Heading off for a Disneyland or Walt Disney World holiday? Here are my top tips for Australian families travelling to the USA
Book tickets online to Walt Disney World in Orlando or Disneyland California on Klook using our LETSGOMUMKLOOK promocode to save up to 10% off!
Pre-Disney trip planning
Book and prepare for your Disney flights
To see some airport and flight hacks including how to take your car seat, pram and other parenting essentials along for no extra cost read our flying from Australia to the USA with kids article here.
Book your Disneyland theme park tickets online before you go and use our exclusive Klook discount code!
Get up to 10% off your Disneyland and Walt Disney World tickets, hotels and even other theme parks like Universal Hollywood! Just use my Klook discount code: LETSGOMUMKLOOK at checkout!
Klook conditions: $50 min spend, $50 max discount, 3 times use. New customers 10% off & existing customers 3% off. Exclusions list here.
Where should I stay when visiting Disney theme parks?
Accommodation surrounding Disney Parks can range from the lowest of budget motels to five-star official Disney hotels. It is quite possible to find a happy balance somewhere in the middle.
If you’re on a tight budget, good low to mid-range hotels reasonably close to the Disney Parks exist in abundance. To narrow the field down, aim for hotels with good reviews on Trip Advisor, free shuttle services to the Park and included breakfasts to help keep your vacation costs to a minimum. That way you can splash more cash in the Disney Parks instead!
If staying at a themed hotel is big part of your Disney holiday budget, then an official hotel can add a lot of extra fun to your trip. Disney hotels don’t usually come cheap but there are some moderate Disney hotel options. Disney hotels are usually located closest to the theme parks and offer Disney themed rooms, shuttles to the park and other handy facilities. Many feature resort pools, play areas, restaurants, gift shops and include on-site entertainment too.
Schedule rest days following travel days
When you are planning out your USA trip itinerary, if you have the time and budget for it, schedule rest days immediately following flights. This will help immensely if jet lag hits. Generally, everyone is tired after the long-haul flight from Australia in any case, so a rest day can really help to catch up on sleep and adjust to the new time zone. Rest days are also great after moving from one area to another, or for changing hotels.
A rest day allows everyone to recharge, rest and settle in. Take a nap. Have a swim in the resort pool. Visit the resort play areas or just orientate yourselves with where you are, how to get food and how to get to around. Plan out if you need to reserve and particular popular Disney rides the next morning. If everyone is full of energy, visit some local attractions. There will always be something to see that you didn’t factor into your trip planning!
You’ll all be refreshed and ready to hit the theme parks with renewed energy and enthusiasm on the following day!
Basic first aid
Take the thermometre you usually use to take your child’s temperature with. It will save you second-guessing if your child feels unwell during your holiday. You may also wish to take some children’s Panadol, or whatever you normally use in case of fever. Pharmacies are readily available in the USA, but it’s good to take what you and your child are already familiar with.
If your child takes any prescribed medication, be sure to keep it safely stowed in your carry-on luggage in its original packaging, pack an extra amount in your checked luggage and also take a spare prescription to cover all your bases. Before your trip get a letter from your Doctor stating what they take and why, and pack separate copies with the medication.
Drug pharmacies can be extremely expensive dispensing your child’s medication in comparison to Australia. Australians don’t get the advantage of the Australian Pharmaceautical Benefits Scheme (PBS) overseas.
Get travel insurance
Travel insurance is absolutely essential for your Disney holiday.
I’m going to get a little boring here, but I can’t stress enough to you how important it is to purchase travel insurance – and not just to cover a cancelled trip.
Some Australian credit cards offer free travel insurance if you purchase your travel using it, however it’s rarely as comprehensive as you need. If this is what you want to use, check what it covers very carefully.
The USA medical system is extremely expensive so make sure you take out travel insurance that covers everything for your family medically. This should include Covid. Be sure to pay any extra premiums for action sports you may be undertaking such as horse riding or skiing. Often pre-existing conditions such as Epilepsy can be covered by some Australian travel insurance providers for an extra fee. Insure yourself and your family to the max.
Most travel insurance policies also include some measure of hire car coverage, so if you are hiring a car in the US you may be able to save by not doubling up on hire car insurance.
Travel Insurance is one of those rare occasions where you really should take the time to carefully read the Product Disclosure Statement!
Can I rent a stroller at Disneyland?
Yes, you can hire single and double strollers at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World (and small strollers at Tokyo Disneyland, for that matter). Disney stroller rentals start at around AUD$30 for a single and AUD$50 a day for a double stroller, which can add quite a lot to your holiday budget.
USA Disney strollers also don’t have the best reputation for useability or comfort. They are reportedly difficult to steer and uncomfortable to use, as the seat is made from molded plastic.
Many families do bring prams to Disney Parks, or hire them at the Park. Small children soon get tired walking all those Disney Park miles, plus a stroller also gives them the option of taking a nap. This can help pace your child’s energy during their long Disney day to help them make it through to the Disney fireworks at night, a highlight of any Disney holiday!
Prams and strollers aren’t allowed onboard Disney trains or monorails within the Parks, but there is pram parking everywhere.
Book your Disneyland theme park tickets online before you go and use our exclusive Klook discount code!
Get up to 10% off your Disneyland and Walt Disney World tickets, hotels and even other theme parks like Universal Hollywood! Just use my Klook discount code: LETSGOMUMKLOOK at checkout!
Klook conditions: $50 min spend, $50 max discount, 3 times use. New customers 10% off & existing customers 3% off. Exclusions list here.
If you enjoyed reading this article, we’d love to hear about your own Disney experiences in the comments below!
All prices and times quoted were correct at May 2025, the time of publishing this article, but can change frequently. Please always re-check for current prices.
