elizabethdahl
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2014
- Messages
- 13
Hat is everyone's advice/secrets/tips for taking two munchkins to the parks. We are staying 10 days so we are not rushed.
Advice for taking twin 23 month olds
- Thread starter elizabethdahl
- Start date
travelgirl06
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2006
- Messages
- 989
We only took one little one, but she was 25 months, so hopefully I can offer a few tips.
1. Be prepared to go back to the resort for nap/rest/pool time. This isn't something we did every day, but we kept it open as an option each day depending on how DD was feeling. The days we went back we were frequently able to stay at the parks later and most of the little kid rides seemed less crowded late at night (we"ve walked on dumbo right before closing on several occasions).
2. Speaking of lines/crowds - we did our best to avoid them. We traveled during off season, picked days with lower expected crowds, and got to the parks at opening/shortly after (rope drop was always the target, but sometimes we'd be 15-30 minutes after). We did the rides that we knew would build up a line early in the day so eat could do stuff without lines later on.
3. Bring lots of snacks, sippy cups, etc. You never know when your child will go from fine to famished in no time flat, so come prepared. Those applesauce/fruit pouches are amazing, so are raisins, crackers, Granola bars, etc. we made sure DD's sippy was always full of water (and could also use it for milk at restaurants).
4. Bringing food for breakfast in the room (oatmeal is super easy, we also go juice, donuts, etc.) makes for easy mornings, which you want if you are trying to get there early (then we were hungry for earlier lunches and could avoid the rush).
5. We like staying on-site, that makes it a car-seat-free vacation for us, the busses are weirdly efficient in the parks and I LOVED that you could check your bags through to your resort with DME (seriously...amazing when traveling with little ones and all their stuff).
6. Bring at least one stroller. We brought a maclaren (our normal to-to stroller) and loved having it. We could store our toddler stuff (snacks, diapers, change of clothes, etc.) in the basked underneath and not have to worry about carrying it. We also parked the stroller a few times and would wander around a bit without it then come back and get it (obviously don't leave valuables in it or anything
)
7. Look at maps and figure out the parks/what attractions your little ones might like. DD is into Doc McStuffins, so once we did our top DHS attractions (rock'n'roller coaster, TOT and TSM) we went to the Disney Junior show to make sure we didn't miss it. She loved it
1. Be prepared to go back to the resort for nap/rest/pool time. This isn't something we did every day, but we kept it open as an option each day depending on how DD was feeling. The days we went back we were frequently able to stay at the parks later and most of the little kid rides seemed less crowded late at night (we"ve walked on dumbo right before closing on several occasions).
2. Speaking of lines/crowds - we did our best to avoid them. We traveled during off season, picked days with lower expected crowds, and got to the parks at opening/shortly after (rope drop was always the target, but sometimes we'd be 15-30 minutes after). We did the rides that we knew would build up a line early in the day so eat could do stuff without lines later on.
3. Bring lots of snacks, sippy cups, etc. You never know when your child will go from fine to famished in no time flat, so come prepared. Those applesauce/fruit pouches are amazing, so are raisins, crackers, Granola bars, etc. we made sure DD's sippy was always full of water (and could also use it for milk at restaurants).
4. Bringing food for breakfast in the room (oatmeal is super easy, we also go juice, donuts, etc.) makes for easy mornings, which you want if you are trying to get there early (then we were hungry for earlier lunches and could avoid the rush).
5. We like staying on-site, that makes it a car-seat-free vacation for us, the busses are weirdly efficient in the parks and I LOVED that you could check your bags through to your resort with DME (seriously...amazing when traveling with little ones and all their stuff).
6. Bring at least one stroller. We brought a maclaren (our normal to-to stroller) and loved having it. We could store our toddler stuff (snacks, diapers, change of clothes, etc.) in the basked underneath and not have to worry about carrying it. We also parked the stroller a few times and would wander around a bit without it then come back and get it (obviously don't leave valuables in it or anything
)7. Look at maps and figure out the parks/what attractions your little ones might like. DD is into Doc McStuffins, so once we did our top DHS attractions (rock'n'roller coaster, TOT and TSM) we went to the Disney Junior show to make sure we didn't miss it. She loved it
Britgirlus
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
- Messages
- 438
Don't have unrealistic expectations. Yes, it is magical, but toddlers are...toddlers. Take it slow, stop and smell the roses, follow the kids lead. Have a blast !!
SamSam
http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/index.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2001
- Messages
- 6,669
We took our 'then' 22 month old grandsons and had a blast. We took it very slow and easy. Slept in (well as sleeping in as you can do with toddlers), took it easy in the mornings, ate breakfast in our room (DVC) then headed to a park.
We only went on the rides we thought they would be okay on, did a lot of just looking at the 'sights'. They just loved being in the parks being wheeled around (a rented double stroller - magicstrollers), looking at everything. They loved the buses, they LOVED the tram ( we rode it just because they wanted to), they loved the boat rides and the train.
In Epcot they really enjoyed going through the World Showcase and stopping at the Kidcot stations, they also enjoyed the street performers at a couple of different locations.
At HS, they loved 'Disney Junior- Live on Stage'.
Animal Kingdom they enjoyed the Safari, The Lion King Show, and loved the parade.
But....out of all of the above, what they loved the most was going back to our resort (Kidani) seeing animals on the savannah and going to the Splash Pool. We did that every day, and they were almost giddy with excitement to go down to the pool area.
Overall we just took it easy, didn't try to cram too much in to each day and it was fabulous.
We only went on the rides we thought they would be okay on, did a lot of just looking at the 'sights'. They just loved being in the parks being wheeled around (a rented double stroller - magicstrollers), looking at everything. They loved the buses, they LOVED the tram ( we rode it just because they wanted to), they loved the boat rides and the train.
In Epcot they really enjoyed going through the World Showcase and stopping at the Kidcot stations, they also enjoyed the street performers at a couple of different locations.
At HS, they loved 'Disney Junior- Live on Stage'.
Animal Kingdom they enjoyed the Safari, The Lion King Show, and loved the parade.
But....out of all of the above, what they loved the most was going back to our resort (Kidani) seeing animals on the savannah and going to the Splash Pool. We did that every day, and they were almost giddy with excitement to go down to the pool area.
Overall we just took it easy, didn't try to cram too much in to each day and it was fabulous.
Took our twin 27 month olds, and they loved it. We found success in giving them a chance to have a break in the afternoon. I echo the idea of not trying to cram too much in. I think that fastpass plus is really helpful with kids this age. That being said, some of the rides have queues that are quite entertaining like many adventures of Winnie the Pooh, or dumbo the flying elephant. One area we had trouble was with our dining plan, we ate at so many restaurants that the kids kind of rebelled and seemed to just want something familiar like pb n j. Overall I don't think there is any easier vacation than disney world, that luggage and transportation thing really makes it easy to get in and out of there. It's not super fun walking through an airport with our luggage, double stroller, and 2 car seats as backpacks for our family. This vacation avoids 90% of that.
Have fun!
Have fun!
Ariel on Land
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2008
- Messages
- 1,421
We took our twins a few weeks after they turned two. We did bring the little monkey backpacks/leashes/harnesses, whatever you call them, but we found we didn't need them as much as we thought. Although there were definitely a couple times they came in handy. Definitely bring the double stroller. One boy LOVED the characters, the other took awhile to warm up. One HATED the rides, the other LOVED them. (of course, right?!? 
) But definitely get there early, then leave for naptime, and come back for an early dinner, a ride or two, then back to the resort. Try your best to keep them on as close to their typical schedule as possible, even though it may mean missing the fireworks, you'll be able to enjoy the next day! I don't think they saw wishes until their trip at 3.5. Bring changes of clothes, snacks and use FP and childswap to your advantage to avoid lines. Depending on when you go, it's possible not to wait much more than 10-15 min max. (Obviously probably won't be like that if you go in July or at Christmas!)
Hope you have a great time! We just took all our kids, including our DD for her first trip at 27 months and she had such a great time, I'm taking just her later this year!
ETA- feel free to bring in their own food to TS restaurants. They're under 3 so they can even eat at buffets for free, but we found it was easier and cheaper to bring some pb&j, and other familiar foods to supplement meals. At least we knew we always had some food they would eat.
) But definitely get there early, then leave for naptime, and come back for an early dinner, a ride or two, then back to the resort. Try your best to keep them on as close to their typical schedule as possible, even though it may mean missing the fireworks, you'll be able to enjoy the next day! I don't think they saw wishes until their trip at 3.5. Bring changes of clothes, snacks and use FP and childswap to your advantage to avoid lines. Depending on when you go, it's possible not to wait much more than 10-15 min max. (Obviously probably won't be like that if you go in July or at Christmas!) Hope you have a great time! We just took all our kids, including our DD for her first trip at 27 months and she had such a great time, I'm taking just her later this year!
ETA- feel free to bring in their own food to TS restaurants. They're under 3 so they can even eat at buffets for free, but we found it was easier and cheaper to bring some pb&j, and other familiar foods to supplement meals. At least we knew we always had some food they would eat.
guinness408
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2012
- Messages
- 221
Subbing.... Taking our twins this summer when they're 16 months old so love hearing the suggestions.
Aggieob1 and I took our twins when they were 14 months as well. Once again, we just followed their lead. We rode several rides with them, and let them nap when needed. From that trip, to this one, we've since found that staying on site with the monorail is easiest, because you don't have to unload them from the stroller to board. The most difficult thing was parking, loading on the tram (with the stroller in the row with us), then unloading. That trip, we didn't do character meals or meet and greets.
Take lots of snacks and have your sippy cups. All restaurants have milk available for them to drink.
Take lots of snacks and have your sippy cups. All restaurants have milk available for them to drink.
heathjh
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 189
I remember back when my oldest was 3. He was scared of the dark rides like Winnie the Pooh. This kid wasn't usually scared of the dark, but for some reason he was with these rides. We found if we took him back on a second time, he loved the ride.
congrats! Twins are the best! A lot of work, (just as any new baby is) but so much fun!
Dragonfly_34
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2011
- Messages
- 304
Subbing to this ~ our twins will be 3 when we, along with our 5 year old son, go later this year.
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