DISNEY WORLD
Magic Kingdom: We had no trouble finding rides our two little ones could go on. The height restrictions did not feel limiting because there were so many wonderful options for them even at ages 1 & 3. We went in August, it was incredibly hot and humid, however the way the rides are designed we felt like we had plenty of time in the shade and A/C so we made it 8 hours before they needed to leave. A few of our most magical memories include:
Cinderella’s Table: A truly magical experience that would never had known about if not for my friend who works there is that you can reserve a spot at Cinderella’s table INSIDE THE CASTLE! Apparently these spots book up months in advance, we somehow got lucky and scored one of the only spots left the week of our last-minute visit. We booked an 8:15 breakfast, but since the park doesn’t open until 9, that made it extra special to enter early and walk up the castle path with just me and my little girls dressed as princesses. Once inside they did it right. They announce your name for the court to meet Cinderella, let you pose for photos and then you are whisked up the winding staircase to the grand dining room upstairs. The staff addressed the girls as princess and were so courteous. They seated us immediately at our table and throughout our breakfast, nearly every princess came by for a visit, fully in character, and posed for photos with the girls. The food was delicious (I wasn’t expecting much) and they served unlimited coffee and juice. They also presented special wands to the girls and swords to the boys. If nothing else had happened on our visit, this still made it perfect. The most unbelievable thing? Cost for breakfast was $65 for adults, $35 for kids and under 3 are free-it was so affordable given how much Disneyland charges for a similar but less magical experience. Highly recommend.(Link: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/cinderella-royal-table/)
Pixie Dust: Another IYKYK, If you go into Mickey’s shop behind the castle and ask at the register, they will give a magical wish and dust your little ones with Pixie Dust! My princess glittered the rest of the day.
Story time with Belle: Quite possibly our favorite experience, this attraction opens later than the others (check times, for us it was 10:30 am), so we were able to do our rope drop ride then come over, but the experience is mostly inside the AC which is great and took a good amount of time, some of which includes sitting, but they actually use guests as part of the story and the littles each get to be a character and parade around before getting to meet Belle herself. Lumiere is the most expensive asset at Disney World. Even though he is little, the animatronics to make him so lifelike were incredibly complex. It was really very remarkable.
The Parade: It stepped off at 2:30 over by Frontierland and worked its way around. It’s mostly princesses, which was perfect for us, but ended with Mickey & Minnie. I didn’t think our girls would care for it as much as they did-they were entranced and watched the whole thing and asked for more.
We had no trouble finding rides they could go on. The height restrictions for some did not feel limiting because there were so many wonderful options for them even at ages 1 & 3.
MIAMI
Wynwood District: A neighborhood full of art installations and funky/cool places to eat, during the day this area is relatively kid friendly.
Florida Keys: The drive to Key Largo or on to Key West is absolutely stunning. The iguanas running around the islands are fascinating for the littles (got to keep a distance though, they are not friendly) and the water is warm and typically gentle for swimming and snorkeling.
SARASOTA
This beautiful area was hit by the hurricanes in fall 2024 and is working to recover, so some of the items below may be impacted.
Jungle Gardens: This park takes you through entertaining and engaging pathways with play structures, bird shows, animal exhibits and a distinct Florida feel. A staple growing up, it’s so fun carrying on the tradition with my kids. The Bird Show delights each time. Very stroller and kid friendly. (Link: https://sarasotajunglegardens.com/)
Mote Marine Aquarium: This amazing facility features marine animals with a focus on research and education. The Aquarium partners with Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago to study and protect wildlife native to the Florida oceans and streams. The exhibits continue to grow each year and are very interactive and fun for kids of all ages. If you’re a member of a AZA Zoo, you can get 50% admission, just let them know when you buy your ticket and show proof. (Link: https://mote.org/)
Marina Jack & Boat Tours: The marina has a fun and lively vibe these days with live music and outdoor dining. We brought our 6 mos baby and it was a bit loud, noise headphones would have made it better for her, but the people-watching was great and she was more then entertained during our 2-hour dinner at Marina Jacks. This is a great jumping off point for the tours of the bay, dolphin-watching cruises and deep sea fishing expeditions as well.
St Armand’s Circle: A posh area with retail and food, tourists find something for everyone from sloganed t-shirts, to beachwear, fancy artwork and Olaf’s ice cream. The central park has a nice fountain and benches to sit and relax. Parking can be tough and restrooms are limited so plan ahead. (Link: https://starmandscircleassoc.com/)
Beaches:
South Lido Key Beach Park (State beach on the Gulf with trails and nature walk)
TAMPA
Zoo Tampa:
Admission: After you get past the sticker shock ($52 admission for adults regular price; half off for AZA members) it is a wonderful time. The park is half zoo, half amusement park but everything is included which is so nice. There are no additional fees for the carousel, rides or splash zone.
Parking: The Zoo itself is in a park area that has very limited parking, we got there before it opened and had to park several rows deep.
Amenities: There is a safari ride that has a very long wait (we didn’t do that), but otherwise, everything else moved quickly. We went in the heat of summer in August and while there is some shade, plan for a very hot visit. There are plenty of bathrooms, but the family restrooms seemed to always have a line, as did the changing room stalls. We did not see a nursing mother’s space, though were told one existed.
The exhibits are great and it was fun to see the animals, then (especially in Australia) break it up with a ride on the monster trucks and banana plane. A zoo mascot was walking around and did amazing taking photos, even when kiddos were a little nervous. There are two splash pads: a little one on cement near the entrance and a much bigger one in Austrial on kid-proof ground. The big splash pad is incredible, mostly shaded and has a variety of water features. Our kids played there for nearly an hour and that cooled them off so we were able to keep going around the rest of the zoo. The smaller splash pad was okay, but felt a little on display as everyone walking in saw it. There really isn’t anywhere to change the kiddos at either, so have them wear swimsuits or plan to change them by the tables surrounding the space.
Exit: My biggest grievance, after a great day, the only way out is through the gift shop and boy was that a disaster. They have all the toys and plush animals directly in your path and my daughter was so upset when we said no. I understand it is a money maker for them, but after having spent what we did and having exhausted kiddos, putting it at the exit actually created a very bad end to a great day.
Tampa Children’s Museum
Busch Gardens
Sea World
Tampa
Disney World
DISNEY WORLD
MIAMI
SARASOTA
TAMPA
FLORIDA
Sarasota
Miami
This beautiful area was hit by the hurricanes in fall 2024 and is working to recover, so some of the items below may be impacted.
Jungle Gardens: This park takes you through entertaining and engaging pathways with play structures, bird shows, animal exhibits and a distinct Florida feel. A staple growing up, it’s so fun carrying on the tradition with my kids. The Bird Show delights each time. Very stroller and kid friendly. (Link: https://sarasotajunglegardens.com/)
Mote Marine Aquarium: This amazing facility features marine animals with a focus on research and education. The Aquarium partners with Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago to study and protect wildlife native to the Florida oceans and streams. The exhibits continue to grow each year and are very interactive and fun for kids of all ages. If you’re a member of a AZA Zoo, you can get 50% admission, just let them know when you buy your ticket and show proof. (Link: https://mote.org/)
Marina Jack & Boat Tours: The marina has a fun and lively vibe these days with live music and outdoor dining. We brought our 6 mos baby and it was a bit loud, noise headphones would have made it better for her, but the people-watching was great and she was more then entertained during our 2-hour dinner at Marina Jacks. This is a great jumping off point for the tours of the bay, dolphin-watching cruises and deep sea fishing expeditions as well.
St Armand’s Circle: A posh area with retail and food, tourists find something for everyone from sloganed t-shirts, to beachwear, fancy artwork and Olaf’s ice cream. The central park has a nice fountain and benches to sit and relax. Parking can be tough and restrooms are limited so plan ahead. (Link: https://starmandscircleassoc.com/)
Beaches:
South Lido Key Beach Park (State beach on the Gulf with trails and nature walk)
Zoo Tampa:
Admission: After you get past the sticker shock ($52 admission for adults regular price; half off for AZA members) it is a wonderful time. The park is half zoo, half amusement park but everything is included which is so nice. There are no additional fees for the carousel, rides or splash zone.
Parking: The Zoo itself is in a park area that has very limited parking, we got there before it opened and had to park several rows deep.
Amenities: There is a safari ride that has a very long wait (we didn’t do that), but otherwise, everything else moved quickly. We went in the heat of summer in August and while there is some shade, plan for a very hot visit. There are plenty of bathrooms, but the family restrooms seemed to always have a line, as did the changing room stalls. We did not see a nursing mother’s space, though were told one existed.
The exhibits are great and it was fun to see the animals, then (especially in Australia) break it up with a ride on the monster trucks and banana plane. A zoo mascot was walking around and did amazing taking photos, even when kiddos were a little nervous. There are two splash pads: a little one on cement near the entrance and a much bigger one in Austrial on kid-proof ground. The big splash pad is incredible, mostly shaded and has a variety of water features. Our kids played there for nearly an hour and that cooled them off so we were able to keep going around the rest of the zoo. The smaller splash pad was okay, but felt a little on display as everyone walking in saw it. There really isn’t anywhere to change the kiddos at either, so have them wear swimsuits or plan to change them by the tables surrounding the space.
Exit: My biggest grievance, after a great day, the only way out is through the gift shop and boy was that a disaster. They have all the toys and plush animals directly in your path and my daughter was so upset when we said no. I understand it is a money maker for them, but after having spent what we did and having exhausted kiddos, putting it at the exit actually created a very bad end to a great day.
Tampa Children’s Museum
Busch Gardens
Sea World
Magic Kingdom: We had no trouble finding rides our two little ones could go on. The height restrictions did not feel limiting because there were so many wonderful options for them even at ages 1 & 3. We went in August, it was incredibly hot and humid, however the way the rides are designed we felt like we had plenty of time in the shade and A/C so we made it 8 hours before they needed to leave. A few of our most magical memories include:
Cinderella’s Table: A truly magical experience that would never had known about if not for my friend who works there is that you can reserve a spot at Cinderella’s table INSIDE THE CASTLE! Apparently these spots book up months in advance, we somehow got lucky and scored one of the only spots left the week of our last-minute visit. We booked an 8:15 breakfast, but since the park doesn’t open until 9, that made it extra special to enter early and walk up the castle path with just me and my little girls dressed as princesses. Once inside they did it right. They announce your name for the court to meet Cinderella, let you pose for photos and then you are whisked up the winding staircase to the grand dining room upstairs. The staff addressed the girls as princess and were so courteous. They seated us immediately at our table and throughout our breakfast, nearly every princess came by for a visit, fully in character, and posed for photos with the girls. The food was delicious (I wasn’t expecting much) and they served unlimited coffee and juice. They also presented special wands to the girls and swords to the boys. If nothing else had happened on our visit, this still made it perfect. The most unbelievable thing? Cost for breakfast was $65 for adults, $35 for kids and under 3 are free-it was so affordable given how much Disneyland charges for a similar but less magical experience. Highly recommend.(Link: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/cinderella-royal-table/)
Pixie Dust: Another IYKYK, If you go into Mickey’s shop behind the castle and ask at the register, they will give a magical wish and dust your little ones with Pixie Dust! My princess glittered the rest of the day.
Story time with Belle: Quite possibly our favorite experience, this attraction opens later than the others (check times, for us it was 10:30 am), so we were able to do our rope drop ride then come over, but the experience is mostly inside the AC which is great and took a good amount of time, some of which includes sitting, but they actually use guests as part of the story and the littles each get to be a character and parade around before getting to meet Belle herself. Lumiere is the most expensive asset at Disney World. Even though he is little, the animatronics to make him so lifelike were incredibly complex. It was really very remarkable.
The Parade: It stepped off at 2:30 over by Frontierland and worked its way around. It’s mostly princesses, which was perfect for us, but ended with Mickey & Minnie. I didn’t think our girls would care for it as much as they did-they were entranced and watched the whole thing and asked for more.
We had no trouble finding rides they could go on. The height restrictions for some did not feel limiting because there were so many wonderful options for them even at ages 1 & 3.
Wynwood District: A neighborhood full of art installations and funky/cool places to eat, during the day this area is relatively kid friendly.
Florida Keys: The drive to Key Largo or on to Key West is absolutely stunning. The iguanas running around the islands are fascinating for the littles (got to keep a distance though, they are not friendly) and the water is warm and typically gentle for swimming and snorkeling.
