First time trip with 2y/o twins!!!

[twins4mimi]

Hello, we are going to disney in September with our 2 year old twins!!! We need tips that anyone is willing to share. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are going to MK, MGM, Epcot and AK!!! We do have our ADR We are staying a Pop Century!!! Any tips anyone!!!!
Thanks so much

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Go to Walmart and get a couple of those spray mister fans and a pack of batteries. Our little spray fan was a godsend on our September trip last year. It was so dang hot.

We had a fan to attach onto the stroller too, but our son kept removing it. Also we got a larger sunshade to attach onto our stroller.

AK was the hottest park. We did the Pangnini Trail and the safari and had to leave by 10:30.

Other than the heat, we loved our trip with our son. He enjoyed all the rides. He did get a little nervous at Indiana Jones when the guns were firing.

He did wonderful at all the restaurants. He especially liked the Coral Reef. We were on the dining plan. He did well at the others too. We did Primetime, Sci-fi, Le Cellier, Rose & Crown, Tony's, and the Garden Grill. Tony's was just okay. Our son got to kiss Mickey Mouse's nose at the Garden Grill. I highly recommend scheduling a character meal. Next time we might try Chef Mickeys.

At each table service restaurant, we pre-ordered dessert as soon as our entrees came out so that we could keep the pace of our meal going.

As far as counter services go, our son's favorite was Cosmic Rays. Great burgers and cute little show. We were disappointed in Columbia Harbor House. We thought the grilled chicken and cheese would be a hot sandwich. It was cold chunks of chicken and cubes of cheese.

Our resort sold 1/2 gallon's of milk, large bottles of water, and loaves of bread in the gift shop. There was also peanut butter in there, but we brought our own. We took disposable everything: sippy cups, little toddler spoons, etc.

Have a great time!!!

 

[2poohbears]

The previous poster gave you great advice.

AK is REALLY HOT. We were there in May, and it was tough - I can't imagine it now. Maybe just plan a morning there. We used some little personal fans I found at WalMart..they had a foam fan which didn't hurt if the boys put their fingers in it - and it also sprayed water. They were really handy.

We took our twin boys to WDW for the first time when they were 2 1/2. One was afraid of all the 3-D movies, but the other LOVED them. So - be prepared that one of you may have to take one of the kiddos out on a few attractions if they are frightened.

At 2 1/2 our boys loved Pooh's ride - really all the rides in Fantasyland (we skipped Snow White's Adventure because we thought it would be too scary for them). They got a real kick out of the play area across from Pooh's ride as well. Keep in mind there is water involved in the play area, so bring a change of clothing, socks and shoes. They also were fascinated by Spectromagic...when they saw Mickey standing on that first float, with all of those lights, both of their mouths dropped open in amazement and they both said "Mickey" very softly. Toon Town was a big hit as well. They LOVED Cosmic Rays for lunch, as the other poster mentioned. They danced in their seats throughout our meal while we listened to the "alien dj". Also, the chicken there is really good. At AK, their favorite was Triceratop Spin, but they also enjoyed Kilamanjaro Safari. At MGM, Playhouse Disney was a favorite, of course. I don't think we did much at EPCOT when they were that age. Oh - and the bus ride to the parks was as much fun for them as the rides in the parks themselves.

Both of mine were a little leary of the characters at first, but toward the end of the trip they really warmed up to them. That year, we did Crystal Palace (which they still love at age 4), Garden Grill in EPCOT (food wasn't as good when we went this year), Liberty Tree Tavern (they loved Pluto and Chip n Dale - plus the food is excellent).

I brought snacks and small juice boxes into the parks with us each day...usually teddy grahams or goldfish because they were easy to pack. Keep in mind that AK does not allow straws - I brought some of those take n toss sippy cups to use at AK. Also, remember that the counter service restaurants will give you free water with ice in a cup if you ask for it. On hot days, that's a big relief.

We tried to stick to their normal sleeping schedule as much as possible (with the exception of the night we did the Spectromagic Parade, which caused us to get to bed later than usual). This helped to keep tantrums at bay, for the most part.

Have lots of fun! You'll really enjoy the sense of magic you'll get watching THEIR reactions to everything they see. Also, we found our kiddos' language expanded and they started talking more after our trip. I guess they had a lot more to say after their experience!

Tip - I brought along some of those "table toppers" to put under their food in the counter service restaurants. The tables aren't always the cleanest, plus you don't have to get an extra plate - you can feed the kids off the table toppers. You can find them at Babies R Us or Target. I also brought along some Disney stickers I found at the dollar store...this way they had something to play with while we waited for our food in the restaurants.

Another tip - If your kids aren't potty trained yet, the Baby Centers are usually cleaner than the other restrooms for changing the kids' diapers. They also carry baby supplies in case you need to purchase something you've forgotten.

 

[my2minnies]

I just want to say good luck! We are going in a few weeks with our 2 year old twins and dd (5) and dd(6). We are also staying at the POP. We took my girls when they were 2 as well and we had a blast. I am so excited to see my boys faces when they first get there.

Just go slow. We would get up early (we do anyways) and get to the parks for opening. We would then come home either before or after lunch for naps and then head out again when they woke up. I tried to make sure that we were back around 7 or 8 so that they could get to bed at a normal time.

Have fun!!

 

[rrobin3051]

We went in july with our almost 2 year old. He did great even with the heat. I thought AK wasnt as hot as expected. Lots of shade. I only hooked the fan to the stroller once he was asleep. I used a bookbag instead of diaperbag and just hung it over the stroller it worked out great. I could put it on my back when I needed to take it with us without the stoller. I also took a softsided cooler and some water and crackers and juice with us to the parks. Just fill with ice from the hotel and pop a few things in there. Dont forget rain ponchos from the dollar store and a few extra to cover the stollers. I also took water shoes and little swimmers with us to the parks. So when he played in water I didnt have to change his clothes. I didnt use swimming trunks except at waterpark and pool. At the parks just a swimmer, so very easy. Take pj's and change them into them at night before they fall asleep in their strollers, that way you can just pop them in bed when you get back to the hotel. We had rented a car so that made it easier than the busing. Have fun and they will too!

 

[dana1003]

we brought our twins in dec for the first time and they loved it..were a little scared in "its a bugs life", "figment", and a couple of the other places where there were blasts of air,etc.they'll love it...dec weather is allot different than sept so we had no issues there. good luck and have fun

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Hope you like Buzz Lightyear because DD could have gone on that for days on end at that age! My only advice is to have a blast. The magic for preschoolers is incredible because they truely believe that those characters are real and the look on their faces is worth every dime that you spend.

 

[twins4mimi]

So is there a way of knowing where and when the characters are at certain places? Do I need to have a plan for what we will do each day? What about fast passes? I don't think we will be riding anything that they can't ride, but which rides can they do that I will need fast passes for? Thanks SOOO much for the advice already. I wish I had days to just research and be a little more prepared. Need a few days off before hand to just get ready!!! What things are musts to take in the park each day??? Are things safe left in strollers? Sorry for so many questions!!!!

 

[dana1003]

minnie and mickey are available all day in side the judges tent in MK..you can take pics w/them...as far as all the others im not sure...you can rent "my pal mickey" which is an interactive toy that tells you about things happening with in the park...strollers...no i would not leave anything you like in the strollers. we brought our own snacks cuz the ones in the park were way too expensive..maybe crackers, raisins,,whatever you can carry. we bought in a wter bottle and filled it up all day at the water fountains..make sure you bring strollers with covers to block out the sun. if your gonna rent, you need to bring something for them to lay on,maybe a beach towel, cuz they're hard and made of plastic.you know what, its ok if you dont have a plan. just take it easy and go on whatever you can. maybe if you decide to go again then you can actually plan which rides you wanna go on.take it easy and have fun

 

[Hoosier Mom]

You can see Pooh, Tigger, & Euyore at the UK toy store at Epcot. They visit several times per day.

I agree with the previous poster, don't leave anything in your stroller.

I think we may have used one fastpass for Buzz Lightyear. Also we did fast pass for Soarin and we just took turns. In September, there's not too many lines. Sometimes the fastpass machines are covered up.

Another helpful hint someone gave us when we went, was at MK, go straight thru the castle and into Fantasyland first. We rode many rides over and over. It seemed to us that at 10:30 or so, Fantasyland got a little busier. By that time, we were already done with that section.

 

[2poohbears]

Get to the MK before opening time, if possible, and when you get into the park go straight to DUMBO and ride it. If you wait you may be standing in a LONG line because the ride is slow to load and unload. Also, I have found even during slow times (we usually go the first week of FEB) that lines for Peter Pan and Pooh get long throughout the day. Both have FASTPASSES available, though. Mickey's Philharmagic also has FASTPASSES. At MK, we always do Fantasyland first, because it gets really busy as the day goes on. We go on attractions in Fantasyland for about 45 minutes, then head to Toontown (it opens an hour later than the rest of the park) so we can be there for opening. Toontown stays pretty busy throughout the day, so getting there when it opens helps. I have also found Toontown to be pretty empty after dark, but my kids couldn't stay up that late at age 2 - it's a great time to go after they are a year or 2 older, though.

Make sure to grab a "times guide" when you enter the park, along with a park map. This will tell you which rides may be closed, and times for character meet n greets, shows, parades, etc for that day.

Characters - Toontown Hall of Fame (MK) has a lot of characters available. I have always used Character Meals as the best way for my kids to meet the characters, though. That way we don't stand in line for a long time - we can meet them while we are eating meals. There are usually a lot of characters around Mickey's hat at MGM in the morning, too. If your kids like Pooh, Tigger, etc - then I recommend Crystal Palace breakfast. We usually schedule that around 8am so that we can eat before the park officially opens. The food is great, and the characters are fun. For Mickey, Donald, Goofy, etc - I like Chef Mickey's breakfast, which is at Contemporary Resort right next to MK. Here's info from Disboards about different character meals available: http://www.wdwinfo.com/Just_for_kids/character_dining.cfm

About strollers - We bring our 2 umbrella strollers because I think the kids are more comfortable in them than they would be in the rented strollers. Also, it's a long walk from the bus drop off point to the park entrance for little kids---the strollers are a big help there. I usually bring the free diaper bag I got from the hospital when I delivered and I put in a few diapers, wipes, and other stuff that I wouldn't be heartbroken if stolen - I leave that on the back of one of the strollers all the time. So far, we haven't had it stolen, but I wouldn't leave anything important in there. I carry a small bag across my shoulder (a Travelon bag) with our tickets, wet ones, money, etc. I never take this bag off. Some people swear by backpack bags - I brought one our first trip and I found it was a pain. You have to take it on and off as you get on and off the rides, bus, etc...my back was actually starting to hurt from all of that. Also - we go back to the hotel for naps, so I only have to pack enough for half the day, then I add diapers, etc as needed when we go back to the room for nap time.

About the snacks you bring - make sure you keep them in closed containers or bags. Don't leave any snacks or sippy cups out where little animals can get to them. I've seen squirells going to town on some of the stuff people leave sitting out on their strollers.

Someone mentioned rain covers for your strollers - I second that tip! We have used ours at least one day on every trip we've made to FLA. Just make sure to buy the ones that have mesh on the sides so that your kids are getting air while they are inside the strollers. I bought ours at BRU. I also use them at AK even on a clear day - because there are a lot of trees - the rain covers keep the bird poop off the strollers while you are inside attractions/shows....for this purpose, I just keep it rolled up at the top of the canopy while the boys are riding in the strollers and pull it down whenever we stop & they get out.

FYI - DISboards has a height requirements calculator so you can see which rides your kiddos can and can't ride:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/height.htm

 

[2poohbears]

By the way - no need to apologize for asking questions. That's how I got most of my information when we took our boys to WDW the first time. We've all been there!

 

[theduck619]

We're going in Septmeber as well with our twins. Thanks for posting the question, I am looking forward to all the expert advice in here.

 

[theduck619]

Thanks for the tips! We live in Plainfield, IN as well. It's amazing how big the world is yet we always run into someone from home.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Just as a note, Fastpass is usually not up and running in September (at least at the beginning of Sept). We've never used it. The crowds are low so fastpass isn't necessary. That being said, Fantasyland is always really crowded so definately get there as soon as possible in the morning.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Thanks for the tips! We live in Plainfield, IN as well. It's amazing how big the world is yet we always run into someone from home.

Wow, what a small world. Plainfield is such a nice little town. We go to Plainfield Christian Church. Well, have loads of fun on your trip!