Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers review

One of the questions I often receive from readers about taking a Walt Disney World vacation with children is “How young is too young? And while I believe (tongue-in-cheek) that Disney indoctrination can’t start early enough in a budding Mouseketeer’s life, the question deserves to be taken seriously.

That’s why I’m happy to recommend Lisa M. Battista’s Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2011). This niche Disney travel guide addresses the concerns that motivate the “How young” question. Written in an upbeat tone, Beyond the Attractions helps families with young children, between the ages 2 – 5, plan their Walt Disney World (WDW) vacation.

Beyond the Attractions: “Don’t Force the Issue”

Written from a parent’s perspective, Beyond the Attractions focuses on making a WDW trip an enjoyable experience for toddlers and preschoolers, less stressful for parents and other caregivers, and fun for the whole family. The book does so by providing concise, straightforward information that parents with preschoolers need to know about visiting the WDW theme parks and its resort areas.

Throughout the book, Battista advocates for a planned approach to touring with preschoolers based on flexibility. Her approach is illustrated by one of the book’s “Top Six Tips for Travel with Preschoolers” – “Don’t force the issue” (6). This tip, which should form a parent’s mantra at WDW, emphasizes the pleasure in the family vacation is with the family, enjoying time together. Disney becomes the conduit for experiencing that pleasure, but not its source. A worthy distinction.

In advising that parents be flexible and not force the issue, then, Battista reinforces the idea that – as a benefit of careful planning – families can and should enjoy their WDW vacation as it happens. They should take pleasure in the joys of a Disney moment, rather than sticking too rigidly to touring itineraries or vacation expectations.

Parents will dog-ear entire chapters in Beyond the Attractions, as Battista fills the book with useful suggestions. She devotes well-organized chapters to the nuts-and-bolts of baby strollers and baby care centers, identifying appropriate theme-park attractions at each of the four major theme parks, preschooler-friendly Disney recreation and entertainment, and child care and safety.

But lest this sound like the standard fare you might find in any other Disney travel guides, take note. Battista’s coverage is selective based on her primary audience – parents traveling with young children. 

Her focus leads Battista to make some considered and unusual touring recommendations based on the likely or potential reactions of preschoolers. For instance, Battista does not recommend Fantasyland’s Snow White’s Scary Adventures (the name of the attraction itself suggests her reasoning), but does provisionally recommend Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Test Track for some older preschoolers she calls “Lil’ Daredevils.”

Battista looks Beyond the Attractions at Disney details for the family

Battista also provides suggestions for preparing children to interact with Disney characters, taking a break inside and outside the theme parks, waiting in line, and family-friendly dining/entertainment. As with all her recommendations, she defers to the parents’ knowledge of their preschoolers’ interests, temperament, emotional level and physical needs.

To some extent, I evaluate a Disney travel guide not only by the accuracy and clarity of information, or by its organization, but by whether I learned something I didn’t know before. Given my own highly-developed, some might say obsessive, interest in Disney, teaching me something new is by no means a guarantee. Battista pulls it off several times, particularly with her tips and “Hidden Activities” chapter.

One small tidbit – almost a throwaway – I picked up from Beyond the Attractions: children may ask for a “First Roller Coaster” certificate after riding The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm in Mickey’s Toontown Fair (63). Such details not only provide Battista with authority but delight readers for whom creating special memories at Disney is as much part of trip planning as establishing a touring itinerary.

Beyond the Attractions also provides a very strong chapter for vacationing with young children – with the tips on storing medication in and childproofing hotels rooms, child safety issues, and coping with changes to daily patterns – that would be of benefit to parents traveling anywhere with their children.

Beyond the Attractions, a Disney travel guide focused on families with preschoolers

The 2011 edition of Beyond the Attractions provides basic coverage of the usual Disney trip-planning concerns: accommodations, restaurants and dining plans, and so forth.  These sections, which nod to the book’s readership, are best considered as an introduction, quick reference, or supplement to other guides.

While I would have liked these sections to offer a bit more coverage for parents with preschoolers, those are minor concerns. The book’s basic information is accurate and these areas, well-covered in other guides, are simply not the book’s primary concerns. Nor does Beyond the Attractions position itself as an exhaustive WDW travel guide. What these chapters do, and do well, is provide quick information regarding these planning concerns.

In addition, Battista offers a well-rounded “Resources” chapter so readers have suggestions for seeking further information. The chapter includes official Disney contact information, print and online WDW travel planning resources, and information on Orlando-area resources (e.g. grocery stores, medical centers) that many WDW travelers would appreciate having.

Add to these resources Battista’s own quick references: a must-do list, FASTPASS attractions, character locations, and maps. Then consider that the entire book – from general information to WDW’s “Hidden Activities” in the park for toddlers – is packaged in a compact 186 pages. The book is a small delight, pun intended, which easily fits into a baby bag, carry-on or small backpack and can be carried into the parks. Given their busy lives, parents will appreciate that Battista has gathered this information and organized it in such an easy-to-follow, and easy-to-carry, fashion.

Parents who pick up Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2011) will welcome Lisa Battista’s insights and tips for touring with toddlers and preschoolers. She knows Walt Disney World and her readers’ needs and how they differ from other family and group touring needs. I highly recommend the book for parents who are planning – or planning to plan – a Disney trip with young children.

Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers (2011) is available for purchase. Beyond the Attractions website keeps track of current changes at Walt Disney World and maintains a Facebook presence. Lisa Battista also graciously agreed to an interview about Beyond the Attractions and her tips for parents; see part one and part two for more information on traveling with Walt Disney World with preschoolers.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Beyond the Attractions from the author for purposes of writing this review. The opinions expressed are my own, and no financial compensation was received or offered in exchange for this review.

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