Back & forth from FW Cabins to Park, etc??

[luvmylittleboy2003]

We will be traveling w/a 4 year old on Nov 10, 2007. I have been reading that its best to go to the parks early and the leave between 1130 and 2 and go back to your room to rest (nap for him). How long does it take to go back & forth from FW Cabins to each of the parks. We plan on getting to the parks around 9:00 am (I think thats when the parks open) and staying until lunch, eat lunch w/DDP and then head back over to Cabin, hopefully getting there by 2:00 for ds to rest. Then getting him up around 5:00 and heading back over for the rest of the day (dinner, show/firework, etc...). Trying to plan out transport times, dinner times, corresponding show times w/travel and dinner, etc...and I'm lost. Any suggestions or tips? I have also read that getting to another resort (like the Cont. for Chef Mickeys Dinner) can be a really long transport - is this true? We will have no car, but, we are renting a golf cart. Just trying to plan out this trip to make it easier for traveling w/a 4 year (he has sensory issues and planning is a must - so he can get the rest/etc...that he needs).
Thanks a bunch

 

[CCIntrigue]

Getting to the Contemporary or WL is easy. Just go to the marina and take a 5-7 minute boat ride over. Also to MK go to the marina and take a boat --maybe a 10-12 minute ride. As for the other parks, that is more difficult. Getting to EPCOT and back takes us about an hour each way, no matter which way we go. Have tried the buses from the outpost, even taken the boat to the Contemporary and transferring to the monorails.

Haven't taken WDW transportation from FW to AK or MGM. Maybe someone else can help you with those.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Getting to the Contemporary or WL is easy. Just go to the marina and take a 5-7 minute boat ride over. Also to MK go to the marina and take a boat --maybe a 10-12 minute ride. As for the other parks, that is more difficult. Getting to EPCOT and back takes us about an hour each way, no matter which way we go. Have tried the buses from the outpost, even taken the boat to the Contemporary and transferring to the monorails.

Haven't taken WDW transportation from FW to AK or MGM. Maybe someone else can help you with those.

Thank you....Holy smokes - lol, an hr. I will def. need to plan this out, so he can get his rest. We may eat at the campground a couple of nights, after he wakes up from his nap then go over to the parks. Maybe on the nights the parks stay open later, this would be a good option, and, this would allow him some additional napping time. Otherwise, the hr travel time, I will need to make later dinner reservations, if he is going to get any resting time at all. But, w/the later dinner you take the chance of missing the shows right?

 

[Jsands72]

Last year I brought my 4 yr old and I was surprised that he did not nap. We left the park around noon to nap and he was so full of energy he did not nap. We ended up just leaving the parks early all week instead. Around 6 and he was in bed by 7 or 8 depending. He would be out cold until 8 am. He was very good too he did not fuss at all. We are taking him again next week and we will see how he does without a nap this time.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Last year I brought my 4 yr old and I was surprised that he did not nap. We left the park around noon to nap and he was so full of energy he did not nap. We ended up just leaving the parks early all week instead. Around 6 and he was in bed by 7 or 8 depending. He would be out cold until 8 am. He was very good too he did not fuss at all. We are taking him again next week and we will see how he does without a nap this time.

We also thought about going this route, but, we knew how much he would love the shows and don't want him to miss them. But, this may be the route we go with. Its totally going to be up to him and how he reacts/behaves. How does this agenda look so far (anyone who wants to add input is welcome) - thanks a bunch:

We are thinking about doing a slow day (when we arrive Sat) rest, unpack, do a Character Dining that night, and then early bed.
Sun- do MK, eat lunch around 1130 am - head back do cabin for nap and then back over to MK around 5:00-6:00 (hoping this will be a late magic hrs night) for CD and few more rides, then back to cabin.
Monday wake up late, stay around the campground (swim, etc...) then head over to Epcot around 2pm grab late lunch - 3:30, let him ride rides etc...until about 7:30 and do another CD and catch the Fireworks show at 9:00 then back to cabin.
Tues. to MGM, with same agenda as the MK day (Sun.), except catch the show that night (hoping they will have a 8:30 pm showing)
Wed., same as Monday, then head back to MK that afternoon around 1-2pm, do what wasn't done on Sun. & another CD and then the show.
Thurs. Animal Kingd. going for CD Breakfast, touring AK, leave around 3-5pm, go back to cabin, relax for a bit then head over to Whisp. Canyon for Dinner and back to cabin around 7-8 pm for early to bed.
Fri. we leave early for 9 am flight.

This is all, of course, subject to change - lol, but, what do you think so far. We have allot of Character Dinnings, but, that is the only way we think we will get him to sit and eat, due to some of his sensory issues.

 

[Jsands72]

Sounds good but don't forget about Down Town Disney. We usually go the first day to see what the kids want to buy and make a list so buy the end of the trip they have to pick from everything else the see. Usually they forget half of the stuff the wanted.

 

[Florida_Mom]

Your schedule sounds pretty good. Just go into it with the idea of being flexible. Remember that everything takes longer than you plan for -- transportation, managing any crowds in the parks, waiting for seating at dinner, etc.

My DS9 has sensory issues, as well. Planning for Disney World can be interesting, that's for sure. The noise can bother him, the sheets on the bed, the lanyard around his neck, etc, etc. But he still loves to go. Enjoy your trip!

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Your schedule sounds pretty good. Just go into it with the idea of being flexible. Remember that everything takes longer than you plan for -- transportation, managing any crowds in the parks, waiting for seating at dinner, etc.

My DS9 has sensory issues, as well. Planning for Disney World can be interesting, that's for sure. The noise can bother him, the sheets on the bed, the lanyard around his neck, etc, etc. But he still loves to go. Enjoy your trip!

I know what you mean, he is the same way. Thats one reason we opted for the cabins, its as close to home/normal as can be for him. I'm going to use the plan, but, def. will keep it flexible - as you mentioned. I hope he ends up liking the CD, since we are planning so many of them. I have read they are loud and this can go either way w/him, it can really hype him up and he will join right in, or totally mess w/his sensory and send him in a tailspin (prob. depending on how the day has went prior to CD).

 

[Florida_Mom]

I know what you mean, he is the same way. Thats one reason we opted for the cabins, its as close to home/normal as can be for him. I'm going to use the plan, but, def. will keep it flexible - as you mentioned. I hope he ends up liking the CD, since we are planning so many of them. I have read they are loud and this can go either way w/him, it can really hype him up and he will join right in, or totally mess w/his sensory and send him in a tailspin (prob. depending on how the day has went prior to CD).

Usually for my son the amount of walking really helps with the sensory issues. Exercise helps to minimize the problems, for sure. The character meals will definitely keep him occupied. We went to one at Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom, and the characters came all the time and really interacted with the kids.

FW is a great place, in my opinion, for kids with sensory issues. There is more room to spread out, play outside, etc. You might even want to rent him a kid's bike (I think they might even have some training wheels if he's not riding yet) just for letting him ride around the loop that your cabin is on.

 

[cerdafied7]

wow! an hour from the fort to epcot? We went a few yrs ago, stayed at the stars, but never remember it taking that long. what is the fastest route?
going to the fort oct!!!

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Usually for my son the amount of walking really helps with the sensory issues. Exercise helps to minimize the problems, for sure. The character meals will definitely keep him occupied. We went to one at Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom, and the characters came all the time and really interacted with the kids.

FW is a great place, in my opinion, for kids with sensory issues. There is more room to spread out, play outside, etc. You might even want to rent him a kid's bike (I think they might even have some training wheels if he's not riding yet) just for letting him ride around the loop that your cabin is on.

That would be great if the walking would have that effect on him, I guess, its more of a 'play it by ear' and see how he does, hubby and I may actually give out before him - lol. I just don't want it to get tired before the fireworks/shows, etc...& then he miss them or have a complete melt-down. Although, in the end - this trip is about him and what he wants to do, if he wants to stay and do rides all day and then go back to the cabin and miss the shows - then thats what we will do. This is his trip. Was you kiddo the same age, 4 y.o., when he was able to walk the parks w/o a nap? Thanks

 

[Florida_Mom]

That would be great if the walking would have that effect on him, I guess, its more of a 'play it by ear' and see how he does, hubby and I may actually give out before him - lol. I just don't want it to get tired before the fireworks/shows, etc...& then he miss them or have a complete melt-down. Although, in the end - this trip is about him and what he wants to do, if he wants to stay and do rides all day and then go back to the cabin and miss the shows - then thats what we will do. This is his trip. Was you kiddo the same age, 4 y.o., when he was able to walk the parks w/o a nap? Thanks

Hmmmm....good question. We never consciously planned to take either of our boys back to the room for a nap. But I do remember one time when we left the MK in the afternoon and went to Downtown Disney for lunch, and the air-conditioned bus put my then-5 year old right to sleep.

Most likely you will all be tired before the fireworks/shows. That's just how Disney is. Some days you might decide to just go in early and skip them, other days you might decide to just stick it out.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

I would definitely plan on a stroller for your son. We broke down last year and rented a double stroller for the week for our sons, 4 and 6. It made the parks so much more enjoyable. On most days, we did not take a break in the middle of the day, but we left each park near dinner time, with the exception of two nights.

 

[DisneyDadinOhio]

Okay, this may or may not be helpful. We were just there a couple of weeks ago, and while we were in Loop 600, my in-laws were staying at WL. Each morning, we would hop on the Orange bus which also stops at WL. We would meet them each morning at the WL Bus stop, and we never had a problem getting to the other parks - MGM, and EPCOT. The one day that we tried to use the AK bus from the campground was our only "adventure". My in-laws hopped on their AK bus and made it in time for the extra morning hours, we arrived an hour later.

 

[reginaastralis]

I'm not going to lie and say that the buses from FW are always the best ... but the posters above have been right ... we've always taken forever to get anywhere from them.

We usually drive now, but still to drive is an adventure in itself!

I wish I could tell you more detailed times. We're not staying at FW again until August, that I know of ... if we do it sooner, I'll try to post.