TTMA Disney world with a 5 year old

[wedding]

We just went with our 4.5yr old in Jan. He also hasn’t used a stroller in ages. We ended up renting at the park. You pay for however many days and you pick it up when you walk into the park and drop it off when you exit. If we park hopped we picked up a new one at the next park. That way we didn’t have to lug it on the busses. It was great and he needed it after a half a day. When he wasn’t using it we used it to hold our bag.

We had the dining plan and there are so many snacks on it that the only thing we packed each day was water. We still had 12 snacks to use on our last day!

[ellewoods]

We are here now and my son loves bananas. $1.99 each

It is making me sick.

[Cher]

Rvasc, I’m going to Disney next month! We’re renting a stroller. Meet me in front of Pirates of the Caribbean, I’ll let you take it for a spin.

[rvasc]

Apr 4, 2018 9:29:23 GMT -6 veggie said:

Apr 4, 2018 7:52:58 GMT -6 rvasc said:

Yep, we’re staying on the property. Thanks!

We just went in January (5 & 2.5 year old) and we used Garden Grocer. The service was great, I would use them again. My kids love those danimal drinkable yogurts so we had a few packs delivered. The were $3.69 A PIECE if you bought them from the hotel food court.

Wow. WOW.

[yummeecookee]

Apr 4, 2018 5:32:50 GMT -6 rvasc said:

We may stay all day in the parks. We’re like that.

This is what we did too. I have a 4 and 2 yo so a stroller was a necessity, but it was also nice that they could take stroller naps!

I took each kid’s Nalgene bottle and was able to refill them throughout the day instead of buying $8 Dasanis or lugging in my own bottled water.

[rvasc]

Apr 4, 2018 12:48:36 GMT -6 Cher said:

Rvasc, I’m going to Disney next month! We’re renting a stroller. Meet me in front of Pirates of the Caribbean, I’ll let you take it for a spin.

Girl, yes.

[ellewoods]

There is ice water for people at Gaston’s if you have a water bottle

[radiantfate]

I did Disney World with DD when she was 4 1/2 and when she was 7 (We're local to WDW). Definitely bring/rent the stroller, if for no other reason than at the end of the night you'll be waiting in line for the ferry back to the parking lot and you'll be standing there holding a sleeping child for a half hour or so (my back still aches years later thinking about that). Better to have the stroller to sleep in

Definitely get the app! You'll save a lot of waiting time with it.

If you're eating dinner at a restaurant at the park, make reservations early unless that's already handled with your meals, like you mentioned. Also, bring snacks for the kid(s), lots of snacks, you'll never have enough snacks.

There's a splash pad area at Magic Kingdom so bring a swimsuit and towel for the kid(s). And I'm sure it goes without saying, but lots of sunscreen.

[Cher]

Apr 4, 2018 13:21:16 GMT -6 rvasc said:

Apr 4, 2018 12:48:36 GMT -6 Cher said:

Rvasc, I’m going to Disney next month! We’re renting a stroller. Meet me in front of Pirates of the Caribbean, I’ll let you take it for a spin.

Girl, yes.

For real, we’re all day at the park people. And stay up late on special day people. I think you have said you’re the same way. Rent a stroller. Esp. because when they get tired of walking and see other kids their age using a stroller, they will ask for it. At least mine does.

[courtniko]

Apr 4, 2018 9:39:40 GMT -6 aeroplaneoverthesea said:

Apr 4, 2018 9:34:18 GMT -6 unheardof said:

GET A STROLLER! We rented a single when we went with our 4 and almost 7 year old in Jan and I called while we were still in the park on the first day to have a double dropped off at the hotel that night. Best thing ever.

Rent one if you don't own one. They have the nice large jogging strollers that will hold a ton of stuff on the bottom. Don't just pick up a cheap umbrella stroller you won't need again.

This is helpful, we’re planning a trip next year when DS will be 6 and DD 3. I was thinking he might be too old for a stroller, but he’s also on the spectrum and WDW could be a nightmare without a way to contain him when he’s over stimulated.

aeroplaneoverthesea
A friend just went with a son on the spectrum, and told me about being able to skip waiting in line if he got too overstimulated (still same wait time, just not in line). I looked it up and found some info here-
disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/


"In particular, the Disability Access Service is designed for Guests who are unable to tolerate extended waits at attractions due to a disability. This service allows Guests to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given attraction"

Definitely worth looking into.

[unheardof]

Apr 4, 2018 9:39:40 GMT -6 aeroplaneoverthesea said:

Apr 4, 2018 9:34:18 GMT -6 unheardof said:

GET A STROLLER! We rented a single when we went with our 4 and almost 7 year old in Jan and I called while we were still in the park on the first day to have a double dropped off at the hotel that night. Best thing ever.

Rent one if you don't own one. They have the nice large jogging strollers that will hold a ton of stuff on the bottom. Don't just pick up a cheap umbrella stroller you won't need again.

This is helpful, we’re planning a trip next year when DS will be 6 and DD 3. I was thinking he might be too old for a stroller, but he’s also on the spectrum and WDW could be a nightmare without a way to contain him when he’s over stimulated.

My DD is on the spectrum too and it was definitely key when she needed a break. She could climb in and put the hood thing down when she needed a break.

Garden grocer was also great. And use the app to switch out fast passes after you use whatever ones you have. You have to use all three before you can add more so I tried to get ones for first thing in the morning and then get more throughout the day.

Also, call ahead about your DS and talk to someone about him being on the spectrum. You can get ‘disability passes’ for rides on top of the fast passes so you don’t have to deal with long lines. We didn’t utilize that and I regret it. We will be doing it next time. From my understanding you go to the ride and they give you a fast pass for another time during the day. Sometimes they let you right in the fast pass line.

[rvasc]

Apr 4, 2018 16:58:46 GMT -6 @karenwalker said:

When are you going?? We leave end of next week.

MIL and I are flying with the almost 3 year old and 2 month (yikes) and H and FIL are driving with our crazy dogs. We’re staying off property in a house because we have tons of baby stuff and the above mentioned crazy dogs.

My son is younger so he spends more time in the stroller, but it’s also nice to have to carry things. Disney lets you bring in water and food, so you can dump a bunch of things in the bottom of the stroller.

Lol! April 15-20. This will be hilarious if we live in the same city but manage our first GTG at Disney world.

[auburn]

The popcorn bucket is a great recommendation! They will stuff their faces with it, and it’s super cheap to refill.

[unheardof]

And get something that you can tie to the handle of the stroller so you can recognize yours. So many people rent (we got our from kingdom stroller, price was awesome, think it was $100 for the week but they drop off and pick it up at the hotel for you) and when you ‘park’ them in the park, the attendants move them all around.

[aeroplaneoverthesea]

Apr 4, 2018 16:44:03 GMT -6 unheardof said:

Apr 4, 2018 9:39:40 GMT -6 aeroplaneoverthesea said:

This is helpful, we’re planning a trip next year when DS will be 6 and DD 3. I was thinking he might be too old for a stroller, but he’s also on the spectrum and WDW could be a nightmare without a way to contain him when he’s over stimulated.

My DD is on the spectrum too and it was definitely key when she needed a break. She could climb in and put the hood thing down when she needed a break.

Garden grocer was also great. And use the app to switch out fast passes after you use whatever ones you have. You have to use all three before you can add more so I tried to get ones for first thing in the morning and then get more throughout the day.

Also, call ahead about your DS and talk to someone about him being on the spectrum. You can get ‘disability passes’ for rides on top of the fast passes so you don’t have to deal with long lines. We didn’t utilize that and I regret it. We will be doing it next time. From my understanding you go to the ride and they give you a fast pass for another time during the day. Sometimes they let you right in the fast pass line.

Yes! We went when DS was 3.5, just before he got diagnosed. We had more than one line meltdown. Had I known then what I know now.

Next go round we’ll be older, smarter, and probably carrying a flask.

[shambam08]

Apr 4, 2018 5:32:23 GMT -6 rvasc said:

Thanks, everybody! I would never have thought about the autograph marker thing. We have portable chargers, but I wouldn’t have thought to bring them. Same with a pop up hamper. I will also check out the linked list. I had planned to make a grocery run right before arrival, but delivery might be better. Who did you use, brux?

A friend offered to let us borrow a stroller, so I think we’ll go ahead and take it and then make a game time decision.

DD is going to freak out. She was telling me last night about this commercial she saw where a little girl got to go to Disney before she started kindergarten, and that would be her dream.

We used Garden grocer for delivery. They are fantastic!

[shambam08]

Apr 4, 2018 9:39:40 GMT -6 aeroplaneoverthesea said:

Apr 4, 2018 9:34:18 GMT -6 unheardof said:

GET A STROLLER! We rented a single when we went with our 4 and almost 7 year old in Jan and I called while we were still in the park on the first day to have a double dropped off at the hotel that night. Best thing ever.

Rent one if you don't own one. They have the nice large jogging strollers that will hold a ton of stuff on the bottom. Don't just pick up a cheap umbrella stroller you won't need again.

This is helpful, we’re planning a trip next year when DS will be 6 and DD 3. I was thinking he might be too old for a stroller, but he’s also on the spectrum and WDW could be a nightmare without a way to contain him when he’s over stimulated.

Disney offers an alternate waiting environment for kids on the spectrum. You have to go in and ask for it, I believe in town hall. It’s good for your whole family. It’s essentially like getting extra fast passes.

[Minerva]

Apr 4, 2018 16:44:03 GMT -6 unheardof said:

Apr 4, 2018 9:39:40 GMT -6 aeroplaneoverthesea said:

This is helpful, we’re planning a trip next year when DS will be 6 and DD 3. I was thinking he might be too old for a stroller, but he’s also on the spectrum and WDW could be a nightmare without a way to contain him when he’s over stimulated.

My DD is on the spectrum too and it was definitely key when she needed a break. She could climb in and put the hood thing down when she needed a break.

Garden grocer was also great. And use the app to switch out fast passes after you use whatever ones you have. You have to use all three before you can add more so I tried to get ones for first thing in the morning and then get more throughout the day.

Also, call ahead about your DS and talk to someone about him being on the spectrum. You can get ‘disability passes’ for rides on top of the fast passes so you don’t have to deal with long lines. We didn’t utilize that and I regret it. We will be doing it next time. From my understanding you go to the ride and they give you a fast pass for another time during the day. Sometimes they let you right in the fast pass line.

I really wish we had this for DS at Disney this past January, but we didn’t get our medical dx until the week after we returned from our trip. We ended up telling the child psych who diagnosed him a lot of anecdotes of how his SPD and anxiety manifested at WDW...

The cast were all great with him and WDW has now become a special interest. He’s been planning our next trip nonstop for the past two months. 😂

[rvasc]

Apr 4, 2018 19:21:57 GMT -6 @karenwalker said:

Apr 4, 2018 17:16:19 GMT -6 rvasc said:

Lol! April 15-20. This will be hilarious if we live in the same city but manage our first GTG at Disney world.

We’ll be there the 13-18th! 😂

Well let’s exchange phone numbers. It might happen!

[rvasc]

Do I need trading pins? This seems like a lot of money and work.

[fancynewbeesly]

Apr 6, 2018 4:34:09 GMT -6 rvasc said:

Do I need trading pins? This seems like a lot of money and work.

It depends on your kid. At 3.5 and 5 DD LOVED it. We started her with cheap ones and we bought her one pack there (of like 6). She would only trade with employees. But it was self initiated. SHE had to ask. A few times employees gave her two of theirs for one of hers.

We bought pin locks do that her favorites, mine and DH wouldn’t be traded or fall off by accident.

But those were her souvenirs more so instead of plushies or toys.

[gussie]

Apr 6, 2018 4:34:09 GMT -6 rvasc said:

Do I need trading pins? This seems like a lot of money and work.

My kids don't know about the pins. They never noticed them in the park and I never brought them up. I will try to keep it that way as long as possible because they seem expensive and a hassle.