When people say "it's not about the destination, it's about the journey," they clearly weren't traveling with a 3yr old and an infant during spring break. Last week, we decided to test the waters with our first family trip as a foursome, heading to sunny Florida for a much-needed escape. Let me take you through our adventure, starting with what I now affectionately call "The Airport Incident of 2025."
Expectation vs. Reality
Let's start with packing. When traveling with an infant, your luggage isn't just luggage anymore... it's a mobile nursery. We brought:
- The bassinet (because we know for sure she will sleep in there)
- The infant car seat (because rental car seats cost more than the rental car)
- A lightweight car seat for our toddler
- Three suitcases: one medium for both kids, and a small one each for my wife and me
In retrospect, we looked like we were relocating rather than vacationing for a few days.
The Airport Gauntlet
Our journey began with what can only be described as a comedy of errors, except we weren't laughing.
First, as we settled into the airport check-in line, our infant decided it was the perfect moment for an epic diaper blowout. Not just any blowout, the kind that requires a complete outfit change and leaves you questioning your life choices. Thank goodness for backup clothes!
Just as we finished damage control, the announcement came: our flight was delayed by three hours. Three. Hours. In an airport. With two children under four.
But wait! There's more! At security, I reached for my wallet, only to discover it wasn't there. A quick check of my Find My tracker confirmed my worst fear: my wallet was sitting comfortably at home on the kitchen counter. (I still managed to get through using my Global Entry card).
The final blow? We thought we'd salvage the situation by retreating to the airport lounge. "Sorry, we're at capacity," said the attendant with a smile that definitely didn't reach her eyes.
All this, and we hadn't even left the ground.
Lessons Learned
If there's anything this trip taught me, it's that traveling with two small children requires:
- Triple the preparation you think you need
- Half the expectations
- An endless supply of patience
- A sense of humor that borders on delusion
Despite our rocky start, we did eventually make it to Florida. Mission accomplished. Saw some family, we got to swim, and take a pseudo break. While in Florida, we made a trip to Disney. Just one park (to test the waters). And that's when our luck finally started to turn around.
Disney Magic Saves the Day
We arrived at Disney's Animation Hotel around 10 AM, planning just to drop off our stuff for later check-in so we wouldn't have to deal with it after a day at the parks. To our complete surprise, not only was early check-in available, but they had upgraded us to the Mater Suites! My son's face when he realized we'd be staying in a Cars-themed room was absolutely priceless. Suddenly, all the airport chaos felt like a distant memory.
Disney itself was magical, even in the sweltering 90-degree heat and humidity. We brought our portable bassinet to the parks so our infant could nap comfortably while we explored. Watching her sleep peacefully in the shade while my son excitedly pointed out every character he recognized from his books made all the extra luggage worth it.
Something we learned after leaving Disney and having the adrenaline settle... throughout our Disney trip, we experienced what they call "pixie dust" - those unexpected moments of magic and unspoken gratitude. Cast members noticed our infant and tired expressions, occasionally upgrading our experience without fanfare. These can be anything from a fast pass here, a better viewing spot there, and even special character interactions for my son. It's as if Disney has a sixth sense for families who've gone through travel ordeals to get there and sprinkle a little extra magic their way.
There's something special about experiencing Disney through your child's eyes that makes you forget about the sweat dripping down your back and the stroller you're pushing uphill. (Just for the record, I've been anti-Disney forever... I never saw the appeal of spending so much money on a trip and not leaving the country. It's just not our style of travel.) Let's just say, I'm open to experiencing Disney again when the kids are a bit older.
The Parent Community: Unsung Heroes of Travel
One thing that surprised me throughout our travel saga was the incredible camaraderie among fellow parents. The security checkpoint, normally a stress factory, became an unexpected place of solidarity. As I juggled a hyper toddler, schleping all the family's stuff and frantically searching for my missing wallet with the other, a dad behind us stepped up. "I've been there," he said, holding our bins while I untangled my son from his backpack mess. Another dad helped collect our scattered belongings while his kid entertained our 3yr old with funny faces. Getting all our baby gear through the scanner became a community effort, with parents passing items down the line and offering sympathetic nods. There's this unspoken understanding between parents in these moments... a mutual recognition that we're all just trying to survive the chaos. It's like being part of this secret club where everyone just gets it.
The Verdict: Worth Every Challenge
Would I do it again? Ask me after I've had a full night's sleep and the trauma has faded. But definitely yes, because watching our son's eyes light up at seeing every character he's read about in his Disney books come to life was pure magic. The way he froze in awe meeting Mickey, then ran full speed towards Sheriff and Ramone... those moments are worth every airport disaster. And our baby girl? Seeing her experience everything for the first time, the wonder of colorful parade floats, the characters in "It's a Small World" ride or even just the excitement of a new hotel room. All this made "The Airport Incident of 2025" fade into a funny memory rather than a travel trauma.
Next time, though, I'm definitely bringing an extra outfit for myself. And my wallet.
What's your worst travel experience with kids? Drop a comment —misery loves company!
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