Flying Solo to Disney World with 3 Kids and Only Carry-Ons (Yes, Really)
Jennifer Rannazzisi | If You Can Dream It Travel | Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
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When I tell people I flew to Walt Disney World by myself with three kids and only carry-on bags, I get the same reaction every time: a long pause, followed by "...how?" The trip was six days. My kids were 8, 6, and almost 2. I was the only adult. And we did not check a single bag.
I'm not sharing this to brag. I'm sharing it because I know how overwhelming it feels to plan a Disney trip with little ones, and how many parents assume that traveling light with kids is impossible. It isn
't. It just takes a system. As a Disney travel planner, I'm always looking for ways to make the trip smoother for my families, and this is the system I'd hand to any parent doing it solo.
Here's exactly what I did, what I packed, and what I'd do again.
Why Carry-Ons Only?
When you're the only adult, every extra bag is another thing to keep track of. There's no second set of hands to grab the suitcase while you're chasing a toddler toward the moving walkway.
Going carry-on only meant:
No waiting at baggage claim with three tired kids
No lost luggage to worry about
Fewer things to keep track of at every step
Faster everything, from the curb to the car to the resort
It also forced me to be intentional. When you can't bring "just in case" everything, you figure out what you truly need.
The Bag Breakdown
Here's how we divided everything up:
One carry-on for my 6- and 2-year-old to share. Their clothes went in one bag, organized by packing cube.
One carry-on for my 8 year old- He also carried accessories I couldn't fit anywhere else
One carry-on for me.
A backpack for each of us. The backpacks are the real workhorses of this system.
A sling bag for my youngest. I used it as her diaper bag, and it kept everything I needed for her within arm's reach and hands-free.
The Golden Rule: Everything You NEED on the Plane Goes in the Backpacks
This is the single most important rule of my system. If we would need it during the flight, or right after we landed, it lived in a backpack, not a suitcase. I never wanted to be digging through a carry-on in the overhead bin (or worse, in the aisle) for something a kid needed right now.
Since we planned to hit the pool the very first day, I also packed swimsuits and pajamas in the backpacks. That meant we could get to the resort, change, and go straight to the pool without unpacking a thing. It also meant that if anything went sideways with the flight, we had a complete set of essentials on our backs.
Keeping Three Kids Busy in the Air
A happy flight is a well-prepared flight. Each child had their own entertainment, and I packed variety, because kids get bored fast.
For my 8-year-old: His gaming system.
For my 6-year-old: Her tablet.
For my almost-2-year-old: A busy book, playdough, and magnetic tiles. Toddlers need hands-on activities, and these took up very little room.
For everyone:
Headphones. These are non-negotiable. I even brought baby headphones for my youngest. Your fellow passengers will thank you.
Coloring books and crayons
Favorite stuffies (comfort items matter more than you think on travel days)
A light blanket
A sippy cup/waterbottle
And for me: My earbuds and I actually got to use them, and I have zero regrets.
Snacks: Practical AND Fun
Snacks are the secret weapon of family travel. I packed a mix of everyday snacks and special treats that felt exciting: lollipops, mints, and fruit snacks. Lollipops are also great for little ears during takeoff and landing.
I also brought empty water bottles for each of us and filled them after security, so we had water without paying airport prices and we used them inside the parks.
On top of that, each child got to pick out one special treat at the airport. It gave them something to look forward to and turned the trip through the terminal into part of the fun.
Traveling with a baby or toddler? I used boxed milk for my almost-2-year-old, and it went through security without any issue. If you have a little one who still needs formula, I've used a travel formula container and it makes measuring on the go so much easier.
Security: Give Every Kid a Job
Airport security can be stressful when you're solo. My solution was to make it a team effort.
Every child had a job: take out your own electronics.
My 8-year-old pulled out his gaming system, my 6-year-old pulled out her tablet, and everyone knew what was expected before we got to the front of the line.
Giving kids a job does two things. It keeps the line moving, and it makes them feel capable and included instead of like luggage being hauled along. Practice it at home before you go, and it becomes second nature.
Clothing: Packing Cubes Changed Everything
All of our clothes were organized in packing cubes, which made living out of a carry-on so much easier. Here's my formula:
Two pairs of pajamas each for the 6 days
More underwear than you think you need. Seriously. Trust me.
Socks for everyone
A laundry bag for dirty clothes, so nothing gets mixed up
Tide To Go pens for surprise stains (there is always a surprise stain at Disney)
Travel-size Tide you can use in the sink. This is one of my favorite tips. If you can wash a few things in the sink, you can pack far less.
Packing light with kids really comes down to trusting that a quick sink wash will fix most problems.
The "Just in Case" Kit
I hope you never need any of this, but I never travel without it. Being prepared for the unexpected is what lets you stay calm when things don't go to plan.
Medications: inhalers, fever reducer, and Benadryl
Band-Aids for the inevitable scrapes
Wet wipes and baby wipes, which are useful for so much more than faces
Vomit bags. You never know!
A portable charger for my phone, because a dead phone means no mobile boarding passes, no ride confirmation, and no way to reach anyone
5 diapers for the plane. I packed enough to cover delays, plus a little extra.
An extra outfit for the baby and one for me. Spills, blowouts, and airplane turbulence don't care whose clothes are clean.
Our own mini garbage bags. This one is my favorite. At the end of the flight, I handed our neatly bagged trash to the flight attendant. It kept our area tidy, and I promise they notice and appreciate it.
Park Gear That Made the Cut
Yes, I packed for the parks, too. Here's what made room in the carry-ons:
A hat and ears for each kid. I kept it to one pair each for the girls so we weren't hauling extras.
Our popcorn bucket, because it's part of our Disney tradition
Spray bottles and portable fans with chargers. Florida heat is no joke, and these were lifesavers, especially with little ones.
My laptop, tucked into my backpack
My Stroller: The One Item I Live By
If there's one piece of gear I recommend to every parent with a little one, it's a good lightweight stroller. I live by my Summer Infant 3D Lite. When you're the only adult, you need something that folds easily, moves smoothly, and doesn't turn into a wrestling match at every curb. It's earned its spot on every trip.
Shop my Toddler Flight essentials!
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The Secret to Making It Arrival Smoother: A Private Car Service
Here's a tip that might surprise you: I did not take the Mears bus, and I did not coordinate an Uber or Lyft. Instead, I booked a private car service that I work very closely with. With three kids, luggage, and a stroller, the last thing I wanted was to wait in a shuttle line or worry about whether a rideshare would show up on time.
Having a driver waiting made the whole arrival feel calm. We walked out, we got in, and we were on our way to the resort. After a travel day with three kids, that kind of ease is worth so much.
What I Learned
If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: preparation is what makes solo travel with kids possible. It isn't about being superhuman. It's about:
Deciding what you truly need and leaving the rest at home
Keeping the essentials on your body, in backpacks, not in the overhead bin
Getting your kids involved so they feel like part of the team
Removing stress wherever you can, whether that's a private car, a great stroller, or a plan for laundry
You can do this. You really can.
Up Next: The Flight Home
So that's how we got there. The flight home? That's a completely different story. 😅
The vibe was not the same, and I'm going to tell you all about it, honestly, in my next blog post. There are lessons in it too, and I promise it's real. Stay tuned!
Planning a Disney trip with your own crew?
Whether it's your first trip or your fifteenth, I'd love to help you plan it. My Disney planning services come at no additional cost to you.
Reach out anytime! Jennifer@ifyoucandreamittravel.com
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