Friday Photo

End-of-school-year nostalgia. My big girl is now in the 5th grade!

 

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip (or, rather, group of tips) are for parents of small children. Although my husband and I are very grateful to be beyond the days of toting diaper bags and pushing strollers, we remember well the strategies one must employ to navigate Walt Disney World with a toddler. Here are a few of my favorite stroller-related tips:

• Even if you don't regularly use a stroller, most children will need one at least part of the day up to around the age of 4 or 5. My eldest daughter was still hopping in little sister's stroller when she was 7 (good thing she's skinny).


• While the WDW strollers are very comfortable and easy to push, they are rather expensive to rent--around $15/day for a single and $31/day for a double, last time I checked. If you're driving, bringing your own lightweight stroller is a no-brainer. Even if you fly, it might be worth bringing yours from home. There are also several companies that rent strollers for the length of your stay, with pricing considerably lower than WDW offers. And if transportation is available, a trip to the local Wal-Mart or Target could yield an umbrella-style stroller for around $20-$30. Again, the price of a taxi might ultimately be worth it for the length of your stay. As a fun "pay it forward" move, you could offer your new stroller to an arriving family  with little ones on your departure.


• Always put an identifying item on your stroller. With rental strollers, it's easy to confuse yours with someone else's--especially when the "stroller fairies" keep moving those little beauties around the stroller parking area. But even with non-rentals, there will likely be another family nearby that has the same model as yours, so anything you can do to obviously identify yours will be helpful. We typically tied a colorful scarf or bandana on ours.


• Never leave valuables in your stroller unattended. (Do I really need to tell you this?)


• Look for designated stroller parking areas and use them. Don't think that you can park it anywhere and expect to find it when you return. Let me assure you that it WILL be moved--probably within 2 minutes--to a designated area. As I mentioned, the "stroller fairies" mean business.


• Your stroller usage will vary among Parks. You may not need it at all in the Magic Kingdom if you have a bit older preschoolers. We find that in Fantasyland especially it is more trouble to go back and forth to the parking area than it is to simply forego the stroller. But you will undoubtedly need it in Epcot, as most attractions are spread out on more acreage.


• If you choose to rent a Disney stroller, hold on to your receipt. If you Park Hop,  simply turn in your stroller at one Park and show your receipt at the next to receive your stroller.


• Take a cheap plastic poncho as a rain cover for your stroller. If there's even a hint of a chance of shower, put the poncho over the stroller before you get in that 60-minute queue, just in case. Trust me on this...you will thank me.

And my youngest daughter's favorite tip comes in handy for those of us who no longer take along a stroller but still have kiddos that tire out at the end of the night: After the fireworks, it is perfectly acceptable to snag an abandoned rental stroller (there will be dozens) and give your child a ride back to the front entrance. Not only do her little legs get a break, but you're helping Disney by returning the stroller to the rental area. Win/win!

 

Thursday's Tip

Can I make a confession? I'm really glad to be out of the "take-a-diaper-bag-and-the-stroller-to-the-Parks" stage with my kids. Touring the Parks is a lot less cumbersome without all the extras a toddler requires. Still, if you're in that phase of life, you understand that lugging a few extra items can be instrumental in ensuring a happy experience for your family at Walt Disney World.

So, might I recommend one additional item to stuff in your diaper bag? Thursday's Tip: If you plan to stay at one of the Disney Parks until (or past) your toddler's bedtime, take his or her PJs along to change into just before boarding transportation to return to your Resort. (Any restroom will do, but the Baby Care Centers in each of the Parks are a great place to do this. You might also considering bringing along a toothbrush or anything else you need for the nighttime ritual.) After a long day, most little ones will nod off when they feel the rhythmic movement of a bus or hear the gentle hum of a boat. It seems a shame to wake up your little pumpkin simply to put on his or her PJs in order to get the child back to sleep. Save yourself the hassle--and possibly a sleepless night--and do it before you leave the Parks. You'll be glad you did!

Friday Photo

This is one of my all-time favorite Disney photos. It's my youngest daughter, just shy of two years old, on her very first visit. Just hours before, we purchased her very first ears and had her name embroidered on the back. Ah, sweet memories...

Playhouse Disney Closes Forever...Well, Sort Of

Playhouse Disney Live On Stage has closed for good...except that's not exactly, precisely the story. See, it will re-open in March as Disney Junior. This is, of course, a reflection of the change taking place on the Disney Channel, as Playhouse Disney is being gradually shifted to Disney Junior.

Expect to see some new story lines in this perennial favorite among the preschool set. My guess is that the new Disney Junior show, "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" will play a significant role, since we've been seeing ads forit for the last few weeks on Disney Channel. I'm quite certain that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will also remain. Early reports said that Handy Manny and Little Einsteins would also bet sticking around. (Personally, I would prefer to see these two replaced. I think they've seen their heyday. But the Disney marketing team failed to consult me. Hmmph.)

Looking forward to seeing what Disney Junior has to offer!

Thursday's Tip

Both of my girls made their first trip to Walt Disney World before they were fully potty trained. The thought of jumping out of line and running to the nearest restroom every time nature called was unappealing at best (although we did our best to take them quickly to a restroom when possible). Our solution, and today's Thursday's Tip: put your child in a pull-up if there's any doubt he/she can wait five minutes to use the potty.

Even if your child rarely wears pull-ups at home these days, vacations can disrupt your normal potty training routine. And sometimes the wait at the nearest restroom can exceed five minutes. Unless your child deeply objects, you will save yourself much grief by using this safety measure while touring the parks.

I am by no means recommending that you stop potty training and simply give up while on vacation! Instead, I like to think of  pull-ups as a little insurance policy, guaranteeing you won't spend the day dealing with accidents.

How Young Is Too Young for Disney?

I just came across an excellent guest column at AllEars.net about how old your child should be before you take him/her to Walt Disney World. As a mom whose three-year-old has already been three times, you probably know where I stand on the issue. (She was not quite two on her first trip.)

I love the writer's take on the whole "Will they remember it?" issue. Um...why should that matter? Most of us don't remember anything we did in our first few years--does that mean we didn't do anything? (And, for the record, my three-year-old remembers it quite well, thank you very much. She daily recounts some attraction or event that happened on previous trips...and asks daily when we can return to our "Happy Place.")

Are there reasons to wait? Absolutely. Do what feels right for your own family. But don't let someone else's nay-saying cause you to put off a vacation that your whole family can enjoy right now! You can read the full story here.

Friday Photo

OK, so that should actually be "Friday Photos," since there are two today. These very similar photos were taken three years apart, in 2005 and 2008. Both girls were around two at the time their respective photos were taken. Both photos were taken at the end of our Disney vacation. Clearly, neither girl was potty trained. :-) Can you tell them apart? They look like the same kid, right? They even have the same hairstyle. Sweet, sweet memories...

Thursday's Tip

When traveling with children, it's always best to be prepared for any and every scenario. And while none of us plan on losing track of a child, the reality is that children get separated from their parents at Walt Disney World every day. (Incidentally, there are no "lost children" at WDW--only "lost parents." Disney labels them as such, so as not to alarm the children who are temporarily separated from their guardians.)

Today's tip is to ensure that, in the event that this unfortunate separation occurs, your children will be reunited with you as quickly as possible: label young children. OK, it sounds a little strange to put it like that, but that's pretty much what I do. Since our first visit with my oldest daughter, who was two at the time, we have put a label somewhere on our children's clothing with the following information:

• child's first name


• Mom's cell phone number


• Dad's cell phone number


• known allergies or health conditions

It is also important that your children learn to recognize Cast Members. Point out the uniformed CMs wearing the special Disney name tags  to your children when you arrive at the parks. Make sure they know to only speak to a CM in the event that you are separated. (It's also a good idea to go over all the usual safety items with your kids, such as not going with strangers offering candy and that sort of thing.)

When my kids were younger, I put the sticker right on their back (click on the photo above for an example), in plain view, in case they weren't able to articulate to a CM who they were or how to contact us. Now that they're a bit older (3 and 6), I still put a label on the inside of their shirt tail so that if they get nervous and forget our phone numbers--or are crying and can't clearly relay them to a CM-- they can simply point to their label.

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip is primarily for families with toddlers, and it's all about working in an afternoon nap. Now, many Disney veterans swear by taking an afternoon break away from the parks, returning to the hotel for a nap (or swim, for the older kids). While I think this is a great approach for some families (and especially those with younger toddlers who can't miss their naps), our family has always opted for staying in the parks and seeking out a dark, air-conditioned theatre to get the little guy or gal a power nap. Here are some of our favorite nap areas, by park:

• Magic Kingdom: Hands down, this is the best park for napping. Hall of Presidents is a favorite. Since it's currently closed for refurbishment (re-opening soon!), we also recommend the Carousel of Progress. The Country Bear Jamboree isn't bad either. Another option (if it's not unbearably hot) is a cruise on the Liberty Square Riverboat. The ride is about 30 minutes--a perfect power nap.
• Epcot: The American Adventure is a dark theatre with cushy seats, idea for a cool snooze. Many of the pavilions on the World Showcase have quiet areas or benches in air-conditioning. In Future World, try Honey I Shrunk the Audience.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios: Your best bet is the Muppets 3-D Vision. American Idol Experience and Voyage of the Little Mermaid are also decent options, but the first is pretty loud and the second may be too exciting for kids to sleep. We've also found that The Great Movie Ride provides a nice, albeit brief nap experience. Just cover the tots ears during the gunfire.
• Animal Kingdom: This one is tougher. Not many quiet and dark shows here. Finding Nemo or It's Tough to Be a Bug (if your child isn't freaked out by bugs) would probably be the best choices, although it might be tough to get your child to close his or her eyes and ignore the show in either of these. We've had success getting in a quick nap on the Wildlife Express train.

My best tip is to know your child! If he or she needs a full-on, back-to-the-hotel nap, then by all means get one. But if you've got an older toddler who just needs a boost to get through the rest of the day, try one of our recommended (and many of them tested!) spots.

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip: Bring your own stroller. Yes, Disney rents strollers. Yes, they're very nice. But at $15/day for a single stroller and a whopping $31/day for a double, you could easily buy a new lightweight stroller for one day's rental. (Multiple day--or "length of stay"--rentals bring the price down to $13/day for a single and $27/day for a double. Still pricey!)

I know it's a bit of a hassle to take one on the plane, but I have a solution for that too--buy a cheap one online and have it shipped directly to your hotel in time for arrival. Even with shipping, you'll save money. Here's one scenario:

Kmart.com has a variety of single umbrella strollers for $14.99 plus tax. Even with the $7.50 shipping fee, the total comes to just $22.49 plus tax. In less than two days of renting, you could have purchased a new lightweight stroller.

Or, if you have access to a car on your trip, visit the local Wal-Mart or Target and buy a cheap stroller upon arrival. You'll save the $7.50 shipping, and you may find an even better deal in stores. (Our local Wal-Mart sells umbrella strollers for around $12.99.)

Still not convinced? One more thing to remember: Disney only rents strollers inside the parks--not at any of the resorts. If you have very young children, you're going to need a stroller just to get through your hotel. The only way to have it every time you need it is to bring your own.