Hillbeans
I told them I like Michael Bolton
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2003
- Messages
- 7,061
Hi All,
I'm going to post a full trip report, however after traveling to WDW with my 2 1/2 yo son, I have some helpful things which may assist others with planning a WDW trip with small kids. This worked for us and may not work for all, so take the advice with that in mind:
1) Bring your stroller: My son is 38 pounds, and as much as I hated lugging his stroller all over, it really came in handy. In the airport, we checked it at the gate, and with the near 1/2 mile walk from security to the gate, we'd have been struggling. The walk out of the airplane in Orlando to the car rental counter would have been torture without it. It was 90, hot, and he would have been hanging all over us without it. The parking lot to the theme parks themselves can be quite a hoof without a stroller. Sure, you can rent one inside, but it was much easier loading it up with diapers, swimmy diapers, wipes and changes of clothes and forgetting about it.
2) Pack clothes in Ziplock bags: Greatest idea I got from this board. Just grab a pack and go. No mess, no fuss.
3) Buy a small stryofoam cooler and stock it with drinks at your hotel: At seaworld our first day, we spent near $30 on drinks alone. At $3 a pop for Apple Juice and $3 for water, it's the way to go. You can bring one or two into the parks in the stroller. It's a huge money saver as well as a sanity one.
4) GET THERE EARLY: Can't stress this one enough. We got to the MK at 8:30 for a 9:00 open. We went on Dumbo, Carousel, Peter Pan, Snow White, Small World and Teacups in one hour. At 11:00 AM, the place was packed.
5) Remember who this trip is for: My DH and I went to WDW 4 years ago before we had my DS. This trip was a family trip, however it was really for him. I didn't do 1/2 the stuff I wanted to do because we did what he wanted to do. It's only fair. There will be plenty of times in the future I can go on Space Mountain but seeing his face after meeting Pooh and Tigger is something i'll never forget in my life.
6) Take a break : If you're at the park at 9, by 1 you'll be ready for a break. Yes, it stinks leaving and going ALL THE WAY BACK to the hotel for a nap and swim, but believe me, it's worth it. By 4 pm, we were relaxed, well fed, swam, showered again and refreshed for a few more hours at the park. Seeing parents toting around worn out, sunburn 3-4 year olds is not fun. Do yourself a favor, take the break. You'll be good to go for a good 4 more hours.
7) Put kids to bed near normal bedtime: Ok, this is hard too, because everyone's on vacation, but a 2 yo shouldn't be up until 11 at night.
Hope this helps.
I'm going to post a full trip report, however after traveling to WDW with my 2 1/2 yo son, I have some helpful things which may assist others with planning a WDW trip with small kids. This worked for us and may not work for all, so take the advice with that in mind:
1) Bring your stroller: My son is 38 pounds, and as much as I hated lugging his stroller all over, it really came in handy. In the airport, we checked it at the gate, and with the near 1/2 mile walk from security to the gate, we'd have been struggling. The walk out of the airplane in Orlando to the car rental counter would have been torture without it. It was 90, hot, and he would have been hanging all over us without it. The parking lot to the theme parks themselves can be quite a hoof without a stroller. Sure, you can rent one inside, but it was much easier loading it up with diapers, swimmy diapers, wipes and changes of clothes and forgetting about it.
2) Pack clothes in Ziplock bags: Greatest idea I got from this board. Just grab a pack and go. No mess, no fuss.
3) Buy a small stryofoam cooler and stock it with drinks at your hotel: At seaworld our first day, we spent near $30 on drinks alone. At $3 a pop for Apple Juice and $3 for water, it's the way to go. You can bring one or two into the parks in the stroller. It's a huge money saver as well as a sanity one.
4) GET THERE EARLY: Can't stress this one enough. We got to the MK at 8:30 for a 9:00 open. We went on Dumbo, Carousel, Peter Pan, Snow White, Small World and Teacups in one hour. At 11:00 AM, the place was packed.
5) Remember who this trip is for: My DH and I went to WDW 4 years ago before we had my DS. This trip was a family trip, however it was really for him. I didn't do 1/2 the stuff I wanted to do because we did what he wanted to do. It's only fair. There will be plenty of times in the future I can go on Space Mountain but seeing his face after meeting Pooh and Tigger is something i'll never forget in my life.
6) Take a break : If you're at the park at 9, by 1 you'll be ready for a break. Yes, it stinks leaving and going ALL THE WAY BACK to the hotel for a nap and swim, but believe me, it's worth it. By 4 pm, we were relaxed, well fed, swam, showered again and refreshed for a few more hours at the park. Seeing parents toting around worn out, sunburn 3-4 year olds is not fun. Do yourself a favor, take the break. You'll be good to go for a good 4 more hours.
7) Put kids to bed near normal bedtime: Ok, this is hard too, because everyone's on vacation, but a 2 yo shouldn't be up until 11 at night.
Hope this helps.
