How To Survive A Week At Disney World (And LOVE it!)

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably realized that I recently returned from vacation at “The Happiest Place On Earth”.  Which, for the record, in late March, is also “The Most Crowded Place on Earth”.  But you know, the first one sounds way better.  Don’t get me wrong here, I am by no means a Disney basher, I am a Disney lover.  I’ve been taking trips to Walt Disney World since I was an infant, and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon.  We are actually DVC members, and Annual Passholders – so yeah, you could say I like it there.

My trip in a nutshell?  Had fabulous weather, rode a few roller coasters and some other awesome rides, got stuck on a few rides, re-developed a love of riding the monorail,

loved watching Little AG love on Winnie the Pooh (and Tigger too!), and spend time with my family.

I just wanted to share with you a few quick tips on things that made our lives so much easier!

• Micralite Fastfold Stroller:  I reviewed this stroller last summer after our trip to Europe, with then 17-month old Little AG.  I loved it.  This stroller hung in there through thick and thin in Europe, and it didn’t disappoint us in Disney either.  First of all, the stroller has such a unique design that it is truly eye-catching.  I swear, I was like a walking advertisement for that stroller, because EVERYONE wanted to know where we got it.  So much so that even my parents knew the name and started telling people about it when they asked.  The back of the seat is mesh, so it was nice and breathable in that hot Orlando weather.  Oh, and when we had to park it outside of rides and things it was super easy to spot afterwards because no one else had one like it!  Awesome!
• Protect-A-Bub Sunshade:  Did  I mention hot Orlando sun?  Yes, it was hot in Florida, I even ended up with tan lines from my flip flops!  The Protect-A-Bub sunshade is made to extend the sunshade of your stroller, and it also keeps out almost 100% of the UV rays.  Little AG fell asleep in her stroller under this sunshade many times, and we were comfortable knowing she was fully protected from the sun while we walked around the parks.  It folds up really nicely and fits in it’s own little pouch so it was easy to throw in our bag each day.
• CARES: Kids Fly Safe Harness:  Have you ever lugged a carseat and a 2 year old through an airport?  If so, then you will totally appreciate the CARES aviation harness.  For kids that meet the approved weight limit, it can be used in place of a car seat to keep your kiddos strapped in safely.  it is a 5 point restraint, making it much safer than the seatbelt alone.  We have used ours COUNTLESS times now, and I am a tireless advocate for this product. Something else I’m an advocate of?  Saving my arm muscles and patience,  and possibly a lawsuit from when I accidentally smack someone with the car seat while struggling down the aisle.  It’s the only FAA approved harness for take-off and landing, and if you are frequent fliers like us (Little AG has her own Frequent Flier numbers on all of the airlines) then you will really appreciate this product.
• Neat Solutions Germ-Free Products:  These products kept me sane, and kept Little AG’s little fingers off of yucky tables, and her body off of yucky changing tables.  Neat Solutions are just that — products that make your life a little neater and a lot less germy.  And with all of the germs that are to be had in a place full of kids…let’s just say you have to do your part!  However, I do want to say that Disney does a great job of keeping things clean, even with TONS of people milling around.  One of our favorite features of the parks are the Baby Changing Stations — air conditioned places with tons of giant, cushy changing tables that are sanitized after each use, wipes, diapers, and formula are all for sale for a very nominal fee – they even have nursing rooms.  I was so impressed and so thankful for this service, which can be found in each of the parks!

Been there, done Disney?  Check out my review of the Sandestin Resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast!