WDW with Two year old Twins!!

[MrsValla1715]

Hi everybody, I have a upcoming trip in august for my twin girls 2nd year old birthdays! yay! however this is the first time I'm bringing the twins with me on a two day trip and were staying at the pop century resort. anybody have any tips and tricks or advice for me as a first time mom taking her kiddies to disney world for the first time? kinda nervous and excited and don't really know what to expect. Thanks a ton!!

 

[kj2mom]

My twins are 14 now but when they were younger it was all about taking their cues and going with their flow. I always tried to preempt any potential issues by making sure they slept and ate as close to our normal routine as possible but yet being able to adjust if needed. Anticipating that need for a snack can make a huge difference than waiting one minute too long. I absolutely let them completely control the trip, happy kids meant happy mom. Other than that, just have fun and enjoy experiencing the magic through their eyes!

 

[MrsValla1715]

Thank you so much for the advice @kj2mom

 

[TravelingTotMom]

Are you planning on doing any character meals? Kids under 3 eat for free (off an adults plate) at all Disney buffet and all-you-care-to-enjoy meals, so this might be a great time to experience a first character meal. If you do (or have any other table service meals), call the Disney dining number and ask that they please add a note to your reservation that you are celebrating birthdays. Many times they will bring a cupcake and sometimes a character signed birthday card to your table.

 

[DavidNYC]

Been going with my twins since they were 6 months old. Great trip. Just take a relaxed pace and enjoy. You didn't say whether you had any more adults with you but if you do and want to ride some of the big kid rides - make sure to use rider swap to get on a few of those!

And I agree - character meals are a great value if they'd like those because they're free. Unlike many others - we actually did not go back to the hotel mid-day but let them take naps in the stroller (which is when we did our rider swap rides).

Also - alternate rides with lines with some of the shows. Things like Philharmagic, Dis. Jr., were great to intersperse through the day when you needed time to just sit and watch. (And great for getting out of the sun).

Review the threads on FP+ if you need to see which rides give you the best time savings. I found that at MK - with the addition of getting add'l FP on our phone, we were able to do TONS. Since you're kids won't need FP, you'll probably find tremendous opportunity for a lot of FP for the MK rides so I'd plan yours in the morning/early afternoon. And remember, when you get off one ride, you can look to change your next one earlier!

 

[MrsValla1715]

Thanks for the advice @TravelingTotMom and @DavidNYC this was awesome advice!! I am traveling with my husband and girls godparent to celebrate so the rider swap is a great idea especially when their taking a nap or even at the shows i know it seems silly but i didn't even think of that so thank a lot for that advice! i have booked tusker house and crystal palace both for the two days for dinner. also I'm defiantly going to call disney dining to let them know its the girls birthday

thanks again!

 

[Mikie]

Especially since it's their Bday trip, ditto the advice to go with their flow! When we took my oldest at just under 3, the trip was infinitely different from prior adult-only trips and subsequent family trips as the kids have gotten older. When a toddler/preschooler is the focus of the trip, go slow, let them stare and admire and follow the ducks around if they want to! (Somehow Disney ducks are just so much more fascinating to them than the ducks at home).

When you watch a stage show or fireworks, sometimes take pictures or videos of your kids' faces instead of the show. An older couple once told us that they watched my daughter the entire time intead of the princess stage show in front of the castle because it was such fun to catch the magic from a child's perspective. The next show we watched, we took tons of pictures of her face and those are some of my faves to this day.

Spend a little time thinking about whether you want a double stroller (bulkier, heavier, harder to navigate, but only need 1 adult to drive and park) or two singles (lighter, more maneuverable, but 2 adults needs to mess with them)

Have a great trip!

 

[TravelingTotMom]

i have booked tusker house and crystal palace both for the two days for dinner. also I'm defiantly going to call disney dining to let them know its the girls birthday.

Tusker House is a great choice! We had birthday meals for our son's 1st and 2nd birthdays there.

Since you will be at Animal Kingdom, make sure you spend some time at the Boneyard, which is a themed playground. It's a great place to let them get some energy out. Another attraction there that is often overlooked - which my DS2 LOVES - is the petting zoo at Rafiki's Planet Watch. I think it may be the world's cleanest petting zoo, and they have brushes for the kids to use with the goats. You take a short ride on the Wildlife Express Train to get there. Meeting Mickey and Minnie at the Adventurers Outpost is also a unique experience b/c it is the only place in the parks where you can meet them together.

Also, if your DDs will wear them, you can ask for a birthday pin at your hotel, guest services, or most of the park shops. They will end up getting lots of "happy birthdays" from cast members and guests.

 

[Klayfish]

My twins turn 9 next week...oh where has time gone. We first took them to WDW when they were one. A lot of good advice here. From our experience.

I would use a double umbrella stroller. They fold easy, are relatively light and will do the trick for a short trip. They also usually have good storage underneath for packing the essentials. We never did the trip at their pace, because they were so little and weren't doing much walking anyway. They're just sitting and riding. We did it at our pace. We keyed in on things we knew they'd like, such as Disney Jr., character greetings and more mild rides. When they got tired, they would fall asleep in the stroller. That's when we'd find a shady spot to stop and just have a drink while they napped. Worked like a charm. And yes, watching them explore the magic of Disney at that age is amazing. I have no doubt that those early trips are what burned the thought in their mind that Disney is a magical place to be, and why they love it so much now.

 

[MrsValla1715]

Thanks for all the again for all the advice @Klayfish @TravelingTotMom @Mikie.

Just out of curiosity dad is trying to put them on haunted mansion and pirates of the carribiean ride. I'm on the defense that I'm so sure about it due to the face that it is in the dark and both rides even though not a huge thriller pirates has that small drop slide and haunted mansion has it where it leans all the way back on the ride. i don't want scare them in to a panic attack lol any advice?

thanks again!

 

[Mikie]

Thanks for all the again for all the advice @Klayfish @TravelingTotMom @Mikie.

Just out of curiosity dad is trying to put them on haunted mansion and pirates of the carribiean ride. I'm on the defense that I'm so sure about it due to the face that it is in the dark and both rides even though not a huge thriller pirates has that small drop slide and haunted mansion has it where it leans all the way back on the ride. i don't want scare them in to a panic attack lol any advice?

thanks again!

I was very surprised what my kids were and weren't afraid of when very little. Mine seemed more afraid of simple darkness than the theming specifically and wearing glow bracelets or having a small battery-powered night light (NOT full strength flashlight!) seemed best for that. In fact, 2 of my 3 kids cried more on Winnie the Pooh vs not at all on Pirates. . . I don't know what it was about the entrance of Pooh, but they were really afraid of the dark on that one. As to the small or unexpected movements, we just held hands or had an arm around the kids and if we could tell something was coming up we'd hug a little tighter and make it sound fun "whee! we're spinning!" or "Cool! a splash is coming!"

 

[MrsValla1715]

lol awesome i should try that thanks again! @Mikie

 

[BigRed321]

Congrats on taking ur twins to wdw..My wife and i are going with are 3yr old twin girls in december...

Staying at pofq, due to the smaller size resort and less walking..Also we are during several character dinings(taking advantage of the dining plan)

I would use the fast passes, and rent a double stroller if u are flying..Try getting as many adr's as u can, so the kids want have to wait as long to eat..

Also we are avoiding the haunted mansion and the pirates of the caribean.. Im not taking any chances on scaring them on their first trip..

Have fun on ur trip..

 

[Klayfish]

Only you know them well enough to know what frightens them and what doesn't. Ours loved Pirates and were neutral to Haunted Mansion. Believe it or not, Philharmagic startled them a bit in a few of the scenes, but nothing to the point of making them have a melt down.

 

[WRLeGrand]

I 100% support having a double stroller. We rented one with my boys, 3 and 1 last year, and it was a savior. They save their energy by riding every where. It also provides a nice place to sit and eat their snack.

The rental is relatively cheap and also, there are MANY stroller stations to leave them if you want to walk and explore w/o it for a while! Hope you have a great time!!!

 

[MrsValla1715]

Thanks everyone! @WRLeGrand @Klayfish @BigRed321
We are not flying we are driving but we do have a Britax B-Agile Double Stroller so we are planning to bring that with us. we also have the disney dinning plan and i defiantly want to use that to our advantage!

 

[TravelingTotMom]

DS is 2, and what scares him/doesn't scare him varies by trip (we are passholders).

He's so-so with Pirates, but he will ride it. He really doesn't like the first battle scene with the cannons, and I prepare him ahead of time for the drop at the beginning ("okay, we are going to go down a little hill like a rollercoaster... get ready to go wheee!").

I was surprised that he was okay on the Haunted Mansion (took him right around his 2nd birthday), but I think that is because he loves the Disneyland Fun Sing-a-long video, which shows some of the scenes.

When he seems unsure on rides, I whisper with him and make it more fun/comfortable.

Out of all the rides, the past few trips he has flat out refused to go on the Nemo ride at Epcot. Fireworks also freak him out.

He also once clung to me with his face in my shoulder throughout most of Journey into Imagination... and then said "that was a fun ride!" when it was over.

Two year olds... Just follow their lead...

 

[Mikie]

Just an additional thought on character meals. I LOVE them as a nice break in the A/C and meeting characters without long lines. However. . . do give a thought to your kids' feelings about characters! My nephew was *terrified* of Santa, Easter Bunny, and the PBS character at our local childrens' museum left him shaking in his boots! He tolerated character meals, but didn't eat well, we had to have one parent pick him up and scoot away every time a character came by. We went through this because the other 6 kids/grandkids on the trip loved the meals and poor little guy just had to go along. If he were the only kiddo on a trip, it would have been a big waste to bother with character dining ($$$).

 

[lustergirl]

Interesting thread. I don't have twins but my then two year old grandson will be traveling to Disney with us next year. Have never been with an toddler and I know it will be quite the change for us. I know we won't probably be out late for fireworks because of his age but as well as his brother is autistic and loud noises bother him. I have so much to learn.

I know that we would like to try Chef Mickey's for a ressie. He loves Mickey and watches him constantly on tv now.

 

[MrsValla1715]

I'm going to try both rides and just hope for the best a lot of people are saying the same thing to "follow their lead" i think that what we will do. and i did think of that as far as the characters I'm hoping they will take a liking to them now that they are turning 2 cuz when they were smaller they were scared @Mikie @TravelingTotMom

yay! have fun and good luck! @lustergirl

Anyone with thoughts on going back to on value on site resort for "nap time"??? I'm not sure if it worth it or if i should just stay at the park

thanks again everyone!!