My plans for 10/26-11/2 with the Twins HELP ME!!!

[mommy2twins]

DH and I are going on our annual jaunt to Orlando next week, but this year we have our 3.5 month old twins with us. I am trying to set up a plan that will be flexible enough to keep everyone happy. Please help me! We are not that familiar with Disney and this will be out first time at parks other than the MK. On past trips, we did IOA/US, PI, CW and MK and dinner at V & A, all of which but MK are out, because of the babies. We are staying offsite in our timeshare (Marriott) and renting a car. We have yet to see any fireworks or even a show.


Here we go:

10/26 Sunday:
Arrive @ 4:00
Groceries/Setup for babies
Dinner?
early evening

10/27 Monday:
Sleep late
F&W Fest at Epcot from 12-4 or 5
Dinner?

10/28 Tuesday:
Late Breakfast @ Boma 10:00
Look around AKL
AK from 12-3 or 4
Dinner?

10/29 Wednesday:
Sleep late
MGM from 1-4
PS @ Brown Derby 4
Fantasmic?

10/30 Thursday:
No early plans
PS Dinner @ CG 5:30
MNSSHP 6-9

10/31 Friday:
Breakfast @ 1900 Park 10:30
No other plans yet
PS Flyin Fish @ 5:45

11/1 Saturday:
Outlets
Relax
Dinner?

11/2 Sunday:
10:30 Gospel Brunch @ HOB
Head to airport

Thanks
Mich
Mommy to Reagan and Ricardo

 

[Cindymere]

You are one brave woman! I wish you luck.

Just out of curiousity, why are you going with 3.5 month old twins? I left mine home at 15 months instead of taking them with us because I wanted to enjoy myself lol.

We're just willing to attempt it with them at 4 years old. Of course, I had a really huge bout with PPD after their births.....so I get overwhelmed easily still...

 

[twinmom1292]

don't mean to discourage you, but you are a brave soul!

Just take everything minute by minute. I personally would not hold myself to a schedule. life with twins is soooooooooooo unpredictable. But, it gets so much easier as they get older.

we are leaving in 6 days, the twins are 10 now, the last time we were at MK was when they were 5.

Have a wonderful time. I will send plenty of pixie dust your way.

Beth

 

[mommy2twins]

Well, it was originally going to be a large group of family going and therefore some built-in baby sitters/help, but then we had hurricane Isabel and homes were damaged, so the others had to drop out. However, we didn't change our plans. Also, I think I really deserve a vacation after the nightmare that was most of my pregnancy. There is no way we could leave them with anyone for a week - all of my family is in another state. Our babies are generally good-natured and we have taken them out to several restaurants, etc without any problems. We are very, very, very far from Commando-Type A vacationers, but I do like to have a general outline of what our options are and a plan for parking and logistics, so that we are not clueless, when we get there -- and again the planning is so much fun! We like to vacation and we do it several times a year, so I guess we need to get into the practice of doing it with the new family format.

Thanks
Mich
Reagan and Ricardo b. 7/7/03

 

[Fantasmic303]

Well, I've got no advice for you itinerary-wise, since I'm not a parent, nor have I been to WDW with a baby other than myself. However, my sister and I will be down there during the same time, so I just wanted to assure you that if we run into a family with babies who are being fussy, we'll be sending happy thoughts and pixie dust in your direction!!


Have a great time!!

 

[Cindymere]

Well, look at it this way, if I had to go with twins I think it would be easier to do it as infants or then 4 years old + (I'll let you all know in a month how mine did).

Just dont' have much of a plan and play call it by ear. Are you bringing a double stroller? Are you nursing? Are there any special needs with your babies (preemies, OT issues, etc?) How far is your time share from the park?

pixie dust coming from my way too...

 

[The Disney Bunch]

We will be down there with our twins at the same time! Your schedule looks good- make sure you have good down time - you and the babies will need it. I am not sure I would have been able to go to Disney when my two were 3.5 months - I was still trying to figure out if I was wearing underwear. We went when they were 10 months old and it was really great. Be sure that your strollers recline. Be aware of people pushing around your stroller and don't let them touch them! I had more people try to touch the girls - yuck! Be sure to find the Baby Centers in each park as you go in - Unfortunately there is only one in each park but they are a lifesaver if you have forgotten anything. Be aware that the characters will not hold your babies so you will be in all the pictures! Relax, enjoy! I will keep an eye out for you!!

Also - quick note - have you been to the Gospel Brunch? It is very loud and you may not want to bring the babies. Fantasmic may also be too loud and scary- We saw it with my girls when they were 10 months & it was too much for them. Also try to sit in any attraction as close to the door so if you have to run out you can with ease. The Hall of Presidents is a great place to go hang with sleeping babies.

 

[Jaklackus]

My advice ....just plan to go to a park for each day and play it by ear once you get there..the hardest part for DH and I was realizing that we couldn't ride all of the rides together like we had before the baby...not that we thought that DS could ride Splash Mountain...we just never thought ahead to having to ride Splash Mountain seperately. We took DS when he was about 3 months old and it coincided.. with a growth spurt...lots and lots and lots of nursing...every 1 hour or so. With one...it was an endless rotation of nursing and diaper changes...if your DH is good about changing his fair share of diapers you'll be ok with your twins. Also invest in a clear stoller rain cover ....even that young they'll want to see their surroundings....using the yellow poncho as a emergency makeshift cover only caused stress and frustration for DS on one really rainy day..we ended up using the baby carrier under DH's poncho ...so cute seeing DS's little head sticking out next to DH with a little santa Mickey hat on and an umbrella. I personally feel that if as a couple you visitied WDW twice a year...as a family you do the same. I didn't decide to have children to leave them with my mom for the day (as much as she wishes I would ...I'm aware of whether or not my child is handling it well and I won't torture him for sake of making the fireworks that night...but I will try something different to help him get past 'his moment' ..if he doesn't get past it...it's time to call it a day. Our next trip will be with a 2 year old and a 3 month old...I plan to come home entirely grey after that trip...but it;ll be worth it.

 

[Jaklackus]

My advice ....just plan to go to a park for each day and play it by ear once you get there..the hardest part for DH and I was realizing that we couldn't ride all of the rides together like we had before the baby...not that we thought that DS could ride Splash Mountain...we just never thought ahead to having to ride Splash Mountain seperately. We took DS when he was about 3 months old and it coincided.. with a growth spurt...lots and lots and lots of nursing...every 1 hour or so. With one...it was an endless rotation of nursing and diaper changes...if your DH is good about changing his fair share of diapers you'll be ok with your twins. Also invest in a clear stoller rain cover ....even that young they'll want to see their surroundings....using the yellow poncho as a emergency makeshift cover only caused stress and frustration for DS on one really rainy day..we ended up using the baby carrier under DH's poncho ...so cute seeing DS's little head sticking out next to DH with a little santa Mickey hat on and an umbrella. I personally feel that if as a couple you visitied WDW twice a year...as a family you do the same. I didn't decide to have children to leave them with my mom for the day (as much as she wishes I would ...I'm aware of whether or not my child is handling it well and I won't torture him for sake of making the fireworks that night...but I will try something different to help him get past 'his moment' ..if he doesn't get past it...it's time to call it a day. Our next trip will be with a 2 year old and a 3 month old...I plan to come home entirely grey after that trip...but it;ll be worth it.

 

[kilee]

Lots and Lots of Pixie Dust!!!! I think as long as you are open minded to the fact you may be in and out of the parks within a matter of a few hours, you're okay. No plans is actually probably your best bet. Your babies are going to be sensative to most of the noises right now. Also the heat and humidity isn't going to be fun either. But the glory of no plans, means no committment to be anywhere.

I personally, wouldn't be able to reason spending the money. But that is a personal thing. I can't spend that much to "people watch" my day away-- I'll do that at the mall thank you!

 

[grlzmom]

I think you will be just fine and it will go well (thinking positive always helps with twinkies).

Our now 10 month old twins are disney veterans and it was easier when they were just a few months old then our trip next month with them will be (we also have a two year old).

You seem to be flexible in your planning and that helps. Ours also didnt do well with fantasmic. We had grand plans for parades and fireworks but were too tired by eveningtime.

Take advantage of the baby care centers. Nice quiet places to unwind when you need to. Make sure you have a good lightweight stroller that reclines.

Like previous posters said, it is difficult to keep others away from the babies (we got irritated with this quickly). Some people were just fascinated and I appreciate their interest, but cold and flu season is around the corner and it is very inappropriate for strangers to try and touch the babies.

Keep your expectations low, you will avoid being disappointed and you may be pleasantly surprised at how well the babies do.

Alot of my twin mom friends dread taking their twinkies anywhere. We began taking them out as soon as the docs (they were preemies) gave us the go ahead and we havent stopped since.

I also highly recommend the disney cruise with twins. It is so much easier than navigating wdw and very relaxing and child friendly.

Good luck to you and your twinkies.

 

[mommy2twins]

Thanks so much for the responses. The twins are healthy near term babies b. 37w4d and we are doing formula, as very heartbreakingly the bf fell through . I guess we will skip Fantasmic -- I have never seen it anyway and don't really know what I am missing. We have already paid for the Gospel brunch, so we will try it at least. DH and I share the responsibilities equally (sometimes he even more than me lol), so I am not worried about being overwhelmed at all. I will be disturbed if someone intentionally gets too close to a baby, but I have already encountered this phenomena pretty much everywhere we go, so I know how to deal with it. It is a very strange thing. I would never want to touch a strangers baby. Well, whatever. I ordered a Maclaren Twin Traveller for this jaunt, as the Duoglider does not have full dual recline and is a mammoth. I am putting the boots on to keep a barrier around the babies. It is not exactly *light* but it handles like a dream. It was kind of expensive, so I need to figure out how to keep it from being stolen. We are planning to use our baby carriers for restaurant dinners, like we do at home.

Is it still hot in Fla? I was hoping it would be somewhat cooler. In NC, it is a manageable high 70s to low 80s in the day and 60s at night.

BTW, we are avid cruisers. We went on three last year in addition to our annual Orlando trip. Never tried the Magic or Wonder, but know *everything* about it. I am a certifiable cruise nut and I own a cruise franchise. Will probably add a Disney cruise to the annual Orlando vacations once the babies are old enough for children's activities onboard.

Thanks again,
Mich

 

[nativetxn]

Hi <b>mommy2twins</b>. Welcome to the DIS, I'm very glad that you found us and I hope you can visit often.

I put a copy of this question on our Disney for Families Forum, too. Just a little extra coverage for you. You will find it <b>HERE</b> and may want to check for more replies there after a while.

Katholyn