Any suggestions???

[karenbaco]

Hi everyone...
I've been reading these boards since April when we booked our trip and have read many tips and advice. Problem is that i never wrote things down so if anyone has any advice or tips for me for my vacation with my 2yo and 4yo, please feel free to inform me. Anything is appreciated. Example....what parks on what days, what rides for toddlers, what to pack, where to eat, what time to go, etc. etc. etc. We are going to be at AKL for the 8th and 9th of December then transferring to a time share at Sheraton Vistana Resort til the 17th.
Thanks so much in advance for any advice to make our trip pleasant.!
Karen

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

Is this your first trip?
We have taken trips to WDW my son when he was 3 and 4 (and will be going again with him at age 5 this Jan.!!)
My best advice with kids this age is take things slow! We always take our time getting to the parks (usually arrive around 10am) and leave when he is ready. Let your kids go at their own pace. Also, we always make sure to take a day off from the parks to just swim or play mini golf - something low-key.
My son at age 4 LOVED LOVED LOVED splash mountain, thunder mountain, and test track (the faster rides)- however, fantasyland was still a big favorite! Buzz Lightyear ride was a hit too! You won't have any problems finding fun rides to do for both of your kids...
As far as where to eat, my son is happiest with the counter service places. Quick and kid friendly foods.
As far as what parks on what days: have you purchased the Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld? They have a section in there with what the crowd levels are on what days. I HIGHLY recommend this book, it is a wealth of information on everything Disney (detailed info about rides, food, tickets, etc...). There is also a website out there with what are the best days to go to what parks (maybe allearsnet.com? - I forget what it is -can anyone advise??)
We will also be staying a week at Vistana this winter. We have stayed before and love it! Make sure to recommend the Cascades or Lakes section when you get there. (if you search in here for "Vistana", you should come up with some useful threads).
Any other questions, please feel free to ask!!
Jen

 

[karenbaco]

Thanks Jen,
This is our first trip with kids. It ought to be interesting seeing my 4 year old is afraid of his own shadow and i mean that literally.
Thanks for the great advice.
Karen

 

[crisi]

If its available during your AKL stay, take advantage of morning EMH at MK.

Get up first thing if you can - mornings are the best time to get stuff done.

Check the online calendar for hours. Your best bet is to go to the park that had EMH the day before. Avoid MK on a Saturday.

Start small kids on rides they know - beeline for Dumbo - the line gets long fast. Avoid Snow White until you have a few rides under your belt. Pooh and Peter Pan are good starts. Starting a kid with Haunted Mansion may mean you don't get to go on another ride.

Pay attention to your kids needs. Every kid is different, but watch for needing to find a quiet place to rest, watch for needing fluid, low blood sugar, over stimulation.

Don't let your four year old see the race cars in Tomorrowland. Not worth the wait.

Consider booking a character meal - they are expensive, but you manage to make good use of your time - eating and seeing characters all at once!

It was our trip with toddlers that started our obsession with making a sit down PS every evening. Frankly, by the time dinner rolled around, I needed more than hamburger and standing in a line - I needed a salad, a real entree, a glass of wine and most importantly - a waiter! The kids were usually pretty zonked by then, and willing to sit quietly (though we never booked anywhere too fancy).

Don't be afraid to skip the stuff your family won't enjoy and do the stuff they do like a few times. We rode Peter Pan's flight I think six times on our first trip. If that means spending most days in the MK and barely touching MGM except for Playhouse Disney and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid - hey, do what you enjoy and don't worry about seeing it all.

My kids didn't get the 3D shows until 4 1/2 or so. If you are going to try one - try Mickey's Philharmagic. Its probably the best in all ways. The Muppet one in MGM isn't bad, the one in Epcot is a little scary, and the one in AK has been known to terrify preschoolers.

Don't be afraid of Epcot. My daughter LOVES Spaceship Earth - which is a nice relaxing downtime ride in the dark. They also enjoyed Imagination and I think we could have had a whole vacation playing on the ship in Norway.

 

[brymolmom]

Just back from POP with my 23 month old and 3.5 year old.

3.5 year old loved Splash Mountain and Goofy's barnstormer and Playhouse Disney live (and meeting JoJo and Golaith after).

They both liked Carrousel and Dumbo.

My almost 2 year old was a little weird about rides - I think she's still trying to figure out exactly what they are and how she's supposed to react. So even rides I thought she would love at this age (Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Small World) - she didn't wan to do again. So you have to play it by ear. I think she'll like a lot more the next time we go.

We didn't have a frig in our room - but we brought warm water to the parks and asked for cups of ice at snack booths - filled their sippy cups and our own sports water bottle for cold water.

I agree with a pp- Epcot was a nice change - unfortunately when we went - the play boat was closed in Norway when we went. Be sure to go on Maelstrom - it's like a miniature splash mtn that even the little ones can go on. Living seas will be open when you're there (which was closed for us ) - I'm sure they'd both love that. My kids also liked Living with the Land.

Be sure to use Rider Switch to let your 4 year old go one bigger rides twice - once with you and once with another adult while the other adult stays with the 2 year old.

My kids also liked WDW railroad.

Neither of mine are into the 3D stuff - but you can try one. if they'll keep the glasses on - they might like Muppets or Honey I shrunk the Audience.

Have a blast. We did.