Almost two year old and Walt Disney World

[Worriedandabitscared]

Hi all,

After all the doom and gloom of last year and probably at least the first half of this year.

We've decided we want to book Walt Disney world for two weeks in November 2022 when DS will be 22 months old (almost 2) mainly because he's free and I'm cheap I know he won't remember it but we will and we'll have a lot of videos and memories etc and then will hopefully take him again when he's older, I'm thinking of taking $3500-$4000 for food and shopping etc but honestly don't expect to spend that much but will spend a bit extra on a plane seat for him as don't fancy a 2 year old on my knee for 9+ hours so I was just wondering about other peoples experience with taking a two year old? Preferably from the uk and you can tell me about the flight but just in general really - was it a good holiday or do you wish you never did it?

Thanks x

It will depend on the baby. My 22 month old still very much needed a two hour midday nap at that time (not much success in the pram for a decent nap, had to be at home in cot or we had a very moany afternoon) my little one also was at that awkward age of not being able to walk very far but also refused the buggy so lots of carrying / bribing to get into buggy or walking at snails pace. Honestly with the amount of walking needed and the lack of 'chill' time for the 22 month old just to potter around it wouldn't have suited us with our 22 month old.

My youngest was just 3 when we went, he had a great time, but unfortunately doesn’t remember anything and he slept all afternoon then. We went back again 2 and 5 years later.

It’s a long old ass flight with a kid that age, plus the travel either end. And they nap in the afternoon and not successfully in the noise of Disney world. It’s a wonderful place, but not really for a 2 year old, you won’t be able to go on rides as the other parent will be waiting while you queue etc. Very limited baby rides. You’d be better to wait and try and different holiday in my opinion. I struggled with the walking as an fit adult in their humility!

At that age it wouldn't be for him, it would be for you. If you want to go, and are willing to adapt and compromise to make it suitable for him then go. But if you're going for the kid, leave it til he understands it and will enjoy it.

It’s an absolutely magical place for a 5 year old.

At that age both my kids were terrified of the big costume characters. Luckily we discovered this at Haven, not somewhere like Disneyland.

That's a tough age for a longhaul flight. I flew a lot with DS1 when he was a baby/toddler because we lived OS and I was glad when I had DS2 and didn't have to! Babies on planes are fine, toddlers are bloody hard work, so no I wouldn't do it if I were you. I'd find a nice, toddler-friendly hotel somewhere like Majorca with a pool, a playground and a nice, gently shelving beach and I'd go there instead, because a 2+ hour flight is plenty with a toddler!

You’d be doing it for you, not for them and you’ll have to tag team rides. Wouldn’t be my first choice of holiday given your circumstances but that’s just me. I did a lot of transatlantic flights with DD around that age and for the most part found them pretty breezy and never had an issue with jet lag so it wouldn’t be the flight putting me off, more the choice of Disney itself. If you do go for it then booking them their own seat on the plane is non negotiable in my opinion. They will also still need a nap at that age. Mine would have been fine in the stroller even with all the noise but some kids do need dark/quiet.

I'll go against the grain here - my youngest was 18 months when we went and it was absolutely fine!

We had horrendous flights due to our direct flight being cancelled with Thomas Cook (3 flights there and 3 flights home - never again). She was my lap passenger as that was all we could get, and despite being uncomfortable at times there was no issues she managed take off and landing (all of them ) really well, and slept on and off in between. A direct flight would have been a dream I think.

She also loved the holiday. We stayed in a Disney hotel which was amazing and the staff couldn't do enough. She loved the baby pool! And thoroughly enjoyed our trips round the parks. We bought a Mickey Mouse stroller there which I would strongly NOT recommend - the handles were too low for me to push comfortably, never mind my 6ft3 DH, and it didn't recline so she couldn't nap comfortably. If I was doing it again I would take ours from home so she'd be more comfortable. She loved the characters and we have some lovely pictures of her with them, she wasn't ever afraid. And she enjoys looking through those pics now (over a year later) and can name all the characters.

I have an older DC too who was 7 when we went and she also loved it!

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have

@Nhsisfucked

It’s a long old ass flight with a kid that age, plus the travel either end. And they nap in the afternoon and not successfully in the noise of Disney world. It’s a wonderful place, but not really for a 2 year old, you won’t be able to go on rides as the other parent will be waiting while you queue etc. Very limited baby rides. You’d be better to wait and try and different holiday in my opinion. I struggled with the walking as an fit adult in their humility!

Don’t agree with this. There is plenty of rides and shows for a two year old. He might not remember but you will and have the photos. I really don’t get how people can day Disney isn’t for small children when plenty of families manage it successfully. It’s up to each family.

We did it with an 18 month old. The fight horrendous because he just wanted to run up and down the isles. He didn't nap properly and the jet lag was no fun. A lot of the shows/parades are outside in the very hot sun. There aren't many rides a 2 year old would enjoy. The queues are massive even with a fast pass thingy so it's lots of waiting. If you have a very complaint 2 year old who will just sit in the buggy for ages then fine otherwise I'd give it a miss and wait until 4.

We took our DS when he had just turned 2. Admittedly, we lived in the US at the time so Disney have the flight, but he lived Disney. He’d never really seen the films, but had so much fun on the toddler rides and lived the parade. He loved the hotel pool and it was a magical break for us all.

As for flying that far, DS had done about six transatlantic flights by that age. He flew to NY at 22 months and was fine. We took sticker books, a few toys, lots of snacks and he watched loads of Peppa Pig. It was harder doing flights to the UK as jet lag is worse that way, but he coped and was fine after a few days.

OP. Just a query - why would you put yourself to all that cost and travel for the sake of a few photos? and your toddler through the travel and jetlag? Why not a few places with sea/pools/sand or walks? Bank the cash for him later or a holiday when he knows where he is?

Do you want to go to Disney OP? You'd be doing it for yourselves rather than your DS at that age.
We've done long haul with all three of ours at that age. DS1 was an absolute nightmare at that age, screamed, didn't want to sit still. I can still remember the looks of the other passengers especially on the night flight on the way back when no-one was getting any sleep. It depends very much on the child.
However, we ended up having to go to Florida for a family wedding when DS2 was 23 months and even though I was also pregnant with DD, DS2 was absolutely fine, slept for the whole journey!
We then ended up doing long haul when DD was the same age (Caribbean) and whilst she wasn't as bad as DS1, it was not good and I spent the last couple of days of my holiday worrying about the night flight back.

I've been to Disneyworld about 10 times and can honestly say that I've noticed very few 2 year olds enjoying it. They may not like the rides or the characters and they often don't have the patience to queue or to sit for the shows.

At least in November the weather won't be too hot.

I’ve not been to Disney Florida hands up but unless it’s dramatically different to France, a lot of time is spent queuing for rides, a lot. With a fractious toddler in a buggy in the heat, I just can’t see it being much fun for anyone. We took our DD2 to Paris for her 6th birthday which I think was the perfect age as she knew the films and the characters and it was all magic for her. I’m just not sure what a 2 year old would get out of it and just envision it being a major pain in the backside for you. Your choice though!

Honestly, I wouldn’t do it with a child that age - I’d go to Disneyland Paris and save the money for going when he’s older and can cope better with the jet lag and the heat

My youngest was 2 when we first went and he had an absolute blast! Loved the characters, the food (lots of ice cream!) and the rides that he was big enough for.
He still talks about it and loves looking through the photo album.
I've just booked to go back next summer when he will be 7.
I'm so glad I took him when he was two (as he was free 😁) because he just had such a fantastic time - as did we.

I think it does depend on the child but we waited until the children were older as I had one who could not stay still or sit still.

The pros, it is an amazing place, we have been several times and we absolutely love it, the parades, rides, fireworks, shows and full immersion into Disney is incredible.

The cons with a toddler, the flight is long. ie I believe the first time we went the flight was 10am so check in from 7am and obviously getting to the airport from wherever you are staying. We chose an airport hotel. Then the flight, we landed at 3pm local time but they are 5 hours behind so realistically 8pm. You then have to clear customs and immigration and then the 25-35 minute journey to the hotel depending on where you are staying. That time difference can mean a very early wake up the next few days.

The average Magic Kingdom crowd level is around 60,000 and no I didn't add a zero, sixty thousand people. There are a lot of rides that have no height restrictions but the queues even with the fast pass system will still see you standing around. It will depend how well your toddler will queue.

The heat and humidity, I have seen adults trying to encourage young children to drink to keep them hydrated.

The need for sleep and whether they would sleep in the stroller. They also play music everywhere so it can be loud. If they won't sleep then where is your hotel and how long will it take you to get to it? If you hire a car you have to get a boat or monorail back to the car park, then hop onto a golf buggy style train to take you to your car that is parked in that lot of 60,000 people. Or if you use Disney transport if you are staying on site then you have to queue for a bus. Those buses can get very busy with people standing for 15 minutes to get back.

Characters can seem ridiculously huge to toddlers who may be very fearful. Oh and parking your stroller amongst the other hundred or so if you are on a very young child ride ie Peter Pan.

As I said, we love it but this is the reality. We fly from Dublin to clear customs and immigration in Dublin so get off the plane collect the luggage and leave. But that flight leaves at 3pm UK time, plus you have to get to Dublin airport.

We went when DS was 22 months and had a fantastic time, we just did the gentle rides but overall loving seeing all the shows, wandering around in the sunshine and the pools. We just went back to the hotel if DS needed a nap or he napped I his buggy. Great memories. We also went with a 3 years old and a baby - again all fine on the plane/naps and food.

We took dd at just turned 2 and she loved it.
For us it wasn't a one off holiday and we always knew we'd be returning, so not like she wouldn't experience it at different ages.

Can she remember much about that particular trip now as an 18y? Probably not.

Did she enjoy it at the time - definitely. She loved it and was very excited to meet characters and go on the rides. She loved the shows and the fireworks, and the parades. The heat didn't bother her - never has since either. She enjoyed staying late for fireworks and was never scared. Only time she got a bit upset was when she wasn't allowed in the big rollercoasters!

She did long full days every day - she refused to sleep most of the time and wanted to be out walking around and enjoying it. We went with other family, all adults, so plenty of people to help,out with baby switch, etc.

We'd done a day at DlP a few months earlier when she was 18 months and she'd loved that day too. It's what prompted us to go to Florida.

To be honest she's loved Disney on every occasion we've been. We've been several times to Florida plus have visited DLP as well as Disney in California and Japan. She's 18y now and still loves it all. That first trip started an expensive liking!

Oh and the flight wasn't a issue either. It was her first long haul flight and she loved it. She slept on and off, enjoyed having headphones for the TV(was pre iPads) and enjoyed having a little bag of 'surprises' - mini toys, colouring, mini water drawing pad, etc, and she thought eating on the plane was a real adventure - she didn't mind airplane food at that age, lol!

Why not a few places with sea/pools/sand or walks?

Well my dd enjoyed it more than a beach holiday. She hated sand - she still doesn't like beach holidays much!

Pools and the sea with toddlers are also just as stressful as you've got to have your eye in them every second.

Dd was b=never bothered by jet lag , it didn't really bother her at all until she became a teenager.

I really wouldn't bother with such an expensive holiday at his age if you are also planning on going when he is older. Not quite the same but I did Disneyland Paris when DC was 2 and she really wasn't that interested and got tired and cranky from all the crowds and activity. It was just a side trip as part of a longer holiday but Florida holidays are mainly about the theme parks which I don't think would be much fun to traipse about daily with a toddler.

Went again when my DC were 7 and 4 and I think 6/7 is the perfect age. Even the 4 year old was a bit too young as there were lots of rides she couldn't go on and she got tired from the walking. Elder DC really enjoyed it at age 7. I also remember taking my DSC when he was 6 and he was captivated. Also has the advantage that they remember it.

Having been to Florida and to Paris, I'd do Paris with a toddler and wait until toddler is a teen or 140cm to go on all the bigger rides!. We took our three to Eurodisney when they were 6, 4 and 2 and had a lovely time. 3 days was enough though and then we went to Normandy for the rest of the week.
We will take ours to Florida when DS3 can do everything that he wants to, i.e. is tall enough. We'll go for a fortnight as it's not worth the flights for just a week in my opinion and there's so much to do over there apart from Disneyworld. One of my highlights of Florida is the Kennedy Space center and I am really looking forward to going back there and taking our DS's and, as they will all be age 10+, they will be old enough to understand what they're learning about and remember it.

I took my dd2 at that age, her dsis was 2 years older. Dd2 screamed at the characters, didn't like the rides and only really liked the playground and story time with Cinderella (she read Snow White). We went for the day (California) and it was plenty for little ones.

We went to Disney world at 3&5, they liked it more but it wasn't until we went to Disneyland Paris at 6&8 that they really enjoyed it. Personally I would save your money and go off season to Paris for the photos