Back to Disney.... with the preschool crowd

[piraterose]

Backstory:
I have just this week talked my mom and sis to meeting up at WDW sometime in the next year (I WILL GO by 4/25/08 - DD's 4th birthday, even if it's just the two of us). We can't pick a date until May because of job issues with my dad (company being sold).

This will be the first time at WDW with little ones (my DD will be 3.5ish, my niece 1.5ish). I'm a WDW vet as an adult (and two childhood trips) but have never gone with the preschool set.

The group will be: mom & dad, sis, BIL and niece, and me, DD and a reluctant DH (is entering WDW like entering a church - should I expect my DH to burst into flames? ) DH is being overule on the the whole "not until DD is 5" - I never agreed to that!

I have not actually been in the park since 2001 when my "connection" had the gull to get married and stop working for Disney and moving away (jk, actually I love my cousin very much). So have a lot of catching up to do.

I'll start with these few questions and ease myself back in:

1) What are the major changes in the last 6 years? I think Future World has had some major rehauling (last time I was there Test Track was new - in fact I got to test it on a castmember family test day)? Any major changes at the other 3?

2) Besides Journey to Imagination, does Epcot have anything good for the preschool crowd. Personally I would skip Epcot with DD- but I know my mom won't allow it.

3) Does Germany still have the dolls you can design?

4) Which character meal is best for a preschool princess - Royal Table or Storybook at Epcot?

5) We are staying on-site (first time I have done this) - any good link or books about navigating the on-site transportation (connections - best routes - timing)

6) Any hints with dealing with an unethusistic husband? I'd leave him home but my family already has a low opinion of him - so I don't want him not coming to be the nail in his coffin with them. DH said he will go - I'm just afriad he'll be bored and antsy and militant about DD naps. - This last one is a sore point with my family because my mom is of the mind that the child has to adapt to the parents schedule not the other way around.

I am so excited. I've been away far too long considering I live only 3 hours away. I'm ready to pick out DD's "cindy" dress - her fav. (I'm going to hold off on BBB though until a mommy and daughter only trip for her 5th b-day when I can truly be the DIS-girl I am without the eye rolling of my family.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[fairyprincessmom]

Hi,

Epcot has been trying to become more kid friendly..they now have the Nemo ride in the Seas and Talk with Crush which is one of my DD favorites. She is five and loved the princesses at the Norway breakfast but didn't like the food..we haven't tried the royal feast yet. They have the new princess makeover at downtown disney...it is a little pricey for the full package but they have just hair and make-up that is super cute and reasonable in price. New at MK is the monster inc laugh factory. The studios has a great playhouse disney character breakfast buffet. The transportation was fairly easy with the buses, we had an easy time getting around just make sure if you are heading to another resort for a meal you give yourself extra travel time. As for the husband thing...disney is magical and maybe all he needs is a little pixie dust and seeing the smile on your daughters face to let lose and enjoy himself. Good luck and enjoy.