disney Adventure with Two Kids Under 6

By Hannah Greer
A candid look at the highs and lows of theme park parenting.

The Fantasy—and the Reality

I had visions of our family strolling through Main Street, hand in hand, Mickey balloons bobbing overhead, and that classic castle framed perfectly behind us. Spoiler: that moment lasted exactly eight minutes. Then one kid tripped on their own shoelace, the other demanded a churro (at 9 AM), and someone spilled sunscreen on our park map.

But even amidst the chaos, Disney delivered. Just not in the ways I expected.

Planning Like a Pro (Still Not Enough)

I planned this trip like it was a military operation. I had color-coded itineraries, mobile orders pre-booked, and character dining scheduled down to the minute. But within hours, the kids re-wrote our plans. Turns out, 3-year-olds don’t care about your spreadsheet—they care about spinning teacups. Again. And again.

By day two, I tossed the schedule (and my expectations) out the window. We followed their pace. That meant more snack breaks, more shade, and fewer rides—but it also meant fewer meltdowns. Sometimes.

The Meltdowns Were Real (So Was the Magic)

Yes, there were tears. So many. From all of us.

Like when my son waited 45 minutes to meet Buzz Lightyear, then got too nervous to speak. Or when my daughter dropped her Minnie Mouse wand in a puddle and sobbed like her world had ended. Or the time both kids fell asleep five minutes before the parade.

But then came the magic: when Cinderella called my daughter “Princess” and she lit up like a thousand fireflies. When my son got a high-five from Goofy and talked about it for three days. When the fireworks started and we all huddled together in the dark, mouths open, hearts full.

What We Got Right

We brought a double stroller. Lifesaver.

We packed our own snacks. Massive win.

We booked a hotel walking distance from the park. Game changer.

Also, we learned to say yes more often: Yes to the same ride five times. Yes to dancing on the sidewalk. Yes to skipping lunch because someone just wanted popcorn and Mickey-shaped pretzels. Because what felt chaotic to us felt like freedom to them.

The Unexpectedly Beautiful Moments

It wasn’t the picture-perfect castle photos that stayed with me. It was the little things:

• My daughter spinning in her Elsa dress, completely in her own world.

• My son reaching for my hand during the Haunted Mansion, whispering, “It’s okay, Mama. I got you.”

• All of us singing “Let It Go” at the top of our lungs on the monorail, strangers joining in.

There were no filters, no perfectly staged memories—just real ones. Messy. Loud. Completely ours.

It Was Worth It (Every Single Bit)

Would I recommend taking two young kids to Disney? Yes—with a giant asterisk.

Go with low expectations and high flexibility. Forget perfection. Embrace the chaos. Pack patience and wet wipes. And know that somewhere between the tantrums and the churros, something magical happens.

Because your kids won’t remember the lines or the planning—they’ll remember that they were with you, in the most magical place on Earth.

Have you tackled Disney with little ones? Share your highs, lows, and favorite photos by tagging @AffordableJourney with #DisneyWithChaos.