First time with 3 kids

[boymom]

Heading to Disney for 8 days in Ocober; 3 boys ages 11, 7 1/2 and 20 months. Any hints much appreciated! Staying at SOG buy also need to stay two nights near airport because of flight times. Any suggestions there? Do we need to rent a car? Thanks!

 

[JBurke]

We are also going Oct 5-13 with 3 kids; daughters 8 and 4 and son 12 months.
This are first time with 3 kids,so I dont have any tips. But we are renting a car to make getting around easier.
Janice

 

[colleen mcmaster]

We've been there 4 times with 4 1/2 y.o. and 2 1/2 year old - what kind of info. are you looking for. I'll try to help out if you have specific questions. (By the way, what is SOG). We always rent or bring our own car. We just like being able to drive to the parks instead of waiting for the bus. Also, you can eat or shop outside of WDW with your own car. You don't have to pay for parking at the parks if you're staying at a WDW resort and you can bring things in the car (raincoats, etc) rather than having to get a locker. Let me know what your other questions are.

 

[boymom]

I think we are leaning towards renting a car now. Do any of the resorts charge parking? SoG is Shades of Green; a military resort that is part of Disney (I think)! Any info on good character meals or fun places to eat that won't totally break the bank! Are any days better than others for certain parks and how are the crowds on the weekends? Any special hints that anyone has discovered to avoid meltdowns are also much appreciated!!

Thanks!

 

[colleen mcmaster]

Character meals are all sort of pricey, I guess you just have to decide if your kids will like it enough to justify the money. Rain Forest Cafe in downtown Disney is also fun (also a bit pricey). If you do a character meal, you may want to go to one of the Hotel meals on a day you're not at the park so you're not wasting ride time at a restaurant. Also, find out about the baby swap. This allows one parent to go on a ride with the older kids while one parent stays with baby. Then you switch so the big kids get to ride twice but only wait in line once. Tell the attendant at the front of the line that you want to do this and they'll tell you where to wait with baby. Bring your own stroller if possible as the WDW ones don't recline and are hard to sleep in. Bring more diapers than you think you'll need! Discuss a souvenir budget before you leave home so your kids know what to expect and make sure they know where they're staying and who the CM's are in case they get lost. Have a great time!!