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Taking tots to Disney? Pack these tips
By ROBIN STANSBURY
The Hartford Courant
10/25/2006
We were met with quizzical looks and skepticism from friends and family when we unveiled our late-summer vacation plans: a weeklong trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with three toddlers in tow.
Why, they wondered, would you drag two 2-year-olds and a 4-year-old to an adventure park known for its overstimulating rides and larger-than-life characters, a place deemed more suitable for kids far removed from diapers and who can stay awake past 7 o'clock.
Then, when they heard that my sister's 2-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son would be joining us, they thought we were insane. I didn't disagree.
But I went with it. And I'm glad I did.
Our young children surprised us time and again during our Disney week, with their unbridled joy soaring in a pirate ship on Peter Pan's Flight, dancing along to the music of It's a Small World (multiple times) and hugging Mickey Mouse.
During our week, we learned a few things about surviving the self-described "Happiest Place on Earth" with small children. It can be done, but it takes some planning.
Here are some tips to help make your trip work.
Testing -- one, two three: Before you head to Florida, make sure your children are exposed to some type of amusement ride, even if it is at a local fair.
By the time we arrived in Disney, they'd already flown in "helicopters" and driven "race cars" and even experienced a small but fast-paced roller coaster.
Go off-season: There are peak visiting times for Walt Disney World, primarily in the summer, any holiday and school vacation weeks. Avoid these. My schoolteacher mom will cringe at this suggestion, but visit during the off-season even if that means pulling an older sibling out of school.
We visited the park in mid-September, and crowds were light. Lines stretched more than 30 minutes only at the height of midday. Most other times, we waited 10 minutes or less.
Arrive early: Don't waste the early park hours, when crowds are smallest, lingering in your room or trying to make your kids sit through a restaurant breakfast. Our kids ate granola bars and yogurt in our room, and we were waiting in line before each park opened. For the first two hours, we walked onto almost every ride we wanted, including some of the popular thrill rides.
Stay at a Disney hotel: Sure, it's likely to be more expensive, but nothing beats the convenience of staying right on the Disney property, especially with little ones. It's a big place, so even while staying on-site we occasionally had bus rides of about 10 minutes from our hotel, the Wilderness Lodge, to some of the parks.
If you can afford it, stay at one of the three hotels along the monorail line. That way, you begin and end each trip to your hotel with a "ride." And leaving the park midday for a break isn't as arduous.
Eat early and often: Yes, you can enjoy some delicious meals, but it's best to make an early reservation -- with little ones I suggest between 5 and 5:30 p.m. for dinner. At that time, there's no waiting for tables.
Our most surprising discovery about Disney: They don't charge for children younger than 3. So our twins entered the parks free, and better still, at buffet meals they were allowed to eat for free off an adult plate.
Bring helping hands: With five young children in our group, we needed all the help we could get -- so the grandparents were invited along.
A different kind of ride: Bring (or rent) a stroller. Even if your kids, like ours, have refused to get in one for more than a year.
A stroller helps you keep track of your kids in a busy crowd, and it provides a perfect place to sit and enjoy ice cream. It also provides an elevated view from which to watch a parade.
Research: Spend some time on the Web educating yourself about Walt Disney World, especially exploring the height requirements for each ride (go to disneyworld.disney.go.com). The Disney site also recommends attractions by age group, including a category for preschoolers.
Let your kids be your guide: Part of the joy of the Disney resort is that there is so much to do. In addition to the four main theme parks, there are swimming pools, water parks and recreational activities.
But it is also overwhelming. We tried to remain flexible, but we still found ourselves making plans in two- or three-hour increments: Go to Fantasyland. Hop on rides. Quick water and bathroom break. Then head to Adventureland.
So take it slow, and listen to the young sightseers in your group. This is their trip, we must remind ourselves.
