What do you bring for your kids?

[Beth E. (NJ)]

And how old are they?

The reason I'm asking is that people bring special things for kids at different ages.

My kids are 5 and 8. When we go I'm bringing waist pouches for both of them. I did it when my older was 5 1/2. She was able to carry her own autograph book and pen along with her disposable camera, some chapstick, juice pouch, snacks and some pennies for presses pennies.

She loved having her own "stuff."

We are bringing an unbrella stroller for the younger one. I think this will cut down on the whining. Disney involves a ton of walking and I know my legs are tired by the end of the day. Normally I would never use a stoller for a 5 year old at home, but this is different.

What do you bring?

 

[Disneyolic]

It's going to be tough on me this time since it's the first time I'm taking my boys. They are 4 and 2½ yo.

I plan on taking our big Graco Duo-Glider stroller. I bought a small collapsable cooler that has outer pockets. I think it will be great for our trip down too. Plan on putting juice boxes in it along with probably goldfish crackers and/or other snacks (not sure what kind yet). We bought Pal Mickey already - hopefully they won't fight over it. I don't plan on having them carry anything because I know that won't last. I've started saving pennies and quarters for pressed pennies. I think they will both love that.

I'm sure I'll live and learn and know better next time.

~DawnMaree

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our 3 ds are older now , 15,13 and 11. Now my total focus is snack, snacks, more snacks and a bunch of gatorade powder, enough to fill a duffel bag with all that stuff. When they were little I would say every conceivable over the counter medication I could think of since someone always got something, sunburn, fever, ear drops for the pool, rash ointment, itch ointment for the bugs etc, bandaids etc. You get the picture. Also could have used some shout wipes. A nice cm gave me one at chef mickeys , right after middle dh dumped something on his nice white t shirt just before the pictures with the characters. We had to hide him behind them just so the pictures wouldnt look bad. I also got the nicest compliments from alot of guests who saw little ds mickey hat in the magic kingdom once. So many people kept coming up to us and saying where did you get that etc. I said, sorry target back home. So I feel if you dont want to have alot of wining and crying over souveniers get some cheap stuff from home and bring it with you and only allow a few special treats. Really helps the budget too.

 

[jdads2]

We all started with our own fanny packs. My kids were 5,8 and 11 on our first trip. Towards the end of the trip we didn't need or want to carry anything into the parks, the kids had so many autographs they really didn't seem very interested in getting any more on this trip. On the kids second trip they wore lanyards for pin collecting, an evil, evil hobby, again toward the end of the trip they would only carry special or tradable pins.

 

[tink&cinderella]

My girls will be 5 1/2 and 21 months when we go in January/February 2004. Last January I took my then 4 1/2 year old on her own for a special mother/daughter trip and we made sure we had her spillproof cup, her own fanny pack with her autograph book and pen, princess bandades, a shout wipe or two and a travel pack of kleenex.

This next trip we'll be having to take a stroller. My 4 1/2 year old was great during our last trip and walked literally from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. She usually fell asleep in the bus on the way home. This trip, we bought a light weight stroller by Kinderco that folds like an umbrella stroller, but has a shoulder strap for easy carrying, two reclining positions and a sun and rain cover. We will likely take our knapsack which converts into a rolling suitcase with a handle instead of a diaper bag for the many extra's we will need for this trip. I contemplated taking our regular stroller but we will be going on the Disney Cruise following our week at the World and it is my understanding that the cabins on the ship are not particularly big.

We also buy many Disney stickers so that at night my daughter decorates her Autograph book to the Character's signature - this way when she takes her book to school for show and tell, she is able to talk about who signed her book.

 

[drcmk]

Where have you found kid-sized fanny packs? Or have you just figured out how to adjust the adult sized ones? The only kids fanny packs I have seen are the novelty plush ones that don't hold much and would probably get very hot. My kids both have a Coleman fanny pack in their size that holds a water bottle. I don't know if I will bring them, though. I'm not sure they could support the water bottle (my kids are 5&7 but on the small side) and they don't hold much else. I'd like it if they could both at least hold some snacks and small toys to keep them occupied in lines or restaurants.

I am going to play it by ear in terms of the stroller decision. My 5yo has tiny legs and little endurance so she will likely require a stroller at least at AK and Epcot. It is nice to have the extra storage space, too. I think I'll start out giving each girls turns in the stroller, but if need be I would be willing to rent a double stroller for days that will require lots of walking.

 

[MinnieGi]

Our upcoming Oct. trip will be DD's (3 yo) fourth time. Although I carry all of her necessities like sippy cup etc. in her stroller we do bring her special Disney things from home that she uses and wears each trip. We bring and she wears her pink Minnie Ears on some days and other days her Minnie headband. She has a Beauty and the Beast and a Winnie-the-Pooh light-up spin toy for night time in the parks and at parades. We all have these cool Mickey light up necklaces that we got at MGM and bring with us each trip. We also bring from home her princess dresses to wear to special meals like CRT. Last year she had Belle and Cinderella. This year she is a different size and we recently bought the new Belle dress. And I told her we could purchase one more dress before our dress. She'll wear these again on our Feb. trip and possibly next fall too! Bringing these special Disney things from home and on each trip really cuts down on sourvenier expenses.

 

[KathyFP]

I had the same question. Previous trips DD did not carry anything. We used a backback that we stored under the stroller. This year we will probably take the stroller, but there might be times when we won't.

I have thought about her having a little backpack.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

The one I have (and I just got a second one) is the waistsack from Coleman.

I bought the original one at Target, but the one near me no longer carries it. I bought the sedond one from their website.

I did have to shorten the strap when my daughter was younger. I bought heavy duty thread and moved the buckle. It was perfect for her. I could hold her stuff with ease and she thought it was really cool.

You can find it here: http://www.coleman.com/coleman/c4k2k/frame.asp?page_id=1012 Then click on "kids soft coolers and water carriers." It's the "Deluxe H20 fannypack.

 

[sanilacjack]

Where did you find such a neat stroller. I did a search on the net and pulled up nothing??

I'm really interested.

Thanks,
Kim