1st trip to dl 4/26 - 5/3 any advice

[zorbasfam]

Hi,

DH, DS (3 years old), DMIL (80 yrs young) and I are taking our 1st trip to dl. We'll be staying in the DLH. Can anyone give me any advice on trip planning, weather, dining and what not to miss. As of right now we have no plans to leave the Disney area but could be swayed. I have read Hydroguys tips and loved them thanks, but any other advice with the large age difference will help. Thank you in advance

 

[joseph821]

Hi,

DH, DS (3 years old), DMIL (80 yrs young) and I are taking our 1st trip to dl. We'll be staying in the DLH. Can anyone give me any advice on trip planning, weather, dining and what not to miss. As of right now we have no plans to leave the Disney area but could be swayed. I have read Hydroguys tips and loved them thanks, but any other advice with the large age difference will help. Thank you in advance

I hope you have a great trip. You may walk to order an Electric cart or a wheelchair for the DMIL...DL and DCA trips involve a lot of walking. You should always take a break in the afternoon for a swim and a nap and rest for all. The DLH is great. Would you like to do a charcater breakfast...definitely eat at the Blue Bayou and get a waterside table....Take advantage of early entry on each day that it is offered as a DLH guest you can go on any day it is offered..(Presently, it is Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and THursday..I think in 2008...it will be offered on Sunday instead of Saturday..) The DMIL will like Fantasyland I think and the shows...I think you should get tickets for the Fantsamic show...riverside seating with dessert box...it is a nice show and the DMIL and DS will not have to stand all that time before and during the show...

 

[druidia]

Definitely do the Fantasmic show down by the water; we went last year and did the dessert party in the Gallery and it wasn't much fun.

We enjoyed Tortilla Jo's restaurant in DTD if you eat outside the park, and you can book it online. You can also book Naples restaurant, but it was awful.

http://www.patinagroup.com/tortillaJos

We enjoyed the character breakfast at Storyteller's restaurant in the GCH, the food was fantastic.

And DO NOT MISS the Aladdin show at the Hyperion Theater in DCA. It was the best stage show I've ever seen at a Disney park.

Have Fun!

 

[Hound 109]

I would have either you or DH go with DS 3 for EE. (Maybe split days). While the other two rest & meet up with you 30-45 min. later. (In the event that EVERYONE doesn't want to be AT EE ropedrop.) But do EE Fantasyland with the 3 y/o...it's a great perk for staying at the DLH.

EE will allow you to enjoy so many of the rides in FL w/o crowds & will make the rest of the day easier. If EE is 8am (for example).....you can ride PP, Dumbo, Alice, Tea Cups, the Carousel, Buzz (& if you think your 3 y/o is ready for them..... Matterhorn, Toadie & Pinocchio) the first hour (You'll get EE on multiple days so you can do some of them the second day if you don't get to them all the first day).

Then enjoy the parks at a leisurely pace. Of course you can ride the above rides again if you feel like it...but if they are jammed (which they almost always are after 10am), no problem...do other things.

A "left side" strategy we like, is Pirates & HM early (after picking up an Indy FP) then walk on Pooh (no line). Then get a treat from Pooh Corner Bakery (no crowds in the early AM, since most bakery geeks are in line at Main St. Bakery) then ride pooh again. then pick up a FP at Splash.

Do not miss with 3 y/o - Pirate's (tom sawyer's) Island. Jungle Cruise. Buzz. ToonTown. Small World. Storyland Canal Boats. (& the above FL rides.)

In DCA - Bugs life area - rides for kids, redwood trail area & Crush Turtle Talk.

Have fun at Walt's park.

 

[zorbasfam]

Thank you for the replies. they are all very helpful. Any idea about the weather at the time. Also if anyone is near the fires our thoughts and prayers are with you. Good Luck.

 

[jenksdj]

We went last year at about that time. We wore shorts/capris every day. You may need a long sleeved shirt/sweater in the mornings and evenings. Sandals for sure. We stayed at the DLH and swam in the pool every day. The Mickey shaped one is cool (temperature-wise) but there are two that are warmer hidden behind some bushes. We didn't even know they were there until the day we left! They are also shallower, so better for little ones.

One other tip - watch as many Disney movies as you can between now and then (and tell DMIL to do the same). It makes seeing the characters and riding the rides much more interesting!

Enjoy your trip!!