should I take an active 2 year old

[renae3]

Okay I have been dying to go to disney for years! I have two boys ages 5 and 2 and am thinking about going in March. My question is my 2 year old is extremely active and is going through the terrible two's! He doesnt want to stay in a stroller at all. I am thinking in the park this may be a nightmare! Any suggestions for me? Anyone travel to disney with an active 2 year old and if so how did it go? Maybe I should hold off for a while? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[northriver]

I don't know if I'd hold off, because your 5 yr old is such a perfect age for Disney. I also like to take the 2 yr old crowd - because the are FREE LOL!

I took DD at 22 months, and will be going back just before she turns 3. She is a climber but as long as we are moving, it isn't too big a problem, she is more likely to climb out of a stroller when I am shopping - the stroller is still and I'm looking thru racks, kwim? At Disney you'll leave the stroller to get in lines for attractions, and mostly use the stroller when you are actually moving. At two, they shouldn't have a choice. You're the boss, make sure they know they are to stay in the stroller.

I plan our itinerary and we really have busy, full days. I plan stops at the play areas within the parks so the kids can run off steam. Plan for time in the pool or the resort playground.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I hate seeing people use these things, and I would probally never use one myself, but if your in a pinch, what about one of those leashes/harnesses people use on their kids? You can let the kid out of the stroller to walk, but she will never get to far. Also, Disney walking is totally different and way more tiring than mall or regular walking.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Dd was a totally different 2yo than her little brother is. They both sit in the stroller just fine, but out of the stroller she held our hand and stayed w/ us....ds hates holding hands and BOLTS at the earliest opportunity!

We picked up a great monkey backpack (they have dogs too) that a leash for a "tail" at Walmart for $9.99 and it made our vacation SO much easier!

I would definitely bring a 2yo... we took dd when she was 17mo and 28mo...and ds just turned 2yo while we where there last month. They may not remember it...but you definitely will.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Okay I have been dying to go to disney for years! I have two boys ages 5 and 2 and am thinking about going in March. My question is my 2 year old is extremely active and is going through the terrible two's! He doesnt want to stay in a stroller at all. I am thinking in the park this may be a nightmare! Any suggestions for me? Anyone travel to disney with an active 2 year old and if so how did it go? Maybe I should hold off for a while? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Will you have 2 adults with you? If so, then I say start planning. My biggest fear with an active 2 year old, would be that he would run off. With 2 adults you can decide who has to keep their eye on which child as you move through the parks and if it gets overwhelming, one adult can can go somewhere with the 2 year old and just let him run around for a little while. If you can stay on site it would make it very easy to split up if necessary.
I think you might be pleasantly surprised though at how much Disney wears him out. None of my kids used strollers at that age and they and they all used them at Disney. Also, I know they make really cute animal backpack type harnesses now which might be good to bring.
I think that if you go with the mindset that you are creating some wonderful memories for your 5 year old and for you, you can have a blast. I have some wonderful pictures of my kids when they were young and they love hearing the stories over and over and looking at the pics. Disney is great with older kids and adults too, but there is something special about taking them when everything seems like magic.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you can practice using the harness with him, it might help out quite a bit. They are wonderful tools to help keep an extremely active kid with you, instead of running off or being confined to a stroller the whole time.

I haven't been to WDW, but we've had 4 trips to DLR so far, and DS is 3.

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

We are going in March and boys are 5 and 2 as well. I am actually more worried about my 5 year old He is the wild one. My 2 year old actually is very laid back and listens pretty well.

 

[drymalski]

We are going in 2 weeks and I must admit I am worried about the same thing. My oldest boy just turned 5 over the weekend, and my other one is 22 months old. He has recently started the terrible 2's. I figured he is free, and more importantly, my older son is the perfect age. I don't want to have him miss out on things because he has a younger brother who is still very young. So, we are going to try it out. I think if I plan ahead and bring tons of bribes (toys, snacks, suckers, etc) we should be ok. I am pretty terrified of the sleeping arrangements (we are all in one value resort room ), but I am hoping he is so worn out from the parks he will sleep all night. I am planning on letting him walk as much as he wants (we have a "leash" and I hate how keeping your kids safe is frowned upon by some) to let out energy and steam. So, I am worried, but I am still going. I think it's important for the older one.

 

[PooksMom]

My two year is a wild man! He has been since he could move, I have taken both my kids since they were infants, DD is now 6 and DS is 2 1/2. My best days are when I let them sort of dictate the days activities, eg, if they are sluggish we hang out t the resort, if they are well rested then we go to a park and do lots of sprinkler areas and active type areas, DS or DD don't tolerate long waits at all, so if there is a long line for something we go paint faces or follow ducks, you can always find something fun to do. Have Fun with your family!

 

[Disney 'Ohana]

Our dd is ver active & this was a perfect vacation for her. And she surprised us so because we were constantly doing things (which she LOVES) and sat in her stroller eager to do the next ride or next attraction. She got it. And was really well behaved. Took 3 hour nap in her stroller she was so pooped

 

[Camno's Mama]

I've read on here before, that some people have used harnesses that look like backpacks which doesn't seem like such a bad idea. My two-year-old would probably like that, actually. He's pretty active, too. And while I think he'll stay in his stroller, I'm not positive. So, I've been giving this some thought as well.

I have found, when my older one was this age, that he was fine in his stroller because there are opportunities to get out and there is so much to look at! The lines were actually more of a problem because he didn't want to be held, but we weren't doing anything. I think the harness would be helpful then.

I'm interested in seeing what people have tried!

 

[SmallWorld71]

I agree that lines can be a problem. I know this will sound obvious, but the best way to deal with lines, is to avoid them. Get thee to the park early!!! I didn't follow my own advice once. Try Fantasyland at lunch time during President's week. Never again will I show up to a park late with little children. We got to the parks this past August at either opening or within the 1st hour and were fine. I actually felt badly for all those people arriving as we were leaving to return to our hotels for our daily chill time, knowing that the rides I had walked on to now had waits.

 

[MNFootballMommy]

Our dd is ver active & this was a perfect vacation for her. And she surprised us so because we were constantly doing things (which she LOVES) and sat in her stroller eager to do the next ride or next attraction. She got it. And was really well behaved. Took 3 hour nap in her stroller she was so pooped

Same here. We took DD2.5 in Dec. and she will NEVER sit in a stroller (or a shopping cart, etc.). We arrived on Sunday and by Thursday, she would ask if she could PLEASE ride in the stroller for awhile! She is SO active that she was running a fever on Monday and it did NOT slow her down one bit (once she had the meds in her!) Definitely start planning...this is probably the best vacation for your active one AND your older one! (Oh, yeah, and you too!)

 

[mormadsmom]

I'd wait another year, or even 6 months. It will make a HUGE difference in such a little time and it will fly by anyway.

I had a 2 yr old that was very active and hated riding in strollers, not to mention any line would be horrible for her but it makes the time harder for the other child who could wait with having to constantly entertain and distract the 2 yr and not having fun with the older child.

I waited until my daughter was 3 and even then it was just a bit challenging, but I could not have imagine going a year earlier. But again, every child is different. It just depends on their personality. I was just glad to wait and then everyone could have a good time.

By the way, my girls are 6 yrs apart so even at that, it was a little challenging. One is big enough to do certain rides and the other is not, but the older one is too young to ride alone.

 

[myAAbatteries&aTD]

We're going in June w/ our turning-3-during-our-trip ds and 2 dds..... yes, we're very concerned about how he's going to be in the lines but we will manage. Lots of planning already to avoid long lines and how to keep him entertained.... Both my girls went at his same age and we had no problems, but we can already tell he will be a handul! Lots of little tricks will have to be used (special line-candy, bubbles, play dough, etc...). I know it will all be worth it, though! Best of luck!