can someone give me a virtual hug?

[SpringSprite]

Planning our first family WDW trip, FP selection window opens tomorrow. I spent SO much time on these boards, researching everything under the sun, since Sept or so of last year...

I'm burnt out, and I haven't even gotten there yet! Reading about all these FP tests and extra long lines, closures / refurbishments, and what not has got me questioning what we are going to be able to actually DO while we are there!!! (We are staying at WL during the pool refurb, I know we have choices of other pools but my family travel situation will make that difficult...so a cool pool is not even a guarantee)

I haven't even finalized my final FP selections / second options (in my head / on paper), because who knows what'll be available tomorrow at 1 am ET.... (eg. Malstrom closed?) I'm just sort of done with it.

Barring A&E and 7DMT and that mess, can someone recommend the GREATEST things for my 5 & 4 year old boys to do at ANY park, that might be overlooked, that I'll be able to book easy / re-ride / just have a ball with? I'm just looking for reassurance, here...

 

[pigletto]

It's a lot to take in isn't it? It's even too much for us and this will be our 10th trip. Some perspective though.. barring somebody getting ill or some unforeseen accident there is virtually no chance that your boys won't be enamoured with Disney and this trip. You could miss every headliner and they would still have a ball. You are going to find plenty of things to do, cool details to look at, and it's all going to be ok. Make sure to do the Phineas and Ferb adventures in Epcot and maybe Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom in MK. Both are a ton of fun and my son has always loved them

 

[pixie dust 112]

Planning for Disney used to be much more fun! Now it is like having an extra job! I can't make any recommendations for the boys, I have 3 girls, but they are 18, 20, and 22 now. Good news is it is a bit less crowded when you are going, so hopefully things will be a little easier than these summer months. During the crowded seasons, it can be sooooo overwhelming! Remember to relax and breathe! Your going to have a great time!

 

[surferdave]

 

[marissamayhem]

I totally get being burned out. Planning a disney trip has definitely lost some of its magic for me but I still can't imagine going anywhere else on vacation.

It's your first trip so you won't have a lot of the nostalgia that a lot of us have about years pre MyMagic and legacy fastpass. Just enjoy the parks for what they are now. It's all a big pain now, but once you get there, that pain will truly go away and you'll be happy in the knowledge that you do have things planned for.

As for your fastpass selections, I wouldn't worry about that either. My fastpass window has come and went and I haven't made any selections. Granted, I don't care that much about A&E or 7DMT. However, I know that there will still be selections as I get closer and you can always utilize rope drop if you miss out on a headliners in fastpass but want to do it quickly.

 

[mistysue]

What you have to realize is that right now at this moment, all of these people are sitting at a desk reading about Disney and giving our worst reactions. Nobody is there, standing in a baffled crowd unable to do anything because they are forced to sit on a forum and talk about it.

When you are there you aren't going to be polling each passerby for their worst case nightmare, then micro analyzing the facial expression, potential bad intentions and extreme worst case scenario of situation. There aren't going to be picket lines and huge banners reminding you that "back in the DAY..." with some perfect story in which they forget any unpleasant details. When you are here people are saying every single negative thing because they are either venting or playing devil's advocate. Have you noticed that in person people are neither as negative or as mean as they are online? If you are sitting on a bench because you skin your knee, people don't walk up to go off onto a rant about how you wouldn't have tripped if you bought better shoes- but they know your secret, you got bad shoes on purpose... then whip out a tape of you saying shoes were on sale 6 months ago, and by the way aren't you planning a vacation right now? Then people don't start crawling out of the woodwork to insult your personality, ask if you are even a real person and start accusing you of wearing ugly pants so you could sue the city. This method of communication comes with some really strange strings attached.

When you're there you are simply going to go to a ride, get in line a ride it. If you approach and they are handing out a ticket, you get a ticket. There isn't going to be a crowd and required 3 hours of debate of how they should be running the system or whether the ticket was the optimum color. You take the ticket and get on with your vacation. If there aren't tickets, you just enter as planned and you aren't even going to think about it.


ETA: At 4 and 5 everything will be perfect. There will always be a show you can get into, some random thing to play with or a little to no wait activity right there looking at you no matter which park you are in. There are literally just things hanging around for you to observe or play with. MK, AK and Epcot have all the time activities such as the sorcerers of the magic kingdom, that pirate adventure game, wilderness explorers and the Agent P adventures. Then there are rides with little waits and children's play areas. As you walk around at Epcot there are fountains and water spray things kids like, HS has the streets of america, there are random parade/street show things that happen, characters appear out of nowhere, you aren't going to be bored. If you have your eyes and mind open you will find something to enjoy.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Step 1. Deep breath. No matter what you do, your boys are gonna have the time of their lives. As for specific things in the park. You can never go wrong with boys and Pirates. I would FP POTC and try to get them signed up for Pirates League once you are there.

 

[bjam12]

Some of my best memories with my then 5 year old were the character interactions.

 

[leebee]

This is about as totally sweet as it gets! :group hug:

OP, I understand how you are feeling, and I am planning our 25th? 26th? trip. I don't know how to schedule FP+ because there are so many recommendations. I really wish someone would do a step-by-step tutorial… I am just so confused. I wonder if it has to do with me not being very tech-savvy, or if it really is this vague and confusing?

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

 

[SpringSprite]

for reals

Just what I needed! Surfer Dave, you made my day (week!) MistySue, you are hysterical! Pigletto, Pixie, Marissa, Buzzin, bjam, leebee, Joey...

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Op, here's a hug and a word of wisdom. Don't sweat it. Only A&E and 7DMT will be an issue. I leave Sunday. Guess when I did my FP+? 5 days ago. Seriously. And I got everything that I wanted at the times I wanted. If those 2 things don't work out, get there at rope drop and ride the Mine Train and just forget about A&E. DO NOT tell the kids that they are there, just in case it doesn't work out in your favor. It's always better to over deliver than under.

 

[PSUGuy]

To the OP, it's your first time out, it'll get better if you plan trips in the future. I had a great comfort level in planning after yearly WDW trips since 1999 but there was a little learning curve when MBs and FP+ came along but we were guinea pigs last Oct and all went well. As for not having decided on FP+ selections, we did a spur of the moment trip this March, deciding on a Sun, going the next Fri and we got very good FP+ selections.There's no reason, once you absorb the MB/FP+ thing, that planning can't actually be half the fun. It still is for me.

Bill From PA

 

[surferdave]

This is about as totally sweet as it gets! :group hug:

Just what I needed! Surfer Dave, you made my day (week!)

Keep it on the downlow, please; I have a reputation to maintain.

 

[SpringSprite]

well then you SOL, surfer, grumpy is a big ole' softy.

 

[Micca]

First trip with your kids??? It's gonna be awesome no matter what you do

You've picked a good time to go (manageable crowds), you'll get some FPs going, you'll put the final touches on your plans, and then you can hit "save"
and concentrate on some other things for a while. A week or two prior to departure you get back into planning mode and everything will be great.

No matter what happens, your trip won't be perfect, but it will come close

 

[SmallWorld71]

First of all, love the hugs!

OP- Don't sweat it. You are going to have fun!I've been going to WDW since the 70's and I get stressed out with the planning. But, the reality is, we always have a blast! The second I pass under that Welcome arch, the stress is gone. NOBODY's vacation will be perfect no matter how experienced they are and you will find out it doesn't really matter.

As far as recommendations go, her are some things my boys loved when they were younger:
MK - Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Tomorrowland Speedway, Astro Orbiter, Barnstormer, Big Thunder and Splash (if big and brave enough), Pirate Tutorial (do they still do that?), parades

Epcot - Test Track, Soarin, Spaceship Earth, Nemo, looking at the aquarium tanks

DHS - Toy Story, Disney Junior show, Fantasmic, Star Tours

AK - Safari, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Festival of the Lion King

And, don't forget to meet some characters. I recommend autograph books if you have shy or hesitant kids. It gives them a reason to walk up to a character without having to say something. If you want to know who you can see where, kennythepirate.com has all the characters and times.

 

[StitchBuddy]

Don't worry, you will have a blast! I have a DD, but my nephews loved the following at that age: Dinosuar, the Buzz ride, POTP, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain RR, Test Track, the 3D movies and much more! Be thankful you won't have to stand in line for all the Princess Meet & Greets!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Keep it on the downlow, please; I have a reputation to maintain.

Yeah right all talk,,,hides BIG heart

I miss the signature with the kiss to the little giraffe Bring it back

 

[surferdave]

I miss the signature with the kiss to the little giraffe Bring it back

Opulence guy is never far away