We have finally arrived at the last three tips for taking a Disney Vacation with toddlers and younger children. We hope you have gotten some great tips on how to have a fit free vacation and that they will help you in your upcoming magical vacation! Don’t forget to take a look at part one, part two, and part three if you missed them. Lets begin where we left off –
8. Know your child’s ride limitations – Walt Disney’s vision for these parks began with a desire to make a place where parents and their children can enjoy an experience together. And I do believe he accomplished that wonderfully!! In fact there are more rides that kids of all ages can go on then there are rides that have height limitations. That being said don’t drag your toddler who is terrified of the dark on Mr. Toads Wild Ride, or your 5 year old on Tower of Terror. Just because kids can go on rides doesn’t mean that they should. Now, what if your kids have never been on any sort of ride before? Well, your best bet is to prepare them as much as you can for each ride before they ride. If possible have them watch the ride a few times before they board and talk to them about what they see and what they will experience. You can even do this before you leave on your vacation; there are dozens of high quality ride videos on You Tube that can help get your kids ready. Once you get to the parks maybe start with a few slower, calmer rides before jumping into the big guns just to see how they will react. Ride Casey Jr. Train before jumping aboard a dark ride like Peter Pan’s Flight for example. Most importantly, don’t push your kids onto something they really don’t want to go on. My husband is the worst for breaking this rule. And I can tell you it very rarely has good results. He practically forced our oldest to go on the Matterhorn once, and I am still not sure if she will go on it again (which is a huge shame). Of course your kids may react different and that’s fine, the big thing here is just to watch your Childs cues and make the best decision for them.
9. Let them run – Kids can get bored at the Disney Parks, herd to believe I know. But it makes sense; kids are in strollers almost all day, only getting out to go to sleep. And then it’s right back into the stroller to go back to the park. I know it may seem daunting, but see if you can give your kids a little bit of ‘leg-time’ let them hold your hand and walk a bit on their own. If you’re waiting in an enclosed line maybe let them down to stretch their legs, just don’t let them bother the other guests. Now I know those child leashes are very popular, but let me advise (strongly) against them for just a moment. The Disney Parks can be a very busy place, and when people are close together, and in a hurry to get somewhere they aren’t always going to watch for a lead that a child may or may not be attached too. If your child is having some walking time, best to hold their hand. This way, you can quickly pick them up if you find yourself in a crowd, or pull them out of the way to avoid other guests.
10. Cherish Every Moment – You’ve made it! Your vacation is here and you are ready to enjoy the family vacation of your dreams! Just remember that it is a family vacation, and, as much as you want to go on Space Mountain 20 times, your daughter really wants to meet Cinderella. And I guarantee you that her face when he finally meets her is worth 100 rides on Space Mountain. And, if you miss it to go on that ride you’ll regret it. Find a balance in your vacation and I think you’ll find that you can fit everything in, while making those family memories that you will treasure forever.
Thanks for joining us on this journey through vacationing with a toddler, we hope you enjoyed it! And don’t forget to contact Wishing Well Travel for you next Disney Vacation!
