Advice needed on itinerary for trip with 2 1/2 yo

[catherines_mama]

We are heading to WDW 2/03. What kind of action plan should I have with a 2 1/2 yo. I am not going to plan every moment, but want a broad picture of which parks which days. Which character meals which days etc. I kind of want to do MK first day and get her energized on disney. Also dont want a character meal the 1st day as I think it will take her a day to get used to meeting the characters and don't want her to run from her favorites while at the meals (noted this after reading some good trip reports).

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Deedee

 

[kendeann]

Here is my advice and by experience.
We are going with a 2 year old ..... and have been with him when 13 months old.

Our first day there did start with a charactor breakfast at 9:45 - gave us enough time to get up from a long flight the day before - have a light- light breakfast/milk before leaving hotel ** like while mom was getting ready dad spent time with Kyle.... I believe Chef Mickeys is the best character meal to go to for first encounters.

I told the characters that he may be shy and Chip was the best got down on his knees to his level and played finger games with him... - they never touched him --- Plus He loves the Party/Celebrate song they sing while at the meal... you swing your towels around and know like right now watching home movies from Disney Jan, 2003 and loves to sing with the characters from Chef Mickeys....

We let him wake up naturally - not to rush to parks early to beat crowds..... then spent like 2-3 hours at parks and went back for nap and headed out in evening....& Some mornings we would eat breakfast at hotel head back to hotel for morning nap and ready to head out around noon for a full afternoon/evening at parks.

We did one day park and then one day non park - like downtown disney - hotel activities - walked around boardwalk/yacht club & played on the beach.....

Came to pictures with characters we let him stay in highchair/booster chair or in stroller and let characters stand like beside or behind them - They were all very good ... I just would mention maybe shy... and they stood their distance but yet he could interact with them....

HATE to say this but we pretty well went on his schedule.... He is a good baby - loves the stroller and know loves to walk around so will be times for both.... MOST buildings like the LAND at epcot, Liberty building, etc do not allow strollers so good time for toddlers to be able to walk around and then be in stroller while walking outside from on place to another....

I know you will have a great time and enjoy it all... MONORAIL was great for a quiet ride - Great place for afternoon parade at MK is get there 1 hour early - sit on train station balcaony - in the shade and move tables to middle and get popcorn/ snack and rest till parade... In fact last year it was quiet and he took almost a 2 hour nap before parade in stroller.....

Anymore toddler questions just ask...

 

[MinnieGi]

DD was 2 1/2 on our last trip in Feb. '03. We all had a wonderful time. My best advice is follow your child's lead in how much is too much. Every child is different. Ours loves all the characters and has since she was 14 months on her first trip but does not tolerate rides such as HM, Buzz, Jungle Cruise, PofC. etc.. She loves the more tame rides of Dumbo, Flying Carpets, Indy Cars, IASW, etc... She loves to watch the shows and loves to eat at character meals and just about any restaurant. So go with what you see your child into.

Our daily schedule was park at entrace time or EE time if MK or AK, eat lunch at the park, leave early afternoon for resort time of swimming and napping. (the napping was for us as much as for her!) In the evenings we sometimes went to a park, one night we did DTD, the rest we swam some more after dinner b/c DD loves the pools!!! We had lots of fun and excitement but also had lots of rest and relaxation.

Have a great trip!!!