Need advice our trip with little ones

[1rockinmamato2]

We'll be travelling to WDW this fall with our children.

However, I have several questions:

1. We are taking two strollers instead of a double one. What do we need to know, if anything, about leaving our strollers outside the attractions?

2. We will need to pack a diaper bag each day. What do we do with that bag while we're in the attractions? Take it with us? Leave it in the stroller?

3. I'll also be taking my digital camera and video camera. Is there a bag recommendation anyone has to store these items so I can take them on the rides with me to prevent theft?

4. I know it's been recommended that we take a break and return to our room for the children to nap. I'm figuring this to be a 3-hour block of time at the least including transportation, nap, lunch, etc. and I just feel like we'll be wasting precious Disney time because park hours are decreased that time of year. I guess I just need reassurance on this matter?

5. Originally we had planned one day each of AK, MK, and EP. But, I'm thinking we may need more than one day at MK due to our children's ages? If so, would you save AK or EP for the next trip?

6. I'm undecided about park hopper passes. Would we really get our money's worth out of them?

I think that's all the questions I have for now. I'd also appreciate any other tips or advice anyone has about traveling with children as young as ours.

I can't wait until we get to WDW!

 

[mco-missy]

Hope I can help answer a few of your questions!

1. You will see where the strrollers are parked for each attraction. Just add yours to the pack! Sometimes the CMs do move the stroller rows a bit- they may move yours up as the front ones leave. I usually tie a brightly colored ribbon on the handle to help identify my stroller. Oh, if it looks like rain cover the stroller with a poncho- nothing worse than a wet stroller!

2. I have a diaper bag backpack. So, I just throw it on my back and head off to the line. You will need to hold the bag on the ride but I just put it down at my feet. I have been known to leave some items in the stroller but I always make sure it is nothing valuable- the kids sweaters, ponchos, etc. I have never had a problem with having anything taken from our stroller. I have seen some people leave expensive items in their strollers (cameras, bags from the gift shop, etc). I would not recommend that.

3. I never bring my camcorder just my digital camera- but I just throw that in the diaper bag also.

4. Are you staying onsite? It takes a suprisingly long time to get back to the hotel- even staying on site- and even longer if you are staying off site. How long do your kids nap- I would plan on an hour to get out of the park and back to your room (onsite) and then another hour to get back to the park after the nap? Would they nap in the stroller? We usually just stay in the park and stop somewhere for lunch or a long show- just some down time. But, my kiddos do ok with missing a nap here and there. May not be the best for a long trip.

5. My girls favorite parks are MK and MGM- sorry no help there.

6. We have annual passes so we can hop but rarely do. We usually stay at the same park all day.

Hope that helps. BTW, my girls are 3 and 1 but we have been travelling to WDW since the first one was 6 months old.

 

[LuvOrlando]

The only glitch I can see is skipping nap time. At the end of the day I always thought its easy to tell who has been there all day, the parents are angry and snippy and the kids are just bonkers from lack of sleep. Yes, going back the the room took a ton of time out of our trips but everyone was soooo much happier... I know its an expensive trip and many people want to get their money's worth but that idea can backfire big time... at least in my opinion that is.

When my kids were little I brought cheerios and drinks, got to the parks early, as soon as the kids woke up and played as long as they were still smiling. For lunch we ate at the hotel and put the kids into beds for a nap while DH & I rested our bodies and minds. When they woke up we went for dinner and spent the evening on all the kiddie rides which now had way shorter lines in the evening. Watching parades & fireworks was always a peaceful experience because everyone was calm, fed & rested.

Everyone has their own way of doing things and I won't say one way is better than another, I can only say what was better for us.

We always do our 1st and last days at the Magic Kingdom, never less that 2.

Have fun whatever you choose to do.

 

[tinkandpan]

. We are taking two strollers instead of a double one. What do we need to know, if anything, about leaving our strollers outside the attractions?
Already mentioned is don't panic if your stroller isn't where you left it- cast members will move them around to help maintain flow. So absolutely don't boot it like i have heard some people discussing.

2. We will need to pack a diaper bag each day. What do we do with that bag while we're in the attractions? Take it with us? Leave it in the stroller?
I always pack a diaper bag that I can leave on the stroller and then keep a smaller bag that I can take on the rides with me. It includes my wallet, camera and anything of value i can't live without. The past few times, I have used an AMERIBAG.

3. I'll also be taking my digital camera and video camera. Is there a bag recommendation anyone has to store these items so I can take them on the rides with me to prevent theft?

4. I know it's been recommended that we take a break and return to our room for the children to nap. I'm figuring this to be a 3-hour block of time at the least including transportation, nap, lunch, etc. and I just feel like we'll be wasting precious Disney time because park hours are decreased that time of year. I guess I just need reassurance on this matter?

I might not be a good one to ask this question because my son at age 5 just learned that there are nightime parades and fireworks. We never really went back to the parks- he would take a nap in the stroller and we would head back by around 7 after an early dinner. We were ar the parks early in the am and home early as well. There are tons of places to go to escape the heat. Now that I have two- we will on occasion go back to the hotel for a nap but usually by the time we get in the car or bus she is asleep and then it is almost pointless to go back to the hotel.

5. Originally we had planned one day each of AK, MK, and EP. But, I'm thinking we may need more than one day at MK due to our children's ages? If so, would you save AK or EP for the next trip?
You might want more time at MK depending on how much you can do on the day you are there. We usually skip AK as it is not a fav of us, but Epcot is a must do for us- if the kids will nap in the stroller, Epcot is a great place to have them nap while you stroll through the countries sampling foods, drinks and entertainment.

6. I'm undecided about park hopper passes. Would we really get our money's worth out of them?

We too have AP so we hop. If we leave the parks, we usually will hop just to break it up.

BTW- mine are 2 and \5 and we have been going since my 5 yr old was 2 mths old

 

[Elmo888]

I just wanted to add...

1. Don't leave valuables on/in your stroller. We carried 2 separate bags. I carried a small one with valuables (camera, cell phone, tickets, money, etc.) on my person and a separate diaper bag with snacks, diapers, wipes, sunblock, change of clothes, etc. on the stroller. The diaper bag was left on the stroller at attractions, but not the bag with valuables. If we put bags from the gift shop in the diaper bag, we took the diaper bag with us.

2. See #1.

3. I took and loved the Overland Equipment Placer (and I've used it several times since). It held my camera just fine, but I don't know about a video camera. It does hold more that it looks like it holds (does that make sense?).

4. I would look at it as "quality time", not just quantity time. Two things to remember - you can't do everything and you will be back. Our nap time was usually closer to 4 hours, including travel, and, many times, everyone napped (including DH and DD7 - I napped the least). And you can spend time enjoying your resort. I would try a day of no naps and see where it takes you (and be ready to bail if it isn't working), but you might end up spending most of the following day at your resort. If your kids nap in strollers, it might be doable. One thing to remember - it isn't just the nap that some kids need (as I learned from DD7), it is the removal from the over stimulation. Another way to look at it is that you are on vacation and you paid to enjoy your vacation. If everyone is tired and grumpy, even if you are at the parks, is your family really enjoying the vacation? Just food for thought...

5. How many full days are you spending at the parks? I would definitely plan on 2 at MK. You could go to Epcot for a couple of evenings and just do The Seas for them and WS for you (DH and I love WS in the evenings). If you are only doing 3 full days, I would cut out a park (personally, I would do MK and Epcot).

6. See #5. Park hopper would be useful esp. if you are going for the nap. This way, you could go to a different park in the evenings and enjoy some of the evening sights (I'm thinking about Epcot in particular). Personally, I love the park hopper and wouldn't do without it.

I hope that helps!

 

[Copperline]

You've already gotten great answers, but I'll add some more for you.

1. Stroller stuff: If you don't have a rain cover for them, bring along some trash bags to line the seats of the stroller with if it gets wet. I always have a bunch of grocery store plastic bags for dirty diapers, but I've used them in a pinch to put under a kid on a wet seat.

2. I pack the bare minimum in the diaper bag. Camera, cell phone, a change of clothes for each kid, sealed in a ziploc bag, a few diapers, wipes, small tube of sunscreen, small first aid kit, our IDs in a snack ziploc bag and frozen bottles of water in the bottom of the stroller. Depending on the time of day, I might add an individual size snack bag for each kid, but not if we are going to a park for a meal. Try try try try try not to overpack your diaper bag. You will regret it if you do. We use either a messenger bag that can be slung over the handle of the stroller or a backpack. We do take it with us at every attraction. Although our friends usually leave their bag and have never had it stolen, I just don't trust it.

3. My digital camera has a video cam feature to it that works quite nicely. So we never bring a separate video camera. Too cumbersome for my liking.

4. I would definitely break for nap/rest time. We tend to plan our day like this: get to the park for opening, ride/see all the big things first, then meander around to the other things until it gets too crowded or hot. Head back to our hotel for lunch or rest or pool. Eat a big lunch or snack at the room. Return to a different park just in time for most people to head to dinner and see/ride all the big stuff at that park. Eat a later dinner as most people are finishing, then go see fireworks before leaving for the night.

5. MK could easily occupy 2 full days for you. Epcot with little ones can be a 1/2 day. AK on a not so busy day can be 2/3 of a day, but even in high season we never plan a whole day there just due to the heat.

6. I DEFINITELY recommend the hopper option. We almost *never* visit the same park for an entire day, nor do we go to the same park twice in one day. We always go one place for the morning, go to our resort and pool for nap and play in the afternoon, and then a different park for the evening.

We have gone every year, sometimes 2-3 times a year since before my kids were born. My oldest will be 6 next month and my youngest is 18 months. Every age has been fun! Have a great trip!

 

[Perditamarie]

I just wanted to add:

* pack a diaper bag w/essentials and insert your cameras in another bag -- leave the diaper bag in stroller and take the cameras w/you.

* Park hoppers are great for hopping to another park if it is getting busy where you are. You also may work in a nap break by doing the following, as well as seeing all 4 parks if you want:

* visit AK or MK in am - take nap/lunch break, then hop to Epcot and MGM
in the evening, as they are open later. This works really well with Epcot,
as it is beautiful at night, huge, so a whole day could really wear you out
and Epcot is open the latest and is very relaxing and interesting.

* carry a cooler bag w/juice/water/bottles and familiar snacks so you are never stuck in line when kids are pending a snack attack or need a timely distraction.

* each park has a playground to give the little ones some stroller free time -- these are great for little explorers!

Have a great trip !