Disney Trip Report

[lauren170]

We are traveling with a 2 year old (we're alone, no grandparents or friends, no breaks). We came last year when she was just one (more for us) and had a surprisingly amazing time. That's why we decided to come back. Buuuttt, it's just not as magical with a tantruming 2 year old.

All the months of planning I did were basically for nothing. We've missed a lot of the good stuff so far and it's been EXHAUSTING.

DD has decided she will NOT lay down for a diaper change, and will NOT ride in the stroller. I couldn't even bribe her to get in the stroller with a Mickey ice cream sandwich. And, she only wants me to carry her and I'm still recovering from pneumonia. Oh, and the 2 nice Disney dresses we bought for pictures? Poopsplosions on both.

Any way, we've had plenty of nice moments in between tantrum after tantrum and the pure exhaustion of taking care of her and keeping her safe. DH and I have decided our next trip is going to be without DD and that's basically all we're talking about on this trip hah.

Thanks you for all the awesome recommendations! The 8am Crystal Palace reservation was the best!

Day 1
We had an 8am reservation at the Crystal Palace. It was relaxed and DD enjoyed seeing the characters, especially jumping all over with Tigger. Then in about the next 2 hours we were able to ride the carousel 2x, then Small World, then the teacups 2x, then Peter Pan w/ FP, and then Small World again. DD loved spinning the teacups with us pretending like she was being so crazy. She fell asleep on It's a Small World the second time.

We took the monorail back to the Polynesian and by the time we got back to the hotel, DD woke up from her stroller nap - boo! We had a few hours so we took her to the splash pad area, which she loved.

Then we got ready to go back to Magic Kingdom. We used FPs for Anna and Elsa and the Electrical parade. DD was shy with Elsa, and it was a long wait for the Electrical parade (with a lot of screaming and protesting by DD). Once the parade started though she was completely mesmerized and she loved it so much.

[ilikedonuts]

This past trip with a 2 year old was definitely our hardest for sure! Sorry you are having some rough moments, but I'm glad you are still having some good ones as well!

[lauren170]

Day 2

We had a planned late start, in an attempt for me to get more rest. DD actually slept in until 8am which is a record. We had 11:25 Chef Mickey reservations. DD loved the characters, and they really took a lot of time with each family. The food was like a college cafeteria though. I think it was because we went at the very end of breakfast. They didn't really have lunch out yet -- the egg casserole was cold and old.

After breakfast (which we thought would be lunch) we headed back to the Polynesian to get the bus to Hollywood Studios. We had a FP for the Frozen sing-a-long. Right as we're sitting in the theater waiting for the show to begin, DD fell asleep in her chair. She slept through the whole thing, leaving DH and I to suffer through the worst show EVER. Then, as we're leaving the theater she woke and and was like "Frozen show. Frozen singing". DH and I being the huge suckers we are got back in the standby line, to watch the world's worst show a second time. Happy vacation to us. At least DD enjoyed it the second time.

Then we missed our FPs for Star Wars because DD would not get in her stroller. We headed over to Hollywood and Vine for our reservations. It was Minnie's seasonal party, and we got some really nice pictures out of that.

We then had to decided whether to do Fantasmic or not. We had the reserved seating so we went for it. Waiting the 30 minutes for it to start was torture (no stollers) but DD loved the show and was clapping for a lot of it. After though, I had to carry her the whole way to the bus which just sucked.








DD after falling asleep right before the Frozen sing-a-long

[carolinagirl831]

Oh man, I'm sorry two year olds are the worst!

[curbsideprophet]

Sorry it was not the trip you were hoping for. Glad you had some good moments.

[carolinagirl831]

Your pics are cute though

[origami]

I love that you're keepin it real with this review. The first time I took my kids was just before their 3rd birthday. One of them woke up at 4am every single day and did not nap so you can imagine how delightful he was waiting in lines and everything. we have one amazing memory of him seeing mickey for the first time though. I don't know if it was worth it but I'll never forget it. I'm glad you guys are having fun in spite of 2 year old antics! You deserve an adults only vacation after this.

[zarapipe]

Your pics are so good and adorable!

[dcrunnergirl52]

Oh, you're totally scaring me. We're going next week with our 2.5 year old and two 5-year olds. Just DH and me--no other help. Sorry it was so rough, but the pics of her with everyone are adorable.

[ssmjlm]

Oh man, sorry its been rough. E did not want in the stroller much either when we went in May at 2. Although giving her a snack usually worked.

Sometimes I feel like we missed a lot based on posts here, but I'm glad we stuck more to her schedule than anything else and allowed a decent number of afternoon pool swims (although not sure if it's warm enough for that).

[mainelyfoolish]

Jan 13, 2016 7:41:53 GMT -5 dcrunnergirl52 said:

Oh, you're totally scaring me. We're going next week with our 2.5 year old and two 5-year olds. Just DH and me--no other help. Sorry it was so rough, but the pics of her with everyone are adorable.

We went in 2014 with a 2 year old and a 6 year old and for the most part, the 2 year old was fine. Part of it I think is his inborn personality but I also think there is something to second and subsequent children who have been forced to "go with the flow" their whole lives being more relaxed when out of their normal routine. It also helps that my kids weren't stroller refusers.

[lishie]

She looks so cute in her dress! Love the photo.

I lucked out when I went with my kids at 2, both kids loved being in the stroller and taking everything in. I'd have died if they wanted me to carry them around disney for a week.

[lishie]

Jan 12, 2016 20:59:44 GMT -5 lauren170 said:

Day 2


 





 

Did you enjoy the Silver Screen Dinner? We have it booked for next weekend. it looks so cute, but is pricey. How was the food and was the character interaction fun?

[dulcemariamar]

What was the Frozen sing a long like? They had one in Disney Paris this summer so I wonder if it was the same show.

[dulcemariamar]

And thanks for being honest. I went with my 2.9 YO this summer and thought the trip wasn't that enjoyable. My child wasn't so bad but it just required so much more work to keep her somewhat behaved and she was just overall a bit grumpy. I think at the age it is best just doing a day or two at the parks. I was so physically exhausted after the trip that I swore off Disney for a very long time.

[jeaniebueller]

I am dying at that photo of her sleeping through the show!

[ribollita]

Great pics, OP!

My latest trip with my then-22M old was great but you are all reinforcing that I can wait until she's older to go back. At 3.5 my son had a BLAST but I've never taken kids between 22M and 3.5.

[swest]

We are taking ds at 27 months, this trip report is helping me put things into perspective.

[kittycatlove]

Thanks for the review. From your pictures you'd never know it was a struggle, they turned out great.

[lala]

Jan 13, 2016 8:16:32 GMT -5 mainelyfoolish said:

Jan 13, 2016 7:41:53 GMT -5 dcrunnergirl52 said:

Oh, you're totally scaring me. We're going next week with our 2.5 year old and two 5-year olds. Just DH and me--no other help. Sorry it was so rough, but the pics of her with everyone are adorable.

We went in 2014 with a 2 year old and a 6 year old and for the most part, the 2 year old was fine. Part of it I think is his inborn personality but I also think there is something to second and subsequent children who have been forced to "go with the flow" their whole lives being more relaxed when out of their normal routine. It also helps that my kids weren't stroller refusers.

This. Traveling with young kids is challenging, it just is. So you prepare and hope for the best. We make their needs a priority and don't push them in terms of sleep or eating. We adapt to their schedule - up and out early, nap/rest early afternoon. Which is the best way to do Disney anyway, imo. I rarely made them use the stroller, it was just available. They see the park differently - so you can't rush from one thing to the next because they want to play with a fountain for 20 minutes - and letting them makes the trip better for everyone.

That said. They're still 2. They won't miraculously behave better on vacation than they do at him. Vacation is more relocation.

[Ashley&Scott]

Jan 13, 2016 12:08:48 GMT -5 lala said:

Jan 13, 2016 8:16:32 GMT -5 mainelyfoolish said:

We went in 2014 with a 2 year old and a 6 year old and for the most part, the 2 year old was fine. Part of it I think is his inborn personality but I also think there is something to second and subsequent children who have been forced to "go with the flow" their whole lives being more relaxed when out of their normal routine. It also helps that my kids weren't stroller refusers.

This. Traveling with young kids is challenging, it just is. So you prepare and hope for the best. We make their needs a priority and don't push them in terms of sleep or eating. We adapt to their schedule - up and out early, nap/rest early afternoon. Which is the best way to do Disney anyway, imo. I rarely made them use the stroller, it was just available. They see the park differently - so you can't rush from one thing to the next because they want to play with a fountain for 20 minutes - and letting them makes the trip better for everyone.

That said. They're still 2. They won't miraculously behave better on vacation than they do at him. Vacation is more relocation.

I agree with this. We went to Disney a few months ago. M was 3.5 at the time but we still followed his lead. He preferred not to spend a lot of time in the parks, the crowds overwhelmed him. So we got up early, hit the parks & did his favorite rides in the mornings. We were back at the hotel by early afternoon. We spent the evenings hanging out at the pool or riding the monorail

[marie3246]

Oh man, this is making me worried. DD isn't big on her stroller anymore. I'll have our tula, but I have a feeling she will just want to run the whole time.

Mil suggested a leash.

[lauren170]

Our trip is getting a little better. Mainly because we're only doing about 2-3 hours of park per day now.

Day 3
We arrived at Magic Kingdom at about 9:20 and it was much more crowded then the day we were in the park by 9am. We rode the carousel and teacups again, and then went to the Dumbo play space for DD to run around and blow off energy. Then we rode the Peoplemover train thing in Tomorrowland. That thing freaked me out in the pitch black tunnels - and it's long.

DD fell asleep way early again, around 11am (she usually naps at 1) so we got Starbucks and chilled looking at the castle. She woke up after only 30 minutes, and that was her only nap for the day. Bedtime was pretty rough, with hysterical crying for 10 minutes.

We spent a good two hours letting DD play with a pail and shovel on the Polynesian beach. That was heavenly because she required minimal intervention from doing stupid shit. Then we had 'Ohana reservations. Total disaster with DD - lots of screaming and I'm sure people we looking haha (she was definitely overtired). As far as the food, the steak didn't live up to the hype. It was just average (and that was DH's) as I got a hard and fatty piece that wasn't even edible.

We cancelled our Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Wishes FPs because there was no way DD could handle going back, even in the stroller.






Happy and occupied toddler.

[lauren170]

lishie we really liked the Silver Screen dinner. The food was like your standard Vegas buffet. I have a gluten sensitivity, so I couldn't really eat that much there, but it was decent. The characters we great though. They definitely made it worth it. They have a nice set up to get the Mickey picture when you go in, and then the characters take their time with you.

[irishbride2]

Jan 13, 2016 7:41:53 GMT -5 dcrunnergirl52 said:

Oh, you're totally scaring me. We're going next week with our 2.5 year old and two 5-year olds. Just DH and me--no other help. Sorry it was so rough, but the pics of her with everyone are adorable.

I took my 5 year old and 2.5 year old by myself and loved it. Just try to go with the flow . Not every moment will be perfect, and kids have off days but it might b great

when ds was 2 it was not as fun lol.