Tips for a 2 1/2 Year Old

[mncherokee]

We just returned from Disney and here are a few tips we have for traveling with a 2 1/2 year old...

- If you drive, don't spent too long in the car in one day. Our child could last about 13 hours (with breaks) but beyond that was really rough. Just plan to stop for the night sooner.

- Double stroller at the parks is a must! Your child has room to sleep and you have room for stuff.

- Don't try to do characters for the first couple of days... our child took several days to warm up to the characters. Start with princesses (who look like people dressed up) and work your way up to the other characters.

- Go back to your room when it looks like it will cloud up for an afternoon nap. (wonderful for everyone)

- Don't try to do too much. Watch for your child's signals that enough is enough. I saw too many people on the trip who would push the little ones past their limit.

- Have fun

 

[ssdeverell]

Thank you for the tips. We are taking DD next year, and she will be that age. I am really concerned about the characters, so I like to hear how everyone's children reacted. Already have breaks planned, but DH and I do that anyways.

 

[Taja]

Wow! Thirteen hours in a vehicle? Your little road-tripper is much better than I am at many times that age! *LOL*

Good advice. Thanks!

 

[everylastbreath]

Thank you for the tips. We are taking DD next year, and she will be that age. I am really concerned about the characters, so I like to hear how everyone's children reacted. Already have breaks planned, but DH and I do that anyways.

last year GS (2years) it took him the entire week of being there to warm up to the characters, if we were staying another week, he would have been hugging and kissing them! Can't wait until this year to see how he reacts, I think he will be much better.

 

[bushdianee]

We just came back Sunday and my 2 1/2 year old Dniece did great. She didn't have a single meltdown or tantrum. She went right up to all of the characters with no hesitation at all. We tried going back to the CBR for naps but she would fall asleep on the bus and be awake when we got to our room. On 2 days we decided to let her nap in her stroller and stayed in the park. The first day she slept for 1.5 hrs. while my DSis went on Tower of Terror and I found a shady spot. The next day she slept about 45 min. while Dsis (it was DSis's first trip so I chased her on some adult rides alone.) went on Splash Mt. and I staked out a parade spot. She actually slept more those days. We flew so we didn't have to worry about a long car ride. However we did have to get up at 3:00 AM to get there. DNiece slept most of the first plane ride. We went to Animal Kingdom for a short while then dinner at RainForest Cafe and an early night.

 

[tink76]

Thanks, we will be taking DD next year and she will be just over 2.5. I have already started ataking her to 6 flags to meet the wiggles charaters so that she can start getting used to it. She also LOVES the Disneyland fun sing along video which has the "real" characters (not cartoon) I am training her early LOL

 

[tjlovespooh]

Thank you for the tips. We are taking DD next year, and she will be that age. I am really concerned about the characters, so I like to hear how everyone's children reacted. Already have breaks planned, but DH and I do that anyways.

Our son was 1.5 when we went last year and he LOVED the characters. I had been concerned about how he would react but the first time he saw Pooh at Crystal Palace - DH and I could hardly keep him from running right over to him!!! He was just squealing with delight - cutest moment ever!
I guess every kid's different and there's really no way to predict how they'll react.

 

[snoopy5386]

My DD went at 1 (her 1st bday), 18 months and last week at 2 yrs 3 months. At 1 she was scared to death of the characters, was ok with most everything else, really scared of nothing. At 18 months we skipped the characters and did rides which she was fine on, even HM. Fine with fireworks and parades both times. Last week at 2, she loved, loved, loved the characters, it was the absolute cutest thing. She would run up to them and hug them, she was so happy to see them, she had the autograph book thing down pat in about 5 minutes, it was really great. However, she was scared to death of 90% of the rides, shows, fireworks and parades which was very unexpected. The only rides she liked was the carousel (rode it like 10 times), the teacups, the safari, small world, playhouse disney, conservation station, and COP. She hated and screamed her way through buzz, Peter Pan, Pooh, Philharmagic and FOLK. She was scared of, but survived without screaming Pirates, the flying carpets, TSMM, the train and the peoplemover. With a lot of coaching we made it through the Nemo and Beauty and the beast. After a few days we just stopped trying most stuff. DH and I would just switch off to ride things and take DD either on the carousel or to meet characters. It was certainly a different kind of trip and somewhat disappointing, but to see the pure joy on her face when she met Mickey (which we did like 5 times LOL) or when she was riding "the horseys" was worth it. We were there because DH had a conference at CSR and DD and I tagged along. We were originally planning another week long trip in Oct but now we have scrapped that idea in large part due to DD's reaction. We will go again next fall when she is 3.5 and hopefully have a great time. We bought DVC this trip so I know we will be going forever now and each trip will be different, but be prepared for anything because you never know how your kid will react.

 

[mncherokee]

It's fun to read everyone else's experiences. Interesting to hear that you just can't predict how kids will react (even repeat visitors!) I am looking forward to our next trip to see how she does.

 

[polynor]

Thanks for posting your tips! We'll be taking our son (2.5) this July too. We took him last year to DL -- he liked Storyland Ride, Casey Train and Small World. Hated Pooh and all the others. HATED Dumbo.

This year, we're going to WDW. We'll see if his tastes has changed. A noticeable difference is that last year he was just starting to walk (he was slow to start) and now he's running around and causing havoc -- but still generally clingy. I do not intend on bringing him near characters -- I can see bad things happening...

We were planning on bringing our umbrella stroller -- but I hadn't thought about the double stroller giving him room to nap. We're staying at WL so we're planning to do breaks in the room.

 

[cerberus]

My oldest DD will be almost 3 yo when we take our trip in August. Thanks to all the posters for sharing their experiences.

Do most kids that age like the autograph books? I had not planned on getting her one, now maybe I should start thinking of it?
Is there an autograph book geared more towards younger kids?

 

[bushdianee]

We got my DNiece an autograph book and she loved it. She picked out on that has pockets for pictures as well as room for autographs. We are putting in the pics of her with each character to help her remember who was who.

 

[cerberus]

We got my DNiece an autograph book and she loved it. She picked out on that has pockets for pictures as well as room for autographs. We are putting in the pics of her with each character to help her remember who was who.

I like the idea of one with pictures! I will start looking around for one. Thanks!

 

[ChillyWilleys]

The first time we took DD she was 26 months. We spent 24 hours in the car, with stops for bathroom and eating but still straight through. She did fine with that. Her sleep was a little restless but thats how she usually sleeps and I think it may have been that I was just more aware of it being next to her and not slleping deeply myself the whole time. When she woke up she seemed well rested. The first characters she wanted to see were the Pooh and friends who look like giant stuffed animals come alive. After she saw them she wanted to see any and all characters. She was weary of the others before we took her to see Pooh, but after that no fear of any of them. All kids are different just have to be ready to go with your kids flow, whatever it may end up being.

 

[mncherokee]

We did have both an umbrella stroller (ours) and a double stroller (courtesy of the house we stayed in). The umbrella was much more portable, however the double stroller seemed to work better.

The picture autograph books are available at the entrance to all the parks. I just picked one up when I walked in.

 

[kids1617]

On 2 days we decided to let her nap in her stroller and stayed in the park. She actually slept more those days. We flew so we didn't have to worry about a long car ride. However we did have to get up at 3:00 AM to get there. DNiece slept most of the first plane ride.

I am going to try this when we go and see if we can just stay at the parks. We fly early day of arrival as well so I'm hoping my kids will maybe sleep a little on the plane or ME on the way to resort. Just have to play it by ear as to how to handle the nap situation for my kids. Can't wait to go to disney!!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thank you for the tips. We are taking DD next year, and she will be that age. I am really concerned about the characters, so I like to hear how everyone's children reacted. Already have breaks planned, but DH and I do that anyways.

My DS was 15 months old on his first trip, so quite a bit younger, but he HATED the characters the first night. We went to Chef Mickey's, and he just couldn't take it. He cried with they came near him. They were great about it, they visited with DS3 and waved to the little guy and off they went. The next day, he was ok with it. By the time we got to the Crystal Palace, he loved them, Pooh especially.