Originally Posted By GMouse My wife and I recently separated and I decided to go ahead with the annual family trip to WDW without her. I have two boys ages 3 and 15. Any tips you all may have regarding travel with toddlers would be much apprecaited. The plane trip alone could be a big challenge. We are staying off-property and will have a rental car for quick get-aways from the parks. I'm bringing my own stroller and car seat to save $$$. We've been to the parks so many times it's not a necessity to see absolutly everything this time. I plan to keep it very relaxed if at all possible. The soon-to-be 3 year old is in his "terrible twos" right now and boy is he terrible. He gets in to everything and is very hyper. My goal is to survive this vacation with as much of my sanity in tact as possible.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub For the plane trip do you have a small dvd player to watch movies or a small computer to play games? Plan on taking a small blanket or security toy for the 3 year old and snacks since the airport and airplane offers expensive choices. Also consider bubblegum or lollipops to help with ear-aches during take-off and landing. At the MK try to arrive before opening because the first hour will be the best oppurtunity to avoid crowding.ANd plan to return to the hotel for afternoon pool/naps. It always amazes me to hear children saying they want to stay at the pool and not go to the parks. It makes me think the local fancy hotel would have been a better choice! Since you have been often you probably know about FP and Extra Mornings and extra magic hours. Will you be staying on property?
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin About the snacks...you can't bring food through security...but the shops between security and boarding sell lots of crackers/chips/snacks/drinks...cost a bit more but still cheaper than the 'snack packs' they sell on the plane....if your little one is prone to motion sickness starting dramamine the night before your flight helps, the key to the whole nausea thing is to take care of it before it starts (I know, I sometimes get car sick in the front passenger seat). And Autopia Deb gave me a good tip about ginger...they almost offer gingerale as one of the drinks on the beveridge cart so just ask if you can have the can, cause they never put enough in those tiny plastic cups....and I didn't have time to look for it but Deb says there is ginger gum that helps too.
Originally Posted By darcy-becker Unless things have changed with the new security procedures since Christmas, you can take food through security just not liquids.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Maybe it depends on which airport...they let TB Man on someplace the other day...he was on two no fly lists...so maybe it depends on what day and who's working...that's a scary thought.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Talk with your 15 year old. Enlist him to help with little bro. Maybe you can offer him an insensitive, like an afternoon by himself at D.Q., or something he usually doesn't get to do. Make him an equal partner in your trip, he may actually appreciate the extra responsibility. You may also want to look into an in-room sitter from a reputable service and have some "man time" with your teen.
Originally Posted By jkayjs If your little man uses a binky make sure it is available for take-off/landing. He is too young for gum but a one of those really well made solid suckers would be ok under supervision. Little ones tend to swallow gum which can cause some pretty serious problems & with a mouth full of teeth those thinner suckers are easily broken into pcs perfect to choke on. There are many great ideas above. I would start playing with him with earphones if he hasn't used them already. It will make his viewing more enjoyable & offers less distractions. Stickers are always a hit with most kids. Maybe a Disney sticker book to get him excited. This also is a good idea for wait times @ the parks. Get the stickers that have the characters & symbols of the parks, have a map of the park your in & have him put a sticker on the rides you have been on. If your 15 yr old doesn't have a cell get one for him for the trip. He could ride SM while you & little man played @ the Pooh Playground. That would help your toddler blow off steam without cutting into his big brother's park time. You've been many times so you know the rides that are family friendly & those that only your older boy will get to ride. It might be just a tad easier for you if you were staying on property just due to geography. It doesn't take much to jump on a bus in the middle of the day to go back to your resort to relax/swim then be back in the parks without much effort. Staying off property requires fighting traffic & cuts into time in the parks. Of course as you've said you have been many times so this may not matter for you. Avoid situations that will only frustrate the both of you like shops with breakables etc. You know all this but just a reminder. TS Island is always a great place of wee ones. We would take the kids over in the afternoon the older ones would run & jump & play while the toddler would lay in a stoller in one of the many cool shaded areas & nap. The backpack harnesses are a great way to keep your toddler safe when he doesn't want to be in the stroller. It will give you control & him a sense of freedom. I hope some of this is helpful. Have a great time enjoying your boys.
Originally Posted By jkayjs BTW I'm pretty sure most if not all airlines allow a certain amt of food/drink for children under a certain age. Check with your airline. I didn't finish my thought about the cell phone. Being able to text each other would make it possible for your older boy to have freedom without you feeling worry. I always have better luck with texting in the parks than calling for some reason. One last thing Birmbaums WDW for Kids might be just the thing to help you.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub ...about the b-gum I just assumed it would not be given to a toddler but thanks for keeping our advice lawsuit-free. And when I said lollipops I meant those big tootsie roll pops that force a child to open their mouth. I was just on a plane with older children(they were traveling alone) and they suffered during takeoff and landing and let me know my advice to yawn wasn't working!!! Although the flight attendants did appreciate me reminding them to say please and thank you. And sometimes I wonder if a pacifier should be the answer for all life's problems...
Originally Posted By GMouse Thanks for the excellent tips. I think I'll bring the laptop and the Toy Story DVD's on the plane they are his favorite movies right now. When I put Toy Story in there's no talking to him he's totally engulfed until the movie is over. Can't wait for him to meet Woody and Buzz "in person". Hadn't thought about the backpack harness, I think that would be very handy with him. I'll have to definatley check into that.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Grow with Me Backpack with Harness by SafeFit available at ToysRUs. Item # 50318 UPC o 1470850318 Also http:/www.safefit.com
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Correction at ToysRUs online the item # (pink)is 25932 and (blue) is 30150 and the cost is 14.99 plus shipping. I forgot to mention I hope your family has a nice trip.
Originally Posted By piratedeb413 GMouse, don't take this the wrong way....it's just an observation...your soon to be 3 year old....perhaps you should leave him home....I can never understand why parents drag their young children off to the parks....I know it's cute, etc. but these kids WON'T remember anything from these trips....it's even worse when you see an infant....seems like a waste of money to me.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb The child may not remember and but the parents will have the memories and that's important too. My sister and BIL take my 2 1/2 YO nephew to DL and he can tell us all his favorite rides and how much he loves going. And the joy of seeing him with the characters is priceless.
Originally Posted By DVC_Pongo My advice is to take a grandmother, or if you can't do that, just man up and do it. They are your kids afterall. How bad can it be?
Originally Posted By Labuda ^^^ Trusts the advice on DVC_Pongo on this more than anyone else she knows. Oh, btw, Pongo - a co-worker of mine's wife is preggers with #9 right now. You've got some catching up to do, sir!
Originally Posted By DVC_Pongo Actually we have officially decided to stop at 7. I have had 2 kids in diapers for 10 years now. It's time to let common sense win out. To the OP, I tetras my reply and I must apologize. I was going for tongue in cheek, but I think I came off as being an offensive bafoon. Sorry. I coomend you and ANY father who (regardless of the sacrifice) puts his children first. You go and have a great time. Slap your young'un in a stroller and walk the mall a bit. Get him used to NOT getting out just because he screams. I have to say, he will stay in the stroller in the parks a lot easier because he will get tired as the day goes, and there is so much to simply look at. You can do it. You'll be fine. Go to bed at an early hour each night when there, and be at the park for rope drop the next morning. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a stay home dad, healthy and wise. Give the kids LOTS of liquid, NOT fruit juice, in the parks. I've often been in the parks alone with my kids. You can do this. In their eyes you are a 10 foot tall Superman. Oh yeah, one other thing, expect the unexpected. Always. Good luck!
