1st Trip with kids...need your best tips! **UPDATE, page 2**

[NotUrsula]

You can also have your purchases held for you at the park entrance instead of carrying them around; the lead time needed for that is about 2 hours. I find this works better for kids' purchases, they will get them same day, but not be worried about losing them inside the parks.

I think that you are fairly unlikely to need to consider a stroller at this age. IME, most healthy kids who are grade school-aged will not really need one.

Remember that kids tend to drink more than they eat and more than adults, so plan accordingly on the drinks budget.

 

[rwrocksme]

here is one tip I have for boys: ride buzz lightyear @ MK!!! it does not look like any fun from the outside (or, at least not for girls...) but it is a really great ride! also, there is a really cool sports store in MK. it is hidden away, but ask about it. last, have they done Virtual Magic Kingdom? look it up...they can do stuff in the parks to get virtual prizes...very fun. have a great time!

 

[DizzyKitten]

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie here too and I have to say that I love all of the helpful tips you guys have given to lakoda. I will be going for my first time(I'm 28, I know, what a shame!) on Sept 13-20. I will definitely be using most, if not all of the tips you all have shared here and I will be searching the site for more. I didn't know about the my first trip buttons, I will make sure to get those.

Thanks again.

 

[Nancyg56]

bring extra shoes for each child. We sometimes dress the kids in bathing suits under their clothes (mine are girls so they have to wear clothing over their suits) and then I bring underwear and a small towel in a ziplock bag in our backpack. This way the kids can get wet at the water stuff and be comfortable later.

This is a must. Nothing worse than soaking wet sneakers after dancing in the water.

 

[Nancyg56]

What a fun trip you are going to have! Are they too old for the barber shop? I saw boys with the mickey dust and paint in their hair. I have a grand DD so I am not sure how old boys are before they stop getting this done.

I agree witht he stroller. Even if they think they don't want it, they might appreciate it while waiting for parades, etc It also comes in hady for carting around all of the stuff you accumulate throughout the day.

My DGD wanted to spend a lot of time at the pool. We did not plan enough time the last time, so we are leaving more open time this time. There is something magical about a pool at a Disney Resort.

Have a great time!

 

[lakoda]

We are getting so EXCITED!!!

We leave next Wednesday DH and I have started packing and we are determined to pack light, since we will have all the kids' stuff too. Everything will be different for us this trip but in a good way.

There doesn't seem to be a consensus about getting a stroller, so we will see how it goes. Thanks for the tip about having purchases held at the park entrance, I had never heard of that! DH and I have ridden Buzz (we are big kids ourselves) so we will definitely take the boys on that.

I had planned on taking a pic of the boys each morning - will have to remember and not get distracted. Maybe we should plan on doing that in the room before we leave.

We finally agreed on a play for Memorial Day Monday - waterpark in a.m., then DisneyQuest, then movie. If it is too busy at waterpark or DQ, then we will try our luck at a park. We'll let the boys pick and play a little park roulette!

DizzyKitten: If you haven't already, get the Unofficial Guide - it is awesome! Have a great trip - the Dis boards will help tremendously with that!

Feeling a little nervous about the air quality (oldest nephew is asthmatic) but we are taking all his medical equipment. We are praying for rain for Florida - and for those who may lose their homes and are having to evacuate. Sending hugs their way.

 

[rwrocksme]

Feeling a little nervous about the air quality...QUOTE]

I live in the Panhandle (only a few hours from where the fire is) and we have had some horrible smoke the past few days. I have some lung problems myself and have been unable to lave my house. HOWEVER (this is the part where I reassure you ) today was MUCH better, with no smoke at all! I do not think you will have any trouble in Orlando (although taking all of his equiptment is a good idea). Have bunches of fun! Write a trip report--I want to see how it turns out.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned, I was going to post it, but forgot-make sure you go to the little hat shop on Main Street. First right and past Tony's and get their Mickey Ears!! They also did free monogramming last time.

 

[lakoda]

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone for all the helpful comments!

We had such a magical trip. The weather was beautiful, much cooler than we expected, no rain at all. Everything was awesome but here are my favorite moments:

* Darth Vader and two stormtroopers made a brief appearance at star wars gift shop. I looked up and there they were! We had been bummed that we missed Star Wars weekends which usually started the weekend we were there.

* The continued looks of amazement on my nephews' faces.

* My nephew who is terrified of heights actually rode Soarin' and loved it.

* My nephew celebrated his b-day while we were there. We got him a b-day pin, and everywhere we went CM's said "happy birthday, Nathan" and he kept asking how everyone knew his name DH told him that it was the magic of DisneyWorld He got a free cookie that day, and as we were leaving Lights Motor Action, a CM gave us all FastPasses good for any single ride of our choice!!!

* Tom Sawyer Island - loved it! The boys bought play guns which they took over and had gun fights all over the island. It was a wonderful respite for DH and I.

* Kid size fanny packs! Each boy had one, and carried their own money, snacks, and whatever else they wanted to carry that would actually fit. I also had one carry the hand sanitizer. When they got hungry, they snacked. That was probably one of the best things we planned!

* Child Swap- the youngest nephew was scared of some of the rides even though he was more than tall enough. We had no problems switching out. Some people here on the boards had mentioned that the child must not meet height requirements in order to swap but this was not our experience at all. We probably swapped at 6 or more rides that he could have ridden but didn't want to.

* Nephew and I getting "tattoed" at AK.

Lots more but these are some of my favorites. Happy to answer any questions, we were there from Fri, May 25 - Tues, May 29, then spent a couple of days at Universal.

Thanks again for all the help, you guys are the bomb!

Lisa

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Glad to hear that everyone had such a great time! Sounds like the perfect Disney trip to me!

 

[southcarolina4]

I guess it depends how old and how much your kids can do....We always take a break during the day and go back to the resort before going out in the evening...My kids are 8 and 7....we do a morning park and are back at the resort by 2-3pm...we let them rest or swim...then go to a park at night....

Sometimes we stay at the resort until after lunch then go to park for maybe 2-3 hours then ride to another park for the night...From our experiences the parks will thin after the parades....

but my suggestions are
take breaks....
include the kids on the planning of the day..
use the EMH
ride in the front of the monorail with the driver...
and if you plan to go to a park,you get there and it is just packed...LEAVE...go to another park...Dont be afraid to change your plans