1st time going with 3 DD's - What am I missing?

[PrincessasMommy]

As a first time planner of a WDW trip, and after much research on the boards here, I have planned our 4 days at WDW....

LEAVING IN 18 DAYS !! YAY!!!

DH & I are travelling with our 3 daughters, ages 9, 2 and 8 months. We have allowed our 9 year old free rein over all the ride choices as we feel the babies will be happy anywhere and our 9 year old appreciates the educational aspects more than the thrill rides.

I have booked character meals 3 days figuring that we have to eat anyhow and maybe that will do instead of standing in line for autographs.

Also, I have picked the park days that do not have extra hours for resort guest and cross-referenced that with the published "crowd levels", so I am hoping that will help with the lines.

Would you all mind looking at my itinerary and tell me if this looks o.k. or if it's too much to do in one day. The only time we plan on rushing is the first 2 hours at MK on day 1 other than that we plan to just stroll but in a planned circle. Planning on hitting the "grown-up" rides after lunch which happens to be nap-time for the little ones! Also, we plan on leaving the parks around 5, unless the babies are in great spirits in which case we will work around their level of fatigue.

I am Type "A" so there HAS to be a plan! So far this is it, I'd appreciate your suggestions......


Tuesday - Magic Kingdom
AT the castle at Rope Drop………
Tomorrowland – FP Space Mountain, Indy Speedway
FantasyLand – FP Pooh
ToonTown – All
FantasyLand – Do Pooh, FP Philharmagic, Do Dumbo, Small World, Ariel & Peter Pan
11:00 AM LUNCH
Liberty Square – Haunted Mansion
Frontierland – FP Splash Mountain, Country Bear Jamboree
Adventureland – FP Jungle Cruise, POTC, Magic Carpets
3:00 PM Share a Dream Come True Parade
4:00 PM Dinner with Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger & Piglet at Crystal Palace


Wednesday - Epcot
Land Boat Ride, Soarin (is that open – was in Birnbaum’s 2005 book), Test Track, Mission Space & World Showcase
4:00 Dinner with Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty & Mulan


Thursday - Animal Kingdom
8:00 am Breakfast with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto & Goofy
See it all – except Babies & I stay in Dinoland while DH & oldest DD see Tough to be a Bug
Jammin' Jungle Parade 4:00 PM


Friday - MGM
FP Rock N Roller Coaster, See Beauty & The Beast, Playhouse, Little Mermaid, FP Millionare, Star Tours, DH & oldest DD might do Backlot tour if time allows.

 

[jenndisney]

Congrats on your first trip!

The only thing I think you need to add is a break somewhere for your little ones. And even you big kids. I see you are planning on leaving around 5 or so, but you will really want a real break in the middle of the day. I know that our first trip we were go, go, go and then we hit a wall. That was with DH, myself and our 7 year old daughter. Just make sure you realize that you need a break. Even if it is just an hour. You will be glad you did.

Other than that, you are on the right track. I am also a planner, but I am learning that sometimes you just let things happen. Make sure you do not overplan to the point that you can not enjoy YOUR vacation also. (my DH says I need to keep working on this myself)

Have a wonderful time!!!!!

 

[larklynn]

If you are not sure when you will be returning the My disney girl princess tea party is a must before your 9 year old out grows it.

 

[princess lovers mom]

are you staying on site? I would suggest going back to rooms sometime and going back for fireworks which I did not see on your list and spectromagic parade at night....some of those rides are scary or too advanced for little ones..Haunted Mainson , POC, tough to be a bug is creepy and sppoky for little ones, Mission space, test track, rockin' roller coaster to mention a few...not sure your plan if one goes with the 9yo and other stays behind with little ones?...you my find that the 2 yo wants to ride dumbo 5 times or play in the fountains by ariel...maybe you need to "split up" with the older one?

 

[KerriMc]

I'm not sure about any of the other parks, as we haven't done them with our dd's yet. This past trip, we only did WDW and even that was a last minute decision as our youngest was very ill for half of the trip, so unfortunately she didn't get to go (but she is 20 mos and didn't know what she missed, poor babe). My mom, dad and I took my dd who is 4.

I don't know what time the rope drops at MK, but if it is early I guess you'll cram all that in my 11, but with the little ones it is much harder to hustle along. Plus with FP, once you get one, don't you have to wait a certain amount of time before you are able to FP again, even if at a different ride? (not positive as my dad was the FP'r this past trip ). Plus with waits in line for rides and lineups for characters in Toon Town, your little ones will get tired really fast. One of you may have to break with them and let the other go off with your older DD.

I like to plan too, but I actually found this last trip to WDW MUCH more relaxing as we didnt' have an agenda or schedule. We just decided we'd do what we could do. We ended up arriving late, which was ok this time, and then we ended up staying for the light parade at 8pm which was just lovely. DD was very impressed! We managed to catch some of the fireworks on our way to the monorail, which was such an indication to our dd that she was a big girl to see those!!

Have a great trip ... no matter what happens ... you never know who will be sick or tired or cranky ... (our youngest DD - also an Olivia had a bad stomach bug this time and vomitted for four days, and last year when she was 8 mos old she came down with RSV) ... you just never know ... I'm crossing my fingers she will be healthy next year

Have fun
Kerri

 

[TSirgey]

When you take the break in Dinoland at AK, the boneyard is a thrill for little ones. We hung out there with our dd (then 3) and took turns riding Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl. I think she would have stayed there all day!!! I agree breaks are good!!!

Have a ball!

 

[PrincessasMommy]

Thank you so much for your replies......

I hope I can ask a couple more questions of you....


If we are staying Off-Site (will stay onsite for sure next time - didn't realize all the benefits until I came on here & of course, I had already booked and paid), we are a 10 minute drive away, and we are parked right at the front of the lot (Handicap Access), do you think that would allow time to leave, nap, relax for say 2-3 hours and return? Is it worth it?

My baby dd's nap great anywhere - the stroller is one of their favorite places as we are always out & about (we are bringing ours). Should we leave for a nap, or just to recharge? The babies go to bed every night at 7:30 pm, so in your opinion, would it be better to leave, nap, return & extend the bedtime or just stay and leave early? We are willing to sacrifice the fireworks for happy kids!

How long does it take to get from MK to the parking lot on the monorail?

Also, What is the "My disney girl princess tea party"?

Thanks!

 

[KerriMc]

Hello Louise (a fellow Canadian!)

I can't say for sure whether I'd leave for a couple of hours, as we have never done that. The first year we went (in 2004), my oldest was almost 3 and the youngest was 8 mos (another Olivia ). At that time she was good at napping in her stroller, so we decided to just go until after the parade at 3 pm. By then both of them had pretty much had enough. We didn't return for the fireworks as both had pretty regular schedules and weren't good at changing them much. Plus I had never had them at firewords and I didn't know if it would all be worth it for them. I remember my brother crying his eyes out at the fireworks at Disney the first time he saw them at 3 yrs. You could always have one parent go back later with your oldest dd so she could experience the light parade and the fireworks. Now ... my dh would never go for this ... he is a police officer and has seen and heard too many things. If we were on property, he'd probably be ok, but he wouldn't be comfortable with me travelling over to WDW on my own or vice versa with him leaving me at our resort and heading out. Maybe you'll just have to play it by ear and see how they are in the afternoon?

Oh ... I remember your post about carseats in the transportation section ... did you ever decide what you were going to do about seats for the little ones?

I wish I was going again!!

Kerri

 

[Disney Fool]

Just to add my two cents: I think you're cramming way too much in for the first day at MK. Arrive early, do what you can, maybe Fantasyland and Toontown, and part of Adventureland or Buzz Lightyear, and leave before the real heat kicks in. Take a break, go swimming, blow off some steam; come back refreshed in time for dinner, and the nighttime parade and fireworks. Whatever you missed on the first day, split it with MGM day. Dress the two year old in bathing suit on the Epcot day. that way, when the 9 year old and dad do Test Track, the two year old can play to her heart's content in the dancing water fountains. Whether you leave the park and go back to your residence, or stay in the park, please take that break, even if it's only for a shady spot to just sit and watch the crowd go by. Your little ones will thank you. If you stay for the nighttime activities, don't be in a rush to leave the park. Just stay right where you are and let the crowd leave. The stores stay open one hour afterwards, and you can walk out of the park without getting jostled.

 

[TSWJan78]

Just remember to be flexible and to go with the flow.. I will be the first to say you need to plan but if you/u keep our nose in a map you miss some of the magic Disney has to offer. If a something jumps out at you do it. Whether there are 2 or 10 of us we pick our top things and see what we find on our way to them.. We had a miserable time at AK 1 time cause we didn't just flow.... Have fun.. relax... make it memorable!!