My Mom is going to visit her elderly Aunt in Orlando so I opted to go along and bring my 2 year old daughter. We got decent rates "last minute" (my last post was about our upcoming trip to St Pete in Nov!) for airfare at our beloved HPN, flying into MCO and staying at the Hyatt Regency at the airport ($129 rate for seniors!) We are happy with the above and are only going to be there from Mar 22-25, visiting her Aunt here and there. So, other than relaxing and eating, going to the pool, what do you suggest we do? Somethin' or nothin? We are not renting a car and plan to use taxis or other transportation when we can just to keep things simple. We don't feel like we have to do much since my daughter is not quite 2 and will enjoy running around the hotel and going to the pool.

Is there something we should take time to do? I am looking forward to a whole lotta nothin' but know I may get itchy, too.

Any and all thoughts welcome!

Thank you!

Florida Mall is a 10 minute taxi ride from the airport. If your daughter can tolerate a stroller ride around the mall after all the pool time, Florida Mall is one of the best.

If you are up for the expense and transportation, even a two year old will find the magic in the Magic Kingdom. Appreciate that your visit will be limited between her time between naps. Transit time is a minimum of 30 minutes, and I don't know Orlando taxi rates. But if you want an adventurous day...

Thanks, stumpworks73! The mall would be fun since it is so close. I am thinking of renintg a car for one day which would need to be Easter Sunday, sorry to say. Would you go with an almost 2 year old to MK or Epcot, or somewhere else, with a rental car and almost a full day (depending on her mood!)?

Since my husband and son aren't coming with us (they are going skiing) I feel a bit guilty going to Disney at all!

Thank you again!

I would skip epcot with one so young..but Magic Kingdom would be a must!

Thank you, Lisa567...but even on Easter Sunday? (Assuming that is the one day we could go.)

I am on board with Lisa. Your daughter will prefer MK to EPCOT. In fact, I wouldn't consider EPCOT for a two year old. Spring break park crowds will be heavy each day you are in Orlando. Sunday won't be any better or worse than th eother days.

There are several web sites mentioned on other Disney threads on Fodors. One is www.allears.net. You can spend all your free time reading about how to navigate the parks on busy days.

Between the limited attractions that will appeal to a two year old and the ability to use Fastpass, you might miss much of the madness.

You're not going to be standing in line at Space Mountain or other thrill rides that are the destinations for many.

Your 2-year-old would love the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom or Sea World. My daughter is almost 3, and even when I took her to MK at 15 months, she really enjoyed it. She has been to Epcot, and there were a few things she enjoyed, there really wasn't a lot for her age group. The great thing is that kids under 3 get into Disney parks for free.

Or just go to Downtown Disney (free for everyone). There's a little train and a carosel, and a small play area next to the Lego Store. My daughter spent at least an hour just playing with all of the Mr. Potato Head pieces in the toy store.

There's also a really nice petting zoo outside Orlando (Green Meadows), but that may end up being too far away from your hotel. It's perfect for a two-year-old. She would get to chase chickens!

Our 20-month daughter had a great time in Disney World a couple of weeks ago, but if you're just going for a day your ticket will be around $70, pricey even though your daughter will be free.

Downtown Disney would be a nice outing. The Lego store, Rainforest Cafe, ice cream at Ghirardelli. Ride the boat shuttle from one side of Downtown Disney to the other.

To continue your outing, you can check to see when the fireworks are on at Magic Kingdom, and when the Electrical Water Pageant is running. Then go have dinner at one of the monorail resorts (maybe a character meal at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary or 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian), then ride the monorail (or perhaps the boat launches) around and watch the fireworks and/or the EWP from the beach at the Polynesian Resort. (Make reservations for your meal at 407 WDISNEY).

Or, make reservations for a meal at Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which has several animal viewing areas, as well as evening storytelling around the firepit.

Also there is a water play area in Downtown Disney (a plaza where water randomly spurts out and kids can run around and get wet), so bring a change of clothes.

Thank you, Dancing Bear, Stumpworks, Ann and Lisa!

I think Downtown Disney will be the answer. I haven't been able to find anything else fun around the airport/downtown Orlando area for a 2 year old and I love the possibilities of DD. I know my daughter does not need much to entertain her, and we will come back to go to MK another time with my son, too.

One thought is, would you hesitate to go to Downtown Disney on Easter Sunday? It is possible we will be able to go on Monday, but what do you all think? (We will either rent a car or take the "shuttle" from the Hyatt at the airport one day.)

Thank you again!

The parks will be crowded, but Downtown Disney will be a free ride during the day.

Have fun!

Thank you!

One more question as I have been re-thinking my hotel location choice.

I love the idea of staying close to the airport for a quick trip and I do require a very nice hotel (esp for only a 3 night trip!) but transportation (to and from my Mom's Aunt's apartment in Orlando (the city, I guess) is going to be a pain. Does anyone suggest we stay in "downtown" and try to get to Downtown Disney for one day from there? Ideas welcome!

Thank you again!

I'm no expert on downtown Orlando, but you'd have to see where exactly your Aunt's apartment is. There are certainly nice hotel options in many different parts of the Orlando area.

Personally I'd certainly rather be at a hotel where I could walk somewhere other than into the airport.

You might want to look into a car rental. Prices will be higher that weekend but compare a $150 car rental to the series of cab fares you'll have, plus perhaps renting a car for a day anyway.

The airport is pretty far from DD and MK. The cab ride will be $40-$50 each way. I wouldn't stay near the airport if I could help it. Your savings will quickly be eaten up in transportation costs.

Apparently there is a transit bus from downtown Orlando to Downtown Disney (and on to the Ticket and Transportion Center, which is right next to the Polynesian Resort and a monorail or Ferry Ride to the Magic Kingdom)--check out Route 50:

http://www.golynx.com/?fuse=cstm&app=route

Would be a long bus ride (also stops at Sea World) but a cheap option.

Actually it looks like Sea World is the only intermediate stop, so this would not be a bad option at all from downtown Orlando.

Regardless of where you stay, do rent a car for your whole stay. The cost will be much less than taxi and shuttle fare and you can come and go as you please. Getting around Orlando is easy and you won't have to rely on other means of transportation, its schedule, and reliability.

You don't want to stay in downtown Orlando. Downtown Disney is in Lake Buena Vista. A Hampton Inn Lake Buena Vista has a $129 rate. Many of the hotels in the area are $179 and up. You are there at spring break. You are much closer to the action in LBV than at the airport Hyatt. You are also in the middle of the crowd.

Be sure you don't get in a hotel right on I-4. Do your homework on the quality of the pool. Some will be great, others will be minimal.

Can't hurt to call Disney and see what they are charging for Carribean Beach or one of their midrange on sites. They all have great pools and you can take Disney transportation to Downtown Disney.

Wow! Thank you to stumpworks, japw82, Dancing Bear,and Wyatt 92 for all of the great suggestions and perspectives. I guess I am torn b/c I was wanting both a nice hotel and convenient location for not too much $....go ahead and LOL...esp on Easter weekend! Anyway, I need to re-read the posts and decide what to do. I was so thrilled with the Hyatt at the airport until I found out how far away it is from everything (which translates to time and $!)

Still mulling...

But thank you to everyone!

If you go to Downtown Disney you might look into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. They do hair and makeup (if you want) for little girls like a princess. There are several different packages to choose from. The girls are so cute with curls and glitter in their hair. I suppose 2 yrs old might be too young, unless she already likes that kind of thing. Anyway, you could look into it.

I would avoid MK on Easter weekend like the plague. And this is difficult for me to say, as I love being at disney world, but it will be so crowded you won't be able to push your stroller down the sidewalk.

You might look into SeaWorld, my kids loved SeaWorld when they were that little, but I don't know what the crowds would be like there.

One more idea, you could go to the beach. Daytona is about an hour away. Just a thought. : )

Happy planning!