DL pro - 1st time with toddler - questions!

[romymichelle21]

I'm currently an AP holder and have been there more times than I can count, but never with children. (Pre-teens only). My niece is almost 3, and we'll be taking her for the first time on the 23rd.

My questions are these:

1) My Mom will be buying her ticket online and printing it, but since my niece is free, will we have to wait in a line for a pass for her once we get there? Or does she simply walk through the turnstiles without needing anything?

2) We'll be renting a stoller, but I read somewhere that you can't take them out of the park. Is this true? And to what extent? Can we take it to Downtown Disney and California Adventure, or take a Monorail ride? (We were thinking of taking a couple spins around the Monorail while she naps - as recommended by another friend with kids).

3) We were planning on doing the Lilo & Stitch breakfast at Paradise Pier. However, half the information I can find says that it's a buffet, and shows a traditional buffet line - and the other half says it's served to your table, "family style". We'd prefer a traditional buffet - which is it currently?

4) If the park hours are 9-10 that day, is it best to arrive right at opening if you have a young child? I know we'd want to do some of the more popular (for kids) attractions, such as Peter Pan and Nemo.

5) This has nothing to do with children - but does anyone have an idea when the Sunwheel (er, "Mickey's Fun Wheel") will be running again? The only site I found that shows when the DCA refubs are expected to be complete, says that it will be open when we go. The official calendar, however, says it won't. Soooo... I'm confused

 

[mechurchlady]

1) Simply walk in for kids who are free.

2) Stroller, ECV and wheelchair rentals may be used anywhere in Disneyland, DCA, the picnic area, and the esplanade between the two parks. You may not take rental items on the monorails and must leave them outside the attraction. Disabled guests wanting to make a loop ride should contact a CM for instructions. Yep, you can take strollers from park to park. Keep your receipt and you can get another one.

If DCA is closed the you cannot take the rental item out of Disneyland at night. The boundaries is the two parks and the two security check in areas. If you leave before DCA closes then you can take the stroller over to Security check in area and leave the stroller there. If you have a Chase Visa Disney card you get two free rentals a day.

3) Buffet for Lilo & Stitch

4) Get at the parks half hour before it opens so you are first in line and head to the stroller rental place. Then get all the kiddie rides out of the way as they are slow loaders. There are only so many elephants for example and Peter Pan gets very long.

5) Sun Wheel is opening on May 8 as it is delayed.
http://micechat.com/forums/disneyla...dventure-project-tracker-iii.html#post3430311
I use that for an up to date guide. There are better photos at time and other better sites maybe but that is simple to use and updated almost immediately.

 

[bumbershoot]

With a sleeping toddler, I probably would NOT do the monorail, as you can't just loop around as far as I know. Don't you have to get off, etc etc? Doesn't seem very restful, especially as you have to collapse strollers (if they bring her own stroller and can take it on).

Lilo/Stitch has a menu and they have a buffet. You can do whichever you want. NOT family style, however.

I have to defer to Laurie about the little one's entrance. We had to stand in line both trips when DS was free b/c we were buying one-day one-park tickets ourselves.

Unless the kiddo is an extremely late sleeper (and most aren't), get there early early. No toddler wants to wait in line, so get there as early as possible on a day when you're first in the park (MM day if you have MM, non-MM day if you do not), be there before it opens, and head straight for PP!

I will warn you, Nemo is intense and loud for a little kid. I would take great care in taking her on board, and might even suggest using the other viewing area instead of going in the sub. When kids are younger than her, they tend to be much easier on trips...but as kids approach the 3s it seems to get really tricky. They are too old to just take things as they come, they are old enough to be scared of things they see/hear, but too young to really get, all the time and reliably, that things are make-believe. At the very very least, know when that angler fish is about to pop out so you can distract her or do fast damage-control.


And I can't recommend bug's land (except for tough to be a bug) more. We love that area so much MUCH more than Fantasyland, which is fully of spooky rides (except for Dumbo, Casey, and the Teacups) (OK and small world, but that goes inside which can weird a kid out). Love love bug's land.

 

[mechurchlady]

Usually the monorail is one way and you get off and then board again. They had few guests on the platform so they let us get off and back in another car. Usually they will let you get back in line without going downstairs then back up if you ask nicely.

As for the kid being free, the original poster has an AP and the rest of the party is using online tickets. In that case just walk up to the gate an they will give you a hard copy ticket to use in place of the ticket that is printed at home. They use bar codes for that. The kid does not have to stand in line and usually people leave everyone over in the shade waiting unless the group is buying APs.

Bugs Land is a must see for toddlers and adults. Just be prepared for the kid crying on some rides as not all kids can handle the darkness of some rides.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm currently an AP holder and have been there more times than I can count, but never with children. (Pre-teens only). My niece is almost 3, and we'll be taking her for the first time on the 23rd.

My questions are these:

1) My Mom will be buying her ticket online and printing it, but since my niece is free, will we have to wait in a line for a pass for her once we get there? Or does she simply walk through the turnstiles without needing anything?

2) We'll be renting a stoller, but I read somewhere that you can't take them out of the park. Is this true? And to what extent? Can we take it to Downtown Disney and California Adventure, or take a Monorail ride? (We were thinking of taking a couple spins around the Monorail while she naps - as recommended by another friend with kids).

3) We were planning on doing the Lilo & Stitch breakfast at Paradise Pier. However, half the information I can find says that it's a buffet, and shows a traditional buffet line - and the other half says it's served to your table, "family style". We'd prefer a traditional buffet - which is it currently?

4) If the park hours are 9-10 that day, is it best to arrive right at opening if you have a young child? I know we'd want to do some of the more popular (for kids) attractions, such as Peter Pan and Nemo.

5) This has nothing to do with children - but does anyone have an idea when the Sunwheel (er, "Mickey's Fun Wheel") will be running again? The only site I found that shows when the DCA refubs are expected to be complete, says that it will be open when we go. The official calendar, however, says it won't. Soooo... I'm confused

#1- You just take the printed paper thru the gate & they'll scan it & hand you a plastic parkhopper card.....children 3 & under don't need or get a ticket.

#2- The strollers can between Disneyland & DCA but you will not be allowed to take it into DTD or thru the security towards the tram/bus loading area (which is the way to the Harbor motels)

#3- Lilo-n-Stitch is a small buffet or you can order off the menu. The only family style I know of is Ariel's Grotto for breakfast. Lilo's was a blast, it's a smaller restaurant & smaller meal. We met Daisy Duck at the photo op area & then were seated. The only characters coming around to the tables that day were Lilo & Stitch.....but we didn't notice a lack of characters, because they come to the table thru out the entire meal. We saw each of them 5 different times. They do a game like musical chairs called "Island Hopping" but no one gets eliminated....very fun game for the kids. They also taught the kids to hula. Lilo & Stitch play along during these games.

#4- Definately be in line at least 30 minutes prior to opening. The first 2 hours are your best shots on getting on the Fantasyland rides. Go to Peter Pan first, as this line will swell to an hour wait within a very short time & it will never get smaller.

#5- It's going to be a while.....I thought I saw that the lagoon construction would be done possibly by Labor Day....if that's the case, the SunWheel may reopen then.....but not sure.

Some suggestions for the 3 yr old: ToonTown....Goofy's playhouse has a rubberized flooring with a small play area for kids 2-5......good place to let her get out & run around a bit.

DCA-Playhouse Disney....if she watches the Disney Channel in the mornings, she'll really love seeing Mickey's Clubhouse, Handy Manny, My Friends Tigger & Pooh & the Little Einsteins.

Don't be afraid to try the 3 yr old on some of the "bigger" rides. Our 3 yr old did not like the dark rides but LOVED all the fast rides. Her favorite was BTMRR & eventhough it was dark......she LOVED Space Mtn. So you won't know until you try. We started her on the Matterhorn & then we knew she liked going fast.
Have a great trip!!

 

[romymichelle21]

I thought we should probably get there at opening - my Mom is the reluctant one! We live roughly an hour away, and she's afraid work traffic will be bad, since it'll be a weekday. (So, it may be a possibility, if we have breakfast after park opening - since it goes till 11:30).

The Monorail/nap suggestion was from a friend who has only been to WDW, so it might be different there (as for getting on and off). We'll just find somewhere else shady to sit, if she wants to nap in the stroller. If we have lunch at Downtown Disney, she can walk - she'll be wanting to do that at some point anyway, and better that we give her the opportunity where it isn't as crowded as the park itself.

I'll keep an eye on that DCA site! I know there are several right now. The kiddo was looking forward to the ferris wheel, so I wanted to make sure. (I've already explained that they'll be fixing it, so she doesn't get her hopes up).

As for the darker rides, she says she's not afraid of the dark - and actually keeps talking about wanting to see the ghosts! (Haunted Mansion). We'll see if that changes when she gets inside, though

She is only 36 1/2 inches now, so the only 'big kid' rides she's big enough for are Matterhorn and Gadget's Go-Coaster. She's excited about Matterhorn though, and "the big scary snowmonster!" (Although I'm bummed she won't be able to do Soarin', Splash, or Big Thunder those are all 40 inches).

We'll definitely check out ToonTown, Bug's Land, and the Playhouse Disney show!

 

[mechurchlady]

WDW has two monorail routes and they let guests ride as long as they want on them unless it is insanely busy. They are a wee bit different than DLR.

The suggestion of hitting the parks early is to avoid the parking hassle which can take up to half an hour to get to the parks. If you have a blue placard bring it. There is the stroller unloading, the elevator waiting, the walk to the tram, tram ride, and then walk to the parks with security also. Old days was when you got the stroller out then walked to the entrance or took a blue and yellow tram to the front area. It can be a long wait if you cannot fold the stroller, carry the stroller down the escalators and have a second person holding onto the kid's hand.

If they are parking two floors and you are on the lower floor then you might not get on the elevator as it is full. Take the elevator up then down, old trick I used to use.

You can take the monorail to Downtown Disney then do Goofy's Kitchen, Rainforest Cafe or walk over to Jazz kitchen for yummy beignets.

Do you know where to get stilts for the kid, lol. Someday she will be tall enough. If you get there at opening you could scurry over to Pixie Hollow to meet Tinkerbell. That is next to Buzz Lightyear ride and where Triton's Garden and Ariel were. Princess Fantisy Faire is free and you need to do that early to avoid a line.

 

[romymichelle21]

Stilts - I wish! DB's younger sisters told me, "When we were littler, mom used to put toilet paper in our shoes to make us taller!"

We live in Simi Valley (those of you SoCal residents), so I think we'd have to leave at about 7 to get there and to the gate by 9. Not having the stroller with us will save some of the unloading time, so that's good. I may actually be there already - there's a chance DB and I will be going the day before and staying at PP, so in that case I'd give her instructions on parking and finding us at the courtyard. (She hasn't been in like 20 years - so the parking structure and DCA are totally new). Come to think of it... maybe we should just meet her at the tram loading area. I can just picture her calling me saying, "I don't know where we are - we're staring at a Mickey Mouse"

I forgot about Pixie Hollow! Good thing I didn't tell her she could go meet Ariel.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Keep in mind that DTD can be just as busy crowd-wise as the parks....so letting her walk thru there could be tricky.....keep a tight hold!!!

 

[romymichelle21]

New questions!

First of all, we've decided to get there at opening (9 am), and do breakfast after a few of the major things. We'll head over to Peter Pan and Nemo and get those out of the way.

1) Do the stollers 'sell out' on non-peak weekday mornings? Would it be necessary to get it as soon as we get there, or could we come back sometime between 11:30 and 12:00 and still get one?

2) Does anyone know how early Tinkerbell and the Princesses are out? If they will be there at 10, 10:30-ish, we can go see one of them before breakfast.

3) I'm sure I can look this up fairly quickly, but I thought I'd just ask while I'm already here. Are ADRs for the Lilo & Stitch Breakfast at Paradise Pier necessary? Since it's a buffet, is there much of a wait if you don't have one? I'm not sure if we know exactly when we'd be heading over there. As soon as we can get Peter Pan and Nemo done!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

New questions!

First of all, we've decided to get there at opening (9 am), and do breakfast after a few of the major things. We'll head over to Peter Pan and Nemo and get those out of the way.

1) Do the stollers 'sell out' on non-peak weekday mornings? Would it be necessary to get it as soon as we get there, or could we come back sometime between 11:30 and 12:00 and still get one?

It really depends how crowded it is. I was there w/my cousins in February on the weekend, and they got a stroller in the afternoon at DCA with no problem. I'd recommend getting the stroller early and then you don't have to worry later about it, especially if she's tired, so she doesn't have a meltdown. Sometimes letting the little ones sit the stroller allows them to have more energy later in the day. If you have a Disney Visa you get to use the stroller for free.

2) Does anyone know how early Tinkerbell and the Princesses are out? If they will be there at 10, 10:30-ish, we can go see one of them before breakfast.

When we had the ladies' meet, a bunch of ladies went to the Princess Fantasy Faire at 9:30 to get a picture. Maybe one of them can weigh in & let you know how long it took to meet the princesses.

3) I'm sure I can look this up fairly quickly, but I thought I'd just ask while I'm already here. Are ADRs for the Lilo & Stitch Breakfast at Paradise Pier necessary? Since it's a buffet, is there much of a wait if you don't have one? I'm not sure if we know exactly when we'd be heading over there. As soon as we can get Peter Pan and Nemo done!

In my experience, Lilo & Stitch breakfast has not been very crowded in the morning, so a PS (ADRs = wdw, PS = dl) may not be necessary. I would say the wait would be 5 mins. You might decide to do the Minnie & Friends breakfast that is in Disneyland, thus saving you walking time to get to the Paradise Pier Hotel for the Lilo & Stitch breakfast. I would recommend a PS if you decide to do that.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

New questions!

First of all, we've decided to get there at opening (9 am), and do breakfast after a few of the major things. We'll head over to Peter Pan and Nemo and get those out of the way.

1) Do the stollers 'sell out' on non-peak weekday mornings? Would it be necessary to get it as soon as we get there, or could we come back sometime between 11:30 and 12:00 and still get one?

2) Does anyone know how early Tinkerbell and the Princesses are out? If they will be there at 10, 10:30-ish, we can go see one of them before breakfast.

3) I'm sure I can look this up fairly quickly, but I thought I'd just ask while I'm already here. Are ADRs for the Lilo & Stitch Breakfast at Paradise Pier necessary? Since it's a buffet, is there much of a wait if you don't have one? I'm not sure if we know exactly when we'd be heading over there. As soon as we can get Peter Pan and Nemo done!

According to the following thread, you might want to check the Times Guide to verify the opening time for Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell.

Pixie Hollow might open 30 minutes or 1 hour after DL's regular opening time.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2152012

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Heidi I would get a stroller in the AM. We got ours and just parked it in FL while we did the rides. We then picked it up and went to another "land" with the kids in it.

The PP seems like a pretty long walk for breakfast especially for a little one. Do you have a cheap umbrella stroller you could use? We brought one of those and then rented a stroller. We checked the umbrella stroller with Disney and used theirs. Then, when we left the parks we got our cheap one back and put the kids in that.

Have you shown her the FL rides on YouTube? I let my kids see all the rides before we went. I wanted to be able to gauge their reaction before I took them there. It was also easy to explain how much fun it would be. It helped reassure them when we got there.

You could stop by Town Hall and see where the characters will be appearing throughout the day. It might help you figure out who you can meet and when.

Don't forget to take her for musical chairs with Alice by Coke Corner.

 

[romymichelle21]

Looks like Tinkerbell and Princess Fantasy Faire open pretty early, which is nice.

We don't have an umbrella stroller just the regular size one, which she wanted to avoid having to bring. So we'll rent one in the morning and drop it off before breakfast. So the kid can walk maybe to Downtown Disney, then we'll just carry her. She's still little enough

I forgot you can ask Town Hall about the characters! We'll also be stopping there to get her a "1st Visit" button, and then one of the shops for a Disney Dollar exchange.

Oh and yes, she has seen almost all the rides on YouTube! She's very confident about wanting to go on Matterhorn with "the big scary snowmonster", and Haunted Mansion "with the singing ghosts". I told her it will be dark, and she says she doesn't care. So we'll see. (Also the train, Mark Twain, and Autopia - she's kind of a tomboy? )

Musical Chairs with Alice?? I've seen so many videos of Alice & Mad Hatter - they're hilarious. I'll ask about that at Town Hall too!

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

You could probably get a cheap umbrella for about $10.00 at Target or The Evil Empire if you really wanted too.

Carrying her doesn't sound so bad until you've tried it. It's a pretty long haul. Maybe it won't be too bad since you will be doing it earlier in the day.

My kids loved rides that I thought would scare them. You just never know.

Are you doing both PFF and Pixie Hollow? Those might be really long lines, I would maybe choose one or the other. Both for someone that small might be too much. Also I don't think they let you bring your stroller while you are waiting for those.

Are you doing Lilo and Stitch because she is such a tomboy?

Is this going to be her first time? She will love it.

 

[romymichelle21]

Between the Princesses and Tinkerbell, I think she'd like Tinkerbell more - I didn't really know what the Fantasy Faire thing was, but I just checked YouTube. It does indeed seem like a long-line type of thing.

As for the walk, I'll check out Target and see their cheapo stroller selection. I wasn't thinking that it was a very long walk, but that's for DB and I. (We usually cut through the Grand Californian Downtown Disney entrance, and then cross the street to Paradise Pier).

You never know what kids will like! I went with my little sisters a few years ago when they were 2 and 3 (before I was a regular), and the older one was totally fearless. When *I* went for the first time when I was 5, I cried on everything

We originally narrowed it down to lunch at Ariel's Grotto, Minnie's breakfast in the park, and the Lilo & Stitch breakfast. Ariel's was quickly ruled out because their menu has changed, and no longer looks appealing compared to what I remember. Between the 'original' Disney characters (Minnie, Pluto, etc), she likes Lilo & Stitch more.

Yes, this is her first time! She's very excited. I think my mom is getting a little sick of hearing about it

 

[romymichelle21]

Ok - my mom is driving me nuts - she's confused about all the kids menus being "ages 3-9". She thinks if my niece wants to eat, we'd have to share ours with her. How does it work if the child is under 3?

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I can't answer this with certainty but I think they are free. I know we took my DD when she was 18 months and I don't remember paying for her. It has been a while though. We did Goofy's Kitchen. We haven't done the other ones.

I bet you she looks like these guys.

My kids did the same thing the closer the trip got.

 

[romymichelle21]

Yes! Pretty much. She's a little bouncy.

I'm contemplating just... not telling her on Weds that Disneyland is "tomorrow", and just either telling her in the morning, or when we GET there.

She has no concept of what day it is yet - so she won't even know it's time until we tell her. So maybe just... skip that part?

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

It would be fun to do that to her. Her reaction would be priceless when she realizes that she is at Disneyland. If you do that make sure you take her picture.

I was thinking about your nap plan too. Can you ride around on the Disneyland RR a few times?

My kids usually fell asleep in the stroller without any special planning.