Toddler time

[bradandsarabr]

Here is another question which I am sure the response will depend upon personal preference, but anyway . . . for how many days do you believe that a 2 year old could endure Disney magic?? or conversely, how many days could an adult stand a 2 year old enjoying Disney magic? Would taking a babysitter along change your answer?

 

[PSU_Princess]

I personally don't have children, however, my husbands cousins took their 2 year old daughter a couple years ago. If I remember correctly they stayed 4-5 days. They made sure to do plenty of afternoon naps and relaxing time at the pool and went at her pace. They recently went back with their daughter being 6 and son being almost 3. I think the trip was about the same length but this time they took grandparents along so that they could have some alone adult time to do the things that they wanted to do. Have fun!

 

[Master Yoda]

I have 3 girls and the youngest (now 5) has been going to WDW almost monthly since she was 10 days old and we have never had a problem. That being said we follow 1 simple rule. Take the parks at you child's pace. You might be able go 48 hours without sleep and go non-stop from one attraction to another at break neck speed but your 2 year old can't. Take time for naps and breaks, don't rush things. If you try to do all 4 parks in 2 days with a 2 year old your child will snap and make your life miserable. If you follow this rule you will be fine if you are going for 2 days or 20.

 

[BeanSz]

We went last September with our son who was 17 months at the time, and are scheduled to go again this September now that he is 29 months old. Both trips we are doing are 8 days/7 nights. First, you need to understand the temperment of both your toddler and you as parents. How are they around people, are they good in restaurants, do they handle these type of settings ok. That said, do not push them -- keeping their routine is important so try to honor their nap times, some quiet time, pool time, etc. You cannot do WDW the same as you did before kids. Make sure you find some down time as parents as well. My wife picks up little toys -- from Disney store, dollar store, Happy Meals, etc. -- packs them in individual zip lock bags to take on trip. We make sure we have different distractions for my son at key times like on the plane, during meals, while watching fireworks or whatever.

I do not think there is a magic number of days as long as you take it easy and try to keep toddler on schedule. If you want to see it all and are trying to do it in only a few days -- you and your toddler will go over the edge. I also don't recommend the philosophy of "they will sleep in the stroller"? Kids need some good rest.

Finally, be flexible with your schedule. Toddlers moods change quickly -- if they don't want to do something, move on. If they are not cooperating in line or at dinner, leave and be considerate of those around you. One other recommendation -- you never know how they will react to the characters. One day they will love them, the next they will want nothing to do with them. Do not push them -- and don't get upset if they only want to look at the characters from a far.

We had a great time last year -- my son still looks at the Disney scrap book of our trip -- we had a blast. As such, we are going again in a short 32 days!! Have fun.

 

[JimboJones123]

Ditto. Even a 2 week trip will be no problem if you do make sure to take at least 1 nap break EVERY DAY. Be ready, and when the kid gets up, be ready to go. Don't waste 4 hours of awake time getting ready. We have found that a character breakfast at 8am means getting up at 6am. By the time you hit the park at 10am, it's been 4 hours and is nap time. So make sure you follow their schedule. A longer trip will allow you to do this. We use park hopping for a nap. A stroller ride to the car puts the kids out. They nap. We sometimes cruise aroud on property. We get out at the next park, and let them nap until they wake up. Then snack and hit attractions.

 

[kachow]

Yeah, I don't have kids but I think the general advice of follow your kids is the way to go. You can't go in thinking you know what your kid is going to love, or worrying about them seeing everything. If they want to spend an hour looking at the flowers, so be it. And even I, at 35, need a break in the day to rest and sit by the pool, especially if it's really hot.

 

[amykissangel]

My little sister (or demon child, as we used to call her) came to Disney every year from the time she was 18 months. My parents planned to do the mid/day nap, but she didn't need it. She zonked out in the comfy little umbrella stroller for about an hour or so every day at 11ish in her little white bonnet (my mom was so funny), and liked the noise and hustle/bustle.

We always made sure to explain to her that even though the characters looked scary, they were really funny and nice, and they would never come and get her. By the end of the trip, she even hugged Captain Hook.

But her little legs couldn't carry her for longer than 10 min. and my mother's over-protective-worrisome ways wouldn't let her out of the stroller for more than 10 min. so it was perfect. Or my dad would carry her on his shoulders - she was a teeny little thing. She's 14 now, and my Dad could STILL carry her on his shoulders.

One thing - when we took our 3 year old cousin/niece, she wanted to stop for EVERYTHING! We watched the Castle show 4 times! Just be prepared that if you're booking your way over to a ride, and your child is enthralled with a show or character, it's nice to stop and let them see whatever it is.

HAVE FUN!!

 

[shoppingnut]

Be ready, and when the kid gets up, be ready to go.

This is what we did with my nephew when he was 2 1/2. There were a few times where we were out late the night before at the parks to about 11p, so the next morning we didn't push him out of bed, we got up about 8:30 took our showers and by the time we were done, he was awake (usually by a little after 9) and we got him ready to go and were out of the room in about 15 mins. My nephew is a night owl and able to go until late evening, but you can't burn the candle on both ends. And even at this age, he never sat in the stroller, even though we rented one he had no interest in it and walked the entire time. I think my SIL was ready to crawl in the thing a few times.

I've seen too many people that push their kids to the limit and then start screaming at them (that they paid all this money and they aren't leaving the parks and the kid needs to get over it) when they have a melt down. These kids are usually the ones kicked out of bed at the crack of dawn (can always tell by the yawning, red eyes and glazed look on their faces) and expected to go all day at adult speed for the length of the trip.

You cannot go commando style with kids. So you don't see something this time, there is always next time.

 

[coltow]

I agree with everyone else. Take it slow and make sure to take breaks. We also split up our days. We did not go to the parks on "travel days." Our first day we did AK and EPCOT. We then took the next 2 days off from the parks, stayed at the pool, went to Boardwalk and to Downtown Disney. Then we hit the parks again for 3 days, MGM, AK/EPCOT, MK. We travelled with 2 2yo and this worked for us. The "boys" enjoyed the time at the pool and relaxing a liitle bit too.