Disneyland Trip Planning
Topic: Taking Toddlers to DL for the First Time - HELP!

#	Author	Message
1	LadyKluck Fri 5/2/2008 9:11a	So I have been to DL myself many times so I know the whole DL thing for adults - but in December, we will be taking our kids for the very first time so I know this is going to be a whole NEW Disneyland with them in tow!! I am more than excited to take them, which is part of the reason I'm starting to plan now for the trip because I want to make sure I get everything together that I'll need or want. So all of you moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name it - I am after your ideas and suggestions as to what I need to pack, what I don't need, what I should buy there instead of bringing with us. (Like we're thinking of buying a couple of those cheap umbrella strollers when we get there as opposed to renting theirs or trying to pack them on a plane.) For help - My daughter will be 28 months old and my son will be 17 months old. We will be going either the first or second weekend in December for 3-4 days. There will be 3 "adults" on the trip as well - me, my husband, and my best friend Casey (a lot of you know her already). Casey and I have been I think 5 times together and James (my husband) has been twice. Any help will be more than appreciated as I just really don't know where to begin other than I feel like the family on that Walt Disney World commercial where everyone is too excited to sleep and its only May!
2	TXDISNEYNERD Fri 5/2/2008 9:30a	That will be so much fun. I took my 18 month old girl for her first time this past March. It really makes you appreciate different things. She really loves animals and I had never paid so much attention to all the animals in POTC. She made sure and point them all out. I think that was her favorite ride. Make sure and use the baby swap so the adults can all ride. Space Mountain has the best baby swap as the party that rides second gets to go up the exit and get right on the ride. If you have a Visa, make sure and do the meet and greet at DCA. It allowed my daughter to see the characters without anyone waiting in line behind us so we didn't feel rushed. That was great as she enjoyed the characters, but didn't like them too close to her. She also loved watching the parade and the toon town morning madness.
3	MomluvsDisney Fri 5/2/2008 9:41a	Ah LadyKluck, I will be taking my daughter on her second birthday at the end of August so I am so glad you put this up. I have been going since I was two, but this will be a first with my daughter.
4	gottaluvdavillains Fri 5/2/2008 9:47a	Well the first weekend is the Candlelight weekend and will be a bit more crowded - so unless you want to see that I would pick the 2nd weekend of dec - the park will be fairly empty.
5	LadyKluck Fri 5/2/2008 9:56a	Oh thanks so much for that - I guess that seals the deal for the second weekend!! Thanks for the heads up!!
6	davewasbaloo Fri 5/2/2008 9:59a	Klucky, nothing to worry about. We flew Jessie (age 36 months) and Mikey age 4.5 to DL two months ago and had a blast (remembering they both went to WDW age 19 months, and 3.5 respectively, and several trips to DLP from age 2 months). Be sure to take a stroller, and a change of clothes and off you go. Most rides will be cool for them (except the thrills, though we took Jess on the Matterhorn and she loved it) and they offer toddler menus in the restaurants. Use the baby centers, and don't rush. Make sure to bring the camera, relax, and have fun. We miss you on LP and wish we were there to meet in person. Enjoy the memories.
7	gottaluvdavillains Fri 5/2/2008 10:02a	I would also book a package type trip so you get the early entrys and Toon Town Madness - the kids sound like they would be perfect age for the toon town madness! Respect nap time also - go back to the hotel even if they won't sleep just the down time will benifit all.
8	ncnike7 Fri 5/2/2008 11:35a	The extra change of clothes is very important with little ones, as you probably already know. We always make sure to bring a backpack with sippies, fruit snacks, goldfish, teddy grahams, etc. for our little ones. Also, we bring antibacterial hand wipes and Germ X or something like it to make sure their little hands stay germ free. If you have a Disney Visa you can get 2 free stroller rentals a day. The Baby Centers are WONDERFUL, air conditioned, refrigerated drinking fountains with plastics cups for convenience, little potties, all the necessities. Don't force your kids on any ride even if Buzz Lightyear is his favorite character and you're sure that once he's on it he will love it, because chances are he will just scream through the whole ride and hate everything you go on after that (until you go on Pooh and wind up riding it several times in a row). And if you do decide to book a package trip try getawaytoday.com, you can get just your tickets through them and get 2 magic mornings. Disneyland is definitely different with toddlers, but it is a good different. So have fun and take lots of pictures to remember it by! Alright that was really long, now I'm done.
9	Mrs ElderP Fri 5/2/2008 2:00p	I would say that, in general, pack for a day at DL like you'd pack for almost any other day out. You know how many snacks/toys/and so on your little ones need. I don't know if you are planning on meeting characters, but, if you are planning on getting autographs, keep in mind that Disney doesn't sell sharpies or any thing similar. They encourage you to bring one for those characters with "gloved hands" but they won't sell you one. Also, Disney does sell a todler meal, different from a kids meal. For the toddler meal first picture a motts applesauce, the kind you'd buy at the grocery store for a lunch. Then picture a similarly sized container of either chicken and spanish rice or mac and cheese. The meal comes with your choice of soda, boxed juice, or milk. Not all locations sell a toddler meal, and those that do offer either the rice or mac and cheese. Oh, if you do have the disney visa you get two free stroller rentals a day. Of course using rented strollers means having to carry your kids back to the hotel, so even with the free strollers, umbrella strollers can be the better choice. You'll have lots of fun!!
10	alexbook Fri 5/2/2008 3:02p	>>Don't force your kids on any ride even if Buzz Lightyear is his favorite character and you're sure that once he's on it he will love it, because chances are he will just scream through the whole ride and hate everything you go on after that (until you go on Pooh and wind up riding it several times in a row).<< Best. Advice. Ever. Nothing ruins a day at Disneyland like screaming toddlers.

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