Free Trip

My mind was changed when I received a phone call that I had won an essay writing contest. The prize was a multi-night trip to Orlando including airline tickets, rental car, and a suite at an all suites hotel. At the time I had two toddlers. Our family vacations up to that point had all consisted of trips to the beach. These trips were nice, but not like the trips we had before the kids came along. We could spend limited amounts of time on the beach since the kids were so small and we could no longer take a nap on the beach, read, lie out in the sun, or really play in the ocean like before. Instead we would play at the edge of the water while constantly watching the kids, dig in the sand, and taking naps in the room.

Both my husband and I were apprehensive about flying with two toddlers, but we made the reservations anyway. I am so glad that we did. We thought that while we were in Orlando that maybe we should do something low key like Sea World. We also decided to spend a day at Disney's Magic Kingdom. We planned on spending the rest of the trip at the hotel pool. Our plan was to stick to a low key schedule to keep us and our toddlers happy.

Flying with Toddlers

The plane trip was pretty easy. Both kids were excited and thankfully quiet on the plane. Our two year old son fell asleep while the plane was on the runway. Our three year old daughter just played contentedly with her sticker book. We felt relieved and realized that this was much easier than the many hour car trips to the beach.

Sea World

Sea World was not so enjoyable for us. Our three year old was not so impressed by the shows. We had to take her out of the whale show after just a few minutes. While the audience was amazed by an enormous whale performing tricks, she was trying to figure out how to get out of there. We tried attraction after attraction at Sea World and nothing made her happy. We were close to leaving the park when we discovered a ball pit and sand play area. So, we spent five hours playing there. The kids had a good time, but we were pretty bored.

Magic Kingdom

Disney's Magic Kingdom was such a different experience for us. I was amazed by the number of rides that we were able to go on as a family. My husband and I actually had as much fun as the kids did. This was the first time that I realized that there was a place that we could go and really enjoy together as a family. Prior to this, we would go places and do things that we would know that the kids would enjoy and we would simply focus on the enjoyment we received from watching our kids have fun. This was totally different. We were really feeling like kids ourselves. I found out that my three year old daughter was a bit of a daredevil. I found out that my son was not so fond of the dark. Once we learned their ride style, we were able to ride the majority of the rides in each section of the park. We got some amazing pictures and have some wonderful memories. It has led to many more visits to Disney World. I can honestly say that I do not think my kids remember that first trip to Disney. I am not sure if they even remember their sixth or seventh trip, but my husband and I do. It has been twelve years since that first trip, my husband and I still talk about memories we have of our kids there. I hope you take the Disney plunge with your kids sooner than later. It really was worth it.

How do you vacation with toddlers and still have a vacation for yourself? Try a vacation adventure. Decide what you want to do and what to do as a family. Pick somewhere you have never been before but have an interest in seeing. Once you have chosen what you would like to do, research the area. Find a hotel close to a town. There's a reason you want to be close to a city. First, you may want to be near a grocery store or pharmacy and secondly you may be able to find things the toddlers would like to do such as parks, playgrounds, and libraries.

After deciding where you want to go find attractions you want to see and make a list. List them in the order that you want to do or see them. If you run out of time or the toddlers get bored and want to do something else you won't be too disappointed since you got to see some of the things you wanted to see most.

Whether traveling by car or by plane keep a few toys and snacks handy. If you travel by car take games, DVD player and DVDs, lots of drawing paper and pens, and ear plugs for hubby. If you fly you may want to devote a carry-on to some small items.

Tips for Traveling with Toddlers

1. Packing

   When vacationing with toddlers, remember to pack the items that will entertain the children until you get to your destination where they are easily accessible and to play with while you are there. Pack appropriate clothing for your destinations and shoes for the occasions. Go light on the packing. With your research you should have found a nearby store or pharmacy for any small items you might have forgotten. Also for all the medicines for headaches, tummy aches, bug bites, sunburns, all the little things that could happen the store will be there.

2. Money

   Don't forget your credit card for the "just in case" emergencies with any vacation, especially when taking toddler. If you are trying to stay within a budget get a prepaid credit card.

3. Things to Do

   While vacationing with your toddlers make sure you make a list of what is most important for you to see. Then allow time to let the toddlers do something to have fun as part of their vacation.

4. Shopping and Playgrounds

   If you are taking your toddler on vacation you should have done your research and found nearby stores and playgrounds for the evenings or just for a day to rest. Remember, vacationing with your toddlers may not be much of a vacation for you so keep the days easy and fun and have a day to do nothing.

Enjoy your vacation.

1. Make up a small backpack with some new toys. They don't have to cost the earth, a new toy car or books, some crayons and colouring books, some snacks, drinks and baby wipes for sticky hands and a change of clothes in case of spills.
2. Make sure your little one is dressed comfortably. Sure, they make look cute in a frilly dress with lace knickers but they are going to be uncomfortable and miserable sitting for hours on a place. Dress them in soft clothing with a layer to put on/take off in case they get too cold/warm.
3. If your child still has a bottle, ask the flight attendant to warm it for your well in advance. In my experience, it can take quite a while for them to come back with it so ask before your little one is screaming for milk.
4. 4. Don't worry about other passengers. If your child gets upset and screams very loudly, or throws a major, roll-on-the-floor tantrum, don't worry what anyone else thinks. I've found most people are quite understanding and will give you that "been there, done that" sympathetic look but if others are less tolerant - just ignore them. If they don't like it, tough. Even they were kids once!
5. 5. Relax. Best thing you can do is just take it as it comes. You may leave the plane with juice-soaked legs, crackers down your top, cream cheese in your hair and an exhausted, rosy cheeked, sleeping baby on your shoulder, but you all got there in one piece. Now that's an achievement!

Despite the fact that Disney World was always a favorite destination for my family growing up, it became obvious to me that “the happiest place on earth” was, in fact, no place for children. I vowed never to bring my own kids until they were at least ten years old and well above the age of toddler-hood tantrums. But when my wife and I found ourselves visiting family in Orlando this summer we decided to brave the prospective melodrama and take our three-year-old, Allison to the Mouse House for a day of… fun? The decision was made easier by the fact that we had Disney-employed relatives who got us in for free. So even if Allison cried the entire time and we left after only an hour, at least we could still justify buying that 40-inch plasma screen with 1080i capabilities when we got home.

We hit a number of the Magic Kingdom's usual haunts-rides, parades, character greetings-but because we hadn't invested any money into the day, we felt no compulsion to hit all of them. If a line was longer than thirty minutes, we skipped it. If a ride looked at all scary, we avoided it. When the afternoon got hot, we spent a cool and refreshing hour circling the Magic Kingdom on the lineless Disney World Railroad. When Allison fell asleep during Pirates of the Caribbean, we didn't wake her. When it became obvious she was having more fun running through the S.S. Miss Daisy water playground, we didn't pressure her to finish up. And when she clung to our leg at the sight of Winnie the Pooh in the flesh, we didn't force her to pose for nightmare-inducing photos. Freed from that burden of “getting our money's worth” the three of us had a truly magical day indeed. The only tears that were shed happened when some kid on the Miss Daisy accidentally squirted water in Allison's eye.

I had an epiphany that day: the only way for toddlers and their parents to truly enjoy a visit to Disney World is to get in for free. Of course when I suggested this to a bedraggled-looking father of triplets on the monorail that night, he spilled his ten-dollar soda in my lap. It's no secret that a day at Disney World is not an inexpensive undertaking for the average non-Disney-employed family. With ticket prices running as high as seventy dollars per person, it's not until you start committing to a seven-day pass that the daily rates start getting somewhat reasonable. And as we stated earlier, when you have that much cash invested in something, the need to “get your money's worth” becomes all-consuming and can often lead to pushing your toddler far past his prudent threshold of whimsical fun.

As hard a pill as this is to swallow, the fact is nobody should bring their toddler through the gates of Disney World if they can't immediately ignore how much money they spent to get in. Whatever the number, you must forget the dollar sign in front of it and force yourself to focus only on the wide-eyed wonder in your child's eyes. Even more important though is to forget those dollar signs when wonder is replaced by some other less favorable emotion, namely:

Fear

Even if you waited in line for ninety minutes to ride the Flying Dumbos, force yourself not to tally up the dollars wasted when, at the last second, your toddler announces he's too scared to go on. Same thing with character greetings. It's always better, and probably cuter, to snap a picture of your scared-but-smiling youngster waving to Mickey from a safe distance than screaming bloody murder in the arms of a six-foot rat.

Stress

Between loud parades, spinning teacups, and yo-ho'ing pirates, over-stimulation is pretty much a given for a toddler at Disney World. When you sense that yours is nearing the point of fracture, take a little time for some less in-your-face entertainment. Don't get into the “we could be doing this at home for free” mentality if Junior wants to read books for a while in the gift shop. Several of the parks have movie theaters with no lines showing classic Disney cartoons. Sit in the air conditioning for an hour and relax as a family. A little time to decompress will give everyone the extra energy and good humor keep going.

Exhaustion

No two ways about it, your toddler will need a nap at some point during the day. If you're staying at one of the Disney resorts head back to the room during the hottest part of the day. If leaving the park and returning simply isn't feasible, go on “It's a Small World After All” right around naptime. Your little one will be asleep before the boat leaves Sweden. Use the downtime for some shopping, or simply take a rest in the shade yourself. If you're vacationing with other couples, trade off babysitting duties so you can all go on Space Mountain and a few other “grownup” rides.

I know this is easy advice to shell out from a guy who never paid a cent for his own day at Disney. But that doesn't negate its truth. The fact is, while Disney World (in my opinion) is best experienced by older children, it still can be, and often is, an enjoyable place for toddlers. Then again, so is the motel pool, which is free. The trick is kissing that hi-def plasma goodbye and approaching your day at Disney as though you actually had gotten in for free. Only then can you allow yourself to have easygoing fun without dragging your toddler past the point of tears. I know it's easier said than done, but believe me, if I can do it, you can do it… please don't throw your soda at me.

Yes, traveling with toddlers can be a hair raising experience. If at all possible travel with another adult, preferably the other parent. Most often I traveled alone with my children to be where my husband was working.

The most important thing to remember is to never, Never, NEVER leave your children alone anywhere! Yes, that means you all go to the bathroom at the same time! All part of being a parent.

I've found that if I travel late at night the kids tend to sleep once the excitement of flying passes. However, you can't always get the red eye. For those other daylight flights I found you had to pack lots for the kids to do.

Have each of your children pack a small carry on bag with crayons, coloring book and story books, their favorite stuffed animal or small toy, and a few (low/no sugar) snacks. Check their bags carefully to be sure the stuff will be allowed through security!

You’ll want to pack your own carry on bag with the stuff they didn’t think of. Don’t forget the snacks! If you can sneak in a new toy or game for each child it may come in handy as bribe material.

Now make your kids feel like they are going on a grand adventure then they may be more apt to behave. You might have to tour the airports and spend a bunch of time entertaining them but make it an adventure.

Don't plan on finishing that new novel you picked up for the trip because you'll probably be catering to your children. Be prepared to buy plenty of snacks and drinks at the terminals and if your kids are the outgoing type, meeting everybody sitting around you!

Remember flying is a new experience for your children and they will be excited. Be patient! If you can focus that excitement and keep your kids happy it will be a more pleasant experience for everyone.

You can rest when you get to your destination!

Happy travels.