Toddler Advice!

[MissouriPrincess]

We went when my youngest was 2.5. We did drive to the parks a lot. We also took a nap every day--all of us! And we even stayed at the "far away" AKL.

She loved all of the parks, really. She loved looking at water fountains and features. She liked the Seas including the Nemo ride and Turtle Talk. She enjoyed the things previous posters mentioned, too. She was happy to sit in the stroller and just take everything in we were looking at.

 

[norjack]

I also thumbs up the double stroller idea. We did this when our twins were 1, and took Disney transportation. Yes, it can be a slight hassle getting in the bus or tram at first, but worked out just fine, once we got our system down. It saved us so many times in the park. And I loved not having to think about our car when going back and forth. Sit back and enjoy the ride...Plus, I think it was worth it, just due to interactions with other park goers. These are some of our favorite memories. Yeah, every once in a while you find a jerk or two, but the overwhelming majority of friendly people you get to know for a 15 minutes really makes our trips that much more special. Seriously. Lots of awesome Disney family! Oh, the conversations we had when talking with other people that "remember when their kids were that young..." So, great with Disney transport and double stroller for toddlers, in our opinion, at least. Our double stroller has been all over the parks, and we believe a 'must' for toddlers when visiting WDW.

Also, you are wise to work in those mid day naps. There is so much to stimulate their interest, that a toddler can only handle so much before they need to go into full "sleep" mode. We found it worked best in a calm environment in our room (vs in a stroller, in a park full of noisy people and extra stimulous).

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

We've only driven at WDW once: the trip when my son turned 1 and my daughter was 3. It was definitely the correct decision to drive at that age with all the "stuff" you have to bring with you.

Also, this is important: you aren't REQUIRED to ride the tram to the front of the park (or TTC at MK). We always opened the stroller and put the kids in it and then walked to the park. I know the parking lots are 'big' but it's not like you won't be walking 8 miles that day anyway, so what's the big deal with a half mile walk (maximum) to the front of the park from your parking spot? And it's so much easier than one parent holding both kids while the other parent wrestles with the stroller trying to get on the tram. Trust me, walk from your car to the front of the park and don't take the tram!

Sounds like a plan to me!!!

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

I would drive to all parks EXCEPT MK. The parking lot is across the lagoon so you'll park, do a tram ride to TTC and then take the monorail/ferry to the gates. The bus dumps you off right at the main gates and because it's MK they are more readily available.

We got burned with our 22 month old on the AK bus. We had the car at the park but my husband insisted on the bus (!?!?!): it took 25 minutes for one to arrive and when it finally did we stopped at Blizzard Beach. We were the only ones on the bus the whole time. Nearly 1.5 hours later we were at AoA ready for nap. Then when he woke up we had to do the whole thing again to get back! Ugh!!!!

We actually really like Epcot. Our son does too (he's been 22 months and 4 years for our trips). Rides like Figment, Spaceship Earth, Nemo, Turtle Talk entertain him and he likes the music in all the countries. There are some good character meet spots there too. We've done a full day there both times we've gone.

Sounds like I need to factor in more EPCOT time!!

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

one thing are you able to get you toddler out of car and move to bed without waking child up? same problem with buses. one of our grandsons as a toddler fell asleep on way back to resort. then screamed for 3 hours we tried to rest and nap. another thing at MK you can not walk from parking to main gate of park. you will have to take either the monorail or ferry. other than buses no dropping off at gate then parking either

Sometimes I can move her from the car into my house and into bed without waking her, but that's a lot shorter of a distance than going to the hotel room.

I also thought about just going to the car for nap. She naps great in her carseat. Her naps are an hour and a half long... maybe a family nap in the car? hahaha!!

 

[Willow1213]

Sometimes I can move her from the car into my house and into bed without waking her, but that's a lot shorter of a distance than going to the hotel room.

I also thought about just going to the car for nap. She naps great in her carseat. Her naps are an hour and a half long... maybe a family nap in the car? hahaha!!

I wouldn't nap in the car in the parking lot in the Florida heat. Ack! We took our 9 mo old last year, and we took the car off property at nap time more than once. Perfect time to let mom run into Publix or Walmart while dad sits in the car with the baby. This also gave us the chance to eat a few meals off site as well to save some $$

 

[linzbear]

I had the crazy idea of only baby wearing the 4.5 month old and letting the toddler walk since we are doing half days... tell me t


oh we can walk!! I push these kids 3 miles daily at home!

You most likely need a double. Even with half days you'll be walking more than 3 miles, and the toddler will be standing in lines regardless of whether you bring a stroller and they will still want to be picked up. I'm pretty aggressive with cutting off stroller use in WDW and my cutoff is age 5. And you'll be baby wearing a lot anyway (lines), unless you're already wearing the baby nearly all day with no breaks or you swap wearing duties with your husband, you'll want the stroller to give yourself a break. I wore my kids a lot, many times for the entirety of a nap, but all day is a bit much.

My kids have been on a number of trips as toddlers (eldest 8m, eldest 20m, middle 6m & eldest 2.5y, middle 2 & eldest 4, youngest 10m & middle 3 & eldest 5, and the most recent at 6,4,20m). I don't use the double stroller at home, I bought the double specifically for disney trips and it was worth every penny (City Mini double in case you were curious).

 

[brockash]

I would definitely bring a double stroller. We went one September and I tried to wear my 4 month old. That ended quickly since it was a million degrees. I liked being able to put her in the infant seat in the stroller. Then I could also do a few rides alone with our older child while dad sat with the baby.

Yes, bring the double stroller. I'm also just going to throw out there that you may want to think of a backup plan to the going back to nap every day. It might work really well for you guys, but just be prepared if it doesn't. One of our first years, I too had planned on going back every day for naps midday, but it turned out to be way more work than anything else, so we ended up stopping that after day 2. It was just a lot of work/time to walk out of the park, get to the bus/vehicle, unload everything/everyone, drive to the resort, walk to the room, lay everyone down etc., just to do get up and do it all over again to get back to the park. After the second day, we decided just to let the kids sleep in the stroller when they wanted to and we'd just walk around or get a snack and sit for a while etc. I also started planning longer indoor attractions during the afternoon to get out of the heat (CoP, Philarmagic, Hall of Presidents, Nemo/aquarium stuff, Figment/play area etc.) This worked much better for us. At the time my kids were 17 months and 6. I now have 3 kiddos, 14, almost 9 and 18 months and we go every year and have done the no break thing every year with just doing some downtime and kids sleeping in strollers when they wanted to etc.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

Yes, bring the double stroller. I'm also just going to throw out there that you may want to think of a backup plan to the going back to nap every day. It might work really well for you guys, but just be prepared if it doesn't. One of our first years, I too had planned on going back every day for naps midday, but it turned out to be way more work than anything else, so we ended up stopping that after day 2. It was just a lot of work/time to walk out of the park, get to the bus/vehicle, unload everything/everyone, drive to the resort, walk to the room, lay everyone down etc., just to do get up and do it all over again to get back to the park. After the second day, we decided just to let the kids sleep in the stroller when they wanted to and we'd just walk around or get a snack and sit for a while etc. I also started planning longer indoor attractions during the afternoon to get out of the heat (CoP, Philarmagic, Hall of Presidents, Nemo/aquarium stuff, Figment/play area etc.) This worked much better for us. At the time my kids were 17 months and 6. I now have 3 kiddos, 14, almost 9 and 18 months and we go every year and have done the no break thing every year with just doing some downtime and kids sleeping in strollers when they wanted to etc.

We are really hoping to just be super flexible. If they nap on the go, great.. if not, we may have to go back or just call the day short. We live in FL and have annual passes... we'll be back!!

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

I wouldn't nap in the car in the parking lot in the Florida heat. Ack! We took our 9 mo old last year, and we took the car off property at nap time more than once. Perfect time to let mom run into Publix or Walmart while dad sits in the car with the baby. This also gave us the chance to eat a few meals off site as well to save some $$

Haha, I meant with the car running! We would probably drive around, run errands, etc. We live in FL so we know about this heat. Good point about running errands though!! That may be what we do.