Flying to Orlando from UK with a 2yr old

[WDW_Wales]

Hello,

Long time viewer of these forums but this is my first post! :wave:

My wife and I are experienced WDW & DLP travellers but after a 3yr break from WDW, we've booked to return as a family.

My daughter is 2yrs old in September and we're going to WDW in October.

Just looking for some advice from any UK based users (or US based who have taken their young on a long flight) who have travelled to WDW with young children. How did the flight go? I'm a little worried about how she is going to cope with the 7 hour+ flight, especially seeing as it will be her 1st time on a plane.

She'll have her own seat but I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep her in it!

Any tips/advice is much appreciated!

 

[journ116]

Although I'm US based, I do have first-hand experience traveling with a toddler for long stretches. I took my first daughter, at the age of 2, on a 14 hour car ride by myself! So, I can offer you tidbits based on that experience.

1. Like any long excursion, you need to take a break and get up and move around, even if it's only a walk to the lavatory and back. I made "pit stops" every 2 1/2-3 hours; but sometimes I feared she wouldn't want to return to her carseat. For this, I just popped in a movie in my portable DVD player (a year before the first iPad came out), and that seemed to do the trick. If a melt-down occurs, remember your child is not the first, nor the last, to have one mid-flight.

2. Have "new" entertainment lined up for just the right moments. I bought new coloring books, crayons, a couple of toys, and travel games and hid them in my special bag. When the time was right, I'd break out one of the "new" items, but being careful not to bring out ALL of them at once.

3. Pack your child's "never-fail, must haves." My daughter could not travel anywhere without her Lovey, Ted-Ted (part stuffed animal, part blanket).

4. Snacks, Snacks, Snacks! Now may not be the time to try something new. Pack favorites, but not all sugary ones. Also, have a cup on hand so your child can drink during take-off and landing to help with aiding the popping-of-the-ears.

5. You have the luxury of traveling with your spouse, so try the "divide and conquer" method. Be sure to give one another downtime as well, for both of your sanity.

6. Start showing your child pictures & videos of planes. Talk about the process, even if your child doesn't fully understand.

7. You can still enforce discipline even on vacation. I know it might be hard while you're on a plane, but remember that there's light at the end of the tunnel for you: DISNEY WORLD!

I also have plenty of experience flying with toddlers, but my flights are no more than 2 1/2 hours. I make sure to plan our flights when I know my kids will nap...I'd rather have them wide awake, "running" around the terminal to burn off some energy, knowing they'll probably fall asleep at some point during the flight.

I'm not sure if this is at all helpful...but there's a first for everything!
Happy travels!:wave:

 

[melmood2000]

I haven't taken any long flights but I have taken a few 3 hour flights with our 2 year old. I agree with the previous poster about movies we had a few different options, I also had some craft type books that just used water to paint with. A roll of clear scotch tape can keep a toddler busy and doesn't make much of a mess. I used Lollipops to help my little one during takeoff and landing.