Traveling With Little Ones – Days 1 & 2

Day 1

After much planning our vacation finally got it’s start. We had an early morning flight so we prepped our boys the night before about how they needed to get to bed early because “tomorrow we were going to Disney World!”.

Dear Son age 4 (DS4) announced “no more days” (left) and happily got ready to get to the airport. I have to say everyone at the airport was very helpful and patient with us going through security. It was a good start to our trip. Our flight was uneventful but we were prepared with things for the boys to do. We brought coloring books and crayons and played a movie on the laptop for them and of course snacks. Only wish I had a five point harness on DS2s’ seat as he kept sliding himself out of the seatbelt.

We rented a car to get to the hotel from the airport and stopped at the Super Walmart for diapers and other essentials that we preferred not to pack. We also purchased an inexpensive no frills pack and play for DS2. He’s much too big for the mini-cribs that the hotel provides and he doesn’t like to sleep with us as he sleeps better in his own space so the $40 we spent for the pack and play was money well spent. He slept like a lamb last night.

After everyone arrived from their flights and was settled into their rooms we had a quick dinner together and then off to bed to get ready for our first full day. My DS4 wanted to know “when we’re going to Disney World?” I informed him that we are here already, but to him it won’t feel that way until he sees the Magic Kingdom.

Day Two

What’s great about being a kid is that every new experience is so big and wonderful to them. My DS2 loved riding the bus to and from the Magic Kingdom almost as much as the rides themselves. He kept saying “the bus, the bus” and then serenaded us all with a loud version of “Twinkle Twinkle” along with hand gestures. Also, it was on the bus where the princess of our group got her first glimpse of Cinderella’s castle which led to big smiles and squeals of happiness.

We had a wonderful day at MK. I can’t say we rode a ton of rides, but the things we did the kids loved tremendously. After the big drop on Splash Mountain my DS4 grabbed and hugged and kissed me because he was so happy.

One mistake I made was not explaining to him what Splash Mountain was before we got on line. He promptly decided he did not want to wait for this ride and wanted to get off – much to my chagrin because I knew he would love it. I subsequently took him to the viewing area where you see the logs plummet into the briar patch so he would understand what he was waiting for and he said “oh, I want to go on that – I’m sorry” and we returned to the line again. So my suggestion is to give as much of an explanation to your child as possible so that they’ll understand that it’ll be worth the wait and will make your queuing time much more enjoyable.

We had breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table. Although this reservation was made primarily for the princess of our group in mind, all the boys enjoyed themselves as well. They were all given little swords to play with and my DS2 found the coats of mail of special interest. He referred to them as “the good knight” (a reference to an episode of the Little Einsteins). Also, the staff took our group picture and gave them to us at the end of the meal for no extra charge.

We tried to be as flexible as possible to accommodate all the children’s wants and needs. While DS4 was riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with his Dad, rather than have DS2 just wait around for him, I took him on the WDW Railroad which had a station nearby for a roundtrip ride. Everyone was kept busy doing something they enjoyed.

We also made use of the Baby Care Center. Diane took her baby there when he needed to eat and I also used it for a diaper change for DS2. The Center was really nice with high chairs for feeding, great diaper changing facilities with soft pads and separate rooms for nursing mothers all wonderfully air conditioned.

We left the Magic Kingdom when DS4 fell asleep and Dawn’s Dear Daughter age 4 (DD4) was getting tired as well. Diane and Ed and the baby left a few hours before us. Back to the hotel to get some food and regroup. Now as I write this, DS4 is sound asleep in his bed while DS2 is out with everyone else enjoying the fireworks from the Boardwalk in his pajamas and the glow bracelets I brought from home.

Next up, a day of rest and the Hoop Dee Doo!

Laura Fox