? for those who have taken toddlers??

[Zoesmama03]

We are planning to go in May of 2006 but might bump it up to May 2005 if we can save enough. So our dd will be either 22 months or almost 3 years old.

My question is what did you pack for the trip? What items did you bring in the parks with you?

 

[WDW Donna]

We took our DD for the first time when she was almost 4 years old. Thankfully we didn't have to worry about diapers. I just made sure she had comfortable clothes, hat for the sun and light pants and sweater for the cool mornings and evenings.(we went in February)
We are taking both children in October. Our DD is now 8 and our youngest DD will be 27months at vacation time. I am hoping not to have to worry about diapers again but if she is not trained then I will have to pack the diaper bag. We are taking our own stroller because the ones in the park do not lay down if DD gets sleepy, also the lineup for the park strollers can be quite long and precious time is wasted. Juice boxes and snacks are a must, it saves spending money in the parks. There are some lockers at the entrance to each park if I remember correctly and you can stash extra clothes or sweatshirts if you don't want to carry everything.
Each park has an area for changing and feeding babies and sell diapers and wipes if you run out or forget yours.
Hope this helps

 

[Zoesmama03]

Hehe I've been dozens of times just not with a baby. Well thats not true either my stepsister had her 5 month old but it wasn't me that had to worry about those things. Everything went smooth my step mom won't ride half the rides and she stayed with the baby most of the time.

I'm hoping to not need diapers too, more possible with a later trip than the trip when she'd be 22 month.

 

[BevS97]

go when you want to go, and don't worry about diapers - it's not a big deal, in fact still in diapers is much easier than just potty trained.

What do you take for a regular day out? You need all that, plus things for the sun - hat, sun cream, maybe a shade for the stroller.

we usually take a diaper bag, a change of clothes (for spills, messes, and also so they can get wet without worrying about it), a small cooler bag with drinks and snacks (nothing major, just some nibbles like chex mix or cheerios) and that's about it.


Bev

 

[Zoesmama03]

Money will be the determining factor on when we go. It will all depend on how much and how fast we start saving money. Of course if we save enough for the earlier trip we will go even if she isn't potty trained.

When we go out for a day now I only take:
4-6 diapers(depending on length of outing)

wipes

changing pad

dirty duds bag

extra outfit & pjs if it will be late, rarely needed as I usually give her a nightly bath, but at the parks I will probably do morning so that when we get back to hotel I don't have to do anything but sleep.

my cheaper digital camara, I carry it everywhere pretty much, never know when I will want to snap a picture of her.

In a compartment on outside of her diaper back I got:
lotion(for me LOL)

travel bottle of shampoo and baby bath

thermometer

Infant tylenol,Mortrin

nail clippers

I'm kinda getting the idea of what I will need.

Definetely will add:
sunblock
hat
sunglasses(help shade sun more when she naps)
swimsuit
snacks(will be bringing soon on daily basis at home too)


OH and thank you so much for the tip on their strollers not reclining. I was gonna just use theirs but might reconsider now. I just didn't want to lug the stroller through the airports but now that I think of it, it will be easier than ending up carrying her. I guess we will know when it gets closer to time.

 

[WDW Donna]

Sounds like you have everything,( and then some). My DH always complains that I take too much but with a baby or toddler you never know what you may need. I have learned to scale down a bit with our second DD.
I believe Disney has a service that allows one parent to ride a ride while the other stands at the entrance with a baby and when one parent comes off the other can ride right away without waiting in line. Maybe someone can confirm this for me.Of course this means you may ride some attractions on your own which isn't quite as much fun.
Donna

 

[BevS97]

WDW Donna- that is correct, it's called the Baby Swap, you just mention to the CM at the start of the line that you want to swap and they tell you what to do, sometimes you wait at the exit, and other times they give you a fast pass for the 2nd parent.

 

[dsnycrzy]

We went last year and my baby turned 1 the first day we arrived and my neice was 2. We took there own little spill proof cup which we filled and froze at night. We took grapes and apples, cheez nips, yogurt and string cheese (we had a mini soft cooler). They were more interested in the atmoshere then my snack bag. We also had cheese doodles and stuff llike that but that got too messy after the second day so we started leaving those back at the hotel.

 

[DVC-LEROY]

One item that is extremely helpful for the room... - pack a night light. Our son started vacationing at 12 months old and we've used one in our room ever since (he's now 6).

 

[castlegazer]

I second the nightlight, but in the parks at 22 months they are so much easier than when I first took my son. On our last trip he was 22 months and I was able to get away with
diapers,
wipes,
changing pad,
cloth diaper (always an indespensible item for all sorts of stuff),
antibacterial wash,
sunscreen,
hat,
sunglasses,
a very lightweight and easy to crush change of clothes,
permanent marker,
autograph book,
pins,
sippy with water and lots and lots of ice,
and a cooler to hold snacks like veggies, fruit, yogurt, cheese (cheese went over very big and we didn't have enough last time)

We also carry Brita filter water bottles to be able to refill all of our sippies and water bottles with fountain water.

I think thats it. I can't think of anything else right now.

Its a great age - either one - to bring them.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We have been 4 times before DD turned 3 (and one after she was 3 to Vero Beach) 8 months, 23 months, 29 months and 34 months.

I agree with BevS97, it is easy pre- potty trained, being able to change them when you want to instead of being in line and hearing, mommy I have to go now. (or wrose yet accidents.)

The best part is under 3 is free! (same with the character meals, make sure your sever knows they are under 3.)

I agree a soft cooler bag with snacks, cold grapes tastes great on a warm day in the parks. (bring your own bottled water, that will save you a ton.)

Don't forget a rain cover for the stroller. You might not need it, or it might just save your trip. My DD always brought her favorite blanket with her, covered the stroller from the sun when it was too hot or keep her warm when it got chilly. Buy one of those light spinners when you get there, our DD still uses hers (she is now 3 and still uses it, we bought it when she was 8 months old).

A small flash light or light up toy helps on the dark rides.

 

[HenDuck]

Just came back from a trip to DL with DS, 3 1/2, picky eater, not potty trained at the time.

For the parks, I packed his little cooler bag with juice boxes and his cup and straw with soy milk. I also brought 1 or 2 bags of cookies and cheese and crackers.

In my back pack, I brought 3 extra diapers, wipes, various creams and ointments for his bottom, one extra set of clothes, and a couple of dinosaur books. I also brought the children's tylenol, just in case.

We brought our stroller which he hardly sat in, but it was handy to carry all the rest of the stuff mentioned above.

One thing about having a picky eater, I brought the snacks just in case he wouldn't eat wherever we were, but I found that none of us really had much of an appetite and didn't stress out about him eating. I figured he'd survive if he only ate waffles and ice cream for a week. And he was all the happier for it!

Good luck!

 

[Amyality]

Hi,

Here is my list of essentials:

Chicco Caddy Stroller (reclines a bit, rain fly, airline friendly, brightly colored, light aluminum construction, excellent steering performance, good for the tall.

Lots of juice boxes, gummys, crackers (this will keep the kids happy whenever, wherever and save you a ton of $$

If the little one is still using a pacifier, bring 12 (no joke). If you end up w/o one, ask the casheir at one of the bigger merhandise centers. In Toontown I frantically asked and they pulled a pack of NUK brand from the drawer, my heart sang and my kid quit the horrible screaming...it was heaven.

Always keep an extra onesie and a piar of swim shoes handy (especally at Epcot, kids love to play in the fountains on a hot day).

Always know where the baby care center is (they are pristine, never seen anything public like it!!!)

Autograph book and your own pen (expect to be in many of the pictures yourself for a child that age). Paste the picture next to the autograph when you get home, its an excellent keepsake.

My son youngest son 22 mos. when we went. He had a blast. Was a bit squeemis with some characters but, then loved some (especially Stanley). He needed afternoon breaks at the hotel (stayed at ASMovies). Its great to take a swim and a nap then clean up and head back out for dinner and the parks.

Be sure to get your childs plane ticket for 1/2 price. All you need to do is ask and the airline will likely do it.

I hope you get to move up your trip. It is soooo magical with kids!

Best,
Amy

 

[Zoesmama03]

Thank you all.

I'm very fortunate to have a content baby she sleeps excellent in cars/strollers doesn't use a paci and never cared for them but did suck her thumb from 3-7 months. And shes not a pickey eater though I know that could change.

Oh and shes social for the most part, just got a shy phase but I think she will be out of it soon.



All great advice either way.