Disney world?

[Anonymous]

Anyone ever done a Disney vacation w/ their employers and charges? Just found out we are going at the end of the month.. don't get me wrong, I love Disney but have never taken toddlers! Any useful tips?

[Anonymous]

I have gone with two seperate families but the kids were 5/6 or older how old are your charges?

I have also took my niece when she was two.

[Anonymous]

They are both 2 years old, PP!

[Anonymous]

I went with my work family but we rented a house and only did 2 days at the park. I wouldn't have wanted to go if we were going to do parks nearly every day. That sounds exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

Tips:

have a 1:1 adult:child ratio (or 2:1) 100% of the time. at no point should one adult be responsible for more than one toddler.

assign roles - e.g. nanny is in charge of child A, DB is in charge of child B, MB "floats" as needed and otherwise handles any tickets/food/gear/etc.

set reasonable goals for the day. do not plan to spend 8 hours at the park. have a plan of attack if there are particular events or rides MB/DB/DCs want to attend, otherwise try to help everyone keep some perspective (the kids aren't likely to remember the trip if they're under 4, so if they don't get to go on the best ever ride it's not a big deal...)

[Anonymous]

I have. It was 10 years ago.
One toddler. At that point I had just started working for that family as a weekend nanny. Their full time nanny couldn't go and they asked me.
We all shared a suite (it was too late to book a separate room, the hotel was sold out at that point)
DB was usually doing his own thing - playing golf, etc.
I spent most of the days with MB and the toddler.
Some days we would all go and take turns - I would stay with the toddler while MB and DB went on a ride, or MB would wait while DB and I would go on a water slide, roller coaster, etc. (MB wasn't a huge fan)
And of course all toddler activities/rides on the way.

I actually have good memories from that trip, but I prefer not to travel with the family if I have a choice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to both PPs!!

[Anonymous]

A backpack diaper bag (or two) is great to have. Can carry snacks, water bottles, diapers/wipes.

Are MB/DB the type who want to plan days in a detailed way? (Monday -- Animal kingdom, lunch at xyz restaurant, hotel for naps, Tuesday -- Magic Kingdom, etc) or are they going to wing it?

Are they getting park hop passes or just sticking to one park? Do you know sleeping arrangements? When you'll have time off?

[Anonymous]

Get sick. Do not subject yourself to this kind of torture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get sick. Do not subject yourself to this kind of torture.

Hahaha....I tend to agree--and I'm a Disney lover! Got engaged in Cinderella's Castle, the whole works, but would never want to go with another family and their kids. Unless i was very close and comfortable with them, and the kids acted ok around the parents (versus going from sweet angel with me/nanny to holy terrors the minute parents come around!).

[Anonymous]

Pace yourself. You are going to be down there in the heat and during prime tourist season. It is going to be very stimulating for them and so yes, expect tamper tantrums because of this. Have a double stroller and bring some of their favorite books, so that when it does get to be too much for them, reading to them will put their focus on something they are familiar with and it should help calm them a bit. Only plan on being there a few hours a day with them. I hope that you are staying on property with them. Plan some time there in the morning, go back to the hotel for a few hours and then go back for a couple of hours later in the day.

Epcot is not where you want to be spending your time. MGM has a couple of things, but focus your time on the other two parks.

Enjoy!

NP

[Anonymous]

I would love to go! I love Disney but would feel like an idiot going there without children. There is nothing weirder than the adults who are standing in line without children to get an autograph from a teenager dressed like Ariel or Cinderella.

In my experience, Disney can either be an amazing experience or a trip from hell rivaled only from trying to buy toilet paper from Costco before a big storm prediction. You and your family really need to exercise a combination of pre-planning and being laid back to enjoy it. Winging it at Disney just doesn't work and leads to standing in long lines, never getting to eat where you want, being stuck in large crowds, kids melting down, and dreams of killing of Mickey Mouse, especially in July/August when it is 100 degree with humidity.

My advice would be to start researching and work with your mom boss to come up with a plan. You can play super nanny here and research which parks have Magic Hours in the morning, and make table reservations ahead of time (these can also be canceled same day with the exception of a few). I've been to Disney when its hot and crowded. What works is to get up early, use the Magic Hours, have the kids go on all the rides they love without lines and then once the crowds and heat start building up around 11 am head out for an early lunch and the pool time or naps. In the afternoon, choose a few areas that more open play areas or shows that are less crowded so if lines are long you can find things to do. Its also good to jump into a place that is air conditioned to cool off.

If you post the ages of your charges, I can post back some ride and area suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Had they mentioned to you that they were thinking about going? I think it's odd they just sprang it on you with less than a months notice. There are very few people I know that would tackle Disney without a plan.

Make a list of must do attractions, ones you'd like to do and ones you can skip. Look at the magic hours schedule (if you are staying on property) and with 2 year olds base your day on the park with the AM hour. Then head back mid afternoon for nap/pool/down time. Have they made dining reservations? It can be tricky to get in most places without them.

If your not staying on property things get a bit more complicated but it's manageable.

[Anonymous]

Anyone going to FL in summer during July/August rainy season is certifiably insane.

[Anonymous]

Anyone going in July/August who sleeps in and then enters the park with the other 10,000 people and tries to stand in line for over an hour with toddlers is insane. Its a fun trip if you do it right.

Rain hits in the afternoons. Do the park in the early morning. Use fast passes only for rides like Peter Pan. Go into the Tikki room, Mickey's Fantasia movie or the Country Bear Jamboree to cool off and toddlers like these shows. Don't do the Lilo and Stitch show with toddlers as its scary for that age group. The remodeled area where the Dumbo ride is great. When you get to a certain point in the Dumbo line, there is an indoor circus themed toddler/preschool climbing and play yard in the air conditioned building. Don't hustle to go on the ride, just them play in there for a while and then go on the ride.

Ask your MB what their plans are for meals. You can go on-line and make reservations now. You'll have a hard time finding tables but keep looking everyday. You can always cancel without any penalty or not show up. When its busy, the wait times are in hours for standing and most places will just turn you away anyway.