Touring Plans Walking

[may1787]

I am not a parent but will likely be going to WDW with my boyfriend and his two kids (6 boy & 9 girl) in late summer. I have been to WDW many times before but never with kids and about 6 years ago as my last trip. I usually use Touring Plans but I am wondering if anyone with kids of that age can tell me if the "average" walking works fine for little legs or if I need to bump it down to "relaxed?" We won't be using a stroller. Thanks!

 

[Doingitagain]

I am not sure if it matters, but we use relaxed because the little ones seem to need more small breaks to look around, restrooms, etc.

 

[Specter]

DD will be just shy of 6 on our upcoming trip. We plan to take our umbrella stroller, mostly as a precaution, not as a primary way of getting her around. So we don't really have first hand experience with having her walk that much, yet, but we are planning for the just in case.

I can tell you, though, having taken her when she was younger you definitely pad more time in for things. I feel like, especially at the age she was on the last trip, 3 and a half, we were taking a bathroom break after every other ride or more, but it beats having to get out of line. It definitely slows you down but it's a lot of fun seeing it through their eyes.

 

[may1787]

I can tell you, though, having taken her when she was younger you definitely pad more time in for things. I feel like, especially at the age she was on the last trip, 3 and a half, we were taking a bathroom break after every other ride or more, but it beats having to get out of line. It definitely slows you down but it's a lot of fun seeing it through their eyes.

I definitely think you both are correct about more time in between for the unexpected. It'll probably help prevent a little bit of the grumps too.
Since I've been there so many times I'm not married to anything in particular, I just want them to have a good time so if it means slowing down thats fine.

Now that she's 6, are there rides you aren't going to do anymore or rides you are adding on?

 

[Karalee402]

We've got three kiddos and have been taking them to Disney since they were very young. It's all about what you want to prioritize. For trips when we want to really go hard and get ALL the things done, we always got or took a stroller, even when the kids got to be 5/6/7 just because it gave them a place to rest and way to ensure we could move quickly without exhausting them. If you're good taking a more relaxed pace, they'll do great walking! As a previous poster said, allowing extra time for them to explore and making many little stops to investigate things or rest is definitely needed and honestly, those have been some of the best moments of our trips with little ones. Also snacks...make sure there are plenty of snacks Sounds like you have the perfect attitude and expectations for the trip! You'll have the best time!

 

[may1787]

For trips when we want to really go hard and get ALL the things done, we always got or took a stroller, even when the kids got to be 5/6/7 just because it gave them a place to rest and way to ensure we could move quickly without exhausting them.

I'm hoping since its two kids and two adults we will just use the buddy system and don't have to worry as much about the stroller, but we'll see. And shoulder rides are always an option with a dad that bodybuilds.

 

[Karalee402]

I'm hoping since its two kids and two adults we will just use the buddy system and don't have to worry as much about the stroller, but we'll see. And shoulder rides are always an option with a dad that bodybuilds.

Absolutely!! My husband has a long history of shoulder rides around the park And you can always, always just rent a stroller in the parks if you end up feeling like you have to have one. Is it the kids' first trip? You guys will have such a blast!

 

[may1787]

Absolutely!! My husband has a long history of shoulder rides around the park And you can always, always just rent a stroller in the parks if you end up feeling like you have to have one. Is it the kids' first trip? You guys will have such a blast!

It'll be a first trip for both of them and I think my boyfriend as well so it should be really fun!

When your kids were around 6 and 9 was there anything they didn't want to do anymore (too "babyish") or things that were too scary for them yet?

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Just like everyone else said, with little people plan for more potty breaks, plan for more time to stop and play, plan for more drink/ice cream/snack breaks, plan for more character interactions. Keep them hydrated and cool. They won't know to take random sips of water all day. Nothing's worse than an overheated kid puking everywhere. I always had the kids carry their own tiny backpacks so they could carry their own refillable water bottles, hand wipes and extra socks.

Also, the umbrella stroller thing is real. My kids are 13 and 15 now, but I brought the dirtiest, jankiest umbrella stroller with us until the youngest was 7. We'd only use it in the morning and late at night when they were tired and we had to walk long distances, otherwise, we'd just park it in labeled stroller parking. No one would touch that filthy thing.

Another thing, make sure they have really good footwear and extra socks. Cushioned runners, not Keds, not Converse, not flip flops. I feel so bad for the little people with aching feet. They don't know any better.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

I definitely think you both are correct about more time in between for the unexpected. It'll probably help prevent a little bit of the grumps too.
Since I've been there so many times I'm not married to anything in particular, I just want them to have a good time so if it means slowing down thats fine.

Now that she's 6, are there rides you aren't going to do anymore or rides you are adding on?

You should give the kids the option to go on the roller coasters and "scary" rides if they want. My kids were shockingly brave at that age.

 

[may1787]

You should give the kids the option to go on the roller coasters and "scary" rides if they want. My kids were shockingly brave at that age.

Oh, I get it. I had a little two year old friend who couldn't get ENOUGH of The Haunted Mansion. Just curious what kids are generally not into. I'm guessing Tower of Terror might be a concern for his kids, but maybe not. I guess I can show them videos but don't want to do that for a lot of rides and remove some of the surprise.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

It'll be a first trip for both of them and I think my boyfriend as well so it should be really fun!

When your kids were around 6 and 9 was there anything they didn't want to do anymore (too "babyish") or things that were too scary for them yet?

I don't think we saw any resistance to baby rides until they were 11 or so, but my youngest is a girl, so she's still very pro kids stuff (as long as her friends aren't around to notice/peer pressure her). We're planning a mommy/baby trip next month and she's all excited about staying in a Mermaid room at AoA and all the character meals. I know we'll be on the baby rides - Nemo, Figment, Little Mermaid, Winne the Pooh, etc.

To be fair, my kids have been going to WDW since they were babies/toddlers and we have annual passes to our local Cedar Fair/Six Flags park, so they are game for rides no matter what they are. My kids just want to "do stuff" all the time.

We've done WDW and GWL with another family a few times and one of the kids freaks out about the unknowns on rides sometimes, so we've left him at the exit a few times when he's feeling less brave. I recall this starting when he was about 8 or 9. It seems to be rides where it's indoors and you can't see what's going to happen. So I'd be concerned if the boyfriend's kids haven't been to other amusement parks and aren't ready for the unexpected.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Oh, I get it. I had a little two year old friend who couldn't get ENOUGH of The Haunted Mansion. Just curious what kids are generally not into. I'm guessing Tower of Terror might be a concern for his kids, but maybe not. I guess I can show them videos but don't want to do that for a lot of rides and remove some of the surprise.

Showing videos beforehand is a really great idea. I did that with my kids when they were younger and new rides were built.

 

[Karalee402]

You should give the kids the option to go on the roller coasters and "scary" rides if they want. My kids were shockingly brave at that age.

I agree with this 100%! My teenagers still love the "baby" rides and insist on going on things like Dumbo and the carousel every single trip. My oldest didn't love the drop on Splash Mountain (now Tiana's Bayou Adventure) when she was young, and my youngest didn't want to do the Haunted Mansion for awhile, but I always let them take the lead on what they did/didn't want to ride. And we always told them that if they rode and didn't like it, they wouldn't have to do it again. They were always pretty adventurous and wanted to try everything. My youngest is 8 now, and she rides everything and has for a couple of years now. Maybe start small and see how they do.

 

[sponica]

It'll be a first trip for both of them and I think my boyfriend as well so it should be really fun!

When your kids were around 6 and 9 was there anything they didn't want to do anymore (too "babyish") or things that were too scary for them yet?

My kids are 4 and 8, still haven't been on haunted mansion. My older daughter isn't a huge ride fan based on her age (seriously tried to climb out of Dumbo at 20 months) so while she's 8 on paper, ride wise, she's closer to 5-6 and my younger one is a speed demon. By the time my youngest is tall enough we won't have to rider swap everything, I'm hoping my older one is willing to go on rides.

If I recall they had mixed feelings about Pirates at 6 and 2.

Honestly, I think for a first trip, you should try to do everything that's feasible.

 

[unrequited23]

Make sure to budget time for the after ride interactive activities--Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, Journey Into Imagination are the ones that come to mind first, but I'm sure there are more. Also, don't discount the train as a way to get from one side of MK to the other. It will take longer but you will have to navigate the kids through less people. Be aware of how visually intimidating the rides are to kids--the track at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is built into the mountain, whereas Slinky Dog is out in the open and looks a lot higher.

 

[Rory607]

I think the last time we used a stroller was when our kids were 5 and 8. They took turns riding (my dd is tiny and was more like the size of a 6 year old at that time). I would go with “relaxed” and you should be fine. You can always rent a Disney stroller if necessary.

As far as rides go, we still do the “little kid” rides, even though they’re teen/tweens now. My 10 year old doesn’t do coasters or anything with a sizable drop, so we often split up so the teenager can do bigger rides.

One word of advice, don’t force them to ride something just because they’re tall enough. Some people think kids need to be pressured into bigger rides and then they’ll enjoy it, which is really mean, IMO. I have never been a roller coaster person and I hate when people try to pressure me into riding. I always encourage my kids to try rides, but the decision is ultimately their own.

Show them ride videos beforehand to get an idea of what they’re into. I personally hated Haunted Mansion as a kid, but my kids have loved it since they were little.

 

[Karalee402]

Show them ride videos beforehand to get an idea of what they’re into. I personally hated Haunted Mansion as a kid, but my kids have loved it since they were little.

This is great advice! We always did ride videos with the kiddos, too, so they had a good idea of what was to come. That way, there were no scary surprises or roller coasters that did anything they weren't expecting.

 

[mjkacmom]

It'll be a first trip for both of them and I think my boyfriend as well so it should be really fun!

When your kids were around 6 and 9 was there anything they didn't want to do anymore (too "babyish") or things that were too scary for them yet?

My 5 kids ranged in age from 4 - 11 on our last trip. My 6 year old (not brave) begged to go on space mountain, she was in tears! Your boyfriend knows them best, we used to go to Hershey park, my 4 year old was very brave, his twin nit so much, we encouraged him to go on roller coasters, he loved them. We suggested our daughter do something else. That 4 year old went on dinosaur (4 and 6 year old girls did not), I tried to talk him out of it. He went on no other rides that day.

 

[dawnball]

Oh, I get it. I had a little two year old friend who couldn't get ENOUGH of The Haunted Mansion. Just curious what kids are generally not into. I'm guessing Tower of Terror might be a concern for his kids, but maybe not. I guess I can show them videos but don't want to do that for a lot of rides and remove some of the surprise.

Hard to say - mine loved Tower of Terror at 7. Three times on RnR then twice on ToT before park opening. However, he's a coaster/thrill ride junkie and is just biding his time until he's 54" tall for "better rides."