Going to parks with a 4 year old

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Thanks again everyone!! We are def. not commando type ppl. We are more 'stop and smell the roses' type. I know we won't get everything done, but, we will put those things as top priority on our next trip to Disney.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Go When it works for your family!

Our first trip in Feb. 1993 was with our 4 year old son. He was also a late sleeper & had health issues. Commando was not an option & frankly, it never occured to us. We got up & out of the room by like 10:30, but stopped to have a nice character meal or relaxing breakfast & then went to the Parks around noon.. We rode the attractions in whatever order they came to us in, ate when we were hungry, napped when we were tired and had a great time.Sure, there were a couple 1-2 hour lines (no FP back then) But we didn't care, We were happy It was Magical. So much so, that we've been back, what, 16 times?

-Will you be able to check off every attraction going late & waiting in line? No, probably not.
-Will you wait in longer lines? Yep, you probably will.
-Will your child be happier if he moves at his regular pace? most likely, yes.
-Will you & your husband be more relaxed if you go on your schedule instead of the DIS Board Commando schedule? If you're not commando people , yes.

Not everyone is commando, folks. Not every cares if they "see it all". DH is so far from commando it isn't funny. When I stopped pushing him to be commando, he fell in love with WDW. Whenever I pushed him to "do it all" he was miserable & never wanted to go back.

Now on our trips we have some Commando Hit the Park at Opening Days and some Relax & Get There When We Get There Days. I love them both & I wouldn't do it any other way.

This is how is works for us to.
Coming from England our little ones suffer with body clock issues the first few days whereby they are awake at 5am as it's 10am here
When we came in May we did lots those first few days as we got early starts and those days were great but as we eased into our two week trip it became more enjoyable at the "do it when we do it" pace. We realised before we came we wouldn't do it all and it'll still be there next year, right? Well guess what, were coming back next month!
Ours were 4 (just) and 19mo when we came and we brought two strollers and they were a must - I also learnt after the first few days that I didn't need to carry THAT much stuff. Diapers, wipes and nappy sacks, a bib and a change of clothes for the little one a change of clothes for eldest, some sachets of infant pain relief. Two water bottles, sunscreen, some trail mix and a couple of bananas - all this fit on one stroller - camera in my handbag. That still sounds like a lot but the first few days I had every elastoplast, towels, hairbrushes every medicine I could think of I might need - then I realised I could buy it there if I needed it and the hotel really wasn't that far away if it was an emergency.
Also, did you know - it's warm in Florida and if you get wet - you dry out!
Ultimately your 4yo will love the sheer excitement and happiness of it all - if children are well rested, healthy and comfortable with their environment they'll enjoy it a whole lot more! Every family has it's own routine - stick to whats best for yours and you'll have a ball!

 

[Nienor]

Thanks for the great feedback everyone . Seems like most of you agree on our noon arrival as being a no no - even in November when crowds are low and temps aren't hot, would it still be crazy ?

You don't need to follow all the wisdom of the Disboards. If arriving early doesn't work for you, don't do it. I have found it ok as long as you are staying til close to arrive late. If you're staying offsite, you might want to consider having lunch or a big late breakfast before arriving. That way eating won't cut into your parktime. Plus it's much cheaper.

Definitely bring a backpack with a change of clothes. It's much better to carry something and not need it, than to go, "OMG, what are we going to do now after a huge chocolate ice cream disaster." (or possibly worse) Besides, Murphy's Law will pretty much tell you if you don't pack the extra clothes, you will need them.

I didn't rent a stroller for my DS when he was 4. But he's a great walker and would have refuse to ride in a stroller even if his legs were falling off. The kid made me go hiking again yesterday even though that's not my favorite pastime. So, far as that goes, you just have to know your own kid. Mine walked at 2.5, but some kids need strollers til they're 5/6 for long days. If you bring your own cheap umbrella stroller, it could always be useful for carrying the backpack.

 

[bzzymom]

DS is now 10, but on trips when he was 2.5-5 yrs we took an extra pair of shoes, an extra pair un underwear and shorts in a backpack along with packages of goldfish crackers or fruit snacks and some crayons and coloring books or sticker books for something to do at tabke service restaurants. DS did ride in a stroller until he was 6. DS had a couple of accidents at WDW because he said he didn't have to go to the bathroom, when he should have because he wanted to get in line for the rides and such.

We have gone in Nov, Dec, Jan several times. When you travel in the cooler months, it is important to layer clothing. It is usually pretty cool in the early morning and then by 10-11am. When we go in early, we put on jeans and t-shirt and then put swearshirt over it. We then take off the sweatshirts and put them in a locker at the park until evening when it cools off again. The sweatshirts take up a lot of room so for us it is worth the money to rent the locker. I have also sometimes changed into shorts for a few hours when it has gotten really nice. If you are going in late Nov you may want to consider taking a stocking hat and gloves for your child if you are thinking of staying in the parks late, like for EMH. One eve in Jan, we rode BTMRR when it was 38 degrees outside. It was nice to have the hat to cover the ears.

As far as what time to go in parks. I wouldn't say don't enter the park at noon. I have done that on arrival day many, many times. Do what works for you. I don't know if you are staying on site or not. I hope you are. It you like to go into the parks later, you could really benefit from extra magic hours.