Newbie in Beginning Planning Stages - WDW w/2 year old help please?

[jacksmommy]

Hi Everyone,

We are looking to go sometime in fall of 08 with our then 2 and 1/2 year old son. I am at the very beginning stages of planning and research and would love some tips for a great trip with a toddler to WDW.

Where would you stay?
How would you spend your day?
What good tips and hints do you have?

Anything that can get me started from the very overwhelmed feelings I have right now would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

[dana1003]

hi newbie-welcome this is the best place to get advice so i hope you get lots of responses. hubby and i have been there a couple of times but dec06 and then oct 07 were our first for our toddlers. we have twins-they were 3 the first time and 4 this time. wow-theres so much to see i dont want to overwelm you..
1. i think for your first time you should definently stay on the property.this way you dont have to deal w/the hassle of renting a car. you can use their transportation for free. dont know how much your willing to spend but we always stay in at the all stars hotels. theres a few to pick from-kid themed-great for you toddler but very noisy so keep that into consideration. they have a cafeteria on site so you can get milk, oj, fruit, breakdast, lunch, dinner and snacks. we stay at the all stars-music because they have mini suites with a kitchen which comes in handy for washing sippy cups, having oj and milk available, also has a microwave and fridge. they have 2 bathrooms so you can get ready quicker.

2. now as far as food-its very pricey in the park. i would look into their dining plan. you and your hubby would pay but not your toddler.also-once you have your dates and hotel set you need to make sit down reservations in the parks 90 days in advance. do your research here in the dining section and find restaurants that appeal to you and make your reservations.

3. in order to make your dining ressies you also kinda have to know what parks you wanna visit so that you'll be in that park that day to eat.

magic kindom is a must.
animal kingdom is nice if you enjoy zoos.
epcot was our favorite. more adult appealing i think but there are kid things to do. the countries are beautiful. maybe your little on can nap while you visit them.

its allot i know but your trip will go more smoothly if you plan. have fun

 

[Mariannekay]

Wherever you decide to stay, make sure that you plan some down time at your hotel. My kiddos always love playing in the pool. We went when my son was 3 and I think he had more fun in the pool than he did at the parks!

 

[ilovepooh]

Hello!

Last year DS was 22 months when we went. I definitely recommend staying on property, and using Disney's transportation. It is so easy to get on the bus of the park you want to visit.

I also recommend going back to the room mid-day for a rest/nap. (This is also easier if you are staying on property.) While DS slept, one of us stayed in the room, while the others went to the pool. This made for a nice dinner dining experience, and night touring. (I can't tell you how many kids I saw that were miserable at dinner , because they clearly needed a nap.)

I also recommend you bring your own light-weight stroller that your child is used to, and comfortable riding in.

Hope this is helpful!

Have a great trip!

 

[Cruz91]

You need to decide for yourself where to stay. For every die hard on-site vacationer there is an equally dedicated off-site vacationer. Just for the facts... I can stay in a 2 Bedroom condo at WH AND rent a car for not much more than what a value resort would cost. For my family, it makes more sense. We prefer the ability to spread out, and don't do well sleeping with the kids in the same room. This was true even when we had one child (never went to disney with 1 kid, but went on other vacations and always needed a separate room). Again, that's what works for MY familiy.

We generally get up early (kids never sleep in, do they???) and get to the parks right around opening. Crowds are MUCH less then. We then usually head back to the condo around noon for lunch and a nap, then are heading back to the park around 4. Wherever you stay, as others have said, it's critical to everyone's sanity (especially with a child your son's age) to build in rest time! This is another good thing for off-site too - you can really save money on meals! We typically don't eat more than one meal a day in the parks.

My BEST tip is to READ THESE BOARDS! You name it, you can find it here!

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[Perditamarie]

The planning can be a lot of fun!! Don't let yourself get overwhelmed! Here are some things to consider:

* get a WDW guide book and start reading-- it will give you a depth of knowledge and let you know what to expect, and also give you an idea of what rides/attractions are appropriate for your family. I love the Unofficial Guide to WDW. Also, order the planning DVD.

* We like to stay on-site and let Disney do all the driving..it is really a pleasure not to have to worry about that! The Pop Century is very kid and budget friendly as well as fun and the monorail resorts are convenient for returning for mid-day nap/swim breaks....stay where your budget will allow and don't worry, because all Disney resorts are pretty magical.

* plan on bringing your own stroller....highly recommend Maclarens if you are not sure about what you have now.

* bring a small cooler bag stocked w/familiar snacks and juice/sippy cups. You will want these on hand instead of hunting down juice when you need it or standing in line for a snack. It is okay to bring these in the parks.

* think about how well your child tolerates restaurants if you are considering the dining plan -- I know we could never eat food when it was served/warm when our kids were 2 and it does take a lot of time to eat in restaurants.

* definately plan on pool time and playground time too-- there are pretty nice playgrounds at the parks and resorts. Disney hotels have free swim vests that you can borrow as well.

* If thinking of packing is making you crazy, consider shipping diapers/wipes/swim dipes/suntan lotion/snacks etc to yourself at your resort. Pack your childs outfits in ziplock bags for grab and go convenience!

* plan on bringing rain gear and tour the parks regardless of the rain!! A stroller cover is essential!

* We would pretty much stick to our at home schedule, especially bedtime.

* We like parkhopper tickets so we can hop parks if it is crowded or if we need to "change things up" .

* definately read the boards! There are some great ideas here!

 

[jacksmommy]

Thank you so much for all of your helpful hints and advice! This has been very helpful so far!