Get Ready For A Day At Disney
Taking your toddlers and young children on vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando
, Florida can be a wonderful dream come true or it can be an absolute nightmare, particularly if your kids are very small. But with a bit of the old Boy Scout Being Prepared, you can make sure that a day out at Disney goes smoothly and becomes a pleasant memory.
There's no denying that toddlers need a lot of equipment to keep them clean, fed, safe and entertained. You just have to watch parents of toddlers going through the checkout of any busy airport to see just what's involved - and, incidentally, you can cut down on the amount of clobber you have to lug through the check in process by leaving your own stroller at home and booking stroller rentals. And it can be very easy to forget something.
Just to help busy parents with the process of preparing for a day out at Disney World, we've come up with this list of things to remember. There's no denying that this list is quite big, so you'll have to choose stroller rentals that allow you to take all this around with you to spare your back from carting it all about.
* Diapers (or nappies, depending on whether you're visiting from the US or further afield): Even if your toddler or young child is starting to go through the process of learning to use the toilet, you probably will need to put your child in diapers/nappies during a day out at Disney. Those queues can be very long and the last thing you want to happen is to finally get to the head of the queue but have to leave it because a small bladder is on the point of bursting. Always pack more diapers than you think you will need. Naturally, you will also need all the accessories to go with the diapers, such as a changing mat and barrier cream. It's also wise to take a plastic bag for the dirties with you. Yes, there are usually bins provided for disposing of disposable diapers in Disney World, but it's a bit place for the employees to get around and lots of parents take small children there, so the bins can get full and you can get caught out. If you use cloth diapers, you are probably used to taking a plastic bag for dirties with you. To be on the safe side, it probably pays to use two bags or even three, all tucked inside each other for extra security, to avoid any leakage or mess getting onto your rental stroller.
* Drinks. It gets very hot in Florida, so taking drinks with you is an absolute must. Thirsty kids are grumpy kids. It's probably cheaper for you and healthier for the child if you can pack your own juice or water for the child (and you) to sip rather than buying drinks on site. It's wise to look out for a stroller that has a chiller pack accessory, as a cold drink on a hot day in a long queue is extremely refreshing. It's an even bigger bonus if your rental stroller comes with a parent console that gives you somewhere handy to put a drink!
* Food. Small stomachs get empty and need frequent refilling. Nibbling on a few small, healthy snacks can also help pass the time for your toddler in a long queue. Suitable snacks that are portable and healthy include dried apricots, nuts, crackers, raisins, etc.. Fresh fruit's another possibility if you've got room to take it - the local citrus is delicious.
* Sunscreen. People have been coming to Florida for a vacation for years, starting back before the Walt Disney World Resort was built, for the simple reason that we have plenty of sunshine. Small skins burn easily, so it's important to pack sunscreen that's suitable for young children, and to take it with you and reapply it during the day out. When you book your stroller rentals, keep an eye out for a model with a big hood, even on double strollers, as this gives a lot of shade that give extra protection to your child. A good hat also helps protect your child from getting sunburned.
* Rain gear. Florida is in the tropics and tropical downpours can spring up from almost nowhere. You are going to be out in the open and away from shelter at least some of the time, so be prepared with a lightweight rainjacket (and possibly an umbrella for you) for every member of the family. Again, look out for big stroller hoods when choosing stroller rentals, as these can keep the person inside the stroller dry while you whip out the jackets and shove them on everyone.
* Books and toys. This might come as a surprise to many parents when they start the process of planning their visit to the Walt Disney World Resort, as the whole theme park is set up for the purpose of entertaining children. However, you will be spending a lot of time waiting in queues in between the rides and other forms of entertainment, and these can be even more tedious for your child than they are for you. Talking about what you're going to do and what you've just done does help, but the queues can be very long in the most popular rides and attractions. Having your own extra forms of entertainment handy can be a real sanity saver for you, your child and those around you. Just keep an eye on the toys that you give your child to make sure that they doesn't get thrown out of the stroller. If you have booked stroller rentals that have a good harness system, you can tie or clip the toys onto the harness with a lanyard.
by: Rick Rakauskas
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