Do I need to pack toys??

[kimj88]

Hi
Going in less than two weeks with DH and DS9 and DS4. It is both son's first trip. We will be taking their handheld video games. I am wondering if we need to take any regular toys or not?

 

[quandrea]

Mine are four, four and nine. I used to but realized they don't need them. The only toy they bring is their stuffed toys they sleep with. The front desk has colouring pages and crayons as well as stickers to keep them busy. If you stay dvc there are community halls with books and crafts and toys.

 

[Woodmnky]

I guess it really depends upon what your children do at home. For my son I can't imagine him going through the day without playing with a few toys. We always bring a small toddler sized backpack with a few items to play with that I don't care if they are lost. Last time it was an Aquadoodle type book, a few small cars, a few of his Disney figurines, a deck of cards, and some books. We also had a Kindle with us, but I limit DS to 30 minutes of screen time a day so that was not going to entertain him all day.

Even for the parks I usually had a small car or something in my pocket to hand DS if he needed some additional entertainment while waiting in line or just riding in his stroller.

 

[NjMamaMouse]

I usually pack a 500 piece puzzle for my 11 year old to have something to do for quiet time. For my girls 5 & 2 I bring 2 baby dolls (Disney ones of course) with 2 tea set ups because they LOVE to play baby tea party. I also bring their stuffed animals from home as well. We also usually buy them each one new activity to have during down time. In November we brought everyone a new book to match their level.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I would think those video games would be enough. Between what they'll likely collect during your trip and those they should be fine. My kids are usually so tired at the end of the day, playing is the last thing on their mind. Usually a 30 minute swim and bed. I didn't even take toys when they were babies/toddlers.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We always do. DS is seven but we have been traveling since he was very little and with my older since he was two. We pack a few things that he does not have access to during travel to help prevent him being tired of the same things. Mostly now just electronics during travel, but for the hotel room, I often bring a new lego set (many times I grab and save a few from b-day or christmas when he gets too many to enjoy), a few cars, a action hero or two and sometimes a nerf ball or gun. We need a bit of down times some days and while we very much relax tv and electronic rules on vacation, we don't want to overload on these. We also pack a card game and sometimes a board game and plenty of books and a few art supplies.

 

[henry72]

We let the kids each pack a few toys. They played with them daily during downtime. And yes, they bought a few new toys while there too. I would definitely bring something. Stickers and coloring books would not cut it with my two.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My DS10 usually takes a backpack with some cars, a couple of books, and a few other small things. His DS and a few games, ipod and charger. We drive, so he uses these for the road too. I wouldn't bring a lot, and i wouldn't take anything that can't be replaced. No legos (my boys are 13 and 10 and they love legos) are allowed, and they are not allowed to open any legos bought on the trip until we get home. They don't take anything to the parks, whatever toys they bring are only for the van and the room.

 

[noahdove]

I bring tub toys for sure!!

 

[tourguide81]

Our kids are younger - 5 & 2, but we don't travel w/ much in the way of toys. We do books, coloring stuff and maybe one or 2 little things - a favorite baby doll or a set of small animal figures, etc. Nothing that doesn't all fit in a small kid backpack.

It would never occur to me to bring anything bigger or bath toys or anything like that.

 

[LovesTimone]

When DD's where little. They each would get a stuffed animal or baby to sleep with. A couple of tub toys. I would have a bag with coloring book/ crayons, books for in the room while getting ready to go or at bed time to help them settle down.


Well before our trip I would shop around for some small inexpensive Disney items to have on hand for while we were in line. I would tuck 2 in my back pack for the day and they would get that. If we were going some where nice to eat for dinner, I would bring along things for them to do at the table quite things to do, just like I would if we were at home going out for dinner.

 

[dunningdisney]

My kids are older now, but for years I made them a flexible 3 ring binder of a mixture (printable) trip diary, coloring pages, mazes, word searches, blank pages, including a 3 ring pencil pouch with colored pencils (dont melt in florida heat) , pencils, a self contained pencil sharpener and hole reinforcer circles. They have worked very well whether it be in the airport, plane, car or hotel room, they have kept them busy. The parks keep them plenty busy so no toys, but sometimes for toddlers small handheld characters for waterparks and their kids meals usually come in a bucket w/shovel.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I forgot about bath toys but I did love to have those when mine were real little. Often I would just take a small thing of bubble bath or a few tub soap crayons or a few cup toys but it is so nice to put a toddler in the tub to play and relax for a few minutes while you are right there getting ready for bed or packing a bag for the next day. I remember when we were traveling (not WDW) and I forgot bath toys and we needed bath time! We used the tray that cups are often on, an ice bucket and a few un-opened shampoo bottles and he had a boat, an island and people.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

We just got back with a trip with my 4 year old. I packed a few hot wheel cars, two small puzzles, and his stuffed animals. He never did the puzzles, played with the cars a bit, but was upset there was no track, and mainly watched the channel playing classic mickey cartoons for his downtime. Oh and a skipbo deck that we used to play war with was a big hit.

 

[pixiemama91]

We usually bring 1-2 coloring books and some crayons/markers. I usually also have a few small figurines and maybe a small game and a stuffed animal. Most of the items are for use on the plain and in the airport. I like to buy a few small new things that can fit into my purse/carry on so that they are new and we don't bring them out until we are on the plane.My DD usually is so busy during the trip that they really get used during the week. However we usually do buy her a couple of new toys when there so she gravitates towards the new things anyway.

We do bring the ipad also for watching a movie on the plane or for playing a couple of games in the evening.

 

[SEA333]

No toys, even when the kids were little.

Well, I guess that is not entirely true now that I think about it. The younger ones always brought their special stuffed animals. DS13 is only worried about bringing his phone charger LOL. DD9 will usually bring something to draw with or a few of those keychain stuffed animals. DS7 might throw a couple small action figures or cars into his bag. And we always buy them invisible ink books for trips.

Now that they all have phones/tablets/etc, they keep themselves busy with their games and invisible ink books.

 

[wallskm]

We pack a few things to keep them entertained on the plane and in lines/at restaurants. Small toys, but nothing that will weigh down our backpack. If we are in our room we are usually sleeping or getting ready to go somewhere, the rest of the time we are living it up at the parks where they are plenty entertained!

 

[omegsmom]

I've always packed a few toys and activity books along with their video games and they have NEVER played with the toys. We are too busy... down time consist of swimming or playing a few video games in the hotel before we go out again... This year, I plan to pack less. Depends on your kid and your plans for down time... My kids don't need too much down time...