4 days and a 2 1/2 yr old! Help needed. :)

[emiliegdr]

Hi everyone! I'm just starting to plan a disney trip for October 2010. Due to other vacations planned during the year, we're only going to be able to go 4 days (maybe 5, fingers crossed). It will be me, DH, and our DD who will be 2 1/2 at the time. We plan to stay at the swan or dolphin since DH is eligible for employee rates through his company. How would you divide up 4 days at disney? Should we try to do all the parks or just focus on less? What would be your must sees and must eat at restaurants? TIA for helping a dis newbie!

 

[Goofy_Dad_24]

IMO, with a child that age, I would spend no more than half a day at Epcot, probably even less than that. We did 4 days with my son when he was about the same age, doing full days at MK, DHS, and AK. The other day we started at EP and did the Nemo attraction, and then left and went to the MK for the rest of the day. The wife, son, and I all enjoyed DHS the best, but that was because he loves the playhouse disney and all the characters there.

 

[pixarmom]

How exciting - great ages for WDW! (But I think WDW is great for any age!) If you have park hoppers, consider starting each day in a different park, and then if you don't care to stay at EPCOT or AK all day, you can switch back to MK or DHS. My kids have always liked MK and DHS best, but they always want to see a little of every park, and then hop back to their favorites.

My boys just told me to recommend Garden Grill character dinner at EPCOT - it's a character dinner with Mickey and Chip n Dale. They like the food and the atmosphere is a little more calm than Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary (but Chef Mickey's is also really fun, so that's another good option!)

When our kids were younger, we would always arrive at MK before the park opened to see Mickey open the park. We'd walk straight through the castle to the Fantasyland rides. We wouldn't have to wait long for anything at the beginning of the day, and it's great for ages 2-4. (Now, we still arrive before park opening, but we're off to Tomorrowland for space mountain/buzz lightyear and I miss the walk through the castle!)

 

[happymommy]

I actually disagree about only spending a half day at Epcot. That is because I am partial to that park, my DD first went there at 2 1/2 and it's her favorite park, and being at the Swan or Dolphin, it's a very pleasant short walk to the International Gateway.

I find it's nice to start the day in another park, but end in Epcot where you are staying at an Epcot resort. That way, you can just walk back to your room at night (or take the boat if you feel like it).

Really, though, enjoy what you are seeing and doing. In four days, you will absolutely not see everything (I haven't in all my trips). But you should pick the things you really want to see and go from there.

If you are into the Playhouse Disney, there is some show at DHS. My kids are older, so we've never done that.

We do like DAK, but if there is one park you may want to save for another visit, that may be it. It's fun to see the animals and go on the safari, and Dinosaur is cool, but a bit frightening (my son was a bit scared at first). There is a lot there, but it may take a whole day. We enjoy taking it slow there, seeing the animals, riding Expedition Everest, eating at the new Tusker House.

I agree about getting to MK early. It gets quite crowded by lunchtime, so our plan is always to leave there by then. It's just I'm not crazy about the food there compared to Epcot. Also, we've had some really good meals at DHS - both Sci Fi and 50's Prime Time. If you do eat lunch at a counter service at MK, it's good to do it a bit early and know where you are eating. I know Cosmic Ray's can get crowded!

I love the Swan and Dolphin - actually for me, the Swan I prefer as it's a bit quieter and has queen beds. The pool is very nice, the service is good (they have kids menus for room service and movies on demand, for those evenings when you are just too tired to be out). The location is my favorite as well!

 

[happymommy]

How exciting - great ages for WDW! (But I think WDW is great for any age!) If you have park hoppers, consider starting each day in a different park, and then if you don't care to stay at EPCOT or AK all day, you can switch back to MK or DHS. My kids have always liked MK and DHS best, but they always want to see a little of every park, and then hop back to their favorites.

My boys just told me to recommend Garden Grill character dinner at EPCOT - it's a character dinner with Mickey and Chip n Dale. They like the food and the atmosphere is a little more calm than Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary (but Chef Mickey's is also really fun, so that's another good option!)

When our kids were younger, we would always arrive at MK before the park opened to see Mickey open the park. We'd walk straight through the castle to the Fantasyland rides. We wouldn't have to wait long for anything at the beginning of the day, and it's great for ages 2-4. (Now, we still arrive before park opening, but we're off to Tomorrowland for space mountain/buzz lightyear and I miss the walk through the castle!)

I haven't been to the Garden Grill in over 15 years, but back then it was fun! You slowly rotate over the boatride - great recommendation. Also, it's a nice break. Seasons food court is great down below, but sometimes you want to be waited on.

I also agree - we have always either gotten AP's or park hoppers. It is nice to start early in one place, then go back somewhere else later. Sometimes we feel like a sit down meal, but don't have an ADR, so we'll call (maybe while the kids are having an afternoon swim) and just ask what is available. Usually it's a less popular place, but it's a great way to try a new restaurant. With a park hopper, it's convenient if it's at a park we've not visited that day. That was how we ended up trying out Bistro de Paris one evening with the kids - it was so awsome! Over $400 but really awsome!

 

[Fall1]

We just got back a couple weeks ago with 2 1/2 year old twins and their favorite by far was MK. They also loved DHS because of the Playhouse Disney show and characters.

We did 1/2 a day at Epcot and spent most of our time at the Seas. They loved the Nemo ride and LOVED looking at all of the real fish in the tanks there. I thought AK was just ok for this age. They liked the Dinosaur ride (the one like Dumbo) and the Nemo show.

As for restaurants, my kiddos loved Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's the most! I'd definitely do Chef Mickey's, the character interaction was great!! Have fun planning!!

 

[Jdougherty]

when are you going to WDW in Oct? we will be there end of Oct frist week of Nov ( commonly called NJ week) we will have DNephew 6, DD2.5 and DS1. We have been traveling with small people for almost 5 years even before we had ours. At 9months my duaghter loved crystal palace, food was excellent, Dinner at the land was also a favorite, for the quite and good food. I agree with not spend whole days at epcot, because your staying at a resort with in walking/boat ride distance I would end the day in epcot. Besure to make opening at MK, that will be a must for us also.

 

[ktlm]

We took my DD on her 1st trip last December when she was 2 years 10 months. Her favorite park by far after MK was Epcot. We were there from open to close and did not feel like we had enough time. Before we went to WDW, she was crazy about Cinderella, but when we got there, she instantly became a total Princess nut. In the afternoons, the Princesses are out in different areas at World Showcase at Epcot, and the lines are fairly short. At that age, she hated AK, and after a couple of hours begged to go back to MK or Epcot- I think she did not see it as much more than a glorified zoo. (We have been back once since she turned 3, and she liked AK on that trip, especially the Lion King show, but it still is her least favorite park. We actually spent 2 days at Epcot that trip because she loves it there so much). She really likes watching movies and shows, so at DHS she really liked the Beauty and Beast and Voyage of the little Mermaid shows. We planned to go to Fantasmic and Osborne that night, and we had a hard time finding enough to keep her occupied for the entire day there. Other than the shows and seeing a couple of characters, there really isn't much for the littler ones to do there. Toy Story Mania is great, but the lines are so long, you can't just keep getting in line and riding it over and over.

If we only had 4 days, I would plan 1 day in each park and get hoppers. I'd spend a full day at MK and a full day at Epcot. For the DHS and AK days, I would start off there and if we did not fill the day there, I would use the hoppers to go back to MK or Epcot. I don't know how active your DD is. Mine is very active and would only take naps in the stroller in the park (we tried an afternoon break the 1st day and it was a disaster- angry kid refusing to go to sleep and crying to go back to the parks for about 3 hours until we gave up and went back to the park where she promptly fell asleep in her stroller). The stoller naps worked great for us and we didn't miss park time. DH and I took turns riding the big rides when she was asleep.

 

[pixarmom]

I don't know how active your DD is. Mine is very active and would only take naps in the stroller in the park (we tried an afternoon break the 1st day and it was a disaster- angry kid refusing to go to sleep and crying to go back to the parks for about 3 hours until we gave up and went back to the park where she promptly fell asleep in her stroller). The stoller naps worked great for us and we didn't miss park time. DH and I took turns riding the big rides when she was asleep.

Exactly the same here - we're in the stroller nap crew! It doesn't work for everyone - many need a nap break at the hotel - but I'm finding more and more stroller nappers out there!

 

[emiliegdr]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts so far. I'm soooo excited to do some planning!

 

[mawaru]

Enjoy your visit!