What to Pack for Disney with Kids Under 5, Part 1- Getting There
I love to travel but I don’t know if I would call a trip with anyone under 5 years old a “vacation”. When you are a parent of young kids, you go on “trips”. Yes they can still be wonderful, but kids under 5 are just a lot of work and need a lot of stuff. I have been traveling with kids under 5 for about 5 years now and I have learned a lot about what to bring and what not to bring. One of the best things about a Disney World vacation is that they are prepared for kids of all ages and the amount of “stuff” you need to bring is minimal compared to lets say a beach vacation. Packing for Disney with kids under 5 doesn’t need to be stressful!
Getting there- Whether you are flying or driving there are a few things I recommend on every trip with young ones.
- Media – I HIGHLY recommend a DVD player or iPad. I am the mom that really limits screen time but really it is a necessity when traveling with the under 5 crowd. Even if you only use it as a last resort, it is a tried and true method of keeping everyone happy. Our van has a tv and we make sure to use headphones so the adults up front don’t have to listen. We also have a portable DVD player, that we use for our rear facing 2 year old.
- Snacks – The next biggest item on the list is snacks. I feel like we can get through anything with enough snacks! Along with snacks I always bring a refillable cup with a straw for my kids to drink water while traveling. It saves you from a mess and also saves from purchasing drinks when you stop on the road.
- Clean up – When someone gets sick or makes a mess, it is much easier and way less stressful when you are prepared. I always stock my van with plastic bags to catch throw up (I know, gross), baby wipes to clean up pretty much everything and zip top bags filled with extra clothes. If there is any type of accident you can put on the new clothes and store the soiled ones in the sealed bag.
- Activities – I always pack each child their own backpack with small toys, crayons, stickers and fun travel print outs. My 4 year old loves checking off all the trucks he sees on the highway. My 2 year old will be occupied with stickers and a black notebook for much longer than you would think. I also like to give them Disney park maps to look at, this really builds the excitement.
- Potty needs – Make sure you are stocked with enough diapers and wipes for the little ones. Make sure to always have extra underwear and clothes for the newly trained. My daughter potty trained young and still uses a pull up for naps so when we are driving all day I usually put her in what I tell her a “travel pull up”. That way she can nap whenever and I don’t have to stress about stopping and changing her into a pull up. When driving, I also keep a small potty in my van. This was something that was recommended in a potty training book and is great with little ones. We tend to use this when we stop to get gas instead of taking the little ones into a questionable restroom. Some people are grossed out by this, but I think it is genius! Another reason why plastic might be needed.
Julie Hauck *o*
MickeyTravels, LLC
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner- Platinum Level
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