Everything You Can't Miss at Disney World With a Preschooler

The can't-miss attractions at Disney World for little visitors.

ByABC News
May 3, 2015, 10:06 AM

— -- I've been in the travel industry for a decade, and one of the top three questions I get most often is "What's the right age to take my kids to Disney World?"

(The other two questions, are where should I go on my honeymoon and what's your - my - favorite travel destination. Answer: Mauritius and Bali, Italy and Koh Samui, Thailand).

But the question and answer about the right age to go to Disney is actually far more complicated. Because even though my ten years in the travel industry have required as many trips to the most magical place on Earth, I had never brought my kids - until this last trip.

(Editor's note: The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News.)

I worried that my kids - three and one - wouldn't have enough to do and that they should go when they were older to appreciate it more. It makes sense why parents are so concerned with timing the trip perfectly; a Disney vacation can be an expensive one.

So while I'm not sure that the ages of my kids were "perfect," I can say with certainty there was a lot to do for little ones. The three days were filled with activities, mostly enjoyed by the 3-year-old with the baby along for the ride. Literally. I was very surprised at how many rides he was able to go on: the Carousel of Progress, it's a small world, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid, Dumbo The Flying Elephant and the Mad Tea Party.

There was, however, much he didn't appreciate that his older sister loved: the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, the Disney Junior show, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Anna and Elsa at Princess Fairytale Hall, the fireworks cruise, Chef Mickey's character breakfast and more were lost on him. But the preschooler? She had the time of her life.

The only con? I'm not sure how much of the trip she'll remember in a few years. But having been there myself as an adult so many times, I know I definitely will never forget being there for her first visit.

For those wondering what to do with a preschooler at Disney, watch the video, and make sure to check off everything on this list. We did much more than this on the three-day visit, but if you manage to get to these attractions, you'll have hit the best of the best for this age group.

Enchanted Tales With Belle

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

The Barnstormer

Chef Mickey's Character Breakfast

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Fireworks Cruise

Princess Fairytale Hall

Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

I know lots of families stress about the dining aspect of the trip. My advice? When the kids are as young as this, don't worry about it. Fine dining is lost on them and not that enjoyable for the parents if things aren't going as planned. We skipped a made-months-in-advance dinner reservation at Be Our Guest when I sensed the sit down meal would be too much on top of the long day we'd already had. Instead? Pizza and sandwiches from the to-go counter at our hotel. It was more than fine.