This fall I’m headed back to Disney World with my toddler for our annual mama-and-son trip. We started this tradition last year when my body felt more like a teammate. This year… not so much. Autoimmune life doesn’t play nice. But the magic is still calling, and we’re still going.

I’m excited. I’m a little nervous. But here’s the truth: I refuse to white-knuckle my way through a vacation or life anymore. I spent far too long doing just that. I want magical memories with my boy, not a flare-up that wrecks me for weeks.

Why Fall at Disney World Still Feels Like Our Season

Main Street in the fall hits different. Mickey wreaths, Halloween treats, cozy vibes that make you cry happy tears by the castle. EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival is rolling. Magic Kingdom turns into full-on Halloween party mode.

We love Disney, we love Halloween, cute or spooky, we’re in. EPCOT snacking is already a fave, but the festival brings even more tasty moments to share.

And Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Totally non-negotiable. My toddler still tells the story from last year when he was 2. Cast Members called him “Boss” because he was decked out as Mickey Mouse. He got a pile of candy and scored a Mickey bar from a CM who made his night. He still recounts that moment like it was yesterday. That is pure Disney magic.

This year feels extra big: he’s finally tall enough for Slinky Dog Dash and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. He’s been obsessed with those rides since forever. This trip? It’s serious business.

And me? I love Disney any time of year, but right now, fall feels kinder. Fewer crowds. More atmosphere. A little quieter. And those not-so-spooky extras let me enjoy without breaking myself.

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My Ground Rules For This Trip

• Comfort beats completion. Not doing “it all.”
• My energy is a resource. I guard it.
• Meltdowns are feedback, not emergencies.
• The plan serves us, not the other way around.

How I Plan To Set Us Up for Success

• Mobility & Pace (Real Talk)
  I move slow on my good days. When I’m solo, an ECV just doesn’t work…lets think about it…my toddler can’t walk beside me safely, ride on it, or push our gear. Our stroller is everything. I make sure it’s comfy for him, easy to push, and I can go to Guest Relations right away to get that red “Stroller as a Wheelchair” tag. When I am relying on his stroller for support as a walking mechanism, this is everything. It lets me keep it with us in attraction queues, lifesaver for solo disability and toddler parenting.
• Transportation That Actually Works
  Buses, monorail, and Skyliner, not always realistic for strollers, but we prep for shorter walks. Sometimes I do rideshare door-to-door when needed. I skip hero moves, prioritize safe ones.
• Cool-Down Zones (Non-Negotiable)
  First Aid = legit rest zone. Companion restrooms = toddler logic sorted. Carousel of Progress and Lion King shows = seated breaks with magic.
• Food Strategy
  Mobile order breakfast on the bus, stash protein snacks, and stick to a few Food & Wine booths…hangry isn’t happening on my watch.
• DAS Reality Check
  I don’t hinge everything on Disability Access Service. If it’s not us, no big. We use LL, Genie+ recs, accessible viewing, smart routing, and good pacing.
• Nap Math & Party Math
  For Mickey’s Not-So-Scary, we show up early, keep it slow, trick-or-treat, then haul when it stops being fun. Daytime magic > exhausting midnight memories.

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What Lives in My Mom Bag

• Our hats (clipped on strap with a little carabiner clip)
• Cooling towel + stroller/neck fan
• Protein snacks, cut fruit, electrolytes
• Meds
• Refillable water bottles
• Sunscreen, ChapStick, wipes, sanitizer, tiny first aid
• Muslin blanket for shade, naps, shenanigans
• Stickers + little fidgets for line survival

It’s a survival kit, snack station, and entertainment hub all in one.

Tiny Wins That Count

• I schedule “bench time” like a ride, and treat it as sacred. A tasty snack or tiny activity (like a little playdough or pop it) buys me a few minutes.
• I use companion restrooms before chaos hits. It’s not cute to see me hobbling to the restroom with a frantic toddler who HAS TO GO NOW!!
• Shows with seats? Victory. Seats and Air Conditioning…hugs for days.
• Mobile ordering lunch or dinner while on the bus heading back = top-level mom move.

Our Disney Week Flow

We ride on rhythm, not chaos:

• Morning: Mornings are golden…for toddler energy and mama’s best body hours. This year, that includes finally hitting Slinky Dog Dash and Seven Dwarfs.
• Mid-Morning: Always pause before hitting the wall. Shade, snack, air conditioning, just enough to reset.
• Lunch: Early and seated. Hydration counts as medicine here.
• Afternoon: Either nap at the resort or do a string of seated shows. First Aid/Baby Centers are great to recharge.
• Evenings: One priority, not five. Fireworks, Halloween parade, or resort movie…only if we want it. Zero guilt if we don’t.

This flow turns a full Disney week into something totally doable, not draining.

EPCOT With a Toddler During Food & Wine

EPCOT’s huge, so we break it into bite-size loops:

• The Seas Loop: Nemo, Turtle Talk, snacks, fountain watching.
• Mexico/Norway Loop: Gran Fiesta Tour, snack in Mexico, maybe Frozen Ever After, chill in Norway.
• Imagination Loop: Figment ride, popcorn, jumping fountains.

We hit booths grab a snack and chill! I also keep snacks on hand. Some days it’s rides, others food, sometimes just fountain chilling—and that counts.

Real Talk

I’m not chasing perfection this trip. I want the belly laughs on Dumbo. The wide eyes when he sees Main Street in fall sparkle. A week where my body feels respected and my little one feels seen.

That right there is Disney magic.

(Pro tip: Always double-check the My Disney Experience app before you go, policies can change.)