Disney with Two Little Kids and One Adult

This post contains affiliate links.  This means that I will receive a small compensation if you purchase something after clicking through one of my links.  The price does not change based on whether or not you use one of my affiliate links. 

(Note: I need to write an update for this post, because now I regularly go to Disney World with my THREE kids while my husband is at work!)

We're addicted to Disney.

We go often.  It's a rare week that we aren't there.  (Unless we're blocked because we don't have the crazy-super-duper expensive passes.  Just the regular ol' pretty expensive passes.)

Almost every time it's the whole family: me, Daddy, Catherine, and Dominic.  However, it has been just me and the kids a more than a few times.  Am I crazy?  Well, maybe.  But not for this.

Since I've done it successfully so often I thought I would share some tips that have worked well for us.  I know there are lots of scenarios out there that equate into only one parent being able to bring the kids, so maybe something in here will help you.  Also, a lot of these Disney tips could apply to anyone, so even if you're just a kid at heart something here might help you!

1. Pick your park.

I recommend sticking with Magic Kingdom.  As I write this, my kids are two and six.  Catherine, 6, can ride everything Magic Kingdom has to offer.  Dominic can ride a lot, but certainly not everything.

While you could piece together a fun trip to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom with proper planning (and we have) I think Magic Kingdom is the best bet.  The only Disney World park that the kids and I haven't done without Daddy is Hollywood Studios -- but a lot of that has to do with him being a major Star Wars aficionado.  (At the bottom of this post check out my links for "What to do at Disney's ______ Park with Little Kids and Babies" for planning help.)

The one big negative that Magic Kingdom has is getting over the lake.  If you drive to Disney, which I do as a local, getting from the car to the front gate at the other parks takes ten minutes, tops, at Magic Kingdom it frequently takes a half an hour or more.

2. Adjust your expectations.

If you're solo with the little people there's a good chance that you won't be able to do everything that you'd like.  Space Mountain is one of my favorite rides at Magic Kingdom.  I simply can't ride it though when it's just me and the kids.  I've even had to give up an elusive Mine Train FastPass that I somehow scored because, clearly, Dominic can't wait for me by himself while Catherine and I ride.  (That was a day we thought Daddy might be able to come.)  I'm one of those people that could be at the park from opening to closing and be totally happy.  My kids can't do that.  Acknowledge that this might not be your ideal trip and then, well, let it go.


3. Watch carefully for tiredness.

I think this is especially important whenever the children outnumber the adults.  You only have so many arms!  Maybe you have mastered baby (or toddler) wearing, pushing a stroller, carrying an umbrella, juggling three cups of water, AND not bumping into other people, but I haven't.  Getting tired and cranky isn't good for anyone; sometimes cutting a visit short is the answer.  When it's been just me and the kids we typically stay at the parks for about 4 to 6 hours.  More than that gets dicey.

4. Bring the stroller.

I never go without a stroller.  My Fitbit shows that I average about 7 miles a day in the parks.  (Keep in mind, these are short park visits -- for a longer visit it's easily over 10 miles!)  That's a lot for little legs.  I've been looking for one of the sit and stand type strollers, but haven't found a good one in my price range.  (Meaning I haven't found a good one at a yard sale or on Craigslist yet!)  Catherine does a great job of keeping up, but I have had them both ride in the single stroller together more than once.

A word of caution about strollers: If you aren't at the park early (which you should be!) you will probably need to take a tram in the parking lot.  Please note, you must fold up your stroller to get on the tram.  This means that you, and you alone, will be carrying your stroller, the bags, and the kids.  That can get quite overwhelming.  If you're early you will most likely be in one of the close parking lots and can skip the tram.  (I almost always chose to skip the tram.)

5. Plan your visit.

Get those FastPasses!  Lines for Winnie the Pooh, Buzz, and especially Peter Pan can be quite long.  Also, ask the kids what they would like to do, their answers might surprise you.  One time both of my kids wanted to spend time in Pooh's house.  We hung out in front of the ride playing in Pooh's house for over half an hour.  They loved it.  Another time Dominic wanted to ride the "horses" over and over again, so we rode the Carousel a half dozen times one morning.

6. Get there early.

This is a good Disney World tip in general.  My kids tend to be early rises, so getting there early isn't really an issue for us.  While the initial opening of the gates surge can be intimidating if you've never been there before, it typically is the least crowded part of the day.  Enjoy it!  Seriously, you can get on about a dozen rides by lunchtime if you're there for the gate drop.


7. Pack carefully.

We typically have three bags: small cooler, diaper bag, and a rain gear bag.  The cooler (similar to this one) generally has PB&J and a few snacks (we don't pack water since it's free at all of the restaurants), the diaper bag has one day's worth of supplies, and then we have some type of rain protection for each person (especially during the rainy season).  Try to keep each bag as minimal as possible.  Whatever you bring you will be lugging around for the entire day.  You will also probably be lugging your children at some point.  I sometimes ditch the rain gear bag, although that has been a bad decision more than once, and sometimes we bring our pin trading bag (similar to this one, but ours is pink, with princesses).

8. Have fun!

It's Disney.  Enjoy yourself!  A Disney day, or week, will be different if you're the solo adult, but everyone can still have a great time!

Do you have any great Disney tips to share?  Let me hear them in the comments section!

Be sure to take a look at what you can do with little kids and babies at each of the Disney World parks!

Clicking on the above photos should get you to the right post, but just in case, here are the links again:

Magic Kingdom with Little Kids and Babies

Hollywood Studios with Little Kids and Babies

Epcot with Little Kids and Babies

Animal Kingdom with Little Kids and Babies

I will be sharing this post at various blog parties, including these. 

What Can I Do At Disney's Magic Kingdom With Little Kids and Babies?

This post may contain affiliate links. 

Magic Kingdom.  This park truly is Disney.  It's classic.  It is by far the most family friendly park of the Walt Disney World Resorts. The whole family can ride together on most of the rides, see lots of shows, and meet characters.  In the past year I've been there quite often, even a few times where it was just me and the kids (ages 1 and 5).  We've always had a fantastic time, because there is simply so much we can do!

Can I bring my little one on rides at Disney's Magic Kingdom?

Yes!  There are lots of rides the whole family from babies to great-grandparents can ride together! Here is a list of all the rides that allow riders of "any height".  Keep in mind that oftentimes the youngest riders will have to sit on an adults lap, and it is one child per lap.  (It's also best to figure out who's sitting with whom before you get to the boarding zone.)

• Astro Orbiter Height
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion (a little spooky)
• "it's a small world"
• Jungle Cruise
• Liberty Square Riverboat (no seats!)
• Mad Tea Party
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Prince Charming Regal Carousel
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Tom Sawyer Island (take a short boat ride over to the island that you self-explore by foot)
• Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney World Railroad
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress *

*A note about the Carousel of Progress. Maybe it should be classified as a show, since you sit in a theater seat and watch a stage; however, the theater moves.  Keep in mind that this means you must stay seated for the duration of the show which is just over 20 minutes long. You cannot get up to walk a fussy baby.  If you do this the entire ride has to shut down and things get messy.   You could easily nurse a fussy baby in the AC while enjoying the show. 

Are the shows appropriate for all ages?

Yes!  The shows are entertaining for all ages.  The following is a list of the indoor (and air-conditioned) shows that the whole family will enjoy.      

• Country Bear Jamboree
• The Hall of Presidents ("fun" might be a little strong for the younger crowd)
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
• Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
• Enchanted Tales with Belle (Very entertaining and interactive)

There is always a variety of outdoor entertainment too -- everything from the Dapper Dans along Main Street to the fireworks over Cinderella's Castle.  

Can I bring my baby to meet Micky?

Of course! Character meet and greets are for guests of all sizes and ages.  Let those babies get Princess kisses and meet The Mouse Himself!  I have been quite amazed at how each character that we've met has taken great care to make those brief moments special.  The characters focus on making your child happy -- no matter the age.  (They also are quite accommodating to adults.)

Dominic fell asleep while waiting to meet Cinderella.
Can you see Catherine's expression?  She was utterly enthralled and amazed by the experience.

What can't my little kids and babies ride?

There are a few rides that simply aren't safe for shorter riders (or if there are certain health concerns).  For these rides your group will need to split up.  Be sure to take advantage of the Rider Swap option to get everyone that meets the requirements on the ride!  Here's a list of the rides with height restrictions:

• Tomorrowland Speedway -- Height: 32 inches
• The Barnstormer -- Height: 35 inches 
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train -- Height: 38inches
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- Height: 40 inches
• Splash Mountain -- Height: 40 inches
• Stitch's Great Escape! -- Height: 40inches
• Space Mountain -- Height: 44 inches

These two attractions aren't rides, or shows, or a character greeting, but they are fun for all ages:

• Swiss Family Treehouse 
• Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station

As you can see, there is plenty to keep your whole family, including little kids and babies, busy all day long!  In fact, I would be shocked if you were able to fully experience in the whole park in a day. (Personally, I've been there 20+ times in the past year and I still feel like there's stuff I haven't done or seen!)  If you can, spend multiple days enjoying the magic at Magic Kingdom.

Keep in mind that things at Walt Disney World are constantly changing.  Something that might be there today might not be there tomorrow.  Something that is there today might not have been there yesterday.  Attractions will need maintenance.  If you notice something on this page that needs updating please leave me a comment.

Enter here.

Reading Eggs Review and Read to Cure Challenge

I received a free three month subscription in exchange for my honest opinions.  

What is Reading Eggs?  It is a comprehensive online program of reading lessons and e-books dedicated to teaching children ages 3-13 literacy skills for a lifetime of reading success.

What does Catherine think of Reading Eggs?  Catherine, age 3, loves Reading Eggs.  She asks to play several times a day and I am always the one who has to set a time limit.  It's still a "new" activity for her, so I will be sure to update you later if she is still as enthusiastic a couple of weeks from now.  (I hope she is!)

What do I think of Reading Eggs?  I have a great appreciation for any program that helps instill a love of learning and reading.  I love that Catherine can work through the lessons at her own pace.  After each lesson there is the option to repeat the lesson or move on to the next one. I am glad that there is a focus on learning phonics, I've seen some programs that downplay the importance of phonics.  I also like that it is a great introduction to working on the computer -- and helping strengthen her fine motor skills.

Are there any negatives?  Personally, I find some of the animations and "rewards" a little annoying.  However, Catherine always dances to the music and seems to really enjoy them, so maybe it's an age thing.  Also, and maybe this was a glitch, there was one game very early on where she had to "catch" fish with a certain word on them that simply went way too fast.  I had to play the game for her in order for us to continue.  (And I did not get a perfect score!)

Anything else that you should know?  Over ninety percent of parents notice an improvement in their child's reading ability after using Reading Eggs.  The program is compatible with PC, Mac, iPad, and Android.  There is a money back guarantee.

Would you like to try it?  Click here for a free five week trial.  (For new customers only.)  If you try it, I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions!

Also, I'd like to tell you about The Reading Eggs Read-To-Cure Challenge.  From February 3, 2014 to March 7, 2014 your child can join thousands of children across the United States taking part in the Reading Eggs Read-To-Cure Challenge.  This is an effort to inspire children to read while raising funds for The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS).  The goal is to raise $25,000.  Additionally, Reading Eggs will match every donation made up to this amount! 

Are you curious?  Would you like to learn more about the cause? The Reading Eggs Read-To-Cure Challenge aims to help the NCCS realize their mission to improve the quality of life for children with cancer. All money raised will help provide financial, emotional and educational support for children and families battling childhood cancer. Learn more about the NCCS at www.thenccs.org. 

If you like the sound of that, then you need to know: how does the Read-To-Cure Challenge work?  Children sign up for a FREE 5 week trial of Reading Eggs, the popular online reading program for 3–13 year olds.  From February 3rd to March 7th they are encouraged to complete as many books and Reading Eggs lessons as they can. Friends and family can sponsor their reading efforts, with all  money raised going to the NCCS. 

There are great prizes up for grabs for the top 3 children who read the most books and the top 3 children who raise the most funds! 

The Reading Eggs Read-To-Cure Challenge is a FREE event. To start fundraising, children will be set up with their own fundraising web page and you can email family and friends to sponsor their reading efforts with donations! 

Signing Up: Parents, sign up for your free trial of Reading Eggs HERE!  After you log in add your child to your account.  Once your child is set up in the dashboard they need to click on the button on the left hand side bar prompting them to join the challenge. Parents, you can always come back here to see your child’s progress in the challenge. From there it is easy to follow the prompts to customize your child’s very own fundraising page.


All opinions are 100% mine and were not influenced in any way. Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Twitter, and any and all other social media are not affiliated with this review. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

10 December Coloring Pages for Preschoolers

The following are all December themed free printables from other websites.  

(These are all non-religious -- find 10 Religious Christmas Coloring Pages here.)

Welcome December Wreath

Jingle Bells 

Children Catching Snow

Ice Skating Dora the Explorer

Kids Sledding

Rudolf in Snow

Winter Collage

Mittens

Penguins

Children Making a Snowman  

Be sure to check out my Toddlers: Preschool and Fun board on Pinterest! 

Teaching Time for Toddlers -- Geography

This post contains affiliate links. 

I'll be the first to admit that Geography is one of my weak points.  I do not want this to be the same for my child(ren).

One of the gifts that Catherine received for Christmas is the V-Tech Spin and Learn Adventure Globe. I really like this "toy" because it is already starting to give her a basic understanding of the world.  We focus mainly on the continents and the oceans.  Not only can we play with it together, but she can play with it on her own.  There are quite a few buttons on the globe that she can push and the globe then "talks to her".

The globe works really well as a starting point for talking about different animals!  Giraffes are found in Africa.  Kangaroos are found in Australia.  Panda Bears are found in China.  You get the idea . . .

2023 Update -- Ten years and two more kids later this globe is still going strong and has been well loved by all three of my kids! I highly recommend it! Sadly, this globe is no longer available; however, here's the link to the newer V-Tech Globe.) 

I have found flashcards to be great learning tools, and I'd love to pick up these GeoCards.  

While browsing Amazon, I came across this Around the World Coloring Book by Dover.  This would be perfect in a year or two, when Catherine's coloring skills have improved a little.  For now I will stick to free printables!  Here are a couple of the coloring pages that we've used:

• World Map Coloring Pages
• Countries of the World Worksheets & Maps
• Deserts of the World
• Around the World Coloring Pages

(And yes, Catherine is two and a half.   She does not stay in the lines, or anything close to it, but I believe that just seeing the outlines and becoming familiar with the look of the countries is important.)

Do you have any great Geography teaching tools or methods that you've used?  Or just saw and thought, "Hey, that's a good idea!"  Please share!

Teaching Time for Toddlers: TV

Whether good or bad, T.V. is very much a part of our culture today.  There are thousands of shows directed towards kids and a huge chunk of those are directed in particular to toddlers.  Personally, I don't want Catherine (and any future kiddos) watching too much T.V.; however, it is very hard to determine what is "too much" and what is worth watching.

Currently, I do allow her to watch an episode of Dora the Explorer while I am taking my morning shower and getting ready for the day.  This became a thing necessary for survival (and sanity!) after a climbing incident while I was in the bathroom a while back.  She will calmly remain on the couch for the entirety of the 22 minutes while Dora is on, if it's not on, well, who knows what my adventurous and agile climber will get herself into.  (Every Mommy out there knows how important those 22 minutes to prepare for the day can be!)  It  is the only time in the morning when the following isn't true:

SOURCE

I also sometimes allow something in the afternoon -- this way I can pay bills, clean, make dinner, etc..  In the afternoon I want it to be somewhat educational.  (I don't view Dora as educational . . . ) Currently, my favorite picks for this are available on Netflix's Play It Now: Leap Frog shows.  If you're a Netflix member just search for "Leap Frog" and the first few choices will be Play It Now.  As of right now they have a nice mix of both letter, numbers, and even some basic phonics shows.

Leap Frog: The Amazing Alphabet Amusement Park is probably to thank just about as much as all of the flashcards, coloring pages, foam letters, and wooden blocks that I work with to teach Catherine her alphabet.  She cannot say/sing it in its entirety  but when she doesn't feel pressured, she can identify every single letter!  I don't think that's half bad for a two and half year old!

Here's my question to you, Dear Reader, what do you think about toddlers and T.V.?  Do you allow some, none, a lot?  Of course, every household is going to be different, but I am curious what other have to say!  Also, what are the best educational shows out there? Which shows do you think actually help teach our children, if any?

Besides the above questions, which I look forward to seeing how everyone answers, this is also your chance to link up anything toddler related!  

It is not mandatory, but would be nice, if you followed me and added my button (on the right) to your blog.  

Teaching Time for Toddlers: Elephants

This is from our June zoo visit!

I have to admit, I changed today's topic last minute!  I actually have another post almost finished, but this morning just after Catherine got up she was playing with her Noah's Ark elephant and then she pointed to my crocheted elephant I decided to do an impromptu elephant day!

We always have magnets around!

The internet is such an amazing resource!  We looked online at pictures for almost an hour.  (I just did a basic image search--super simple!)  Some favorites included: a herd of elephants, another herd,  elephant reaching a tree branch, an elephant "hurrying", an elephant on a potty, a little girl with a baby elephant, and so many more!  This gave me a lot of time to talk about elephants--where they live, what they eat, what they do all day, etc.  Of course, we spent a lot of time pointing and talking about tails, tusks, and trunks! (How long can you talk about elephants on the spur of the moment?)

We colored this elephant coloring page. (More coloring pages can be found here, here, and here.)

What have you and your toddler(s) been doing?  Did you do anything new this week?  I'd love to read all about it!  Share anything toddler related here; it could be an activity, a craft, a learning experience, a field trip, potty training experience, tips for mom and dad, etc.  If it is in any way toddler related please link it up!  I've really appreciate if you'd link back to me somehow (text link or grab my button) but I won't hold it against you if you don't.  

This linky will be open all week.

Teaching Time for Toddlers

(Sorry this is a wee bit late!)

Today I am not going to share a toddler project or activity.  I want to share something that has made my life a little easier.  It is a very simple product.  It saves my little family both time and money.

What is it?

The Snack Trapper.  

I purchased a two pack of these about a year ago--shortly after Catherine really started eating Cheerios--on sale at Target. (Amazon has them too!)  My girl has always been a roamer, and I'll admit we didn't really enforce a high chair eating rule.  She also has always been difficult when it comes to food--seriously, from day one--so anytime she was interested in eating I wanted her to be able to grab something.  So for the longest (ok, not really that long) time I would put Cheerios in a plastic bowl or leftover container.  However, inevitably there would be as many on the floor by the end of the day as she consumed.  This meant that not only did I (or the hubby!) have to clean it up every day and night but that we were spending money on cereal just to throw away.  (Even if I try to only buy cereal when it's on sale and with a coupon and aim to never spend more than a buck a box it was still quite wasteful!)

I love the Snack Trappers.  While they don't completely stop accidental spills they do amazingly well.  Most spillage comes when she puts her hand in and pulls out too much.  The handles make it super easy to hold.  It is fairly easy to clean (certainly easier than a sippy cup!), although if I had a dishwasher I wouldn't put this in there--I am not sure how well the soft plastic lid would hold up.  Catherine uses her two trappers daily and they have held up quite well with hand-washing.  Having these around means less sweeping and less waste, now that's something I can live with!

Do you have anything Toddler related?  Did you do any cool activities?  Make something special?  Do you have any words of wisdom to share?  If it is anyway toddler related I'd love to see what you have!  Feel free to link up multiple posts--and they don't have to be written recently.  My button is on the left, feel free to grab it.  (Not necessary, but nice!)

  

Teaching Time for Toddlers: Magnets

These guys have been gracing the front of the fridge,
and the inside of my small crock-pot, since Easter.
Anyone know what species the orange fish is?
Or the one under/just to the left of the shark?

Magnets are so much fun!  Even as an adult I enjoy fiddling with them, don't you?  There is a plethora of toddler targeted magnetic toys and learning aids out there.

I've told you previously about Catherine's magnetic fish.  (Sadly, I still haven't been able to identify all the varieties.)  She still loves them and plays with them quite frequently.

Right out of bed and
she's "fishing"!

For her birthday she received the Melissa & Doug Animal Magnets.  (Her cousins have this set and she has always been fascinated by it!)

She also was given the Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Magnetic Fishing Game.  (This one is Daddy and Mommy's favorite!)  This is a great toy/activity for little ones!  Using the "fishing rod" to "catch" the fish requires a little bit of skill and patience--two great things to teach youngsters while playing.  

I love all of these magnets because they are helping to stimulate Catherine's fine motor skills, she is learning to identify the different animals, plus she is having fun experimenting with which materials the magnets "stick" to--a great introduction into the world of science!  

What have you and your toddler(s) been up to recently?  Or not so recently?  
I'd love to read all about it!
Please, link up below!  I'd love if you'd grab my button (on the left) but it's not required to share.

Teaching Time for Toddlers Tuesdays -- Zoo

Tuesday Catherine and I had the opportunity to meet up with family and friends at the zoo!  Our little adventure provided many teaching moments, plus she had a blast.  (More pictures here!)

We've been reading Let's Go to the Zoo quite a bit recently.  She loves to open all of the flaps on each page--and I am very happy that they all seem to be holding up!

Catherine has also been playing with her Noah's Ark animals.  

Plus, we've been working on her animal flashcards.  I did try to do a matching game with the animals from the ark and the flashcards, but she wasn't interested, so I am saving that idea for another day.

Catherine is watching the giant turtles.

What have you and your little ones been up to so far this summer?  I'd love to hear about it!  Please add your links (no reason to just add one!) bellow.  

Teaching Time for Toddlers Tuesdays--Swimming

Swimming is an important skill that most (if not all) kids should be taught.  Even if you aren't the pool or beach type you never know when a kid will encounter water.  Rivers, lakes, creeks, fish ponds, neighbor's pools, wading pools, fountains, even tubs are everywhere and can be potential hazards.

As a teenager I spent a lot of time at the pool--swimming competitively, teaching swim lessons, coaching, and guarding.  Post graduation I've had a much more limited access to the water, but I still love it and hope that my child(ren) will too!

Here are a couple of tips:

• Bring your little ones to the pool early in their life! Many parent and child classes start as early as six months.  While your child obviously isn't going to learn to swim at these classes they can be a great way to introduce him to the water.  Most pools have swim lessons available, take advantage of them!  (Studies are mixed, but some indicate that children aged one through four have an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning with formal lessons.)
• If they accidentally go under water do not freak out, they will pick up on this and think that it is something to fear.  
• Teach them early to blow bubbles in the water--"blow out the candle".  
• At first most kids hate getting their ears wet, help them get comfortable doing this--"listen to the fish".
• Once they are a little comfortable in the water teach them to float on their backs.  Tell them to float when they get too tired to swim or when they can't touch the bottom.  When I was guarding I remember one little girl who got pushed into deep water.  She could not swim, but before the closest guard got to her she was floating easily on her back with a giant smile on her face.  
• Do not rely on water wings--I can't tell you how often they slip off of kids arms.  As a lifeguard I hated those things!  Parents always seemed to have such confidence in them and would allow their non-swimming children in over their head and sure enough one wing would come off and the poor kid would be drowning.  This goes for all other flotation devices as well.  If you are looking for straight up safety find a Coast Guard approved life jacket. 
• Do not depend on the lifeguards to watch your child.  Every pool is different--the main pool where I guarded we aimed for a 30-1 patron to guard ratio but many other places can be as high (or higher) as 75-1.  Have you ever tried to keep an eye on 75 people at once?  Do everyone a favor--watch your kid(s).
• Be vigilant, a young child can drown in as little as an inch of water and in less than two minutes.  

What are you doing with your toddlers this week?  What did you do last week?  I'd love to see!