Toddlers at DLRP

[torsie24]

Up until now all of our trips (excluding when we went as children ourselves) have been adults only.

Would love to hear your hints, tips, must do and avoids for DLRP with a toddler.

DD will be 23 months and currently is very confident and adores characters (we've only met non-Disney ones at chessington etc but she was SO excited it's half the reason we booked disney!)

 

[caspdex]

Do the Pinnochio ride before the Snow White one. SW is quite scary for toddlers. Ours wouldn't go on Pinnochio for years after being scared on SW.

 

[ROBEAR84]

We've just got back from our newest little Princesses first Disney trip (spoilt with wdw!) and she was just the same, absolutely adored the characters from the moment she saw Stitch at breakfast on our very first morning! I was a little worried before hand, only as I remember DS on his first trip to DLP was a little apprenhensive to begin with (but got there in the end thank goodness!)

So it's been a couple of years since we've done DLP with a toddler but we've not done it without one for 10 years now either!

Hit... Small world (always first for us) Peter Pan and yes leave Snow White til last if you do it, so if it does frighten them a little bit, they know that not all the rides are like that! Ours funnily enough weren't scared at all (at 3 and 1 when we first went) but I can definitely see how it could be for some. Disney Junior Live and Animagique (one of my faves too so was very happy that DS loved it)

Slinky Dog, Cars rally and POTC were all very popular with DS from around 2 onwards too. DD1 loved Dumbo (but me not so much due to the long queues)

Avoid... character scrums, not fun when you're tiny, although I'm hearing good things about this changing at DLP so I'm hopeful for our trip next spring! Character meals are a much more enjoyable way of them meeting the characters and all our best interactions have been at those anyway.

Also, make full use of EMH and head back for naps during the peak times! Best thing we did when our older two were little, the bonus with a tiny one is that they will sleep in their pushchair but there's nothing like a proper recharge half way through the day. This way you should be able to stay later into the evening to see Dreams etc without a unhappy LO.

Take plenty of snacks, I always have raisin boxes, crackers, cartons of juice etc in the bag, another bonus with a LO is room in the pushchair basket and no need to carry the heavy bags full of snacks!

Hope this helps a little! Sorry if it's all completely obvious, I do waffle on! (especially when I'm stuck on the graveyard shift!)

 

[torsie24]

That was super helpful. Thanks Robear.

I'd love it if she would do big enough naps to make it through to Dreams.

Snacks is a good point. I'll have to pack lots. She loves Nakd bars so a few boxes of those and some crackers etc will certainly be packed.

So far we're planning Cafe Mickey and Inventions as our meals.

EMH is going to be Princess time I think. She's a big "Punzel" fan so I'm hoping we can meet her at some point. And also Anna & Elsa.

But I know she won't be wonderful in queues so fingers crossed for FPs!!

I've also heard good things about organised meets so that will be a huge relief.

 

[C3PO]

Make sure you know where the baby changing stations are. I was with a 3-year-old, and this mostly wasn't an issue, except for when he had pooed. Not all of the disabled toilets have changing tables, and sometimes I would end up being really far away from a baby changing station.

I think the advice about an afternoon break is really good. We didn't, and I think my little boy would have been happier if we'd just grabbed a sandwich in the Village and had lunch at the hotel.

 

[DLPDreams]

Agreed about naps - it is nice to let them sleep in pushchair but I do think they have a better sleep back at your hotel. They recharge properly then are ready for the rest of the evening.

Feeding should be easy as she can eat off your plate/at buffets etc at that age.

The biggest issue I had with my DD2 around that age was she wanted to walk about a lot and so wasn't happy to sit in her pushchair and there isn't always that many places for a toddler to ramble about iyswim. I think to burn off steam, use places like the Pochahontas park - it's out of the way and fairly safe for a child to toddle around.

With regard to queuing - again, much easier now than years ago with tablets and mobiles - you can simply keep them entertained with videos etc if they are starting to get anxious! I used to carry crayons and little colouring books - great for meal time but not so good for queues!!

We took DD2 when she was 6 months (really, really easy as I was bf'ing so didn't even need to worry about food!), then 16 months (nightmare!), then I think she was about 3 before we went again and this was much easier, and just got easier every time after that!

I found the baby stations quite well equipped - you can even buy nappies if caught short, although they are expensive. In fact, I'm sure you will, but ensure you have enough nappies for your whole trip and more besides as it's easier. And if your child is a fruit fiend I'd take plenty with you in a tupperware box (to stop it getting bruised) as it's fairly hard to find out there sometimes! I recall trying to find a banana one trip and it was hopeless! Or, alternatively buy those baby fruit pots to ensure she gets enough of her daily intake!

On the whole, it's a lovely time to take children and I think the size of the parks are not overwhelming for littlies. You should have a great time .

 

[torsie24]

Wow thanks for the in depth replies everyone.

DD is still BF and can't see her stopping anytime soon so that saves one problem. I know the BF rates are pretty low in France but can't imagine I'll offend any Europeans as they're a much more open minded lot than us Brits. (Not that she has much but it was needed a few weeks ago in Legoland after she took a nasty fall.)

She is a banana, apple and strawberry fiend so I will take some with us. Glad to hear the baby changing areas are good. I will make sure to know where they all are in advance.

IASW will definitely be her first ride. And I'm really hoping Casey Jnr and the boats are both open too.

 

[Dobbycog]

Our daughter managed to bf a few times around then park, fine till the "nip lash" type moment when a character or something happens....maybe find a few quieter spots!! No one really batted an eyelid though.
Snacks were main queue filler, plus made sure she was generally in good mood. Fresh fruit is more available in the park- or was in September, but it is pricey!! So we took apples/ oranges from uk. However at dlh we found the cutest mini bananas, perfect for our 2&1/2 yr old. They let us take an extra one each day too.
We had a bag of tricks- finger puppets, few characters from busy books, buggy books and keyrings which she would play with at meals/ queues to keep amused. Plus taking photos on phones/ old camera. Bizarre almost I spy type games- can you see a circle or something red.....
A buggy was huge help, she doesn't like then at home, but in DLP it was welcomed!! Although, doesn't help in rides/ queues etc, so could also consider a good quality baby/ toddler carrier?
Small world was requested repeatedly, storybook boats and buzz. Other rides were mixed reactions, so just judge it as you go. Shows in the studios as mentioned above were great- although wat h out for balloo in animagique- prompted requests for breast feeds!! Coconut bra and bf? What does that say??
And worst of all for me and my disney obsession is the daily requests to return!! Although it does help my convincing of the oh!!

 

[torsie24]

Our daughter managed to bf a few times around then park, fine till the "nip lash" type moment when a character or something happens....maybe find a few quieter spots!! No one really batted an eyelid though.

Hahaha! I can imagine that! Yes I'd sneak ourselves into an arcade or something. She generally doesn't ask if busy so I think we'll be OK, it'll jsut be if she's sleepy or falls over or something.

Snacks were main queue filler, plus made sure she was generally in good mood. Fresh fruit is more available in the park- or was in September, but it is pricey!! So we took apples/ oranges from uk. However at dlh we found the cutest mini bananas, perfect for our 2&1/2 yr old. They let us take an extra one each day too.

Thanks, hopefully we can upgrade and then can get in on the mini-bananas. But we'll take some anyway.

We had a bag of tricks- finger puppets, few characters from busy books, buggy books and keyrings which she would play with at meals/ queues to keep amused. Plus taking photos on phones/ old camera. Bizarre almost I spy type games- can you see a circle or something red.....

All great ideas - we'll get some phone apps and some little surprise toys.

A buggy was huge help, she doesn't like then at home, but in DLP it was welcomed!! Although, doesn't help in rides/ queues etc, so could also consider a good quality baby/ toddler carrier?
Small world was requested repeatedly, storybook boats and buzz. Other rides were mixed reactions, so just judge it as you go. Shows in the studios as mentioned above were great- although wat h out for balloo in animagique- prompted requests for breast feeds!! Coconut bra and bf? What does that say??

Imagine if she'd got to meet him!!!

We'll take our small fold up buggy and hopefully she'll be big enough for my toddler Madame GooGoo by then (I keep trying as it's such a gorgeous carrier but she's still too short) if not the Ergo will be coming.

And worst of all for me and my disney obsession is the daily requests to return!! Although it does help my convincing of the oh!!

Get booking!!

 

[Dobbycog]

Fortunately when we met baloo there was no bra....God the life long ban from disney would have been awful!!
Carriers must be only time you dream for your child to grow! The rest of time I wish she'd stop!! To be fair monkey did really well walking and only occasionally needed the rest and then the snacks were requested!! All the snacks meant more room for shopping....yay!
I'm still trying, we've been twice this year already, but now everyone keeps pointing out the Christmas advert.....I know darn it!
Everyone said she would not remember, but blimey 6 months on, she took us to small world and told us where rides were!!

 

[GreenDress]

Oh we're going for the first time with LO so reading with interest. Great advice on the snacks and as you say more room for presents on the way back!