Top 10 Things For Toddler

[rjthkids]

To Brygida - wow, you go back and forth to the parks 2-3 times a day? How do you do it? We have a very calm,well-mannered DD who always takes her nap (2-3 hours in the afternoon) in her stroller while Dh and I walk around, take turns going on "big" rides, having a bite to eat...etc. After all the time it takes to get ready and going in the morning it would never occur to us to come back to the room. We always go at a time of year when the parks close early so it's not worth it to us to come back to the room in the afternoon. I know every child is different....It just sounds like you are spending a lot of time traveling back and forth between the resort and the parks, which could be spent in the parks enjoying the scenery, letting the DC out at a playground etc. Please don't get me wrong - if it works for you, then great!!! It was just an observation I made while reading your post.

This is what we will have to do. Our son is anything but a "calm" baby. He would never sleep in a carseat or anywhere else but his room. My husband is military and we have had to take some loooooooong plane rides and car rides before. He was once up for over 27 hours straight at eight months of age, because he would not sleep in the car or on the plane.

And when you have a child who does not sleep anywhere but a bed in a bedroom, and who gets very cranky and begins screaming uncontrollably because he is overtired, you quickly learn to do what you need to do to ensure they can sleep when they need to, even if that means going home or back to a hotel room.

I'm sure you didn't mean it in a bad way. But every child's needs are different and every family has to meet the needs of their child. It would never occur *to me* NOT to go back to our room for nap time or downtime. To not do so would mean no one would be having fun because we'd have a meltdown by four o'clock LOL. Since your daughter does great and is more flexible, you don't need to do that. It doesn't make it any worse or any better, just different. Our daughter was a super easy baby and would go pretty much anywhere. She is blind and so she was always extremely placid and "go with the flow" and would sleep anywhere anytime. She still is placid and accomodating. It's a completely different ballgame with our son, LOL. I'm glad for it though...he's made us a take a different perspective on what we do and how we do it.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

From what I understand... Yes you just go and get your own luggauge, if you choose to, and then go to the bus station and check in. I do not think though that it would take 12 hours to get your bags. Maybe just pack all that you can for the babies in the diapper bag and then pack a small bag with the other neccesaties. Depending on what time you arrive it may make it difficult though. Good luck

 

[traci]

Brygida - our 22 month old son sounds like yours!! It will be interesting to see how we get to handle naps and rest periods. Our daughter however is so laid back. She will sleep and adjust easily to just about anything. My son, I call him my spirited one, and my daughter...well she is our little mellow child.

okay we decided to let the ME do our luggage. I hope it truly is magical We just packed extra diapers, wipes and all the other can't-live-without-baby stuff!

 

[Brygida]

okay now you have me worried about the magical express....I can't possibly pack everything for 2 babies in our carry on for 12 hours. Please tell me it doesn't really take this long for them to deliver the bags to your room. 2 or 3 hours I can deal with, BUT not 12!!

You take your chances with Magical Express. Unfortunately if you happen to be one of the worst case scenarios then you may wait 12 hours or more. I know 2 people who did Magical Express this summer. One got their bags approximately 6-7 hours after they landed in their room. The other got their bags approximately 16 hours after he landed... this was at night time by the time he got them... and by that point, WDW had gotten him pajamas and other essentials he needed.

Neither one was happy, since neither had planned for the scenario... they expected their bags in 2-3 hours after landing. To use their words, it "completety ruined" their first day.

That is why I rented a car and did NOT use Magical Express. My son has cold-induced asthma and I wanted ALL my stuff handy.

I am sorry, but if you have an infant, or any other special need traveler, do NOT use Magical Express.

Brygida

 

[Brygida]

To the OP - thank you so much for starting this thread.

We took our DD to DW last year (18 months old at the time) and will be going again this November. She will be 2 /12 years old by then. I can't wait to take her to Pooh's playground. You mentioned "water squirting" - should I put her in her bathingsuit to play there or will she not get "soaked" enough to need it?

I'm also glad you mentioned your DC liked Typhoon Lagoon. We will also be taking our DD there and was worried there wouldn't be much for her to do there.

Isn't it just amazing how one balloon can keep them entertained for hours???

To Brygida - wow, you go back and forth to the parks 2-3 times a day? How do you do it?

She will get soaked. We always carried 1 spare outfit. We took his shoes off (this is not officially allowed but we did it anyway, as I only had the one pair), left his socks and clothes on. Then changed him right on one of the benches in the area when we were done!

Castaway Creek was probably his favorite. Toddling around the outskirts of the wavepool also worked (hold her hand when the waves come... they are strong even in the outskirts). Ketchakiddee Creek did not seem to work too well... maybe because there were so many older kids running around... I was afraid he would get pushed over onto the concrete.

How do we do it! For example... on 9/5/5 we left for EPCOT at 9:30am, walked around and had lunch at Chefs De France at 12 noon, no rides. Left about 1:30 back to Wilderness Lodge (in our rental car). regrouped, restocked, etc. Took the boat launch to MK about 3:00pm, rode Small World, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Pooh, and Carousel. Early dinner at Tomorrowland Noodle Station. Left about 5:30pm back to the room. Bathtime, room-play-time etc. Left about 8:15pm to MK using boat launch. He fell asleep, in his stroller, during the ride (a bit early for him, we weren't expecting it). We watched SpectroMagic at 9pm and Wishes at 10pm while he slept in his stroller.

Brygida

 

[Brygida]

Not to sound dumb or anything... but how exactly does this work. I assume I order the items I want online and then they are shipped to the resort?? Is there a fee for this? Sorry about the questions, I was just wondering.

Also thanks so much for the advice. Everyone is different with traveling and we did not book a car, so hopefully the bus will be ok. Our DD loves looking and seeing other people so I am sure it will be fine, but we will soon find out.

Thanks agian.

I believe you FAX them a shopping list ahead of time... you cannot order online. The fee was about $15 the last time I checked.

Brygida

 

[kimlooman]

A fun place we have taken both of our boys when toddlers is trains at Germany (Epcot). Especially at night, the trains have little lights on them as they go around. There are convenient bathrooms close by and my husband loves the beer from Germany. We take turns watching the boys by the trains as the other gets a closeby spot and waits for Illuminations. It keeps the little ones entertained and a nice place to just hang out for a bit.

 

[E(ticket)lizabeth]

We're getting ready to take our DS down for his first trip--he'll turn 17 months the day before we leave for the MouseHouse, so your tips were fantastic! Thank you so much.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

By the time we go, our ds will be 18 months. Was wondering by then will he need sunglasses? Or will 18 month olds even leave sunglasses on?

Thanks for the info.

 

[Brygida]

By the time we go, our ds will be 18 months. Was wondering by then will he need sunglasses? Or will 18 month olds even leave sunglasses on?

Thanks for the info.

Definately. Florida sun is blinding. My 16 month old wore his (Kidz Banz - glasses with elastic band to keep them on) the entire trip... even he got it that when he took them off he could not see! He sometimes even wore his floppy hat (hat with visor and neck covering). Both are available at One Step Ahead.Com, and other places too I'm sure.

Brygida

 

[Belle5]

Thanks for posting the ideas. We will be traveling with our two year old little guy in January and it's been a few years since I've traveled with one that age.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Thanks for the info!