Planning Your Toddlers Very First Disney Trip

Planning Your Toddlers Very First Disney Trip

 

Cara's first trip to Disney :)

If I have convinced you that taking your toddler to Disney is not only the wisest choice, it is a must do than where do you go next. Walt Disney World is huge and not cheap. I get that. I agree with that. You need to plan down to the smallest details. As they get older you can relax those plans a bit but when they are small you need to be prepared. 

Once you have decided to go, when to go, your next task is where to stay. Toddler means short people. Which means their little legs can’t walk as much as you. Staying on property is a time saver which in the end saves you money! I could throw in it’s a hassle saver saving your sanity and causing you fewer meltdowns but I won’t. I strongly recommend staying on property whenever you can. There are 4 categories of resorts to choose from and picking the right one can make or break your hard earned trip. With a toddler in tow or rather being pushed in a stroller, you would be money ahead to stay on the monorail ring. These resorts are the deluxe and you pay for the convenience of hopping off a train when you get to the park and then hop back on to go to bed. Now there are tricks I can teach you if you stay at other deluxe resorts and want that same hop on and off, but we’ll do that later.

The resort choice is as important as when to go, so take your time. A good resource is a travel agent who is a Disney expert and can guide you through the mountains of choices and help you understand why spending that extra $100 will be worth it in the end. Once you have the resort and the time to go you need to understand tickets, which parks to visit, should we park hop, should we go early and rest or sleep in and stay late. Again, your travel agent is your best resource.

Family Picture

I want to talk more about what to expect with your toddler. Expect them to set your pace. If you try to rush a toddler you might as well be pushing a wet noodle. If you toddler decides it’s time to rest, rest! If your toddler is hungry, eat! The longer you can keep them on their schedule the better off you will be when you get home. Plus you can gauge when to make dining reservations and plan on naps. Naps! They are very important and a must with a toddler. You need to consider this when planning where to stay too. You need to know if the resort is loud during the day, if you can make it as dark as night, if you can play his favorite go to sleep music, lots to consider! We don’t have a toddler but still take that mid-day break most days.

Consider food, will they eat just anywhere; can they eat big people food? Take their favorite snacks for standing in long lines, their favorite juice for dinner that helps them finish their peas. One of my favorite tricks is shipping these items ahead of time! You can have diapers, snacks, clothes whatever you need but don’t want to drag with you shipped directly to your resort. Once I found this out I saved my achy back a lot of trouble!

How do you survive Disney with a toddler? You plan, you check that plan and you plan again. You even have a back-up plan just in case! Disney is the most amazing place to experience with your little ones. Making sure it goes like clockwork takes time, patience and practice. Our daughter is 10 and been 16 times and our son is 4 and been 5 times. Some would say we are crazy but others out there have us beat! Don’t decide Disney is too hard for your family right now, come on join the rest of us nuts and jump right on in!

Happy Traveling!!

Mia

Cruising and Passports

Cruising and Passports

Cruising has become an extremely popular vacation in the past few years. With all of the changes in our national security people are confused about the need of a passport on a cruise vacation. Years ago you didn't need a passport to take a cruise to the Caribbean. As long as you returned to the port you left from.

After 9/11 things changed. Our border security was tightened and more regulations put in place. You can still cruise without a passport, but its not a good idea! Three years ago we did it! We went on the Disney Wonder and you didn't have to have a passport, an original birth certificate was all you needed. Now, you can still use your birth certificate but it won't get you back in the U.S. if miss the ship, or something happens medically and you are transported to a hospital.

Protect yourself and your family. Get a passport. There are now two options when getting a passport. You can get the Passport Book which is the full passport. You can fly anywhere in the world, cruise on any cruise ship and cross any borders you want (as long as you don't need a visa to visit that country too!).

The Passport Book costs $110.00 plus a processing fee of $25.00 if you don't apply yourself online and/or are getting a renewal passport. There is an alternative to the Passport book. The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.

The price for the Passport Card is $55.00 for first time adult passport applicants or $30 for an applicant that has held a passport before. That is a great savings if you never plan on flying to Europe!

Still confused? No worries! Consult a travel professional before making any decisions. It could be a savings and certainly a savings of your sanity!!

Kids Sail Free on DCL!

KIDS SAIL FREE!!

The Disney Cruise Line has brought their KIDS SAIL FREE promotion back!!

 

Kids ages 17 and under can sail FREE on select 6-night and 8-night Disney Cruise Line® sailings from Galveston.



Copyright: Disney Cruise Line

With the new 8-night Bahamian itinerary sailing from Galveston, you can visit the Walt Disney World® Resort and Disney's own private island paradise, Castaway Cay. Included in the cruise fare on this itinerary is a 1-Day Magic Your Way® Ticket with Park Hopper® Option for each Guest and complimentary round-trip transportation between the ship and the Resort. Also available are exciting 6- and 8-night Western Caribbean cruises with scheduled stops in Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Contact us NOW the eligible staterooms won't last long!! mackeymousetravel@yahoo.com or 770.490.5974. www.mackeymousetravel.com

To take advantage of this offer, kids must travel with two full-fare Guests in the same stateroom in categories 4A – 11B on select cruises from Jan. 4 – March 1, 2013. Government Taxes and Fees are approximately $52 per person for 6-night Western Caribbean cruises, $66 per person for 8-night Western Caribbean cruises, and $84 per person for 8-night Bahamian cruises (all amounts subject to change).