Just got back yesterday from a week at OKW. We had a great trip - especially after my in-laws left LOL! It was DH, DD (getting close to 4) and DS (22mo). Thought I'd pass along a few tips, some of which I hadn't seen on here before.
* Best thing I did to occupy their time in the car ride down was a small cube of post-it notes. It was maybe 1" square size and bright colors. Gave each 1/4 of it on way down, other parts on way back. With a notebook and a pen they occupied themselves forever. DD spent 2 hours drawing her own "stickers" and sticking them all over the notebook, re-arranging, etc.
*Bring the spray/fan bottle! Kids never complained about waiting in line while playing with it. Other kids loved getting sprayed by them.
*If you only go to Early entry parks, you miss the fun opening ceremonies on normal days. The kids loved seeing Mickey and friends arrive via train at MK, bus at Epcot. Great character greetings available immediately after at Epcot. (If you're not running to Test track or others)
*Don't underestimate how much your kids will like Epcot. Ours LOVED it. We were shocked. DD skipped around the World Showcase making her mask. We thought we'd have to rent a stroller for her, but never did. Even DS loved Spaceship earth and the mask making.
*Don't overestimate how much your kids will like AK. We thought if they loved zoos, they'd love the safari. They were boooored. It's too much work to see the animals. And Dinoland - would it hurt them to install a tree? It was way too hot.
*Kids this age are too small to comfortably play in most of the play areas (like The Boneyard at AK). The problem is the older kids taking over the areas. Or maybe it's just that my kids aren't aggressive enough.
*Our kids never got frightened on ANY Ride (and we rode Haunted Mansion, Snow White's Scary Adventures,etc. ) because we prepared them for the frightening stuff and always pointed out what wasn't scary - "Look there's a crocodile!" Or "Can you find the owl?"
*DD barely naps at home, but she took some good ones while we were there. We were also unprepared for DS to take 3 hour+ naps and would often be waiting for him to wake up so we could go on to our next adventure. We learned the hard way not to wake him up early, though!
*We saved videotaping til the last day. The kids were comfortable with the characters by then and we have great footage of them hugging Mickey and dancing with Chip and Dale. Earlier in the week all we would have had was DS crying in the background. (Although DD was never afraid of them.)
*Best stroller for the kids at this age has to be my Peg Perego Pliko (P3 version). Although DD walked most of the time, she loved that she could hop on the back and hitch a ride to/from the parking lots.
*Don't bypass the tram. The kids thought that was a really fun ride. That and the monorail are all DS talks about!
*Be sure to ask to ride up front in the monorail. The kids loved watching the pilot drive. Once, we were delayed for them to add a new train into service and we got pictures of each of the kids sitting in the pilot's seat! What a memory to have!
Boy, that's about all that's on the top of my head. Feel free to ask any questions. We bought APs so we'll be doing this again at least once more within the year!
* Best thing I did to occupy their time in the car ride down was a small cube of post-it notes. It was maybe 1" square size and bright colors. Gave each 1/4 of it on way down, other parts on way back. With a notebook and a pen they occupied themselves forever. DD spent 2 hours drawing her own "stickers" and sticking them all over the notebook, re-arranging, etc.
*Bring the spray/fan bottle! Kids never complained about waiting in line while playing with it. Other kids loved getting sprayed by them.
*If you only go to Early entry parks, you miss the fun opening ceremonies on normal days. The kids loved seeing Mickey and friends arrive via train at MK, bus at Epcot. Great character greetings available immediately after at Epcot. (If you're not running to Test track or others)
*Don't underestimate how much your kids will like Epcot. Ours LOVED it. We were shocked. DD skipped around the World Showcase making her mask. We thought we'd have to rent a stroller for her, but never did. Even DS loved Spaceship earth and the mask making.
*Don't overestimate how much your kids will like AK. We thought if they loved zoos, they'd love the safari. They were boooored. It's too much work to see the animals. And Dinoland - would it hurt them to install a tree? It was way too hot.
*Kids this age are too small to comfortably play in most of the play areas (like The Boneyard at AK). The problem is the older kids taking over the areas. Or maybe it's just that my kids aren't aggressive enough.
*Our kids never got frightened on ANY Ride (and we rode Haunted Mansion, Snow White's Scary Adventures,etc. ) because we prepared them for the frightening stuff and always pointed out what wasn't scary - "Look there's a crocodile!" Or "Can you find the owl?"
*DD barely naps at home, but she took some good ones while we were there. We were also unprepared for DS to take 3 hour+ naps and would often be waiting for him to wake up so we could go on to our next adventure. We learned the hard way not to wake him up early, though!
*We saved videotaping til the last day. The kids were comfortable with the characters by then and we have great footage of them hugging Mickey and dancing with Chip and Dale. Earlier in the week all we would have had was DS crying in the background. (Although DD was never afraid of them.)
*Best stroller for the kids at this age has to be my Peg Perego Pliko (P3 version). Although DD walked most of the time, she loved that she could hop on the back and hitch a ride to/from the parking lots.
*Don't bypass the tram. The kids thought that was a really fun ride. That and the monorail are all DS talks about!
*Be sure to ask to ride up front in the monorail. The kids loved watching the pilot drive. Once, we were delayed for them to add a new train into service and we got pictures of each of the kids sitting in the pilot's seat! What a memory to have!
Boy, that's about all that's on the top of my head. Feel free to ask any questions. We bought APs so we'll be doing this again at least once more within the year!
