Park Questions for Grandparents taking Granddaughters

[weaver]

Staying onsite RPH March 22-26. Lazy 5 year old likes a stroller. Are strollers a pain to deal with in park? Also, thinking of a small backpack for girls thermoses(water)they drink a lot of water and other kid stuff. What is the deal with going on rides with backpack and /or use of free lockers? We are onsite so extra stuff isn't needed.

 

[damo]

Nothing wrong with the 5 year old wanting a stroller. There is stroller parking in front of each ride. The rides that require lockers are most likely rides that the 5 year old won't be riding anyways but if you do, you just put the backpack in the locker...not a big deal. If you are doing the child swap, you can keep the backpack with you and just let the employees who will be reminding you to put it in a locker, that you are doing child swap.

You can get water in a cup at all counter service places for free if you'd rather not be bringing a thermos.

 

[uproar90]

Strollers are easy... Especially to & from RP along the walking path. We've extended many days longer than we would've been able by giving our boy's legs a rest.

We also bring a backpack w/ water, etc. and for rides where bags are not allowed, they do provide lockers. The lockers are *not* big however... They'll fit a 'daypack' sized bag, but not if it's stuffed to capacity.

My park backpack is a North Face Jester Daypack, and it's dimensions are listed as 18.5 x 13.5 x 6.5 inches so if you've got something in that general size, you should be OK.
It does take some maneuvering & pushing to get the bag in & out of the locker, but when its packed with water, a few snacks, towel, a change of clothes for the boy, sunscreen, etc. it'll fit fine... If he wins a scuba Bart Simpson @ the midway right before we go on MIB, and he & the wife put Bart in my bag, then I'm going to be in for a struggle with the locker.

 

[weaver]

Nothing wrong with the 5 year old wanting a stroller. There is stroller parking in front of each ride. The rides that require lockers are most likely rides that the 5 year old won't be riding anyways but if you do, you just put the backpack in the locker...not a big deal. If you are doing the child swap, you can keep the backpack with you and just let the employees who will be reminding you to put it in a locker, that you are doing child swap.

You can get water in a cup at all counter service places for free if you'd rather not be bringing a thermos.

Strollers are easy... Especially to & from RP along the walking path. We've extended many days longer than we would've been able by giving our boy's legs a rest.

We also bring a backpack w/ water, etc. and for rides where bags are not allowed, they do provide lockers. The lockers are *not* big however... They'll fit a 'daypack' sized bag, but not if it's stuffed to capacity.

My park backpack is a North Face Jester Daypack, and it's dimensions are listed as 18.5 x 13.5 x 6.5 inches so if you've got something in that general size, you should be OK.
It does take some maneuvering & pushing to get the bag in & out of the locker, but when its packed with water, a few snacks, towel, a change of clothes for the boy, sunscreen, etc. it'll fit fine... If he wins a scuba Bart Simpson @ the midway right before we go on MIB, and he & the wife put Bart in my bag, then I'm going to be in for a struggle with the locker.

Thank You both for your replies. I have been reading Disboards every day for info to make sure there is as little drama as possible and max- fun.

 

[rowan555]

If you have your own cup, you can also get self-serve water at any of the Freestyle machines. There are 4 or so in each park.

 

[damo]

If you have your own cup, you can also get self-serve water at any of the Freestyle machines. There are 4 or so in each park.

That's a really good thing to know!!!

 

[rowan555]

That's a really good thing to know!!!

I didn't realize you could get water without an active RFID cup, but then I noticed people using the paper cups to get water from the machines as we stood in line to get refills with our "unlimited soda" cup. On the third park day, we were up to our ears in soda, so we just brought our Freestyle cup with us, but didn't pay to activate it, and we got water from the machines all day. You can use any cup, or empty water bottle, and get water from those machines as often as you like.

 

[weaver]

I didn't realize you could get water without an active RFID cup, but then I noticed people using the paper cups to get water from the machines as we stood in line to get refills with our "unlimited soda" cup. On the third park day, we were up to our ears in soda, so we just brought our Freestyle cup with us, but didn't pay to activate it, and we got water from the machines all day. You can use any cup, or empty water bottle, and get water from those machines as often as you like.

I appreciate the replies . My husband and I haven't been to Universal in 14 years. This will be the girls first trip to Universal and also a trip without their parents. We did drive with the girls from NJ to Hilton Head SC in October, and their parents drove down 3 days later. They were great! But - we are flying down to Orlando and their parents are staying home for work. I have tried to think through this trip with frequent reads on Disboards. Little things mean a lot to a 7 and 5 year old.