First time with toddler - any advice?

[Redbudlover]

Hi,

Please help! I've been to WDW lots of times with adults and also solo and love it. This year in October I am taking my DS and DDIL and DGD who will be 19 mos old to the BC (for the pool.) I am really excited about her going but am also nervous and wonder how you handle lines with a toddler and dinner reservations and what rides you can do comfortably. She is high energy and does not like to stay in her stroller or hold your hand. Any advice?

 

[Perditamarie]

Sounds like a great trip planned. Here are some ideas:

* get her a swim vest for the length of your stay at BC and strap her in! that pool was super fun, but made me nervous for my little ones!

* make sure you visit the playgrounds at the resorts and parks to let her run around. Do this before your TS meals so she is not going straight from the stroller to the high chair.

* You may want to limit TS meals if you think they are going to end up being a chore...I know I never get to eat anything hot!! It is fun to graze around the world.

* ask ds if they have/considered a harness for her. If she doesn't like to hold hands or ride in the stroller it really addresses a safety issue...you all may feel a little relief and anyone who ever took a toddler to WDW won't think you are horrible people for using one. There are some cute styles that are very subtle and dgd may get a kick out of it.

* plan on doling snacks/drinks out for long lines...hopefully it won't be too busy in Oct, but also utilize fastpass or just skip if the line is too long. At MK, do Dumbo first as that is a must, but the line can get intolerable. She should be able to do most rides, as long as there are no height restrictions. Also, many theater attractions/rides/fireworks are loud so plan accordingly.

Have a great trip.

 

[latexscooter]

Our key to success with the toddler is taking afternoon breaks in our room and going to bed the same time as she does at home. She's never had a meltdown in any of the parks and I really attribute it to keeping to her nap/sleep schedule.

Its wonderful going with the toddler. They are so thrilled and easy to please with the rides. It's a joyful experience.

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

Ditto on the nap schedule. We'd go to the park in the am, go back to the condo for DS to take a nap (and mommy too!) and then back to the park in the evening. The only problem we had was that some of the parks weren't open as late as I'd thought they'd be (it was late Nov), so maybe you want to check that? Also, keep snacks and drinks handy. I also took stickers and small toys (cars, etc) to keep DS busy if the line got too long...

 

[maidenfairy]

Naps and be flexible with your schedule. Earlier dinners are great and the Harness is great for little ones that tend to run like a cheeta.

Just in case make sure she has your cell number and names somewhere on her person just in case.

Think about calling one of the babysitting services so you can have some adult time.

 

[vbarry]

I would also suggest the harness. My pediatrician did before I left...and I did not listen-thinking they looked terrible.

Well guess what...my energetic little girl would not sit in that stroller for anything!! We ended up getting a strap that went around her wrist (they sold these at MK) and it worked great.

I would also take some of their favorite snacks. My kids always loved sitting in the stroller (if they were eating)!!

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[Redbudlover]

Thanks for the tips everyone! The more I think about a harness the more I like the idea. And it sounds like the nap at the hotel is important. I am glad to hear they love the rides and parades and shows.

Anything else you can think of? I would love to have her parents use a babysitter, but here at home there are so many family members they never use a stranger. Has anyone used one at the resorts? What was your opinion? I would like to take them out for a nice dinner and the play at the park on EMH nite.

 

[Heluvsme]

For waiting in lines:

* Buy a bottle of bubbles before you go and blow bubbles in line while waiting, the kids love 'em, and most likely they won't bother the adults around you

* Carry a ziploc of small, non-melting snacks like Goldfish crackers. These were invaluable to us!

* Buy a misting fan....it'll keep the child cool, and they'll love the fun of it...you can squirt them, and let them feel the fan on their face.

* Buy a small etching pad, I don't know the names of them but I'll try to describe them. It's a small black etching pad with a piece of plastic over the top. You use a plastic "pencil" to draw on it, then lift the plastic to 'erase' it. No melting crayons....and it's small enough to fit in your purse/backpack.

By the time you use these items, you'll be to the front of the line and time has passed!!

 

[PleaseStandClear]

I second (third, forth, whatever) the harness idea. My kids haven't needed one (yet...), but I see lots of parents with them. If you have a "sqirmy-no-stroller" kid or a "runner" then they can save the trip.

No one has mentioned characters yet, so I'll add my 2 cents of advice from taking my kids at about the same age:
1. Start slow. Try to start by watching a parade or show so the child can see the characters from a safe distance. If this freaks her or him out, do not proceed to step 2. There will always be another day or another trip to try again.

2. At greeting areas:

-Make sure child is in a good mood and not hungry, thirsty, or tired before joining queue.

- pick up the child and hold her (or him) as you walk up to the character.

- Say (loudly), "Hi Mickey (Tigger, Pooh, etc.)! This is (child's name) and this is her first time meeting a character." Character performers can be really good at drawing a shy child out or being low key to not overwhelm a child who is new to the experience IF they know that they need to.

- Keep holding the child, and keep yourself between the child and the character when you pose for photos. (Though you can also give the child a chance to touch the character if she or he wants to shake hands or pat Mickey's nose.)

- Even if things are going well, don't press your luck and try too much at once. Save it for next time and you'll be more likely to get a next time (instead of a character phobia).

In general, travel with a toddler will go better if you take special care to respect the child's personality and her (or his) needs. Take everything at a slower pace (split up the adults in the party if you need to), take lots of breaks, stay well watered, fed and rested, and enjoy the moment. If the toddler is having fun playing with a few pieces of mulch from a planter, don't feel like you're wasting time if you don't rush off and get in line for a ride instead. Seeing Disney through a toddler's eyes can be truly magical. The rides will always be there (well, most of them anyway), but the toddler will never be this age again.

 

[PleaseStandClear]

Oops, forgot to answer the dining question in the original post.

First off, we brought our own food from home -- favorite snack crackers, cheerios, fruit leather, basically any non-perishable things we knew our child liked. We also gave our child veggies and tastes from our plates, but helped to have familiar things to eat in new surroundings. Even in table service restaurants, no one batted an eyelash when we brought out our own food.

We made reservations at table service restaurants, but made a point of being perfectly willing to cancel them and get counter service if our toddler was not in the right mood. Several meals we ate in shifts -- one of us walking around the restaurant with the toddler while the rest ate. Depending on the kid, it may be important to eat (or at least stop and feed her or him) at normal mealtimes even if you can't get a reservation where you want to eat at that time.

Favorite restaurants included Coral Reef (pretty fish to watch), Chefs de France (toddler watched the performers outside through the windows - lunchtime), Cosmic Rays (loved the floor show), Norway's counter service (played on the Viking Ship while we ate). Other parents recommended Biergarten because of the singing and band, but we skipped it because our toddler was overtired and close to meltdown that day.

 

[Redbudlover]

Thanks good advice on the restaurants is appreciated. I love to eat at the better restaurants at WDW and wondered what to do. Haven't tried any of the ones you recommended - will make a poiint of trying them...

 

[Redbudlover]

I will definitely follow your advice regarding characters! I can see why it would work. Seeing the world through this little girl's eyes has been a magical part of being in her life. Thanks.

 

[disney_fan_fam]

She'll be so much different in 7 months from how she is right now. She'll hopefully be more patient. Slow the pace, expect some pit stops and detours, but I think that it's do-able & could be enjoyable if you expect the unexpected.

My suggestions are to familiarize her with the charcters, watch alot of the Disney movies and hype it up starting now How exciting! Enjoy!