Travel · Family · Real Talk
Three trips in, heading back in August — here’s everything we know about surviving (and loving) Disney with littles.
We’ve done Disney with a 10-month-old and a 2-year-old. We’ve done it in December and in May. And now we’re voluntarily heading back in August. Either we’ve completely lost our minds, or we’ve finally figured out enough of the system to feel confident. Probably both.
Our Disney Story So Far
Before kids, Derek and I went to Disney in the middle of July with my cousins. I swore up and down I would never do that again. The heat was relentless, the crowds were unbearable, and I spent most of the trip wondering why anyone thought this was a good idea in the summer. Famous last words, because here we are — booking flights for August with two toddlers in tow.
What changed? We’re lucky enough to have a vacation rental in Sarasota that we get down to a few times a year, and it’s only about two hours from Disney. So over time, Disney became a natural add-on. A few days here, a split trip there. We could honestly do it as a day trip if we wanted to. Having that proximity has completely changed how we think about going — it feels less like a massive production and more like just… a park day. If you’re interested in renting, it’s very family friendly. You can click on the Airbnb link to see reviews, but we also do have a direct booking site that will save everyone on fees!
🌸 Trip One — May
Cole: 10 months · Zoey: 2.5 yrs
Hot, a little chaotic, and a huge learning experience. We overpacked, we were nervous, and we figured out a lot by trial and error.
❄️ Trip Two — December
Cole: 19 months · Zoey: almost 3
Mid-60s and absolutely perfect. We packed lighter, felt more relaxed, and actually enjoyed it so much more knowing what to expect.
☀️ Trip Three — August
Coming up — send prayers We know what’s coming this time. We’ve done the research, upgraded our gear, and we’re going in with a plan.
😂 Honest Mom Moment
I said I would never go back in summer after doing it pre-kids. And now I’m willingly going in August with two toddlers. The fact that we’re only two hours from Disney has absolutely ruined me in the best way.
The Stroller Decision: Our #1 Priority
If there is one thing I researched more than anything else before our first trip, it was the double stroller. This is not a place to cut corners. You will be walking miles, navigating crowds, loading on and off buses and the monorail, and your stroller is basically your base camp for the whole day.
We already had the UPPAbaby Vista, but honestly? I’m not a fan for Disney. My kids have always been off the charts for height, so they outgrew the seats faster than expected, and the thing is just heavy and cumbersome to travel with (check out my traveling with toddlers post). I wanted something purpose-built for a day like this.
After weeks of research, it came down to two options:
| Feature | Valco Trend Duo Our Pick | Zoe Double |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Side by side | Side by side |
| Recline | Almost fully flat | Reclines, but less so |
| Sun coverage | Sunshades cover nearly the full seat | Partial coverage |
| Build quality | Solid, premium feel | Lighter — felt less durable in person |
| Convertible | Doubles only | Can convert to a triple stroller |
| Price / where to buy | Facebook Marketplace (great deal!) or Albee Baby | Amazon / direct |
I actually found our Valco on Facebook Marketplace which was a great score. If you’re buying new, Albee Baby often runs better sales than Amazon. And while I see way more Zoe strollers at the park, every time I spotted one I felt good about our choice — up close the Valco just felt more solid and substantial. Cole took naps in the stroller every day on our trip and that in of itself is worth it!
Pro Tip:
If you think you might ever need a triple stroller, the Zoe’s convertibility is worth considering. But for pure Disney performance, the Valco’s sunshade coverage and near-flat recline are hard to beat, especially for nap time in the park.
Building Out the Stroller Setup
The stroller is just the foundation. Once you have that locked in, there are a few add-ons that genuinely make the day run smoother.
Stroller Accessories
Insulated pocket for water bottles, plus pouches for sunscreen, snacks, and everything else you need at arm’s reach- Must Have
We used these the entire trip. Holds snack cups and water bottles perfectly — keeps everything accessible without digging- Must Have
Game changer for the Disney popcorn bucket, diaper bag, or a shopping bag. Stops you from constantly loading and unloading the under-basket.- Must Have
We had a regular fan last time — fine for May, but for August we’re considering upgrading to a misting fan.- Upgrade
Still debating these for August. The kids are bigger now and I’m not sure how much they’ll use them, but the concept is solid for the heat.- Still Debating
🌧️Rain Cover + Lunch Box
The rain cover lives under the stroller. A small insulated lunch box tucks in right alongside it — cool snacks at the ready.- Love It
☀️ August Heat Strategy
The Ryobi fan from Home Depot is everywhere on Disney parent forums right now. It’s a proper battery-powered fan (not a tiny clip-on) that runs 12+ hours on a charge. Yes, you have to haul the battery. Yes, it’s worth it. Get two- one for the stroller and one for the person pushing the stroller. We’re also bringing cooling towels and I’m seriously considering a neck fan for myself.
What’s in My Bag
Over three trips, this packing list has been refined down to the things that actually earn their weight. No fluff.
- ✓ Waterproof shoes for the kids — non-negotiable if there’s any chance of a splash pad or wet ground. I always pack a pair.
- ✓ One full change of clothes per kid, in wet bags — the wet bag is the key. Sweaty or wet clothes go straight in without contaminating everything else in the bag.
- ✓ Baby wipes + sanitizing wipes — even without little ones in diapers, you will use these constantly.
- ✓ Sunscreen — we use Babo Botanicals for clean coverage and the Bob Kids brush-on for their faces and hair. The brush makes touch-ups on a squirmy toddler actually manageable.
- ✓ Cooling towels — skipped these in December, definitely bringing them in August.
- ✓ Bandaids — just always. Someone always needs one.
- ✓ Stainless steel water bottles + snack cups — water stays cold all day in the stroller snack trays. Snack cups the kids can hold and carry without spilling everything.
- ✓ Fanny pack for mom — I wear this for my wallet and phone. Keeps my hands free and means I’m not digging through the stroller bag every five minutes.
- ✓ Deodorant wipes — just trust me on this one.
- ✓ Spandex shorts/skort + Brooks running sneakers — I’ve ran marathons in these. Nothing beats a supportive running sneaker for a 12-hour park day.
- ✓ Mesh foldable tote bag — lives in the stroller and doubles as a pool/beach bag on Sarasota trips. When you have to fold the stroller for the bus or monorail, you can throw everything in quickly without the chaos.
- ✓ AirTag on the stroller + pink duct tape on the handles — the duct tape sounds silly but stroller parking at Disney is genuinely chaotic. The visual identifier helps immediately without being one of those families with a flag or sign.
- Shop everything we bring with us here, plus a few extras!
The Wet Bag Trick:
Put each child’s change of clothes inside its own wet bag before you leave the hotel. If they need to change, dirty clothes go straight back in the bag — no wet or grimy clothes mixing with the clean stuff. It’s such a small thing but it makes the mid-day change-up so much smoother.
The second time we went, I knew what to expect — and we packed so much less. Having a system going in makes everything less overwhelming.
The Real Lesson After Two Trips and Going Into Our Third
The first time we went, I panicked. I thought you needed to have every possible item covered for every possible scenario, and I packed accordingly. The stroller looked like we were moving in for the week.
The second trip? December, cooler temps, and I already had the rhythm of the day down. We packed lighter, moved faster, and genuinely had more fun. The stuff I’d been nervous about the first time just wasn’t that big a deal.
Going in for August, I’m not stressed about the crowds or the logistics — I know how to handle those now. My focus is purely on the heat and the afternoon thunderstorms that are almost guaranteed that time of year. Rain ponchos are already on the list.
⭐ Bottom Line
No packing list in the world is universal. Weather changes everything, your kids change everything, and what works for one family doesn’t always work for another. But having a system — even a loose one — going into a Disney day with toddlers makes it feel so much more manageable than showing up and figuring it out as you go.
August, We’re Coming For You 🌞
Wish us luck — and if you’ve done Disney with toddlers in the summer heat and survived, drop your best tip below. We’re collecting all the wisdom we can get.
Written from experience (and a little bit of chaos) ·
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Real Parenting, Real Talk
Carolyn Whitman 
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