3rd birthday in disney!!!

[Rosemc2011]

I'm so excited! I'm planning our next trip to disney world we went last summer and it was not really that great of a trip. We had some hiccups to say the least and I didn't really plan anything. This year we are going in November and we'll be staying a week for my daughters 3rd bday and my 27th as well! So any tips for going with a 3 yo? Also I want to do some character meals and was wondering if I get the meal plan if I can share credits with another person? We don't want to do so many sit down dinners so I'm trying to see if the dining plan is worth it.. Thanks

 

[RHMH]

Dis Family and a early to the both of you.


Can't help with DP question as we are OP diners.

Touring with a 3 year old is so much fun.. I put my DD on my shoulders and had the best time of our lives. She was able to see Disney all day without looking at the back of peoples legs... If you have a significant other.. Let DD ride the most popular ride ever all day long. (Shoulders - Kids love it, don't they)

 

[Pooh2]

Our twins sons first trip was when they were 3 (long time ago!). Go at your 3 year olds pace ,be sure too take a break for nap/swim to avoid meltdowns. Just go with the flow! Have a great trip!

 

[KelleyK75]

We took my nephew for his 3rd birthday and had a blast!

My suggestions would be don't try to do everything in a park in one day. Pick your favorites, set a slower pace, and just have fun! It's hard to do park open to close, so either go in the morning, take a break, and back at night, or go in morning, stay to afternoon and leave, or go afternoon and stay until night. Let the birthday girl pick what she wants to do. You can print out maps and watch the planning DVD before you go. And definitely note your reservation so she gets a birthday button. She'll get lots of "Happy Birthdays" from the CM's. If she loves the Princesses, you might want to do Bippity Boppity Boutique one morning then lunch or dinner at CRT so she gets to eat in the castle and visit with the Princesses.

You'll hear mixed reviews on most character meals, but personally we really like Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Tusker House and Hollywood and Vine. I have found breakfast is the easiest when making ADR's, so that you have the rest of the day to do what you want and also for your FP+. When you do lunch or dinner you have to plan around the ADR and it limits you to where you want to be in the park, unless you don't worry about criss crossing the park. We always found that hard though and now do breakfast ADR's then make a plan on where to go so we do the most we can do.

 

[princessemsmom]

We went last year for my DDs 3rd bday and are headed back in a few weeks for her 4th birthday. I will say that she seemed to like the characters more than the rides last year - so we do a ton of character meals!

We do the DxDP and for us it works well - I prefer to eat most of my meals as table service because I do not handle the chaos of the QS well - but that is me and totally personal. And I agree w/PP - bfast ADRs are the best way to start a day and then I like to have a calm dinner. Lunch I am fine on the go.

This year I am hoping to get some addtl rides in since she is a bit older, but am just going to go with the flow and am only using FP+ for Anna and Elsa. The rest we will do the best we can and enjoy the craziness without letting it stress us.

The best part of taking her though is her face!! Everything is perfect and amazing in her eyes - so really all else is irrelevant!

Have fun!

 

[Rosemc2011]

Thanks all! My daughter is really smart and can talk really well so I'm not even exaggerating that ever since we got back from the last trip she asks to go to disney world every time we get in the car lol.. I was hoping to do CRT for dinner during the fire works if we can get a reservation and Hollywood and vine maybe lunch or breakfast.. I'm not sure yet. I actually live in fl so I have been many times but alway on a whim and never did a character meal or any sit down meal except 1 time last year and it was horrible :/ is it worth it going at park opening?

 

[princessemsmom]

Thanks all! My daughter is really smart and can talk really well so I'm not even exaggerating that ever since we got back from the last trip she asks to go to disney world every time we get in the car lol.. I was hoping to do CRT for dinner during the fire works if we can get a reservation and Hollywood and vine maybe lunch or breakfast.. I'm not sure yet. I actually live in fl so I have been many times but alway on a whim and never did a character meal or any sit down meal except 1 time last year and it was horrible :/ is it worth it going at park opening?

I am originally from FL as well and last year was the first time I ever did meals, etc. I grew up on day trips 2 or 3 times a year.

We do H&V for lunch - it is totally fine and the characters are great! We did CRT last year for lunch and it was nice - but I think bfast or dinner would be much better as lunch takes awhile long.

I think early bfast ADR then you are there when park opens and it's perfect. If she does not last all day very easy to leave mid afternoon and come back for dinner and fireworks.