uuugggghhhhh.....Just the thought of taking 4 year old and 2 year old twins

[Texas2Disney]

The DW and I loved taking our DS to Disney when he was 18 months, and now we're dying to take our 18 month twin DDs. However, just the thought of them all at a park is extremely overwhelming. It's difficult just to take them out to eat. Has anyone had the privilege of taking three kids under 5 to Disney? If so...HOW?

 

[Dinohood]

I do not have kids but I think you should wait if you think it is overwhelming and saying it is difficult to take them out to eat. Wait try your state fair if it is going on right now as a test run for a big them park.

 

[Criickette]

Well, I don't have experience yet but can report back in a few weeks. We have three girls...4,2, and 6 months. My biggest fears are: the two year old getting scared in enclosed ride and ruining it for other guests...and...pushing a double stroller through the crowds. All three are Disney obsessed (yes, 6mth old even adores Mickey and Minnie already) so I am very excited but nervous.

 

[mcjaco]

Our first trip with kids was with our 15 month old twins, and our nephew at 11 months. It was totally chaotic, and that was more due to all the grandparents coming with. We couldn't keep them contained. The kids were fine!

 

[lovewdwfun]

I have taken kids at 5, 3, and infant age before. We go every year, starting when the oldest were 2 and 8 months, respectively. This year we are going with an 8, 6, 3, and 3 month old. We have always had a great time...but, if you can't manage the kids in a restaurant there is no way I would take them to Disney. We take our kids out at least once a week to a restaurant or somewhere they need to behave. We are all used to it. If you already think of it as overwhelming, it probably will be. Why not wait until they are potty trained?

If you do go, PLAN. Get to parks before rope drop, go to the most recommended parks, make ADRs six months in advance, and take afternoon breaks. Make a detailed packing list. Pack kid's outfits individually in plastic bags to make getting ready easier and always have a spare in your diaper bag. Pick strollers that are easy to collapse for the bus. Understand you will need a lot of breaks and while you need a good plan of attack (FP+, ride order, etc), that it will not go according to plan and your kids may hate characters or be afraid of rides.

Why not plan a trip for a year or year and a half from now? Disney takes a while to plan anyway. At that age, your kids will be able to understand things like standing in line better.

 

[happymommy]

I have to agree - if it is truly difficult to take them out to eat currently, how will you manage to enjoy doing this at Disney?

It really depends on your family & if you are used to handling your kids away from home.

I've taken my kids solo many, many trips, and often traveled with them without my husband. So, I was used to for instance, flying with a 3 month old and a 2 year old alone. Took them to Disney solo when they were 4 and 6. Also went with a friend without husbands when her boys were 8, 6, and twin 5 year olds, so she had all 4 boys and herself in their room. It was super fun! She was very laid back, and they knew what was expected of them in terms of bedtime and all.

We don't do many sit down meals at Disney - not that they're not good or that my kids wouldn't behave, but I like to be a little less planned in that regard. The character meals aren't something that I seek out ever. Still, you have to figure out at CS places how to maneuver the double stroller to a table then go get the food - yours are too young for this, but I would have my kids sit and wait at the table while I got our food. That's how we did it, and it worked fine.

I'd recommend lots of planning, stick to the normal eat, sleep routines that you keep at home (regular bedtimes, even if it means you don't see fireworks), a GOOD double stroller so that they can fall asleep in it, and being willing to compromise (don't get your heart set on them loving something then find out they are afraid or decided to take a nap).

 

[Mousemommy1]

You know your kids best. If you don't think you can handle it, or that it won't go well, wait until you are ready.

DH and I waited until our daughters were 3 and 5 before taking them for the first time. We thought that taking an infant sounded like a nightmare, so we refused to do it. But after several trips, we found ourselves saying it wouldn't have been so bad.

Fast forward to today, and our son who is 19 months has already been to Disney 2 times (3 if you count in the womb, lol) and our trips with him have been perfectly fine.

 

[smiths02]

We took a 9 year old and 2 year old twins. I don't think I could go with 3 under 5 unless grandparents or something were coming along (and were the type of grandparent who helps a lot).
Even with the 9 year old and 2 year old twins...just a few hours a day was enough like 9am-lunch, then nap, then maybe dinner (but getting back out for dinner was hard)

Advice would be to practice at places like the local zoo, etc.
Other advice would be to stick together. The 4 year old might be tall enough for some rides or you might want to ride some thrill rides, but with I would just all stick together and skip rider swap.

Oh, and know that it will be something the kids have fun doing...they will remember a little while...they won't remember forever. It will be something you have fun doing and remember forever, but it will NOT be a vacation for you. It will be work. Take enough days off work so you can prepare before and decompress after.

A grocery delivery service or Amazon Prime will be your friend.

I took them again this summer at 10, 3, and 3...it was more enjoyable.

I have taken kids at 5, 3, and infant age before. We go every year, starting when the oldest were 2 and 8 months, respectively. This year we are going with an 8, 6, 3, and 3 month old. We have always had a great time...but, if you can't manage the kids in a restaurant there is no way I would take them to Disney. We take our kids out at least once a week to a restaurant or somewhere they need to behave. We are all used to it. If you already think of it as overwhelming, it probably will be. Why not wait until they are potty trained?

If you do go, PLAN. Get to parks before rope drop, go to the most recommended parks, make ADRs six months in advance, and take afternoon breaks. Make a detailed packing list. Pack kid's outfits individually in plastic bags to make getting ready easier and always have a spare in your diaper bag. Pick strollers that are easy to collapse for the bus. Understand you will need a lot of breaks and while you need a good plan of attack (FP+, ride order, etc), that it will not go according to plan and your kids may hate characters or be afraid of rides.

Why not plan a trip for a year or year and a half from now? Disney takes a while to plan anyway. At that age, your kids will be able to understand things like standing in line better.

I agree with a lot of this.

Know that you will pay thousands of dollars and they will remember that they saw a duck or played in a pool.

I would say another piece of advice would be to drive everywhere except maybe the Magic Kingdom. Especially if you only have 2 adults. Between the stroller and the stuff we had stored in the stroller, I don't know if we could have managed more than 2 children who needed help sitting on a bus.

 

[Jaime4004]

Mine have all been going since birth. They were 4, 2 and and infant when they were the under 5 crowd. Just DH and I with them. It was loads of fun (not sarcastic) and not much different than any other time we've gone, just different focus (more on princesses or disney jr, etc). The double stroller was our best friend (though I'm sooooo glad we're out of that stage now. It was a lifesaver at the time but not something i'd want to lug around forever!). But i'm with some PP, if they were a handful in restaurants, I wouldn't be going to disney yet. Vacations are supposed to be fun, not stressful.

 

[Mshap001]

Every family is different. We are here now and kids are 7 and 4 year old twins and it is fun but a ton of work. I would not have done it when they were any younger. You will need strollers for all 3. However, at that age, all my kids were on a similar schedule with naps and bedtime so different planning than this trip.

I also had a sick kid today and we were able to split up and one of us stayed with 2 and the other parent took the other little one back to the room. Don't think that would have worked as well when they were younger.

That said, if under 3 you aren't paying for them. I think it depends on expectations. I expected someone to be sick, and naps and some early bedtimes. I am sure if you asked one of my kids his favorite part of the trip it would be a tie between the pool, monorail and lizards. I'm ok with that

 

[msb578]

Every family is different. We are here now and kids are 7 and 4 year old twins and it is fun but a ton of work. I would not have done it when they were any younger. You will need strollers for all 3. However, at that age, all my kids were on a similar schedule with naps and bedtime so different planning than this trip.

I also had a sick kid today and we were able to split up and one of us stayed with 2 and the other parent took the other little one back to the room. Don't think that would have worked as well when they were younger.

That said, if under 3 you aren't paying for them. I think it depends on expectations. I expected someone to be sick, and naps and some early bedtimes. I am sure if you asked one of my kids his favorite part of the trip it would be a tie between the pool, monorail and lizards. I'm ok with that

At 5, 2, 2 we took them on a mostly parkless WDW trip. We did those "exciting" things that cost almost nothing extra Then on the last day, we did MK open to close. They were well-rested for that big day because we took it easy before that.

Of course, we also went at 3, 11 mos, 11 mos. We had lots of park days planned, but everyone took turns getting sick. So, yeah.

 

[roseaster]

2 year olds are odd creatures (I've had 5) If I were you I would wait a year. If a restaurant is overwhelming WDW will be triple that. It is the land of over-stimulation.

A normally difficult 2 year old can turn into a raving lunatic with all the stimulation.

 

[kcp1377]

The first time we went with the kids we had a 5 year old, twin 4 year olds and twin 10 month olds. It was a great trip and we loved it so much that we went back as soon as we could. We took it slow, let the kids set the pace. We don't sit down to eat much (which isn't something we missed). We packed soft coolers with food and snacks that were easy and quick to eat. We spent a lot of time at the pool. And walking around, just enjoying the atmosphere. We didn't need grandparents or help and had a great time. The key for us was to know our limits and not to expect to do everything. We also scheduled plenty of resort time in general and only a few days at the parks.

 

[TreeFalls]

I understand your hesitation, two year olds are so hard- we are going soon with 5, 3, and non-mobile infant. I keep saying we are not going back until infant is at least 3. I do not want to do WDW with a toddler (let alone two!). But, if you were willing to take it slow and be really flexible, it would work. Would also save money on park tickets compared to waiting a year.

I'd also say it depends a lot on the 4 year old- if he is generally compliant and eaygoing, it would be ok. If he is strong-willed or prone to tantrums, could be a mess.

 

[Gorechick]

I waited until my twins were 7 before we took them. They were able to sit at restaurants and eat a variety of foods, they walked at all the parks (we had trained in our neighborhood to build walking stamina), and they were tall enough to go on most rides. The trip was a blast!

 

[100AcreWood]

I have three kids (8 and up now) and I understand your comment about restaurants being difficult. Honestly having taken kids at various ages (but not managing twins -wow!) I would wait another 6 months before attempting Disney. I found they could understand and follow directions better at 2 years old and I wasn't constantly in chase mode. I think at this point you would need a vacation from the vacation.

I know it's hard to wait!!!

 

[monorailsilver]

When you say difficult to take them out to eat is it that they are misbehaved? Or that all the things you have to bring for them...bins, diapers, sippy cup, change of clothes, etc...

If they are misbehaved, I'd wait because I dread being places with misbehaved kids and this is coming from a mother of 3 and my youngest is 10. Even when they were smaller and we'd be out and there would be horrid kids I'd cringe as mine were good (sit them next to each other in the car, well that's a different story).

If it's all the stuff that you need to take them, then go for it. I took a bag for the stroller. It had the diapers, a zip lock bag of wipes (smooshes and holds the entire package), maybe a shirt (we do mid day breaks so lunch meant we go right back to our room after), a few snacks that did not always get eaten, sun screen, etc.... I replenished the bag every am so it wasn't overwhelming.

We always eat breakfast in our room, which is low key. I ship foods down like cereal, pop tarts, bring bagels, bowls, cups, utensils. They eat while dh and I take turns showering. We are out the door by 7-7:15 on park days.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Cupcakesmum]

We took ours for the first time at 6,4,2 and 10 months. For us the key was 2 double strollers and my mom. My mom is a senior but with lots of energy and patience. She was so great for the extra hands and eyes and could stay its a napping child in a stroller. We also needed the extra pair of hands at meals. We stuck mainly to quick service - a sit down meal is no fun if the kids won't sit down. We stayed at at Art of Animation and it was fantastic. We stuck with the transportation and DME. We loved it so much we went back the next year and this will be our 3 rd year in a row. Also you MUST go in a ole season or have an excellent rope drop plan. You can't reason with kids that age. Rides need to be a walk on or close.

 

[Dis703]

We took all three kiddos when my twins were 22 months old and ODS was 4. We drove from NJ and brought my sister for an extra set of hands. It really went far smoother than I had anticipated, especially the drive to get there.

We went again a year later, and a year after that, without the extra help and it wasn't bad at all. The biggest pain is getting everyone to cooperate in the morning and get dressed, eat, etc. so we can make it to the park at a decent hour. But I actually find Disney easier with the kids, than the average family outing, because it keeps them very interested. It also helps that I've been so many times now that I feel like a pro.

 

[kjw42]

I was pretty nervous about taking our DS3 since he can be a handful. He was good as gold the entire time, despite no naps. I wish he was that well behaved everywhere we went. Must have been Disney magic.