Those with busy/wild/active young kiddos

[Lovemy3babes]

My son is a really big handful to say the least. He'll be three in 5 days. I'm a bit worried about lines for rides, characters and also waiting to be seated to eat. How did your kiddo do? How did you keep them busy? I know that you can't bring your stroller in line and that's what worries me a bit. He doesn't like to stay by me and hold my hand usually. I have bought a harness but not sure if we'll use it. Please tell me it'll be okay!

 

[Dina]

Oh boy do I feel your pain. My (just turned) 3yo is crazy. I mean he is so good-- plays nicely, he's super super sweet-- everyone is crazy about him, but he is all over the place. He is super super fast- he's really hard to catch when he runs away (which is probably why he's built like a twig). I have to say, usually when we're waiting in line, he gets it and stays. My son has this blanket that he loves and sometimes when he gets crazy we'll give it to him, and he holds it up against his face and it calms him down, and he'll let us hold him or he'll hold our hand. Don't be too stressed, just play it by ear-- we really haven't had any problems with him in line so far-- going back in 5 weeks, so we'll see what happens.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Thanks Dina. Our sons are similar! Totally sweet but yes, fast and all over the place. LOL!! I'll try not to stress too much. It's just he has no fear at all it seems.

 

[virginiamama]

Oh boy - my little one is a handful too. I was not prepared for him - his older brother was a breeze. DS2 does not wait very well. But now that Dina mentioned it - he really did wait in lines pretty well, maybe because there is so much to look at. Our problem was meals. We try to stick to buffets, he's a big eater and is interested in the variety we can provide him and we LOVE that we don't have to wait! We made as many PS at buffets as we could and did the LTT dinner and CP breakfast. He was having a bad night when we went to the Concourse Steakhouse - if it hadn't been for the monorail coming through every few minutes it would have been awful. He was difficult at Coral Reef also - even with the fish to watch. Next WDW trip - nothing but buffets and CS! Good luck to you!

 

[KimWDW]

For dining, I would do mostly counter service meals--no waiting. That's what we did last year (my son was 3.5) and it worked great.

He was really good in lines until afternoons when he got tired and I took that as the cue to leave and go back to the hotel for a swim. Definitely use FastPass whenever you can. Get there early before the crowds. Try to hit a ton of rides early in the morning and then in the afternoon when the kids get tired, you can slow down, take it easy, watch the parade, and stuff like that.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Jacksmom99]

My DD4 is "challenging" as we like to call it. We will not wait in any lines longer than 10 minutes. We use fastpasses, go early, and are not afraid to walk out of line with DD if she's acting up. She's finally starting to get it, and made it onto the Great Movie Ride in Feb for the first time in 4 tries! We also don't push her when she starts to get cranky. We always make sure she gets her nap and to bed at a reasonable time. At meals she is usually "done in" beofre everyone else finishes, so one of us takes her out while the other stays with DS and pays the the bill.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Thanks for the wonderful advice everyone!

 

[kaysmommie]

My 2 YO DS is the same way! I bought a harness just in case I need to use. Better than losing a kid, even if others dissaprove. I'm a bit wooried about keeping him busy on lines and during some of the shows. He just turned 2 so he is not at all reasonable. We took DD to Disney when she was 2 & 3 and it was a breeze. I think this might be a nightmare but I'm hoping for the best. I will continue reading this thread for any other tips. Have a great vacation.

 

[grlpwrd]

Besides the harness, I also take my 3yo son with me to the post office. That way he will get used to staying in line. I usually take along surprise toys or even a lollipop just in case of a tantrum emergency.

It's worked wonderfully because when we are at Busch Gardens he doesn't bolt off. lol

GL!