First time with my kids

[ChisJo]

My kids will be 5 and 2, and this is their first time going to WDW. I've been many times in the past, as a single traveller, with hubby or friends/family. But, I've never gone with children. In the past, I've had a very intense, almost corporal, planning guide. However, I'm trying to just go with the flow and let my kids take it in. My older child has a bit of anxiety, so I don't want to completely overwhelm him with too much planning. We rented a house off property as one way to help him decompress and we plan on going back there in the afternoons. But, when it comes to what fastpasses and rides to do, would you just recommend kind of taking it one day at a time, or plan like a crazy woman now?

 

[isabellea]

Book FP+ for the rides it’s almost impossible to get FP+ the day off and based on how he is, keep them, modify or cancel them. Most rides you can get a FP+ the day off but not 7DMT, FOP, Test Track, FEA, Navi(?).

 

[Average Joes]

FP+ does seem to require that you plan like a crazy person sometimes. How does the 5 year old handle something like a zoo? Can he handle it half a day? I'm just wondering if you think he could RD when crowds are a bit less, then soon after do your FP. Maybe book the preferred FP first when he can still handle being in the park. As is often said you know your kid best.

 

[alohamom]

My kids were 4 and 2 when we took them for the first time.

My philosophy then was to let the trip be about them and their first experience. I really did not do a lot of planning but I wish I had because we ended up doing a lot of waiting.

I would honestly get those fast passes booked because you dont have to use them, you can still go with the flow that is sort of based around a few set times.

I say this because the one thing my eldest had really wanted to do on that first trip was Dumbo. The line for that (there was only the one Dumbo back in the day) was almost two hours and we did it but I will NEVER forget it hahaha. It would have been much better if we could have fastpassed this-not so much from a "lets get to the next ride" point of view but from "lets not have two toddlers waiting for ages in line" point of view.

I made sure we had a small backpack with a few in line activities so the lines ups would be fun. (hot wheels cars, a few no-mess markers and paper, little toy figurines, tiny tiny tiny books-stuff I usually took to restaurants)

Plus snacks-goldfish crackers and raisins-and water

We made sure that naps in the stroller were made a priority (Tom Sawyers island is your best friend for this and decompression)

I think you are very smart to have the house off property. Another thing it to find those quiet places in the parks like Tom Sawyers island, the British and Canadian gardens at Epcot, the forest trails at AK (even on the busiest days, these always seem to feel different than the rest of the parks to me) The people mover is great for little kids

I guess what I would do differently is to plan the heck out of that first trip and then let it go if I needed to, especially when it comes to anxiety.

 

[ngm]

My philosophy is plan like crazy, but then be okay with the plan going off the rails. Also, the kids don't have to know all the planning! I always book FPs for the hard-to-get rides and ones I know we'll want, and ADRs (I know we'll want to eat). Those plans, to me, ease the craziness. Means less standing in line, less stress. If we change our plans, then we change our plans and I haven't lost anything by not using the FPs.

 

[Donald - my hero]

You will have so much fun looking at things thru your kids eyes! But adding anxiety to the mix will require some planning and i agree that being off-site will help your eldest's need to have space that is calmer. You know your child best -- a thrill seeker is probably not high on his list so i would scratch roller coasters and the more intense rides at Animal Kingdom and The Studios and keep to more of the gentle-family friendly rides so you don't need to add in the stress of doing child-swapping with your youngest. The rides that are most popular for the young crowd are Peter Pan & Winnie-the-Pooh. There is an interactive que but if he gets overwhelmed with stimulus you might be better off getting FP for those and judge how he is in the line and perhaps go back later. You will need to look at maps and figure out where some quieter spots are (Tom Sawyers Island is IDEAL -- we took our 28 yr old daughter there last year when the crowds were simply too much for her!!) I would imagine you've taken time to talk with your kids about the trip (if not you really better, we didn't involve our youngest much in the planning when she was 8 and she was so stressed that it took till the end of the 1st full week to enjoy the parks) -- ask him in general terms what he's looking forward to because if he has a picture in his mind of what he will be doing and it doesn't happen it could lead to a melt-down when you walk past that one "i want to do that and ONLY THAT" ride/meal/character.

I agree with a PP that no-one else needs to know the planning you need to do but it will make things easier for YOU if you have a plan to refer to. There are things he might enjoy that aren't "traditional" but will still be exciting -- ride the monorail loop to EPCOT, a ferryboat to one of the deluxe resorts, head over to Fort Wilderness and see the animals in the petting zoo (within walking distance of the dock), take the train in AK to see the animal "hospital", do some of the scavenger hunts to give him something to focus on that he controls. Make sure you have food handy if that is something that causes tension because at times the lines at even the counter service places can be overwhelming.

You'll have a blast with your kids, take time to go slower, look closer at things at their level, and listen to their needs even if it means splashing in a puddle!!!

 

[ChisJo]

Thanks for all the advice. I will start planning like mad then! But be understanding that things might not turn out as expected. I appreciate all of your responses!