First time as a family and need help please!!!

[3specialprincesses]

I have been to DLP 3 times before but the last time was 12 years ago

Anyhow I am now grown up (well sort of ) and I have 3 beautiful princesses of my own (4 years, 1 year and just 8 days!)

We have booked to go to DLP on 9th Dec for 3 nights/4 days staying at Santa Fe. This is where my questions start....

1. Will the room have kettle for making up feeds for baby?
2. Whats the bed situation, bunks etc..?
3. We have B&B what is the breakfast like?
4. Do they do room upgrades?

Ok I have more questions too, your going to hate me.

1. The children will be 4 years, 19 months and just 11 weeks when we go, how will this work with rides? Its just me and my husband going.
2. Do they have a lower age limit or will baby be allowed on rides?
3. How does parent switch work?
4. I have been advised to pre-book meals, where would you recommend for character meals?
5. Can I upgrade breakfast?
6. Last one for now......two single pushchairs or a double, which wouold you do?

Thanks
Lou
x

 

[ellis9905]

Hi,

1) you can hire a kettle from reception
2) beds are two double beds
3) loud and busy!! its a buffet- que into the resturant, collect your try of breakfast then find atable
4) no idea about room upgrades

4) id whole heartadle recommend cafe mickey
5) no i dont think you can upgrade your breakfast- though maybe wrong
6) personally id take two singles- easier to get through crowds etc

HTH

 

[Tinkjon]

Hiy!

> 1. Will the room have kettle for making up feeds for baby?
> 2. Whats the bed situation, bunks etc..?

I'm not sure about that but you will be able to find out on the opfficial website - they have overviews of the hotels and room descriptions.

> 3. We have B&B what is the breakfast like?

Nothing hot but rolls, croissants, ham, cheese, cereal etc.

As for your other questions, the baby will be allowed on some rides but not all. That's where you'd use babyswitch. Either you or your husband will queue for the ride whilst the other waits at the ride exit. When one of you comes off the ride the CM will let the other one of you on whilt the 1st looks after the baby. Your girls could ride with either parents, I think. This is a great idea but when we last went 2 years ago it was very unclear where to stand for babyswitch (not always easy to find the ride exits) and many of the CMs seemed unsure how it worked - some had never even heard of it! This may well have changed by now though.

> 4. I have been advised to pre-book meals, where would you recommend for > character meals?

If the girls are into princesses then you have to do Auberge Du Cendrillon!

> Last one for now......two single pushchairs or a double, which wouold you > do?

I would do 2 singles. Then you're not tied to staying together the whole time if the older child wants to ride something more adventurous or if just one of you needs the loo or something.

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi 3specialprincesses,
Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome you to the DLP DIS board

We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477038,
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[flortlebap]

Just wanted to post to say welcome and things will have changed dramatically in the last 12 years!

We're leaving in three days and my friend who also hasn't been for around 15 years said her mother took her when she was 10, apparently she referred to it as "the big pavement where you could meet mickey mouse"

Happy planning

Btw, I can't comment on a lot of the points. But I'd say definitely take two separate pushchairs - we have twins who were used to a double stroller but taking two seperately made life SO much easier.

Also on a side note - Disney can really try your patience with young children. Just remember to take things at their pace and accept you may not be able to do everything you want. And if park hours permit, go home and nap or swim. Kids really need time to recharge their batteries or they can become a nightmare, meltdowns and tantrums in the middle of the parks are NOT fun!

I don't want to put you off though you'll still enjoy it, it's fab with kids.

 

[noodlesmum]

Hello! I'll try and do my best...

1. Will the room have kettle for making up feeds for baby?

Prob not - though you would be able to pay a deposit and have one put in your room. We took our 18 week old and took a cold water steriliser and cartons of Aptimil milk - Worked really well for us. I wouldn't risk getting a kettle there - I'd take a travel one with you.

2. Whats the bed situation, bunks etc..?
Most of the onsite hotels have two doubles in a room and can provide a cot. Santa Fe has a few bunk beds but that's luck of the draw if you get them. If you want bunks ring up about 5 days before you go and request them - the phone number is in the useful thread.


3. We have B&B what is the breakfast like?

Nice but manic. We stayed at the Santa Fe last time and only ate there one morning. When you check in ask for a park breakfast (they are free) see if you can get one for the next morning. Then every evening (a bit cheeky but worth it!) go via reception and see if they have any for the following day. The food is pretty much the same in the park but a much nicer atmosphere, expect fruit salad, croissants, pain au choc, yoghurt, petit pains, cereals, ham and cheese etc.


4. Do they do room upgrades?

Not at the Santa Fe - though you could be upgraded to another hotel in exceptional circumstances, or to a room closer to the river. However if you want bunks I'd just let them put you where the bunks are!

1. The children will be 4 years, 19 months and just 11 weeks when we go, how will this work with rides? Its just me and my husband going.

You should be fine, we took a baby sling for our DS when we went - it really helped with queues etc.

2. Do they have a lower age limit or will baby be allowed on rides?

The baby will be allowed on all rides that don't have a height restriction. If you look on the magical kingdoms site there are a list of all the rides and the restrictions. However some rides you might want to use your own judgement - we went on peter pan and regretted it - it was far to jerky for DS.

3. How does parent switch work?

We didn't use this but someonw will know!


4. I have been advised to pre-book meals, where would you recommend for character meals?

Cafe Mickey and the auberge

5. Can I upgrade breakfast?

Yep - for free to be taken in the park or by paying and having a hot buffet and Cafe Mickey (I'd do this before you go)


6. Last one for now......two single pushchairs or a double, which wouold you do?

2 singles for sure - take a bike lock to lock them to each other while you are on rides.

You might also want to look into a shareholders card with all those mouthsto feed! It could be a real moneysaver - you'll have to get on it fairly quickly though to have it in time for your trip. It took us 6 week from buying the shares to getting the card

Hope that helps!

 

[kizzabel]

1. Will the room have kettle for making up feeds for baby? You can get them at recetion
2. Whats the bed situation, bunks etc..? When we stayed there was 2 doubles
3. We have B&B what is the breakfast like? Cereals, bread rolls, cold meats, yoghurts, toast, stewed fruit, crossants, pain du chocolate, juices. All in all its quite good
4. Do they do room upgrades? Yes - rooms by the rio grande river or near the reception, i wouldnt bother with either - just ask for a ground floor room to make it easier with the baby, congrats by the way!!!


1. The children will be 4 years, 19 months and just 11 weeks when we go, how will this work with rides? Its just me and my husband going. Some rides have baby swaps, one parent rides then takes baby when the other goes on - ask a cm at front of que
2. Do they have a lower age limit or will baby be allowed on rides? baby will be allowed on some rides i think
3. How does parent switch work? see q1
4. I have been advised to pre-book meals, where would you recommend for character meals? Cafe Mickey!! Auberge is the princess meal but the foods not to everyones taste - have a look at the reviews / dlrp food guide
5. Can I upgrade breakfast? Nope - we got coffee and biscuits on main st usa a couple of times which was nice - try for breakfast in the park aka good morning fantasyland which is handy for extra magic hours and is a bit different - ask at check in
6. Last one for now......two single pushchairs or a double, which wouold you do? Single and a double - i would definately have a buggy for your 4 year old aswel, she will be exhausted, brought/hired buggy for my dd (4) our last 2 trips and even at that she slept in it!! if you and your OH want to do things with the girls seperately this will work best

Hope this helps

 

[3specialprincesses]

thanks so much for all your messages, certainly give me food for thought xx

 

[adr2.8i]

i have just come back this week from the santa fe with a 4yr old and a 12 week old baba....

we had a double bed and a set of bunk beds.
we hired a kettle from reception for the 5 days, 30Euros which you get back and the end of your stay.
we took cold water sterilizing bags which were fantastic and very easy to use.
breakfast is chaotic there, id advise gettin down there before 8am....we had 7.30am slots and it was managable(just!) but after 8 it went mad.....frosties,special kay and chocolate flakes were the cereal choices, along with bread rolls,few different cold hams, toast,couissants, and fruit chunks...
we didnt upgrade but were on the 1st floor so we used the lift so there wasnt an issue with our pushchair. we stayed in block 14, room 143....small and compact but clean,warm and comfy beds!
a few rides we tried to get our baby on with us but were refused because she was under 12 months old. she only managed to get on its a small world!
definatley recommend cafe mickey!! but book early!
we took a pram and borrowed a buggy board for our 4yr which was a godsend!! believe me, your 4yr old will love it and need it!!

hope that helps a little