just got back

[bankgirl05]

Ok, so I travelled with a grumpy 14 year old, a rambunctious 3 year old and a happy, go-with the flow 16 month old, and it was enough tgo make me want to rip my hair out of my head and never leave home (with the kids) again!!!
No really, we had some wonderful moments, but it was hard, hot and exhausting

If you are travelling with a similar party of kids, or even just 2 toddlers and want my honest opinion on things and some suggestions PM me and I'll be glad to give you the real deal (like trade that GRACO DUO GLIDER stroller in for a double Umberella stroller UUGGGHHH)orpack an extra shirt for yourself in the diaper bag so when the baby rubs ketchup or mac and cheese all over you, you don't have to have stains on your shirt for EVERY single picture), otherwise, I will just save myself from burning up in flames and not post any negative or "unDisney" things here.

All in all, in was a good trip, but there are A LOT of things I would do differently if I knew what it was going to be like. and I would have packed a LOT less shtuff and definately NOT stayed at Fort Wilderness intil they are older!

 

[tinkerfan1]

I'm sorry! That's not how you want your Disney trip to be! I wish you better luck next time, if you are brave enough to give it a go again.

 

[mindondisney]

Leaving in 8 days for WDW with three little ones. What did you pack that you felt was not worth it? I tend to overpack too . . .

 

[dkbnyc]

Leaving in 8 days for WDW with three little ones. What did you pack that you felt was not worth it? I tend to overpack too . . .

yes- pls post more on this thread- i am interested to know what you would do differently and what you would NOT pack next time

 

[peekinglemer]

Now THIS would be a trip report I would be willing to read. One that includes the good AND the bad. So...put on your flame retardent suit and dive in. PM me with your trip report link (cause I know you can't resist ) and count me in.

 

[PigletsMommy]

I'd love to hear all about it...good, bad, and stained shirts!

We are going in February with my best friend and her 4 year DS. I'm taking my dd who will be 15 months old and my mother

 

[DominicaAnne]

I'm leaving in 8 days for a trip w/ 6 adults and 4 kids (8, 9, 18 months, 1) and I'd really love to hear what you learned on this trip!

 

[bankgirl05]

I'm sorry! That's not how you want your Disney trip to be! I wish you better luck next time, if you are brave enough to give it a go again.

Oh, I will, just not for a year or three... Thanks

Leaving in 8 days for WDW with three little ones. What did you pack that you felt was not worth it? I tend to overpack too . . .

yes- pls post more on this thread- i am interested to know what you would do differently and what you would NOT pack next time

I just packed waaay too many clothes and toiletrires, like full sized bottles of shampoo, etc, we did laundry because we were staying in FL for an additional week, and I was worried about the weather so I packed too many pants/jeans that were never worn, too many toys to keep the kids occupied, too many comfort things (blankies, stuffies etc) that I had to keep track of, and stop every 10 feet when they got dropped out of the stroller... not enough binkies (they bounce and my DD15 months doesn't keep those leashes on them...) too many DVD's for the portable player for the plane ride (it is only 2 hours and about 1 movie long) not enough swimmie diapers, had a hard time finding the right size and they were EXPENSIVE!!!

Now THIS would be a trip report I would be willing to read. One that includes the good AND the bad. So...put on your flame retardent suit and dive in. PM me with your trip report link (cause I know you can't resist ) and count me in.

I would like to write a trip report but it may take me some time, back to work I go, high-ho! (grumpy about it too)

I'd love to hear all about it...good, bad, and stained shirts!

We are going in February with my best friend and her 4 year DS. I'm taking my dd who will be 15 months old and my mother

I'm leaving in 8 days for a trip w/ 6 adults and 4 kids (8, 9, 18 months, 1) and I'd really love to hear what you learned on this trip!

I learned that I absolutely hated lugging my Graco Duo Glider stroller on and off of the bus!!! along with the diaper bag, camera bag and other miscellaneous stuff... take advatage of having your packages sent to your resort if you can, I forgot about it, actually, I was never even offered the option...hmmm... I also was quite aware that my 3 year old and 15 month old would never know if they missed something or didn't get to ride something, so I tried to focus more time on things that my DD14 was more likely to have fun on; and then work in the other things as we went along.

If you have anymore specific questions just ask, I will try my best to answer them...

 

[mindondisney]

For your three year old, any ideas if walking versus riding in the stroller was better? Would you have brought 2 umbrella strollers instead?

Did you use two high chairs during meals?

 

[WantToGoNow]

I would love to hear about your trip. I'm a bit nervous about our upcoming trip with 6 kids - ages 2,4,5,5,8,9.

 

[mdsouth]

Ok, so I travelled with a grumpy 14 year old, a rambunctious 3 year old and a happy, go-with the flow 16 month old, and it was enough tgo make me want to rip my hair out of my head and never leave home (with the kids) again!!!
No really, we had some wonderful moments, but it was hard, hot and exhausting

If you are travelling with a similar party of kids, or even just 2 toddlers and want my honest opinion on things and some suggestions PM me and I'll be glad to give you the real deal (like trade that GRACO DUO GLIDER stroller in for a double Umberella stroller UUGGGHHH)orpack an extra shirt for yourself in the diaper bag so when the baby rubs ketchup or mac and cheese all over you, you don't have to have stains on your shirt for EVERY single picture), otherwise, I will just save myself from burning up in flames and not post any negative or "unDisney" things here.

All in all, in was a good trip, but there are A LOT of things I would do differently if I knew what it was going to be like. and I would have packed a LOT less shtuff and definately NOT stayed at Fort Wilderness intil they are older!

I went this past summer with my DH, DD6 and DS13. Our trip was like yours - we had some absolutely wonderful magical moments BUT we also had some of the exhausting, draining, moments too! The weather was miserable hot and rainy too!
I would have thought that your trip in early November would not have been hot. Was it hotter than normal for this time of year?

I am still writing my trip report. If anyone wants to check it out - the link to it is here in my signature.

 

[diamondpixienc]

I would love to hear more about what not to bring and read your trip report. count me in

 

[bankgirl05]

For your three year old, any ideas if walking versus riding in the stroller was better? Would you have brought 2 umbrella strollers instead?
*He rode in the stroller for the major travelling, and walked in areas like fantasy land where the rides are all close together, it kept him from being run over by others or wandering off. I had no choice but to use my double because we would split off during the day to allow my DD14 time to shop or do the "big" rides, and 1 parent with two toddlers in seperate strollers would have been a bad thing.

Did you use two high chairs during meals?

Depending on DS3's mood... he sat well in a regular chair, but hit his "I'm bored with sitting here" mark as soon as he was done eating, and he will only play with crayons at the table for so long so I recommend a small toy that he/she has never seen before to occupy them if you want to linger at a meal... I brought out pipe cleaners one day (chenille stems they are called) plastic puzzles, small dinosaurs, just junk thinks I bought @ the dollar store, things I never buy him @ home and when they got "lost" I didn't lose a bundle of money

I would love to hear about your trip. I'm a bit nervous about our upcoming trip with 6 kids - ages 2,4,5,5,8,9.

I'm nervous about your upcoming trip with 6 kids too Just kidding...
No really, let the bigger kids have their fun, the younger ones will "go with the flow" and never know if they missed something... pack zip lock baggies for leftovers and snacks, just because someone isn't hungry when you sit down to eat doesn't mean that they won't eat those cold chicken fingers 1/2 an hour later!!! I also had baggies of cereal for snacking between times... In the parks, We missed ALOT but it will be there the next time we go back, I tried to focus more on watching thier reactions and getting pictures of them enjoying the small free things like the splash areas and play areas (Bring changes of clothes for the little ones), the pools etc. I tried not to get too upset when DD15months cried at the characters, actually I took some priceless pictures of her that have captions like "don't touch me!!!"
Don't forget a clean shirt for yourself so you don't have to feel like a slob all day, Tide pens are okay, but don't always work, or require some assistance with some water, you'll want a dry shirt to put on...

And mdsouth; yes, they said it was unseasonably warm for that time of year...

 

[Beavers5]

I'm curious as to why you say you shouldn't have stayed at FW. We camped there in October and felt it was perfect for our little ones.

 

[duffy]

I would love to hear about your trip. I'm a bit nervous about our upcoming trip with 6 kids - ages 2,4,5,5,8,9.

When are you arriving? We'll be arriving at Port Orleans Riverside on Nov. 28th.

Good luck!

 

[nicki.momof3]

We'll be arriving at Port Orleans Riverside on Nov. 28th. Good luck!

I love POR - we are going in April with 6 chidren also (3,5,6,6,7,8) and can not wait

 

[foltzy]

We went with a 4 and 2 year old for our first trip last month. We'll be waiting until they are 8 and 6 before we go again.

 

[bankgirl05]

I'm curious as to why you say you shouldn't have stayed at FW. We camped there in October and felt it was perfect for our little ones.

I personally just felt that it was too difficult taking one bus to get to another, too much time waiting for buses with my impatient 3 year old. One bus was hard enough with the stroller and gear, but to have to transfer UGH plus we didn't really utilize all of the extras that we might have if the kids were older, like the campfire, and movie... for the price I paid I could have stayed at Wilderness Lodge and felt a little more catered too. Also, when I had an issue, I would have preferred complaining in person, not over the phone, but that required me to take a bus to the front desk... They say the Fort is just NOT for everyone... I guess we are part of "those people"

We went with a 4 and 2 year old for our first trip last month. We'll be waiting until they are 8 and 6 before we go again.

yeah, we'll be waiting for a few years again, I just didn't feel the Magic as I have on past trips, I was dissappointed, my DH however, knows how much my heart belongs to Disney, and wants to look into DVC go figure...

 

[Beavers5]

I personally just felt that it was too difficult taking one bus to get to another, too much time waiting for buses with my impatient 3 year old. One bus was hard enough with the stroller and gear, but to have to transfer UGH plus we didn't really utilize all of the extras that we might have if the kids were older, like the campfire, and movie... for the price I paid I could have stayed at Wilderness Lodge and felt a little more catered too. Also, when I had an issue, I would have preferred complaining in person, not over the phone, but that required me to take a bus to the front desk... They say the Fort is just NOT for everyone... I guess we are part of "those people"

We didn't use the buses, but I can see where they could be difficult. We were in the 1500 loop, so we took a 20 minute walk to the marina for the MK boat... that way the girls stayed in the stroller the whole way. We had our van for the other parks. Even if you don't stay at the Fort next trip, you should try to make the campfire... our kids loved it.