Traveling with a toddler and older kids. Advise with schedule

[mrsnj91]

OK we are scheduled for August 26th for our 1st trip to Disney. Having never been there before I don't know what attractions to look for or if we should bother with the parades but we def. are interested in the shows, so I have those times marked. BUT the problem is that I am traveling with a 2 year old and two older children (ages 9 and 14) and a DH that are park nuts! They like to go early and attack till they drop at closing. That just might not happen with a two year old in tow! LOL! So here is our "schedule" (note: I put down the parades just so I knew when they were but I think if we did one then the kids would be happy We probably won't push for them all And we would love to see most of the shows at Animal Kingdom and MGM- those times are not noted in the schedule). What would you fill in or take out? Should we even bother with Epoct?? What is a must see at each park? And any advise on how to work this trip without having a frustrated meltdown with the 2 year old?

Day 1- Arrival late around 7:30/8pm. Dinner at hotel

Day 2- Magic Kingdom :tink:
Days Schedule/Events:
*9:15 am Breakfast at Crystal Palace

3pm Dreams Parade

*6:20pm Tony’s Town Tavern for dinner

9pm Spectro Parade

10pm Wishes Spectacular

Day 3- Animal King. :simba:
Days Schedule/Events:
Brunch- Resturantosaurus

4pm Jammin Parade

Head back and stop at Pizza Planet @ MGM for dinner

Day 4 MGM :cool2: (park closes at 6pm this day)
Days Schedule/Events:
*9:20am Hollywood and Vine Playhouse Disney Breakfast

3pm Stars & Motor Cars Parade

*4:20pm 50’s Primetime


Day 5-Magic Kingdom :tink:
Days Schedule/Events:

Brunch- Cosmic Rays Starlight Café

3pm Dreams Parade

*8:15pm Dinner at the Liberty Tree

9pm Spectro Parade

10pm Wishes Fireworks

Day 6- Downtown/ Open day :beach:
Days Schedule/Events:

Brunch- Earl of Sandwich

Delaney~nap!!

*8:30pm Dinner at Whispering Canyon

Day 7- Animal King. :simba:
Days Schedule/Events:
Brunch-Tusker House or Mara

4pm Jammin Parade

Dinner-Rainforest Caf

Day 8- Epcot :artist:
Days Schedule/Events:

Brunch (early)- Riverside Mill or Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory @ FQ

*7:15pm Hoop Dee Doo Review

Day 9- Leave early

[Hannathy]

Two words.... Split Up !! I don't know how much older but with a large age spread I would plan on at times during the day either letting the older 2 go off on their own to ride rides or one parent and the older ones going. Like in AK one parent take the toddler to the boneyard to play while the older ones go to Dinosaur, PW and EE. If you don't split up a bit I think everyone will be frustrated by the end of the week.

[mrsnj91]

OH I didn't think to add the older childrens ages...just did it.;)

[Colinsmom]

Four park days in a row may be way too much for a 2yo to handle. Our limit is 3 days in a row, and that third day is usually pushing it. Can one adult take the 2yo back to the hotel to nap during the day? You've got some pretty late nights planned - can your 2yo handle that, or could one adult take the 2yo back to the hotel to sleep so that the others can enjoy the show?

I'd definitely do at least one day at Epcot, but perhaps cut Animal Kingdom down to only one day (maybe that's where you can get another free day).

We like the parades fine, but also like using that time to go on rides that are otherwise busy!!

[james'mommy]

I don't know if your little one is a sleep anywhere kind of kid or not. My DS4 has always been able to sleep anywhere. So at Disney (now and in years past) we just let him pass out in the stroller and while he's sleeping we take turns doing things or use that time shop. My son has been know to sleep through meals, parades, fireworks, everything.

[mrsnj91]

Well Delaney normally rises at 7:30am at the latest and goes to bed at 9:30pm. And has been known to stay up without complaint till 10:30-11pm here and there. We eat dinner anywhere between 5:30pm and 8:30pm depending on the evenings events. With two older children, we are always on the go. BUT that is with an afternoon nap. She always takes a mid day nap for a good two hours. Will she sleep in the stroller? Maybe :confused3 She will pass out here and there for cat naps in the stroller at a store. That is a cat nap....NOT a two hour nap. And not at a park like that. Or at least we haven't tried it! LOL!

What are some attractions we should look into??? Must sees! This way we know to hit those and if one of us has to go back to the hotel we have seen or done the best. (make sure you list the park cause, as a newbie, I wouldn't have a clue where they were)

[powellrj]

my kids are pretty much the same age difference as yours are except that my kids are 24, 16 and 11.

What we found worked the best was to split up.

We would eat breakfast in the room and then hit the parks when the open. We would split up with DH always taking the younger ones and I would always take the older ones.

We would met at lunch time - many times we would use the last breakfast time because it was cheaper and call it brunch. We would then do things together until the parade and then we would head back to the hotel for a swim or nap. We would get ready and head back for dinner and then do things together in the evening.

I don't have any suggestions about attractions because I am not sure what your family likes and doesn't like. I know my big kids have always liked thrill rides so those are always our first pick.

[mrsnj91]

The kids will pretty much like anything. They love the spinny rides. Megan will think twice about a make-you-pee-your-pants loopty loop rollercoaster :scared: but a straight forward rollercoaster will get a thumbs up. :thumbsup2 Ryan will go on anything! Delaney is my problem child. When we went to Hershey last year she was able to go on certain adult rides like those that mainly spun. The child screamed the whole time! I think they switched my child in the hosptial!:lmao: She certainly must not be related to us! LOL! That is why I am going to hit as many shows as time will allow....for her.

We will probably do the spliting up. Since we are doing the parks pretty much twice that week maybe Todd can take them the 1st day and I will hang with Delaney and then switch the 2nd day. :yay: Todd won't be happy. He is a ride nut but Momma wants some fun too!:woohoo:

I guess I will have to click on every dang link for rides on here to see what they have! LOL! I was hoping to save time by having people say what normally end up with lines. I notice on some posts that people run to get FP's at the opening of the park. I just am not sure for what.

[powellrj]

We have been going since my oldest was 4, so we have been going a long time! Because of that I really don't have any good ride strategies. I know people swear by Tour Guide Mike that he is able to save them lots of time, but we have never used him before.

I don't know if you have any guide books, but the unofficial guide has touring plans. We have used those over the years and they work well.

The book The Passporter has Allie reviews which are reviews from their DD.

My oldest loved the Carousel of Progress and my other kids thought it was really a waste of time. We HATE stitch, except my middle DS who thinks its great! A great nap/cool off place is the Hall of Presidents. We can't even agree as a family!

[Hannathy]

If she is too short don't forget to use baby swap. That way both adults get to ride and the big kids get to go on twice relatively quickly. -my DD hated it when her brother grew tall enough! It can be boring for the youngest to keep doing baby swap but for a few of the headliners it works well.
The day you go to MK first thing one group should go to fantasy land for Dumbo,- easily one of the longest lines in the parks! and the other group to Tomorrow land for SM or to the other mountains Splash and BTMR. In MGM the lines are for RNC,TOT, Epcot Soarin, TT, Crush, at AK- EE,Safari, KR. sometimes PW gets long. Get one of the guides they spell it out very well.

[Colinsmom]

I guess I will have to click on every dang link for rides on here to see what they have! LOL! I was hoping to save time by having people say what normally end up with lines. I notice on some posts that people run to get FP's at the opening of the park. I just am not sure for what.

Yes, you need to get and read (or have your older kids read and summarize for you, lol - good summer book report project!) the Unofficial Guide so that you understand fast passes and such. It's hard to list what not to miss since 80-90% of each park falls in that category! And with two days at each park, you're sure to see most of it at least once.