First time going in many years...opinions appreciated (TP)

[oldgrandad]

I have not been to WDW in years. I am taking my wife, daughter in law, and 3 year old grand-daughter in October. Opinions appreciated on my touring plans, as I want this to be special for her.

Arrive October 18 mid afternoon. Check in to POFQ. Dinner at Chef Mickey's for her first charter experience

October 19 (I know, it is not a recommend day, but it was the only breakfast at CRT that I could muster, plus the only night Wishes performs): We will break up our fp's to give the little one more rides.
8:10 Breakfast at CRT
FP: 9:40 Peter Pan, 10:45 Under the Sea, 11:50 Meet Rapunzel, 11:50 Meet Ariel.
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern at 1:10 and wait for FOF parade.
Leave park for 5 hours and return for Wishes. Take advantage of lower crowds until 11:00 pm and return to room.

October 20: Recommended day at Magic Kingdom
8:10 PPO breakfast at BOG
11:50 Lunch BOG
Hopefully get 1st ride on 7DMT
FP 9:15 PP, 10:25 Jungle Cruise, 11:25 Buzz, 12:40 7DMT (rider swap), 12:50 Meet Mickey Mouse on our way out of park.
Rest and swim at POFQ

October 21:
Rope drop HS and head to TSMM
10:15 Hollywoold and Vine
Disney Jr
Frozen Sing Along
Head to Epcot

FP at Epcot:
FEA at 2:40
Meet Disney Pals 3:40
Turtle Crush 4:40
Leave park.

Dinner at Boatwrights Dining Hall at 7pm

Any thoughts/recommendations appreciated.

TIA

 

[Klayfish]

At 3 years old, it's all going to be magical for her. Honestly, I'd just do my best to plan around the things you know she likes (princesses? certain characters? etc...). Beyond that, just make sure you don't overdo it where she wears out and gets cranky. Beyond that, I don't think you can go wrong no matter what you chose.

 

[oldgrandad]

Dang computer stopped whle I wsas in middle of post. Had to edit. Thanks for any help.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

You are going at a great time, don't worry about crowd levels at all, it's one of the least crowded times to go! I would just go slow, enjoy it and yes, take a break if she needs a nap, that really does make all the difference! Have a great time!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I have not been to WDW in years. I am taking my wife, daughter in law, and 3 year old grand-daughter in October. Opinions appreciated on my touring plans, as I want this to be special for her.

Arrive October 18 mid afternoon. Check in to POFQ. Dinner at Chef Mickey's for her first charter experience

October 19 (I know, it is not a recommend day, but it was the only breakfast at CRT that I could muster, plus the only night Wishes performs): We will break up our fp's to give the little one more rides.
8:10 Breakfast at CRT
FP: 9:40 Peter Pan, 10:45 Under the Sea, 11:50 Meet Rapunzel, 11:50 Meet Ariel.
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern at 1:10 and wait for FOF parade.
Leave park for 5 hours and return for Wishes. Take advantage of lower crowds until 11:00 pm and return to room.

October 20: Recommended day at Magic Kingdom
8:10 PPO breakfast at BOG
11:50 Lunch BOG
Hopefully get 1st ride on 7DMT
FP 9:15 PP, 10:25 Jungle Cruise, 11:25 Buzz, 12:40 7DMT (rider swap), 12:50 Meet Mickey Mouse on our way out of park.
Rest and swim at POFQ

October 21:
Rope drop HS and head to TSMM
10:15 Hollywoold and Vine
Disney Jr
Frozen Sing Along
Head to Epcot

FP at Epcot:
FEA at 2:40
Meet Disney Pals 3:40
Turtle Crush 4:40
Leave park.

Dinner at Boatwrights Dining Hall at 7pm

Any thoughts/recommendations appreciated.

TIA

I love CM as an arrival kick off WDW trip.

I think you need to worry about a little one out after Wishes on the 19th and back up again on the 20th for a PPO meal. My DGD would not have been able to do this. That is the only thing other than if you see a decent SB time for Peter Pan, I would try that. The SB queue is a favorite for my girls.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

IMHO, I would cancel the BOG breakfast. If you are planning on staying out at MK until 11 pm, that means you won't get back to your resort until about midnight. You then have to settle into bed and leave for MK no later than 7 am the next day. That won't give anyone enough sleep.

I would cancel the breakfast BOG (you'll be at BOG for lunch anyway), have a grab-and-go breakfast in the AM and then head to MK. I would also switch out one of your Peter Pan FP+ for something else. If you want to do PP twice, as another poster recommended, I would try to go through the standby line one of the times (if you go at RD on your second day, you could head straight there). The standby queue is super cute.

 

[richmo]

...I think you need to worry about a little one out after Wishes on the 19th and back up again on the 20th for a PPO meal. ...

That transition stuck out for me as well. You're looking at a midnight at the earliest bedtime for the 3 yr old, then turn around with an 8:10 breakfast that you'll have to get up way earlier for.

 

[Nancyg56]

That transition stuck out for me as well. You're looking at a midnight at the earliest bedtime for the 3 yr old, then turn around with an 8:10 breakfast that you'll have to get up way earlier for.

WE took two little girls last August, and they were 5 and 6, and used to later bedtimes with relatively early mornings. We stayed for Illuminations at 9 PM, and then PPO BOG the next day. It was a nightmare. They were up and out but they never made it all day. Even with a afternoon rest, it was not recoverable that day.

 

[oldgrandad]

thank you so very much for your suggestions. i will look to see if i can implement your suggestions into my plans.

 

[LoKiHB]

Great plan! Chef Mickey first night and CRT the next morning, that's probably the perfect combination for a little girl's first visit. Just like I tell everyone going for the first time (or the first time in a long time), MK is a MUST for your first park. I don't care how old you are or how many times you've been, nothing is better than walking through the underpass and seeing that castle, especially the first time. One recommendation, if you can pull it off. Make sure you can get video of your Granddaughter when she sees it all for the first time. That is a once in a lifetime experience.

Most of all, have a great time!

 

[oldgrandad]

thank you all so very much for your suggestions. I have been able to make a few changes in my fp and dining plans. I will take your suggestions on arriving later in the park so my little princess can get enough rest. Will get a couple of hours extra sleep, have breakfast at my resort, and plan on arriving at 10:00am. Was going to leave early, but will now stay until 4pm (and get out when mnsshp guests begin arriving, lol. Was able to score a 2PM lunch reservation at BOG.

Will now use FP for Jungle Cruise at 10:30, Buzz at 11:30, and keep my 7dmt at 12:40 and move mickey mouse meet and greet to 3pm slot as we are leaving the park (after seeing festival of fantasy parade if she wishes to see it again. That leaves me with a fp option if i cancel PP. I can move it to 2pm (we would have done pp on thne previous day), or switching to something else. Do kidsd that age enjoy tomorrowland speedway?

 

[aspen10]

thank you all so very much for your suggestions. I have been able to make a few changes in my fp and dining plans. I will take your suggestions on arriving later in the park so my little princess can get enough rest. Will get a couple of hours extra sleep, have breakfast at my resort, and plan on arriving at 10:00am. Was going to leave early, but will now stay until 4pm (and get out when mnsshp guests begin arriving, lol. Was able to score a 2PM lunch reservation at BOG.

Will now use FP for Jungle Cruise at 10:30, Buzz at 11:30, and keep my 7dmt at 12:40 and move mickey mouse meet and greet to 3pm slot as we are leaving the park (after seeing festival of fantasy parade if she wishes to see it again. That leaves me with a fp option if i cancel PP. I can move it to 2pm (we would have done pp on thne previous day), or switching to something else. Do kidsd that age enjoy tomorrowland speedway?

If you are not familiar with your granddaughter's typical schedule, I would ask your daughter-in-law to look over your itinerary. My 3 year old would not be able to make it (happily) until 11 p.m. nor would he make it until 2 for lunch. I have three boys, and they're generally best sticking roughly to the schedule they're used to for meals, naps and bedtimes (give or take an hour or two for bedtimes depending on age). I typically plan to be in the parks 9-1 or 2 and then back to the hotel for nap/pool. We head back to the park for dinner and leave around 8-8:30ish, as you still have commute time back to the hotel and then time to get to bed. It's a long day for them, and they're a mess if we deviate too far from their schedules. Then again, some kids do just fine without a schedule or naps! I'm not so lucky