kelly

The family is going to Disney World in two weeks with a 5 year old and an 18 month old. Any tips about doing "Mickey land" with a toddler?

Joy in VA

GO DIRECTLY to wdwig.com, Deb Wills' unofficial guide site, with tons of tips. I contributed to the Toddler FAQ which has lots of tips from parents who have been there, done that. Also search this forum for prior posts on WDW. MOST IMPORTANT: locate guest services lounge area when you hit the parks & use it for short breaks - quiet & calm. Also, you are NOT theme park commandos - you WILL NOT be able to see everything with little ones in tow, you MUST allow your kids to set the pace. Do that, you will have a terrific time! Also don't miss AK - Lion King show & conservation station will be hits with your kids.

Lori

I'd also recommend getting the Unofficial Guide to WDW, by Bob Sehlinger. All of the rides and attractions are broken down to address their appeal and appropriateness for different age groups. For example, my 3 year old was terrified in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids at Epcot. Now, some kids are fine with it, but my son had a "thing" about loud noises, and that attraction is extremely intense!

You'll also get great tips from people who have "been there, done that" and don't want you to make the same mistakes they did. Tips from how to keep track of YOUR stroller (where to park them so they're right there when you exit an attraction, and how to keep people from "accidentally" borrowing your stroller) to how to arrange for the more adventurous in your family to ride attractions without making one person wait outside with the young'un (the baby swap).

Have a great time Kelly!

GOL

Stick to Magic Kingdom. Forget MGM. If you have time add Animal Kingdom next, then Epcot. The Kingdom is the magical place.

Stay in the park hotels. Then, you can return mid-day quickly, take nap, eat, etc. and return refreshed.

In the Kingdom, rent a locker underneath the train station to store 'stuff', like jacket / sweaters, etc. Bring your own food/water - (although rarely questioned, you should say it is needed for medical reasons). You can go broke just buying drinks and snacks.

Get the daily schedule. One place is just inside the Kingdom at Town Hall. Lists 'events' for that day. Parade at 3:00. It's worth waiting 10-60 minutes prior to get your kids curbside 'seats'

ilisa

Kelly, I just got back from WDW with a 20 month old. I will eventually post a full report, but here are some of my suggestions. First, take Joy in VA's advice about not doing the parks commando-style. The key is flexibility, flexibility, and flexibility. You will not see or do everything, and you know something? That's ok. Have a general plan of what you want to see, but leave room for maneuvering. Plan plenty of rest/nap time. Keep your children's needs in mind and let them set the pace. Bring your own stroller instead of renting. We brought our own and decorated it with colorful plastic links. We never had problems finding it. Animal Kingdom was fabulous for our daughter. She adored the safari. Unfortunately, the petting zoo at Rafiki's Planet Watch (formerly Conservation Station) was closed the day we were there. My daughter also loved the Tapestry of Nations parade at Epcot (we listen to the music all the time at home). Make sure you take advantage of the Baby Care centers at the parks. They are specially designated areas where you can go and peacefully change and feed your child. They have large, comfy changing tables, rockers for nursing, high chairs for feeding. You can even warm up food and bottles. They were lovely and so quiet. Consider staying on site for convenience, and renting a fridge ($10 per day) for milk, juice and snacks. It made our lives so much easier having that stuff on hand. There is so much more I can tell you. Please email me if you have any questions.