2yrs & 4yrs old,hints and tips Please?

[snyderla]

I am so excited about taking my grandkids (& their parents) for their first trip! DH & I have been several times, but not with little kids. I am familiar with the melt downs, and we always avoid FantasyLand in the afternoon due to the screams and crying and strollers. My daughter has been there a couple of times when growing up, SIL has never been, 18y/o DS is also going, along with my parents (60's). We are staying at Pop Century, and driving down.
I am excited, DH is afraid the kids are not old enough to really enjoy it and that it will be too much for them. DH & I are going back with his parents in early Dec. (3 months later) so we just want to do all we can to help make this a great first trip for my daughter's family. What can we do to make sure things go as smoothly as possible? What are some must do's for kids this age? We don't generally do many PS meals, usually 1 per trip, but I would like to take 4yr old granddaughter to Cindy's for breakfast or dinner? (dont' know which would be best) And we usually go to Trail's End Buffet for a meal, and Crystal Palace for an early breakfast. We will be there for 5 1/2 days at least, maybe 6 or 7. The only parade i really want to make sure they see is SpectroMagic, but maybe they would like the others, too? PLEASE HELP!!! I think with a little help from all of you who have done this before this can be a really special trip. Hints and tips in any and all areas of the trip will be greatly appreciated. I'm sure there are things we wouldn't think of. Even obvious things! Thanks so much

Lori

 

[misslauri]

First, I think this is the best time to go! Especially 2, My DD's first trip was at 20 mos, and it was so wonderful! When they see a character, they have no illusions about it. That IS Mickey Mouse. Who else could it possibly be?

Second, make good use of the PS meals. For example, on the day you do MK, don't hit a day when there is an EMH, but instead try to get an early PS at Cindy's Breakfast, one that will put you in the park b4 opening. 1st, Mickey and Minnie together are often out in front of the castle for photo ops (they used to leave about 15 min b4 opening) and it puts you right near Fantasyland, which you really want to do first. Make a beeline for Dumbo, then if you want you can hit Snow White and Peter Pan. Don't worry too much about Winnie the Pooh, as it's a fast pass. But if the parks are busy get the passes quickly. When I take my little ones, I try to fit all of "their" stuff in before noon, Toontown, Fantasyland, etc. Also, if you have any hopes of seeing Fantasmic, make a Fantasmic Dinner Package PS to cut your potential wait from 90 minutes to 30 minutes. If you're anticipating a wait for anything, bring little activities for them to keep occupied with (we play a character shirt game, where I'll ask DD to find someone in the crowd with a Mickey shirt, someone with Donald, etc.)

Little kids can go on most rides in the MK. And most have nice, shaded, air conditioned lines to wait in. My daughter rode everything except the rollercoasters, Splash Mtn and Pirates. She even rode HM, which at first my husband thought would scare her, but she had no idea things like ghosts and skeletons were scary then. If it had been the "Mansion of Vacuum Cleaners and Hair Dryers Come To Life" she would have run screaming. She actually loved it back then. Of course now that she's 3 she's much more aware, and that's a different story.

The other park she loved at that age was Studios. She loved Playhouse Disney, and their Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show was great. Bear in mind, you're on the floor for about a half an hour! She also, oddly enough, loved the Who Wants to Be A Millionaire game, that is, until I got into the hot seat and had to leave her with Daddy.

You will have so much fun, it's almost like experiencing WDW for the first time, they'll take everything in and get so excited, to me, it was the most magical trip I've ever taken.

 

[snyderla]

Thank you so much! I can definetly relate to the ..."vacuums...come to life", Lily was scared to death of them,lol. I can't wait to see WDW through their eyes. Keep 'em coming...