First time with kids

[bluslag]

I have a question for experienced travelers with kids. We are going to WDW in March and my husband and I will be there for 2 weeks. We are staying at OKW and we are driving from Michigan. Our 3 boys are coming down for the second week and will be there for a week with there families. We have reserved 2 studios for the 2 boys that are married and our other son will stay with us. We will be able to carry a lot of there luggage, stollers, and car seat with us and have it already there. My question is when we go to the parks do most people drive or do you load the strollers on the buses. We love the buses but never have had 3 little children to haul around. There ages are 7,2,and 1. My husband and I have been to WDW many times so we are willing to make this a relaxing time for the little ones. If they are tired or just want to play in the pool that is fine with us. We also don't mind if the parents and my 19 year old son go out and enjoy WDW without us while we go to bed early with the little ones. My husband doesn't really want to drive the car to all the parks because of having to get on the tram and do all that. I thought there would be some people who have done this with little children. Thanks for any help or tips.

 

[scottish mum]

We always use the buses and we always have a stroller with us. sometimes the buses are crowded but we have quite a small folding stroller and it has never been a problem for us.

 

[dawnbu40]

On our April trip we rented a car because we planned to go to Universal too but we found we preferred driving to the WDW parks too. Our family is myself, DH and DD17. I'm sure it would be much easier to drive with young kids then to take the buses. The buses are always crowded and IMO you waste time waiting for them.

 

[crl]

We tried a trip only using Disney transportation and said we'd never do it again with kids. Our kids were 4 and 2. Sometimes the wait for the bus to OKW was long. Other times, it was crowded and tough to get the kids, the stroller and diaper bag on and off. I know others will say that they don't have any problems, but we personally like having the car to come and go as we please.

 

[PrincessPoohsMom]

Honestly, it depends. Typically speaking, we take the buses to the parks in the morning. If we're going back to a park late afternoon/evening we drive, just to avoid having to stand around waiting, waiting, waiting with a cranky, exhausted toddler. We also always drive to DTD or the water parks; just find those buses tend to be the longest waits. Basically we size things up the first couple of days at a resort and see how the bus service generally is. If we don't have too terribly long of waits, fine. If things go badly the first couple of days we'll start driving. As far as navigating the parking lot trams, since we're either at the parks for rope drop, or coming back in the late afternoon as crowds are streaming out, we usually end up in a spot fairly close to the gate, so we just walk it. It's far easier than trying to get a stroller folded up, etc.

It sounds like you're heading into the trip with exactly the right attitude: With little ones, you gotta be willing to go at their pace. And as a grown daughter who visits WDW with her parents, I can tell you your sons and their spouses will be SO THANKFUL to have you along. My parents also often take our DD so DH and I can do dinner alone, or enjoy night-time entertainment and touring, and we're always so grateful! Have a wonderful trip!