I could not figure out what to title this!
I know a few people who've been reading are getting ready to go and also have little boys, so I thought I'd share quickly my tips, etc. I thought I'd share what rides they loved too, in case one of them wasn't on your list and you want to add it.
Griffin (almost 5) loved :
MK: BTMRR (rode it 5 times, including 3 times in a row!)-get a FP and Rider Swap for this (then he can do it twice)
Peter Pan's Flight-get a FP, or ride first thing in the morning (line was 30 minutes in afternoon)
Aladdin's Magic Carpets-more fun than Dumbo because camel spits water at you, never a long line, esp. in the evenings
Buzz Lightyear-fun, but nowhere near as cool as TSM, so do this first if possible
Tomorrowland Speedway-loved this! We did this first at rope drop, then went to Dumbo (had 10-12 minute wait then). Could do it twice with zero wait. Ask for a driver's license for them-they have cards to hand out-my boys loved getting them!
AK:
Flights of Wonder show-he loves birds, and the show is funny
Kali River Rapids
Walking around DinoLand, playing in Boneyard
The parade was really cool here too
Epcot:
Innoventions-loved this more than any ride! Allow several hours to really see everything. There's an exhibit where you get to perform safety tests (fun, smashing things), and another with garbage trucks. Stormstruck was really cool too.
Turtle Talk with Crush-neat, but make sure they understand that Crush might not call on them. Griffin was bummed.
Test Track-liked but didn't love
Soarin-liked but didn't love (And I was a little disappointed too, honestly)
We did a Kim Possible mission, and it was cool but not so great that it can't be missed. We had China, so maybe other countries are way cooler.
DHS: (We LOVED this park for boys!)
TSM-so awesome. Everyone loved this ride. Send one person ahead to get a FP, then all get in stand-by line. We waited less than 10 minutes. Then we did Playhouse Disney show, and went back at 10ish to get more fast passes, and use first set. Line was so short we saved FP, did stand-by again, and got new set of FP. So we'd done ride twice, and had two more sets of FP by 10:30. Awesome.
Playhouse Disney show-cute and they can move around a little, bubbles, falling leaves in show.
Lights, Motors, Action show-they loved this!
Build your own Lightsaber-best boy souvenir around. Griffin had so much fun making it, and they seem pretty solid and sturdy. $20 not a bad price!
Cooper loved (shorter list!):
MK- It's a Small World, playing in Ariel's Grotto water fountains, Speedway (he could steer), Minnie's House
Epcot-the Seas with Nemo (favorite ride of all), and the aquarium after, fountains near Test Track and on International Gateway
DHS-Playhouse Disney show, LMA show
AK-Boneyard
Other tips:
1) Get there at rope drop. Each park does something cute, but the parks were also so quiet that early. We could do a ton between 9 am-11:30 am.
2) Get the rider swap cards for anything your younger kid can't do. We got FP for BTMRR, then when we went back, showed them Cooper. They gave us the card, and after we rode once using FP, we used the Rider SWap to go again, riding twice in 15 minutes. Griffin always went twice, so he loved it. Every big ride has this.
3) Use your snack credits and CS credits. We kind of held onto them, and ended up with 3 CS credits left. So many yummy things are snacks-huge ice cream sandwiches on fresh cookies from DinoBites at AK and Main Street Bakery in MK, Dole Whips (yum!), frozen lemonade slushies. If you have extra snack credits, get prepackaged things like Pez Dispensers, marshmallow pops, etc.
4) Every restaurant gave us a drink for Cooper at no charge, even though he wasn't on
DDP. Ohana gave us a whole kid's meal for him for free at dinner.
5) If you are going to Downtown Disney, allow a few hours to walk around. There is so much for the kids to see there, and fun things at
Lego Store and Once Upon a Toy. I did the Mr. Potato Head box (stuff the box for $20), and the key is asking a nice employee to help stuff it. Mine totally didn't close, but since she had taken on the stuffing, I think she felt some ownership of the box and gave me everything I was trying to get in there anyway. Really fun, and the parts are SO cute.
6) T-Rex was fun, but really loud and chaotic. The gift shop is huge, so be prepared. The portions are big. The 6 of us split the nachos, 1/2 chicken, and lasagna, and then got the Extinction dessert, and were all stuffed.
7) Make your own treats at Goofy's!!!! So fun to choose, and yummy. I got the Oreo cookie, dipped in chocolate, topped with Reeses PB Cups, drizzled with chocolate. Yum... The marshmallows traveled best home, however.
8) We brought too many diapers by far, but barely enough clothes, and way too many snacks. You do not need many snacks.
9) Toontown opens at 9:45, even though it says 10 on map. Get there at 9:45 to hop right on Barnstormer
10) At Epcot, if you go to the character spot first, you can wait less than 10 minutes to see all 5 main characters. There is a Photopass person there, and the characters weren't as rushed as at meals.
11) At character meals, put kids on the aisle or nearest to room so characters can get to them easier. Have camera and auto. books ready, because they come and go quickly. I felt stressed a lot of the time trying to get all of that done.
Meals-
Crystal Palace dinner-good food, took a long time, characters were kind of rushed
Ohana dinner-yum! Great food, lots of activities for the kids to do, super nice waiter
Play and Dine at H&V-I was so scared to do this lunch since there were lots of bad reviews...it was our favorite meal! The food was very good, and the characters were awesome with the kids. They came around 3-4 times each, danced with the kids, sat and ate with them. Highly, highly recommend it.
Le Cellier-food was awesome, but not very kid friendly. You can get smoothie or milkshake for your drink though (even kids)
Tusker House breakfast-we had 8 am, and were done by 9 am. Very good food, and the characters were fun, and not so rushed.
Ohana breakfast-food was awesome, best eggs ever! Nice to have family style character meal, and they do a nice parade, etc.
Chef Mickey's dinner-good food, awesome desserts, characters came by slowly, more relaxed than I expected. We were done and hadn't seen Goofy, and they were really good about bringing him over.
I'm sure there is so much more, but hopefully this helps someone!
He busted his lip pretty good, and cut his gum, and chipped one of his teeth a little.
There was a lot of blood, I couldn't even tell where it was all coming from. It took like 45 minutes before he stopped crying. He seems to have recovered, but he has a huge fat lip, and he scraped up his chin and above his lip. I feel so terrible! So that sucked...
So he's going to have to just deal with the crazy. The nice thing about the Disboards is that you know there are others with the same sickness!
He will think I am really off my rocker now. Eventually I will let him in on the secret.
So I ran to Target and bought one that was under, but it was $70 I didn't want to spend. Luckily my mom had an extra one that's a more comfortable 59 1/2 inches, so I think I'm okay. Stupid airlines!
" He thinks you're a little Disney-nuts anyway, right? Might as well go out with a bang!
Looking forward to hearing about what a magical time you had
