Envision this:  A “magical” trip to Disney with your toddler.  Nothing but smiles and tears of joy.  The outbursts are non-existent, your child’s patience are at an all time high, and waiting doesn’t evoke a concern in the world.  These are the trips that I envisioned, strives for, and dreamed of.  Now don’t get me wrong; our trips have been incredibly magical and filled with amazing memories that are sure to last more than a lifetime.  However reality reared it’s ugly head early on in our trips.  I am hoping that you are able to use my experiences to help you plan and understand what traveling to the most magical place on earth could entail!

I will start by saying not every child is the same.  You may have a prince or princess that is happy to sit in their carriage and relax while they are pushed around by you.  Then there is my child.  Jr doesn’t sit…ever!  He loves to run and jump and skip along.  We must have been delusional thinking that his behavior was going to be any different in Disney.  John found joy dodging and weaving in and out of groups of people and running from mommy and daddy.  He refused to sit in the stroller and refused to hold anyone’s hand.  The minute I grabbed for his hand he went into fish mode…you all know that mode when they literally go limp and start flopping around on the ground like a fish out of water…but now add in the screams, yes friends we were “those people.”  I was so desperate to try to find solutions I walked into a store and asked if they had a Mickey backpack with a leash attached to it.  Yes I contemplated putting him on a leash.  I started to brainstorm and one solution that I have come up with since it to put a little ribbon or handle on the side of the stroller for him to hold on to.  This way he is close to us without us making him feel like he is out of control.  I also give him ample warnings and reminders that he MUST sit in the stroller from the bus to the entrance of the park and vice versa.