Disney with triplets! Help!

[tripletrouble]

My husband and I are planning on taking our triplet boys to Disney next April. The boys will be 5 at that time. I have a lot of questions regarding our trip and am looking to you experts for advice. I was at WDW about 25 years ago, so I really don't remember that much. Here are my questions:

1. We are thinking about the Wilderness Lodge(Jr. Suite). Any thoughts on this resort?

2. One of my sons has a SEVERE peanut allergy. Does anyone know if any of the restaurants are peanut free? Are you allowed to bring "safe food" into the restaurants, character breakfasts, etc?

3. Do you think we will need strollers for the boys? If so, do they rent doubles?

4. Will my husband and I be able to take all 3 of them on a ride at the same time. For example, will 2 of them be able to ride with 1 of us?


5. How far is advance should I make the reservations?

6. We'll be there during our 10th anniversary. Any ideas on something special to do for our anniversary.

Thanks so much for all of your help. This is my first time posting here, but I'm sure I'll be hanging around here a lot in the next year.

Missy

 

[disneyfanforever]

Wow, 3 boys! I bet you guys will have a wonderful time. I have 2 boys (6 and 2) and we love Disney. We have never stayed in a suite at the Wilderness Lodge (parents are DVC members) but the lodge is absolutely gorgeous and I bet your boys would love it.

They do rent double strollers at the parks. We went last May and our son who was 5 at the time did use a stroller most of the time. I don't know if he absolutely needed it but it sure did help not to have to listen to how tired he was and none of us had to carry him on our back. EPCOT especially is a lot to ask of a little kid to walk around, I wish I could ride in that stroller sometimes.
That being said, we are going in March and my son will not be in a stroller this time because we think it is time he has to walk like the rest of us (except of course our 2 year old will still have a stroller)

I do not think there will be a problem splitting your party into 3 and 2 for most rides. I know many times before we had our second son, my DH, myself, and my DS would all ride in the same seat on rides like Peter Pan, Dumbo, etc.

As far as for your anniversary, I have heard about a re-hitching ceremony at The Garden Grille at EPCOT. I thought about doing that as a surprise for my DH a couple years ago but my parents and my sister thought my DH might not like the idea to say the least. I heard it can be pretty embarrassing but also a lot of fun.

I think you guys will have a terrific time!

 

[campinggal]

Welcome! These boards are great help and addicting!

I made my first visit back to WDW in 20 years this past October and after much research, I chose the Wilderness Lodge for a variety of reasons- proximity to MK (take a boat), seemingly more 'intimate' as there are not as many rooms as some of the other hotels, the theme and restaurant choice to name a few reasons! Had a great time and I love the Lodge!!! Can't imagine staying anywhere else.

Looks like the poster above covered your stroller question.

Although I don't have any direct experience with your peanut allergy question, I have seen other posts from others with food allergies and it seems like Disney is very accomodating. You can plan out where you would like to eat and then call ahead to speak to the Chef is what I have hear others doing.

I agree with the splitting up for the ride. Your kids are small enough that many of the 'two seater' rides can often accomodate an adult and two small children.

Finally, your anniversary question- there are so many great dining opportunities. I would recommend signing your boys up for a few hours (I think four is the max) at one of the 'Kid's Clubs' which are at some of the resorts- Wilderness Lodge has the Cub's Den, the Poly has the Neverland Club, the AK Lodge has 'Simba's Den' and the Grand Floridian has the Mousketeer Club (smaller than the other three). You could have a great dinner while boys had fun too. I used the Grand Floridian Club for my DD when we were there as I was traveling solo and wanted some pampering at the Spa. It is much smaller than the others but I liked the idea of us being on the same property.

Also, make sure you note that you are celebrating your anniversary on your reservation. I have hear of folks getting small recognition from the hotels since it is noted in their system- nothing really great- maybe dessert or card type of thing.

Have fun planning!!

 

[BCV23]

My SIL and her husband stayed in a junior suite at the WL with their four children. While they enjoyed themselves, they would not make that choice again. Too crowded and too expensive.

For less for your family, you could stay in a single room at the GF, CR, BC, YC, BWI or best of all Polynesian. The rooms at the monorail resorts are especially large.

Don't know about peanut free restaurants but if you ask on the DisABILITIES board, someone may be able to help. I do know that WDW chefs are great about trying to work with people with special dietary needs.

Maybe renting a single stroller would work OK. Then no brother would feel left out at any given moment, they would probably encourage each other NOT to need it, but it would be available when needed. Well, maybe a double and a single at EPCOT!



Make your reservation as soon as you're comfortable with making a deposit. You could do it now or wait until this time next year and still probably have no trouble getting a regular resort room. If you do decide on the jr suite at WL this may not be true. I don't think there are that many rooms in that category.

So many nice things to do for an anniversary. Will the boys be along or not? You might want to ask on the retaurant board. If it will be just the two of you, Victoria and Alberts is incredible. With your boys, I'd consider California Grill. You could also do a fireworks cruise at MK or EPCOT.

Happy planning!

 

[justhat]

I don't have a peanut allergy, but I do have a tree nut allergy, which luckily isn't as bad as it could be. DIsney has always been helpful when I have had questions concerning nuts, but I did encounter a few problems at buffets, where the chefs told me they didn't know if a food had nuts in it (the sign said may contain nuts or alcohol for a few desserts, so I asked which contained which and they didn't know). Now for me, it's not a huge deal since I just skipped all of the items in question, but I imagine that for a 5 year old it would be much tougher to forgo all desserts. I heard though that you can call ahead and speak to the chefs and they'll accomodate your needs, but I've never tried that so I don't have any personal experience. I would, however, not go to any buffets since there's lots of cross contamination between foods from people switching serving spoons, etc. We usually avoid them just since you never know what might have a nut in it, then that spoon is used for a nut free dish, etc., but we have made a few exceptions for character breakfasts and dinner at Boma and I've been okay as long as I stayed away from questionable foods. I know some kids have severe peanut allergies that dont' allow them to be near peanuts at all, if that's the case, just skip all the buffets and call the restaurants you want to eat at to ask about any peanut dishes.

 

[CRCrazy]

My niece has a severe peanut allergy - even without touching or ingesting peanuts, just proximity will do. She has been to Disney several times with no trouble. Be sure to call in advance, and have it noted on your PS, and remind the hostess when you check in at the podium. They will make certain that your table is thoroughly cleaned before you sit down, and the chef will usually come out and tell you what is okay to eat. At Chef Mickey's - because of the buffet thing - they actually came out and talked with her about what she would like to eat, and brought her out a freshly cooked (non-contaminated!) plate of all her favorites!

Just remember- you are your child's best advocate - if you stick up for them - Disney will make magic for you!

The Wilderness Lodge sounds fantastic for you, and you should have no trouble splitting 3/2 on most rides - we are a family of five as well, and that is what we do. On Buzz Lightyear - one of the 3 will only be able to spin, since there are only 2 guns per ship - but you will fit in the seat just fine - I always chose to sit in the middle and "drive" so the kids could shoot!

 

[Mic]

WOW! Triplet BOYS...I have 1 son and 3 girls, and there are days that I feel his 1 redeeming quality is that he is NOT a twin! Anyway...the best accomodation solution for your family would be a DVC 2-bedroom villa. It sleeps 8, so you have lots of room, and a full kitchen (don't laugh...with kids it is sometimes easier to fix a quick meal than wait in line to be served/seated). And the biggest advantage: you and hubby will have a king bed in your own private room with a private bath and jacuzzi to celebrate your anniversary(provided you have the energy). Heck, with that much room, I'd bring along a sitter(grandparent or relative)and plan a night out alone for dinner and Pleasure Island(again assuming you have the energy). There are villas at Wilderness Lodge, but you may have better luck renting points from a DVC member than going through Disney. It would probably be less expensive than the Jr. suite. If money is a concern, we stayed at the All-Stars in connecting rooms before we became DVC members, and it was perfect because the kids were young. The food court was a hit, and the pools were just right for young ones. Having 2 bathrooms at bathtime was great, since the kids were too tired to "wait their turn". Disney does rent double strollers, and my youngest rode in 1 until she was 6!(I spent 4 days in labor...we've never been able to rush her). Be sure to bring lots of film...a trip to WDW with 3 5-year-olds will be incredible!