2 year old + stroller = what to bring and what to leave behind?

[bab736]

What are your essentials to bring to the park with you? How do you take it in? What do you do with it when you park the stroller?

Also, do I need to bring a wallet (cash, credit card, ID) for any reason? I wanted to be able to just leave all our stuff (diaper bag, snacks, extra outfit for the toddler, hoodies or jackets if it's cool) in the stroller when we park it, and wouldn't leave valuables in there. Can I just have my phone and my MagicBand? Or do I need to get some sort of small crossbody bag that is always with me? DH would have his wallet w him no matter what.

 

[Crisi83]

So I can't answer about Magibands, haven't been to WDW since they started, but personally I would always have my id on me and just a little cash. The make cell phone holders that have a pocket for those things, or I'll just pull off my cover an slip them behind the exterior cover.

As for bringing in your strollers, most days I had a change of clothing, jacket in case it got cool, several diapers, a stuffed animal or few other distractions for eating, lines etc. I left my diaper stuff in the stroller and always carried my small purse which would have one diaper and a distraction or two for lines. You may be standing inline for quite a while and your stroller may not be right outside where you exit the line (and you might get distracted by a store, restroom, etc on your way back to stroller).

Most people don't have any problem with stroller thefts... I was worried about that, but between my sister and my many trips, we've had no problem. She leaves merchandise and everything else in her stroller all the time.

I like to try to organize my stuff in a couple of reusable shopping bags, the kind that crumple up on themselves to make a tiny bag. That way I can easily grab the bag that just has changing stuff in it or just has what we need for dining, instead of my giant diaper bag I typically carry at home. Plus since the bags don't have any real form to them, the bag itself isn't taking up lots of space in the limited stroller basket.

Oh, also think about a swim diaper if you plan to use any of the water areas at various parks. They are all fountain type things, so regular diaper would probably be okay, but might as well have the proper thing.

And bring an extra shirt for yourself, you never know what your two year old might do to you! Especially on the plane... nothing is worse then sitting on a plane all sticky with orange juice... Or so my mom tells me, because apparently I did that to her as a baby!

 

[Lincolnshire]

I just carried my phone and wore the magic band, but did have my ID, health insurance card and a $20 in my pocket. We put 1 full change of clothes for the toddler and 2 for the baby plus a spare shirt for me in a Ziploc bag to leave under the stroller, and another with diapers and wipes. We didn't need to use a distraction in line even once, but did go at a low crowd time and never did a line over 15-20 minutes. Many of the rides have toys in the line anyway - my 2 year old spent TWO HOURS in the line for Pooh just for the toys, and he didn't even want to go on the ride!

 

[baseballnut]

I'm an over-preparer. I always bring a small backpack and carry that on the rides. We first went when DD was 2, so I had wipes, water for us and her, snacks, a few distractions, change of clothes, sunscreen, ponchos, garbage bag, ID, phone, etc. that way we could also park the stroller and go to a few rides before going back for it.

My thoughts are if you have it with you, you won't need it, but if you don't have it you will, lol. One time we came out of Small World and it was raining. Would've sucked to have to run back to the stroller for the ponchos.

 

[Lilliputian]

I carry a shoulder bag. I keep a hook on the stroller to hook it onto when I'm pushing the stroller, and then I put it on when I get in a line. If you use a big bag with a tiny amount of stuff in it, it won't be heavy.

I get a changing pad that has pockets for diapers and wipes and folds up and uses a velcro strap to hook onto the stroller so that I only have to get it when I need to do a diaper change. I also keep a small outfit, a light blanket, and other cheap necessities in the mesh pocket behind the seat (on my City Mini). It doesn't leave me with much stuff that I have to carry, but in our family, we do always have to have Epi Pens, inhalers, and some other medical stuff with us. Your plan might be sufficient if you don't have things like that, but I'd go with a backup plan in case you decide that you do need to take a few more things with you.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Just put your ID in your husbands wallet and have him carry a bit of cash and you will be fine. Two trips with magic bands and I don't think I have used any cash during either trip. We always have a bit but as long as DH is in the park, you are good. I mostly carry a very small cross body bag as we have a PA kid and have to carry epi pens, but when we occasionally carry them in cargo pockets, I carry nothing. We are past stroller age, but a few memories from that time periods is to keep it simple. Even with a stroller to carry things, don't carry too much. At two, I would have in the stroller, one small backpack that is easy to pull out for bag checks and buses or the parking lot trams. Remember that there is really nothing that you can not get in the parks in an emergency. If you drive to the parks, have back up supplies in your car just in case. On site....a bus ride away in a true emergency. I would carry one change of clothes, a few diapers and changing pads, a juice box or two (except at AK where you can't have straws and you might want a sippy cup) a small snack or two, and maybe a band-aid or two and some hand sanitizer. Never took toys into the parks, but would let
ds have my cell phone a few times when waits got long. My cell stays in my pocket and I only take the big camera a few times a trip and it goes around an adult neck. We travel light and never had a need we could not meet in the park.

 

[bostonminnie]

What are your essentials to bring to the park with you? How do you take it in? What do you do with it when you park the stroller?

Also, do I need to bring a wallet (cash, credit card, ID) for any reason? I wanted to be able to just leave all our stuff (diaper bag, snacks, extra outfit for the toddler, hoodies or jackets if it's cool) in the stroller when we park it, and wouldn't leave valuables in there. Can I just have my phone and my MagicBand? Or do I need to get some sort of small crossbody bag that is always with me? DH would have his wallet w him no matter what.

I give my ID to my husband and he carries it in his wallet. We do what you said and leave everything else that is not valuable with the stroller. I carry my cell phone in my pocket.

 

[Dugette]

I've taken 3 trips with my toddler - DH was on one and the other two were solo (well, one with another DIS-er, actually). With DH, I put my ID and cards in his wallet and he carried that. I only needed my cell phone. On my own, I brought a cell phone wallet thing and used a small carabiner to clip it to my belt loop and/or stuffed it in my pocket when big enough. I actually never put my cell phone in there, since I always had it in hand for pictures/video. One of those trips was off-site, so I did need to bring cash/cards, the other I charged purchases to the Magic Band, but still kept ID/medical cards/etc. with me. When with my stroller, I would set it on the parent console and clip it to the handle/other bag so it wouldn't get lost.

The other things I bring are:

*A small diaper clutch thing: has room for about 5 diapers, some wipes, and built-in changing pad. I attach it to the stroller handle when not in use.

*A bag with all the toddler and parent necessities. If I have plans to do table service meals, I like to pack two separate bags - one with clothes, etc. (usually put in basket under stroller) and one with mealtime essentials (sippy cup, bib, snacks, etc.) that I hook over the stroller handles. - that way I don't have to bring in any more than necessary to the restaurant.

I wouldn't do more than two bags, though, if you are taking Disney bus transportation or a boat where you need to fold the stroller. My solo trip with DD I just used a backpack to make it easy on myself.

If you purchase anything that you value, I would use the free service where you can have it sent to either the front of the park or your on-site room. Otherwise, I leave everything but my phone, Magic Band, and wallet thing in the stroller.

Also a good idea to have a stroller cover or poncho if you think it might rain. Don't want all of your belongings soaked while you're on a dark ride.

Have fun! I love travelling with a toddler!

 

[Hayes76]

I started taking a colorful shower curtain from the dollar store to cover our stroller. It keeps it dry during those afternoon showers & makes it stand out so you can find it easier. Since they are never where you parked them.

 

[monorailsilver]

What are your essentials to bring to the park with you? How do you take it in? What do you do with it when you park the stroller?

Also, do I need to bring a wallet (cash, credit card, ID) for any reason? I wanted to be able to just leave all our stuff (diaper bag, snacks, extra outfit for the toddler, hoodies or jackets if it's cool) in the stroller when we park it, and wouldn't leave valuables in there. Can I just have my phone and my MagicBand? Or do I need to get some sort of small crossbody bag that is always with me? DH would have his wallet w him no matter what.

Miss the stroller days!

I used bring a bag with some diapers and wipes also in a bag vs a hard case. I refill as needed.

Lysol wipes to wipe down table and high chair, table toppers, toilet seat covers or the foldable one.

Sippy cup with water and some snacks.

Dh carrys all the tickets (pre magic band) in his wallet and my license and all the cash/credit cards. If for some reason we separate he gives me what I need.

I did use a crossover bag and carried my water (we are with out strollers now) and my phone and camera.

 

[Feberin]

We brought a camera so when we parked the stroller I had the camera bag with a diaper stuffed into it just incase. I also used an ergo for wearing my toddler while waiting in lines so I stuffed a couple diapers plus wipes into the pocket. If we stopped for a meal we'd also bring the backpack into the restaurant. I didn't bring any money and my husband carried my ID in his wallet. I never had any issues and made purchases with my magic band by myself several times.
Since we used buses for transportation we had to make sure we could fold up our stroller easily. We had a backpack with the following

Diapers
Wipes
Sunglasses
Water bottles
Autograph book
Towel
Mini-first aid kit
Fat pen for character autographs
Rain ponchos
Mister fan
Moleskine
Pain medicine
Sunscreen
Lip balm w/sunscreen
Insect repellant
Antibacterial hand gel
Wet wipes
Hats
Plastic bags for yucky clothes and bibs
Change of clothes for kids
Glow sticks
Flip Flops (incase your shoes get wet in the rain)
Pennies for pressing


We also had a cooler with snacks and a packed lunch. And we put our rain cover in the bottom of the stroller. I probably over packed. But we were able to fit everything into the backpack and stroller.

 

[Crisi83]

Oh yes, I forgot this is Disney World not Disneyland. I've only done Disneyland with the toddler and line distractions were needed since their lines are not nearly as well designed as Disney World. That new Dumbo play area is genius...