Fall 2016 planning (continuation of 2016 Free Dining Watch)

[sahm2two]

Whew... I've been busy and haven't had to stalk for FD so I got behind! All caught up now.
Question for those with Elementary aged kids. We have 3 girls. They'll be 6, 7 and 8 on our trip. They've done 6 Flags several times with normal amounts of complaining about walking. Pretty much all day (12 hours). Not unbearable whining. I brought up the possibility of a single stroller to take turns with and my husband thought I was insane. All I know is that if it was an option by the 4th day I would have someone push me around!

How did you kids do at that age? We will only have 1 medium sized backpack so I can carry that while my husband gives shoulder rides here and there. But I don't carry my kids anymore, they're just too heavy. We were kind of looking forward to not having so much luggage this time but I just don't know!
How did your kids that age deal? What about at 11pm closing down a park when there are 3 of them and 2 of us?


Also not a question, but we are doing the memory maker this time and I'm really excited about it! We didn't last time and I spent most of our character meets taking pictures of the intersection with the characters so I feel like I missed experiencing it in the moment.

Do any of the character meals have photographers with them? I think no, but just checking!

 

[Becky Mouse]

Quick question.... If I purchase the memory maker and want pictures that the other people in my party take but are in seperate rooms are they able to link my memory maker to their rooms as well????

I'd called Disney about this same question! I purchased the Memory Maker, but it only let me link it to one person (I linked it to myself). However, I was worried what we'd do if I took my daughter to see Doc McStuffins while my husband took my son to Launch Bay. So, I called Disney and asked. They said that as long as everyone is linked to my Disney experience under my friends & family, that their pictures will get added to the memory maker. That works out great for us because my in-laws are coming with but in a separate room. They're linked to my Disney experience, so I think their pictures will get added on, too!

 

[CarnesFamily]

Whew... I've been busy and haven't had to stalk for FD so I got behind! All caught up now.
Question for those with Elementary aged kids. We have 3 girls. They'll be 6, 7 and 8 on our trip. They've done 6 Flags several times with normal amounts of complaining about walking. Pretty much all day (12 hours). Not unbearable whining. I brought up the possibility of a single stroller to take turns with and my husband thought I was insane. All I know is that if it was an option by the 4th day I would have someone push me around!

How did you kids do at that age? We will only have 1 medium sized backpack so I can carry that while my husband gives shoulder rides here and there. But I don't carry my kids anymore, they're just too heavy. We were kind of looking forward to not having so much luggage this time but I just don't know!
How did your kids that age deal? What about at 11pm closing down a park when there are 3 of them and 2 of us?


Also not a question, but we are doing the memory maker this time and I'm really excited about it! We didn't last time and I spent most of our character meets taking pictures of the intersection with the characters so I feel like I missed experiencing it in the moment.

Do any of the character meals have photographers with them? I think no, but just checking!

We were ready to rent a stroller from the park if we needed it for our boys (age 5 & 7) but didn't end up needing it. I did do several piggy back rides for the 5 yr old (I just viewed this as my way to working off all the Mickey's Bars!). We also went on almost daily walks beforehand. The thing I will do differently this time is to make sure the kids switch shoes everyday. By the last day, my 7 yr old had sore feet and I realized too late that he had been wearing the same shoes 5 days straight. It is easy to rent a stroller at the park so you can decide when you are there.

 

[CandiceF]

Whew... I've been busy and haven't had to stalk for FD so I got behind! All caught up now.
Question for those with Elementary aged kids. We have 3 girls. They'll be 6, 7 and 8 on our trip. They've done 6 Flags several times with normal amounts of complaining about walking. Pretty much all day (12 hours). Not unbearable whining. I brought up the possibility of a single stroller to take turns with and my husband thought I was insane. All I know is that if it was an option by the 4th day I would have someone push me around!

How did you kids do at that age? We will only have 1 medium sized backpack so I can carry that while my husband gives shoulder rides here and there. But I don't carry my kids anymore, they're just too heavy. We were kind of looking forward to not having so much luggage this time but I just don't know!
How did your kids that age deal? What about at 11pm closing down a park when there are 3 of them and 2 of us?


Also not a question, but we are doing the memory maker this time and I'm really excited about it! We didn't last time and I spent most of our character meets taking pictures of the intersection with the characters so I feel like I missed experiencing it in the moment.

Do any of the character meals have photographers with them? I think no, but just checking!

Last year CRT had a photographer with Cinderella when you first walked in. Akershus used to (not sure if they still do) have one with Belle when you first walked in. Ohana breakfast also had one last year following around Stitch from table to table.
Last year our kids were 3, 5 and 8 and we brought a double umbrella stroller. My DS8 was tired but never used it, however by the end of the night the other 2 were always in it. My DD5 was fine during the day but at night she always slept through the fireworks, LOL! We will bring the double umbrella stroller this year too for our 4 and 6 year olds. Even energetic kids sometimes tire out later in the day and don't make it until the fireworks and night time parade. This way my oldest can still see them and we don't have to hold two sleepy children. It was also handy to have the stroller when we had to run to an ADR or to use a FP before it expired and my DD5 would jump in instead of having to run.

 

[Funfire240]

Whew... I've been busy and haven't had to stalk for FD so I got behind! All caught up now.
Question for those with Elementary aged kids. We have 3 girls. They'll be 6, 7 and 8 on our trip. They've done 6 Flags several times with normal amounts of complaining about walking. Pretty much all day (12 hours). Not unbearable whining. I brought up the possibility of a single stroller to take turns with and my husband thought I was insane. All I know is that if it was an option by the 4th day I would have someone push me around!

How did you kids do at that age? We will only have 1 medium sized backpack so I can carry that while my husband gives shoulder rides here and there. But I don't carry my kids anymore, they're just too heavy. We were kind of looking forward to not having so much luggage this time but I just don't know!
How did your kids that age deal? What about at 11pm closing down a park when there are 3 of them and 2 of us?


Also not a question, but we are doing the memory maker this time and I'm really excited about it! We didn't last time and I spent most of our character meets taking pictures of the intersection with the characters so I feel like I missed experiencing it in the moment.

Do any of the character meals have photographers with them? I think no, but just checking!

We had our kids last year, 5 and 7 and a 6 year old. No stroller and they did fine. DS5 I was concerned about because he can tend to be a whiner but we had no problems. I think DH carried him out of MK once and that was for MNSSHP at about 11:00 p.m. We had a trip with 8 park days and they all did fine walking. It was so nice to be stroller free! We just took it at their pace and took breaks as needed.
The year before when they were 4 and 6 (and we didn't have the niece) we took an umbrella stroller for the little guy. DD (6 then) only went in the stroller once - when she was asleep after Pirates and Pals and we walked back to MK to catch the bus back - other than that she refused to be seen in the stroller no matter how tired she was.

 

[Hawkeyegirls]

Whew... I've been busy and haven't had to stalk for FD so I got behind! All caught up now.
Question for those with Elementary aged kids. We have 3 girls. They'll be 6, 7 and 8 on our trip. They've done 6 Flags several times with normal amounts of complaining about walking. Pretty much all day (12 hours). Not unbearable whining. I brought up the possibility of a single stroller to take turns with and my husband thought I was insane. All I know is that if it was an option by the 4th day I would have someone push me around!

How did you kids do at that age? We will only have 1 medium sized backpack so I can carry that while my husband gives shoulder rides here and there. But I don't carry my kids anymore, they're just too heavy. We were kind of looking forward to not having so much luggage this time but I just don't know!
How did your kids that age deal? What about at 11pm closing down a park when there are 3 of them and 2 of us?


Also not a question, but we are doing the memory maker this time and I'm really excited about it! We didn't last time and I spent most of our character meets taking pictures of the intersection with the characters so I feel like I missed experiencing it in the moment.

Do any of the character meals have photographers with them? I think no, but just checking!

I posted a question about using a stroller for my 5 year old and it was a big debate. But I'm going to bring our old umbrella stroller just in case. We may not use it the first few days but after 6 non stop days of go go go, Im sure she will use it.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Our youngest will be 5 when we go and I'm still up in the air about the stroller. I know if we bring a stroller my 8-year-old will want to use it too (she's small) and they'll squabble. But it would be nice to have it...then again it would be nice to not have to worry about it...argh, I'm so indecisive! Good thing I have a long time to decide, lol.

 

[Disneylover99]

When my kids were six, I always brought an umbrella stroller with me and never regretted it.

 

[SunnieRN]

I look at a stroller for a child 8 or under as insurance. It can make the difference between an enjoyable time or getting a visit from Master or Missy crankypants. Lol

 

[kellyjeanie]

You guys make really good points! It wouldn't hurt to have one in the room, just in case...

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I look at a stroller for a child 8 or under as insurance. It can make the difference between an enjoyable time or getting a visit from Master or Missy crankypants. Lol

I agree. No matter how great your kids are at walking at home, after 3 or 4 park days everything can change. If someone has an issue with my 7 year old in a stroller, that's their problem! I'd rather have it just in case. Plus it's great for storing jackets, snacks, etc.

 

[SunnieRN]

Lol on our last trip I saw a dad pushing one of the Disney strollers and inside were a Mom and two little girls dressed in their BBB outfits. Including those little princess shoes, ouch!

 

[ldauksch]

Lol on our last trip I saw a dad pushing one of the Disney strollers and inside were a Mom and two little girls dressed in their BBB outfits. Including those little princess shoes, ouch!

Oh my gosh that is hilarious!

ETA: I did joke with some ladies that I first "met" here and then we were also in the same FB group and had a running private message up until our November trips last year that after making my list of items to try at F&W my husband was going to be pushing me in my stroller since most of the items were alcoholic beverages That didn't actually happen.

 

[kellyjeanie]

I agree. No matter how great your kids are at walking at home, after 3 or 4 park days everything can change. If someone has an issue with my 7 year old in a stroller, that's their problem! I'd rather have it just in case. Plus it's great for storing jackets, snacks, etc.

That's the thing, my kids aren't that great walking at home, lol. We camp in the summer and when we take them for a short hike they complain like it's some sort of death march. But the only stroller we have is an 11-year-old crappy umbrella stroller so I'd either have to rent or buy something, so it just comes down to an extra expense. And yes, I would miss the basket and the cup holders! Maybe I'll get lucky at garage sales this summer.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

We've been several times. The show is really fun and I would not really agree that the food is horrible but I'm not going to say it's great either. I think individual impressions of the food depends on a couple things...

1. Do you like German foods (particularly Brats, Sauerkraut, Schnitzel, etc...), if not then it would definitely be a bad choice.
2. If you like German are you accustomed to REALLY good German. If so then again probably not a good option.

Living in the south, German restaurants are pretty few and far between, compared with the ones I've been to in North Carolina it is on par or perhaps even better and it is definitely better than the German restaurant at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. That being said I've been to a couple in the Maryland/Northern VA area where the food is much better than Biergarten and so if that is your expectation then you would be disappointed.

Lol! Yes, by horrible, I meant sausages and such just really do not appeal to me. Don't German's eat a lot more different foods than the Biergarten selection? They seem to have focused a lot on the pork/sausage aspect. The atmosphere just looks so fun though! I still can't decide if it is worth the trade off!

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

Does anyone know what's happening with Hoop Dee Doo this fall? It seems that the 6:15 show isn't available at all for most fall dates. According to CMs, it's not sold out, just not available to book, but they don't know why. I have a 4pm ADR for 11/11 as a backup, but I'm really hoping the 6:15 time opens back up. Insight anyone?

I thought the same for Fantasmic. But the Hoop Dee Doo issue starts in September....

I thought it was just me! I have not called but couldn't get the 6:15 for anytime in the beginning of September. Is the 4 o'clock show not popular and they are trying to fill it up first? If someone gets opening for the 6 o'clock one let me know please!

I have a Hoop Dee Doo 6:15 for the first week of October. My ADRs opened but could not book HDDR as they had not released those dates for that show. It was crazy, I booked 5 days later when they "finalized" the schedule and opened October for booking. I drove myself crazy checking and every phone CM gave a different answer. This was about 5 days after Easter when I booked. I checked a few days later and my date was sold out for that showing.

 

[Meeko5]

We will be renting a double jogging stroller again from kingdom strollers. Last year it was a lifesaver for the 6yo. Could he have walked? Yes. At an acceptable pace and without whining incessantly? Absolutely not.

And just having both kids in to wade through the crowds was well worth it. I didn't have to worry about my oldest getting separate and/or making his sweaty little hand hold mine haha!

 

[cshell624]

Does anyone know if tips are still included when you use the dining plan at Hoop Dee Doo?

 

[Disneylover99]

Does anyone know if tips are still included when you use the dining plan at Hoop Dee Doo?

Yes. I just booked it a few days ago. It said tax and gratuity was included in the price.

 

[Disneylover99]

I just got my second Incredible's Vacation booklet in the mail today.
I can't cancel now. Disney really wants me to come.