Toddlers and Disney second try

[jbthi]

We took our GD for the first time when she was 2 1/2. She is now 8 and we have taken her a few times since then. The first trip was by far the best. She loved it.

One of the things she enjoyed most (and we enjoyed watching) was the Lazy River for children at Typhoon Lagoon. She sort of fell in the raft going over a bump and I thought oh no she will be scared and not go on this again. When she got out at the end she pulled the raft behind and with a big grin got in the river again.

She loved Fantasmic and when we were heading toward the exit when it was over she was singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" the whole way.

I think I can honestly say she did not cry or whine once the whole week.

June

 

[homer424]

so the baby swap ...you don't all get in line together?

We did baby swap once with my DD. I went on line and told the CM up front that we wanted to do baby swap or rider switch. They will give you a ticket like fastpass and you go wait on line while the other parent waits for you to get off-not online or even near the ride, they can go and rest. Then when you get off, you give the ticket to the other parent and they go through the fastpass line and get right on. At least that is how it worked when we went in 2000. (When DD had just turned 1)

We brought our stroller for my DD's first and second trips(she was 1 and 2.5) and it was helpful since we went to DTD and to other places outside of Disney and had a way to transport her. Subsequent years-when whe was 3.5 and this year, she is 5.5-we would rent in the park since she would be able to walk while we are in DTD or elsewhere.

Slo, you are thinking of the Baby Care Centers and they are wonderful. They have highchairs, a little play area, changing tables, a microwave to heat up food and a little store for any needs you need. We always stop in there to cool off and get DD washed up after a messy snack or if she is a little too sweaty.

Like everyone else said, just go with the flow. I let my DD dictate what she wanted to do. And like others, my DD REFUSED to nap in the room, but she would fall asleep perfectly in the stroller every day for an hour at around 2. It was perfect. When she was asleep we would either walk around and enjoy the park (and sometimes I would hit a ride or two while my grandmother-my wdw companion, DH opts out-sat with her) or find a shady spot, get a snack and rest. I always say let sleeping dogs lie-if I tried to wake her up to bring her to the hotel to finish her nap, she would just be cranky the rest of the day and never go back to sleep.

As far as attractions, she went on pretty much everything. She enjoyed it all. She particularly loved Pirates-she would clap when we went down the little flume thing at the begining. It did not bode well for the future for her poor mother who is afraid of fast rides-LOL

My best advice is to just have fun, enjoy your time with her.

OT:

I heard that a lot too "They won't remember it". I always responded that I don't care if they remember it, just so they enjoy it.

I'll tell you what: I went to WDW when i was 13 and I don't remember a THING from that trip. So by using that logic, 13 year olds should not be allowed to go because they won't remember the trip when they are 30. Seriously, I remember getting into it a while ago with someone who thought I shouldn;t have brought my daughter until she was 6 because she wouldn't remember any of it. His argument centered around not being able to enjoy his trip because of little kids. It's like you are going to WDW, you have to expect kids! Listen, my dd had a pure look of joy when Mickey waved at her when she was 1. It doesn't matter if she remembers it, I just loved that in that moment, she was just estatic!

 

[jann1033]

thanks for the good pointers. i think she will love Ak...( loves animals) does anyone know how young you can be to ride the safari ride? I don't remember a limit but do remember it being a little rough in spots( of course this highly neurotic grandma is already picturing her flying out of the jeep as it crosses the croc area)

 

[jann1033]

bump

 

[jdonat]

Our first DD went to WDW at 9months. We got the usual comments.. "Why are
you taking a 9mo kid to WDW" Our comment was "we're going and she's coming with us!"
Some ideas
1. Use a WDW stroller --the old ones were better, but the current ones are OK.
2. Take some snacks -the security guards don't worry about this at all. We
always have snacks with us even now... We used to take a very small flexible cooler that fit in our daybag. Was worth it's weight in gold. We'd put
some of the fruit that we'd get from the fast service rest. in there for later.
3 Use the childcare stuff -MK is near the Crystal Palace, EC is near the old
Odyssey Rest, MGM is near the front gate, and I don't have a clue where the
one is in the AK.
4. Try to take a break...but if not let 'em snoozle in the stroller and find a quiet spot to relax.
5. Use the baby swap -works like a champ on busy rides, especially the Fastpass ones.
6. Take LOTS of pictures -they're priceless now that the kids are bigger.
7. If you can stay onsite, do so. When our 2nd dd was real little, we stayed
at the Contemporary, and when Mom and the DD got tired, they just
strollered over to the Connie, and our first DD and I stayed and played.
8. Take your time -it's going to be difficult to be a disney commando with
a 2yr old.

go! have fun! enjoy the time with the little one... they grow up too fast..