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Tips
 Prior to your trip, give
your child Disney Dollars, maybe every week, or as a special treat
for doing something good. They can save them up & use them as
spending money at WDW. (Disney dollars are available dollar for
dollar at Disney stores).
Make sure you take an
afternoon break when visiting the parks. Adults get very tired walking
round the parks, so imagine how little ones must feel. Go back to
your hotel for a nap or a swim in the pool.
Baby Services locations
are ideal for moms with infants. Located at all four Disney theme
parks, the private rooms offer comfortable seating and low lighting
for nursing mothers, feeding rooms with highchairs, bibs, plastic
spoons and diaper changing rooms. Baby-care products such as disposable
diapers, pull-on rubber pants, formula and teethers are for sale.
There's baby-changing
stations in all bathrooms, including men's and family restrooms.
No need to pack up all
the baby gear for a trip to Disney. In-park stroller rental makes
traveling through the theme parks easy. Reserve cribs in advance
at one of Disney's resorts. Bed guardrails are available upon
request.
Take a change of clothes
for the kids to the parks, kids will love playing on Donald's Boat
& in the water fountains, & will inevitably get very wet!
"Kid Switch" policy gives
both mom and dad a chance to enjoy the latest attractions without
the wait. Here's how it works. One parent waits in line with a small
child while the other parent rides the attraction. The first parent
returns to the loading area and takes the child while the second
parent rides.
If available, choose a
seat located near the back of attractions for a quick exit.
Make sure your child
knows what to do if he/she gets lost - tell them that cast members
wear name badges, & to go to one of them immediately if he/she
gets lost; or for older kids arrange a place to meet if they get
lost. It's a good idea to write down the child's name, any medical
problems, your name & resort, on a piece of paper, which you
can then either laminate or put in one of those clear plastic badges.
You can then either pin it to the child's clothes, or out it in
his/her pocket/bag.
Disney has special name
tags for very young children. Guests can get them at - City Hall
or Baby Care Centre (Magic Kingdom); Guest Relations or Baby Care
Centre (Epcot); Guest Relations (MGM & Animal Kingdom).
If you do lose your child,
report to Guest Relations/City Hall, Baby Care Centre, or tell a
Cast Member.
Most Disney restaurants
offer children's menus, plus crayons and coloring books to keep
kids entertained. Character dining -- where a cast of characters
visits your table while you eat -- is a great way to introduce little
ones to Disney characters. For more information or to make reservations,
call 407/WDW-DINE.
Be prepared for the Florida
sunshine. Bring extra sunscreen, a hat, umbrella, plus a jacket
for chilly, air-conditioned theaters.
Buy an autograph book
for your child to get character's autographs. See character
greetings for more tips.
Try to get your child
used to the different characters before you get there, by watching
Disney movies. Explain that the characters will be bigger than them
& there's no need to be scared. If your child does get scared
when meting a character, don't force them into it just because you
want a picture of them with Mickey Mouse.
Book character meals
in advance, especially for the more popular ones like the Once Upon
a Time breakfast in Cinderella's castle. Character
meals are a great way for kids to meet their' favourite characters
& spend a bit more time with them than they would be able to
do in the parks.
Stay in a Disney
hotel. It's more convenient and allows early entry into select
parks each day.
Kids under 3 are admitted
to the parks for free. Kids over the age of 9 are considered adults
in Disney's eyes, & so have to pay adult rates for tickets &
passes.
Kids can write to Mickey
& he will send a letter back. write to-
Walt Disney World Info/Guest Letters/Letters to Mickey Mouse,
PO Box 10040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-00100
Buy a good guidebook,
such as Birnbaum's Walt
Disney World for Kids (uk
customers)
Take your kids for their
first ever haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street,
Magic Kingdom.
Baby-care
centers in parks
Baby centers provide facilities for changing diapers, warming bottles
& food, there are special chairs for nursing mothers, &
baby supplies are available to buy.
Magic Kingdom - next to the Crystal Palace, left around
the central hub.
Epcot - On the World Showcase side of the Odyssey Center.
Disney's Hollywood Studios - at Guest Relations.
Animal Kingdom - in Safari Village, next to Creature Comforts
Shop.
Tips Submitted
"Our first grader was missing a few days for our trip, so I bought
him a blank book from a craft center, and had him take a few mintues
every day to write down what he had seen. He drew pictures,
and we added our own to some pages, he even added some small momentos...the
process had us slow down a bit, which really helped us all to remember
why we were on holiday. Especially neat, were the pages from Epcot,
because it was as though he were a world traveller (at 6!) Ben's
teacher then let him share the journal with his class, giving him
the chance to be in teh spotlight a bit. The journal is his own
scrapbook of the trip, and shows more than just one point of view...this
year, we're bringing one along for his brother too (he's 4) and
he will be able to share it with his classmates!"
"I have been to Disney five times now, and each time we stayed
in the park. It is worth the couple extra dollars, the convience
is exellent! We always traveled with my Autistic sister,
and for handicap children, get either a stroller or a wheelchair. The
day was long the first time we went, and my sister went off in
the middle of the park, because she was so tired, but the next
day, we got the whell chair, and it worked wonders! And if
you get the larger wheel chairs, you can fit two kids in it sometimes!
One resturant that is a must see is Prime Time in MGM. The setting is an
50's home, everyone is brother and sister, mom is the chef, and dad brings in
the "catch of the day" kids are given "homework" to do while they are waiting
(basically a coloring page) and they used a viewfinder for the dessert menu. It
is a wonderful experience.
Also, if you are taking small kids, I suggest to go to the parks in this order:
Animal Kingdom, Epcot (make sure to stop at Kidspots in each country), MGM, then
Magic Kingdom. It allows kids to see the best for last!
Also, allow kids to help you in the planning, get the free planning kit off www.disneyworld.com,
and watch it as a family. Let the kids tell you what they want to do, this
is there vacation too!" -Fallon Cecelia
"Our local Walmarts have a machine where you can print up "dog
tags" while you wait. I have used this to make up tags for
my daughter's toys that travel with us, with our home phone number
on them. Before our last trip to WDW I printed up a new tag,
with our cell phones on them. We carry our cells with us,
so if Juliet gets lost she can show a cast member her ID tag and
have them call us." Lucinda
"As a visitor from UK, I have a tip for other Brits travelling
with young
children. Take a Mickey Mouse shape cutter (or Pooh, or whichever character
your kid likes) and use it to cut grocery store bread etc into shapes.
Cheaper than the on site thing and just as satisfying to an under 5."
"My 6 year old couln't have made it without the stroller. He
just got too tired to walk and was far too heavy for us to carry. We
rented a double so he would have extra room." Leslie
"If using the WDW Transportation system, take a light cardigan
for the ride, the kids will freeze on the coaches from the air
conditioning!"
"Here is a tip for getting the most out of the fastpass line
if you have small children with you. We arrived early in the day
at the Magic Kingdom and went straight to Space Mountain when the
wait was only about 10 minutes. Go up to the fastpass entrance and
tell them that you need to do a child-swap for the ride. They will
give you a ticket that allows up to three people to enter the fastpass
line. The ticket is good all day, so don't use it right away when
the lines are really short. Have the person/people that stayed behind
with the kids go through the stand-by line and save the fastpass
ticket for later in the day when the lines are over an hour long.
This worked for us on just about every major ride at all the parks.
We also had pretty good luck getting a fastpass, then going up and
telling them we needed a child-swap. Get the ticket and wait a little
while before going in. Use your fastpass ticket that expires within
an hour at that time, and save the child-swap fastpass ticket for
later in the day."
"Before we went, I looked at this page and looked for suggestions
to make our trip more pleasant for the whole family. I have to agree
with the diapers for children 7 or under. The lines are very long,
and while you wait, it is a guarantee after waiting a long period
of time and just before you get on a ride one of the little ones
has to go. As strange as it was, I brought some diapers along and
they worked out great. My children didn't mind the diapers and we
did see alot of older kids in diapers as well. Trust me, diapers
did save the day." Deena
"If you have little kids and older teenagers going, set a
side a block of time (usually later, when the little kids are getting
tired) where the older kids get to decide what to do. The older
you are as a kid (generally, I'm a young adult and I will ALWAYS
love Disney World even if I've already been there 21 times) the
less interest you have in being there, but there are attractions
and restaurants in each park that will keep them occupied. MGM tends
to be the favorite park of older kids, so see if you can allow extra
time for them."
"I find it very fun to play games with my children while waiting
in lines (by games I mean like trivia games). It amuses them and
myself and it also make time fly by. Keep that in mind while packing
for your magical trip!!!"
"Always carry extra diapers or pull ups with you your child
might wet their pants in the long lines. I know that they might
not want to be wet all the time that they are there. I use to work
there as a fireman in case someone was to get hurt. These are some
of the things I use to see. They can make your day better and theirs
too."
"Make you own autograph book and put an elastic on it to hold
the page.Saves time when your getting the camera ready and passing
the characters the book it is already on their page. Go to the magic
kingdom your first day befor it opens the cute show that opens the
park sets the mood for the whole time you visit. Enjoy your children
they make the magic for you.Joe Feb 2005 "
"Hello,My husband,family and I have been to disney twice.We
took our son when he was 18 mo(now 3)and nephew 12.Our typical days
would be breakfast first,then head to a park!About afternoon head
back to hotel for swimming,which the kids enjoyed the most!Get some
dinner.Maybe go back and visit at night or not!My nephew enjoyed
the arcade in the p.m.We went in April 2000 and it was hot!(sunscreen)I
would buy drinks,ice cream and whatever would keep them cool!In
2003,we went in October and there was a huge difference in the weather
so atleast they were alot cooler.OH!try and make sure kids have
light colored clothes. My son would not keep his hat on either.Whenever
he fell asleep,I always sat with him in the shade while I would
have a drink,snack or just watch nephew ride." SB
"To help make the character autographs special for my then
5 year old, I purchased a small photo book from home. We had them
sign the blank page with a sharpe marker and I took a picture of
my daughter with the character. This not only made a great and inexpensive
book, but I was also filled with Hayli's smiling face."
"One of the best tips we found was to carry "Crystal
Light" with us to add to refilled water bottles. The kids (3,
5, and 9) wouldn't use the drinking fountains but loved the water
when we added our mix. They like to shake the bottle themselves.
This way we were able to have an unlimited source of fluids and
I knew they were getting enough to stay hydrated!"
"Anyone traveling with a young child should pack some diapers.
Even if the child is potty trained a diaper is a must for Disney.
Disney has 2 main things long lines and scary rides. You will be
waiting in line for two hours and all of a sudden the child will
need to go potty. Do not worry about what other people think about
an older child in diapers. It is very common for parents to put
their kids back in diapers for a trip to disney. You can either
have the child wear diapers all day under their clothes or else
just put one on when they have to go potty but you can't take them.
Having them wear a diaper all day will save them the embarassment
of getting diapered in public and you will never have to worry about
an accident. You will definitley see other parents doing the same.
I have seen children that look to up to age 8 getting their diapers
changed. The child may complain at first but will be grateful later
when they really need to pee."
"My 6 year old has been to Disney World 4 times and my 3 year
old has been 2 times. My recommendations would be to get the autograph
book (one for each is worth it) and a pen that is different. We
had a pen that had a fuzzy top and the characters would make a fuss
over it. Mickey and Goofy were attacking each other with it and
Mr. Smee went around dusting people to the great delight of my kids
and everyone else waiting for autographs! Also, if you have a video
camera with a fold out screen that can be reversed, use it to let
the characters see themselves as you are videotaping, they really
ham it up! Stay at Disney, it can't be said enough!"
"Take a small compact flashlight when visiting parks. You
can use it when the lights dim and the show is about to start. This
helps sooth your child when in the dark. Also, it helps you in other
situations if you stay late. If you get separated from your partner,
you can do a little "SOS" "Morse Code" action.
Take a cover for the stroller rental for sun protection and perhaps
a ballon or other identifying marking for you to locate your rental
stroller in the "sea of strollers." This way you can find
it faster. Think of laminating a 8x11 sheet of paper with your name
on it; make sure it's a colored one. They hand out ones for your
stroller, but they all look a like from a distance.
Also, if you are worried about your stroller being stolen...wet
a clean diaper, wrap it up like you would before of disposing it
and put it in the seat of the stroller. Not too many people want
to steal a stroller with a "used" diaper in it (Decoy
Diaper). It's like getting a shopping cart with a tissue or garbage
in it! Hee-hee!" Antoinette, St. George, Utah
"most people have digital cameras or cell phones with cameras
.so if you have children with you, take their photo each day,so
if the do get lost, you have a photo of what they are wearing that
day etc"
"The best tip I can give a family with small children going
to WDW is to dress the kids in similar, if not matching, clothing.
My girls are 20 months apart (they're now 13 and 14), and when they
were little, I dressed them in the same outfits for the days we
were in the parks. It makes spotting them much easier since it seems
they eye is drawn to items (or in this case people) that look alike.
Also, if one should get lost, you can use the other child or children
as a visual aid to find the lost one. While this might not work
as well for families with both boys and girls, at least dressing
in the same color would help."
"I bought my boys (age 2 and 4) tiny flashlights to hold on
the rides that seemed "scary" like Peter Pan (because
it starts in the dark). They held the lights and it seemed to keep
them from worrying in any indoor ride." Jane
"for kid who are in strollers but still can walk (ex:1 1/2
yr old)let them out to walk in less crowded areas it will give the
a chance to stetch their ting legs. after all who wants to sit all
day?"
"Just wanted to caution folks that might follow the suggestion
that they use kleenex as ear plugs to soften loud noises for children.
Kleenex and other tissue will soften and shred with the moisture
inside one's ears. Can actually take a trip to the emergency room
to get it out. I know, I work in an ER and have seen it happen.
Best not to put anything in kids' ear, but if must, use ear plugs
designed for that use."
"We are florida
residents and go to Siney about every other month for a weekend.
The best tips are already here -- BRING juice boxes or bottles or
water or juice for your kids to drink (Disney allows small coolers)
and they give you FREE ice at the concession stands! Also, use your
stroller - And finally, get up early and arrive at the parks, sometimes
driving your own car gets you in quicker than the disney buses (especially
if you have a stroller) and let your kids take a nap back at the
hotel or in the car ride... then freshen up, go to another park
for 2 hours or so in the evening, and take a dip in your hotel pool
right before baths (or instead of baths, LOL) and almost a guarantee
of some deep sleeeping that night... worse case scenerio, bring
benedryl --- just kidding, though we do bring it in case of allergy
bites by ants or the like... final though - all kids MUST do a breakfast
or dinner at the Chef Mickeys at the contemporary resort... very
cool!"
"I would strongly suggest bring Pull-Ups or diapers if you
are traveling with any kids under 4 yrs old, they are a must in
a waiting line, just before your turn and "I need to go pee
pee mommy" is the last thing you would like to hear when you
just passed an hour waiting time. And for the trips (by car) do
not forget to put a Pull-Ups or diaper, it save from pee stop, or
accident (they fall asleep most of the time so if they are bedwetters
you better put them in diapers for the car ride) I wrote this by
experience believe me."
"Stay at Disney. The hotel and DreamMaker package is actually
a better deal than
some of the outside 'cheaper' hotels combined with tickets bought
at the gate. The service on the WDW property is beyond anything
else you'll find in
the Orlando area - or anywhere I've ever been. they treat you as
if they are glad you came there instead of like a burden. I used
to live in Orlando and had friends who worked as cast members. Disney
holds its employees in the parks and the resorts to VERY high standards,
and it shows. Working for them may not be ideal, but taking advantage
of their services is as good as it gets. Kids will feel like they
are
immersed in the 'Magic' from the moment they check in, meaning they
don't get that let down feeling when they leave the park for the
budget lodge down the highway. There are Mickeys and Minnies and
Cinderella evidence everywhere they look. The Magic is even with
them when they wake the next morning and a character gives them
a call for a wake up. I remember that from the first time I ever
went wen I was 12 years old. Also, you haveto get the kids (especially
10 and under) down to a character breakfast. They're going to be
excited. I'm taking my 4-year-old to WDW this month for the first
time. It's a perfect age to start them out." -Lee (03/04)
"We brought
an inexpensive beach towel for my 4 1/2 year old. It fit over the
canopy of the rented stroller. We draped it down over the front,and
tucked it in. It was great for sun protection as well as privacy
for "in park" naps. It was the most useful item we brought into
the parks!"
"When we visited
WDW last year(02) we brought the cards to our Disney Trivia game.
Then while waiting in line I brought out the cards and the time
flew by for our kids (6,5,3,&1) as well as for other kids in line
. It was a lifesaver!"
"A couple
of thoughts that we've come up with having taken kids to DW for
over 15 years. If you have children under 13 or so, and have never
been to DW, do NOT go right to the Magic Kingdom. Epcot especially
seems like a disappointment if children are expecting another MK.
BUT, if you do Epcot first, they really enjoy it, then find MK even
better. Also, if you go when parks are open late and you have little
ones, consider a double hit. Get to MK first thing, around lunch
head back to the hotel for a break, swim, rest then go back to the
same (or diff park) for the evening. THere's nothing more sad than
watching parents drag over tired children around the parks. Nobody
is having fun and it's wrecking the whole trip for them."
"We have been
taking our kids to Disney since infancy. Starting with one and now
we have five children, we know the challenges of traveling with
children. Get maps and ride lists ahead of time and have your kids
pick out the MUST SEE choices. You will not be able to see it all
and enjoy your vacation. My biggest tip is: You are there for your
kids - whatever age - and follow their lead. Infants and toddlers
need breaks, preschool and elementary age like to explore and WATER!
(You will get wet some places!) Pack snacks and juice boxes, extra
clothes, use a stroller and take your time. ENJOY the trip and remember
that the best memories are of the people you are with, not how much
you did. I watch these parents dragging their tired screaming kids
to the next ride because the want to get it all in THAT day for
the money, you will wreck your vacation! It is such a magical place
- just enjoy your childrens amazement and smiles." Jodi
"With children
that can walk and like to go off on there own make sure you stick
with them but just in case they get lost buy a brightly colored
shirt for them to wear so they will be easier to spot."
"For inexpensive
souvenirs, take a roll of quarters and a roll of BRAND NEW pennies.
Throughout the park are machines which will press your penny into
an oval with a Disney picture on it. There are books available in
several locations to store and display these collections. Another
suggestion: In the evenings, gather around a table and share memories
of the day. Write down what you did, what characters you met, where
you dined, and other special moments that everyone recalls. Don't
edit anything out; what may not be important to you may be VERY
important to someone else. Once you get home, assemble a memory
book with these pages along with photos, stickers and maybe some
pressed pennies for a permanent souvenir with a lot of special meaning."
(2/03) Andy
"I am writing
in response to an earlier email tip from a parent who didn't want
to rent a stroller all day at the park-but didn't feel bad about
taking one later in the day. I would like to just say, that not
all of those strollers you see sitting around have been abandoned
because of people leaving. My family visists Disney quite regularly-we
make sure to rent our stroller immediately upon entering. The last
2 times we were in the Magic Kingdom, our stroller was taken by
someone else. This caused us endless time searching for ours-as
well as having to go and retrieve another one. Fortunately the WDW
staff are prepared for people who have no respect for others property
or time and will try to replace them as quickly as possible. To
the guy who thinks this is a great idea- Next time cough up the
$8 bucks and stop stealing someone elses.(Yes that would be considered
stealing-the stroller is registered in someones name. Think about
what kind of example you will be setting for your children as they
grow up." Lulu
"If you have
children in the 5-7 age range, they probably don't need a stroller
all day. But by evening, they are starting to get tired. Instead
of paying the stroller rental fee, we watch for strollers that are
abandoned by people leaving early. There are always plenty of them.
We get a stroller when we need it, without dragging it around all
day, and for free to boot!" Kirk
"Everyone
says, stay on Disney property. It's true. Disney Resorts add so
much to your trip. Don't try and do it all. We have a 4 and 5 yr
old. We went at a normal (not fast) pace and went to the attractions
we wanted to see. Without rushing around we did almost everything...twice...In
one day. And at the end of the day we were comfortably sleepy. I
also recommend renting the strollers at the parks. They were so
easy to maneuver and the kids loved them...even at their age. It
also was easier then having to carry your own stroller on the transportation
systems..Enjoy."
"The first
time I went to Disney with daughter who was 3 years old, we made
our own autograph book and collected character stickers on each
page. Since she couldn't read she knew which signature was which
by the stickers. The characters seemed to really like the idea too.
We are leaving again in 4 days and I purchased small scapbook type
of book at a craft store and wrote their names on the outside and
placed a Disney sticker. Inside we placed stickers of Mickey, Minnie,
Goofy, Pooh,etc. on each page. Now both my 7 and 4 year olds will
enjoy this."
"We were the
first in line at Magic Kingdom.My two children recieved certificates,magic
wand filled with candy,pixie dust and they chose the magic word
to open the park.We arrived about 1 hour prior to opening gates.This
was definitly the highlight of the kids stay at magic kingdom."
"You can better
help your child know what the characters will really look like by
viewing a Disney "Musical Adventure" Video (Kids R Us sells them.)
Here the characters are just like they are in the parks, in other
words not a cartoon but a real person inside a costume. Child actors
are in these videos so those viewing will get an idea of the characters'
size in relation to people. These are also good for showing kids
what certain rides are like (e.g. The Haunted Mansion.)" (8/02)
"Having been
to WDW many times in my youth, I was thrilled to take my 30-month-old
daughter for her first WDW experience just this past week (e.g.
8/02). Although many have posted very positive experiences, my toddler
had a lot of trouble--especially with the crowds and the noise.
I found the stroller rental very helpful and taking periodic breaks
to talk about what was going on with her. Also, we stayed on the
WDW property (Old Key West), which was very nice b/c it provided
a "home away from home" atmosphere. My best advice is to try to
stick to your child's normal routine as much as possible and fit
in a few attractions in between." (8/02)
"When visiting
Epcot and the assorted countries, make sure you stop and ask for
a mask, start at either Canada or Mexico. You can color the mask
and then at each country, stop and get it stamped and receive some
token to attach to the mask that symbolizes that country. It is
a fun thing to do with your kids, as there are not many rides for
them at Epcot." (7/02) Marla & Andrea
"We are going
to Disney next week and I am having each of my kids, 8 and 11 carry
a small backpack with a disposable camera, autograph book and a
fat pen (not all characters can sign with a small one). I am also
having them carry a water bottle and some snacks in zip-lock bags
so they can use them when they want and we can see Disney from their
eyes when we get back." Judy
"If you have
children, consider purchasing a tee-shirt or a sweat-shirt (one
to two sizes larger), along with a water-proof marking pen. Have
the kids put the shirts in their back-pack and when they see the
characters, have the shirts signed. It's a real souvenier to take
home and wear to school!!! Another idea is to take a mat (for a
frame) with you and have the Disney characters sign it. Then get
the best picture of your kids, have it developed and enlarged to
fit in the mat/frame."
"I worked
at the Magic Kingdom in 1990 as a custodian in the College Program.
Park Cast members need parents' help in cases of lost children.
One day, when I was working pan-and-broom in Fantasyland, an older
couple approached me with a 10 year-old girl that had become separated
from her parents. They had been separated a minimum of ten minutes
already. SOP dictated that I keep her in the "land" she was found
in for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, I walked the young guest to
the Baby Care Center. This is where children sit inside until security
can reunite families. I returned to my duties and saw her parents
as described by the young guest. She described her mother perfectly,
including the hat and shirt including color that she wore. I approached
the mother and asked if everything was okay. A little shock by my
question, she confided that her daughter was missing and told me
her daughter's name. By now, 1 1/2 hours or more had passed since
my initial contact with the young guest. I took the parents to meet
with cast members who then ensure a proper match. It was a very
emotional day for everyone--including myself.
My point: Cast members throughout the park, attractions, food service,
custodial and security knew about the young guest, description and
name, within two minutes of my initial contact. As a Lead, I carried
a radio and immediately reported the girl in my company. Cast members
without a radio immediately find a Lead for reporting purposes.
A broadcast went out in the park over cast radios. The parents never
talked to a cast member. PARENTS: The most informed people are cast
members--look for Cast member name badges. Lost children are always
top priority. Tell your children to contact cast members and you
do the same if you become separated from your child. Don't waste
your day; don't leave your children in these scary situations. Adult
parties that become separated--you're on your own. Indicate a specific
meeting place that everyone knows as soon as you enter the park."
Brenda T.
"On our most
recent trip to Disney World, my brother, his girlfriend, and I took
his 3-year-old son with us. The one tip that I can give you for
taking toddlers is don't be afraid to take them on the (fun) thrill
rides, provided that they are tall enough. We took Tyler, my nephew,
on Splash Mountain and he thought it was pretty cool. He absolutely
loved Test Track. Now this may sound strange. A 3yr old loving rides
with lots of surprise dips and speed and darkness? What we did was
just talk to him during Splash Mountain during the dark parts, telling
him how much fun we were having. At the very last drop I covered
his head with my jacket so he couldn't feel the splashes on his
face and couldn't see how far we were dropping. On Test Track we
just made it like a car ride going really fast. He loves cars. We
did plug his ears during that part when the semi is honking its
horn. Just make it a fun environment for your kid and tell them
that it is just for fun. However, unless your kid has enough guts
to try them, this will not work for rides like Dinosaur, Tower of
Terror, Alien Encounter, RocknRoller Coaster, and Space Mountain."
Andrea (1/01)
"I visited
DisneyWorld in March of 1999 with my 17 yrold brother, 2 cousins
around the same age, and my sister and her three children (10mnth,
5yrold, and 9yrold). We found the strollers to be very helpful.
The strollers were able to hold our bags and the tired 5 and 10
month old. It is very valuable to know that if you are traveling
with an infant and other children, you don't have to miss out the
on opportunity to ride whatever rides you would like to ride. Just
tell the attendant at the ride that you would like to do the parent
swap and one parent stays with the infant while the others ride
the ride. The parent waiting will have the chance to ride with the
other children without having to wait in line once their spouse
returns. I found the parent swap to be so helpful. All of us were
able to ride the rides. Also a change of clothing is imperative
for young children. The first day of our vacation we went to Animal
Kingdom and my 5 yrold niece had to use the bathroom every hour,
and she was unable to hold it at one time because we were on a ride,
so you can see where the change of clothes comes in handy. It turns
out that see was nervous and wasn't use to all of the excitement,
and by the next day she was fine. So use the parent swap, bring
extra clothes, and rent strollers." Shelley
"You may want
to suggest that even parents with older children that normally would
not use a stroller, consider it. A child that is in the 5-7 year
age range would not need a stroller for a normal outing but after
10 hours of walking, it becomes either the stroller or having to
carry a very exhausted child." Stephanie
"We took our
16-month-old daughter to Magic Kingdom for the day during a recent
Florida vacation, and if there’s one word of advice I can give it
is ... relax and enjoy your child’s wonder! We did not even try
to do everything — or ANYTHING for that matter. We spent hours at
certain places where she could explore and never made it to other
places. She fell asleep in the stroller and we just sat in a quiet
spot and did some people watching for an hour (and we have several
adorable photos of our sleeping baby). It was a magical day! Now
my daughter is 5 and we’re planning another trip with her and her
2-year-old sister. I intend to have the same philosophy of fun!"
Vaneta (2/01)
"We just got
back from DisneyWorld this past weekend. I just wanted to share
a few things with anyone who may be taking a Toddler or even a little
older than Toddler. First, my Daughter is almost 4 (in November).
She loved the shows (Tarzan, Pocohontas, Beauty and the Beast, etc),
but they can be very loud (a little more loud than necessary to
me). I had some Kleenex in my purse, and I tore off some and made
some "ear plugs" with it. It allowed her to hear the show, but "soften"
the volume. It worked great, and I will be sure to remember it when
we go there next time. My daughter has tubes, and they may have
made the loud shows a little worse for her. Once the "plugs" were
in, then she had a great time. I would just have her throw them
away when the show was over.
Second, my next suggestion is one that other people have said to
me and that is, if you are going to Disneyworld, then stay on Disney.
It may cost a little more a night, but it appears to be worth it.
We did not stay on Disney, and although our room was great, it would
have been better if we had stayed on Disney. It would have been
easier to go back to the room to rest, earlier admission to the
parks and the absolute wonderful service Disney gives. We had breakfast
at Chief Mickey's the first day we were there, and the people who
worked at the Contemporary were absolutely wonderful.
Third, if you are taking a small child to Disney, make sure you
take them on the first day you get there. We arrived late on Saturday,
so we just went straight to the hotel, unpacked and it was time
for bed. That was okay with my daughter, but on Sunday, it was raining
so bad, we decided to go to an outlet mall and go to Disney on Monday.
Bad mistake, our daughter had never been on vacation and she was
out of sorts. We had flown in and rented a car. So, she did not
have anything familar around her (other than us and the 2 toys she
took with her). She was pretty upset, and shopping was not enjoyable
until I went to a toystore and got here some horses (she rides horses),
and she was a lot better. Last, but not least, be prepared for your
Toddler to possibly be upset about not going home (your real home
- not the hotel) at night. I had no idea that my daughter would
have trouble with that. It took a good day for her to finally understand
that we were just "borrowing" the room while we were at Disney,
and that we still had our real home.
Just thought these ideas might be helpful for others. We loved Disneyworld
and can't wait to go back. Take care and thanks for the tips that
are already on your site. They came in handy." Angie (10/00)
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