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Surviving Disney World With Toddlers

December 16, 2014 By Jillian

So we made it. No, seriously. And it was better than we expected. I’ll be the first to admit I dreaded the lines, the screaming kids and the inevitable break down our kids would have at Disney World, but you know what, it didn’t happen. That’s right, our kids were wide eyed and excited about EVERYTHING at Magic Kingdom, and frankly who could blame them.

Here’s our top 5 tips for surviving Disney World with toddlers:

Bring your own stroller. Our kids napped on the go at Disney, and having our stroller was so much easier than having a hard plastic rental.
Download the app and book your fast passes for the morning! You can get a secret fourth fast pass either at the fast pass+ kiosks or on your phone once you’ve used up your three for the day. And once you’ve used the fourth you can get a fifth and so on…
Tie something to your stroller so it is easy to identify! And no, a mickey mouse tag is not unique in Magic Kingdom, nor is your kids nemo stuffed animal!
There are actually some quiet places in Magic Kingdom for downtime – we took the girls to Tom Sawyer Island for some running around time and time away from the crowds. They appreciated it and so did we!
Disney’s baby room is going to be super crowded. Just saying. It’s great that they have it, but man it is crowded.

Have you survived Disney World with toddlers? Share your tips below!

We’re Going to Disney World!

December 10, 2014 By Jillian

No, we didn’t win the Super Bowl, but yes, we are going to Disney World.

The last time we went to Disney World was in 2011. We drove up to Orlando to visit family and decided to go to Disney World just for the heck of it, because frankly, who doesn’t love Disney World. We planned nothing and spent our time running from ride to ride trying to get in as much as we could in one day. Fast forward three years and now we are planning a trip to Disney World around nap times, looking at height restrictions and thinking about stroller parking. My times have changed.

Planning for Disney with Toddlers

Orlando is home to the most famous theme parks in perhaps the world – Disney World. It’s actually four parks in one: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Thankfully it’s only about three hours from our house, so it is an easy weekend and an easy trip with kids. That being said, we aren’t planning to spend three days at the theme parks with 1 ½ year old twins – that seems like a bit too much for them and us – so we wanted to find ways to maximize our time at the parks and minimize the chances for toddler chaos.

Turns out in the last three years A LOT has changed at Disney World. The fast pass system, which allows you to skip long lines on the rides has changed from a paper ticket you got at the ride, to an electronic system you book in advance. And you can book a “fast pass” for character meetings, parades, shows and all sorts of activities. The reviews on this new system are mixed, but from my perspective, not having to haul the kids around from ride to ride to get fast passes for later sounds like a good idea to me! We booked our fast passes online before going to the park – you select which rides or attractions you want to fast pass and Disney offers you four options on fast pass times. That was terrific for us since we could plan to group together rides and activities in each of the lands. If you have a chance of heart or plans, you can always update your fass pass selections online or at the park.

Transportation within Disney World is easy and convenient. We had planned to stay at a Hilton property on Disney property, to maximize the convenience of the shuttle, but other plans got in the way and now we’re staying about a 10 minute drive away. That’s ok though, because we heard from a local that the hotel/resort shuttles are slow and time consuming if you aren’t at a Walt Disney World Resort or aren’t planning to park hop. She recommended we bring our own car (with car seats) instead of waiting for a bus with cranky toddlers. We’ll see if we made the right choice.

For now though, it’s off to Disney World!

Tips for doin’ Disney World

March 20, 2012 By Jillian

As a child I loved any ride that spun, the tilt-a-whirl at the fair or the gravitron, it hardly mattered as long as I was spinning. What took the cake however was ALWAYS the tea cups at Disney World. That’s right, in the heart of Orlando sits the most amazing spinning ride in the world- the Mad Hatter’s tea cups. Twenty years later they have not lost their charm. Standing in line I promised Danny’s cousin I could make her lunch reappear on the tea cups…

I didn’t go that far, but I am serious about maximizing the fun at Disney World. Not that it is very hard mind you, but the thought of waiting in line even 20 minutes when we could be on another ride/at another show/doing something more exciting is excruciating. Some people are very serious about Disney World and plot out a full schedule. We aren’t, we just follow a few simple tips to still have fun and fit everything in. Here are our secrets.

1. Stay to the left. Danny drilled this into my head when we were dating and went to the movies. Naturally it took me a while to admit he was right. I have no idea why, but people tend to go to the right, so when you’re faced with an option, go left. The line is almost always shorter.

2. Start late. Disney World is busiest in the middle of the day. Sure, you could get up early, but why? Get to the park around 2pm and stay until close. It will be cooler and families tend to go back to their hotels for dinner and a nap before the fireworks. Plus, if you drive you’ll get a closer parking spot.

3. Single rider line. Disney has more than one car going on the roller coaster at each time. If the standby line is excruciatingly long, ask a cast member if there’s a single rider line. You won’t ride next to each other, but you might save yourself 45 minutes of waiting in line.

4. Fast Pass. You can actually hold two of these at once. The pass is good for an hour, say 1:15-2:15. At 1:16 you can get another one – giving you a second fast pass for later. There are also options for this if you’re in the market for Universal Studios tickets Florida.

5. Ride during the parades. We waited 10 minutes for one of Magic Kingdom’s most popular rides, Splash Mountain, during the afternoon parade. If you really want to see the parade, catch it at the beginning and then scurry to the ride. Immediately following the parade the line for Pirates of the Caribbean was a 15 minute wait, when we came out 15 minutes later, it was up to 45 minutes.

We may be well beyond the age where we play dress up and make believe, but we still love Disney World. Which is your favorite tip?

Disney World: Orlando

March 19, 2012 By Jillian

There may be more to Orlando than amusement parks, but why would you go there for anything else? Between the multiple parks that encompass Disney World to the growing Universal and Islands of Adventure, the thing to do in Orlando is to head to the rides. I admittedly am a roller coaster nut, but I can’t help but love Disney’s Magic Kingdom. There’s just nothing else that instantly transports you back to your childhood like spinning tea cups, Cinderella’s castle and campy rides like It’s a Small World. Add in a turkey leg and perhaps some ice cream and you’ve got yourself a full day of fun.

In true IShouldLogOff style, we had to take a jumping picture in front of Cinderella’s castle. Needless to say it was harder than it should have been because of the crowds, the angle and yea I’m going to say it, a rather short photographer! After several rounds and a few angles from the castle grounds we got it. If you’re in Orlando and you want to recreate this picture, head to the side of the castle- either side will do- where it is less crowded.

IF YOU GO: Amusement park tickets can be bought at the park gate, but check online in advance for deals and packages. If you’re a Florida resident, all the parks offer special “local” deals, which rotate throughout the year. Orlando family holidays are very popular so plan your trip accordingly, especially around holidays and weekends. One park remains open late each night, so check the Disney World schedule as you plan your trip!

Surviving Disney World With Toddlers

We’re Going to Disney World!

Tips for doin’ Disney World

Disney World: Orlando

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