Advice you’d give to parents taking kids to Disney for the first time?

We asked this question to our Facebook Family earlier this week…
“What is the number one piece of advice you’d give to parents taking kids to Disney for the first time?”

Here are your responses.

Bridget
Get there before opening….when crowds are less

Constance
Take a break before they get to that “cranky/whiny” stage. Go swimming, take a nap, just unwind somewhere. You’ll all enjoy it much more!

Dorsey
Get a character breakfast reservation prior to park opening. Example – Park opens at 9am, get a reservation at 8am and then you are already in the park when it opens. Then do Fantasyland first at MK.

Brandy
Go in the off season, and in the fall/winter when it isn’t so miserably hot. Stay at a Disney resort, too, so it is easy to get to and from your hotel for naps and stuff.

Timm
Take lots of naps!!! ….. You’ll need them! 🙂

Brian
make sure to take a break away from the parks in the afternoon. A swim at the hotel, Downtown Disney….a movie

Brenda
go early in the morning when the park first opens…..then back to the hotel for naps {thus avoiding peak heat/sun} then return to the park when the kids are refreshed…….Also when the kids get whiney, tired and start crying~take a clue from the kids and take them home. 🙂

Rebecca
Assume you will be back and don’t try to jam pack your trip. Take it slow, savor each moment, and take lots of breaks!!

Erin
Enjoy the momment, you cannot do it all, so don’t try, it will just make everyone stressed and crazy, plan your must sees, but also take time for the little things, because in the long run, that will be what you all remember most!!
Karen
Here’s a tip off the beaten path…pre order the photopass cd. This way you can have family pictures with everyone in them. You’ll want to preorder because when you get home and upload your pictures you’ll be in shock at the prices to purchase the pictures. With the cd you’ll be able to print them out. It’s well worth the money!!

Kacy
Take a rest in the middle of the day!!!!! Makes for a much happier evening!!! 🙂

Kelly
We just got back and took our 9 month old for the first time..and my 8 yr old (he has been 5 times) But if you take a baby…and you go during the summer…bring a fan for the stroller…a rain cover for the stroller..a buy a longer canopy for the stroller..All these sure came in handy for us! And do take advantage of the baby care centers at all the Disney parks..they are VERY nice!

Chip
wear comfortable shoes, drink tons of watertake pictures of all the food you see and submit your pictures tothe Disney Food Confessions Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Disney-Food-Confession/126556334034296?ref=sgm

Amy
Do not try to cram 4 people + their luggage, two pack n plays, a double stroller, and a week’s worth of diapers for two toddlers into a room at Pop (or any non-suite value room). Trust me- it’s not pretty. Spring for at LEAST a moderate resort with bigger rooms. Our solution after just one such trip was to use some inheritance money from my father’s passing and buy into DVC. 1 bedroom villas for us from here on out!!!

Carol
What a bunch of other folks have said. You’re not “wasting” your vacation time or money by giving up for the day and going back to the room; the real waste is making everyone miserable by pushing on.

Howard
Been there done that at least 10 times. Youngest I took was 9 mos. old with the mode of transportation plane and car rental. Pack n Play, formula, diapers etc… My best advice is to take small children, stroller age from November through the end of March. At least the weather is workable. Nothing like an infant or toddler needing to be held when its brutally hot!! ie. summer in Orlando.

Rosemary
Wait until the child is old enough to actually enjoy and remember it!! At least 5 (and even that is pushing it) . Other than pictures, the only thing they will remember is what you TELL them. NO one has a good time if they are too young.

Kerry
My grandson was 2 his first trip and loved it, it was all he talked about. So we went last year and we are going again this year. He makes everyone do his Disney dance as he calls it.We have to jump around in a circle and sing we’re going to Disney, we’re going to Disney.It’s called making memories no matter what age. Be patient with little ones and don’t sweat about the small things. HAVE FUN!!!!

DeAnna
I’m with Rosemary. Make sure they’re old enough! We took my sister when she was 3, she was scared of everything, too short for everything, and whined all day because she was too hot!

Thanks guys for all the great advice. If you have more let us know in the comment section below.

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