5 Nts with toddlers - how to fit things into 4 1/2 days?

[Picabo]

Well we were going to go for 7nts in early December but just found out that our extended family is going on a cruise in early January so now we're going to do that! But the downside is that we have to change our Disney plans and will only be going for 5nts instead of 7nts, and also going late in October so the trips aren't too close together.

Anycase, we will have 4 1/2 days in the parks and my girls are 2 and 3 yrs old. We're staying at the Poly and prob will be our ONLY time at the Poly so I am hoping to have a bit of time to enjoy the resort/pool while we're there, too. I also do not want to over do things and run the girls too crazy doing things commando-style. So, I'm thinking of focusing on MK and maybe 2 other parks and skipping either AK or DHS for this trip. We probably won't be back to Disney for a good 2-3 yrs. So what should my game plan be?

Between DHS and AK, is there one that your preschool age children liked LESS? (We are not getting hoppers, FYI) I don't want to skip Epcot b/c DDs love the princess and we really wanted them to go to Akerhaus breakfast. Not to mention, since we're at a monorail resort - seems silly not to take advantage of the ease of getting back and forth to the monorail parks.

I want to allow for at least 2 days of MK (with breaks mid-day) and I'd like to squeeze in time for DTD and do one day Epcot and then the other day at either AK or MGM. Thing is - neither park seems to have all that much to do for kids that young. Do DH thinks we should just focus 2 days on MK, one day Epcot and al lthe Kidcot activities and then the 4th day go to DTD and then either the pool for the afternoon or back to one of the other parks if they seem to have th eenergy.

I just don't know what to do and we need to make our ADR's soon b/c the trip is end of October!

Any tips/suggestions/advice?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

IMHO DHS really doesn't have a lot for preschoolers. There are only a handful of things that are age appropriate, so if you're not hopping, I don't recommend wasting the ticket.

If your girls are crazy for animals, I say spend at least 1 day at AK. There is so much for them to see at the park. Between all the animals, the shows, Dinoland... AK is steadily becoming my 2nd favorite park. Plus if you are into autographs, there are many characters to find there as well.

 

[h518may]

I will be there the end of Oct with my two DS 6 and DD 3. We have 5nts at WL, so my plans look something like this:

Sat-- arrive and stay off site or Value resort, DTD Raglan Road
Sun-- Check in WL, then over to Epcot, Princess dinner
Mon-- MK morning, nap, dinner Ohana, back to MK
Tues--Morning maybe AK, maybe DTD, early nap and MNSSHP
Wen-- Epcot dinner Le Cellier
Thur--morning at DHS, Lunch Sci-Fi, start drive home


Last year we completely skipped AK. for us DS wanted top see the Power Ranger so that made the decision on which park got dropped.

 

[micheleq]

We were at WDW last December and found my girls liked AK over DHS. They loved the Jingle Jungle Parade and having holiday pics taken with Pooh (what's cuter than Pooh in his Santa hat?), Tigger and Eyeore.

Being on the monorail will make life so much easier! On our trip we had park hoppers and went to the MK almost every day at some point...and we were at SSR, so it was a bit of a hike.

Have fun!!

 

[monorailsilver]

So you will be there for 6 days.

Day 1 & 6 are travel days. Can you do DTD on one of those days? After my last trip, I said I have no reason to go to DTD again (we probably will just to eat at RFC). But for us it takes up pretty much the entire day or at least half a day.

I am not sure of park hours in October but I don't think they are open as late as in the summer/holiday times.

If it were me & my kids were that little, I would plan a day of no park in the middle of your vacation. Hang out at the pool, sleep in & basically do nothing.

Last year I made all 3 of my non-napping kids take a mid-day break nap. My oldest was 7 & as soon as her head hit that pillow at about 1, she was fast asleep. My 2½ yo even took a nap (she hadn't napped for a year) & was right behind my oldest in falling asleep. My almost 5 year old would not nap but we did make him lay down every day.

The only days they didn't get naps in were on our 2 non-park days. One we spent half the day at DtD & the other we hung out at the pool.

If it were me, I'd skip AK. I skipped it last year. We had 5 day PH. I spent most at MK & Epcot (we stayed at the Poly), plus it helps my kids loved Illuminations & Wishes. I chose not to go to AK because I know how big it is. We were there in the summer so not only was it hot because it was summer but it is a hot park. I figured my kids can see the animals at the local zoos at that point. Plus we hate taking the bus with the stroller so it was a given.

I know my kids would of loved the safari & I have taken the older 2 on that but not the youngest (well she was cookin' in the oven) & the older 2 would of loved the rapids but other then that I just didn't want to waste the time there.