Toddler Advice

[Kwin8719]

Hey there, We’re going to DisneyWorld with our then 2 1/2 (almost 3) year old and 10 month old next January 2018. We’re staying at Pop Century and going Sunday through Wednesday and doing four total days in the park (Sunday we’re leaving GA at the crack of dawn while the kids sleep in the car to get there mid morning/early afternoon). How would you split your days in the park? We were thinking of doing Animal Kingdom that first day, then maybe two days at Magic Kingdom? Then we were debating either a third day at Magic Kingdom, or a day at Epcot or HS...any advice or opinions? Thanks!

 

[Kae]

Hey there, We’re going to DisneyWorld with our then 2 1/2 (almost 3) year old and 10 month old next January 2018. We’re staying at Pop Century and going Sunday through Wednesday and doing four total days in the park (Sunday we’re leaving GA at the crack of dawn while the kids sleep in the car to get there mid morning/early afternoon). How would you split your days in the park? We were thinking of doing Animal Kingdom that first day, then maybe two days at Magic Kingdom? Then we were debating either a third day at Magic Kingdom, or a day at Epcot or HS...any advice or opinions? Thanks!

Epcot is nice for Little ones my kids enjoyed it at that age. Kinda a calmer experience, some different Character Meets. I would do AK , MK, Epcot, MK.

 

[emilyrachael]

I really like Epcot for a toddler. There's room for them to run around a bit and get out of the stroller, fountains to watch (or play in), the aquarium, random corners in the countries like the hedge maze in England. You can also hit a good number of character greetings there is they're into that.

 

[sweetmama17]

If your interested in Fantasmic HS could make a good first evening. Just make sure you are there early enough for a Disney Junior show, there are lots of characters to meet, a ride on TSM and Fantasmic is a great 1st evening to me OR epcot is a good first eveneing especially a Sunday in January where you could probably walk on most of the rides and have a decent dinner in world showcase. I would do 2 MK days. I would do AK on your last day especially if you are leaving from there. We tend to do open to 2 pretty well at AK. EPCOT, HS and AK are also much easier to drive in and out of as compared to MK where I would prefer to take the bus from the hotel.

 

[WDWFan0813]

The biggest thing is don't push too hard. If you jam your days too much you stand a good chance of having everyone being tired and frustrated.

What considerations are you giving for naps / breaks? That can be one of the challenges for toddlers. Our 18-month old DD at the time would fall asleep in the park and then not want to nap when we got back to the resort midday.

As for details, I would take into account what your toddler is into. For example, Epcot has the Nemo ride, but HS has Disney Jr. characters. Do you have park hoppers...i.e. is doing a half day at Epcot and half day at HS an option? Is food important? Epcot has a better selection of food and than HS.

I think the most important thing though, is HAVE FUN!!

 

[Mome Rath]

Hey there, We’re going to DisneyWorld with our then 2 1/2 (almost 3) year old and 10 month old next January 2018. We’re staying at Pop Century and going Sunday through Wednesday and doing four total days in the park (Sunday we’re leaving GA at the crack of dawn while the kids sleep in the car to get there mid morning/early afternoon). How would you split your days in the park? We were thinking of doing Animal Kingdom that first day, then maybe two days at Magic Kingdom? Then we were debating either a third day at Magic Kingdom, or a day at Epcot or HS...any advice or opinions? Thanks!

Is this everyone's first trip?

 

[Kwin8719]

Is this everyone's first trip?

We went to Disney for our Honeymoon, but we haven’t done Disney with kids

 

[Kwin8719]

The biggest thing is don't push too hard. If you jam your days too much you stand a good chance of having everyone being tired and frustrated.

What considerations are you giving for naps / breaks? That can be one of the challenges for toddlers. Our 18-month old DD at the time would fall asleep in the park and then not want to nap when we got back to the resort midday.

As for details, I would take into account what your toddler is into. For example, Epcot has the Nemo ride, but HS has Disney Jr. characters. Do you have park hoppers...i.e. is doing a half day at Epcot and half day at HS an option? Is food important? Epcot has a better selection of food and than HS.

I think the most important thing though, is HAVE FUN!!

Thanks!! I think we’ll be going back to the room in between lunch and dinner for some down time. We figure our 10 month old will take her morning nap in the stroller, but then we’ll all go back and rest during the afternoon portion. I imagine that even if our two year doesn’t nap she’ll probably at least watch movie and have some quiet rest time that way...we’re trying to get the mindset that this is going to be a much slower pace than we’re used to

She doesn’t know many of the Disney Jr. characters yet, but she loves Nemo and Frozen, so maybe Epcot is the way to go!

 

[Kwin8719]

If your interested in Fantasmic HS could make a good first evening. Just make sure you are there early enough for a Disney Junior show, there are lots of characters to meet, a ride on TSM and Fantasmic is a great 1st evening to me OR epcot is a good first eveneing especially a Sunday in January where you could probably walk on most of the rides and have a decent dinner in world showcase. I would do 2 MK days. I would do AK on your last day especially if you are leaving from there. We tend to do open to 2 pretty well at AK. EPCOT, HS and AK are also much easier to drive in and out of as compared to MK where I would prefer to take the bus from the hotel.

I hadn’t even considered the evening shows yet, so that’s great food for thought!

 

[ArielSRL]

Thanks!! I think we’ll be going back to the room in between lunch and dinner for some down time. We figure our 10 month old will take her morning nap in the stroller, but then we’ll all go back and rest during the afternoon portion. I imagine that even if our two year doesn’t nap she’ll probably at least watch movie and have some quiet rest time that way...we’re trying to get the mindset that this is going to be a much slower pace than we’re used to

She doesn’t know many of the Disney Jr. characters yet, but she loves Nemo and Frozen, so maybe Epcot is the way to go!

I totally agree with getting out of the parks for a bit. Littles can get overly stimulated at the parks. We always go back to the resort (we have our car and that tends to make it easier as we are from GA as well). Sometimes we rest/nap, sometimes its pool time, but all of us (adults included) benefit from the break. My oldest has been going since 9.5 months (he is 6 now) and my 3 year old has gone twice.

 

[Mome Rath]

It's good that you two have been already without kids so that you get how everything kind of works before taking them along. I second the vote for AK, MK, EPCOT, MK if you don't have park hoppers. I would also plan on an early-ish night that first night, even if they sleep in the car on the way. Travel always seems to throw everyone off their game a bit, especially kids. AK, to me, would be a good choice because of that. Also, since it will be January, don't forget to take that time during the midday break to check the forecast for the evening and to take any layers, or make wardrobe changes before heading back out (yet another reason for that break!).

Another thing my family got good at was plotting out those quiet places in the park along with the baby care centers, so that you have a plan if you guys or the kids need a break from the Disney crowds. Along with slower pace, don't forget to add time to "get" places just due to strollers and such.

 

[sponica]

I hadn’t even considered the evening shows yet, so that’s great food for thought!

How set in stone are your kids' sleep schedules? Do they go to bed early or are they up later? I only ask because it's a struggle to keep my 14 month old up past 6, she'll be a little over 20 months when we go and I'm basically counting on the fact we'll have to have her fed and in bed by 6 but i also wouldn't be surprised if her toddler FOMO sets in and she insists on being awake as long as possible (cue the 7 or 8 PM meltdown on Main Street USA)

I was also thinking AK the first day of our stay as we get in lat(ish) the night before and AK always seems lower key to me.

 

[Kwin8719]

I totally agree with getting out of the parks for a bit. Littles can get overly stimulated at the parks. We always go back to the resort (we have our car and that tends to make it easier as we are from GA as well). Sometimes we rest/nap, sometimes its pool time, but all of us (adults included) benefit from the break. My oldest has been going since 9.5 months (he is 6 now) and my 3 year old has gone twice.

So with little ones you prefer your car over the bus system? We’ll have both so we were debating what’s easier.

 

[Kwin8719]

How set in stone are your kids' sleep schedules? Do they go to bed early or are they up later? I only ask because it's a struggle to keep my 14 month old up past 6, she'll be a little over 20 months when we go and I'm basically counting on the fact we'll have to have her fed and in bed by 6 but i also wouldn't be surprised if her toddler FOMO sets in and she insists on being awake as long as possible (cue the 7 or 8 PM meltdown on Main Street USA)

I was also thinking AK the first day of our stay as we get in lat(ish) the night before and AK always seems lower key to me.

Well, my 2 year old honestly lovvveeesss going to bed early...she’ll even tell company goodbye and that she’s going to bed when she’s ready to sleep She also gave up her nap recently though so I think that’s why she loves going to bed early. That being said, we recently went to WA and the mornings were so exciting touring around that she took really long naps at the hotel in the afternoon, and then she was able to stay up later and visit with relatives in the evening. That’s what I’m hoping will happen at Disney too! Does yours take long naps in the afternoon?

 

[ArielSRL]

So with little ones you prefer your car over the bus system? We’ll have both so we were debating what’s easier.

It's nice with all the junk we tend to bring with kids (diaper bag, back pack, stroller) but our main reason is because the buses midday can take a long time and at night, if staying til closing, can be full.

ETA: We were at Wilderness Lodge and did take the boat or bus to MK. We drove to all the other parks. If driving to MK, you have to park at the Trans and Tix Center and either take Monorail or Ferry (or bus) over, so its best to take Disney transportation because it actually drops you at MK.

 

[sponica]

Well, my 2 year old honestly lovvveeesss going to bed early...she’ll even tell company goodbye and that she’s going to bed when she’s ready to sleep She also gave up her nap recently though so I think that’s why she loves going to bed early. That being said, we recently went to WA and the mornings were so exciting touring around that she took really long naps at the hotel in the afternoon, and then she was able to stay up later and visit with relatives in the evening. That’s what I’m hoping will happen at Disney too! Does yours take long naps in the afternoon?

She's in daycare M-F, usually she just takes an hour nap from noon to 1, on good days it's noon to 2. Weekends she's strange, morning nap from 9 to 10 and if I'm lucky a late afternoon nap that will push her bedtime a little later. She's always gone to bed early though....starting at 10 weeks old the latest she was awake was 7 and then that went to 6 once she started daycare. I'm hoping she'll nap in the stroller, as my absolute nightmare is her falling asleep on the way to the bus and then waking up once we take her out of the stroller. Once she's awake, she's awake...

 

[jvz82]

Have you considered maybe doing 3 days in the parks and taking a day "off"? We did that on our last trip with toddlers and it was so needed. We checked in on Sunday afternoon and spent time at the resort pool, went to Epcot on Monday, MK on Tuesday, Wednesday was our day off and we went for a character breakfast at Cape May Cafe, pool all afternoon, and dinner at Boma at AKL, checked out of the hotel Thursday morning and spent the day at MK. It was nice to recharge with a day off, but also still doing fun Disney things like going to other resorts. That was my husband's favorite day of the trip!

As far as resorts, we've done both AK and Epcot with toddlers and both were great. I would definitely do 2 MK days!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I agree that Epcot is great for toddlers. Love Epcot! MK is amazing and definitely you need at least two trips there. So I agree with AK, MK, Epcot, MK. Dont even bother with HS.

 

[Kamy04]

My almost 3yo LOVED MK! We found Epcot better for our 6yo, honestly. Though the 3yo loved the Frozen stuff! (Anna is his love lol)

Our 3yo usually fell asleep in the stroller, but we went back to the resort midday anyway. There were 2 days he did not fall asleep until back at the resort, so tooka late nap and then we headed back to MK and stayed for the fireworks!

We had more time, but did MK, HS, EP, MK, MK, MK...lol. MK was just "Disney" to my boys with the castle and more kid friendly rides.

My 3yo (he was actually 3 weeks shy of 3) still talks about our trip every single day!

 

[bobafemme]

We went several Januaries ago with our 3 yr old (now 9) and had a great time at Pop. From the planning stages, I let her know we would leave every day after lunch to have dark room/quiet time (she doesn't accept the word nap, but will). That helped immensely. We saw so many crying kids & snappish parents. Epcot with its hands-on activities was a hit, as was DH for Star Tours (5 times!) and the shows. MK's Winnie the Pooh & Mermaid ride were especially fun for her. Other little things we did included: emphasize everyone needs a break, it's not a baby-thing; group decision on when souvenir shopping would happen; a good day could be topped off with the tie-dye cheesecake at Pop Century; reservation at Be Our Guest for lunch (if you are going Jan 15 to MK, don't read this, I'm daily trying for a reservation ) ; remember many of the rides with joy are better than all with too many tears. If you gift give in December, and are doing a character breakfast, a costume like the character may be fun (and on clearance in a week).