Hoping to go next April with two kids

[sbkline]

Lord Willin', we're hoping to go next April, and take the kids for the first time. The one child isn't even born yet. He/she is due June 26, and our son will be almost 4 next April. So, we will have a 10 month old and an almost 4 year old. For those of you who have done this, and stayed in a regular room, I'm wondering how you managed to sleep a toddler and an infant in one of those two bed hotel rooms? I know some rooms (such as those in Alligator Bayou at POR) have trundle beds, but what about the rest of the rooms at the other resorts? We would love to stay at the Ft Wilderness Cabins, which would have plenty of room, but I don't know if finances will allow it. So maybe a moderate or a value resort. I know there is the option of an All Star Family suite, which would certainly have enough room for all of us. How much do those cost? And does Pop Century have such suites or just the All Star Resorts? As far as cost goes, I checked and found out that Easter is April 4 next year, and we would be going, probably, on the week of our anniversary, April 12...if that helps any to estimate what the rates would be.

 

[Monty]

The toddler can probably sleep in one of the beds [you can request railings if he's a 'mobile' sleeper], and the ten-month-old could sleep in a Pack-n-Play.

So long as you have no objection to sharing a bed with your wife, you should be fine!

 

[Master Yoda]

The best solution would be to put the toddler in the pack n play crib that can be provided to you at no cost at every Disney resort. A room at PORS would afford you a bit more square footage in which to put it but I have used them at the values with little to no impact on my comfort level in the room.

 

[sbkline]

The toddler can probably sleep in one of the beds [you can request railings if he's a 'mobile' sleeper], and the ten-month-old could sleep in a Pack-n-Play.

So long as you have no objection to sharing a bed with your wife, you should be fine!

The issue is whether or not she has any objection to sharing a bed with me.

Thanks for the info. I guess I didn't realize that they could put rails on the beds. Of course, that opens a whole other issue as to where to throw all our junk, if that bed has to be used by our child. :lol:

 

[Master Yoda]

Is this going to be your first trip with your kids?

 

[sbkline]

Is this going to be your first trip with your kids?

Ya, if we're able to do this trip, it will be the first time taking children. So, as much as I want to go and as much as I look forward to that first family trip, I have all kinds of questions and concerns...such as how to fit all of us and our junk into a hotel room, how to spend enough time in the parks while having to get everyone ready in the morning (which may rule out arriving when the park opens), and having to get back early enough to put the kids to bed (which may rule out nighttime activities), whether or not either or both kids will sit still for certain attractions, etc.

 

[maggiegrace1]

WOOO HOOOOO for you taking the kids with you on a Disney trip..:sohappy::sohappy:

Now what are we gonna argue about?

:kiss:

 

[sbkline]

WOOO HOOOOO for you taking the kids with you on a Disney trip..:sohappy::sohappy:

Now what are we gonna argue about?

:kiss:

Well, I guess if we are able to make this trip, no matter how much fun we have, I could always come back and say it sucked and that we will leave our kids at home for any future trip from now on.

 

[maggiegrace1]

Ya, if we're able to do this trip, it will be the first time taking children. So, as much as I want to go and as much as I look forward to that first family trip, I have all kinds of questions and concerns...such as how to fit all of us and our junk into a hotel room, how to spend enough time in the parks while having to get everyone ready in the morning (which may rule out arriving when the park opens), and having to get back early enough to put the kids to bed (which may rule out nighttime activities), whether or not either or both kids will sit still for certain attractions, etc.

This will be a very different trip..but you can still get there when the park opens and there may be attractions you will have to skip or not see or do with your wife but seperately.

Maggie did not sit still for any show but Drew would take her while I went in the show and I took her while he did..It works out pretty well.

Just listen to what the kids want..take breaks and go slower and just enjoy it all..

It will be wonderful..

Also..for Maggies first trip we had a breathing machine, pack and play, suction machine, feeding tube supplies, glass jars of formula plus all the normal kid stuff and it was fine..

 

[maggiegrace1]

Well, I guess if we are able to make this trip, no matter how much fun we have, I could always come back and say it sucked and that we will leave our kids at home for any future trip from now on.

:lol:
Nah, I would love to know if it went well..I am sure I can find something to argue with you about..

 

[sbkline]

We're really hoping that my brother and his wife will be able and willing to go with us or that Fizzle75 and his wife, Skeeder will be there at the same time we are. Or, best scenario, that both couples will make it down and we can all hang out together...at least some of the time. That would certainly make it easier to deal with one kid or the other not being able to do a ride or attraction, such as if all the men go on the attraction while all the women sit out with the kids, and then vice versa, or one couple takes care of the kids so the wife and I can ride together, etc. As I said, we have all kinds of concerns how it would work out with two kids along, but apparently many, many others have gone with kids and done it just fine, especially people such as Dana, who have had a child with special needs at the time. So I guess there's no reason to think we can't do it as well.

 

[erstwo]

Okay, we travel EVERYWHERE with our kids. Europe, Asia, NYC, Chicago, and everyplace in between. We mostly fly, even in the US, not being a fan of long drives.

I can't imagine not having our kids with us at Disney. Having said that, our trip 4 weeks ago was our first trip where we all slept in 1 room. Things went great for us, but it would not have been possible even 6 months before.

You have to know what kind of "sleepers" your children are. Up until the age of 2, both of my kids had to have a dark, quiet room (usually with a noise machine going) to sleep through the night. Otherwise, if they were in the room with us they would wake up at every noise, tossing, turning, etc.

My husband and I don't do well with no sleep, so we would always get adjoining rooms, one for the baby to sleep in and one for us and DS.

I think the All Star Music Family Suites run around $186 a night as opposed to the $265 for a FW Cabin. I could wrong????

 

[Master Yoda]

Ya, if we're able to do this trip, it will be the first time taking children. So, as much as I want to go and as much as I look forward to that first family trip, I have all kinds of questions and concerns...such as how to fit all of us and our junk into a hotel room, how to spend enough time in the parks while having to get everyone ready in the morning (which may rule out arriving when the park opens), and having to get back early enough to put the kids to bed (which may rule out nighttime activities), whether or not either or both kids will sit still for certain attractions, etc.

The best piece of advice I could give you is to slow things down a bit. I always got the impression that you were very GO! GO! GO! when you were in the parks and you just can not do that with little ones. Let the trip be about them. Take things at their pace. If they do not want to go on an attraction then do not force them to. You also might want to look at a midday break back at your resort. It will allow the kids to get some shut eye that way they can make it through some of the night time activities. If you travel with some friends that can watch the kids for the day use that time to get your thrill on at the park.

 

[erstwo]

Ya, if we're able to do this trip, it will be the first time taking children. So, as much as I want to go and as much as I look forward to that first family trip, I have all kinds of questions and concerns...such as how to fit all of us and our junk into a hotel room, how to spend enough time in the parks while having to get everyone ready in the morning (which may rule out arriving when the park opens), and having to get back early enough to put the kids to bed (which may rule out nighttime activities), whether or not either or both kids will sit still for certain attractions, etc.

Sorry - I didn't address this part earlier, somehow I forgot? :veryconfu

But I did want to add that we have no problem arriving before the parks open, but we are early risers. Just pack your bag/ backpack for the next day in the park before you go to bed, lay out the clothes, etc. and take quick showers in the morning (or just skip the shower all together!)

Our kids do go to bed early-ish - 8pm Eastern time- but we were able to put them to bed around 9pm our last two trips. I will say that the one night we pushed it to 10pm, so we could watch Spectromagic and Wishes was a complete and utter meltdown night for us. But we knew it would be and we were prepared (psyched ourselves up to be extra patient with the kids, etc.) to deal with our extra tired kids. The funny thing is that even though they were a complete, whiny mess right after Wishes ended, it was totally worth it because even my 2 year old DD still talks about seeing Tinkerbell fly and the fireworks.

 

[KC82271]

Although I only have one kid, I have done it when she was 10 months old (first trip) and her last trip was at 3.5 (her fifth). We have used the pack and play. She did well in that the first trip. But the 2nd at 22mos, she climbed out of it! Put her in a bed with two railings (they are really short) on one side and mommy on the other, she did fine. As for the junk, put the toddler on the bed closest to the bathroom, and pack all the junk between that bed and the bathroom wall (back-up method to the railings) - I never knew empty suitcases could come in so handy!

As for the parks, I took her at 10 mos on everything I could - no roller coasters, or anything real fast. Took her on the tea cups (no spinning), all the slow rides (Spaceship Earth, Land, Great Movie Ride, all of Fantasyland, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Buzz, Toy Story, etc.) and the all time favorites for that age - Transit Authority in Tomorrowland and the Railroad - great sleeping rides for nap time!

As 3.5, she went on everything up to Splash Mountain, Norway and Test Track. She hates dark theathers, so we skip them. I make her go to some, and tell her to hide her head in my shoulder and she's fine.

One thing you have to do is go with the flow of the kids - not you! This last trip, DD was nasty one night as we were on our was to Downtown Disney for dinner. She had a complete meltdown waiting for the bus. We stopped and thought about it, she had never napped. Oh well, the night was over. Ate dinner back in the hotel room.

Hype the whole trip up to the 4 year old. Get the videos. Use YouTube to show videos of various rides. My daughter was gung ho to go on Toy Story, because we watched it every day on the PC. Do the same thing with pictures. So many people on this site have photo albums on line, view them.

Enjoy!

 

[sbkline]

Although I only have one kid, I have done it when she was 10 months old (first trip) and her last trip was at 3.5 (her fifth). We have used the pack and play. She did well in that the first trip. But the 2nd at 22mos, she climbed out of it! Put her in a bed with two railings (they are really short) on one side and mommy on the other, she did fine. As for the junk, put the toddler on the bed closest to the bathroom, and pack all the junk between that bed and the bathroom wall (back-up method to the railings) - I never knew empty suitcases could come in so handy!

As for the parks, I took her at 10 mos on everything I could - no roller coasters, or anything real fast. Took her on the tea cups (no spinning), all the slow rides (Spaceship Earth, Land, Great Movie Ride, all of Fantasyland, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Buzz, Toy Story, etc.) and the all time favorites for that age - Transit Authority in Tomorrowland and the Railroad - great sleeping rides for nap time!

As 3.5, she went on everything up to Splash Mountain, Norway and Test Track. She hates dark theathers, so we skip them. I make her go to some, and tell her to hide her head in my shoulder and she's fine.

One thing you have to do is go with the flow of the kids - not you! This last trip, DD was nasty one night as we were on our was to Downtown Disney for dinner. She had a complete meltdown waiting for the bus. We stopped and thought about it, she had never napped. Oh well, the night was over. Ate dinner back in the hotel room.

Hype the whole trip up to the 4 year old. Get the videos. Use YouTube to show videos of various rides. My daughter was gung ho to go on Toy Story, because we watched it every day on the PC. Do the same thing with pictures. So many people on this site have photo albums on line, view them.

Enjoy!

Thanks for all the input. I had never thought about putting all the junk beside the other bed as a barrier to keep the kid from rolling out onto the floor. And I know what you mean about going with the flow of the kids. I've been doing alot of thinking about how different future trips will be with little kids along, trying to get used to it in my head before even going, so it won't be a shock when we get there. I'm used to being very on the go and, even though I did better this last time, I still need to get mentally prepared for the reality of going on the kids' pace and not mine. Good thing I have 16 months to think about it...assumming that we are able to pull off the trip in the first place. Nothing is certain this far out, obviously.

On another note, what about King Sized beds? I read about the All Star Resorts that King Sized beds are available, but only in rooms prepared specifically for handicapped people (bigger tubs, etc). Is that the case with any rooms in any Disney resort with King sized beds, or would there be rooms at say, Coronado Springs or Port Orleans that would have a King Sized bed, but not be constructed with the handicapped in mind? I figured if so, that would be an option to, in regards to the almost 4 year old. He could sleep in between us in the King sized bed, so there is plenty of room and no one gets squished.

 

[Monty]

Thanks for all the input. I had never thought about putting all the junk beside the other bed as a barrier to keep the kid from rolling out onto the floor. And I know what you mean about going with the flow of the kids. I've been doing alot of thinking about how different future trips will be with little kids along, trying to get used to it in my head before even going, so it won't be a shock when we get there. I'm used to being very on the go and, even though I did better this last time, I still need to get mentally prepared for the reality of going on the kids' pace and not mine. Good thing I have 16 months to think about it...assumming that we are able to pull off the trip in the first place. Nothing is certain this far out, obviously.

On another note, what about King Sized beds? I read about the All Star Resorts that King Sized beds are available, but only in rooms prepared specifically for handicapped people (bigger tubs, etc). Is that the case with any rooms in any Disney resort with King sized beds, or would there be rooms at say, Coronado Springs or Port Orleans that would have a King Sized bed, but not be constructed with the handicapped in mind? I figured if so, that would be an option to, in regards to the almost 4 year old. He could sleep in between us in the King sized bed, so there is plenty of room and no one gets squished.

There are King sized available in Moderate and Deluxe resorts that are not specifically configured for disabled guests.

If that works better for you. I was always afraid of squishing my son if he shared a bed with me. :shrug:

 

[shawnam]

The last time we went, our youngest was 10 months old and we used the Pack n play Disney provided at the Pop Century, sure it was crowded, but we had an adjoining room for my grandmother, so one of our girls (we have 2 girls and a boy) stayed with her. Like everyone else said, take your time and make the trip about the kids. I never realized how much I missed (like the Christmas shop in Magic Kingdom) rushing around. I've had the privelage of going with no kids, while pregnant with my first, and then with the kids and going with the kids is the best.