Travel Tips | Flying to Disney with a Preschooler

 

We had some experience flying with our 4 year old prior to our trip to Disney - and it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Your vacation can quickly get off to a bad start if your kiddos are unhappy travelers, so it’s best to plan ahead. You can’t avoid every issue, but hopefully these tips will help.

Planning your Flight
When choosing your flights it may be tempting to go with cost instead of convenience, but depending on your child, the savings may not be worth it. Consider your child’s disposition before booking. Though some early morning flights cannot be helped, late night or connecting flights which might be a little cheaper, may cause little ones who tire easily to have meltdowns that could otherwise have been avoided.

Keeping them Entertained
At the Airport - Most airports require you to arrive early, so what to do with kids who are bursting with energy? Check to see if your airport has a playground. It’s a great way for them to get all their energy out before that long flight and beats chasing them through the airport!

 

On the Plane - Here are a few small and quiet activities that kept E’s attention on our flight:

• LeapsterGS/LeapPad: I must mention that headphones or turning down the volume is probably best, but otherwise, these educational games really worked well.

• Imagine Ink Books: This was probably E’s favorite activity on the plane. We went with the Disney theme (in keeping with the trip). Fairly inexpensive - purchased at the dollar store and they use a clear marker, so no mess!

• Pipe Cleaners: These are very good at keeping little hands busy. We had lots of fun making things like Mickey Mouse heads and princess crowns. These were also very inexpensive, purchased in the craft section at Walmart. I did have some concerns about taking them through security, but my carry on and I made it through without issue.

What are your secrets for a great flight? Please feel free to share!