2 Year Old at Disney--Update About This Page:

[disneygrl]

To everyone who answered my last post about taking our two year old DD (Sadie Lillian) to WDW...Thanks so much!! We have decided to take her and we are sooooo excited about it. I can't wait. She is already obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins.....I know, I know....she shouldn't watch tv because she is to young...lol. But how else am I going to introduce her to Disney..lol. We are going to do the Playhouse Disney Play and Dine...I think that is what it is called. It's at Hollywood and Vine. She could be screaming her head off and if she hears the Little Einsteins theme song she instantly becomes quiet and starts dancing and laughing. Thank the Lord for Rocket, Leo, June, Annie and Quincy!!!! We will be going from December 7th thru the 14th and we were going to stay at Pop but I received a flyer for 40% off room rates so now we are staying at Riverside which we have never stayed at before so that is itself in exciting. I really think she will have an amazing time. Again..many thanks!! One more thing.....What is a really comfy stroller to take with us? I need to get one anyway so I might as well get one we can use at WDW. Heather

[Colexis Mom]

Glad all your plans are coming together Heather As for a stroller, I'd look for something lightweight since you'll be taking it on and off the busses (you'll have to fold it). We've had great success with our Chicco Caddy, but I don't think they make those anymore

[Wendyismyname]

I bought the Maclaren Triumph Baby Stroller 2007 Coral Pink for Gabby to use this time as she outgrew the Chicco Caddy. Well it just looked like she was stuffed in there uncomfortably. It is a really awesome stroller. It is the most money I've spent on a stroller before, but it is well worth it. It is one of the few umbrella type strollers that are tall enough for us to walk comfortably behind.

[doccoc2002]

We needed a double stroller when we went with our 3 & 1 yr old daughters. I did a lot of research and found the Combi to be an excellent stroller. I would definitely go with a Combi or Maclaren. Since she is 2, I would look for a stroller that was able to lie back so she can take a nap in the parks or if you just want to walk around and she is tired. They are a little bit more than a basic umbrella stroller but they fold up nicely, are lightweight, most of them have a basket underneath it for your items, and a bottle holder for your water(ours are insulated so they kept our drinks cold). The Combi(double stroller) was great for us and they make them in single versions too. I don't know if you want all those extras but they are nice to have and our DD's were always comfy!

[bellabing]

When our daughter was little we went yard sale shopping for a stroller for Disney. We had a really nice one for home but it was a little heavy and expensive if something happended to it. I knew we needed good rubber, not plastic, wheels and not too heavy. We found one for $10. It was great. We cleaned it so only my childs germs were on it and it looked like new. The plan was to leave it in Florida but we liked the stroller so much we brought it back with us and used it for our next trip. Our stroller days are over but I do miss all the storage they provided in the park. I want an adult stroller for those long park days You are going to have such a great trip.

[eff051102]

I think you are going to have such a great trip and wonderful memories! We will also be there Dec. 1 - Dec. 9 and will be doing the Playhouse Disney Play and Dine because of the Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Our DD will only be 17 mo then but we watch Little Einsteins and MMC every morning with our breakfast!

[bfth]

Yard sale for a cheap stroller -- what a great idea. I don't want to spend a lot of money since we're using the stroller less and less, but think that our "usual" stroller will be a bit heavy to deal with in WDW. Thanks for the idea. Once spring hits, I'll start scouring the neighborhoods.

[Principessa_di_Fata]

I just got back yesterday from a trip with DD2 to Disney, and it was amazing. Set up as many character meals as you can afford. Trust me - worth every penny! I loved watching DD interact with the characters, and she had SO much fun!

I brought our large Evenflo stroller - it folds quickly and I never had any trouble getting it on and off buses, or up and down the stairs at POR (Alligator Bayou) and I was alone with DD. I didn't feel an umbrella stroller would be comfortable enough for DD, and I was really glad that I brought it, because DD was able to nap comfortably and recline in it. The tray was of immeasurable help with snacks and drinks, and the bag holder underneath was great - plus it has drink holders up top for my stuff. So my suggestion is to make sure the stroller is really comfortable for long days in the parks. I saw lots of umbrella strollers but for me, I couldn't get by with one for DD.

DD watches Playhouse Disney every morning, so trust me you're not the only mom who lets their kid watch tv. I don't see a single thing wrong with it, and frankly, DD has learned a lot from watching the shows. So you go girl! As you said, how else will she learn about Mickey and Pals?

You'll have SUCH a good time on this trip!! It's the perfect age to bring a child, I think!

[DoraDoug]

You are going to have so much fun at H&V! DS had a blast and the characters are adorable. They also have cast members get up and have a little dance party too. It was so much fun!
We bought a Combi Urban Trifold stroller from amazon before Disney and it was perfect. It's super lightweight, like 10 pounds, and like the name says, it's a trifold so it's extremely compact for the bus. It also has a maximum weight capacity of 55 lbs. so DS was able to use it as well. The downside to it is it will not lay back for naps, there is no "parent tray" at the top to hold drinks, and the storage compartment underneath is not very big. We carry a backpack to the parks anyway, so we just hung that from the back of the stroller and used the side pockets to hold our drinks. It does have a little drink holder for the child but no snack tray. For the money we paid, and the convenience of the size, it was perfect for us. The positives far outweighed the negatives.
Have fantastic trip!

[Joy J]

You're going to have such a fantastic time at WDW with your two-year-old. My son was two on our very first trip to WDW and the whole experience was so magical that words can't even begin to express it. Mind you, he's now 33 and still gets just as big a kick out of Disney as he ever did.

Joy

[Mom of three 1971]

I am so excited for you!!! With a little one it's a special kind of magic. Our littlest daughter Gelsey was 16 months at WDW and 2 1/2 for our Disney cruise and she is OBSESSED with all things Disney. Loves the princesses especially Ariel!
She was watching a Disney travel show the other day and they showed a clip of one of the parades and she got this little tear and said "oh Mommy it's so boootiful"
For us the magic of Disney for our children is the most amazing part!
Can't wait to hear all about how you little one does!
Tara

[Tink's mommy]

We just returned from a trip w/our 10yr old and 2yr. old. Our stroller has space for several bags, as well as multiple cup holders--very, very helpful. We never had a problem taking it off/on buses, and you can roll strollers right onto the monorail.

Two other things you might want to consider. One is a harness. I never, ever thought I would use one, but my son runs so fast and Disney is so big... I was very glad to have it; he could walk freely and I didn't have to worry about holding his hand every second. I found a nice one at Target; it has a dog on the back--kind of looks like a backpac.
Also, be sure to bring a large blanket, even if it's warm. The blanket will come in handy for covering the stroller when your little one falls asleep in the middle of the day. Gives them a little more "quiet" space and helps prevent sunburn. We also bought an extra rain poncho, to cover the stroller (and bags!) when it was raining.

Hope this is helpful--have a wonderful trip!

[Carly'sMommy]

You are going to have a wonderful time! I second the suggestion of the harness. I think you can see "bear backpack" on DD in the picture below. She loved it, and I didn't have to worry about her running off or into other people. She won't use a stroller anymore, so we did 10 days with only her harness and did great. Have a magical trip!

[bfth]

Nothing wrong with a "harness" for active little ones. At least in my book. My son loves "doggie" and often wears it in front (so he can hug the dog). I used it when we went Christmas caroling 2 years ago and it was a Godsend. You can bet I'll bring it with us in September when we go to WDW.

[disneygrl]

I always said I would NEVER use a harness....but now that I have Sadie...I will definitly be getting one for our trip. I know she is not going to want to sit in her stroller the whole time. The thought of her getting away from me scares me to much so I will be getting one before we go. Better to be safe than sorry!!