3 kids 5, 3 and 2 Advice Please!!

[momto3]

Hello all -
Our family of five would like to go to WDW(first trip for the kids) end of March/early April (I know - peak season) - leaning towards staying on property - 2 yr old only one still napping, but concerned about little rooms. Trying to weigh the value of bigger size off property for same $ against all the convenience of being on property. Any lodging suggestions that are moderate?? Anyone know the rules about old park hopper passes? I have two from trips taken in 1994 and 1997. Will they still be honored?? Kids will enjoy a hotel with nice kiddy pool and playground area. Am I crazy for last minute planning? Thanks in advance for any and all words of wisdom Michelle

 

[fun & fancy free]

Your park hopper never expire. Just go to window at the front gate of the park and they will update them for you. as for the room, are two adults going? If so then a moderate would be the way to go. Try CBR the rooms can accomidate a crib nicely(or bring Pack-n-play). That hotal has a playground and kiddie pool. We were there last May. For $ look on the discounts to see if any apply to the time frame you are going. You might find a mod w/a code to be the same as a value w/out a code. Good luck. By the by we took our DD's at age 3 &4 and they still takl about the trip. I love last minute too. I just this am asked my kids what they wanted to do today. My 4 yo DD responded "how about we go say hello to disney world". The best I could do right now is a trip to the disney store. So I guess we are gaing to the Mall today.

 

[laceemouse]

As long as your youngest is under 3 you can stay at any resort. It just depends on you budget. The more you pay the larger the room will be. Definitely stay on-site. The convenience is well worth it IMO.

 

[akrake]

i would stay onsight...a moderate or larger...........think of this. If you're onsight & the 2yr old needs down time, you all don't have to leave the parks...you can just take the wdw transportation back to your resort without feeling like you're ruining everyone else's time...that's what we did & it worked out great.
amie

 

[nygrl]

Hello all -
Our family of five would like to go to WDW(first trip for the kids) end of March/early April (I know - peak season) - leaning towards staying on property - 2 yr old only one still napping, but concerned about little rooms. Trying to weigh the value of bigger size off property for same $ against all the convenience of being on property. Any lodging suggestions that are moderate?? Anyone know the rules about old park hopper passes? I have two from trips taken in 1994 and 1997. Will they still be honored?? Kids will enjoy a hotel with nice kiddy pool and playground area. Am I crazy for last minute planning? Thanks in advance for any and all words of wisdom Michelle

just my opinion but i would have to say wait a few years to go. i am sure many people will disagree with me but after going with a 5 and 2 year old i would never do that again. especially not peak season. they dont have the patience to wait in line they get hot they get tired they just get cranky. it does not make for an enjoyable trip. we go every year but with my now 8 year old and we leave the little one home with my mom. he doesnt mind and we have a much more enjoyable trip. im sure your 5 year old will have a great time but even that age can be hard in disney. once again just my opinion but i had to say it
if you must go then i would suggest staying on site at a monorail resort. onsite anywhere is good but having to fold up strollers to go on busses is just one more hassel. being able to get right on the monorail helps.just remember disneyworld will be there in a few years when your little ones will be able to remember and deal with it

 

[lindaso]

If you can afford it, I would recommend staying at a monorail resort. With kids those ages, you'll probably spend most of your time at MK and it's just so nice to take a short monorail ride back to the resort. And like the OP said, if the monorail is empty, you don't even have to take the sleeping toddler out of the stroller.

The Poly rooms are very big. There is a day bed so you may not even need a pack and play. Just request a bed rail from Mousekeeping. The Poly has a zero entry pool so there is a big area that's shallow enough for little ones.

My other advice would be divide and conquer. Don't feel like everyone needs to stay together all the time. I often go off with the oldest while DH takes the younger two to what they want to do. Much less whining and arguing that way. We plan many character meals so there is no waiting on line to see characters in the park. This also helps everyone rest and regroup in the air conditioning.

Good luck and have fun planning!!

 

[WDWPartyof5]

Hello all -
Our family of five would like to go to WDW(first trip for the kids) end of March/early April (I know - peak season) - leaning towards staying on property - 2 yr old only one still napping, but concerned about little rooms. Trying to weigh the value of bigger size off property for same $ against all the convenience of being on property. Any lodging suggestions that are moderate?? Anyone know the rules about old park hopper passes? I have two from trips taken in 1994 and 1997. Will they still be honored?? Kids will enjoy a hotel with nice kiddy pool and playground area. Am I crazy for last minute planning? Thanks in advance for any and all words of wisdom Michelle

We actually stayed at ASMovies when our children were 7, 3, and almost 2. We had a pack n play in our room and we thought the room was plenty big. We didn't spend a lot of time in it though. We mostly slept and when we were there just taking a break the kids played on the playground, colored, played with their toys or watched the Disney Chanel. I am not familiar with the Moderates, but we loved the theming of Movies and the kids loved the pool area and the playground area.

As for last minute planning, we just booked our last week of March trip for 13 this past week. We are staying at the Pop and were able to get ressies to Chef Mickey's, Hoop De Doo, and three other restr. on site. Not sure if it was luck or not. We also are trying to get ressies for a Magical Gatherings Tour. Our trip was moved 8 weeks because of a surprise pregnancy (mine!)

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Ahrizel]

My sister took her first trip with the kids at the same ages as yours and stayed at one of the value resorts, even in the same season. The rooms may be tight, it depends on your family and how they'll do in a small space, you know your kids best. I would suggest going a few weeks later if you could, high spring break/easter season is ugly. With the little kids it would be much easier when it's less crowded. I wouldn't wait til the kids were older unless this is a once a lifetime type trip, then I'd give it a few years. If Disney trips are a regular idea, then go for it, there only little once, just try and go in a lower season if you can.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The first time we took our kids they were 6, 4 and 21/2. It was wonderful. Don't let people discourage you (and we went in the summer!). If you can afford it stay on at a monorail resort. If not then one of the moderates. You'll have more room and a better pool. It's my understanding that the park hopper tickets never expire. Remember you won't have to pay for a ticket for the two year old and all the character buffets are free for 3 and under also. The biggest piece of advice I would give you is - get to the parks early and leave when they get crowded for a nice swim/nap break. Then had back to the parks for dinner and night time entertainment. Also remember that even the older ones will probably need to use a stroller at least some of the time. Have fun!

 

[henrylovespooh]

We went in 2003 with a 2 year old and a 9 month old. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge that time and it was great, but we also stayed at Coronado Springs with a 7 month old that that was also great. Both rooms had plenty of room for a crib/playyard.

Port Orleans Riverside ( a moderate) has rooms with trundle beds to accomodate 5 people, as long as one child is under 9.

I had a ball with my two small kids (both under 3) at Disney and am glad I didn't wait. Sure, they won't remember it clearly, but I have the pictures to show them. And there was no whining for souvenirs, etc. They rode in strollers and napped when they needed to, either in the stroller or the room. We had no problems at night because they were wiped out.

I also agree with others that you should try to avoid really peak times because of the kids. We went in May and October and both times the weather was good and the crowds were low.

This October we'll be going back again and I can't wait.

 

[marciemi]

It's funny, nygrl, I just read this thread and was thinking the exact opposite as you! My kids are now 9, 11, and 12 and we went when they were almost the exact ages as the OP's kids - they were 5, 3 1/2, and a month shy of 2. We just dug out those videos the other day and that was such a priceless time. Now everyone is less than enthusiastic because life "bores" them much of the time and it's not "cool" to get excited about Disney stuff. Then just watching the videos how thrilled everyone was about seeing Pooh, or just hanging from the ropes in line, or going down the same (tiny) slide at Blizzard Beach about 100 times. I'll never see that unguarded enthusiasm again and I'm SO glad we went then and enjoyed it. I don't remember the long lines, maybe because we always did early entry, and left the parks by 11am, then spent the afternoons at the water parks, hotel, etc and the kids were usually asleep by 7pm.

Another funny highlight from the video - my almost 2 year old figuring out, 3/4 of the way through the visit, that his brothers had autograph books and he didn't (we didn't think he'd understand them or care so hadn't gotten him one). It occurred half way through a session with Pooh and he just bursts into tears. But the funny part was that when we then bought him one, he wouldn't let any of the characters sign it and every time they reached for the book, he'd clutch it and say "No, MINE!" So he has an autograph book full of his scribbles and no autographs!

I definitely say GO FOR IT! Your kids may not remember it, but you will!

 

[JoyMouse]

We've taken our girls their whole lives (both went before age 1). Each age and stage was special, they did fine! I would go with a value, and just enjoy some together time. They will probably be tired enough to sleep anywhere! Take time out to nap and swim, the themed pools are great!

 

[3Mousketeers]

From one mom of 3 to another - definitely go! We went April school vacation week 2004 with our 3 (ages then almost 6, 4 and 11 months). We stayed at MIL time share (Orange Lake). The kids (all of them) had a great time! With a little planning (ok more than a little) you can do as much as want even with 3 small kids. I know the 11 month old esp won't remember but I think its just the idea of special family times that leaves some kind of impression. Enough of that - the timeshare was great b/c we had a full kitchen & separate bedroom. But, I have to admit we missed being on site. For our 2/2005 trip we considered a Fort Wilderness Cabin (we stayed once before with just 2 of the kids, then 2 and 8 mos, and loved it). But, we got a great annual passholder rate at Animal Kingdom Lodge so we're actually doing 2 adjoining rooms. I've been told we could fit in one room (with the baby in a pack-n-play) but I have to admit I like the idea of an extra bathroom and extra space. Whatever you decide, have a great time!!