Should I take toys with us for 15 month old DS?

[labdogs42]

I'm planning and planning my May trip with DH and DS and I was just wondering what you do about bringing toys for the kiddos? I'm assuming I'll have to bring some toys. What do you bring? How do you pack them? Ideas, please!

 

[3mickeys&me]

When we took our boys for the first time they were 2 & 4. We packed just a few items for them. Some of their matchbox cars. small magana doodle, a few guys as they call them, (buzz, woody) . They only really played with their toys on the plane going down. They were wayyyy to busy while we were at the World. Your child is younger though. Hope this helps in someway. Have a great time!!

 

[staci]

a few guys as they call them, (buzz, woody) . QUOTE]

My DS calls them his guys too! We brought a kid-size suitcase (carryon size) with his favorite 'guys' (stuffed disney characters), and a few other things.

I would bring a few things to have in the room for downtime, but we found that most often, once we returned to the room, he was so stimulated from the day he was really too worn to do much other thanrest.

 

[jodifla]

I always took several of DS's favorite toys so the room would seem more inviting.

 

[mom2alix]

When we took DD at 18 months we just took stroller toys and her stuffed Mickey. While we were there, Grandma just HAD to visit the toy store at DD and buy her a few things to play with. DD really didn't have time to play with anything, though. Her favorite thing to play with in the room was the Mickey balloon we got the first day.

I guess my advice (and what I'm doing this time for DS) is just take what you might need on the plane and count on the magic of WDW and whatever you buy for souvenirs to take care of the rest.

 

[AMaloy314]

My advice would be to not bring any of the "regular" toys, especially if it could be a problem if they were lost. We hit the dollar store and picked up a couple of different things that were NEW TOYS to the boys. I think one was a small bag of plastic zoo animals, one was a pair of binoculars for each of them and another was a pretend walkie-talkie watch for each of them. (Too funny when they would sit next to each other and talk on their walkie-talkie watches!) We also brought a deck of cards for them to play with, which is great for motor skills and number recognition kind of things.

Anyway, I agree with the poster who said that the kids are generally worn out after being at the parks or pools and really don't play much with them once you are there. These little toys were enough to occupy them for the few minutes between the time they were ready to leave the hotel and the time I was packed and ready to go, too.

When it was time to go home and packing space was at a premium, we just left these toys for some other boy or girl to play with at WDW. It worked out great for us.

 

[Jenn]

We bring a few things with us, but try not to go crazy because I know we will be buying them stuff down there. We end up bringing something back to the hotel pretty much every day on our trips.

We usually bring Uno cards, coloring books and crayons/or those Crayola Color Wonder books, stickers, CD walkman with kid's CDs, etc.

 

[lillygator]

I tend to forget toys and then regret it, simply for when we are in the room! I mean I know opening and closing the drawers is great fun for my girls but it gets on my nerves after a while!!

 

[lauritagoddess]

When we travelled when my DS was that age, I would bring a few toys, but sometimes it was unusual things that would keep him occupied. Don't laugh, but I brought a bag filled with different colored straws and he played with that in the hotel one night for over an hour. He would pull each one out, run over to show me it and then run to a chair on the other side of the room and throw it behind the chair. He did this with about a hundred straws. And then did it again the next night, lol.

 

[Mike N Kathy]

I wouldnt bring any toys maybe just something to entertain them on the plane besides u will end up buying lots of stuff neway

 

[lastminutemomma]

So many good ideas here - especially toys for the plane and the dollar store trip for new, exciting toys! When we went with DS5 and DD2 each had a small bag of small toys, books, crayons and snacks. Of course we brought along my DD's favorite blanket (wouldn't dare go anywhere without that ) So my recommendation - keep the toy stash small, special and simple.

 

[Zoemakes5]

We found, particularly when they were little like your punkin, that we did need toys. They get pretty inventive at that age, and if we didn't give them stuff to occupy themselves while we were getting ready or relaxing or having a snack or something, then they would find it themselves. Cords were a big favorite!
At that age we brought the big fat crayons and a paper tablet (which, by the way, we brought into the parks with us and when we were waiting for parades or our meal, we pulled out.) Bubbles is another one. (This, by the way, is a favorite when waiting in line for busses!) I invested in a bunch of those plastic chain things and we had a whole variety of things on the strollers to play with, little mirrors and noise makers, etc. Kept them busy during "down" time also, and at 13 months (which is when we went), gave our drooler something to gnaw on all the time since she was teething.
One thing we always bring is bath toys. It's familiar and gets them in and out of the bath, and at some of the pools, we can bring them down there to play with.
Other items that have worked well for us, cars/trucks (doesn't matter gender), magna doodle, dolly/baby, legos/duplos, blocks. Don't need alot, just some that will keep them occupied for brief stretches.

 

[labdogs42]

We found, particularly when they were little like your punkin, that we did need toys. They get pretty inventive at that age, and if we didn't give them stuff to occupy themselves while we were getting ready or relaxing or having a snack or something, then they would find it themselves. Cords were a big favorite!
At that age we brought the big fat crayons and a paper tablet (which, by the way, we brought into the parks with us and when we were waiting for parades or our meal, we pulled out.) Bubbles is another one. (This, by the way, is a favorite when waiting in line for busses!) I invested in a bunch of those plastic chain things and we had a whole variety of things on the strollers to play with, little mirrors and noise makers, etc. Kept them busy during "down" time also, and at 13 months (which is when we went), gave our drooler something to gnaw on all the time since she was teething.
One thing we always bring is bath toys. It's familiar and gets them in and out of the bath, and at some of the pools, we can bring them down there to play with.
Other items that have worked well for us, cars/trucks (doesn't matter gender), magna doodle, dolly/baby, legos/duplos, blocks. Don't need alot, just some that will keep them occupied for brief stretches.

Good ideas. I know I'll need to take some toys because he does love cords! I guess I'll need to take some outlet covers and other baby proofing stuff. I like the idea about pool/tub toys, too. My DS still tries to eat crayons. Maybe he won't eat them by then. We'll see! Great ideas!

 

[gottalovethem]

LOVE the bubbles idea! I too have packed outlet covers.

 

[engineergirl2001]

A baby's best friend..their website is www.abbf.com. They have toys, strollers, crib, anything you could possibly need for rent. They drop them off before you arrive and pick them up when you leave.

I have used them before and it worked out great...in fact i've reserved a set of toys for my 2 and 4 year old for our May Trip.

Lisa

 

[labdogs42]

I like the idea of renting toys. I think I might just try that!