Disney Springs/Yehaa Bob or Chip & Dale Campfire?

[constantstar]

We normally stay in the parks until fireworks then go back to the resort & pass out. However, we'll be in MK on 3 days in December but not attending the party 2 of those nights. I've been looking at resort entertainment options since we don't have hoppers. I'm planning on doing Pirates & Pals one of those evenings, if offered. For the other night, I'm torn between visiting Disney Springs and seeing Yehaa Bob at Port Orleans (where we'll be staying) or treking over to Fort Wilderness and taking part in the Chip & Dale Campfire. Our daughter will be 5 and son is turning 3. Has anyone done these things? For DS we'd probably eat at Raglan Rd and for the campfire we'd eat at Trails End if that influences the decision at all. To make it easier, I've created a poll. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Nornster]

I've never seen Yehaa Bob (maybe upcoming trip!) so can't compare him - if you're staying at Port Orleans, maybe you know all about him. But I've done Chip and Dale three times with my now 5 year old - we're looking forward to going in less than a week. The outdoor movie is fun at any resort, but the sing-along is a step above - the cowboy makes it so fun and interactive, and the kids can actually play with Chip and Dale (kind of a lawn-bowling game) if they get there quite a bit before the sing-along starts. If not, C & D circulate around the crowd during the sing-along for pictures and autographs. I love Trail's End, but if you don't want to do a big meal, there is a chuckwagon parked at the campfire that sells hot dogs, wraps and s'more fixin's; we've had that for dinner and were quite filled up. And you can take the boat over from MK to the Fort - easy-peasy and fun in itself. I've heard Yehaa Bob is a hit with grown-ups, but for your little ones I don't think you can beat Chip and Dale

 

[constantstar]

I've never seen Yehaa Bob (maybe upcoming trip!) so can't compare him - if you're staying at Port Orleans, maybe you know all about him. But I've done Chip and Dale three times with my now 5 year old - we're looking forward to going in less than a week. The outdoor movie is fun at any resort, but the sing-along is a step above - the cowboy makes it so fun and interactive, and the kids can actually play with Chip and Dale (kind of a lawn-bowling game) if they get there quite a bit before the sing-along starts. If not, C & D circulate around the crowd during the sing-along for pictures and autographs. I love Trail's End, but if you don't want to do a big meal, there is a chuckwagon parked at the campfire that sells hot dogs, wraps and s'more fixin's; we've had that for dinner and were quite filled up. And you can take the boat over from MK to the Fort - easy-peasy and fun in itself. I've heard Yehaa Bob is a hit with grown-ups, but for your little ones I don't think you can beat Chip and Dale

Was the campfire busy? I got worried when someone said their little ones were pushed and the crowd of older kids was unruly.
We're skipping lunch that day so lots of food sounds perfect I'm not sure of the logistics to get around the FW area - I suppose I should research that. I know we'll take the boat from MK.
We stayed at POR years ago and did the DS boat but never Yehaa Bob. Just seems a shame to stay at the resort and not use the boat.

 

[Nornster]

It wasn't too busy, but I've only been in Feb, March and April - can't speak to Dec. Since we're staying at the Fort, we got there really early and played with C & D - as it got closer to the start of the sing-along, some bigger kids did start getting a little rowdy with the lawn bowling, so we sat down and let other kids play, since we'd had a turn. But for the sing-along itself, most everyone is sitting down so not too crazy, and they tell everyone to wait until C & D come to them, instead of running up to them. The one area I was very vigilant about was the campfire itself - made sure to keep my toddler close at hand while we were toasting marshmallows.

When you get off the boat, you can easily walk to Trail's End, but you will need to take an internal bus to the campfire area.

I've been to Raglan Road and loved it, but we left the little one in the cabin with the grandparents. I have always wanted to stay at Saratoga Springs and take the boat to Disney Springs. But wouldn't doing both Yehaa Bob and Disney Springs with preschoolers after a full day in the park be pretty tiring? If I was really tired (or the kids were) I'd probably do just one or the other. Maybe since you're doing pirates and pals one night, that could be your Magic Kingdom area activity, and then you could do one of the Disney Springs activities the other night.

 

[constantstar]

It wasn't too busy, but I've only been in Feb, March and April - can't speak to Dec. Since we're staying at the Fort, we got there really early and played with C & D - as it got closer to the start of the sing-along, some bigger kids did start getting a little rowdy with the lawn bowling, so we sat down and let other kids play, since we'd had a turn. But for the sing-along itself, most everyone is sitting down so not too crazy, and they tell everyone to wait until C & D come to them, instead of running up to them. The one area I was very vigilant about was the campfire itself - made sure to keep my toddler close at hand while we were toasting marshmallows.

When you get off the boat, you can easily walk to Trail's End, but you will need to take an internal bus to the campfire area.

I've been to Raglan Road and loved it, but we left the little one in the cabin with the grandparents. I have always wanted to stay at Saratoga Springs and take the boat to Disney Springs. But wouldn't doing both Yehaa Bob and Disney Springs with preschoolers after a full day in the park be pretty tiring? If I was really tired (or the kids were) I'd probably do just one or the other. Maybe since you're doing pirates and pals one night, that could be your Magic Kingdom area activity, and then you could do one of the Disney Springs activities the other night.

Thanks for the info! We'll try to get there early if we do the campfire.
The kids nap in the stroller mid-day so we had good luck with them in the evenings last month. No telling what December will hold though. The main thing I worry about for longevity is the Pirates & Pals because it's so late and expensive. The campfire or DS we could reasonably drop last minute or leave early (besides ADRs). But, the fireworks cruise is paid for in advance. Luckily I've read there are lots of sugary treats that should help their energy level!

 

[czmom]

We've stayed at POR twice and seen Bob both times. Love him!!!! My kids were 5, 6, and 7. He has the kids participate in several songs.

Never have done chip and dale.

 

[Crystal824]

I've done both of these activities. With kids that age, I vote for Bob. It is at your resort so easy to get to and easy to get back from. Also, it is really a lot of fun. DS has a lot of new fun things. It does get really crowded though. I agree that it may be a little much to do both Bob and DS. We were at DS earlier this month with the kids. It was incredibly crowded. The kids had fun, but DH and I said that we wished we had just watched the movie at the hotel.

I've done the campfire, which we really enjoyed. I didn't choose that for you because it is a pain to get there and back. Last year, we did dinner at Hoop-de-Doo than we went over to the campfire site. We let the kids play on the playground because we had some down time in between the activities. On the night we went, it was not crowded at all. Chip and Dale came out and the kids played games. In fact, Dale gave my youngest, 9 mo., her bottle because there were no kids that were interested in him. She was in the stroller and could have held her bottle herself but Dale came up and held it for her. We did smores and left right before the movie started. It was a lot of fun, but it does take a really long time to get there and back. Due to that, I'm not sure we would do it again. You have to take the boat over to Ft. Wilderness from the MK. Then an internal bus after you get there to the campfire site or walk. I didn't realize Ft. Wilderness was so big.

 

[Mamaoftwo24]

Haven't done either one but my aunt was just there a few weeks ago and she said that Bob is a must!!! We will probably do him the first day down there, as we are just doing DS and then dinner.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

YeHaa Bob hands down.

 

[mindeola]

We do the campfire every year! Love it.