a few questions

[itscoldhere]

I have a few questions for you frequent fliers and people who frequent the park.

I was wanting to take our own water into the park. Can I pack this? Or do I need to go and buy some water when we get there? I guess my question is this....if I check my luggage, I can pack anything, right? Meaning, I can pack an opened bottle of cold medicine, bottled water, etc.???

What would you recommend for young kids for take-off and landing? Meaning, they don't use a bottle, but I worry about them saying their ears are plugged and hurt. Do you think they could just suck on a piece of candy? Would that help the issue? My kids have never flown, so I would like to make it as comfortable as possible to them.

If you were to choose between Storytellers and the Rainforest Cafe, which would you choose?

What are the strollers like at Disney? Are they those metal uncomfortable type that they have at some malls? I guess the question is, would it be comfortable for a child to sleep in?

Thanks for any help.
14 days!

 

[godalejunior]

I will comment on the ears..........I bought the childrens earplanes plugs and they worked fine. We forgot to put them in on the way home and he complained that his ears were bothering him a little. So, I do know they work at least for my child since he had them in on the way to DL and we had no complaints. I bought them at the local drugstore. They have adult sizes as well.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I used to always give my daughter a decongestant about one hour before we took off. And if the flight was long (as in we would still be on the plane four hours after that first dose) I would give her another dose on the plane. I also made sure she had something to drink and chewing gum (she was six the first time we flew, not sure how old your kids are). Her ears used to really bug her. The ear plugs are also great, but for some reason she resisted those so the doctor suggested the decongestant.

I always take my own water bottles into the park. I also frequently take snacks. And be aware all of the counter service places will give you a free cup of ice water. At $3 a bottle, paying for bottled water gets too expensive! Almost everyone seems to bring their own in. Just no glass bottles, cups or alcoholic beverages are allowed.


Not sure about the strollers. I belive they are plastic though.

Are you thinking the Storytellers breakfast where the characters appear or the lunch or dinner where there are no characters? Either way, you cannot go wrong with either. My kids love character meals and I think you should always do at least one per trip. They are pricey but so much fun and a great way for your child to spend time with the characters without waiting in long lines. Rainforest Cafe is a must do for us each trip, we just love it there. Be aware that at Rainforest it is dark in there and periodically a thunderstorm complete with sound affects occurs. That might scare some really young children.

Oh and I always pack a suitcase with bottles of waters. In fact I have a rolling cooler I frequently check for that purpose. Then I have something to use for all the souveneirs I buy at Disneyland! You can pack opened bottles of medication too. Just be sure and put them in ziploc bags so they don't leak all over things. The change in air pressure can make some inconvenient things happen with liquids of all kinds! I use ziploc bags for all of that kind of stuff, especially toothpaste. Learned that one the hard way!

 

[DisQueen]

Oh, bring water! We always pack a few bottles in the backpack. I also bring flavorings for the water sometimes - kool-aid and crystal light make individual serving envelopes.

The strollers are 3 wheeled "jogger" type strollers. They are naturally reclined. DD has fallen asleep in them many times. There is a small hanging mesh bag on the back and another storage area under the seat. The sunshade is big, too. DD is now 4, but we still get the stroller sometimes in the afternoon when she is tired. It still fits her well. They are currently $10 and CAN go between the 2 parks. They CANNOT enter the Downtown Disney area.

As for flying, we've used sippy cups (even when the kids were past the age of using them at home). I've also used lollypops and jelly beans. My kids don't like gum, but the beans served the same purpose. I never used the decongestant idea because my kids have a tendency to get that druggy, groggy feeling after taking medications. That makes them cranky and whiney

 

[abby]

You can pack as much water as you want in checked luggage, but cannot put it in carryon's. I always pack a lot of water, and snacks.

My dd use to use suckers for take off and landing, now we chew gum since she is older. Also, have them make funny faces that involve opening your mouth wide, it works as well.

 

[Albort]

You can pack as much water as you want in checked luggage, but cannot put it in carryon's. I always pack a lot of water, and snacks.

My dd use to use suckers for take off and landing, now we chew gum since she is older. Also, have them make funny faces that involve opening your mouth wide, it works as well.

i always wonder what happens if the water bottles break in your bag? that would suck. I mean water isnt THAT expensive here in California.

 

[TwingleMum]

I agree with Albort. I usually buy water when we get there and that way I don't worry about it leaking. Plus bottled water is heavy. I always take an empty suitcase for all the souvenirs.

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you are flying and don't have a rental car and cannot make a grocery stop getting water isn't so easy. So then yeah, I have packed as many as 24 bottles in my softsided cooler. I have done this at least ten times, no leaks, no problems. I don't pack anything else in there so if it leaks not a biggie. As far as water not being expensive if you buy it at the parks it is. I have shelled out as much as 5K easily for a DL vacation and we drink a lot of water. I drink 64 oz a day. At $3 for a 20 oz bottle that would be $9 just for me. Dh drinks about the same and my kids are big water drinkers as well. For a week that adds up fast! Once my water supply begins to dwindle, I will buy some bottles or fill up a used one at a cs place from a cup of free ice water. When you are travelling with a family of four, far from home its amazing what you will do to save a few dollars here and there.

 

[godalejunior]

We took one suitcase filled with water and snacks and that way we had a suitcase to put all our souvenirs in. Ziploc has these XXL bags that we stuffed our water in and then zipped them up tight. That way if they exploded or whatever it would have been in the bag and not all over the suitcase. We refilled our bottles in the room too to keep cost down.

 

[GailT]

OK, my 2 cents, it is bad enough going to the airport and lugging all the suitcases but I would never bring bottled water. I know it is expensive in the parks but holy moly I would rather pay $2.75 and bottle of water in the parks then make so much extra work just getting there.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

How are the strollers with a mid size 5 year old? I have never used one of the strollers but they look nice. Our 5 year old will still need to ride at the end of the day. How are the strollers to push with the older kids? With a regular sized stroller it is challenging to turn a lot. We have a Disney visa card so we can get it free.

Thanks

 

[woody73]

Other than at DL, bottled water is inexpensive. In today's paper, Ralphs Market has a coupon: 24 bottles (.5 liter) for $1.99.

I wouldn't bother packing water.

Woody

 

[Pixieshouse]

I have never rented a stroller, always brought my own - sorry

I always stop at a grocery, target or convinence store to get a flat of water, cereal, milk and snacks. We then pack bowls and spoons and have breakfast in our room and then I have snacks for the kids. We get the occasional special treat, but it save us a ton of money! Even if you take a taxi or shuttle to the store you will save a ton.

We always take water and snacks into the park. I pack them in a see through mesh bag and they never question any of it.

I have problems with the planes. I try to get them to drink ot of a water bottle or sippie cup if I can. I never thought of truing a sucker during take off that is a good idea. I like the idea of decngestant as well. I think I will try that for the next trip.

I also pack a small/tiny bag with a few asprin for adults and some for kids. A few bandaids and ointment. You never know what will happen and where in the park you will be. I have princess band aids that my dd loves. In fact one day a man scraped his knee. He was in a wheel chair and it was difficult for him to get back to first aid. No get this big burley guy with a cindella band aid on his knee. A cast member saw us helping him out and gave my dd any choice of two pins of her lanyard for us being so helpful. It made her day, I helped someone out and all because I pack just a little extra.

whoo way off topic, sorry about that.

Oh one other thing I do. If you are taking a stroller that has a sun visor on it. I take binder clips, the little black ones and clip them to the umbrella cover. Once in the park I attach a light weight blanket with the clips. Once my dd is asleep I can lower the blanket and she doesn't have sun glare in her eyes and she sleeps just a little better.

Have fun!

 

[sameyeyam]

I pack empty water bottles in my luggage. Just be sure to put them near the middle where they won't get squished. You can just fill them with tap water when you get there. No worries about them leaking in your luggage & no extra added weight!

I give my kids gum for the flight and hand them an Ipod & Gameboy. I never hear from them until we land!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

For the water we usually bring our own BUT we drive so its no big deal to stack a case in the van.

If we run out, we have walked down to the 7-11 on the corner of Harbor and Katella to get some more. I say we walk because some of those hotel parking spaces are hard to come by and we dont want to leave once we get one! It's a pretty easy walk depending on where you are staying.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Is that 7-11 open 24 hours? We have some that aren't in our area. I am sure there prices are probably higher than Target but not as much as the park. We often go in the small store at our hotel and save some money.

I learned this tip last year from this board and found it was great and have used it at six flags, work, etc. Crystal light travel packets go in the water bottle and my family doesn't mind if it is a little warmer. We use filtered water at home and they don't like the taste of the tap water at DL. That saved us a lot of HA last year and we plan on it again this year.

My husband bought a stroller on sale today and so that eliminates my question I posted earlier. We are so dependent on strollers to carry extra stuff that the we need. The kids are just outgrowing them but since we started on trips like this with them so little it is hard to go to any big park without one.

I was just sad because last year we hit a indent speed bump going into our hotel at night and broke one of our front wheels. My DH is great with duck tape and string, he rigged it to run for 3 more days and it even made it home on the airplane but busted since then. The kids both fit, it's a double stroller and were very excited. The new one pushes better than the old. Maybe I will break even from saving on the fees for wrist therapy I would have incurred from pushing the hard single one we have tried at six flags last year.


12 more days till we fly

 

[woody73]

. . . I was just sad because last year we hit a indent speed bump going into our hotel at night and broke one of our front wheels. My DH is great with duck tape and string, he rigged it to run for 3 more days and it even made it home on the airplane but busted since then.

MacGyver lives!

Woody