1st time traveling with children-ideas

[Happygoluckygal]

I am excited to be taking my nieces age 17, and 5 to Disney world for the first time and yet terrified at the same time. I travel alone all the time but this is my first time traveling with children. Neither of them have been on a plane before. Is there anything I should do to prepare them...bring with me to entertain them. Will they get tired at the parks. I don't think I can carry the young one too far and am not sure if we should take breaks, go back to hotel or what? Anything special I should pack? I just have a ton of questions. Please help with any inside information. I want this to be a memorable trip for us all. Thanks

 

[buckeye]

Hi! You've got 2 very different ages to deal with. Your 5-yr-old niece will get tired in the parks. I would suggest renting a stroller when you get to each park. You see kids older than 5 riding in strollers in Disney World. When my son was 6 we didn't rent one, but he rode on my husband's shoulders a LOT.

My best advice is to get up very early (may be hard for the 17-yr-old) and be one of the first people in the parks. You'll have a lot of the more popular rides finished by the time the crowds and lines get bad. Then go back to your resort (are you staying on site?) and swim, relax, hang out. You'll then be ready to go back to the parks renewed.

For the plane, you may want to bring some puzzles, cards, etc.. for the little one--how long is the plane ride? You can bring Disney guidebooks and read to her about the rides.

You've come to the right place to prepare for your trip. You'll get TONS of good ideas and advice here.

Best of luck. You will have a WONDERFUL time and your nieces will remember it their whole lives!!

 

[memymomonica]

The 17 year old is easy. For the plane, she can read magazines, Disney guidebooks, listen to CD's. The 5 year old, I suggest coloring books, colorforms, view master, paperdolls. They also have magnetic playsets that are handy for the plane. Take snacks for each as well.

At the parks, the stroller will be your friend. The 17 year old will be easy. I would just suggest taking some water, good footwear, and maybe a snack. She may want her own camera.

5 year old- snacks, autograph book.

Should be a great time!!

 

[StinkerbellsMom]

Our five year old has been out of her stroller since a little over the age of 2. We live in NYC and she has grown up walking all over the city and never complains, however, I KNOW that WDW is a lot more walking at one time and I just felt more comfortable having the stroller. We bought a cheap stroller with us -- we paid $11 at Target and figured if we had to throw it out after the trip, it was still well worth the $11! A lot of the time she ran around after her sisters and we used the stroller for packages. But there were plenty of times that she would just happily collapse into the stroller and got 'pushed around'. We flew down on Jet Blue and they LOVED the TV's!!! I will suggest EarPlanes to use for those sensitive little ears on the descent though. All 3 of my dd's refused to use them on our way TO Florida, and all 3 suffered miserably with ear pain upon arrival in FL. Thankfully it only lasted a few hours. Coming home they insisted I put them in and we had NO complaints of ear pain!! LOVE them!!! We also took along modeling clay, favorite stories, juice boxes (supposed to ease the pain as well), guide books for the older girls and I put together a Fun Folder for all three girls as well. These had some pages to color, some fun trivia, maps to the park, places to write how they feel about the upcoming trip, places to write addresses of those they want to send post cards to back home, things they want to see while there, and lots more. Our last trip was a surprise for our girls and I packed things for them that *I* thought they would like and I overdid it! LOL They didnt even use half the things I took, but better safe than sorry is my motto!

 

[buckeye]

Happygoluckygal,

I just thought of something else to mention about renting a stroller in the parks. They all look alike and are easily confused when a bunch of them are parked outside a ride. Bring a colorful scarf or bandana to tie on the handle, so that when you come out to find yours, it'll be easy to spot.

 

[Pumbaa7287]

I just went to Disney last October with three small children under the age of five years old (I was actually being paid to babysit and go to Disney, can you believe it?!) and on the planes I found they were very excited at takeoff and landing and want to see whats going on. For most of the ride however they slept soundly. If your younger niece has a blanket or stuffed animal they always sleep with, I would highly reccommend bringing it.

At Disney, try to do an early entry at MK at least once. I know its tough with small children, but the payoff is huge. You can finish all of fantasyland where all the small kid rides are within an hour, then get over to Fronteirland when it opens up and ride the two mountains. With luck you should be done here in another hour or two, and can either go to another section of the park, your hotel for a nap and a swim, or even another park!

No matter what you do, I'm sure they will have lots of fun!

 

[arminnie]

Try to find out what they like to eat ahead of time. I took my niece when she was about 8 and she did not want to eat in any of the restaurants.

We were at BoardWalk Inn and I wish we had been at a resort with a food court. That would have made things much easier and cheaper.

 

[Twende]

Take gum, chewy candy or fruit chews for the descent on the air plane incase their ears bother them.