Planning a trip with a 3.5 year old

Jadeey

Mouseketeer
Joined
Feb 1, 2013
I have convinced my husband that we should take a holiday before the 2020 one we've been idly (or not so idly in my case) planning. We've settled on early November 2018 when our daughter will be 3.5 years old.

My first question is whether or not we are crazy to contemplate flying all the way from New Zealand with her... (we're talking 12 hours from NZ to LA and then on to Orlando from there) Right now that amount of flying time with her would be my worst nightmare because she can't sit still. I'm assuming by 3.5 she will be able to be distracted by in-flight entertainment and will actually sleep if we do an overnight flight.

My thoughts are:

3 days Disneyland to break up the journey a little bit
5 days Disneyworld (including the Christmas party I hope)
3 or 4 night cruise

We usually stay at values because we normally stay 2-3 weeks when it was just me and my husband since it was just a place to sleep. With a 3.5 year old would we be far better off getting a moderate or even deluxe do you think?

Those who have been to Legoland, would it be worth adding a day there either in Florida or in San Diego? Or at 3.5 will she be not quite old enough yet?

Any advice is most welcome!
 
We took all three of our boys at the same age, but we only had to drive from Ohio. We stayed at the Coronado with our oldest and it was fine, but not special. We stayed at the Polynesian when we went again with twins when they were 3 and it was great. We would ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom and walk over to the transportation center to ride to Epcot. We also stayed in concierge and the breakfast and snacks made life easier, but that was before meal plans were around. I was nice to have a balcony to sit on if they fell to sleep early. The Christmas party was great and they loved seeing Santa at Disney. They also love eating in the castle and seeing the princesses, The Crystal Palace and the Pooh characters were some of their favorites too.
We went on their schedule and the stroller really helped.

When they were 5 we stayed at the Contemporary and liked being able to walk to the Magic Kingdom.
 
Sorry I can't help, 'cause I don't have kids, but just wanted to say "Congrats on your planning something so exciting!", and share the excitement with you! :)
 
We took all three of our boys at the same age, but we only had to drive from Ohio. We stayed at the Coronado with our oldest and it was fine, but not special. We stayed at the Polynesian when we went again with twins when they were 3 and it was great. We would ride the monorail to Magic Kingdom and walk over to the transportation center to ride to Epcot. We also stayed in concierge and the breakfast and snacks made life easier, but that was before meal plans were around. I was nice to have a balcony to sit on if they fell to sleep early. The Christmas party was great and they loved seeing Santa at Disney. They also love eating in the castle and seeing the princesses, The Crystal Palace and the Pooh characters were some of their favorites too.
We went on their schedule and the stroller really helped.

When they were 5 we stayed at the Contemporary and liked being able to walk to the Magic Kingdom.

Awesome, thank you. That makes me feel really good about the idea of going. Hmm I hadn't considered the Poly, but that could be really fun. I definitely like the idea of making transport easy so we can go back to the room quickly if we need to.


Sorry I can't help, 'cause I don't have kids, but just wanted to say "Congrats on your planning something so exciting!", and share the excitement with you! :)

Thanks! I'm super excited, it's taken me a long time to wear my husband down and get him to agree. Hehehe
 


We've driven most everywhere with our daughter and flew from the Midwest to DC when she was 3 1/2. She was surprisingly good on the flight, but we had an early one. She has also been very good in the car ever since she was little. Worst was trying to get her to sleep when she was 18 mos. once we got to our destination.

So I guess it depends on how well your kiddo travels in general whether it would be a good travel experience? I would cringe at a 12 flight myself, but the excitement of being on a plane for the first time could go either way - better behaved or more restless than usual (but on the way home exhaustion might set in?).

I think you've already hit on the most important thing - in flight entertainment. Either the electronic kind, or coloring, or whatever. And of course a favorite smaller stuffed animal or something for comfort.

Just the two cents of someone with a now older kid. :)
 
I have convinced my husband that we should take a holiday before the 2020 one we've been idly (or not so idly in my case) planning. We've settled on early November 2018 when our daughter will be 3.5 years old.

My first question is whether or not we are crazy to contemplate flying all the way from New Zealand with her... (we're talking 12 hours from NZ to LA and then on to Orlando from there) Right now that amount of flying time with her would be my worst nightmare because she can't sit still. I'm assuming by 3.5 she will be able to be distracted by in-flight entertainment and will actually sleep if we do an overnight flight.

My thoughts are:

3 days Disneyland to break up the journey a little bit
5 days Disneyworld (including the Christmas party I hope)
3 or 4 night cruise

We usually stay at values because we normally stay 2-3 weeks when it was just me and my husband since it was just a place to sleep. With a 3.5 year old would we be far better off getting a moderate or even deluxe do you think?

Those who have been to Legoland, would it be worth adding a day there either in Florida or in San Diego? Or at 3.5 will she be not quite old enough yet?

Any advice is most welcome!
While I am not a parent yet I was a kid not too long ago.

My parents took me to Disney for the first time when I was 8 months old. Our flight is only about 3 hours so not as long as yours will be but I think you will be fine.

I have never been to legoland but everything I have heard is its aimed at the younger ages like 12 and under. I think she will be fine there too.
 
I have taken a kid that age. Last trip (she was almost 4), we stayed a night at the Pop (crash place as we did the Halloween party that night) and then did Coronado for the bulk of the trip. Did not enjoy the Pop. People seemed to be much less about the rules (people smoking right outside their doors, etc.). I would go for at least a moderate as we felt that was MUCH better. We prefer deluxes when we can swing it just for the ease of getting back to the hotel from at least one park, but the moderates are great as well.

As for the flight, how does your kid do in car rides? Mine was very good at car rides, but not big on just sitting there for hours when not buckled in. They make a harness that goes into a plane seat that makes the seat buckle a kid in like a car seat. It was great for our kid at keeping her calm and in her seat. She sat and watched a movie on the Ipad the whole trip (obviously much less of a trip than you will be on).
 


I have convinced my husband that we should take a holiday before the 2020 one we've been idly (or not so idly in my case) planning. We've settled on early November 2018 when our daughter will be 3.5 years old.

My first question is whether or not we are crazy to contemplate flying all the way from New Zealand with her... (we're talking 12 hours from NZ to LA and then on to Orlando from there) Right now that amount of flying time with her would be my worst nightmare because she can't sit still. I'm assuming by 3.5 she will be able to be distracted by in-flight entertainment and will actually sleep if we do an overnight flight.

My thoughts are:

3 days Disneyland to break up the journey a little bit
5 days Disneyworld (including the Christmas party I hope)
3 or 4 night cruise

We usually stay at values because we normally stay 2-3 weeks when it was just me and my husband since it was just a place to sleep. With a 3.5 year old would we be far better off getting a moderate or even deluxe do you think?

Those who have been to Legoland, would it be worth adding a day there either in Florida or in San Diego? Or at 3.5 will she be not quite old enough yet?

Any advice is most welcome!


we're doing our 'big family trip' next summer (2017)...
this will be DH and me, DD and her husband, DS, his wife and the 2 kidlets who will be 3.5 and 22 months at the time..

we fly from israel - so that's 13 hours non-stop to new york; 4 hour layover in jfk, 2.5 hour flight from jfk to MCO.
the return flight is even worse, as we have a very very long layover in JFK before the long transatlantic flight

how do we make up for the neverending trip there and back (and yes, it will be the flights from hell - i remember well flying the same route when our now married kids were toddlers themselves)..

anyway....since it takes so long and cost so very very very very very much money to fly to the states, we stay as long as possible at WDW...

which this trip means 3 weeks onsite...
that way we can take it easy and just have lots of slow and easy family time...
 
We took both our kids for the first time when they were 3 - 3.5. Great age to go. Lots of magic for them at that age. Fantasyland will be awesome for her. Make sure to plan in lots of breaks or plan to leave for the day by mid afternoon to avoid meltdowns!!! We had a much shorter flight, but if you are prepared, it should be doable. A tip: play "airport security" a lot before you go. That way she will be prepared for putting things in the bin, walking through the metal detectors, etc.. I remember being terrified with my difficult at the time 3 year old that he would give the security people a hard time and be throwing himself on the floor when asked to put a beloved stuffy in the bin! So we practiced, and my kids were like old pros going through security!
 
I think a lot also depends on the temperament of the child. Only you know how your child will be. DS took DGD last year when she was 2 1/2 and then again this year at 3 1/2. The flight was only 2 hrs so hard to compare there. They have an Ipad so she spent time watching her shows on that. She is also the type that will just fall asleep when she is tired with no problem. Spent time sleeping in her stroller, again depends on the child (mine never would do that). The first year they stayed value this year they stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and liked it much better. They spent time at the pool and went over to Port Orleans French Quarter as they have a splash pad geared to the younger set. I don't know if I would spend the extra money to stay on site at Disneyland. We went in May and stayed at Park Vue Inn which is across the street and closer than the on site hotels. There are many hotels closer than on site at Disneyland. Lots of information about Disneyland on the Disneyland board. Staying at a monorail resort would be great if you want to put out the extra dollars. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and are so lucky to be able to take that much time to see everything.:flower1:
 
We took both our kids for the first time when they were 3 - 3.5. Great age to go. Lots of magic for them at that age. Fantasyland will be awesome for her. Make sure to plan in lots of breaks or plan to leave for the day by mid afternoon to avoid meltdowns!!! We had a much shorter flight, but if you are prepared, it should be doable. A tip: play "airport security" a lot before you go. That way she will be prepared for putting things in the bin, walking through the metal detectors, etc.. I remember being terrified with my difficult at the time 3 year old that he would give the security people a hard time and be throwing himself on the floor when asked to put a beloved stuffy in the bin! So we practiced, and my kids were like old pros going through security!
I forgot about the first flight with a kid. I remember taking mine to the airport - not a hard trip for us - and watching the planes take off from the food court and watching security for a while. It's been years, but I think we might have also talked to a TSA agent and they explained what would happen. Pretty much anything to make the experience non-intimidating (I'm a lot older; I still find it intimidating!).
 
We've driven most everywhere with our daughter and flew from the Midwest to DC when she was 3 1/2. She was surprisingly good on the flight, but we had an early one. She has also been very good in the car ever since she was little. Worst was trying to get her to sleep when she was 18 mos. once we got to our destination.

So I guess it depends on how well your kiddo travels in general whether it would be a good travel experience? I would cringe at a 12 flight myself, but the excitement of being on a plane for the first time could go either way - better behaved or more restless than usual (but on the way home exhaustion might set in?).

I think you've already hit on the most important thing - in flight entertainment. Either the electronic kind, or coloring, or whatever. And of course a favorite smaller stuffed animal or something for comfort.

Just the two cents of someone with a now older kid. :)

In the last few weeks she's become terrible in the car because she just wants to be moving, but I'm hoping as she gets a bit older and develops some language she will get better at travelling. Up until she turned 18 months old she was fantastic in the car!

I definitely cringe at a 12 hour flight! In the past I've found it hard enough doing the long flight myself without adding a toddler into the mix. The things I do for a Disney trip. :D


While I am not a parent yet I was a kid not too long ago.

My parents took me to Disney for the first time when I was 8 months old. Our flight is only about 3 hours so not as long as yours will be but I think you will be fine.

I have never been to legoland but everything I have heard is its aimed at the younger ages like 12 and under. I think she will be fine there too.

Awesome, thanks. :)


I have taken a kid that age. Last trip (she was almost 4), we stayed a night at the Pop (crash place as we did the Halloween party that night) and then did Coronado for the bulk of the trip. Did not enjoy the Pop. People seemed to be much less about the rules (people smoking right outside their doors, etc.). I would go for at least a moderate as we felt that was MUCH better. We prefer deluxes when we can swing it just for the ease of getting back to the hotel from at least one park, but the moderates are great as well.

As for the flight, how does your kid do in car rides? Mine was very good at car rides, but not big on just sitting there for hours when not buckled in. They make a harness that goes into a plane seat that makes the seat buckle a kid in like a car seat. It was great for our kid at keeping her calm and in her seat. She sat and watched a movie on the Ipad the whole trip (obviously much less of a trip than you will be on).

Hmm I didn't think about that, but you are right that often at the values people are less about the rules. I've come across people smoking right outside their doors often now that you mention it.


we're doing our 'big family trip' next summer (2017)...
this will be DH and me, DD and her husband, DS, his wife and the 2 kidlets who will be 3.5 and 22 months at the time..

we fly from israel - so that's 13 hours non-stop to new york; 4 hour layover in jfk, 2.5 hour flight from jfk to MCO.
the return flight is even worse, as we have a very very long layover in JFK before the long transatlantic flight

how do we make up for the neverending trip there and back (and yes, it will be the flights from hell - i remember well flying the same route when our now married kids were toddlers themselves)..

anyway....since it takes so long and cost so very very very very very much money to fly to the states, we stay as long as possible at WDW...

which this trip means 3 weeks onsite...
that way we can take it easy and just have lots of slow and easy family time...


Have fun with the trip, it sounds like it is going to be wonderful! I've done 3 weeks onsite before (without children though) and it was amazing. What could be better than getting up each morning with nothing more to decide than which park you want to go to that day? :D


We took both our kids for the first time when they were 3 - 3.5. Great age to go. Lots of magic for them at that age. Fantasyland will be awesome for her. Make sure to plan in lots of breaks or plan to leave for the day by mid afternoon to avoid meltdowns!!! We had a much shorter flight, but if you are prepared, it should be doable. A tip: play "airport security" a lot before you go. That way she will be prepared for putting things in the bin, walking through the metal detectors, etc.. I remember being terrified with my difficult at the time 3 year old that he would give the security people a hard time and be throwing himself on the floor when asked to put a beloved stuffy in the bin! So we practiced, and my kids were like old pros going through security!

Fantastic idea! I will definitely do that!


I think a lot also depends on the temperament of the child. Only you know how your child will be. DS took DGD last year when she was 2 1/2 and then again this year at 3 1/2. The flight was only 2 hrs so hard to compare there. They have an Ipad so she spent time watching her shows on that. She is also the type that will just fall asleep when she is tired with no problem. Spent time sleeping in her stroller, again depends on the child (mine never would do that). The first year they stayed value this year they stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and liked it much better. They spent time at the pool and went over to Port Orleans French Quarter as they have a splash pad geared to the younger set. I don't know if I would spend the extra money to stay on site at Disneyland. We went in May and stayed at Park Vue Inn which is across the street and closer than the on site hotels. There are many hotels closer than on site at Disneyland. Lots of information about Disneyland on the Disneyland board. Staying at a monorail resort would be great if you want to put out the extra dollars. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and are so lucky to be able to take that much time to see everything.:flower1:

Yeah we are very lucky to even be able to contemplate the trip and I'm so excited to start planning. My daughter is a terrible sleeper which is one of the things that worries me about the flight, but I'm hoping by the time we go on the trip she will be better!!

I forgot about the first flight with a kid. I remember taking mine to the airport - not a hard trip for us - and watching the planes take off from the food court and watching security for a while. It's been years, but I think we might have also talked to a TSA agent and they explained what would happen. Pretty much anything to make the experience non-intimidating (I'm a lot older; I still find it intimidating!).

Good idea, I hadn't even thought about security but I'm sure it'd help to do some preparation for that. She loves planes so watching them take off for a while might help her get excited about actually being on one.
 

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