The Grandparent's Guide to Disney: Core Magic Memories
core magic memories
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For Grandparents & Grandkids

The Grandparent’s Guide
to Disney

Real advice from three days at Disney with our two-year-old grandson in tow, written by two grandparents who came home exhausted and still call it one of the best trips we've taken.

Who Went
Grandma & Grandpa, our 11-year-old, and our 2-year-old grandson
Trip Length
3 days at the parks
The Verdict
Worth every minute, and every nap

In 2026, my husband and I took our youngest, our 11-year-old son, and our two-year-old grandson to Disney. Three generations, one trip, and about a thousand photos.

Our grandson was perfect the entire time. He rode everything he was tall enough for, smiled through all of it, and gave us every bit of the magic we'd pictured when we booked the trip.

We were dead by day three.

Here's the part that doesn't make it into the pictures in your head: ten hours a day pushing a stroller, parking a stroller, and at least once, losing the stroller. The extra bathroom breaks, because toddlers have tiny bladders and even tinier warning systems. The constant snack rotation. Knowing what rider swap is, and actually using it, because you will need it.

Our grandson had the time of his life. We loved every second of it. Both of those things are true, and if you're planning a trip like ours, we want you to walk in knowing both.

What We'd Do Again

5 Things That Actually Helped

These are the decisions that made the difference between a hard trip and a good one.

1

Get the suite.

Book two rooms with two TVs. It sounds like a splurge, but it means naptime doesn't have to interrupt anyone else's day, and everybody actually gets a break.

2

Plan rest time into every single day.

Not a suggestion, a requirement. Build it into the schedule the same way you'd plan a park.

3

Book a character dining. It's a must.

Character meet and greet lines in the parks run long, and a long line with a toddler is a meltdown waiting to happen. A sit-down character meal solves that, and gives everyone a chance to sit down too.

4

Have no expectations.

The day will not go the way you pictured it, and that's completely fine. Let the trip be what it is.

5

Rope drop is your friend.

Most toddlers are up early anyway, so you might as well be walking through the gates when they open.

Good to Know

Before You Go

Keep their schedule.

Try to stick to your grandkids' normal nap and meal times as closely as you can. A tired toddler at Disney makes for a tough afternoon for everyone.

You might not see the nighttime stuff.

Fireworks and late park hours are a big ask for a toddler, and probably for you too by that point. It's okay to miss them this trip.

Only plan a couple of park days with little ones.

Multiple days in a row is a lot, especially when it's been a while since toddlers were part of your daily life. A couple of park days with a slower day mixed in goes a long way.

Our Best Advice
“Bring the parents.”

If you can, bring your grandchild's own mom and dad along too. It means the days get managed better, everyone gets a turn to rest, and the whole family gets to chip in and help. It's not cheating. It's smart.

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