2 year old in lines

[ckoshka]

We are going on our first ever trip end of September and it will be myself, dh, and 3 kids (5,4 yr olds and a 24 months old). I know we cannot bring the stroller in lines with us, but was wondering what most of you with a 2 yr old do. Mine is a big boy at 30 pounds and he is very hard to keep in one spot.

 

[maplevale]

You will have to see how it goes - we are taking DD at 2.5 in the winter. I am hoping that the stuff to look at, standing on the curbs etc. will be enough with DD!

I will have some 'reserves' in my bag like snacks, water, stickers in case she get' really antsy (those don't entertain her long yet either)

We did WDW when she was 9 months and we tried to organize our day to minimize lines. Worked well and that was the end of March - I am hoping for less lines in February.

 

[angelmom27]

We use our carrier and I wear our DD in the lines. A buckle carrier is best or a ring sling that way you can just leave the carrier on and take him out to ride. Also if she falls asleep in there we can do some rides with her in it and she just naps too.

 

[Gracie09]

The time you are going is one of the lowest crowd times of the year. It's actually my favorite time to go! Last year we did not see a line (except for major headliners ie toy story) that was more than 30 minutes and using fastpass we saw everything and never waited more than 15 minutes. Have a loose plan an use fast pass and kid swap and you will be golden.

 

[mhp8982]

I am interested in knowing too.. Our son will be 2 when we go. I didn't realize you couldn't take a stroller?

 

[JediBonas]

I am interested in knowing too.. Our son will be 2 when we go. I didn't realize you couldn't take a stroller?

Same here. Our twins will be turning 2 during our trip and they (especially our son) aren't good at siting still. Yikes!

 

[Princess Vespa]

Utilize fast pass when you can. Also, the time you are going is usually not that long of lines. Longest I would guess would be about 40 minutes (Peter Pan)
Pooh has interactive play area on line and so does Dumbo and Haunted Mansion.
I have taken my kids every year from 5 months and up, for the last 6 years. Snacks worked well for me.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We took DS to Disneyland at 15 mos and this was our exact problem. We avoided any line with more than a 25 minute wait and used fast pass, and got there at rope drop etc. Keeping him from running out of the line or pushing through people, or climbing on the rails was tiring...as was holding him because he did NOT want to be held, he wanted to be down on the move. We did not bring a carrier, we just had the stroller (which we obviously had to park outside the queue lines).

We are taking him to WDW (age 2) this fall too. We still aren't going to bring a carrier because I don't want another thing to drag around and I think he will fight getting in it since we never really used one at home. If your child is comfortable using one, it could be good a tool. Other than that, hope for short lines, use fast pass and maybe bring a little toy for them to hold in line and get ready to grab your little runner!

 

[NotUrsula]

A harness or backpack and reins. Braid up the rein to no more than 2 feet long, so that he won't tangle it on anything or anyone.

(Don't use a wrist rein; they just scream a challenge to ditch it, and they can because they can reach the fastening; you want one that fastens at the back so that getting himself out of it won't work.)

 

[Lilliputian]

The end of September is perfect for that age because the crowds are so low. Use a good touring plan, involving getting there at rope drop and using FPs, and you'll never be in line for more than 10 minutes. Just have a few tricks up your sleeve for shows that you have to get to early. A lot of those are outside (Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, Lights Motor Action, and all the nighttime shows), and you're allowed to eat while you wait, so take advantage of that. Things that light up or glow are good for nighttime, too. You can buy things there for a king's ransom, or you can stock up before you go at Dollar Tree or Party City.

 

[corneredbycorn]

DD will be 20 months old when we go at the beginning of September. We are planning on utilizing baby carriers anywhere strollers can't go. I will be bringing a couple of woven wraps, a Boba 3G, and a Lillebaby Complete.

 

[tzolkin]

My youngest was 23 months the first time we went. I did wind up holding him quite a bit, but he was bigger than my 4yo. We owned a backpack style carrier, but that was way to big to carry around the parks and it would have been a pain to keep getting him in/out.

We have since gone every year (either May, Sept, or Aug) and we have mostly been able to avoid waiting.

Get to the parks at rope drop (especially AM EMH) and use FP to do all the major attractions with minimal waits. During busy park hours we mainly do the less popular attractions, shows, just walk around and soak in the atmosphere, or enjoy our resort

I remember that first trip I did all this obsessive research and was convinced from posts here that I had to bring things to keep the kids occupied, but after the first day I left all that stuff at the resort. My kids were perfectly content to look around at the scenery in the queues, talk about what we had already done and what they wanted to do next, and maybe have a snack.

 

[ckoshka]

Thank you all so much for all the advice! I picked September just for the hope of having low crowds after being on here reading for months. Love this board! Thanks again.

 

[sb682]

If you time things right and use Fastpass, you won't be waiting in line much at all. You'll find yourself walking through much of the queues and waiting briefly at most. Have you looked at EasyWDW's cheat sheets? Josh gives the best advice EVER.

 

[TMEF23]

When we went last year my twin sons were 20 months old. I used my ergo carrier to help in long lines. It was also helpful standing in lines at counter services since it helped free up my hands to help carry food.

We also are big fans of stickers and light up spinny toys. The light up toys were great when standing in line for Pirates of the Caribbean since it was dark inside.

 

[momofmaz]

Wow...seeing this thread couldn't have been better timing. I just updated my pre trip report about being nervous and almost to the point of wanting to cancel our trip in November due to my 24 month old's (27 months on trip) behavior and VERY love patience for waiting in line.

Great advice. And kind of calms me down.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I wouldn't stress about the lines. Good things come to those who wait in lines. I think kids learn this quickly, and will happily wait in a line that is for a ride they are excited about. We generally avoid lines longer than 15 minute waits, but one year my 24 month old saw astro orbitor, and there was no talking him out of the 45 minute wait. He patiently waited the whole time. Your kids may surprise you with their ability to wait in line.

Also, maybe load some fun apps on your phone for emergency line waiting needs, but don't start with that tactic, only bring it out if in dire straits. Somehow the lines inching forward make it seem to go faster. Well be there in September too, and don't expect to wait for anything longer than 10, but we are rope droppers and fast pass users, and typically leave the parks around noon.

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

 

[Chabby]

Your kids may surprise you with their ability to wait in line.

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I'm hoping my 2yo will surprise me! I'm worried he will want to cut in line and melt down when I don't allow it

I plan to do rope drop, I'm bringing a sling carrier and snacks. I hope he does well.

 

[mhp8982]

When we went last year my twin sons were 20 months old. I used my ergo carrier to help in long lines. It was also helpful standing in lines at counter services since it helped free up my hands to help carry food.

We also are big fans of stickers and light up spinny toys. The light up toys were great when standing in line for Pirates of the Caribbean since it was dark inside.

I was wondering if it would be smart to get an ego for my son.. He will be turning 2 while we are there. I never bought a carrier like that when he was younger. Would it be silly to buy one now? He is tiny.. Only in the 3rd percentile. But I just don't know if he will want to sit in one. I so wish we would have bought an ergo when he was first born.

 

[Timandalicia]

We are going on our first ever trip end of September and it will be myself, dh, and 3 kids (5,4 yr olds and a 24 months old). I know we cannot bring the stroller in lines with us, but was wondering what most of you with a 2 yr old do. Mine is a big boy at 30 pounds and he is very hard to keep in one spot.

Best advice ever. You don't have to wait in line. Your husband can save your place until he gets toward the front. We do it all of the time. Nobody minds. They all get it. Have him text you when he is 10 minutes out.