leaving in weeks...

[reneempayne]

I am traveling with DS2 & DS6. Feeling a little overwhelmed. What are some things that I can't live without???? Give me packing tips for the airplane and what to bring into the park pointers please!!!!!

 

[wishtdream]

Familiar snacks, simple stuff like teddy grams and crackers or cheerios. I can take my kids anywhere as long as they are well fed and can munch along the way. Also a sense of humor is essential when traveling w/ kids

 

[monorailsilver]

Are you flying at meal times? We are which double stinks because my ds has some food allergies.

Our flight out leaves at 8am so they can either eat in the airport or wait until they are on the plane. Then we get there around 10:30-11 so I will have a sandwich or crackers & pepperoni per my oldest. And when we come home it will also be lunch time.

I am also limiting on what activites I bring for the plane. When we went 3 years ago I had for my 2 kids-the dvd player & movies, coloring books with crayons, pencils & markers, sticker books, etc... plus snacks.

We are leaving in 2 weeks so I am not bringing much. We will have the lap top in case they wan a movie but I know my ds (almost 5) will just want to watch the Cartoon Network or Nick (Jet Blue) & my oldest will too. My dh gets it good & gets to sit with them.

My youngest is 2 & I get her so yay me!! OK not really. I am hoping she will watch a little TV too but I will bring her some stickers & some other activites to do but not much.

My oldest is going to bring her DS that she just got & won't take out of her hands.

I know I am going to bring alot of lollipops, gum & gummy fruits. My 2 yo will suck them down (gummy fruit) so I will break them & give them to her in small pieces on take off/landing.

Bring a towel/blanket to change a diaper on (if your 2 yo is still in them). You do realize I have a blanket on my packing list for this & you do realize I will stupid & put it in my checked baggage.

Socks so when you have to take off your shoes at the airport your feet don't have to touch the icky floor (this is on my list but you know I will question as to why I want socks for all of us in August Florida!).

As for the park, we have a stroller so I don't have to carry that bag constantly.

I bring diapers/wipes (please tell me I won't have to do that!). I bring the table toppers & toilet seat toppers & will bring the foldable potty seat as well. I will make use of the baby changing stations too as they are a bit more relaxed & we can cool down & really take our time in there.

I bring one snack (we go back to our room) & a few things of water & my camera/v.camera.

I don't have the mister fans but I probably should look for them but I really don't want to deal with my kids complaining that they don't want to hold it anymore.

I think that is it for the parks. I do have to clean out my park bag every day because it ends up with park maps, napkins, wrappers from something, etc...

 

[Perditamarie]

Here are some ideas:

* bring empty sippy cups and stock up on juice/water after you get through security. I also like to pack familiar snacks and fruit gummys for the plane....I have a supply of dumdum lollipops to avoid meltdowns, etc.

* bring some new items for the plane -- check out dollar stores for coloring books, work books, cards, small toys, etc....however, don't bring so much that the kids pull everything out and are too overwhelmed to play w/anything!! Portable dvd players, leapsters, mp3 players (load w/some Disney music and stories!!) are very good too. I have read on these boards that post-its are wonderful for small children to peel, stick and repeat!! Also, window clings are fun.

* For the parks, I always bring a soft sided cooler bag stocked w/drinks and snacks...usually you have to wait in long counter service lines to get juice. Anyway, it will save your sanity to have these right there and they come in handy in lines and during shows.

Happy travels!

 

[kldmom2000]

We've flown to Disney 3 x with our girls with another trip coming up in 3.5 weeks... this is the breakdown of what worked at each age:

Trip 1 (DDs were 2 and 4)
*Packed leapster and cartridges for the 4 yr old, portable DVD player, coloring books/crayons, snacks
*My then 2 yr old who NEVER napped actually napped on the plane ride down and back so her carry-on never got opened She had snacks, books, her stuffed animal "lovey", etc

Trips 2 and 3 (they were 4 and 6 and then almost 5 and 7 )
*Leapster and cartridges for both, my ipod for them to take turns with, portable DVD player, crayons/coloring books. GUM!!!

This upcoming trip, they'll be 5 and 8.
*Nintendo DS and games, 2 ipods that play movies/tvshows with Hannah Montana and the Smurfs downloaded , books.

**A tip that I got from here many years ago that worked great on their first 2 trips.... we brought 2 Mr. Potato head Potatoes down with us so that at the beginning of the trip, we went to one of the Mr. Potato head locations and filled a box to capacity with Disney parts. The pieces kept the girls thoroughly entertained in the AM when we were getting ready or if we'd stop back in the room in the afternoon to refresh... they LOVED making all sorts of combinations

For the parks, I pre-bought a couple of the battery operated misting fans that were an essential item last August!

Both girls LOVED trading pins~they each had a set amount of spending $$ and chose to buy lanyards and pins...

Older DD really got into the autograph thing last year-she was a character groupie trying to fill her autograph book Younger DD wants to do it this year too

If you're staying on property and you are going in August, I highly recommend that afternoon break if you can. It's so bloody hot and humid that a dip in the pool would refresh anyone so that you can recharge for dinner/evening

Best advice: Don't try to fit everything in.... do it at whatever pace seems reasonable to your kids so you don't end up w/ meltdowns. Just enjoy the time together and try to make some magical memories

Have a wonderful trip!!!!!

 

[kldmom2000]

OH! Almost forgot!!! Pack their swimsuits/swim diapers or a change of clothes in a backpack if you're in Epcot/MK (Toontown)/DTD... they have areas with squirting water and the kids would LOVE to be let loose in those!!!

 

[DisneyTiger]

Wow! These are great tips! I do have one plane etiquette question. This is the first time we will be flying with our kids - DD3 and DS1.5. Is it appropriate to listen to movies on the laptop? My kids are too little to use headphones but I don't want to disturb the people around us. Any thoughts?

 

[1rileydog]

If I were you I'd try to find some headphones that would work...I think you'll probably have trouble getting the sound loud enough for them to hear without disturbing the rest of the passengers on the plane. My DS7 has been using headphones (the kind that fully cover the ears) for years.