We're planning an October or November trip to WDW when my daughter is two. Other family (including kids) will be with us too. We've been to WDW several times, but this will be first trip with her. We have the "Unofficial Guide" and allears.net, but I'd love to hear your recommendations for:
+What not to miss?
+What might be too scary/intense?
+Rent a stroller or bring your own stroller?
+Which on-site resort? Suite or regular room?
+Is a child harness/leash needed (I'm undecided on how I feel about these things, but can see some value).
+Best changing centers?
+Any other advice?
THANKS! Not to miss: all the Fantasyland rides, the Country Bears (my kids loved it at that age), playing in the fountains all over Epcot and Magic Kingdom (bring a change of clothes!). She will be too small for "Star Tours," but sometimes the operators will let your group ride without the motion (there's a name for this but I can't remember what it is). Toontown playground and she might be big enough for "Goofy's Barnstormer."
Too scary/intense: Some kids that age are overwhelmed by the 3-D shows; the sound is loud and the effects are up close and personal. My middle child HATED "Journey into Your Imagination" due to loud bang near the end (just the ride; she enjoyed the playground after the ride).
For a 2 year old, I recommend bringing your own stroller. You should bring one that reclines so she can sleep in it if she wants to (the rental ones don't recline). Also, if you are staying in a big resort and far from the bus stop, you will be glad you have it at the end of the day.
Resort: I'm always recommending Caribbean Beach to people. The rooms all overlook courtyards or pools or even a beach; if you bring the baby monitor you could go outside and be able to read or eat (I'd stay where I could see the door, however). All the rooms have refrigerators, and the wading pool at the main resort pool is huge and partly shaded.
Harness/leash: Neither of my big ones would have anything to do with these (I had the wrist-to-wrist ones and sold it as "we're just holding hands"). I've only seen a very few people using these; most kids stay in the stroller if you're walking any distance. Also it's hot; I mostly carried my middle one around when she was two.
Changing centers: I have visited the baby centers in all the parks. They are great; there are changing tables and even high chairs and nursing room if you need one. When my baby was small, the two older ones could color in another room while I was taking care of her. I greatly prefer changing the baby in the baby care center if possible because the place is unbelievably clean. Alternatively, I would suggest teaching her to stand up while you change her so she doesn't have to be in contact with the table.
Other advice: Our daypack for a 2-year-old is always crammed. We bring some snacks and juice boxes, two changes of clothes, diapers, wipes, a stuffed animal, clean shirt for Mom (due to kid wiping her hands everywhere), blanket, sunscreen, hat, baby sunglasses. Water. A bottle, if she still uses one. Small cups for splitting drinks with her.
Make sure you put sunscreen all over her--even under her clothes! Even if you put a shade over her, kids can get sunburned by the reflection of the sun off the pavement.
For peace-of-mind purposes, you could write your cell phone number on a card and put it in her pocket. I've heard of people writing the number directly on the child with a permanent marker; don't know that I would go that far.
For myself, I usually bring a fanny pack. Yes, it's dorky looking, but with small kids you don't want to turn your back. I keep my wallet and camera in it so if we're going on a ride I don't have to worry about leaving valuables on the stroller.
I hope you have a great time. She's not too little; just remember to go at her speed. Just take her back to the hotel for a break if she gets too overwhelmed. obviously dont go on rollercoasters. yea i would suggest a harness A 2 year old is too small. They get tired and won't enjoy anything after that. eh. if its disneyland then you should go on whinny the pooh! and if she can hold guns and stuff then you might try buzz lightyear. if shes okay with pirate then you might try tom sawyers island (I think its called pirates cove or something now) and Im sure she'd like the tiki room! and stuff like that. but then no big rides like space mountain or splash mountain or the railroad one (thunder mountain I think) and definitly do NOT do indian jones. that one scares me. also in the haunted mansion, at the beginning its sort of scary but she might like the ride maybe. and I think you might just want to rent a stroller because its too much of a hassel unless your staying at the grand californiancos its like connected to the park. but also the ones for rent can be dirty and stuff, so if she sucks on her fingers or something then you might want to bring your own. eh. I recomend the grand californian and if you familys not too big then you dont really need a suite. the disneyland hotel is good too. the grand californian has a bunkbed Im think. and the disneyland hotel has just the regular two beds. a child harness would be good because its usually busy and children can get lost easily; unless she usually stays with you then it might not be needed. iono about the changing one. and the churos are great at disneyland(; Lol. iono if your going to disneyland or world though. I dont really know disneyworld that well. oh! you should maybe get her an autograph book? I loved having an autograph book when I was little. and Im sure your daughter loves princesses so you might try fantasyland? also, about the autograph book, you might want to take her to a character breakfast and bring that because the characters are all walking around. theres sort of an expensive character breakfast in the grand californian hotel, because that place is like REALLY fancy and expensive I think. or it looks like it. but my favorite chacter breakfast is goofys kitchen. they even have a little act they put on with plastic plates and stuff where goofy (the chef) goes out and bangs on the fake pots and pans with the kids and dances too. its really cute. I think their open for all meanl but you should make a reservation, also I think their cheaper than the one in the hotel. thats the one thing I recamend the most. also, if she likes shows, then you might want to bring her to see fantasmic or any of the parades. also, about the rides thing, you might try the bugs life land in california adventures park, its mostly kiddy rides I think. have a fun trip! I hope I helped in some way, even if you arnt going to disneyland. Lol(; i would bring my own stroller because the yones at the park might be dirty and with the child being only 2 she might decide to put part of it in her mouth.
i wouldnt harness inless she normally runs off in a store or somthing. disneyland is big and lots of people so she might just get scared and stay with you anyways.
i would go to fantasyland.
lots of little kid rides and princess stuff. (she will love it.)
i hope you have fun! OK You have a 2 year old daughter some suggested rides in [parks
Magic Kingdom
Peter Pan
Whinnie the Pooh Adventure
Snow White Adventure (might be a bit scary)
It's A Small World
Buzz Lightyear (idk if there is a height limit)
Meet all of the character (but she might be scared)
Dumbo
Ariel's Groto (This is the park I'd most reccomend)
Animal Kingdom
Not to much for younger kids the dino area is the only one I could really see
MGM
Take her to the plkayhouse Disney show
If she is into the princesses take her to Beauty and the Beast
umm...also not alot that you can do there
Epcot
Yet another park that doesn't offer a ton for the really little ones
Maybe some of the world stuff but not to much like I said
* I am pretty sure every park has a child play area.
We usually bring our own stroller just for convienence. You don't have to worry about returning it and if you go somewhere like an outlet mall you'll have it
The resorts depend on the amount of money you are willing to spend. My personal favorite is the Polynesian but since your daughter is young chances are she won't know the difference unless yoiu spend some time in the pool area. But since she's little I'd suggest a resort like the All Star resort. It is not very fancy but you get free transportation and in all honesty you don't spend much time in your hotel room.
I've seen parents with the harnesses and they look a bit foolish, it seems like they are over protective and don't want their children to have the freedom of exploring on their own.
You didn't ask about food, I'd suggest making reservations at the listed resturaunts
Chef Mickey's (Any meal all are entertaining and have all the characters)
Coral Reef (its mostly seafood but children enjoy watching the fish)
Sci Fi Cafe (You sit in a car are watch movies like a drive in)
CHECK OUT DOWNTOWN DISNEY AND THE BIBBITY BOBITY BOUTIQUE i have a 2 year old too. along with a 14 year old. i was considering taking mine to wdw this year too. but to be honest. i would get a resort on the property a suite would be the way to go and a child harness is a must and bring your own stroller. the only problem i forsee is that your 2 year old will get too tired and restless while everyone else will want to stay and play. meanwhile you will have to go back to the hotel cause its too much for her to handle all day long. Most of the rides she wont enjoy just yet or it will be too instense for her. i would suggest going to an all-inclusive resort like jamaica breezes.. they have great activities for the kids and elmo and friends are on the resorts along with nanny services and child care. everything is included food, drinks, entertainment, watersports ect.. and its about the same price as going to wdw. and you would have more fun and so would she. just an idea. hope everything works out. I took my son this past year and he seems to really like animal kindom the best, for the other parks he wasnt to into standing in line and waiting. a scary ride/show that i would say to never take young children on would be the Stitch, I think it was magic kingdom, not real sure. It gets pitch black, lights flashing, screaming, stuff falling on you not for young kids at all. For a stroller well we brought out own, i just think of all the kids sweating covered in sticky sugar from who knows what they ate, steppingin gum and then wanting to put my child in the same one without knowing how well they wash them? Just the smell of the older people and seein the kids sweating even more from running around, No thanks. For a resort, we stayed at Bonnet Creek there was a lot of things to do, water slides, kids water fountain park, lazy river, mini golf, and room for them to just run. I would say a reg room. You wont be in it that much anyway there is way to many things to do and see to say inside a resort, you can watch tv at home is how i look at it. And the last thing i can try to help with is he leash/harness, would be a 100% yes on my end. There is so many rude people who dont care about splitting up kids and parents as long as they get through to the next ride faster. I would go with the safety first harness. If you get the backpack with the animals on it, it will make her back sweat more then she or you would want bc of the extra weight. I know that you said Oct-Nov but i live down here in Fl and in Dec we are still wearing shorts and having temps in the 80-90s and the humidity is really bad!
I hope that helps some. HI never been to WDW but as I have a little one around the same age I will give you answer to what I can.
Rent a stroller - that why when you need it you can go and get it but if you don't your not carrying it around unnecessarily
Child harness will be fine for the trip the place is way to big and there is so much to see and your little one is going to be excited and the chance of running off will be high. Don't use the harness for the first time on you WDW trip get your little one used to it a bit before the big trip.
Space out the day start early in the morning have lunch go back to the hotel an hour before your Little ones usual nap time to bring them down from the excitement then put them down for a nap and then start again. Don't push yourself to far it just make the day unenjoyable for you otherwise.
Other then that bring heaps of snacks if you have a portable DVD player bring that to put on when your doing things you would like to do which your little one will think is boring least she can watch a movie and you can enjoy yourself on the trip as well.
Have a wonderful time. My fiance's niece who is nearly 3 practically lives at Disneyland. Your daughter will likely get the most enjoyment out of the Magic Kingdom, because it's really geared most toward younger kids. EPCOT and MGM won't be as fun for her, but she may like the Animal Kingdom OK if she likes animals. They may not seem real to her though. In the MK:
Make sure to do Dumbo. Kids her age LOVE Dumbo. Use the "Unofficial Guide" to learn the "baby pass" for Dumbo to allow her a couple of rides if you can spare two adults to do so with.
Small World is also great for her age, as is the Enchanted Tiki Room. There is a lot to see, the music is interesting for a child her age, and while they aren't the most exciting attractions for adults, the niece LOVES them and begs to go to those on every trip.
As for what is scary, it depends on the child. Some kids enjoy the "dark rides" (Snow White, Peter Pan, etc.) but some are freaked out by them. Try out one (Peter Pan is pretty tame and doesn't have too much scary stuff beyond the darkness itself) and see how she does. If she likes it, then move on to another.
All of the rides are easier to deal with if she's seen the films. Rent them if you don't already own them and sing the songs and talk about the characters. Playing "Who's that?" while they are on the screen will help her learn all the names and then you can point them out while you're on the rides.
As for the resorts, I have never stayed in one with kids in our party, so I will reserve my opinion and let others answer.
Renting a stroller is really helpful and one less thing to pack UNLESS you are planning on spending time off-property. If you are, then you will likely need a stroller anyway. A foldable umbrella stroller with a hanging bag attachment for the back will likely suffice.
I wouldn't bother with the child harness unless your daughter is inclined to break away from you and run away when she is distracted.
Keep in mind that Oct/Nov tends to be rainy season in Orlando. Everyone should wear waterproof shoes (Crocs, while not very attractive, work well in rainy weather) and you should bring an entire extra outfit for your daughter in case she gets wet. They sell inexpensive rain ponchos in all the shops but they don't cover your feet.
Meeting the characters sounds like a cool idea in theory but for most wee ones, it's VERY frightening. If she's not a really outgoing child you may not be able to get her to go within ten feet of one of the roaming characters. Let her know it's OK and that if she doesn't want to go up to one, hug one, or get her picture taken then it's fine. Have one of the adults (and maybe an older child?) go up and get an autograph and a photo and perhaps by the end of the trip she'll have gotten enough bravery to meet one up close. Don't push her just so you can get that photograph - it's not worth the trauma. Here's my 2 cents:
Don't miss Fantasyland and the Fireworks
Too scary: 3d shows, Snow White's Scary Adventures
Bring your own stroller
On-site at a monorail resort, regular rooms.
No leash, just watch her closely.
See links below and have a wonderful trip! We've been to Disney World with our son when he was 2.5 and 3.5, so I can understand your anxiety!
Fantasyland and Toontown seem the best suited for toddlers. The shows seem to be hit or miss. The Bug's Life 3-d movie in Animal Kingdom seems to be notorious for being a little too intense for the toddlers, ours included. If you do try this show, sit on the aisle if you need to make a quick exit. For whatever reason, Mickey's Philharmonic (another 3-d show) was a big hit.
We've always brought our own stroller. Mostly because we figured we would still need the stroller after we exit the parks, whether it's for going back to our car or waiting for whatever mode of Disney Transportation you're taking. If you don't mind toting a tired 2 year old after a day at the parks, then rent the stroller and save yourself the hassel of traveling with one.
I think the choice of on-site resort is mostly related to personal preference and budget. If you do plan to keep your costs down and have snacks and food in the room, then the suite might be worth it to have a mini-frig and microwave in the room.
Ahh.. the age old harness debate. Pre-children of my own, I admittedly thought the leash was a horrible way to try and control your child. Now that I'm a parent, I could care less what other people think. It doesn't take much for 2 yr old to bolt from a parent's grasp and at a crowded place like Disney World, I wouldn't want to take a chance on losing my child. A lot of places (Target & Wal Mart) have the animal shaped backpack leashes that a lot of toddlers seem to get a kick out of. So if you couldn't tell, our family is very pro leash. It lets the kid enjoy a little bit of freedom. Just don't let too much slack be in the line, you don't want to trip other people up.
All the changing centers/bathrooms seemed about equal and fine.
Even if your 2 yr old doesn't nap anymore, take a mid day break back at your resort. Sit by the pool, sit in your room, do something to let them wind down and then head back out in the late afternoon again. Try not to do too much. You're not going to be able to do and see everything with a toddler, so don't even try!
And the most important advice of all... have a great trip!! I go to mousesavers.com if u suscribe they give discounts and on the website they have LOTS of tips to disney world and what to bring and tipss on saving money! I have been many times over with toddlers and going again with my youngest being 2 soon.
Bring your own stroller. The rentals are hard molded plastic and not comfy at all the kids. Plus they all look the same and stroller attendents are always reparking the things. they have no padding and no recline...so impossible to sleep in comfortably. find the smallest stroller you can that still has a canopy and a basket and at least one spot to recline...that is the best one to take. If you go with the big ones = they are a super pain on disney transporation. Also bring a bright fun ribbon and tie it on your stroller handle so that you always know immediately which stoller is yours in stroller parking areas instead of having to make sure it really is the one byu the cargo in it...you can safely leave a diaper bag (no valuables) in the bottom of the stroller...I always have the bigger bag with spare clothes, water bottles, snack etc in the stroller and a smaller backpack for my camera and all valuables that I always take on the rides with me.
The what to see depends on the nature of the child. My daughter was very tall and was still 1 when she made it on Goofy's Barnstormer...and she loved it!!!
Definitely stay on site. if you are going value = pop century is the best. For moderates & my favorite I say go with Port Orleans = Riverside. If you stay is alligator bayou you get two beds and a trundle there...so tons of sleeping room.
Riverside has a feature pool - old man island. my kids love it...but know kids can only go down slides alone...never in a lap. there are also the mansions at riverside. And then you can ride the boat to French Quarter where the Dragon pool is and the boat also goes to disney village (where they have a splash pad...kids love that so take a swim suit so she can play in the water jets coming up from the ground).
i wouldn't pay for a suite...just a regular room - you won't spend that much time in it.
Also know that the higher the level of the resort - the more expensive the food on site is. We always pack in a lot of our food...our entertainment stand looks like a little pantry...lol!!!
I have never done the harness thing...but my kids would have been instantly teed off. I started taking my son to WDW before he was 2. The best thing to remember is that it's going to be so much to take in that she will be overstimulated after a while. Since you are going to be staying on-site, you will do everyone (adults included) a lot of good to have a middle of the day nap/swim break. You get some peace and quiet and energy for the rest of the day.
There are really great areas in each park next to the first aid station for small kids. I think they called them child care centers, and they had air conditioning, quiet rooms with high chairs and tables for you to feed them, nursing rooms for moms with comfy glider/rocker chairs and a place for kids to play/color. There is only one, so depending on where you are at the time, it could be a hike, but even if you can go once per day, it will quiet the chaos of the parks for your daughter. The changing tables are clean and there are papers to lay down to keep it absolutely sanitary. There is also an attendant in there always, cleaning up and making sure you have what you need.
If you can afford a suite, I say go for it, just to let your daughter sleep in a room where adults aren't talking or watching tv.
Bring your own stroller. The rental strollers aren't safe enough for a two year old in my opinion. If you are going to let her walk, you might want to invest in a harness. I've seen them in the parks, and while I personally never used them, there are so many people that it might give you the peace of mind to let her explore a bit.
Make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and comfy shoes! |
