Keep Kids Happy, Hydrated, and Occupied at Disney

Navigating the Disney parks with kids can be a challenge. The long days, constant waiting in line, and often high temperatures can send the little ones over the top and cause the infamous Disney Meltdown.

Everyone has had enough, your child is crying and you’re thinking. “But this is the happiest place on earth!” There are lots of tips to prevent this including mid day breaks.

I really love getting emails from readers telling me how their trip went, interesting things that happened, things they discovered, and tips to share with others.

I just received a great tip in an email from a reader who has just returned from a great disney vacation with her grandkids. She came up with a fantastic strategy to keep the kids satisfied and occupied all day while in the Disney theme parks.

Here’s her great tip:

Before leaving for Disneyworld, I bought my 5 grandchildren each a small camelbak backpack, they were very lightweight. When we left for the parks in the morning they each packed their healthy snacks in the backpack and we filled the water containers with water.

When they ran out of water, we went to the Disney food stands (waiting for slack periods so there were no lines) and they each got a large cup of ice water to refill their camelbak reservoirs (free at stands that have fountain drinks).

We never had a kiddie meltdown because of dehydration. They always had water available to take a drink on any ride or in any line. The straw sipper on the camelbak was just a turn of their head away to quench their thirst.

There was no having just bought drinks and then having the ride operator tell us to throw them away before we could get on the ride. They fit on all of the rides and only on a few did they have to take them off and store them during the ride.

The kids didn’t ask for food and water all day because they had water and were able to pull nuts, trail mix, small cookies, dried fruit and PB&J sandwiches or granola bars from their backpacks when they wanted. It was ideal.

I can’t tell you how many people saw the Camelbaks and asked where we got them.

Here are a couple of options from Amazon:

• CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack, 50 oz
• CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack for Hiking and Biking – 50oz, Black/Flames

Both come in multiple colors for about 35 bucks!

The only small problem is that we discovered that after every ride we then had to use bathroom as a group because they were constantly drinking. But that actually was a timesaver because we didn’t have to stop seven different times for one of the group to go to the bathroom.

The kids (ages 4-9) never became dehydrated and we saved hours and hours of standing in line or trying to carry water bottles (and losing them). They enjoy being in charge of whatever they wanted to eat from the camelbak backpacks and not having to keep track of a water bottle.

Now that we are home they bring their camelbaks on every hiking outing we have because they love them.

I thought this was a fantastic idea! Empowering the kids to choose what snacks to put in their pack (from your healthy selection of options) and what to nibble on when will give them a sense of control during an overwhelming day. Keeping them hydrated can only improve their mood too.

Has anyone else tried this? Share your tips in the comments below! 

• Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide

• Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
• Dining Overview Page
• Transportation Overview Page
• Technology Overview Page
• Shades of Green, WDW’s Military-Only Resort

The Mouse Experts is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!