Family Trip to Disney with Toddlers: Smart Tips & Park Must-Dos

This post outlines our family trip to Disney World!

Disney World during Super Bowl weekend? Yes, please! Our family trip to Orlando from February 7-10, 2025, was truly magical. With perfect weather, lighter crowds, and a well-planned itinerary, we made the most of our Disney experience while keeping costs reasonable. In this post, I’ll share all the details of our adventure, including must-know travel tips, how we saved money, and the custom Disney-themed outfits I designed for our crew! Plus, I’m linking some Amazon must-haves that made our trip easier.

Why We Chose Super Bowl Weekend for Disney

We visited Disney World with two amazing families from our neighborhood during the weekend of February 7-10, 2025, which happened to be Super Bowl weekend (Super Bowl LIV). While Orlando can be packed with tourists, we lucked out—crowds were lighter than usual, and the weather was comfortable, making it one of the best times for a family trip to Disney with small kids.

If you’re considering Disney, here’s why Super Bowl weekend is a great time to go:

Smaller crowds – Many families stayed home for the game.
Cooler weather – No scorching summer heat!
Shorter wait times – Rides like Space Mountain and Avatar Flight of Passage had reasonable lines.

Where We Stayed: Airbnb vs. Hotel

With three families (13 people total), including several young kids, we decided to rent a large house on VRBO in a gated community instead of staying at a hotel.

🏡 Why we chose VRBO:

More space – Everyone was under one roof, making it easy to plan and coordinate
Full kitchen – We cooked had some meals at home instead of dining out for every time
Amenities – Our community had a pool, playground, and clubhouse
Cost-effective – Renting one large house was cheaper than booking three hotel suites

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re traveling with a large group, compare Airbnb and VRBO options in nearby communities. Staying 30 minutes from Disney helped us save big on lodging costs!

How We Got Around: Renting a Passenger Van from Turo

Instead of multiple rental cars, we booked a passenger van on Turo, which was a game-changer! With multiple kids, car seats, and luggage, this was the best option for our group.

🚗 Turo vs. Traditional Rental:

More affordable than booking multiple vehicles
Convenient pickup & drop-off at Orlando Airport
Spacious and comfortable for our big group

Since some kids needed car seats and booster seats, we rented those separately to ensure safety for all the little ones.

💡 Must-Have Items:

Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster Seat for our 5-year old daughter
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat for our 2-year old son

Day 1: Disney Springs + Chef Mickey’s

After landing in Orlando on Friday morning, our group skipped the parks and went straight to Disney Springs for some shopping and fun before heading to dinner at Chef Mickey’s.

🍽 Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

A fun character dining experience where we met Mickey, Minnie, Goofy & friends.
A buffet-style meal with plenty of kid-friendly and adult-friendly options.
Perfect for kicking off our Disney adventure with some Disney magic before even stepping into the parks!

📸 Photo Moment: take a picture with the big plate at the entrance.

Bonus tip: we paid for the Memory Maker photo package, which gives you tons of opportunities to take professional pictures with Disney’s photographers throughout all of their parks and attractions. Once you’re ready, you get full access to every single photo taken during your family trip via the Disney World app, which is free to download to your device. Split the cost with your group for even more value!

Day 2: Magic Kingdom – A Full Day of Fun!

We dedicated Saturday to Magic Kingdom—and let me tell you, we did so much. But we made sure to take it slow, since the kids are small and can get tired and irritated pretty quickly. We stopped for plenty of breaks, hydration, potty time, food/snacks, ice cream cool down, and even naps.

🎢 Must-Ride Attractions:

Space Mountain – For the thrill-seekers
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – Action packed, interactive ride for all ages
Tea Cup – The faster you spin, the dizzier you get—so brace yourself if you’re riding with a wild child
Dumbo – The line has a built-in indoor area for kids, which is a lifesaver when they need a break
Peter Pan’s Flight – One of the shortest rides with the longest wait times—grab a Lightning Lane so you don’t spend an hour in line
It’s a Small World – The song will be stuck in your head forever, but it’s a must-do with little ones.
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid – A chill ride with all the classic Ariel moments—perfect for a break from the heat.
Prince Charming Regal Carousel – It’s a great way to take a break and let the kids feel like royalty for a few minutes
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – this one has a height restriction, so would be great for older kids
Tron Lightcycle – Height restriction makes this one more suited for bigger kids and adults, but well worth the wait

📸 Matching Family Outfits & Mickey Ears
I made custom matching shirts for our entire family using printable iron-on vinyl, and everyone LOVED them! I also rocked a pair of sparkly Mickey ears that matched my nails and socks (because details matter!), and my kids had their own set of ears as well!

💡 Get Your Own Disney Look:

✨ Fireworks & Snacks at the Castle
We ended our Magic Kingdom day with the stunning Happily Ever After fireworks show. Watching the castle light up with music and fireworks was the perfect ending to a magical day!

Day 3: Animal Kingdom & Super Bowl Party

On Sunday, we started our day at Animal Kingdom, then spent the evening hosting a Super Bowl party at our VRBO.

🦁 Animal Kingdom Highlights:

Kilimanjaro Safari – Up-close with elephants, giraffes, rhinos and more!
The Lion King Show – A must-see for all ages
Na’vi River Journey – A super chill, glow-in-the-dark boat ride through Pandora. No big thrills, just pretty visuals and a chance to sit down for a few minutes
TriceraTop Spin – Basically Dumbo, but with dinosaurs. A good, easy ride for little ones
The Boneyard – A giant, dinosaur-themed playground where kids can run wild and dig for “fossils” while parents catch their breath for a second

🏈 Super Bowl Party at Our VRBO
Since it was Super Bowl Sunday, we made a stop at the grocery store after Animal Kingdom to stock up on food for a DIY game day feast.

🍕 Our Game Day Menu:

Papa John’s Pizza
Buffalo Wild Wings (3 flavors)
Chips and Matteo’s Salsa
Fruit

💡 Hosting Tip: If you’re staying in an Airbnb or VRBO for your family trip to Disney, check what kitchen tools they have before planning meals.

Day 4: Pool Day & Heading Home

Instead of hitting another park on Monday, we decided to relax and enjoy the amenities at our Airbnb’s community. The kids loved the splash zone and pool, and it gave us a stress-free morning before heading to the airport.

🚗 Returning the Turo Van
Dropping off the Turo rental near Orlando Airport was quick and easy, making our departure smooth.

Disney Must-Haves: What We Packed

Here are some Amazon must-haves that made our Disney trip smoother:

🎒 Park Essentials:

Final Thoughts: A Magical & Cost-Effective Disney Trip

This family trip to Disney was perfectly balanced between park fun, family bonding, and budget-friendly decisions. Staying in a VRBO, using Turo for a rental, and planning a non-park day helped us maximize fun without overspending.

So thankful to be able to make these core memories with our kids (and for ourselves)!

📌 Save this post for later & share with your Disney-loving friends!

Would you ever visit Disney during Super Bowl weekend? Let me know your favorite Disney tips in the comments! ✨🏰🎢 Thanks for visiting blackfamilyhome.com!