In a scant two weeks, we are hitting the house of the mouse for a mini family vacation and my big race. I’m pretty excited, and I think the kids are going to have a blast. But I turn to you, dear internets, for tips on handling Disney World with two 2.5-year-olds.
We are staying on resort property (not on the monorail). We will be there basically 3 1/2 days. I know that, as the kids are under 3 years old, they do not require park tickets and can even eat off of our plates at restaurants (thanks for that tip!). I have every intention of coming back to the hotel for nap each afternoon. For this trip, I do not plan on leaving WDW to see other Orlando attractions.
Any spots or rides that we should make sure to visit? Just as importantly, any we should absolutely avoid?
While we almost never use a stroller day-to-day anymore, I’m thinking one is critical for the parks. Is it worth it to try to bring the BOB? I know the daily stroller rentals in the parks are pricey ($27/day if you pay in advance), but is it worth it to avoid the hassle of bringing our own?
I did go ahead and make reservations for a character breakfast. They may love it, they may freak out, but I’m taking the chance.
What are your favorite tips and tricks for Disney World with the under-3 set?
The strollers they provide aren’t that great (plastic, hard, bulky) – do you have a double umbrella you can borrow from a MOT for a few days? Mine is a pain to open and close but you can borrow it if you want. I couldn’t make it last night – was working. I know, you’re shocked.
You’ll probably be glad you brought your own stroller in case your flights are delayed, etc. But I agree the Bob seems too bulky for the park. If your kids like animals do animal kingdom – you can see the gorillas up close (near the safari ride). No need to spend mroe than an hour or two there, it’s smaller and gets very crowded by lunch time.
I can’t wait to hear all about your trip and your tips for surviving Disney. We’re hoping to go in another year or two and I’m insisting that we stay in one of the resort hotels.
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Have you considered option 3, which is try to rent a BOB from Babys Away or something similar?
Having just gone to Legoland with kids that are a year older, we had to rent a stroller because they were just exhausted. I wish we had a stroller from the very beginning as it would have given them a lot more time to rest. And if you’re going multiple days, it would give you more time at the park.
The BOB may be overkilling it but they can also nap in it and it’s easy to push around. And I think most of the kiddie rides have stroller parking.
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My daughter is just a month younger than your twins and we live in Florida and have been to Disney a couple times with her recently. The Magic Kingdom was too busy and overwhelming for her. We had to carry her most of the time and she is usually outgoing. The only hit there was the carousel and the balloons. Like Mommy, Esq. – I recommend the Animal Kingdom. It’s more low-key, has plenty to see and is not as difficult to navigate with a kid, stroller, etc. You have a better chance (shorter lines) at meeting the characters at the AK too, if you don’t get your fill of them at the breakfast. (Our daughter was terrified of the characters.) We brought our own stroller each time we’ve been but the last time we said we wouldn’t do that again, we’ll just rent there bc carrying it on the trolley to and from the park was a pain in the butt, so I think the BOB will be way too cumbersome. And actually, our daughter walked most of the time we were at the Animal Kingdom. It was slow, but doable. We never bought food for her either. We packed plenty of snacks, juice & water and she ate off our plate at meals – it’s true, you save a small bundle! Sorry to go on forever, but I wanted to touch on the things you mentioned since we’ve done it before with our little girl. I hope you guys have fun! Bring sweaters – it’s cold down here!! You know, the 50s and 60s! LOL
Linda
Don’t rent a Disney stroller. They are uncomfortable and have almost no storage, plus the resorts are so big, you may well want a stroller at the hotel. I would recommend bringing an umbrella stroller. Alternatively, there are some stroller rental companies that deliver and pick up at your hotel. I haven’t used a rental company, but this one http://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/ is recommended by allears.net ( http://allears.net/pl/infant.htm).
Regarding restaurants, kids under three eat free at Disney buffet restaurants, including a drink! You don’t have to have them eat off your plate or anything like that. It is on the up and up.
Regarding character meals, at 18 months and at 2 1/2 years old, we had mixed results with the fully-costumed characters. The one big success for a character meal was the princess breakfast in Norway in Epcot. The princesses have no masks/heads on so my kids were not scared at all. In fact, as a result of that breakfast, they (particularly my son!) have become quite enamored of the princesses. They still talk about that breakfast.
I left some additional tips directed towards your questions in a recent thread in the MOT boards. Let me know if you want me to forward them.
Your kids will have a fantastic time! Good luck in the race.
The reason I was thinking the BOB is just because it pushes SOOO nicely. It’s just such a pain to get it on the airplane, plus I suspect a pain on the shuttle buses.
Our double-umbrella (maclaren) is kinda funky, which is why I wasn’t thinking of bringing it, but I might be able to clean it so it’s useable…
Does it have to be a double stroller? What about purchasing those cheapo umbrella strollers and just have a 1 adult to 1 kid ratio? (perhaps throw in those stroller clips to put the strollers together for M while you’re running…?)
You might even be able to purchase those down in FL so you don’t have to deal with them on the plane…then find someone to sell (or give them) to when you’re on your way back home.
Just a thought
Have fun!!
I’m so jealous and I can’t wait to hear all about it!!
.-= Nancy´s last blog ..Kelly’s Cake Off For a Cause =-.
oooh – are you renting a car? If you get your tickets for the parks through AAA you can get “diamond” parking – highly recommend it – right next to the handicapped spots, no trolleys necessary at AK or MK.
.-= Mommy, Esq.´s last blog ..I guess she takes after my side of the family =-.
We are going in May and have been planning the trip for a year. I would check out http://www.touringplans.com. I have the book too but I don’t think you need it. Basically they have “touring plans” for all different types of groups (parents with teens, parents with girls ages 4 – 8, parents with small children, etc). They SWEAR they will save you tons of waiting times if you follow their plans. We are totally Type-A people so the idea of a plan/schedule appeals to us in an unnatural way
. Not sure how that sounds to you. They even work in naps in the “young children” touring plan. Check it out. You have to pay to see most of the touring plans but I think it is only ten bucks. Good luck! Can’t wait to see posts about it.
I have absolutely no advice regarding how to handle Disney with under 3s, but I’m so excited that your trip is almost here. I can wait to read all about the race and your vacation!
.-= reanbean´s last blog ..Wake-up Calls =-.
Good luck with the race; we’ll be cheering you on! We took E&A to Disney last June when they were 2.5 and I thought it was a great age to go. Obviously it depends on your kids but I think yours will love it. I know you’re strict about sleep, but we did stay up one night for the parade in the MK (and saw the fireworks from the boat dock on the way back to the car), and we still talk about them. Karen gave me some great suggestions (as she said, repeated in the MOT thread) – one of the best ones I wouldn’t have known otherwise is the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground in Hollywood Studios. And a cool Dinosaur Bones one in the AK. And I was pleasantly surprised that this age (for us) worked well with some of the shows like the Lion King in the AK (though it was loud). I saw lots of people with City Mini rentals from local baby rental companies and that is the way I would go if I were you (we had a stroller already at the grandparents in Florida). Sorry for such a long comment but I know you are a Disney fan and I’m so excited for you to go with your kids!
Getting on & off the shuttles with strollers is a pain. You have to collapse them to transport them on the shuttle buses. Don’t know how easily the BOB collapses, but definitely keep that in mind. I would NOT do the Disney rental – hard plastic and there are difficult to find yours. Single umbrellas are easy because you can go through crowds more easily – but your BOB is probably much better than our double stroller.
They will move strollers while you are in doing things (going to shows, etc). We took brightly colored fabric and tied to our strollers to be able to spot them more easily. Worked great.
Take an extra change of clothes into the parks (for accidents and because there are water play things to do here & there). Have your husband take them to the bathroom (no line in the men’s room!). Look for the baby centers – they have small toilets that don’t automatically flush. Good, quiet, calm place to relax.
My kids loved Mickey’s Toon Town at that age (in Disney World). Characters and the character houses that they could run around and look in & see. Definitely their favorite thing. Carousels, Dumbo Ride, and It’s a Small World were also big hits. My kids also loved the 3D show in DisneyWorld – PhilHarmagic? We had a 50/50 hit rate with characters. One loved them (and we have some wonderful pics) – the other was terrified. Check out the blog – April 2006 for pics.
Hit the parks as early as possible in the morning – take advantage of the Extra Magic Hour if you are on property. Go back for an early nap – and then go back to park in early evening. You’ll miss a lot of crowds that way.
Ok – I’ve done Disney way too many times, huh?
Oops – our trip was April 2007, not April 2006. The kids were just shy of their 3rd bday.
Look what just popped up in my reader: http://multiplesandmore.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-do-walt-disney-resort-with.html
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