Traveling With Child - Tips for a Single Dad??

[tygersclaw]

What are your plans for pictures of the two of you on the trip?

You might want to get PhotoPass+ (PP+).
Info here..... http://www.disneyphotopass.com/specialoffers/dlrppp.htm

It states 14 days for delivery. However, each time I've ordered it, its' arrived in about a week. Not sure how it would be for delivery to Canada.
If you decide to order PP+, print off a copy of you order. If it comes to travel time and it hasn't arrived don't worry. Just take the copy of your order to the camera shop.

Geemo

Hi Geemo.

I ordered my PhotoPass + last week and it has been shipped. Hoping it will arrive on time as most mail from the USA (both my DD mom and her late Great-Grandmother live in the USA) takes between 10 to 12 business days to arrive.

 

[Mysteryincorp]

We just flew to Florida with our almost 5 year old.
Things that worked for us.......
We let her run and jump as much as possible before boarding. We played games walking down the terminal, hopping skipping etc. anything to get out some energy.
MORE SNACKS!!!!!!! We had fruit, nuts, crackers, etc.... Also a lollipop for taking off and landing to help with ears popping.
Download a movie or two for the IPad, preferably a new one she hasn't seen.
The way there was brutal. She was so excited I couldn't keep her focused on anything, we had movies, snacks, coloring and activity books. It was a long, long flight. Changing up her activities and snacks helped a little. Movie, coloring, snack, rinse and repeat.
The way home was a breeze. She watched two movies and then fell asleep for about an hour.

Have fun!

 

[tygersclaw]

1. Don't forget to bring those headphones into the park with you.
My DD is 4-yrs and is by no means sensitive to sounds and I've found that she NEEDS the headphones for Fantasmic. WOC and the Fireworks shows. The show sounds are just so loud for her little ears. I think it will help your little one.

2. I assume you're flying Alaska Air from Canada - they still offer family pre-boarding so make sure you take advantage of that so you are in seats either near the front for faster exit or near the restroom.

3. If your daughter does get plugged up ears, ask the flight attendant for 2 styrofoam cups a few napkins and hot water. You put the napkins in the hot water then into the cups and hold them over your daughters ears and "pop" them with the steam. Sounds weird but it works, I've done it a few times on my little one.

4. Have her favorite blankie to being on the plane in case she wants to sleep (and planes get cold) and she will have it at the hotel.

5. The Anna & Elsa boutique makeover is going to add a lot of sparkle and hairspray to her hair. If you want it to last until the next day for the parks. have her sleep with a towel over the pillow so there is less chance of glitter sticking to her face. To refresh her style the next day have a spray bottle of water and spray and restyle the hair. This is important, Dad!

6. We bring only one or 2 favorite toys and I buy cheap ones at the dollar store to bring because things get lost!

Enjoy your Daddy and Daughter trip!! I bet anything you do will be amazing to her. Just make sure she gets rest and stays on her sleep schedule. I remember taking trips just with my Dad when I was little and they always made me feel like he CHOSE to spend time with me and I remember feeling so special

I plan to take professional ear plugs with us to the USA (I own a DJ company in Canada and work with live sound, and loud sound, regularly).

Actually flying American Airlines direct flight from YEG. I believe they also do the same as Alaskan and Westjet for those traveling with children.

Never heard of that one before but, I will keep it in mind. THANKS!!

Unfortunately she does not have a favorite blankie. Heck she has not napped for darn near 3 years. I though using my coat would be not only warm, but comforting for her.

I was also thinking of a hairnet for her hair overnight, but the idea of a towel is a good one. Thanks!

Toys we are bringing are mostly for the flight/shuttle to and from LAX. Knowing her, she will be all over the Disney Apps I loaded on the iPad (yes including Frozen ones) and I am hoping that a 2-3 hour nap at the hotel will be prescription we can both fulfill.

I am a single dad (mom currently lives in Memphis, and is moving to Honolulu the weekend before we travel to DLP) so for us, it will be special daddy/daughter days, or, well, slightly different that those we usually have.

 

[tygersclaw]

We just flew to Florida with our almost 5 year old.
Things that worked for us.......
We let her run and jump as much as possible before boarding. We played games walking down the terminal, hopping skipping etc. anything to get out some energy.
MORE SNACKS!!!!!!! We had fruit, nuts, crackers, etc.... Also a lollipop for taking off and landing to help with ears popping.
Download a movie or two for the IPad, preferably a new one she hasn't seen.
The way there was brutal. She was so excited I couldn't keep her focused on anything, we had movies, snacks, coloring and activity books. It was a long, long flight. Changing up her activities and snacks helped a little. Movie, coloring, snack, rinse and repeat.
The way home was a breeze. She watched two movies and then fell asleep for about an hour.

Have fun!

I do plan to bring things to snack on, but, as we are flying in from Canada I have to be careful with what we have in our carry on bags as some foods are not allowed. I plan to have her cereal bars (kinda like granola bars) in carry one, possibly get some Cheerios once we clear customs.

Unfortunately her iPad is a older 16 GB iPad 2 that is full and although we worked together to delete some apps, there is not enough space for any movies. But she has lots and LOTS of educational, as well as just fun games/apps to play with.

 

[wildflower329]

Unfortunately her iPad is a older 16 GB iPad 2 that is full and although we worked together to delete some apps, there is not enough space for any movies. But she has lots and LOTS of educational, as well as just fun games/apps to play with.

One thought about apps is that when you delete them off the ipad, they are still in your iTunes account. Ours is an older 16GB iPad too, and we just picked our favorite games/apps, deleted the rest, made sure the photos/videos were loaded on our computer, and then we were able to put a movie on there as well. Then, when we got home, we got rid of the movie, and re-synced all of our apps.