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robcoll1002
My Beautiful Babies
Member since 5/05 2073 total posts
Name:
Colleen
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What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
We just booked a trip to Disney for March and because it's all I can think about, I was wondering if you could share some helpful tips.
I have 3 DC. Ages at time of travel will be 5, 3 and 10 months.
Also if you flew did you ship the things you'd need like diapers, wipes, formula etc.
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Posted 8/21/11 11:27 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Where are you staying? Depending on where you are staying I might have some more tips.
1) gardengrocer.com - like peapod will deliver to your hotel - they left the food with bell services and they kept it cold for us until we got into our room. So helpful - we got whole milk, yo baby yogurt, case of water, juice boxes, snacks, cheerios etc.
2) FedEx - we got a medium size box from uhaul - filled it with diapers, wipes, take and toss silverware, disposable placemats, swimmies, etc. You can go to their website and see how much it will cost. Ours was about 24 lbs and it cost $18 and change. We sent it ground - shipped it on friday a week before we left and it go there wed night. They will hold packages up to 7 days before you go. Do NOT use USPS they do not recognize the hotel address and all packages will go to a central processing at WDW and might not make it to your hotel. Fed Ex was the cheapest for us. It also gave us a little time to send another box if it got lost.
3) take advantage of the baby care centers. They have nursing rooms with rockers you could give your DC a bottle quietly in there. They also have a room with tvs and some toys and high chairs if you want to feed your 10 month old while your older two sit and play or watch a disney movie. They have the cleanest of the changing tables. They also have a small shop that sells medications, pedialyte, suntan lotion, diaper supplies, carnation formula, gerber foods and drinks.
4) Decorate your stroller it will make your life SO much easier to find when you are looking with kids and 100 strollers which all look alike after a while.
5) If you DC hasn't had a hair cut they give a great 1st hair cut in the barber shop on Main street in the MK - I think it is about $14 - they give you a certificate, 1st haircut minnie or mickey ears for your DC and a lock of their hair. They cut both girls and boys hair. Also for older kids they do colored hair gels etc if you want to do that- I think they charge like $6 for that.
6) buy things like glow in the dark sticks or necklaces at home much cheaper than the parks.
&) if you don't have park tickets one night but want to see the MK fireworks - you can view the electrical water parade and the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian - where they pipe in the narration.
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| Posted 8/21/11 11:42 AM |
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thisisme
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/06 560 total posts
Name:
ME
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
We just got back and went with a 5 month old, a 14 months old, 2.5 year old and a 5 year old. Here are the things that really helped us:
-Packed really light because we had a w/d in the condo we stayed in.
-Bought diapers, wipes, formula, etc. once we got down there.
-Brought our own pack n play sheets for the pnp that we got with the room.
-Depending on whether or not you're staying in the park, this will help: we did not take the tram after the first day. Trying to get the strollers on there and the kids was not worth it. The walk wasn't bad at all.
-buy good ponchos at the supermarket down there. So much cheaper!
-Buy extra ponchos to cover your stroller incase it rains (it rained 4 inches our first day! )
-bring in sandwiches and snacks for the kids so you don't have to wait on lines for food when they're hungry.
-Don't bring in water because it's not all that expensive to buy in WDW and is very heavy to lug around if you do bring it.
-bring a change of clothes on the plane for every, single person flying. I told my sister this, she did it and within the first 5 minutes of sitting at the gate, she took my nephew to the bathroom and he accidentally peed all over her She must have thanked me a million times for telling her to pack those clothes!
-Lollipops are your best friend when waiting on long lines for rides that don't have fast pass!
-if you have an iphone or smart phone, down load the free apps from disney that tell you how long the wait is for each ride, also the maps that show where the restaurants are, the bathrooms, the atms, etc. We used this SOOOOO much!
If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know!
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| Posted 8/21/11 2:28 PM |
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Michelle1123
Baby #5 on the way!
Member since 9/05 7919 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by Lillykat
5) If you DC hasn't had a hair cut they give a great 1st hair cut in the barber shop on Main street in the MK - I think it is about $14 - they give you a certificate, 1st haircut minnie or mickey ears for your DC and a lock of their hair. They cut both girls and boys hair. Also for older kids they do colored hair gels etc if you want to do that- I think they charge like $6 for that.
OMG I'm so happy you posted this! As many times as we've been to Disney, we never even noticed that little Barber Shop! We're going to try and hold off on getting Charlie's 1st haircut so we can do it there. Do you know if you need an appointment? We're going in November so I want to make it now if we can 
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| Posted 8/21/11 3:11 PM |
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robcoll1002
My Beautiful Babies
Member since 5/05 2073 total posts
Name:
Colleen
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Thank You! Keep the tips coming 
Christine, we're staying at Port Orleans French Quarter.
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| Posted 8/21/11 3:21 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by Michelle1123
Posted by Lillykat
5) If you DC hasn't had a hair cut they give a great 1st hair cut in the barber shop on Main street in the MK - I think it is about $14 - they give you a certificate, 1st haircut minnie or mickey ears for your DC and a lock of their hair. They cut both girls and boys hair. Also for older kids they do colored hair gels etc if you want to do that- I think they charge like $6 for that.
OMG I'm so happy you posted this! As many times as we've been to Disney, we never even noticed that little Barber Shop! We're going to try and hold off on getting Charlie's 1st haircut so we can do it there. Do you know if you need an appointment? We're going in November so I want to make it now if we can
You don't need an appointment you just show up - BUT there can be long lines - we went 1st thing in the morning when the park 1st opened. They covered DD in stickers and she never sits but she sat quietly for them. They were so good for her. I hoped DD#2 would be able to get her 1st cut there when we went for her 1st birthday but she had no hair!!
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| Posted 8/21/11 6:04 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by robcoll1002
Thank You! Keep the tips coming
Christine, we're staying at Port Orleans French Quarter.
Hmm do you have a car or are you doing the buses?
If you are doing the buses - make sure you don't over pack your stroller. We had to take the bus when we went to the AK and HS - and one night home from EPCOT b.c the monorail got struck by lightening and was down for the night. We were prepared for AK and HS but NOT for EPCOT and we had too many things in our stroller - if you go 1st thing or at the end of the night - buses are wall to wall people it was hard trying to hold my girls (1 and almost 3) AND a diaper bag AND a double stroller etc. Esp when it was standing room only.
I hear good things about FQ btw! I would like to try it some day.
Oh don't forget:
1) package delivery - since you are on site if you do ANY shopping you have your packages delivered to your hotel. It takes 24 hours I believe - and you just go the next day to the gift shop and your packages will be waiting for you - nice not to have to lug any gifts or stuff animals etc through the parks esp if you have to get onto a bus - on less thing to carry.
2) I bring an old diaper bag and leave it on the stroller (don't put valuables in it) but it is nice to leave most stuff with your stroller and not lug it all over.
3) If you think you might want a lot of photos - (make sure you use the photopass people if you do it - they are at the character meet and greets and at the entrances to the park and in various places in the park.) You can prepurchase for $99 a cd and put all of your photos onto it. Once you get to the parks/hotel/check in you can't order it anymore - the full price is $149. We have done it the past 2 trips and had about 300 or more photos. Considering one 5x7 is like $14 it is a good deal - as long as you USE it.
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| Posted 8/21/11 6:12 PM |
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mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
wow! great post! Thank you so much for all the tips!
Can't wait to book out Disney trip now!
Message edited 8/21/2011 8:50:39 PM.
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| Posted 8/21/11 8:50 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
How to keep the kids busy while waiting in line besides lollipops? And at meals?
We are so scared. LOL
We thought we would go with family. Now it is just DH and I and our 4yr old and 2 yr old twins. I dont know we will do it. I am so scared, so bring on the advice!
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| Posted 8/21/11 9:18 PM |
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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
such a great post thanks so much for the tips! we're going the end of oct.
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| Posted 8/21/11 10:50 PM |
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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by dm24angel
How to keep the kids busy while waiting in line besides lollipops? And at meals?
We are so scared. LOL
We thought we would go with family. Now it is just DH and I and our 4yr old and 2 yr old twins. I dont know we will do it. I am so scared, so bring on the advice!
if u have them i'd use an itouch or iphone with games/apps, maybe a few very small toys for your ds in a goodie bag (my ds1 loves micromachines and they keep him happy forever and his older cousin gave him a bag of these bokugons (spell?) they are very small but he loves them.) i plan on making several small bags for the plane ride of things they haven't ever seen before (like dollar store stuff.) my boys also like these mini sticker books that are so small and light weight u can bring them anywhere.link to a stickerbook
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| Posted 8/21/11 10:58 PM |
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thisisme
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/06 560 total posts
Name:
ME
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by dm24angel
How to keep the kids busy while waiting in line besides lollipops? And at meals?
We are so scared. LOL
We thought we would go with family. Now it is just DH and I and our 4yr old and 2 yr old twins. I dont know we will do it. I am so scared, so bring on the advice!
Definitely stickers for the little ones and if you have it, iphone/other smartphone apps for the 4 year old. But honestly, for the older ones, I noticed the anticipation of the ride was enough to keep them from even needing other anticipation. But we really didn't have to wait too long for many of the rides.
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| Posted 8/21/11 11:30 PM |
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robcoll1002
My Beautiful Babies
Member since 5/05 2073 total posts
Name:
Colleen
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
All great tips! Thank you!
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| Posted 8/22/11 7:58 AM |
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angelbear217
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 4313 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by dm24angel
How to keep the kids busy while waiting in line besides lollipops? And at meals?
We are so scared. LOL
We thought we would go with family. Now it is just DH and I and our 4yr old and 2 yr old twins. I dont know we will do it. I am so scared, so bring on the advice!
Many of the rides have things for the kids to do while they wait, for example the Winnie the Pooh ride. There's a lot for the kids to look at as they wait. DD always plays I spy with us.
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| Posted 8/22/11 8:50 AM |
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angelbear217
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 4313 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Besides Garden Grocer for diapers and wipes etc. I came across another service called Babies Travel Lite. I haven't used it yet, but they have packages for feeding, bathing, diapering etc.
I would also suggest snacks. They are good for waiting. We also bring sport bottle toppers so the water bottles they sell at the parks can be converted to sport bottles. Easier for DC to drink from.
Get an autograph book and pen. We usually get the ones with the photo inserts.
Try to let your kids play out of the stroller. Some of the parks have playgrounds for the kids to run around and play. They parks also have splash areas so you might want to bring swim stuff or extra clothes so the kids could play and get wet.
Since you are staying at Port Orleans, they have a horse and carriage ride there. It was great and a nice way to see the property.
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| Posted 8/22/11 8:58 AM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Great tips! We just booked our trip too!
I have heard - although other people have told me it isn't necessary -that having a kitchen in your hotel room is helpful
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| Posted 8/22/11 10:25 AM |
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Michelle1123
Baby #5 on the way!
Member since 9/05 7919 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by thisisme
Posted by dm24angel
How to keep the kids busy while waiting in line besides lollipops? And at meals?
We are so scared. LOL
We thought we would go with family. Now it is just DH and I and our 4yr old and 2 yr old twins. I dont know we will do it. I am so scared, so bring on the advice!
Definitely stickers for the little ones and if you have it, iphone/other smartphone apps for the 4 year old. But honestly, for the older ones, I noticed the anticipation of the ride was enough to keep them from even needing other anticipation. But we really didn't have to wait too long for many of the rides.
Definitely phone apps! Also, lanother poster mentioned alot of the rides have things to do while waiting on line. I also bring fruit chews or other little snacks (and candy  ) to keep them occupied. The older kids are good, and we just keep them talking.
When are you going? We go in November and we barely wait on lines.
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| Posted 8/22/11 10:28 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: What are your Disney tips when traveling with kids
Posted by dm24angel
How to keep the kids busy while waiting in line besides lollipops? And at meals?
We are so scared. LOL
We thought we would go with family. Now it is just DH and I and our 4yr old and 2 yr old twins. I dont know we will do it. I am so scared, so bring on the advice!
In lines we played I spy that kept them pretty busy - but lines moved pretty well and we kept waiting to a minimum by trying to hit rides that were moving lines or things not longer than 15 mins (we fast pass longer things).
They have mini magna doodles that are only slightly larger than the palm of your hand - and I even found a small etch a sketch that was like 4 inches. if you have a smart phone - what about some of the programs for kids. They have some WDW line and ride apps where you could show them some of the rides.
Michaels and dollar stores have small note pads and bring some crayons and they can draw anywhere.
They sell down at WDW some tiny figures (disney princesses, winnie the pooh, alice in wonderland) for about $9 you get like 5 -6 dolls - they are tiny and travel easily (you can get them on the disney website/store OR the parks while you are there - they are easy to throw into a zip lock and pull out at restaurants - my girls loved them. I think they even come in cars and toy story for your son.
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| Posted 8/22/11 5:14 PM |
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