Tips for First Stroller-less Trip

[Bossy22]

We have always had a stroller but on the next trip we probably won't. I'm still debating how to do things! We always carried water bottles (refillable) and some snacks as well as sweaters (if it was getting cold at night). We can't carry all that. I'm thinking of bringing a stroller just for the storage lol!!!

 

[coaches24]

Small back packs for each was our way of dealing with no stroller. Light snacks, water bottles. Enough room to put a sweater or light coat in it when we got hot after the morning. We learned not to “need” as much stuff with us.

 

[twodogs]

We started taking our girls at ages 4 and 6. After a few trips, we were more than happy to ditch the stroller! Yes, good backpacks are essential. Now that we have teens, they carry their own backpacks. At that age, ours did not like the mid day break. They would rather get up very early, rope drop, and then go as long as they could, then drop into bed early. We did a pool day, so that they knew a particular day was a pool day, and they didn’t ask to leave the parks every day for the pool since they knew it was on the calendar.

As for shopping, we always have given them each a Disney GC with a certain amount on it at the start of the trip (I let them pick the particular GC they liked off the disney website and ordered it in advance of the trip). This way they could buy “anything they wanted” at any time in the trip, as long as they had the funds on their card (and grandparents would often contribute a little extra to the card). This stopped all the “I wants”, and the answer was always “yes” as long as they had that amount on their card. It taught them to budget and to delay spending until they were sure of what they really wanted. It has served us very well over all of the trip!

 

[gpjacobs]

As for shopping, we always have given them each a Disney GC with a certain amount on it at the start of the trip (I let them pick the particular GC they liked off the disney website and ordered it in advance of the trip). This way they could buy “anything they wanted” at any time in the trip, as long as they had the funds on their card (and grandparents would often contribute a little extra to the card). This stopped all the “I wants”, and the answer was always “yes” as long as they had that amount on their card. It taught them to budget and to delay spending until they were sure of what they really wanted. It has served us very well over all of the trip!

Another great idea I plan to use. Thanks for sharing!

This discussion thread had expanded and I REALLY appreciate it. If anyone has recommendations for great park shoes for kiddos or thoughts on if scheduling sit-down meals helps, I'm all (Minnie) ears!

 

[gpjacobs]

Thank you everyone! What I'm hearing is that we'll need to play things by ear and, if she needs or wants a break, take it. But she may not. It may be one long day, starting and ending early. I can work with that!

I may send my husband back to the park (depending on park hours and re-entry rules) so he can get a few more laps on Space Mountain in.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

This discussion thread had expanded and I REALLY appreciate it. If anyone has recommendations for great park shoes for kiddos or thoughts on if scheduling sit-down meals helps, I'm all (Minnie) ears!

Anything that gets you off your feet when in the parks all day with a kiddo will help. Sit-down meals, long slow rides (i.e. Small World), and just taking a seat on a bench to people watch for a bit - this will all help. When considering shoes, get your kiddo the same quality shoes you would get for yourself. My DGD always wanted to wear 'cute' shoes at the start of the day, but I made sure to have her good sneakers with us if we weren't taking a mid-day break. Even just changing shoes halfway through the day makes a huge difference. My best tip is to try to avoid the go-go-go of trying to get everything done. To mitigate this, when I'm taking my DGD, I schedule a long trip, usually 5 park days. That way we can take plenty of breaks and there's no pressure to rush at all.

 

[gpjacobs]

To mitigate this, when I'm taking my DGD, I schedule a long trip, usually 5 park days. That way we can take plenty of breaks and there's no pressure to rush at all.

Our thoughts exactly! We're doing three nights, 3.5 park days ... and a surprise trip to Legoland tacked on at the end.

 

[monkeypat83]

A friend of mine who has older kids swears by riding the train around the park 3 or 4 times in the middle of the afternoon and letting the kids rest or nap on her shoulder/lap depending on the age works wonders. My 18 month old thinks my shoulder is a great place to nap so I plan on taking full advantage of that tip when I go in June.

 

[Mimi2Cam]

This discussion thread had expanded and I REALLY appreciate it. If anyone has recommendations for great park shoes for kiddos or thoughts on if scheduling sit-down meals helps, I'm all (Minnie) ears!

We found that Keen Newport sandals were the best for our grandsons. They can get wet but dry quickly and are comfy. They come in a lot of colors for girls and boys.

 

[gpjacobs]

A friend of mine who has older kids swears by riding the train around the park 3 or 4 times in the middle of the afternoon and letting the kids rest or nap on her shoulder/lap depending on the age works wonders. My 18 month old thinks my shoulder is a great place to nap so I plan on taking full advantage of that tip when I go in June.

See, love these ideas - why didn't I think of that? And, if it's warm, you get a nice breeze.

 

[AnnieOakley]

Yes, this crossed my mind (for me too)! Since she's growing so much, we'll need to hold off on shoe shopping for a few months. Any recommendations for "park-approved" shoes?

I hope someone else will chime in here... my "little one" is now 26, and her feet are bigger than mine. It's been a lot of years since I bought kids shoes!

So, for those with kiddos, what are good brands? My kiddo always wore tennis shoes.... has anyone had luck with sandals for all day at Disney? (We did take our god-daughters about 8 years ago, and IIRC, the one who wore sandals didn't fare as well. She also had a nuclear melt-down at lunch. At which point we went to the hotel and we ALL had a nap--- which is rule #2. After Rule #1: Comfortable shoes. Rule #2: Take. The. Nap.)

 

[AnnieOakley]

Small back packs for each was our way of dealing with no stroller. Light snacks, water bottles. Enough room to put a sweater or light coat in it when we got hot after the morning. We learned not to “need” as much stuff with us.

This is also a really smart idea that gets lost in the shuffle... when our god-daughters were a little older (6 and 8) we had them each carry a little string bag "back-pack". Very light weight, and we knew if one couldn't handle it, we could just fold it up in one of our larger bags. But it worked out great. They each had just a few things: small water, snack, chapstick, small kleenex pack, hat. That way they always had "their stuff" with them (in case we split up the group). They also had flip-flops. When we went on a water ride (Splash or Griz), they would change out their shoes and socks for the flip-flops, and then change back when we were done. Dry feet is another really good thing for little feet to keep moving!

We also taught them the "alphabet game" for waiting in line. Something from my childhood, actually. Someone gets to pick a topic (we'd rotate to make it "fair"). Then you go around the group and name something that starts with each letter, A, B, C.... So, "animals" might be Alligator, Baboon, Cheetah, etc.

 

[Pookie9922]

In our early no stroller days, I'd get a locker. It was nice piece of mind - in case someone got too wet on Splash Mountain or if we wanted a change of clothes for the evening. It cost $15 for the day or something like that and was worth not having to go back to the car or lug it around all day.

As for tired legs - our youngest was 7 for our disneyworld trip and we did 5 days without a stroller and she was fine. Schedule in some sit/snack breaks and she'll probably be fine. We also would use group games apps on our phones for long lines, like Heads Up and that helped the line not seem so long.

 

[twodogs]

I hope someone else will chime in here... my "little one" is now 26, and her feet are bigger than mine. It's been a lot of years since I bought kids shoes!

So, for those with kiddos, what are good brands? My kiddo always wore tennis shoes.... has anyone had luck with sandals for all day at Disney? (We did take our god-daughters about 8 years ago, and IIRC, the one who wore sandals didn't fare as well. She also had a nuclear melt-down at lunch. At which point we went to the hotel and we ALL had a nap--- which is rule #2. After Rule #1: Comfortable shoes. Rule #2: Take. The. Nap.)

I buy my kids the same brands of tennis shoes that I wear, ASICS, New Balance, etc. Good cushioning and good fit are keys to anyone having a good shoe for Disney. We routinely walk greater than 24,000 steps per day, so it makes a big difference. I would not do sandals due to possible blisters, stubbed toes, stuff getting in the shoes (sand, dirt, leaves), not much cushion, and possibility of sunburned tops of feet (ouch)! We do like the OP said and bring flip flops to change into for the water rides.

One more piece of advice: Make the kids try on their tennis shoes a week before you leave. My DD was about 10 and growing quickly a few years ago. I told her to try on her shoes before the trip because I was concerned that they were too small, but she forgot. When we were at DCA the first park day, she determined pretty immediately that they were, in fact, too small!! We were staying at the GCH and had no car. No shops in DTD sold good tennis shoes (we didn’t want Mickey Keds or something without enough support). I actually posted on these boards from the trip and asked where a nearby mall or shoe store was, and the kind DIS community told us about the outlets near DLR. We took an Uber over that afternoon while DH and other DD were taking a pool break, and we bought her some new Asics. Saved the trip! But save yourself this hassle and have them try them on ahead of time!!

 

[Cynt]

Yes, this crossed my mind (for me too)! Since she's growing so much, we'll need to hold off on shoe shopping for a few months. Any recommendations for "park-approved" shoes?

CROCS! We make all the kids wear Crocs.

 

[gpjacobs]

CROCS! We make all the kids wear Crocs.

Crocs ALWAYS give our little blisters. I know tons of people swear by them though!

 

[gpjacobs]

I buy my kids the same brands of tennis shoes that I wear, ASICS, New Balance, etc. Good cushioning and good fit are keys to anyone having a good shoe for Disney. We routinely walk greater than 24,000 steps per day, so it makes a big difference. I would not do sandals due to possible blisters, stubbed toes, stuff getting in the shoes (sand, dirt, leaves), not much cushion, and possibility of sunburned tops of feet (ouch)! We do like the OP said and bring flip flops to change into for the water rides.

As we inch closer, I'll def. need to bring her to Big 5, Dicks Sporting Goods or somewhere like that to get her fitted for sneakers. She has Sketchers and Nikes (but they're more "fashion" Nikes), which are fine for park days, zoo visits, etc. But I don't think they'll cut it for this! Thanks again!

 

[gpjacobs]

In our early no stroller days, I'd get a locker. It was nice piece of mind - in case someone got too wet on Splash Mountain or if we wanted a change of clothes for the evening. It cost $15 for the day or something like that and was worth not having to go back to the car or lug it around all day.

As for tired legs - our youngest was 7 for our disneyworld trip and we did 5 days without a stroller and she was fine. Schedule in some sit/snack breaks and she'll probably be fine. We also would use group games apps on our phones for long lines, like Heads Up and that helped the line not seem so long.

Your post made me wonder if Splash Mountain will be open in October or will the refirb will already be underway ... and if lockers will be available. But I think lockers will be KEY for us -- or a quick return to the room when we're in DCA -- so we can access stuff without having to carry everything across the park.s

 

[gpjacobs]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughtful responses!

 

[SherylLC]

I saw someone mentioned getting a locker (normally a great suggestion!) but currently there are no locker rentals.