Hey there pals!
Before we jump into this month’s post, I just have to give a disclaimer – this one might not be for everyone! But if you, like me, are wrangling a toddler on a daily basis, keep reading! Life with an almost-two-year-old monster precious child is never boring. One moment, we’re cuddling and reading a book together on the playroom floor, and the next moment, said precious child is chasing the dog with a plastic baseball bat. Like I said, never boring.
So you’d expect that adventures to Disney World bring their own kind of magic when toting a toddler along, right? Right! Let me tell you, I loved Disney before Max started going with us, but now I REALLY LOVE Disney. Experiencing each ride, snack, parade, and show with him has been so much fun. Bringing Max with us, of course, raises challenges we haven’t faced before. But here are some of my favorite tips to make your time together more magical!
- This will forever and always be my number one tip for families taking young children to Disney. BUY THE BUBBLE WAND. These light-up wands are sold at kiosks and shops all over the parks and have $2 refill bottles readily available almost anywhere. Let me just say – I know this sounds silly. I know that spending $30 on a light-up bubble blower sounds ridiculous. I know. BUT when I say this thing is a game-changer for my child, I’m not understating the effect it has on him. Hangry in a ride line? Bubble Wand. Distraction from all of the other goodies and souvenirs? Bubble Wand. Mom and dad need a moment to think about what attraction to hit next? Bubble Wand. Brewing tantrum or restlessness? Bubble Wand. If you don’t want to buy the one in the park, definitely check out one like this on Amazon.
- Snacks. Snacks. Snacks. When we pack our diaper bag the night before or the morning of a park day, the first thing I make sure we have is about a million snack options for Max. We bring goldfish, applesauce pouches, veggie straws, clementines, graham crackers, Uncrustables, you name it. While Max loves to eat with us in the parks, sometimes we don’t eat on his typical schedule. And because he’s my child, snacks are his love language. The last thing I want at Disney is a hangry child. So we try to prevent those meltdowns by being as prepared as we can in the snack department.
- When packing your diaper bag, make sure you pack way more diapers than you think you need… AND extra clothes. It never fails: at least once on our Disney vacation, no matter how frequently we change him, Max leaks through his diaper. I think it’s a combination of the amount of water we make him drink (it’s hot in Orlando – hydrate!) and sitting in the stroller a lot of the day. So bring extra clothes and a grocery bag/ziploc bag to hold wet/dirty clothes.
- LOTS. OF. WIPES. I can’t stress this enough. You will find yourself using baby wipes to clean stroller trays, picnic tables, sticky hands from aforementioned bubble wands and snacks, and who knows what else.
- Check the maps on your My Disney Experience app (or good ol’ paper maps!) for spaces for kiddos to run around and burn off energy. The Boneyard in Animal Kingdom, Swiss Family Treehouse at Magic Kingdom, the playground outside Creations Shop at Epcot, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios are great places for kids to let off some steam before or after waiting in a long ride line! In each of those spaces, there’s a lot of fun things to see and space to roam. Perfect for little minds that can easily get overstimulated!
- Last but not least, remember to take some deep breaths and be patient. If you think Disney is a lot for your mind to take in, just imagine what’s running through your toddler’s brain! Try not to be derailed by a tantrum (remember the Bubble Wand and snacks!), hold onto the sweet moments you have, and remember… they might not remember this trip, but you will!
Okay, now that I gave you some ideas, let’s get this clear. This isn’t a formula, and I’ll tell you from experience… even if you do all of the right things, sometimes a toddler just doesn’t want to cooperate and you have to make the best of the situation. But I hope these bring some of your fears to rest. What are some of your favorite tips to do at Disney with little ones? Comment below to help some other parents (and me!) out! Ready to plan your next adventure? Let’s get started!
See y’all real soon!
Emily
