7 Reasons To Take The Grandparents On Your Disney Trip

Whether your parents took you to Disney when you were a kid or whether your in-laws always wanted to take your partner and couldn’t — it’s worth considering how they’ll feel experiencing this magic with your kids. They love their grandchildren, too, and there are few things better than seeing your dad light up right alongside your toddler at the sight of Mickey waving to them from a parade float.

Maybe you’ve got to pee. Maybe you’ve got a baby who needs a diaper change. Maybe the thought of riding the tea cups again makes you want to hurl — but don’t fret. You’ve got grandparents. If one of your kids is ready to wait in line for 30 minutes to meet Snow White, set them up with your grandparents and you can run like mad to the bathroom, to get a Joffrey’s coffee, or to do something with another child.

If you’ve got a big kid who’s dying to go on Rise of the Resistance and a couple of little ones who’d rather do anything but, grandparents are a great resource so that you can just enjoy the time with your big kid. Set the grandparents and your other kids up with a cold drink and a spot to sit, or let them go find something else to do while they wait on you.

If you’re worried about grandparents not enjoying their time, having to walk long distances, or finding the rides a bit too much for them, please know they can still have an amazing time. From finding things for them to enjoy, like the shows (my own grandmother loved the Beauty and the Beast show in Hollywood Studios every time we went,) or parades, to leaning on some of that magical Disney hospitality like wheelchair rentals and plenty of places to sit and relax, you can really make the experience worth it for any grandparent.

I’m not saying you need to let the grandparents wait an hour for Slinky Dog Dash and then you jump in at the last minute, but if you need to run someone to the bathroom or need a grandparent to wait in line at the gift shop while you grab an extra Mickey Rice Krispies treat, they’re a huge help.

Practical matters aside, grandparents are also there to love on your kid — and that extra set of hands, extra ears to hear all the stories, and extra legs to help schlep children across a theme park will really go a long way in helping your own sensory overload. When you need a breather, there’s another adult there to help take some of the load on and be the sounding board for your 8-year-old’s many, many reasons why Galaxy’s Edge is the best part of the entire trip.

And by Disney Adult, I mean the person you are inside that you might have to reign in a bit when you’re with your kids. If you love Disney, too, and want to experience some of the best food and rides without a toddler getting overstimulated, grandparents are a huge help. Send them back to the hotel with your kids so you can enjoy some solo fun time.