I’ll go out on a limb and say for the most part, our girls are very well behaved. (At least in public). Part of that, I attribute to keeping them on their typical schedule and doing things the same every day. When we were invited to Disney World, I knew that the days would be anything but typical.

1. A Stroller for Every Bottom.

(Okay, well, every little bottom….not the adults, although that would be nice!)

Two years ago, I got rid of our double stroller. N wouldn’t really ride in one, so I didn’t see any point it holding on to it. I immediately regretted it after our invitation. But, they I discovered something awesome. You can rent a stroller at Disney World! We used Orlando Stroller Rentals. We got the City Mini Double (which is the exact same double stroller we previously had) and it was $75 for 4 nights. We didn’t have to pack it in the car with us or worry about the space it would take up. It was delivered to our resort and waiting for us when we got there (with a rain cover and free cooler to keep). It also had a parent console for holding things like our phone or water bottles/drink. (That’s something we never had on our double stroller and should have!)

At the end of our trip, even though we were at a different hotel, they came and picked it up for us (we just left it with bell services) and we could be on our way.

All three girls spent some time in it, and even had a nap or two. We actually also brought a smaller umbrella stroller so that we did have three seats for three bottoms! I was very glad that a friend suggested bringing it, because the girls got tired very quickly!

2. Bring an Ergo or Carrier for the Littler Ones.

Yes, even though we had a stroller for E (15 months), she prefers to ride in the Ergo whenever possible. Yes, it did make us hot, but she was much happier riding around in there when she got tired. She could still see around when she wanted to, but also could snuggle in and take a nice nap (which she did!)

3. Invest in a Misting Fan.

If you are going to be at Disney any time between like April and October, it’s HOT! I had looked all over the Atlanta area for a misting fan and couldn’t find one. But, if you can, scoop them up (one per kid) and bring them with you. If not, they were $15 at Disney and worth every.single.penny! They cooled the girls off, they cooled us off, and made them happy. I’m not one to pay for happiness, but in this case? I’d do it all over again!

4. Bring Hats and Sunblock.

Actually, if you are like us, bring two hats per kid just in case you lose one. It’s hot and sunny and they are so helpful in keeping their little faces cool and sun burn free. Of course, apply sunblock to every inch of their little bodies, repeatedly, too.

5. Bring Snacks and Water.

You are allowed to bring a cooler, water and snacks into the parks with you (just no glass or alcohol). I was soooo glad to discover this. I knew we’d go through a ton of water and snacks and didn’t want to stop at every little shop to get more water and more snacks for hungry and tired kiddos. If you are driving, bring bottled water with you. Some people bought their own bottles and filled them, but the water there has a funny taste to it. Just my preference.

6. Pack Changes of Clothes.

Especially if your kids are going in costume/dress one day to the park. They aren’t very breathable or comfortable and they will likely want to change. Plus, when kids get tired, there are increased chances of accidents and spills, so you’ll want to be prepared. Don’t forget extra socks, too.

7. Wear Good Walking Shoes.

Even with the strollers and Ergo (see 1 and 2), the girls still did their fair share of walking (so did we). I made sure that the girls (the adults too) wore tennis shoes every day because we knew they wouldn’t hurt our feet). At the end of the day, a comfy pair of flip flops is nice for letting feet breath.

8. Go with the Flow. 

This is probably the most important one. Go with the flow. Yes, the schedule is off, yes the kids are tired, so you need to make sure you don’t over plan and let things just play out. We didn’t have any kid meltdowns, so I think this was quite successful for us.

After hitting the parks in the mornings, after lunch, the girls just wanted to go back to the hotel and hang out at the pool. I’m not one to make them do something they don’t want, so every afternoon, we went back to the hotel, and they went and played in the pool. It ended up working really well because E would be ready for her very late afternoon nap.

As participants in the Disney Social Media Moms Conference 2013 we paid our conference fee, which included hotel accommodations, park tickets, meals, and other gift items. I was not required, or asked, to write about the conference, events, or speakers. The honest opinions are my own and that of my family. We were set up with the stroller rental service in exchange for our review.

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