Smooth Disney Mornings: How I Make Park Days Feel Easy (Even with Kids!)

One of the things I hear all the time is:   “You make Disney look so easy.”

Hi Disney Friends, I’m Jena! A Disney-loving, park-hopping, memory-making Mom, who just so happens to now be a travel agent focusing on Disney and Universal destinations. I’ve done Disney in so many different stages of life but doing it as a mom has taught me the most. So, the truth is, smooth mornings are totally possible. Not because Disney isn’t busy or overwhelming, but because of what you do before your day even starts.

Every year looks a little different for my family, whether I’m traveling with just a toddler or now balancing the needs of two kids with different ages, interests, and energy levels.

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But one thing never changes: What I do the night before and the morning of a park day.

It’s all about doing the mental work ahead of time so you can actually relax and enjoy the magic when it matters most. If you’re someone who likes to plan a little now to feel a lot more relaxed later… this one is for you!

Step 1: The Magic of Ziploc Bag Packing– Ziploc bags are my best friend at Disney.

For each part of the day, I pack one full outfit per child in a labeled Ziploc…and I mean everything:

· Shirt + shorts/pants  
· Underwear (or diaper!)  
·Socks  
·Bows/Hair Ties/Hair accessories (in a smaller bag inside)

Then I label each bag:

·Day 1, Day 2, etc.  
·What we’re doing at that time (Flight, Animal Kingdom, Pool Day, Dinner at ‘Ohana, Sleep etc.)  
·The date
·Child’s name + what’s inside

Inside each bag also includes a little Post-it note with each child’s details like:

·All of the items that should be inside the bag
·How we decided to style my daughter’s hair that day (ex. “Pigtails + green bows”)  
·Any Minnie Ears that need to be worn (Ice Cream style Minnie Ears)
·A hat if my son is wearing one with his outfit (Buzz Lightyear Tan Hat)

It sounds like a lot, but it eliminates morning scrambling, overpacking, and outfit confusion. And if you’ve got various things that day and you’ll be changing outfits, have a bag for each activity.

For instance:
·Day 1: Swimming in the morning (swimsuit, coverup, swim shoes)
·Day 1: Nap at the Resort (fresh lounge clothes after a shower)
·Day 1: Dinner at T-REX (Disney Springs outfit, socks, hair accessories etc.)

Bonus Tip:  When you arrive, unpack and put the bags in drawers in reverse order: last day on the bottom, first day on top.

And when you’re done? That same Ziploc becomes your dirty laundry bag or a bag to store leftover snack items!

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🎒 Step 2: The “Just in Case” Bag – Because Disney days = surprises! I always keep a Ziploc in the stroller or backpack with:
·Extra outfit (shirt, pants, underwear, socks)  
·Weather backup (jacket, long sleeves, blanket)  
·Ponchos, plastic shoe covers, small umbrella
·Pajamas (incase it ends up being a late night, and the kiddos fall asleep on the bus ride back, they go right to bed!)

Because ice cream melts, spills happen, and Florida weather flips fast!

Bonus Tip: If you use something during the day, just restock it that night!

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🌙 Step 3: Prep Your Stroller the Night Before No matter how tired you are… do this.

Before bed, reset your stroller:
·Refill sunscreen, wipes, sanitizer  
·Restock diapers + snacks  
·Replace anything used (band-aids, meds, cooling towels)  
·Add autograph supplies, sunglasses, ears/hats
·Replace any used clothing or items from the “Just In Case” Bag
·Add the following day’s pajama bag
·Have the next day’s outfit bag ready to go in the morning

This is a huge game-changer, your morning will feel calm instead of chaotic and you will thank yourself later!

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🔌 Step 4: Create a Charging Station You’re recharged, and so are your devices!

It may be helpful to purchase a surge protector to plug into the wall to give you multiple outlets/USB ports so everything can charge in one spot.

Every night, everything goes in one spot to charge:
·Phones (or by your bed for alarms)
·Portable chargers  
·Fans  
·Portable sound machines  
·iPads  
·Any other electronics or low-battery items  

Bonus Tip: My favorite trick? Take a photo of your setup. So when you get back late, you don’t have to think, you just follow the picture and go to bed faster!

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👜 Step 5: The “Everything Bag” for Transportation If you’ve ever folded a stroller for a Disney bus… you know

Everything has to come out FAST when you’re about to hop on the bus or skyliner. So I always bring a big, sturdy bag (like a Marshalls/HomeGoods bag).

At the end of the night and it’s time to headback on the bus or skyliner, dump everything from the stroller into that one bag. This will come in handy when you have to collapse it and you have souvenirs, fans, popcorn buckets, clothing, and all once place to put everything.

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🥐 Step 6: Set Yourself Up for an Easy Morning No chaos before coffee!

The night before:
·Fill stainless steel water bottles + put them in the fridge  
·Prep quick breakfast (bars, sandwiches, snacks)  
·Make a plan for coffee or prepare the room coffee machine  

In the morning:
·Get the kids ready first  
·Put them in the stroller with breakfast  
·Let them relax while you finish getting ready  

Bonus Tip: We’ve eaten breakfast walking to transportation, waiting for the bus, and even on the bus!

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🗺️ Step 7: Have a Plan (So You Can Relax!) Think now…relax later.

Before bed, know:
·Which park you’re going to  
·How you’re getting there (bus, Skyliner, monorail)  
·Your early entry time  
·Your first ride
·What time to be out your hotel door 

So when you set your alarm, you already know exactly when to wake up and leave, no morning math! This method isn’t for everyone, but for me, planning ahead = relaxing more.

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🚨 Step 8: Beat the Security Line Metal Detectors: Our goal is to walk through, not wait through.

If your stroller is full of metal items (fans, batteries, clips), it will set off the detector, and EVERYTHING gets searched. This means, heading off to the side to meet security, so they can check every area of your stroller and loose bags.

Don’t worry, I have a trick that will save you a ton of time! Put ALL metal items in one separate bag.

At security:
·One adult goes through with stroller + kids  
·The other adult brings the “metal bag” for quick inspection  

This means: No full stroller search and a way faster entry. Once you’re inside, pull over to the side a set everything up for your stroller for the day.

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✨ Final Thoughts I know this might sound like a lot…

But this is what allows me to:
·Move slower in the mornings  
·Feel calm instead of rushed  
·Actually, enjoy the day with my family  

Because all the thinking? It’s already been done….And that’s the real magic.