Toddlers in Disneyland?

[ktlm]

Oh also, we were going to wait and potty train when we got back from our first trip, but DD decided to potty train herself about 1-2 weeks before our first trip. We never had any issues at Disney. We had to buy a folding toddler seat to put on the toilet and carry it in a plastic bag (they come with one) in the stroller, but that was it.

As far as DD, when she was 2, at home she was a wild child who didn't sit still for a second, or stand in lines well at stores. At Disney, she was mostly a perfect angel, who quickly realized that good things were at the end of the lines. She stood in line with no issues at all, even waited in an hour long line to meet the fairies because she just had to see Tinkerbell (little boxes of raisins kept her happy in that one). She sat through shows enthalled without budging. She was much better behaved at Disney than at home.

 

[Cagirl767]

I'm certainly not encouraging anyone to potty anywhere in the park, rather just have a little forethought since potty training can be hectic but it doesn't need to be at Disney there are plenty of potties around and you can go about your normal day with a little preparation. Oh and another tip: to bring along some Post It Notes for covering the toilet's "eye" so the flush doesn't scare the beegeebies out of your toddler. And there are also toddler sized potties in the Baby Center on Main Street.

Really, don't worry about potty training there or tantrums. Like someone else said, and mine too seem to get caught up in the magic of Disney and have never had a melt down there and even if they had, it wouldn't have been the first child to! We kept our days shorter when the kids were no longer napping in the stroller or hotel, and now even when they're 4 and 6 we leave around dinner time.

 

[Liat]

I'm taking three little ones to Disney next week. My oldest is almost 4 and my youngest is almost 6 months.

We went last year when it was only two toddlers and had a blast. I was pregnant so I just went on other rides with the kids when the other adults in our group wanted to do wild rides.

My oldest DS remembers our last trip (he was just about 3) and since he found out that we are going back has been asking for specific rides and to meet Mickey and Minnie. (He would also very much like to meet Captain Hook, whom he fervently believes is a good guy). So you never know how much the will remember.

 

[jlindley9]

I had a conference in Orlando when our daughter was 2 yrs 8 mos and she did a great job. She had already been to Disneyland a few times by then. Our 6 month old son has already been to Disneyland and we plan on taking them to WDW when he is the same age she was. As everyone said, naps in strollers if possible are great, otherwise naps back at the hotel. Take advantage of the morning hours. Try not to push schedules, just take your time and soak it in! Have fun!

 

[nemofans]

We have taken our boys to WDW at young ages & have had the best time! We will be going to DL this time, mainly b/c of all the great rides that my 2 yr old can do & being able to walk back to hotel. If I left him at home, I know I would be miserable b/c constantly I would think of how much he would love the rides, shows, & characters that we were doing.
Yes, he does throw tantrums & doesn't sit well at meals. But my favorite memories are when they meet characters at that age. I will also never forget when my 1st DS at 19 mos old rode Dumbo for the 1st time. He laughed & squealed so much & immediately asked to go again after we got off. We would ask him what his favorite ride was & he would yell "Bumbo!"
Honestly, going to DL or WDW will be a blast when they are older, but I will never forget those memories of when they were toddlers & believed in it all!

 

[starshine514]

Our youngest was not quite 3 when we took her to WDW for the first time...she LOVED it! She also loved Sea World at 2, but not Legoland (due to height requirements). I think Disneyland would be great for your 2-yr-old. We did Sea World and Legoland with diapers, but she was potty trained before WDW.

Just don't change your kid's diaper on the benches. Saw several people doing this and gross! One of them was at the gift shop by PFF and one of the cast members got after the lady and told her she couldn't do that there (thank goodness)!

 

[cgh]

WE are taking our 2 1/2 year old there in August and he is sooo excited for it. I told him we are visiting Mickey Mouse's house in August and showed him the video for planning the vacation. I would think it would be really hard for him not to be included, as your oldest would talk about visiting Mickey, etc. Naptime could be pool time for the oldest. As a bonus-he's free!

 

[CrystalS]

We went on our first cruise and WDW trip when my son was 2.5yrs old. We all had a blast!
For anything that we wanted to ride that he wasn't big enough for, we just used the rider swap pass and took turns riding. So you and your daughter could ride something, then switch and your husband could ride with your daughter again. The bonus for your daughter being that she'd get to ride twice!

 

[specialks]

I've taken our kids at as young as 6 months. Your 2 year old will be able to go on the majority of rides. When else are you going to be able to take him for FREE!!! And if you do any character meals for the birthday girl, brother will be free for those too.

ABSOLUTELY! I so appreciated the 2 years we went when my youngest was free. Great perk to take advantage of! There is plenty to do.

Not that your toddler can't ride the rides or won't want to because most are possible except for I believe the 5 (Indy, Space, BTMRR, Matterhorn, Splash), but there are so many other things to do. There's all the shows, the parades, the Lego store, the build a car store (can't remember the name in DTD), characters to meet, Rainforest Cafe, character breakfasts, Gibson Girl ice cream parlor, face painting, Bippity Boppity Boutique, Bug's Land in CA, even just riding the Monorail and ART over to DLR is fun for my kids, lol!

And as someone else had said, I too think you would be disappointed not bringing the whole family, regardless of age or situation.

There is tons to do there and the atmosphere alone will have your tot staring wide eyed and big smiles all day long! I agree that if you don't take him you may feel like part of your family is missing. Hopefully he is a stroller napper and you can get him to nap in the stroller while you still enjoy the park with your oldest. If not, one parent could take the 2 yr old back to the room for a nap while the other keeps your daughter there to go on more rides. Then mom & dad could switch nap duty the next day... Just an idea.

I would think it would be really hard for him not to be included, as your oldest would talk about visiting Mickey, etc. Naptime could be pool time for the oldest. As a bonus-he's free!

AGREED!

 

[kez518]

I took my daughter when she was 1, 2 years old. She loved everything. The music, the colors etc. She went on all the fantasy land rides, loved toontown. And like someone else said one good thing is they are FREE into the park.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your trip!!

 

[MiceFan]

Take him with you! Definitely use Rider Swap and Fast Pass as often as you can, your DD will get to ride everything twice! If you know he won't sleep in the stroller or while being held around the crowds in lines or shows, have a plan to collect as many Rider Swaps as you can in the morning with the same parent riding with DD, then let the parent who didn't ride yet use them with DD while the first-riding parent and the little guy go back to the hotel for a nap! Switch off days and you can both stay well rested.

 

[DLtorgo]

I have also taken my toddler and this summer I am taking her again at almost three with my 6 year old. I have also taken some trips solo when my first DD was a toddler and she didn't know or care that I went there without her.

I think you need to decide if you are just going to be missing your youngest the whole time or if you can go and enjoy the time with your oldest. I don't see any problem with doing things with each child separately. If you do want to take your youngest it is going to be more work for you to do rider switch on the bigger rides, take naps, find potties and that is fine if you are wanting to do that. Only you know what is best for your family. If I could leave my toddler home and just take my oldest on Star Tours I would! I also live closer and get to experience the parks more often with and without my kids.

Do what you think is best. You are going to DL now and planning for WDW when they are older- you are not a mean Momma!

 

[Canadian DISNut]

The few height requirement rides that are not, do you think your 5 year old will even want to ride those? Is she a daredevil? Mine is not crazy about the big rides.

Actually yes, she is a huge daredevil. When we go to the local fair, I have to constantly remind her that she's too small for this ride or that. Thankfully, she's 41" and may grow another over the summer, so she'll have her pick of rides!

 

[Canadian DISNut]

Thanks everyone for the awesome insight.

I should have clarified that I live in Canada, so we'll be lucky to make it down every 3-5 years. If it doesn't go great, it'll be a while before we get a do-over.

And I hadn't thought about DS being old enough by then to notice that he missed something. His vocabulary is a bit slower than my daughter's was, so he doesn't seem to notice what's going on as much, but a lot can change in a few months.

I think my main concern is that he'll never really remember going (we went when my youngest sister was just over 3 and she constantly complains about not remembering, so "it doesn't count") but if he's miserable while we're there, my DD will never forget that her little brother ruined her birthday by throwing a big fit in the middle of her Princess Breakfast (yes, we're springing for the premium one).

I had forgotten about him being free, but we still have to pay for the flight ($400-$600) and feed him...man can that kid eat!

I think the biggest reason we started thinking of leaving him with Grandma & Grandpa is that my DD misses out on so much these days. DS is at that really cute stage where everything he does demands your attention and she's starting to feel really left out. She actually asked me one day if I still love her when I'm playing with DS.

 

[Gisele]

Yes, I have seen toddlers in the parks. None of them are mine though, as far as I know.

 

[jacs1234]

The first time I went, we left my 2 year old and 3 year old children at home. From Australia, it's a long way to go and a lot of money to take a child that might not cope. We had the best time with our 6 and 8 year olds there and it was so nice to pay that attention to them. But...................we came home and felt guilty so we took all of them the next year. My youngest was 3 then, we had some hassles but she totally loved it We're taking them all again this year and I think the trip will be even better because my youngest is now 5 and I think that's an awesome age for Disney.

 

[Canadian DISNut]

Mine always went down for a nap in Pirates and Haunted Mansion! lol! It was dark and they'd just cuddle in and go to sleep. Became a bit of a joke in our family!

Wow! Are you ever lucky! My son requires at least 30 minutes of quiet, mostly dark to settle down enough for bed time. We've actually started to dread the longer days because he thinks its still play time

DS won't nap in a stroller, rarely in a car (has to be dark out) and to take him back to the hotel (we're actually staying about 7 miles from the park-renting a car) and get him to settle down could be hard. I did like the one suggestion about pool time for DD while DS naps. I could take DD to the pool and DH could nap with DS, he gets cranky too sometimes

 

[jacs1234]

Forgot to say that I think you should go without him, enjoy your daughter for a while. Your ds will have an AWESOME time staying with Grandma and Grandpa and he'll feel special too and won't know what he's missing. I think your trip will be much more enjoyable without a tantrum throwing, potty training 2 year old. Not that you won't miss him, and you will feel guilty, but you'll make it up to him at Disneyworld.

 

[DahliaRW]

Wow! Are you ever lucky! My son requires at least 30 minutes of quiet, mostly dark to settle down enough for bed time. We've actually started to dread the longer days because he thinks its still play time

DS won't nap in a stroller, rarely in a car (has to be dark out) and to take him back to the hotel (we're actually staying about 7 miles from the park-renting a car) and get him to settle down could be hard. I did like the one suggestion about pool time for DD while DS naps. I could take DD to the pool and DH could nap with DS, he gets cranky too sometimes

You know, my DD NEVER napped in the stroller or anywhere with noise or light. EXCEPT for at Disneyland. So you never know! And when we got home she ceased napping anywhere but the car or in bed at home as well. It must be that Disney magic@

 

[Teki]

its really depends on your child. Disneyland can be great for the toddler who is ready for it. If you feel your child is not ready for it then it may be better for your family if he stays home. If you feel he is ready there is plenty for your toddler to do in the parks and ride swap is available either way youll have a magical time.