2 yo first trip!!! What should we expect?

[MrsTink04]

I am so excited. We are going for 4 days for DS's first trip to WDW next month. What should we expect? He knows about the castle, Mickey, some the rides, etc. He just turned 2, so obviously, he has NO idea these things really exist. What should we expect?
Also, any recs for a good lightweight stroller? (He weighs 36lbs and is really tall!)

Thanks!!!

 

[kathie859]

What a great time you'll have! One thing that surpises parents is that little people sometimes are afraid of "big head" characters. Even Mickey and Minnie Both my niece (she was 3 on her first trip YEARS ago) and my DGD (she was 19 mos on her first trip) did not enjoy up close interaction with the big heads. The face characters, on the other hand, were fine.

I have no intelligent thoughts on stroller--that is now my DD department

 

[MelXThree]

Hi I just took my almost 2 year old twins to WDW in January! It was sooo much fun!!

As for characters- one of them loved them and one of them hated them Same thing for the rides - one thing Disney does well is make a scary scene in every ride even the Nemo ride

They did very well - lasting opening until 7-8 at night. We planned on going back to our hotel for naps but it never happened. A couple of times they fell a sleep in the stoller but most days they just sat in there stroller and looked around!

I am so glad I took them - I know a lot of people say "they won't remeber" but I will and I am so glad I will alwaus have those memories

As for a stroller I was part of a stroller swap. It was a jogger and I loved it. It was not light weight like you had mentioned I saw a lot of people with umbrella type stollers but they have no room for storage, I know for me we took at lot of "stuff" so a place to put a bag is always good!

Oh yeah - I brought goldfish and cherrios and they were life savers for some of those ...moments

Have fun

 

[tkitty]

We did DL last year with 15 mo old DGD. She did great. I agree that she may not remember much, but we loved watching her expresions of joy and wonder. She did great on all rides we tried. POC, HM, PP, Dumbo, Space Orbiters, too. She was scared to death of Chip and Dale, but warmed right up to Minnie.

We will be taking her to WDW in Oct, and she now knows all the princesses and watches Disney movies daily. I think she will have a blast.
Also, with the child swap, no one has to miss out!

 

[Mom2Dash&JackJack]

I have been with both of my boys when they were just under 2. Both were magical times. The kids had a blast. I have some suggestions:
1. Plan nap time each and every day - its so worth it to go back to the hotel and relax, swim and nap to get refreshed for the rest of the day. We never had a meltdown with this game plan. We are going back in May with DS6 and DS3 and both will have a nap each day.
2. Check out garden grocer to get the necessities delivered to your hotel (if you don't have a car). It was great to have them deliver Milk and snacks to have in the room and available (they even do diapers).
3. There are playgrounds in each of the parks - Poohs play area and the play area in toon town at MK; HISTK in DHS; and I beleive there is one in Epcot also. They love to just run around and get out of the stroller. Those areas were were I saw the boys really get excited and enjoy themselves. Disney can be overwelming.
4. Character meals were great because you don't have to sit in a line to get an autograph - they come to your table.
5. If you don't already have it, get teh planning DVD and let him watch over and over to get used to some of what he will see. My kids loved to also watch the Disney Sing Along Songs at Animal Kingdom and the beach one. Gets them used to what they will see.

Take lots of pictures and your 2 yo will remember through those. They do remember!

Good luck!