Traveling with munchkins

Bringing a small child to a theme park can be challenging to say the least, but it’s not impossible if you have a decent (but flexible) game plan beforehand. I’m an adult and I still get tired walking around Disney all day;  especially sautéing in that Florida weather.  There isn’t a lot of shade at any of the parks and being outdoors for hours can suck your energy away faster than a child.  Having a toddler can be stressful and a little overwheming, especially for first time visitors so I thought I’d put together some helpful suggestions so you don’t feel the need to pull your hair out or have your own (inevitable) tantrum.

First of all, plan to go for as many days as possible.  I’ve done 4 Disney parks in 1 day, but am also a veteran and know exactly where all my favorite rides are in each one to beeline and avoid stores and character meets.  Allowing 5-7 days is optimum because you can split up some of the days with downtime at the pool or Downtown Disney or even just napping and relaxing at the hotel.  Park hoppers are a great addition to your base tickets because they allow you to break up the day with (ALL IMPORTANT) naps and snacks; and that’s just for the parents.  With a park hopper, you can go early (let’s face it; you’ll be up that early anyway) and getting to the park when it opens ensures you’ll get on at least a couple rides without fastpassing everything.  Then as the day gets hotter and the parks get more crowded, you can bail out for a bit, head back to the hotel, and stay inside for a few hours.  Head back to the park in the late afternoon when everyone has time to regroup and is happy again.  Use your dining plan to enjoy a lovely dinner without being sweaty and exhausted from being outside all day.

Mmm, now that sounds like vacation.

I would definitely recommend bringing a stroller with you.  Maybe your child has been walking independently for a long time and you think a child leash would be sufficient,  but trust me- if I was with a group that had a stroller they would be pushing ME back to the hotel.  With all the excitement, he/she will probably crash early or at least need a place to get away from the sunlight for a while.  It also helps to have something to carry the inevitable souvenirs you’ll be toting back, along with your sanity.

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Be smart.  60 minutes is a LONG TIME to stand in a small, cramped area, even for older kids.  Toddlers are like the Terminator; there’s no reasoning or bargaining.  Once they begin a meltdown, it’s going to be all downhill from there and no one wants that to happen in a queue line.  Be sure to check out the character dining in the parks- most of them take the dining plan and usually one of the best memories for the kids.

Resort wise, I would recommend the value resorts first; most of them are decorated and themed for younger kids, plus they’re great for new families without a lot of extra income to spare.  If you want to spring for something a little more expensive, check out the deluxe resorts.  Villas have kitchens to wash out sippy cups and keep toddler snacks, the Animal Kingdom Lodge has safari animals in the back and rooms with balconies to view the area, and the Polynesian is only a short monorail ride to Magic Kingdom.  For the families traveling with a little royal, make sure you head to Downtown Disney where you can sign her up for a princess makeover, if she is at least three years old.  Prices range between around $60-200 based on the different packages they offer.

Any other tips for me?  I’d love to hear them!!

Shamu at Disney (Aka being pregnant at a theme park)

Currently, I am five months pregnant and am a little bummed I won’t get to ride the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for a long time.  My husband and I were in Orlando during my first trimester, but we skipped the theme parks (for once!) because I knew I wouldn’t get to ride my favorites (which is what we specifically go for), especially being so early on.

That got me thinking: how do others do it?

Planning ahead on trips is awesome and I definitely recommend it, but what happens if you become pregnant between the deposit and arrival?

Clearly your vacation isn’t over just because of a silly thing like pregnancy.  There are still plenty of rides to experience;  especially if this is your first time going.  First off, talk to your doctor about what you specifically you should or should not ride.  Several websites I looked at had multiple accounts of women riding Splash Down Falls, even though it is labeled cautious for expectant mothers.  I’ve ridden the safari ride at Animal Kingdom multiple times and while also labeled cautious, it’s mostly for bumps and shakes; I have no doubt I’d be safe to climb aboard since my pregnancy has been smooth sailing thus far.

Basically: play it safe.  Trust your instincts and your doctor’s advice about what is going to be acceptable for you and your baby’s health.

In addition to the attractions, in the fall is the amazing Food and Wine Festival at Epcot.   Sure you’ll have to pass on the delicious alcoholic beverages offered, but there are plenty of food items to taste and let’s face it; you know you’re going to be hungry.  I’m hungry just thinking about the empanadas and waffles and chocolate creme brulee I enjoyed there.  Mmm, chocolate.
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Even better idea?  Get a park hopper!  Get up early and check out a park for a while, then come back to your hotel for a nap or a dip in the pool.  Staying relaxed will help you keep pace with the rest of your party.  Crazy cravings?  There are tons of variety around Disney for meals; I recommend eating dinner in Epcot just because of all the different countries that will more than likely have just what you’re looking for in at least one place.  And a dessert item or five to tote back to your resort for later.

Also, shopping!  Family on a ride without you?  Check out the gift shops around and find the baby items!  Something fun to pick up is a Christmas ornament or little Mickey ears for the new arrival to commemorate he/she being in Disney before even being born!  Downtown Disney and the gift shop by the Winnie the Pooh ride have super cute baby related trinkets to bring home.

Hopefully you won’t be super pregnant in the middle of summer at Disney, but if you are,  just remember to stay hydrated. You can actually ship bottled water to your resort a couple weeks before arrvial, so you’ll have plenty waiting for you.  If you’re driving, buy a case before you leave so you won’t have to think twice about it once you’re there.  The current dining plan allows for a refillable mug for each party member to be used at the resort; so drink it up!!

Don’t forget the suntan lotion; pregnant women are more susceptible to getting burned.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of open sky areas with little to no shade at each park, which can suck what little energy you have left.  Sit down as often as possible, for even a few minutes.  Take advantage of indoor shows and be prepared for the weather.  Wait for party members in the nearest covered area instead of under the sun.

If you have more tips, I’d love to hear them!

Disney + Birthdays

I spent my 30th birthday at Walt Disney World.  I was super psyched about being there anyway, but by the end of the day, it occurred to me that I wanted to spend ALL my birthdays there.  Since I’d never had a celebration at Disney before, I had no idea how special you can feel.  The day started out raining.  On my birthday.  Not a very promising beginning.

Sidenote: Just because your day starts out with dreary weather, don’t automatically discount going to the parks.  Most rides are indoors and crowds are incredibly smaller.

Birthday Starbucks to wake up
Birthday Starbucks to wake up

Notice how many other people were at the bus stops.  I do not get up extremely early, so its a good example of taking advantage of a rainy day.  We had a one day park hopper and were determined to do as much as possible.  Even though Expedition Everest had been open for several years by that point, I still hadn’t ridden it yet.  We decided to go to Animal Kingdom first to knock out as much as we could.

It was like a private day!
It was like a private day!

We got on the ride and then walked around the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail since the weather had cleared up a bit.  The animals were super active without the blaring sun on them and we got a crazy experience when we got around to the gorilla area.  A group before us had all been wearing dark hoodies over their heads from the rain and one of the silverback gorillas became extremely enraged, taking it as a sign of aggression.  He kept charging the window where everyone was standing.  I know the glass between us and him is incredibly thick and not just going to give way from one gorilla, but it was pretty terrifying. We stayed in the back of the crowd and were prepared to take off in case everything went south.  (FYI: everything didn’t)

Running at the window
Running at the window

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3D birthday
3D birthday

Since it rained off and on the entire day, none of the parks ever filled up with people, so we were able to ride everything we wanted without queueing long at all.

Gray day at the castle
Gray day at the castle

We finished up the day by having dinner at Epcot (my favorite place to eat dinner at Disney World!) and ate in Italy at Via Napoli.  Because it was my birthday, they brought me a special treat after for dessert:

Yum!!
Yum!!

Since then, I’ve learned about several other possible birthday add-ons, from prearranged birthday cakes (called in 72hrs in advance), fireworks cruises, birthday parties, and gifts to decorate resort rooms.  Yes, they have thought of everything!  Talk about a magical celebration…