How much do you do in a day w/toddlers?

[Picabo]

I've never been to Disney with kids...and when we go our girls will be 2 1/2 and close to 4. We'll be at the Polynesian...I figure it will be much easier to be in close proximity to MK and EPCOT since we'll spend the most time there. We'll have a full week there. My PLAN is to be at the parks when they open each morning, head back to the resort after lunch and let the girls naps and/or play at the pool. I'd LIKE to be able to go back to the parks in the evenings, at least for a few hours. But at the same time, I don't want to push them too much or go at too fast of a pace, make them get over tired and cranky.

So how much do you accomplish most days while at Disney with toddlers? Is it best to just plan 1/2 days and not plan on anything in the evening? (I hope that's not the case...) And realistically (using TGM, by the way) how much will we be able to accomplish (in early Dec) each day between rope drop and 12-1pmish?

Thanks!

 

[imthatgirl]

my kids have never shown that they cant handle being out all day. we dont really plan breaks, sometimes we'll leave a park to swim if we feel like it. sometimes we dont. the kids have a great time. they have been known to take a nap in the stroller from time to time and theyve also been known to get there at rope drop and be there for the parades at close.

 

[Picabo]

WOW that's very encouraging! Thanks for letting me know. My 2 1/2 yr old (the one who will be close to 4 when we go) almost never takes a nap anymore so maybe my younger one will have the same stamina.

 

[DannysMom]

I've never been to Disney with kids...and when we go our girls will be 2 1/2 and close to 4. We'll be at the Polynesian...I figure it will be much easier to be in close proximity to MK and EPCOT since we'll spend the most time there.

I think you've got a viable plan. I've taken my son to WDW the last 3 years (just before he turned 3, 4 & 5.) Staying at the Poly is a great start, can't beat the monorail for convienence.

When we stayed at AKL (w/ an almost 3y.o) we found getting out for the evening too difficult, but we made the best of it & had dinner at Jiko twice. Staying at the Poly the last 2 years we were able to get out for the evenings pretty easily. Our usual pattern was to hit the park w/ AM EMH, leave around lunchtime either catching lunch before leaving the park or just eat at Capt. Cook's, nap &/or swim, change & head out to Epcot for dinner.

If you get to the parks early (we like AM EMH) and you have a plan, you will be amazed at just how much you can get done by 11 AM w/ little to no wait, by the time the wait times are increasing you are thinking about blowing outta there & getting lunch. Just don't waste that precious morning time standing around figuring where to go & what to do next & you'll be set.

Have a great trip.

 

[imthatgirl]

when you go the weather will be great, so them taking an afternoon nap in the stroller would be comfortable. my poor kids have to sleep in 100 degree weather.
remember that you arent going all day. you sit for rides and shows, meals. all kinds of sitting will be going on.
i should mention that we tour the parks in a very relaxed manner, and i think that helps as well. we never rush to get there in the morning, thats just causes everyone to be cranky. we never get off a ride and then bee line to another. its just not worth it, and i think if we did the kids would feel more like they were only along for the ride. which isnt really fair to them. i think as long as you try to include them in everything they will be more willing to stay and enjoy.

 

[MJAJmom]

My DS3 and DS5 boys first trip was in April. We started early in the morning since they are up early. We toured until lunch and came back to the resort to swim and nap. DS3 still naps every day. I made DS5 take a nap, they both slept for about 2 hours. Then we went to dinner and toured until 8ish. DS3 was very happy just wandering around checking things out, DS5 got more into the rides. We got alot accomplished with early EMHs. Did a character meal every day. Plan for naps/downtime. Bring a stroller because its tons of walking (plus you can move faster with them in a stroller). Plan some time for them to just play in the room with their toys/books. By end of day 4, they just were getting worn out with the parks.

 

[dancin'girl]

Hi!
We stayed at the Poly on our last trip. Our DD was 2. We got into the parks at opening and stayed until noon-ish for lunch (eating there) and then we came back to the hotel for a nap and if we had time, a swim in the volcano pool. (The zero entry is fantastic for little ones!) We found that DD really needed some downtime. The parks are very big, loud, overwhelming for little ones and she seemed ready to leave the parks and rest by the time lunch was over. After we recharged, she was ready to go again. I had reservations for dinner each night for around 5:30. We stayed in the MK/Epcot area so that we could get back to the resort pretty easily. After dinner we would go on a few more rides, etc, and then head back to the Poly in time to get DD's pj's on and sit on "our" swing out on the beach for the fireworks. I missed all the excitement of the evening parade and fireworks in the park, but it was so much easier to just pop DD into bed and not have to fight the crowds to get back to the resort. We could also see the electrical water pagaent from our balcony (we stayed in Samoa, 3rd floor, facing the pool - great spot, we loved it, but it is not a quiet spot because of the action at the pool. That was ok with us- we liked people watching, and the volcano is really cool at night! And it wasn't too loud as to disturb our DD's sleep.)
With this schedule, we were able to see everything we wanted to see. Of course, we didn't see everything, but that was ok with us. Our relaxed pace was great in that we were able to enjoy the resort - more than we ever had at Disney before, and the Poly was just wonderful - filled with lots to see and do.
Oh! Be sure to get to the MK a few minutes before it opens! I don't know if you are familiar with this, but it was so moving to me, I had to hold back the tears! It was a wonderful example of Disney magic! Once you get off the monorail or water launch, make sure to wait right in front of the train station. They have singers and dancers performing and then the train pulls up with all the characters. Everybody counts down and then the announcer welcomes you to the MK. The characters come down from the train platform and mingle with the guests. We were able to meet many of the characters before even entering the park. Lots of people enter the park and wait along Main Street for the rope to drop, but we loved the little show outside!! I could hear something going on at the MK from the Poly one morning and so we made sure to be there to see what was happening. So glad we did!!

 

[Picabo]

If you get to the parks early (we like AM EMH) and you have a plan, you will be amazed at just how much you can get done by 11 AM w/ little to no wait, by the time the wait times are increasing you are thinking about blowing outta there & getting lunch. Just don't waste that precious morning time standing around figuring where to go & what to do next & you'll be set.

Have a great trip.

THANKS! That's so encouring to hear that we can get alot done if we go early! That is the plan!

Hi!

With this schedule, we were able to see everything we wanted to see. Of course, we didn't see everything, but that was ok with us. Our relaxed pace was great in that we were able to enjoy the resort - more than we ever had at Disney before, and the Poly was just wonderful - filled with lots to see and do.

Oh! Be sure to get to the MK a few minutes before it opens! I don't know if you are familiar with this, but it was so moving to me, I had to hold back the tears! It was a wonderful example of Disney magic! Once you get off the monorail or water launch, make sure to wait right in front of the train station. They have singers and dancers performing and then the train pulls up with all the characters. Everybody counts down and then the announcer welcomes you to the MK. The characters come down from the train platform and mingle with the guests. We were able to meet many of the characters before even entering the park. Lots of people enter the park and wait along Main Street for the rope to drop, but we loved the little show outside!! I could hear something going on at the MK from the Poly one morning and so we made sure to be there to see what was happening. So glad we did!!

THAT's GREAT! I want a more relaxed pace so as to not overwhelm them too much...NOR my husband. (He's never been and isn't exactly looking forward to it. haha) And thanks for the tip on going early for rope drop! Sounds like it's well worth it to get there super early!

 

[tanyaandallie]

We are TGMers as well. I have been with my kids when they were 20 mos and 3 and then again this past year when they were almost 3 and 4.5. We always go for rope drop and then stay until lunch and go back to the hotel for naps. There are certain days that we don't do naps but we try and do them as much as possible. As long as we don't stay too late in the park, naps are doable and going back to the park after naps is great. Mostly we just go back for a parade, etc. We don't stay out super late, but then when we go the parks are not usually open late anyways.

We definitely take it easy and don't go commando. I want my kids well rested or things turn ugly very fast!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

We've never gone back to the room for a nap....but we started early in the AM (because they were up anyways) and they were pretty good about taking naps in strollers during the day. It really depends on the child I think.

If we had tried to bring them back..they would just wake up and we'd be stuck in the room trying to get them to go back down... no thanks

We usually tried to find a quiet spot to sit and enjoy people watching during naps while one of us goes on rides or shops with my older DD.

We typically head back to room late afternoon to change for dinner/night time activities and go out again.

Its a very slow pace..but its a happy one for the most part.

 

[katied]

We were there in May with DS (age 13 months) and DNiece (age 23 months). We did just that plan - at parks at/near opening in the AM though lunch, back for naps 2 - 5 or 6 (including time getting back & forth) and then some evenings we'd swim at the resort and take it easy, other evenings we'd head back and be at the park again 5pm - 8 pm or so.

We got a lot done - sometimes even more done in the 5 - 8 window than the 9 - 1 window. It also helped keep everyone sane. Yes, there were times the kids napped in the strollers (esp. DS, as he was still on a 2 nap/day schedule, so his am nap was always in the stroller) - but it helped me too! I needed the break after carrying DS around all day. Also, the heat matters. Late May was warm, and the break in the AC was great.