WDW "Training" for DD2 in Dec.

[cgorn]

Just wanted to share this... We are taking our daughter, who will be 2 when we go, to WDW in Dec. In the meantime, we have done several things pretty much since she was born to prepare her for this event, including:

-Went to a Reading Phillies baseball game to expose her to mascots, since one never knows how a baby will react to giant animals and stuff.

-Went to World of Disney in Manhattan (we live in Philly) when she was 8 mos old. They had character greetings at the time (the discontinuted that unfortunately). She met Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto -- with great success!

-Took her on several carousels to prepare her for waiting in line, sitting still while waiting for a ride to start, sitting still *on* the ride and when it's done, and not crying when being removed from the ride

-Consistently feed her a healthy dose of Playhouse Disney. She definitely knows who the main characters are now. Next step: Classic and Pixar movies

-Took her to a Playhouse Disney Live! show to ensure she wouldn't be confused by a 6' Mickey walking among normal-sized adults with singing and dancing, not to mention crowds

-Yesterday, we went to Sesame Place to again test ride patience as well as in-park nap capability, show behavior, and revisit character greetings and photos. We also watched a parade and went on some wet attractions. We also arrived before rope drop to test early-morning patience and our own timing as parents (to get up, get ready, eat breakfast, etc. early enough to make a park opening).

Are we taking this too seriously? WDW is such a big deal and so expensive we just want to make sure we're not going to get there and have a kid who won't meet characters, wait in lines, sit for shows, etc. We don't plan on pushing her at all, but we want to encourage her to do things we already know she'd probably like.

The next step would be to find some kind of dark ride somewhere. Nothing like that at Sesame Place.

Anyone else do the same?

--Chad

 

[delmar411]

well at least these are all fun 'training' activities!

You might be taking it a bit seriously but whatever works for your family.

 

[Reese'smom]

Nah, I think what you're doing is great! We've tried to "train" DD some too. she'll also be 2 when we go. We've been watching lots of Disney movies!

 

[cgorn]

well at least these are all fun 'training' activities!

You might be taking it a bit seriously but whatever works for your family.

Well, we're not keeping a report card or anything, and some of these things were realized in hindsight, but I think I may have a new idea for Disney Imagineering: Theme Park "Boot Camp" in different areas of the country. You could have the "line ride" like in the Simpsons (I think it was in Itchy and Scratchy Land). You could have a carousel that takes an unreasonable amount of time to start and stop. You could have a dark ride that always gets stuck in the middle.

Now if I see the idea, I'll know that Imagineers read this!

Chad

 

[MonkersMama]

Hilarious! Love the training activities. I ought to get started with DD - she'll be 17 mo when we get there...in 90 days!

 

[cgorn]

I forgot the most important thing... While at Sesame Place, we also learned that it is possible for our DD to take a productive nap in her stroller (which we intend to bring to WDW) in the middle of the day, in the heat (with sunscreen, and going in the shade or inside most of the time), with noise all around. It helped that we bought a decent lightweight reclining stroller a couple months ago.

Chad

 

[ktlm]

You're doing great!!! We took DD for her 1st visit at 2 years 10 months. The thing that worked out the best for us was that she had a set of little board books and also a bunch of little golden books that had all of the Disney characters. Some of the movies are too intense and scary at that age, but with the books, she knew who all the characters were even if she had not seen their movies yet. She went absolutely nuts when she saw all the characters from her books were alive. Of course, the down side was since she knew all the characters, if she saw one, she just had to get in line to hug them and get a picture! We learned to spot them first, block her view, and run out of the area, if we didn't want to stop right then.

 

[Picabo]

I think it's great if both parents are on board with all that prepping. My husband however would think I'd gone nuts! Our DDs will be 2 1/2 and not quite 4 when we go in December and I've slowly been "brainwashing" them with Disney movies! The princesses were simple - DD3 looooves all the princesses and while some of the movies are too scary, she still loves the books, etc. As a result DD1 also loves princesses. I'm now trying to warm them up to Pooh but for whatever reason neither of them seem to be huge Pooh and friends fans. (Sadly, b/c I do plan to go to Crystal Palace b/c MOMMY loves Pooh and friends) They watch Pooh and Darby, etc on Playhouse Disney and I've also tried classic Pooh. I have no clue why they don't like those characters much. But they love the Fab 5, thank goodness. And Alice. I think just famaliarizing them with all the characters will make it seem so much more magical to them when they get there and see those who they "know" from their books/movies.

I've also warmed the younger one up on the carousel here at the mall. 6 mos ago she was terrified of going on it and now she loves it! But I have YET to get her to the point where she doesn't scream when we have to get off so Kudos to you for succeeding on that!

Have you shown yours the Disney Sing Along DVD's? Those are great too for kids to see the diff in size between kids and the characters. Plus they are all over the parks!

Great job!!! I'm glad that you and your spouse are both enjoying the training process!

 

[geniegirl]

We did the same thing, went to a ball game, to a few smaller parks, rode rides, and watched movies. He was ready at 18 months and we had a great trip. The first parade he saw we thought he was going to have a heart attack, it was very cute and it melted out hearts. He ran to all the meet and greets, napped well, and had a blast the whole week. I only hope the 2nd trip goes as well.

 

[LORI522]

I put in a second vote for the "Disneyland Fun" Sing Along Songs DVD. It is set at Disneyland in the late 80's so some of the rides are outdated, but I think it really helped my 22 month old son not be surprised with the size of the actual characters. Also, you will notice many of the songs being played in the background once you get to MK. Six months later, my son still requests that DVD.

 

[Figment1990]

We "trained" also. Well, we planned to and then whoops, ended up going on a last minute trip before all "training" was completed.

One thing we definitely trained really well on was sleeping nights in the pack n play. For about a week before we left, we started DS sleeping in the pack n play in his room at home to get him used to it. Worked like a charm. We just went to visit the in-laws a few weeks ago and didn't "transition" to the pack n play at home and it was a disaster.

Even though we watched the movies and playhouse disney - we found that it was the music that he most recognized (and mickey, of course). We have several of the classic disney cd's (the older ones from the 90s) and I never would have guessed how into the Little Mermaid show he ended up being. But he hears three of the main songs several times a week, so I guess he recognized it.

Couple other things to mention about "training" and naps. Bring a 'chip clip' to keep the curtains closed during daytime nap times. Bring a monitor if you want to sit on the balcony while he naps b/c if you leave the door open it's too loud, if you close it, you can't hear a peep from inside. And finally, the very quietest place in all of Disney world has to be at the beginning of Main Street, where the old disney shorts play, right by the photo place and Tony's. I can't remember the name of it specifically. He may not nap in the stroller, but it's a very quiet, cool place for calming down.

Ooh! One more thing. Mickey, Minnie and Donald are actually pretty short. They are still tall to a 2 year old, but they are probably more like 5 - 5 1/2 feet rather than 6. I was surprised at how small they looked, actually. Goofy and pluto are taller.

Another thing - the character meet & greet in Epcot that is inside has a bunch of characters and you only have to wait in line once. And you are indoors. Which you will really appreciate. And I think they have cartoons on tvs as well. Also, the Pooh and Tigger meet in Fantasyland is not inside, and the line when we were there was ridiculously long (like 45-60 minutes or more). Never again. I plan to do crystal palace if DS wants to see them next time! Buzz & Woody are in Pixar place - INSIDE. Buzz is also in tomorrowland, inside. We found Davy Crockett Donald right in frontierland with little wait and Stitch & Lilo are in AK.

Finally I would suggest a lot of meals out at restaurants if you plan to do any table service meals. Just to get her used to it. We did that and it helped. Also a trip to the zoo is a nice precursor to Animal Kingdom. Maybe a parade if you plan to see one and maybe fireworks on the 4th of July or a ballgame if you are going to see any in WDW.

Good luck and have fun "training"!

 

[2shortpeopleruleme]

We are doing the same thing! Our YDD will be one month shy of 2 when we go. We have already started eating out at buffets and have had one sit down dinner out. It helps DH and I figure out what works best to keep her occupied while waiting.

We have also been doing outings to the zoo, aquarium etc to get her used to crowds and noise. This month we are going to start using her safety purse.

I think you are doing everything right. It is better to try out different things in a controlled enviroment when home is 5 miles away not 500!!

 

[dismom2-3]

So funny to think of that!.....and so smart! Mom and Dad should practice packing a diaper bag, and unloading the stroller very quickly to get on buses,trams etc. and you will have it all covered. Oh, Sesame has fireworks near the fourth, the NOISE is scary to some, maybe buy some earplugs if it is a problem for your little one, that will be a good test. I also agree with the pp who suggested eating out often, restaurants offer lots of "training" activities! Have a good time!

 

[SaraJayne]

I guess I'll be the lone dissenting voice.

Yes, I do believe you're taking it way too seriously ~ that, or you're pulling our leg.

Regardless of how well she's "trained", she may still act up on your trip. Toddlers are known for being unpredictable.

 

[mwatson011]

I think that's great! We took our girls (2&3) in January with no special training, and I though the world was going to come to an end when the characters visited us at Tusker House breakfast! After that, they got used to them and we had a fine trip. They had already seen fireworks, and the lines weren't long at all, so that was great. We are going back in December and we are already in training...TO WALK!...Believe me, those girls were pooped every night, and it was pretty tough walking and carrying a sleeping tot when you are about to fall asleep too! So, we started walking the neighborhood this week, and will continue at least 5x per week (we are only at 1/2 mile right now) until it gets too cold here to walk, then we will walk with the seniors at the mall in the morning That is the only thing it looks like you are missing...

 

[marlynnp]

You should go walking.
A lot.
Get her up to a mile or two a day.

 

[tink76]

You sound just like me! We are taking DD for the first time in September and she will be 2. We have taken her around characters and on rides (six flags) watched movies, she loves playhouse disney esp. mickey mouse clubhouse. I even put on some of the travel channel Disney shows and we get excited when we see the characters and the castle LOL I figure I can prep her the best I can and that is that. If she doesn't do well it is okay but I know I did all I could

 

[rie'smom]

I guess call ours beginner's luck. We took our daughter when she was 2 without any preplanning and she loved everything. The characters-she loved all of them and made a friend of the Red Queen. The rides- rode everything that fit her height requirements, loved all of the people she met. We were asked to be a part of the the celebration at the Pepto castle. It was a perfect trip.
That trip was in 1996 and we've been every year but 1 since then.

 

[jezaduck24]

I think this is a fantastic idea and something DH and I have discussed since booking our trip. We are more concerned about DS 3 's reaction to all of the stimuli and noise but do have concerns about everyone's stamina in the sun. We are walking nightly, exposing both DS and DD 22mo to Disney shows and books, eating out some, and having conversations about what we will see and do in September. Please understand, I have no illusion that we will be meltdown-free. I just want my kids to not be so overwhelmed they are miserable.
I hope everyone has great trips, no matter which route you take!

 

[allison443]

I guess I'll be the lone dissenting voice.

Yes, I do believe you're taking it way too seriously ~ that, or you're pulling our leg.

I agree with you...it was this part that got me:

"Yesterday, we went to Sesame Place to again test ride patience as well as in-park nap capability, show behavior, and revisit character greetings and photos"