Advice on kids and Disney

[ltkl7]

We have four kids ages 15, 13, 5 and 4. I would like to go to Disney this year but my wife thinks that the four year old is too young and would not enjoy the crowds and waiting. We would be going the second week in August.

I agree that lines are never fun but they aren't fun even if the kids are older. I think this is a great age. We can't go next year because just my wife and I are taking a vacation. If we wait two years my oldest will be 17 and probably not all that interested.

We took the two oldest when they were 4 and two and things were fine. Of course we both had more patience then than now. Regardless I think four and five (the one will just have turned 4) are perfect ages.

Help me convince my wife.

 

[Aliceacc]

There are so many aspects of Disney World that are perfectly suited to a 4 year old!!! Take a look at the Fantasyland expansion-- that's nirvana for a 4 year old!!!

So let's talk about August. We'll be there from July 29 - August 5. We're both teachers; the only time we ever go to WDW is mid to late summer.

Yep, it's hot. And crowded.

But the parks are open from early morning until late at night. So the way to beat the heat and the crowds is this: We check the crowd calendars and choose a less crowded park each day. We're at the parks at Rope Drop every day. And we tour like crazy during those first hours when the multitudes are either still sleeping or enjoying their Mickey waffles.

Then, at or just after lunchtime, the parks hit the point of diminishing returns. They're crowded and hot and sweaty and people all around us (and, yes, even at time my own family) tend to be short tempered.

So we hop on a bus-- or a boat or a monorail-- and head back to the resort. We spend the next few hours in delightful family time, in the pool. Then we shower and change for dinner and return to the parks, refreshed and ready for the evening's entertainment.

In three trips, we've only waited ONCE more than 20 minutes-- our first trip, I made a rookie mistake and thought I would get a fastpass for Toy Story Mania when we arrived at Hollywood Studios at noon. Never again.
We also invest ahead of time in a few things that make things easier:
- a few Mistymate 2.5 Personal Misters. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Misty-2.5-Personal-Mister/19715437 They're total trip savers in the summer heat and humidity.

- 2 cases of water, along with breakfast foods and park snacks, from www.gardengrocer.com Water in the parks is expensive; so much easier to have it to bring to the parks with you!!

- ponchos. Summer in FL means thunderstorms, some years it's every afternoon for 10-20 minutes. I bring 2-3 per person. You can get them at the dollar store, though I prefer the ones in Walmart's camping section. (They come 2 to a pack, so they take less room.) Don't forget a few for the stroller I assume you're bringing for your youngest; put a poncho (or plastic table cloth) over the stroller as you enter a ride (you can even hold it down with clothes pins, bought at the dollar store.) You'll be SO happy when you return to your stroller after a quick rainstorm you didn't even notice, to find a nice dry stroller.

- Oh, and did I mention the current summer promo??? http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-dis...y-world-vacation-package-discounts/#summerpkg

Life's too short to wait 2 years if you can go this year.

 

[ltkl7]

Thanks so much for the reply. Great arguments to give to my wife. You mentioned Gardengrocer. I just wanted to make sure that there is not anything that stops you from buying groceries at a grocery outside Disney and saving even more money.

Thanks,

 

[Aliceacc]

Nothing at all stopping you from doing that. But you will want to ensure that, wherever you stay, your room or rooms have a fridge. We've only stayed Deluxe (family of 5) so I'm not sure about the Values or Mods.

For us, the primary consideration would be lack of a car. We fly, then take Disney's Magical Express from the airport to WDW. We stay on property the whole week until DME takes us back to the airport.

On the other hand, both Garden Grocer and wegoshop.com will deliver right to the resorts. The resorts then hold onto your groceries, even refrigerating when necessary, and deliver them to the room once you've checked in.

We pay a bit more than we would at home, but far, far less than we would pay in the parks.And the convenience just can't be beat!

 

[Cadets74]

We just went earlier this month with 7 kids... Ages 13,12,8,6,4,2 and 11 months... Other then the baby each child had a great time... Most rides were suitable for all the kids and the ones that have height requirements the rider swap works great... As long as you take your time and don't go into it hoping to do everything... Each kid had their favorite parts and each kid had some times where they just had to relax and let another kid enjoy the moment... If you need any advice on anything just let me know... It was our first trip and I learned a lot but our trip went great and I have no regrets... I was the one wanting to wait before the trip and now I'm begging to go back (wife wants to save for a pool)... The older kids have lots of fun, but I personally had the most fun watching the little ones... My 4 year old daughter meeting her favorite Jasmine was the most magical moment... I'll never forget the looks on her face (I took like 100 pics of it incase my mind starts to go)

 

[Kristina4109]

My daughter was 4 when we first went to WDW. I probably would not have chosen to take her that young, but my parents organized a huge family reunion and there was no way we were going to miss that!

I don't regret it at all. She doesn't remember most of it, but I do. I got to watch her meet princesses, learn to say hello in many different languages, slide down a roll of film, and get stamps for learning things about animals.

I say go for it!

 

[msjessey]

4 is the perfect age. I took my daughter at 3 and 4. She just turned 5 last week and is already in the fence about meeting the princesses, already starting to realize they're just actors dressed up like princesses. It was adorable two years ago though. She really though Cinderella was a princess and curtsied to get and everything. Go now!