In case we were to ever go back to Disney, which I hope not ;), I wanted to make sure I remembered what to do/bring and what not to do/bring. So for anyone else wanting tips, here are a few:
-BRING YOUR STROLLER! We brought our double BOB stroller and it literally was the best thing ever. Even with Beau being almost 6, he still got tired and needed breaks so Beau would sit on the front pouch, while Baine and Piper rode in their seats. It was perfect!
-BRING A COOLER! We brought a cooler everyday and packed it with drinks, snacks and sandwiches we had made for lunch. We saved a ton of money doing this! However, if you do need water, every food vendor at the parks will give you a cup of free ice water if you go up and ask for it :) The cooler fit perfectly on the back of the stroller and it wasn't a hassle at all...except for loading it on the bus and back to the resort because you have to fold up your stroller. That was a pain.
-BRING A PONCHO/UMBRELLAS! It rains almost every day in Orlando and while we were lucky for a few days, we ended up needing our umbrellas and ponchos on the last day for sure. Buy that at Dollar Tree or Wal Mart...they are $20 at Disney!
-BUG SPRAY! This was a must, especially at Animal Kingdom.
-EXTRA CLOTHES FOR KIDS! You get wet on some of the rides, or just getting wet from being rained on. And when kids are wet, they get cold, which then leads into cranky kids. Ain't nobody got time for that! :)
-FAST PASS! This was a game changer for us. Joe signed us up for rides with our 3-daily Fast Passes you are allowed. We really only did the rides for a fast pass, otherwise lines were over an hour long. NO THANKS!
-Rider Switch! This works out great for families with little kids or just someone who doesn't want to ride a roller coaster. Since Beau was big enough to ride all the roller coasters, Joe and Beau would ride first, and then I would wait at the entrance. When they got off, they would give me a Rider Switch ticket that then allowed Beau and I to ride it again and go straight to the front of the line and then Joe would wait behind with Piper and Baine. GENIUS!
-SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS LOW! I mean this for everything, but more so for kids behavior. Yes, you pay all that money to go and make the effort to do it all, but keep in mind, they are just kids and kids throw tantrums and get tired easily. This is where Joe and I struggled the most. We wanted this perfect, flawless vacation. And that just isn't realistic when you have 3 kids 5 and under.
-STAY AT THE DISNEY RESORTS! They are amazing! Honestly worth every penny.
-Go to the parks early or late. This is when they are less crowded. And if you stay at the resorts, you get in earlier and get to stay later than other guests!
-SKIP THE FANCY DINNERS! While we truly enjoy eating out and trying new food, skip that experience if you are going with little kids. Instead do the character dinners or even just at your resort. Disney Springs is also a great place to go eat! So many restaurants and free live entertainment.
**If I think of more I'll add to this list. But overall, it was a great trip! Piper Collins, you are a rockstar!!!! Thank you for being the best baby ever. She was seriously easier to take care of and keep happy than Joe, Beau or Baine ;)
