DDP for 2 Adults and a toddler

[DreaGirl]

The more I read about the DDP the more confused I am... (I can say this about a lot of Disney things right now!)

Anyway, DH and I are taking DD (who will be 18 months) on her first trip in October. In past experience, is it worth it to purchase the DDP? My big concern is that we are going to have to take time out for naps, and then if we have to have a def. scheduled time for meals, that could make for a very stressful, rushing around experience.

I need input! Thanks!!

 

[Stellaluna]

As far as the nap thing, it really depends on your DD. I took both my DSs there at that age, and for the most part when they got sleepy they would nap in their strollers. I know some children don't sleep so easily. If she's the kind of sleeper that is going to require you going back to your hotel room every afternoon, then you might want either schedule the naptime so that you'll have plenty of time to make dining plans, or skip the restaurants that are pretty much ADR mandatory. I think you can make it work with a little planning, if that's what you're wanting.

 

[DreaGirl]

As of right now, Ava is not a very good napper. She is a *light* sleeper, so I'm not sure is she would sleep well in the stroller. Also, she is very noisy so she has to know what is going on at all times, which makes it hard for her to calm down.

I'll have to read about it a little more. DH wants this to be relaxing, so he doesn't want to live by a reservation schedule.

 

[JimMIA]

You're going to have to check with Disney. Ava looks like she may be entirely too cute to be allowed into any WDW restaurants!

As far as logistics, if you're going to use DDP, you're going to want to make ADRs for the TS meals. Ava is probably a little too young to be interested in character meals -- they would probably frighten her more than amuse her. But she can probably handle regular dinners. She's going to be doing the napping/rallying thing anyway. Just don't work her to the point of meltdown (which comes sooner than you think because of all the extra stimulation).

Keep in mind that just because you make an ADR doesn't mean you have to keep it. With few exceptions (and they'll let you know up front), you don't have to guarantee the ADR. So if your schedule doesn't work out the way you planned, you just don't show. (As a courtesy, it's very helpful if you call the restaurant and let them know you can't make it. If you do, they can make another family happy.)

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[The Sweetness]

I have a baby who will be 2 on our trip. Also my DH and a 15y old DD (I am hoping my best friend will join us for 2 dinners) When dd15 was 2, she slept in the stroller at WDW. If Ariel wont, I'll be prepared. We are staying at ASMO, just to have the option to get her back to the room in less than an hour (and back again reasonably quick) if we need to. The upside would be~ If she does have a long nap in the room, she wont have to be back on the bus to the room by 7pm, to bathe and settle down. I could keep her out until at least 9, maybe 10, IF she takes the long nap AND dd or DH are with me to help me carry a very tired DD and our stuff, which will be ALOT back to the room. In this case, Id use our car instead of the bus. Wont risk SRo with a drowsy toddler.

Also, the idea has come up that me and DH may have to tag-team a bit if DD wont sit still for dinner. She's a non-eater so I will have crayons handy. DH and I can take turns holding her on our lap as we do at Fridays etc, if she wont stay in her highchair. If she happens to be especially difficult (not likely) either DH or I will eat CS instead that night, staying w the baby, and having a TS treat with our older DD later in the trip

I just have to be prepared to handle either of these situations. Ofcourse, ideally, she'll sleep like an angel in the stroller, and wake up hungry for dinner right at the appropriate time (AS IF )

 

[Liltx]

I have actually been to disney twice with 15 month olds.

My first was a sleep in the stroller kind of gal and would usually sleep through at least half of our TS lunches then wake up when the food arrived and eat. Then she would nap for two hours at the resort with us. She would sleep anywhere so the pack and play worked great! We could also watch TV and she would still sleep. Such a model baby.

THEN CAME NUMBER TWO!!!!!!!

She was 15 months last summer at Disneyland. She is a "I won't sleep anywhere but a crib" gal. Has fallen alseep only 4 times her entire life in the car. Would not nap in the stroller of course but would sleep for over 3 hours at the hotel. Thank goodness my parents were with me and my dad hates theme parks. They were both happier hanging out in the room and at the pool. They rode the canal boats about 10 times and other nondark rides. We did do TS though and she did behave. She is well behaved though just a picky sleeper.

So I would just go without the DDP so that you have the freedom to do what you want when you want. And pray that your child is a stroller sleeper. Have a great time!

Monica

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Okay, here is my experience with the dining plan and a toddler.

My son did very well with the character meals...he was very interested in the characters. He actually did very well with all of the TS meals.

However, I do think that there is added stress having the DDP. I found that I was stressed just trying to get the ADRs, and then we did feel somewhat stressed getting to the TS meals. IMO, having the DDP means you have to know weeks prior to arrival which park you are going to be at which day, right down to the exact time. And, if you do a meal at another resort, such as AKL, that adds even more stress. Also, you can't just say we will eat later if your DD is fussy or tired, because you won't want to give up your ADR.

I'm sure others will disagree with me, but I hope that helps.

However, if you get the dining plan this time, she will be free.

 

[disprincess2002]

My first trip to wdw was with my toddler princess,who sounds like she has a lot in common with your daughter.For us, the dining plan and ADR'S were a huge blessing . We used the tips from various guidebooks(this was before I knew about the disboards),which suggested to eat at off times.So we would have maybe a character breakfast at the crystal palace while my sweetie was fresh and would schedule this at say 10:00am and then go to the hotel and nap from 1-4:30 then head back to the park and have a early counter service meal at around 5:30. Or maybe a quick breakfast,earlycounter service lunch at 11:00 and nap back to the park for an early5.30 table service meal. Eating at off times with an ADR increases the chance you'll be seated quickly.
I think ya'll will have an amazing trip with or without the plan,but we wouldn't go without it!!!!1

 

[susieq76]

It really does just depend on your daughter. My twins were amazing sleepers- anywhere at 8pm sharp- although they never napped- so I can't help with that. They have fallen asleepand stayed asleep in the stroller during Illuminations!

Then came my single child. He would rather not sleep at all- it means he'll miss something. So for him we HAVE to go back to the hotel every night (he's also not a napper)

 

[thunderbird1]

If you'll do 1 TS meal a day, it's worth it. That meal can be breakfast, lunch or dinner. I'd recommend mixing them up a little, so you don't always feel like you have an appointment for a meal at the same time every day.

As for naps, my kids both always just napped in their baby slings or strollers. Going back to the resort for a nap was a disaster--they'd fall asleep on the bus, then wake up as soon as we got to the room and wouldn't go back to sleep. Of course, by then we were tired and wanted to rest. I found if they were tired and fell asleep at the park, the best thing was to just let them sleep. We'd walk around, shop, snack, take turns going on the rides they couldn't, etc. That way their sleep wasn't interrupted and we didn't waste time trucking back and forth to the resorts unnecessarily.

 

[frannn]

She tends to nap in the stroller. We have only used the dining plan once, this past Sept. I personally found myself switching gears mid trip. I love to eat, so I was extremely excited to try the plan. We'd already been to WDW about 6 times, and have done at least 3 TS on each trip, so I found myself taking it very easy in the parks. The focus was the food, and we averaged 3 rides (including stuff like Playhouse Disney) a day. It was a wonderful, relaxed trip (although we were always eating), until I realized we were approaching the last half of our vacation. A toddler puts constraints on how much you & DH can do in one day in the parks, so at that point both the DP and DD4 were working against me being able to ride/see everything I wanted to. We had to be in certain parks at certain times to be on time for our ADRs, and to eat the CS we wanted that day. So, the second half of the trip was stressful. I think the bottom line is that I wouldn't do the DP if I hadn't been to WDW previously. If you don't mind dividing your park touring time by all those ADRs, or have seen it all already, go for it. It will definetly take the stress off choosing where to eat each day, and how much you will end up spending. But if you are already feeling the time constraints of having to go back to the resort for naps, you may wish to skip the DP. Just keep in mind that you have to eat regardless, so if you were going to schedule a bunch of TS anyway, do the DP.

 

[DreaGirl]

Thanks for your input everyone. It is so nice to hear from people who have BTDT.

DH and I talked about it last night and we are not going to get the DP this trip. We really don't anticipate eating more than 1 TS dinner. And, like we said last night, you live you learn. We plan on going back in a few years (hopefully he will get the bug and we will go back sooner than that!).

Again, thanks everyone.