Question to all MOMS! Going to DW with 2 under 2!

[njnectarine]

Hi guys
I am either crazy or brave but I decided to take the whole family to DW in Feb! I have 2 little kids, one will be 6 months and the other 2 yo I will be booking a week at Coronado with 5 day park tickets .
I need advice on where / when to go, things to see, things to bring etc.
What rides will they be able to ride? Should be book a character meal? if so, which one? Can I bring a diaper bag? ANy other info I should know?
Help!

[eastcarolinafan]

Originally Posted by njnectarine

Hi guys
I am either crazy or brave but I decided to take the whole family to DW in Feb! I have 2 little kids, one will be 6 months and the other 2 yo I will be booking a week at Coronado with 5 day park tickets .
I need advice on where / when to go, things to see, things to bring etc.
What rides will they be able to ride? Should be book a character meal? if so, which one? Can I bring a diaper bag? ANy other info I should know?
Help!

I am not a mom. I am a dad, But even if you didn't ask dads I want you to know that yes, that is indeed crazy. Have you been to Disney World before? I can only imagine not because you even brought this topic up; however, if I am reading you correctly, even if you are traveling with a spouse or a significant other, YOU are going to be responsible for the children. And if that is the case, I am telling you in all honesty, it is too much. The 2 year old will be trouble enough, but to compound it with a six month old baby is asking for a world of hurt.

Why in the world would you book a character meal???? You will be traveling with a baby who will be asleep and a 2 year old who will be scared to death of Tigger getting in his face. No, no, no and no.

Please reconsider, if not for your sanity, for the welfare of the kids. Too much walking, too much noise, too much everything.

Not the response you wanted, I know. And not the response you are likely to listen to; however, I am telling you now it is a very, very bad idea and if you do it I believe you will be sorry.

Please, reconsider.

[Microcell]

Gone every year since DS was 1 and let me tell you, that year and the year he was 2 were by far the easiest! He is only 7 now, so when we last went there was some fear of rides.. so I am anxiously looking forward to this year when he will be almost 8!!!!

I would second going with another adult, it won't just be you will it?

Some rules to make it easier:

1. Take your time in the parks and stop to rest and eat (and for diaper changes of course). Diaper bags are welcomed. There is a baby care center around the corner from caseys too that has lots of changing tables and baby stuff you may have forgotten.

2. NAPS!!!! DO NOT TRY TO GO WITHOUT THEM!!! Baby meldowns will happen with all that activity, noise and movement. You gotta go back to the hotel every day for their naps and try hard to stay on their schedule.

3. Characters.. unless they happen to be at a restaurant you want to go to anyway I wouldn't bother with a character meal. You will be able to see how they react all over the parks without paying over $70.00 to find out. The least intrusive character meal was Pooh and friends but we are going in Feb (I know my counter is off.. I am trying to fool my 11 year old) and it will be closed for refurb.. so maybe Liberty Tree Tavern, because they are bringing characters back just for that month so it will be special the pictures you get there with Mickey and the gang.

** I will say that my DS is not at all the outgoing type and he was scared to death of characters until he was five or six. My DD was timid at 5**

4. Rides- I gotta be honest, taking a 6 month old on too many rides.. woulda made me nervous, but others will post though who actually have taken one that young. I will tell you my DS was one year and 2 months old when we first went and he rode everything I did (HUGE ride wimp here- wouldnt do Goofy's Barnstormer if I didn't have to). We did Pirates (held on to him for dear life during the first little drop), Haunted Mansion, and he absolutely loved Its a Small World- we rode that one like 10 times that first trip.

5. If money happens to be a concern then I would wait until your youngest is maybe 3 (if they are an outgoing type) but if not and you want to take tons of pictures to show them later they will like that. They won't remember this trip though so if that bothers you I would wait.

Have fun!

[Berries97]

I have to respectively (sp?) disagree with the above poster (the dad). We went last month with a 2 year old and had the best time ever. You can Pm if you want for more info but here are some basics... Granted we only have the one child.

We spent 5 days at the WL. We did one park a day.. no hopping. We were always at the park for rope drop because the parks were less crowded in the morning and it was not as hot. We did the most important things on our list, had lunch, and headed back to the resort for the afternoon. Took naps and then headed to our ADR and back to the park for the evening. I also built in a day where we didn't go to the parks. We stayed at the lodge and played at the pool.. again naps.. and went to DTD that night. The main thing was not to go commando... we knew there were going to be things we couldn't do. It was fine. And if DS said no to anything we didnt push it.

As far as characters... DS LOVED them! We did watch several Disney DVDs before we went and the Disney planning DVD. This helped quite a bit. We did the Ohana character breakfast and it was great!!


I did not pack alot of stuff to take to the parks... obviously for a six month old it will be different. But I packed a gallon ziplock bag with cold water bottles, lemonade drink mix, and a few snacks. In another ziplock I had diapers, wipes, and sunscreen. I wore my cards on a lanyard. Keep it as simple as possible.

We had a great time. Everything was magical in DS2 eyes... he actually behaved better at WDW than he does at home sometimes! I think part of it was that DH and had a simple plan, adjusted if we needed, and stayed positive!

Hope this helps a bit!

[ajw1718]

To OP: Please do not listen to eastcarolinafan.

I too am a Dad and very rarely post on these boards, basically use this board for info and tips around scheduling my yearly trips to Walt Disney World.

I just returned from a trip 10/29-11/5 with my 7 month old and 2 year old (turned 2 during our trip)

What you wrote couldn't be further from the truth, while I do understand that every child is different, our children had a blast.

I totally enjoyed watching my two year old take picture after picture with the characters: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto, Buzz, Woody, Jessie, Flick, Rafiki and believe it or not Tigger! Just to name a few....

I also scheduled a character breakfast at cape may, watching my two year old enjoy his eggs and bacon and watching his eyes light up when he knew the characters were coming to his table was a priceless moment.

What about the rides and shows you ask? Small world, dumbo, tigger, triceratop spin, alladins magic carpets, mickeys philharmagic, toy story mania, buzz lightyear, jungle cruise, AK Safari, Nemo, Figment.....etc.

I wont even include the excitement at Seaworld and Universal.

Again, I do understand that every child is different but bringing my 2 year old to Disney was a blast and I am basically prepping my 7 month old (who slept most of the trip) for a lifetime of memories.

[Microcell]

Tee hee I am 36 and won't ride Triceritops Spin! Make sure on something like teacups that they will be ok with motion sickness first.. you can control the spinning on teacups..

[Maren1111]

We went awhile back with our baby, our 2-year-old, and our 4-year-old. It was a great trip. The baby centers at all of the parks were a blessing. We did not go back for naps but kept our days shorter instead. The baby was mostly oblivous to the whole thing but happy to be with us! Two-year-olds are a great age for Disney. They're old enough to love the characters and have favorite rides and all that. One of the biggest hits for all of them was the water spots, like Pooh's playground at MK and the pop jets at the resort, though I don't know if it's warm enough in February for those.

I would not schedule a sit-down meal or character buffet with kids this age, it's just not worth the stress. Yes, diaper bags are allowed, and we never had any objection to any of the kiddie snacks we packed in them. Have a great trip!

[dvcdisney]

Although I will admit that it is a lot of work, I would do it again.

We started taking our children since they were months old. I find that babies are far easier than toddlers who, in turn, are far easier than children.

If you plan on taking it easy and realizing that you can't do everything and every ride with your young children, you will enjoy yourselves. This is the time to take it easy. Believe me, the mid day naps at the resort for your children are great and when they get older, you will probably miss it.

I have a 10yr old and an almost 5 yr old. And they want to do a lot of things. We do have breaks at the resort for swimming and relaxing each day, but at this age, they are on the go and want to ride as many rides as possible.

When they were younger, they could nap in the stroller and we tend to do a lot of leisure walks around the park. Now, it's a beeline for everything. I'm glad we take breaks in the afternoon. My husband takes them swimming at the pool while I go shopping. This is a great break for me. They seem to have neverending energy.

So, I guess my point is, I find that it was a lot easier and more relaxing at the park when they were younger. You would need to be okay with the fact that you may not be able to ride a lot of the rides. But remember, one day they'll be older and you will have all the time to do all those rides. It's just a matter of stages.

We have gone quite a few times, so we tend not to overdo the park, but still, just to keep up is so exhausting. It's a lot easier to keep up with a baby in the stroller.

Don't get me wrong, now that they are older, we spend less time at the baby care centres and more time at the rides and shows, so that's definitely a plus .

As for character dining, that would be up to your children. My daughter was afraid of non-people characters until she was 3. So we didn't do any for awhile until she was fine with it. They do spend a lot of time seeing the characters and if they are upset or afraid, it would not be fun for them or you.

Good Luck. How much fun you have will depend on you and your expectations.

[Jill in Chicago]

How are they at home?

- Does the toddler cry for attention when you feed, diaper, sing to the baby?
- Does your toddler tend to want to be held when you are holding the baby? (When you are in line for a ride, will you have the baby in a baby carrier while you are holding the toddler at the same time? Are you physically strong enough to do this?)
- When you run errands will the toddler walk along side you or does he/she run away? (Can you imagine changing your baby in a baby care station and having your toddler wiggle out of the stroller and run around touching everything, crawling around on the floor, eating things off the floor? Or will your toddler sit contentedly in the stroller waiting?)
- When you have your back turned for a moment to deal with the baby what does your toddler do?
- If the baby is screaming what does your toddler do? When the toddler is screaming how does the baby react?
- When the baby is sleeping at the hotel room, what will you do if your toddler will not nap? Will the toddler be able to quietly play games with you? Will the toddler want to go up and love on the baby, or will he/she be content to leave the baby alone?
- When the toddler sees the pool how will you and the baby handle that? Is there someone else who can watch the baby while you and the toddler swim?
- Will you be able to mentally handle it when both are screaming at the top of their lungs, with the toddler kicking and writhing, because they are exhausted, or scared, or hungry, or just plain who knows what, and you have to carry them both to the parking lot (or stroller them) and they are still screaming on the bus the ENTIRE ride to the hotel and then neither will settle down to go to sleep or calm down, and you are starving....

You get the point. Just think it all through.

My boys were the toddlers that got into everything. Something on the floor? They ate it. A plug to be pulled out? Out it went. They could reach it? They were into it. Can it be pulled apart? Then they had to figure out how it worked, went together, came apart. Can it be picked off? Pick, pick went the little fingers.

I was bone dead exhausted taking them to a friend's home and they were not climbers or runners, just explorers and eaters.

Then I had friends whose toddlers were the easiest little people to be with I had ever seen! It really comes down to how are your children?

Just a side note: my boys are 16 and 21. They are still curious and love to find out how things work. Thankfully they no longer feel the need to yank electrical cords out of the wall. Now eating things that drop on the floor, that's another issue.

[dotcomguy]

Another dad here... My wife and I prefer taking our kids when they're younger. Our oldest will be 4 this year and we are dreading the endless trips on Dumbo or at least hearing her ask until she's tired of sitting in the corner. In the past they were too young and just did whatever we wanted and they had a blast! We could spend a couple days at the World Showcase and they loved it! This December will be our third Dec trip in a row. Our girls are 4, 2 1/2, and 1 (with baby #4 due in May).

My wife wouldn't go without the character meals. She loves the buffet and the family friendly atmosphere. We usually arrive for rope drop and never go back to the hotel room until the park closes (but that's usually before 9 in Dec). The girls nap in the stroller or a sling. We rotate the girls between a double stroller and Ergo Baby Carrier. This year we're taking 2 Ergos because they love it! Our girls never nap in the stroller at home, but when they're hit with Disney they get exhausted and will sleep in the strangest positions.

As for rides, the baby swap is the best. I'm not sure what we'll do when our kids grow up. Maybe we'll find one we can rent for a week. But in all seriousness, taking young kids is better in our opinion. As my dad use to say about some things "It's too good for kids!"

[njnectarine]

Thanks so much everyone! That's a great info! I have been to DW twice with my DH but never with the kids. This time we're bringing both sets of grandparents with us too so they can help us out. My older son is a very active toddler but my hubby can handle him while I stay with the little one...
We definately plan on keeping their schedule as regular as possible meaning meals and nap...we'll go back to the hotel for a nap and rest a bit...

ok, moms (and dads) let me hear some more opinions! Thanks

[redc]

Another Dad...They won't remember a thing. Make sure you know that you are taking the trip for yourself. We brought our kids when they were VERY young. They got tired easily. The trip was a disaster. I know you feel excited to share your enjoyment of Disney with them, but believe me, it's much better if you wait a while. My 23 and 25 year olds don't remember the first two trips we took them on.

It is so much more fun for all involved at ages 8-13. Before that it's too soon and after that they are teenagers, who want to go to the beach with their friends.

You have to know your own kids though.

Just my opinion to give a fair and balanced viewpoint.

[ScarletFire]

Originally Posted by redc

Another Dad...They won't remember a thing. Make sure you know that you are taking the trip for yourself. We brought our kids when they were VERY young. They got tired easily. The trip was a disaster. I know you feel excited to share your enjoyment of Disney with them, but believe me, it's much better if you wait a while. My 23 and 25 year olds don't remember the first two trips we took them on.

It is so much more fun for all involved at ages 8-13. Before that it's too soon and after that they are teenagers, who want to go to the beach with their friends.

You have to know your own kids though.

Just my opinion to give a fair and balanced viewpoint.

Yep, what he said exactly.

[glassslipper2004]

If you love Disney, don't let the young age of your kids worry you. I'd rather be at Disney with kids who sometimes get cranky than at home - at least you're at Disney! It works as long as you are prepared to deal with the good and the bad. We took my girls when they were 3 and 5 (so older than babies, but still the 3 year old was pretty young) and it was magical. The moments when the girls saw the princesses, especially my 3 year old who was enchanted by them, were priceless.

One tip - I really liked renting the double strollers. This probably wouldn't work for you because of your infant, but it was great for getting the girls around, and they weren't too tired out. If I had to carry one or both or drag them by their little arms... well, it wouldn't have been as much fun.

But plan to make sure you get to do what you want to do (not too many things, of course, but don't skip the good stuff) and you'll have a great time.

[wdwcp93tlt]

We went when our youngest was 6 month and oldest was 2 years old. It was a lot of work but we have a lot of great memories from the trip. After the trip we could not wait to go back again. We used a front carrier with our six month old and he could ride a lot of rides with us. I did a lot of planning before the trip which helped make things go a lot better. Remember to go slow and base what you do on your children's reactions. We are looking forward to going back in Jan. Our children will be 1 year and 3 years at the time. It is great seeing our children's reaction to WDW at any age. Relax and Enjoy!