It’s been some seven years since my daughter Hannah cried almost every time we strapped her into her carseat, but if I close my eyes and think about it I can still hear those piercing screams. They echo forward in time, impacting many of the parenting decisions my husband and I have made over the years. For instance, we have travelled very little with our children, and the trips we have taken have pretty much all been close to home. My sister’s son is just two and a half, but he’s been to Chicago and Hawaii and Italy and a bunch of other places I’m forgetting. I’m just not that brave. The fact that we live within easy driving distance of most everyone in our families has made our personal travel ban just that much easier to impose.
This Spring Break, we’re biting the bullet. One week from today we will be in sunny Southern California, visiting everyone’s favourite family vacation mecca: Disneyland. To say the kids are excited would be a dramatic understatement. While Hannah has taken one brief plane trip, it happened when she was just 15 months old, so for all intents and purposes this is the first time on a plane for both of my kids. Several times a day, every day, they pepper me with questions. What will we do at Disneyland? Which ride will we go on first? What is it like when a plane takes off? Which seats will we sit in? How long will we be on the plane? How many days will we be at Disneyland for? How many days until we leave? How many minutes until we set foot inside the front gates?
This will be my first time at Disneyland, as well, although I did visit Disney World twice as a teenager. My husband Jon visited the actual Disneyland as a child, however, so he has become the in-house expert. The fact that his own visit was some 25 years ago does not tarnish his credentials at all in the eyes of our children. They approach him like they would approach a long-admired author of a seminal work in his or her field: reverently, deferentially, unquestioningly. In their eagerness for information, he has taken on a special status.
Photo credit: Mike Saechang on Flickr
While the children are beyond excited, the truth is that my husband and I are a little nervous. Disneyland would not be our first choice in terms of vacation destinations, were it not for the children. We would favour someplace a little quieter, with ample lounge chairs and a bar serving frosty cocktails. We’re putting on our game faces for our kids, but we have plenty of questions of our own. How will they behave on the plane? Will our four-year-old make a break for it and get lost in the park? How will they handle it if they have to wait around in long line-ups? How much Advil should we pack, exactly? We need help.
And so, my fair blog readers, I’m turning to you. Have you travelled with your children? Do you have tips to share – either in general, or about Disneyland specifically? Any ideas for keeping two over-excited children quiet on a plane, or keeping tabs on a preschooler who likes to run, would be greatly appreciated. Just plain old good thoughts would be appreciated, too, for that matter. I’m not sure if I’ll need them, but it will feel good to know that I have them.
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You will have fun. I think Disney-everything is a stupid over-commercialized brainwashing machine out to get every last penny….and I loved it when we took the girls in2011! And they were 3.5 and 7 months old! There is truly something for everyone there – the baby loved looking at everything, could go on plenty of rides on my lap, and napped blissfully in the ergo/stroller every day. My 3.5 year old at the time adored it – the rides, the snacks (!), the characters. We didn’t do any expensive princess breakfast/bibbity bobbety whatever, but we spent three days in California Adventure and Disneyland and I think one evening in Downtown Disney. I was totally hooked! We are planning to go back next year when the girls will be 6 and 3.5. You are going to have such a great time! Tip: get fast passes (duh) and do parent swaps and single rides so that both you and Jon can go on rides. I get easily queasy but Dinseyland rides are pretty mellow. Even my 3.5 year old went on roller coasters (where she was tall enough). ENJOY!
Twitter: AmberStrocel
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Thanks for the tips. Here’s to fun courtesy of the stupid, over-commercialized, brainwashing machine!
Twitter: Miss_Scarlett99
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The fact you are going with your kids at the ages you are, you will have no issues. Plus, your kids are well past the whole napping thing AND regularly stay up later. If I can survive doing Disney with kids age 4 and 2, you can handle 8 and 4.
We’re probably going back to Disney in 2014. I’m looking forward to a whole different experience.
I could see Jacob giving you trouble, he strikes me as a “dart off cause I see something cool” kind of kid
Have fun!!
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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He is TOTALLY a “dart off cause I see something cool” kind of kid. Like his father was before him. I plan on writing my cell phone number on his arm in Sharpie, just in case. I don’t relish roaming fees, but an overpriced call is worth finding my kid again.
Twitter: MarfMom
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We travel a ton with our boys, ages 4 and 2. My oldest son’s first trip was at 3 weeks (we moved cross-country!). People have mixed feelings about them, but we LOVE my son’s puppy backpack. It’s one of those child harnesses. My oldest has autism and it was a necessity when he was younger because he’d bolt. Now, he LIKES wearing it and he actually asked for it when we took the kids to Niagara Falls this past weekend. He told me he knew he couldn’t run if he was wearing it. If it was a low pressure situation, we just wrapped the leash part of it around the backpack so he could walk freely, but in a high pressure situation (like a crowd), one of us held onto it.
In terms of the plane ride, I get special treats and dollar store toys for novel fun. Each kid gets his own little backpack to wear, though at this age their dad or I still oversee doling out the snacks and toys at intervals.
Social stories help a lot too, for kids that get nervous about traveling or might need a little more structure.
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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Thanks so much for the tips!
Will your cell phone work while you’re there? One thing I’ve done with my kids is, they know my number (and before that I had it written on a piece of paper they kept in their shoe) If they get separated from us, they know to go up to a woman and ask her to call me on her cell.
Glow sticks are a good distraction for a child who may be a little nervous about sleeping in an unfamiliar bed.
Twitter: AmberStrocel
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Yes, our phones will work. We’d have to pay roaming fees to use them, but I’m willing to do that if it helps. I’ve written the number on my kids’ arms before, but I like the idea of putting it in their shoes.
And great idea on the glow sticks!
Twitter: thefoxyg
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Take a picture of the kids each day before you enter the park, that way if they get lost, you can easily show someone a picture of what they look like/are wearing.
I am pretty sure you can bring food/snacks into the park.
I usually bring our portable DVD player for the plane and crayons/paper. Each kid (mine are 4,2 and 8 months so this only applies to the big kids) has their own backpack for their stuff. I am pretty strict about what we eat at home so for travel I let go a bit and bring snacks I know they will like and don’t often eat so they are special. Lots of snacks for the plane, for some reason eating on a plane is so much more exciting.
The weather will probably be gorgeous but the park will definitely be hotter–all that black top and people. Have fun!
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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Snacks really are the answer to almost any situation with kids, aren’t they?
Twitter: thefoxyg
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Totally! Also, lollipops for take off and landing help with ear discomfort.
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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I just happen to have a bunch of organic lollipops left over from my daughter’s birthday party. Score!
I am so excited for you guys. You will all do great! The sign says – happiest place on earth – and it’s the truth!
We are going with our family – grandparents, uncles and cousins next year. The planning is well under way now. However, I have no intention of telling the girls until we get to the airport. There will be 15 of us going so there will be plenty of people to assist – all the children!
Our goal was to wait until Hannah had reached the riding height so that we could all ride together all of the time. Only my dad and I have been in the group of us going – we are so excited to share with our loved ones.
I know you will have a blast!
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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Your trip sounds like it will be a total blast.
Thanks for the well wishes!
Sounds fun! Your family will love it! I’ve gone to Disneyland once as a teenager, in the end March/beginning April, and it was cold. Well, colder than one would think for Southern California. Definitely take pants, a jacket and maybe a couple of sweatshirts, just in case. Be prepared so you’re not stuck buying an expensive souvenir sweatshirt in the park!
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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As a former Girl Guide, I make a point of ALWAYS being prepared. Seriously. I carry a sweater on the hottest day, while the people around me laugh. But who’s laughing if the weather turns? I ask you.
Good to know! I’d love to travel with you then!
Twitter: lisaschwartz05
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We went to Disneyland last summer with Sarah (5) and Jack (3) and we loved it.
Some tips, there is no wifi in the park, but we bought the Disney apps for our ipad and checked wait times before leaving our hotel room.
We stayed within walking distance of the park and went for opening each day. We would return to our hotel around 11, get some lunch, swim and then return in late afternoon for another round.
Buy glow sticks, necklaces and that kind of stuff at the dollar store and bring it with you as that stuff is so overpriced.
Bring a stroller.
I also did a blog post when we returned from Disney with tips and tricks. I will send you the link.
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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There are Disney apps? I am definitely checking those out.
And I look forward to reading your post!
Twitter: christyrollo
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Yeehaw! The Happiest Place on Earth! We will be there on Monday until Friday next week and I think my husband and I are more excited than our girls (8, 6, 3). But I am also making myself feel sick with anxiety about getting down (we are driving) and managing with 3 by ourselves.
We went two years ago with my parents and brother so we had lots of extra hands to help out.
Some things I learned last time (we flew):
- get to the airport nice and early so you don’t almost miss your flight because of hold ups going through customs (hard learned lesson on my part), and so you don’t run out of time to grab something to eat for kids because you’ve been up since 4 am to get through check in and customs and they ALL have a meltdown waiting to get through customs. Phew.
- if you can manage it, take advantage of any early entry (pre-park opening) times you have- do as many really long line up rides as you can at the early entry
- definitely get in the groove of the fast pass. There is an art to it – get a fast pass for a ride, go do another ride or two with shorter line ups, then at allotted time run and get another fast pass for another ride then go to 1st ride with fast pass. Seems confusing but totally worth it to breeze past the huge lineup.
- if you have kids with different interests / different heights, take advantage of the rider swap. Everyone lines up together, one parent goes on with older child on more mature ride while parent waits with younger child, they finish ride and swap parents so both parents can have fun on ride.
- seek out all the healthy snack options and have them on hand for hungry kiddos so they aren’t bugging you for the junky sugary options. We found a good kid snack pack (apples, juice, crackers and cheese, etc) over by Small World. Also, bring empty water bottles (not allowed to bring food or drinks into the park) and fill them up at water fountains.
- don’t freak out at how recycling is a complete joke. Seriously, this almost ruined my trip last time because all the throw away stuff upset me (hotels, park, etc).
- expect to be so tired you aren’t sure how you will get up the next day and do it all again, then expect to be so sad on the way home that you want to turn around and go right back, lol!
- take a stroller, even if your kids are beyond it. Or rent one. Everyone leaves them safely while on rides and they help for carrying everything. I was surprised how my 6 year old, who wouldn’t be caught dead in a stroller, wanted to go in it by the end of the day.
Have fun!
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Twitter: AmberStrocel
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Will we be there at the same time? We’re going to be there from the 17th-22nd.
And thanks for the tips!
Twitter: christyrollo
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Yup we’ll be there at the same time! Look for two giddy parents and three girls high on The Happiest Place On Earth!
Yahooo!
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