Top 10 Things we did right with Toddler

[Brygida]

Here's one thing that we did wrong - waking DS up. We had scheduled quite a few early mornings and DS is used to sleeping in, so even though we were taking afternoon breaks and coming home early in the evenings, waking him up early in the morning really took its toll on him and by the end of the week, we had to cancel two breakfasts. We know for next time, to schedule later days and let DS sleep.

We *never* have this problem, as DS *always* wakes us up! But I agree, don't wake the younger kids. Older kids (teens), consider having them join up with you when they do wakeup.

 

[diz_princess]

Can't say I have ever tried it - will let you know what my kids make of it. I wonder what other interesting food combinations we will discover? I have be to US twice, but not with the kids - it is a whole new world when you have them!

I don't know if you mentioned it...but how old are you kids? I am interested in flying to the UK or Spain with my son. I'd like to hear how your overseas flight goes with your little ones.

 

[skent10]

I don't know if you mentioned it...but how old are you kids? I am interested in flying to the UK or Spain with my son. I'd like to hear how your overseas flight goes with your little ones.

Slightly OT, but we flew with DD and DS (6 & 5 at the time) to Australia from Chicago. The worst flight was from Chicago to LA on American--no entertainment or food for 3 hours. The overseas flight on Qantas was wonderful--the kids were constantly entertained by the personal tvs and there was always food, drinks, coloring books, crayons, etc. being handed to them by the stewards. There were plenty of kids on the plane of all ages, and there were no problems.

I think a lot depends on the airline you choose. Do your research and you should be okay.

 

[java]

Ah the extra clothes.... Let me add an !!!!! to that especially if you are flying
Be sure to pack a change of clothes for yourself as well! One puked on shirt for a 3 hour flight not pretty- oh and it made it to my shoes..... Of course he was clean as could be with his extra outfit and I looked like a train wreck- smelled great too....

 

[brymolmom]

Brygida - great idea for a thread. Here are mine:
Top 10 Things I did right with Two toddlers

Trip in Sept 2005 with ds 3 years and dd almost 2 years.

1) Staying at Pop Century. Kids loved the goofy jets. Mom and Dad got a nice relaxing end to most of the days just watching them play in the water while we sat with a drink.
2) Went on Dumbo ride at MK early in morning. I didn’t even think the kids would want to ride it (they don’t know who dumbo is and haven’t been on many amusement park rides) but they did and loved it! And yes, like everyone knows – it takes FOREVER to load so even short lines take a while. Go early!
3) Stayed mostly on schedule. I know this isn’t for every family – but my kids love their schedule. We stayed mostly on it – except for two days when we pushed dd’s nap until 5:00pm when we decided to leave MK and Epcot.
4) Going to Spectromagic – the kids were amazed and Mom loved the Wishes fireworks – definitely worth keeping them up late
5) Going to Playhouse Disney Live at MGM on two different days. Kids didn’t know what to think of it the first time – the second time they loved it.
6) Renting a double stroller and getting multi-day rental on first day – this is HUGE – no waiting in the paying line for the rest of your stay.
7) Having ds (ALMOST 40 inches) try twice to get onto Splash Mountain – he was denied at first but then when he got on he LOVED it. Different CM’s make different determinations
8) Using FASTPASS for Splash Mountain – I can’t believe how long some people were waiting for it.
9) Taking time to relax and let the kids run/jump in the Tots Play area in Toontown (MK) – the kids had a ball and weren’t constricted or waiting in lines, etc. – more freedom got them in better moods.
10) Name tags- I laminated name tags with kids’ names, our cell phone # and that we were staying at POP Century and put Mickey/Minnie stickers on them and then a pin through them and put them on their shirts each morning (round the corners if you use this idea – the lamination is sharp at a point). We got a lot of comments that it was a great idea. I know some people struggle with putting their kids names on their clothes – but I know that if someone’s in line near us and says ‘hi honey- what’s your name?’ I would share their names anyway –so I figure it isn’t hard to figure out (or if they listen to us for 10 minutes because I’m bound to say it), so that name thing doesn’t bother me. I would rather have a CM know who they are than the alternative.


On the flip side…Worst 5 things I did/or I found with two toddlers:
1) Trying to go to the Sing-a-long at Fort Wilderness. This was a fiasco. We had dinner reservations at Trail’s end- it took a while to get there via Disney transportation (bus to MK, then had to wait for boat, then had to drop off at Wilderness Lodge, then finally to FW) – so we were significantly late for our reservation (likely took about an hour 10 minutes to get there). I thought the sing-a-long started at 7:00 – but we found out it really started at 8:00 – AND we had to take another bus to get to the spot in FW where it was held. My kids go to bed by 8:30 and I was hoping not to have another really late night. If the sing-a-long starts at 8:00, then by the time we’re done and take multiple buses back to Pop Century – I was thinking it would be 10:00pm at the earliest – so we SKIPPED it and went back to the hotel.
2) Trying to get ds on Soarin’ – he was denied (again- ALMOST 40 inches but not quite) – and he decided to have a huge tantrum about it. Not fun. Try not to tell them what you’re ‘trying’ to do if you do try. He thought he was going on a ‘rollercoaster’ and was very upset.
3) I wish that Disney would have a ‘disney cartoons or classics’ channel in their hotel rooms. It was very difficult to find anything on TV for a 2 and 3 year old at around 7:00pm – 8:30pm when we would try to settle them down to go to sleep. At home – we usually use Baby Einstein videos. They have Playhouse Disney but all the shows on at that time are for teenagers and our kids are not into those. They do have ‘bedtime stories’ but I was very disappointed with that. Why can’t they just play Pooh or Mickey or Mary Poppins or SOMETHING all day long on a channel?
OKAY - I can only think of 3 - must HAVE BEEN A GREAT TRIP!!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Brygida - great idea for a thread. Here are mine:
Top 10 Things I did right with Two toddlers
3) I wish that Disney would have a ‘disney cartoons or classics’ channel in their hotel rooms. It was very difficult to find anything on TV for a 2 and 3 year old at around 7:00pm – 8:30pm when we would try to settle them down to go to sleep. At home – we usually use Baby Einstein videos. They have Playhouse Disney but all the shows on at that time are for teenagers and our kids are not into those. They do have ‘bedtime stories’ but I was very disappointed with that. Why can’t they just play Pooh or Mickey or Mary Poppins or SOMETHING all day long on a channel?
OKAY - I can only think of 3 - must HAVE BEEN A GREAT TRIP!!!

I tend to agree with most thing you say, except having our own stroller is better for us. However IF we rented I think getting the multi day pass is a good idea (and making sure you identify it as yours so no one else will walk off with it.)

Ok, as far as the channel goes, they do. I only found this out my last trip but it is one of the higher numbers on the cable, 60 something I think or was it 99. Anyway it is a continues loop of old cartoons (the same ones they show in the lobbies) This was great for us. They had the same thing at Vero Beach too. (we were at PORS, but I think they have it everywhere. Just keep flipping up channels until you get it. You have to go through a number of channels with nothing on it. If I remember the number (or DH does) I will edit my post. Has anyone else found this out yet? (it was May 2005 we noticed it, I don't know how long they were doing it before that.)

We are DVC and I really wish the stuidos had DVD or VCR players like the one or 2 bedrooms do. Really that is the only thing we need that the studio doesn't have. Next trip we are bringing a portable DVD player with us.

 

[rt2dz]

When I said to go back to the room, I meant more to get out of the park because they can cause a sensory input overload to anyone, especially kids.

I don't mean that you have to leave to nap, but I do recommend leaving for a break. Everyone I've ever been with has benefitted from doing something different (like back at a resort) for a while, before going touring again. You try to do the same thing but inside the park. I guess the point we both agree on is to take breaks from commando style touring?

There is a huge, HUGE, HUGE difference between leaving the parks and commando touring. We definetely DO NOT commando tour. So, yes, we do the same thing in different ways.

I think my biggest objection to this advice was that you couldn't spend more than a few hours in the park at a time. Leaving eats up a lot more time than just the break. And when we'd leave is the only times my kids ever pitched a fit at WDW. Of course, we are a very active family. We travel quite a bit and go to the zoo and museums and plays and concerts and restruants and festivals and parks and Six Flags and Sea World, etc, ALOT. So WDW isn't that much more of a sensory overload. PLUS, we don't have just a toddler.

And you might be surprised at how many people that leaving the parks for a break doesn't work for. There is a whole thread on the Disney Tips board about things that don't work ( pointless tips ) and breaks are mentioned quite a bit.

 

[Brygida]

There is a huge, HUGE, HUGE difference between leaving the parks and commando touring. We definetely DO NOT commando tour. So, yes, we do the same thing in different ways.

I think my biggest objection to this advice was that you couldn't spend more than a few hours in the park at a time. Leaving eats up a lot more time than just the break. And when we'd leave is the only times my kids ever pitched a fit at WDW. Of course, we are a very active family. We travel quite a bit and go to the zoo and museums and plays and concerts and restruants and festivals and parks and Six Flags and Sea World, etc, ALOT. So WDW isn't that much more of a sensory overload. PLUS, we don't have just a toddler.

And you might be surprised at how many people that leaving the parks for a break doesn't work for. There is a whole thread on the Disney Tips board about things that don't work ( pointless tips ) and breaks are mentioned quite a bit.

Yes, doing something different (like leaving the park for a resort or a swim) does eat up a lot of time. You have to fit it for what works for all of you... granted.

I travel a lot to. I love daytrips around our area, and I love travelling to Europe. Most years I usually do about one trip to Europe, one to WDW, and one to the West Coast. Our 18 month old DS has been to England, WDW, Disneyland & California.

Now I could probably go all day at a park with no adverse affect on my mood. However, my DH and DS start to get crankier after a few hours at a park for no other apparent reason then sensory overload. Actually DH starts to get nippy quicker than DS!

When I used to take my sister (who was a tween and then a teenager, I am 17 years older than her!), she would get the same way. After about 3-5 hours, she would start snapping over some inconsequential thing... I would tell her we were leaving back to our room. I would turn the fan and A/C on max, close the curtains, and let her nap! Maybe it was the beginning of heat stroke?

Anyway, some people just need that down time

 

[JanMary]

I don't know if you mentioned it...but how old are you kids? I am interested in flying to the UK or Spain with my son. I'd like to hear how your overseas flight goes with your little ones.

My 3 will be 8, 6 and 15 months when we fly in January. Not too worried about older 2 - with enought books, puzzles and snacks I think they will cope.

My DS (15months) will be another matter. He has flown on a couple of one hour flights and that was a bit of a struggle. I am already having nightmares about these flights. He is such a strong wriggler I just don't know how we will manage - I am sure we won't be too popular on board.

He usually takes 2 good naps a day, but would never sleep on my lap - needs to be fully stretched out. We don't even have a separate seat for him (it was already so expensive). We have managed to get 2 bulkhead seats on each flight but the other 2 seats are further back down the plane. I think my DH and I will take turns with him to share the joy!

We are flying with Continental from Belfast to Newark (7+ hours) then another 2 or more hours to Orlando. It is a daytime flight on the way over, and nightime on the way back home. I have no experience with Continental but the price of flights with them was so much less than others that they were the deciding factor on if we could afford to go to Disney at all.

Any tips or suggestions greatfully received. It is the one bit of the holiday I am dreading.

Diz Princess - I will let you know how it all goes if I make it back in one piece!

On a similiar subject - any tips on jet lag with kids?

 

[DisneyPhD]

Jan Mary, I am not above benedrly or something else like that IF it works. (try it a head of time, it might make them more hyper.)

My Dr recomends it since it will decongest them and they are less likely to get an ear infection from the trip.

However that is a long flight and it would only work for a few hours max.

Snacks, toys and maybe a portable DVD player are my next suggestions.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

We flew from Hawaii to Virginia with our DD when she was 13 months... the whole flight was 10 hours. We did get her her own seat and I was glad that we did but our airfare was really cheap $35o roundtrip.. if it would have been more we would not of got her a seat.

I reccommend buying some new inexpensive toys/books/stickers for you to hide until the plane ride so your little one can have new things to play with. ANother great thing for us was snacks and lolly pops... the lolly pops are messy but help with the ear popping.

Our DD who is a really good napper would not sleep on the plane at all
so we consistantly took turns entertaining her.

The jet lag.... an 8 hour (behind us) difference was horrible... the whole trip she was so tired.... I just reccomend the first day doing nothing at all but sleeping.. we tried to readjust her on the first day by keeping her up until her normal bedtime (we arrived in Hawaii at 12:00pm Hawaii time when it was 8:00pm our time) and that was the worse mistake ever... I also felt horrible our whole trip because of that first day... so next time, if ever, our first day after a long travel time of time changes will be spent sleeping and relaxing.

I am sure your expeirence will be much better than ours, since you are preparing your self which we really did not do.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

My tips would be to buy the extra plane ticket and put the toddler in the carseat. We often drive with the kids 2-3 hours and fully expect them to stay in the carseat, so flying should be no different. Plus there is some head support if they do fall asleep.

i disagree about putting all of that info on a childs shirt. my DH is a COP and we would NEVER do that! Why give the "bad" people any help!!!! Watch your kids closely!! We always decide at the beginning of the day who has what kid. Always do One adult to one kid. That way no distractions of getting confused and "I thought you had him!!!" This trip there will be more kids than adults, so this will be more challenging, but the oldest kid is 13 and he is very self sufficient.

 

[Adrienne]

Slightly OT, but we flew with DD and DS (6 & 5 at the time) to Australia from Chicago. The worst flight was from Chicago to LA on American--no entertainment or food for 3 hours. The overseas flight on Qantas was wonderful--the kids were constantly entertained by the personal tvs and there was always food, drinks, coloring books, crayons, etc. being handed to them by the stewards. There were plenty of kids on the plane of all ages, and there were no problems.

I think a lot depends on the airline you choose. Do your research and you should be okay.

Qantas Rocks! can u tell i'm a Aussie. Go the mighty red rat! (what we affectionately call our flying kangaroo.

Adrienne

 

[diz_princess]

"i disagree about putting all of that info on a childs shirt. my DH is a COP and we would NEVER do that! Why give the "bad" people any help!!!! Watch your kids closely!! "

Don't get me wrong I will be watching him like a HAWK. But I think of all the parents of Katrina who were seperated from their children unexpectantly. I look at it this way (not trying to argue just give my reasoning ) What if (G*D forbid) a terrorist attack happens and my husband and I are seriously injuried? I want the security of knowing that he has some form of ID on him and a non-traveling person to contact. And in today's society that is no longer far fetched and it is a reality. It will be placed inside his shirt where no one can see unless they fiddle with his shirt by which I will wonder why is someone touching my son.
JMHO.


Off topic,
Adrienne, we fell in love with your city on a trip to Australia a few years ago. You are so lucky to live in such an amazing country and city. We loved it there so much we may name our daughter Adelaide if we have a girl. We had the most amazing time at Kangaroo Island as well. Talk about escaping from it all!