kristainohio
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2009
Still there!
We just returned from a stay at WL September 16-22. We took our daughters (4 and 20 months) for the first time. DH and I have been 5 times in our 11 year marriage, but this was the first ever traveling with kids. It was a vastly different approach to WDW for us!
First the good things:
I have to say that having kids with you makes the magic much more real! DH and I LOVE disney but the girls got so much attention and having them experience the parks made our whole family much more immersed in the magic!
Free Dining was fantastic! I know that many think that the food has gone downhill and the restaurants were crowded, but for us free dining was wonderful! DH has trouble with being a miser about money
so not having to worry about food $$ was wonderful! We all got to enjoy treats that we would have NEVER spent the $ on. Our favorite breakfast was 1900 Park Fare. It was excellent! We also ate at WCC and CR and had very enjoyable meals despite some poor reviews. I'm glad we tried them! The antics at WCC were still good and going strong (our room was right above the restaurant!)
*CM's were very kind and personable. We only met one or two that weren't. If we engaged any in conversation they were very pleasant and intent on spreading the magic. I can't tell you the multitudes of stickers that we got, but the girls were thrilled!
We got to do Enchanted Tales with Belle! On Saturday (9/22) we were sitting at the side of Pinocchio's in the shade and watching the Tremaines when they opened up the construction door. DH went over and asked if we could come in with the group they brought over from Philharmagic and we were allowed inside! The experience is SO SO cool! Especially the magic mirror. Everyone who was in our party LOVED it! My girls got to be Chip (DD4) and Mrs. Potts (DD who is 20 months) I think the CM might have miscast the Mrs. Potts role since DD could barely lift the Teapot character but it was so cute!
All the children who played a character got their picture taken with Belle and there was a Photopass Photographer on hand who captured the whole thing! It was seriously magical. I can't even imagine the line when the attraction opens. They really put a lot of work into the attraction!
Do the Campfire with Chip and Dale at Ft Wilderness! We went over there on our arrival day (9/16) and it was SO fun! They had a game of Bingo before with Chip and Dale and DD won! Another little girl also had Bingo at the same time and DD gave her the prize. The CM was really surprised and then made us family of the night since DD was so selfless. It was a proud mommy moment. We got to escort Chip and Dale in and had a magical moment certificate given to us. It was totally unexpected and so meaningful. The magic was only a tiny bit ruined by DD20months screaming in fear of chip and dale
A few Cons:
It was HOT! DH and I were down in September 2009 and 2010 and this felt much hotter. Pushing a double stroller probably didn't help though!
It was much more crowded than I anticipated. Each day was supposed to be a 1 or 2 and it was pretty crowded (at least it felt like it). Did anyone else think it was pretty full?
One last thought:
Our friends came down the same week--they have NEVER been to Disney and this was their once-in-a-lifetime trip. We helped them plan it and met up with them each day. They LOVED it! They're already planning their next trip for next September! We weren't offered a bounceback (I even asked at the front desk and was told they weren't offering one right now) so I'm crossing fingers for free dining for next year! DH and I are returning in December (just us!) for an anniversary trip so I haven't quite given in to my depression yet. I don't want to have rose-colored glasses but the majority of our trip was absolutely great!
We just returned from a stay at WL September 16-22. We took our daughters (4 and 20 months) for the first time. DH and I have been 5 times in our 11 year marriage, but this was the first ever traveling with kids. It was a vastly different approach to WDW for us!
First the good things:
I have to say that having kids with you makes the magic much more real! DH and I LOVE disney but the girls got so much attention and having them experience the parks made our whole family much more immersed in the magic!
Free Dining was fantastic! I know that many think that the food has gone downhill and the restaurants were crowded, but for us free dining was wonderful! DH has trouble with being a miser about money
so not having to worry about food $$ was wonderful! We all got to enjoy treats that we would have NEVER spent the $ on. Our favorite breakfast was 1900 Park Fare. It was excellent! We also ate at WCC and CR and had very enjoyable meals despite some poor reviews. I'm glad we tried them! The antics at WCC were still good and going strong (our room was right above the restaurant!)*CM's were very kind and personable. We only met one or two that weren't. If we engaged any in conversation they were very pleasant and intent on spreading the magic. I can't tell you the multitudes of stickers that we got, but the girls were thrilled!
We got to do Enchanted Tales with Belle! On Saturday (9/22) we were sitting at the side of Pinocchio's in the shade and watching the Tremaines when they opened up the construction door. DH went over and asked if we could come in with the group they brought over from Philharmagic and we were allowed inside! The experience is SO SO cool! Especially the magic mirror. Everyone who was in our party LOVED it! My girls got to be Chip (DD4) and Mrs. Potts (DD who is 20 months) I think the CM might have miscast the Mrs. Potts role since DD could barely lift the Teapot character but it was so cute!
All the children who played a character got their picture taken with Belle and there was a Photopass Photographer on hand who captured the whole thing! It was seriously magical. I can't even imagine the line when the attraction opens. They really put a lot of work into the attraction! Do the Campfire with Chip and Dale at Ft Wilderness! We went over there on our arrival day (9/16) and it was SO fun! They had a game of Bingo before with Chip and Dale and DD won! Another little girl also had Bingo at the same time and DD gave her the prize. The CM was really surprised and then made us family of the night since DD was so selfless. It was a proud mommy moment. We got to escort Chip and Dale in and had a magical moment certificate given to us. It was totally unexpected and so meaningful. The magic was only a tiny bit ruined by DD20months screaming in fear of chip and dale
A few Cons:
It was HOT! DH and I were down in September 2009 and 2010 and this felt much hotter. Pushing a double stroller probably didn't help though!
It was much more crowded than I anticipated. Each day was supposed to be a 1 or 2 and it was pretty crowded (at least it felt like it). Did anyone else think it was pretty full?
One last thought:
Our friends came down the same week--they have NEVER been to Disney and this was their once-in-a-lifetime trip. We helped them plan it and met up with them each day. They LOVED it! They're already planning their next trip for next September! We weren't offered a bounceback (I even asked at the front desk and was told they weren't offering one right now) so I'm crossing fingers for free dining for next year! DH and I are returning in December (just us!) for an anniversary trip so I haven't quite given in to my depression yet. I don't want to have rose-colored glasses but the majority of our trip was absolutely great!
I will still take this time of year and crowd levels over any other time of year and crowd levels, though. When your children think a 10 min. wait is long...they are spoiled at Disney. 
. While overall it was enjoyable gonna wait for some new stuff before returning.
