WDW with a Toddler, or A Tour of WDW Play Areas - May 2012 - *FIN 5/30*

[MHTeacher]

Luckily we get to sleep in the morning after our Magic Kingdom day. Unluckily we have to go home. Boo.

That going home part is always the saddest Disney moment!

 

[tofubeast]

Love your list. I would suggest though maybe having a little bit of a more concrete plan in the morning when it comes to touring Fantasyland. I would either hit Dumbo or Peter Pan first, and then do the other, and get a FP here and there.

 

[Elleshoodat]

That going home part is always the saddest Disney moment!

I knowwwww.

Love your list. I would suggest though maybe having a little bit of a more concrete plan in the morning when it comes to touring Fantasyland. I would either hit Dumbo or Peter Pan first, and then do the other, and get a FP here and there.

Good idea. I'm actually creating a custom Touring Plans plan. I just keep going back and changing it!

 

[Elleshoodat]

Since December I’ve made and cancelled several ADRs for various reasons. We aren’t foodies and for the most part are fine with counter-service meals … but sometimes you just want someone to serve you, y’know? As long as you’re not paying out the wazoo, which is another problem with dining at Disney (the first being the need to decide where you want to eat long beore your trip).

Also, we might eat out once or twice on the weekends, but for the most part we eat at home, which obviously makes for shorter meals. I didn’t want to make a bunch of reservations and have Andrew have to sit through two or three table-service meals a day. So here are the ADRs we ended up with:

Via Napoli – May 3 at 11:30 a.m. (I have heard and read SO many good things about this one, and since DH is Italian I thought it was a clear winner.)
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The Plaza – May 4 at noon (We ate here when at the Magic Kingdom a couple of years ago. Even though it's simple, it's really yummy! Plus, I don't like to eat a big, heavy meal in the middle of the day.)
​

I made both for lunch thinking we can have a nice sit-down meal after a full morning of park touring before returning to the resort for a rest. I'm not sure when we will be returning to the parks in the evenings, so I was hesitant to make dinner ADRs ... but I'm happy where we landed.

 

[tofubeast]

Sounds like you made some good choices there. I haven't eaten at NV as it wasn't open the last time I was at EPCOT (or rather, even built!). That should be a nice choice. I can't believe your trip is coming up so soon!!

 

[MHTeacher]

Probably a good decision to limit your table service meals. Sometimes getting a little one to sit through those meals can be tiring on the parents!

 

[Rienchen]

Is your via Napoli reservation for the Fantasmic package?

We'll be on free QSDP dining and I'm considering booking a Fantasmic dining package just to get reserved seats.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Sounds like you made some good choices there. I haven't eaten at NV as it wasn't open the last time I was at EPCOT (or rather, even built!). That should be a nice choice. I can't believe your trip is coming up so soon!!

Yeah, I am really excited about that one. I'd love to try one of the more adventurous pizzas, but DH is pickier than me so we'll probably end up with something like a four-cheese pie.

Probably a good decision to limit your table service meals. Sometimes getting a little one to sit through those meals can be tiring on the parents!

Boy, are you right!

Is your via Napoli reservation for the Fantasmic package?

We'll be on free QSDP dining and I'm considering booking a Fantasmic dining package just to get reserved seats.

Via Napoli is at Epcot, and I'm pretty sure the Fantasmic packages are only available at Hollywood Studios restaurants, so no. We aren't planning to visit DHS at all this trip, and I don't know whether we'll get to see ANY fireworks shows what with DS being so young.

 

[Imagineer5]

Via Napoli is fantastic! We ate there after a trip to Italy and we still loved their pizza haha. I do hope you get to see some fireworks though - we got earmuffs for Aria and plan to try them out during the 4th of july festivities. I know the time is late for little ones but khertz definitely managed to do it! Helped that her little one would sleep in the stroller.

 

[Rienchen]

Via Napoli is at Epcot, and I'm pretty sure the Fantasmic packages are only available at Hollywood Studios restaurants, so no. We aren't planning to visit DHS at all this trip, and I don't know whether we'll get to see ANY fireworks shows what with DS being so young.

Oh I feel silly now, I meant Mamma Melrose of course

 

[Elleshoodat]

Via Napoli is fantastic! We ate there after a trip to Italy and we still loved their pizza haha. I do hope you get to see some fireworks though - we got earmuffs for Aria and plan to try them out during the 4th of july festivities. I know the time is late for little ones but khertz definitely managed to do it! Helped that her little one would sleep in the stroller.

Yay! That is so great to hear. I really, really hope to see some fireworks, too. I'm a huge Wishes fan, but I'll settle for IllumiNations, LOL. DS is super easygoing so I think it will just depend on how well he's sleeping and napping, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.

Oh I feel silly now, I meant Mamma Melrose of course

Oh yeah, I forgot DHS has an Italian restaurant, too. I've never eaten there, but I've seen some positive reviews on the Restaurants board. And some negative ones, too -- I think most restaurants get mixed reviews since even Disney can't please everyone.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this. For the past few months, I've been buying things I think it will be nice to have on our trip. Sure, I tell DH that we will be able to use them often (and we will) ... but really I'm thinking about how handy they will come in while we're at Disney World.

The first thing I bought (and our biggest purchase by far) was the Britax B-Agile. I had been on the lookout for a travel stroller for a while, and this one won out over the City Mini. We've used it a few times, and while it has its faults (I'll include a full review in my trip report), we are all really happy with it.

I then bought a Vera Bradley hipster in Island Blooms. When it was just DH and I on trips, I primarily used a Coach swingpack for our room keys, tickets, phones, etc., but the one I have is a bit old and I wanted something new.

Nothing at the Coach outlet has been impressing me lately (nothing! Not just the swingpacks), so a friend turned me on to Vera Bradley. I'd kind of turned my nose up at them in the past thinking they were for "old ladies," but I fell in love with the Island Blooms pattern. I also love how roomy it is. It will be perfect to wear across my body and take the essentials onto rides, into restaurants, etc. when we have to leave the stroller.

I haven't bought the next few items yet, but it's only a matter of time. I'm trying to spread out my purchases a bit.

Backpack with cooler compartment - I've done a lot of research on these, and I think this is the one we will go with. It will serve as our diaper bag and our cooler, as DH and I drink a LOT of water.

Stroller fan - The reviews on these are a bit mixed, so it may be more for my own peace of mind than DS' comfort, but I figure it couldn't hurt to try one.

I've also ordered a shirt off Etsy for DS (we went with Option 2) and will post pictures of it when it arrives in a couple of weeks.

So what do you think of our purchases, and what have YOU purchased (or will you purchase) with your trip in mind?

 

[MHTeacher]

Cute VB hipster! I have quite a collection at my house, so I don't think they're just for old ladies......

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this. For the past few months, I've been buying things I think it will be nice to have on our trip. Sure, I tell DH that we will be able to use them often (and we will) ... but really I'm thinking about how handy they will come in while we're at Disney World.

The first thing I bought (and our biggest purchase by far) was the Britax B-Agile. I had been on the lookout for a travel stroller for a while, and this one won out over the City Mini. We've used it a few times, and while it has its faults (I'll include a full review in my trip report), we are all really happy with it.

I then bought a Vera Bradley hipster in Island Blooms. When it was just DH and I on trips, I primarily used a Coach swingpack for our room keys, tickets, phones, etc., but the one I have is a bit old and I wanted something new.

Nothing at the Coach outlet has been impressing me lately (nothing! Not just the swingpacks), so a friend turned me on to Vera Bradley. I'd kind of turned my nose up at them in the past thinking they were for "old ladies," but I fell in love with the Island Blooms pattern. I also love how roomy it is. It will be perfect to wear across my body and take the essentials onto rides, into restaurants, etc. when we have to leave the stroller.

I haven't bought the next few items yet, but it's only a matter of time. I'm trying to spread out my purchases a bit.

Backpack with cooler compartment - I've done a lot of research on these, and I think this is the one we will go with. It will serve as our diaper bag and our cooler, as DH and I drink a LOT of water.

Stroller fan - The reviews on these are a bit mixed, so it may be more for my own peace of mind than DS' comfort, but I figure it couldn't hurt to try one.

I've also ordered a shirt off Etsy for DS (we went with Option 2) and will post pictures of it when it arrives in a couple of weeks.

So what do you think of our purchases, and what have YOU purchased (or will you purchase) with your trip in mind?

Joining in. I have a bad habit of buying stuff for vacation, in fact, I won't buy something unless I can use it at WDW.

Love the Vera Bradley bag. I've been looking into getting one of the mini hipsters for our upcoming trip.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Cute VB hipster! I have quite a collection at my house, so I don't think they're just for old ladies......

Haha, I didn't mean anything by that! Now that I have one, I can see why people like them so much. Not only are they super cute, but the quality is amazing!

Joining in. I have a bad habit of buying stuff for vacation, in fact, I won't buy something unless I can use it at WDW.

Love the Vera Bradley bag. I've been looking into getting one of the mini hipsters for our upcoming trip.

Whew! I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one who buys things specifically for Disney trips.

 

[cinderella crazy]

Joining in! Buying stuff for the trip is one of the best parts of the trip! I bought a VB bag for our last Disney trip and it was one of the best things I've bought. I'm sure your little one will appreciate the fan. I wish we had thought of that when our children were in strollers.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Joining in! Buying stuff for the trip is one of the best parts of the trip! I bought a VB bag for our last Disney trip and it was one of the best things I've bought. I'm sure your little one will appreciate the fan. I wish we had thought of that when our children were in strollers.

Thanks for joining in! There are all sorts of things stores convince you that you "need" for babies and little kids, but I really think the fan will come in handy. If nothing else, it should hold his attention for a while.

Oh, and I'm just starting in on your PTR, but I wanted to say my husband went to UT and is a huge Vols fan. We have quite the SEC rivalry in our house, LOL.

 

[Elleshoodat]

As of today, our countdown is at 40 days. WOOHOO!!!

That's the length of Lent, so I know I can do it ... but come onnnn, May 2.

Happy Friday, everyone!

 

[amazingact21]

Hi! Came over from my PTR where you came over from the May FB page (I'm making that sound way more confusing that it has to be!).

Love that you're taking your son for the first time. I'm such a sucker for baby's first trips! I'm curious to see what you guys think of CSR compared to POR and POFQ.


I like your choice of ADRs, and I think the food at each will be a perfect midday meal. Nothing super heavy right in the middle of the (most likely, hot) day, but enough to refuel you and give each of you a chance to escape the heat and crowds for a bit.

 

[Rienchen]

As of today, our countdown is at 40 days. WOOHOO!!!

That's the length of Lent, so I know I can do it ... but come onnnn, May 2.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Yay, 40 days for us as well, we can do that

I am so excited, it's going to be here before we know it!