First-timers* with more credits than sense

[nbs2]

If this is in the wrong place, let me know or move it or flame me - I'm fine with whatever.

As a bunch of first time* visitors from 10/10-10/16, we really aren't sure what to expect on our fun and exciting trip to the House that Mickey built. We ended up with FD, and went through a good 20 ADRs before I settled on a plan. We have some ideas for our CS meals, but nothing is set in stone. Nevertheless, I've included out likely destinations.

Sun: WCC (Dinner), Cosmic Ray's
Mon: Boma (Dinner), Flame Tree
Tues: Akershus (Dinner), FW/Tangerine
Wed: CRT (Dinner), Pecos Bill
Thurs: Le Cellier (Dinner), FW/Yorkshire
Fri: CP (Breakfast), WPE/Cookes of Dublin
Sat: None, ??

*I say first time, as I haven't been to WDW since 94 (field trip, 8th grade) or any Disney property since 2001, the missus hasn't been to WDW or any Disney since "a long time ago," and the kids have never been.

So, who are we?

I'm not one for pseudonyms, but I'm certainly not one to share too much personal information (don't be surprised to never see a picture of the kids), so that leaves me at a small point of uncertainty on how to explain us. Here goes.

The Dad. I eat nearly anything and everything (and lots of it), and I'm struggling with convincing myself that I shouldn't. I find my just-outside-of-Normal BMI irritating, but between my commute and kids bedtimes, I'm just not willing to do much about it. Oh - I do have a couple things I won't eat. Tomatoes and bananas.

The Mom. She will eat anything, but is more limited in how much. I take that back. She doesn't like processed food, especially hot dogs.

The Girl. She's three. She will sometimes eat the most exotic of foods, sometimes she won't eat anything but rice (there was a 3 week period where that was all she would eat).

The Boy. He's not quite one. He's eating solids, but no meat until he gets his first upper tooth. No sweets until he turns one.

Why are we going? She's potty trained and it was going to be his first birthday. We changed our dates to coincide with some friends, but we're going to celebrate his birthday anyway (of course, it'll be his companions that eat any celebratory foods that may come his way). If there is anything extra awesome on a menu that we should try or a waiter we should ask for (I've got the thread I posted bookmarked), let me know.

 

[Tink rules]

Enjoy F&W!!! There will be so much to try... take time to enjoy it all!

 

[Brygida]

As a bunch of first time* visitors from 10/10-10/16, we really aren't sure what to expect on our fun and exciting trip to the House that Mickey built. We ended up with FD, and went through a good 20 ADRs before I settled on a plan. We have some ideas for our CS meals, but nothing is set in stone. Nevertheless, I've included out likely destinations.

Sun: WCC (Dinner), Cosmic Ray's
Mon: Boma (Dinner), Flame Tree
Tues: Akershus (Dinner), FW/Tangerine
Wed: CRT (Dinner), Pecos Bill
Thurs: Le Cellier (Dinner), FW/Yorkshire
Fri: CP (Breakfast), WPE/Cookes of Dublin
Sat: None, ??

I went with my son when he was 1 and when he was 3. My best food advice (since you posted under dining) was trying to eat the main meal (sit-down) of the day at lunch time. Everything except Boma on your list can be done at lunch. A typical daily itinerary went something like this:

• Arrive at park around park opening. The kids have been up for a couple hours anyway so this usually is NOT a conflict for that age group.
• Ride (mostly walk-ons) for 2-3 hours. Get fastpasses to be used during evening touring (don't worry about the time listed, MOST CM will accept a fastpass anytime after the stated hour, even on another day).
• Head to lunch. Eat.
• Drive back to hotel for naps, swims, rest in the room.
• Head to park (or DD or a resort). Have a light dinner.
• Do the fast pass rides and return to the hotel for normal (more or less) bedtime.

I remember that 1 year olds really love Animal Kingdom (especially the trails with stuff at eye level) and Fantasyland.

If you haven't already, expose the 3 year old especially to video of the characters, so they know what to expect. Make their first "ride" something very innocuous - preferably something they can see and want to go on.

Hope this helps!

 

[nbs2]

I went with my son when he was 1 and when he was 3. My best food advice (since you posted under dining) was trying to eat the main meal (sit-down) of the day at lunch time. Everything except Boma on your list can be done at lunch. A typical daily itinerary went something like this:

• Arrive at park around park opening. The kids have been up for a couple hours anyway so this usually is NOT a conflict for that age group.
• Ride (mostly walk-ons) for 2-3 hours. Get fastpasses to be used during evening touring (don't worry about the time listed, MOST CM will accept a fastpass anytime after the stated hour, even on another day).
• Head to lunch. Eat.
• Drive back to hotel for naps, swims, rest in the room.
• Head to park (or DD or a resort). Have a light dinner.
• Do the fast pass rides and return to the hotel for normal (more or less) bedtime.

I remember that 1 year olds really love Animal Kingdom (especially the trails with stuff at eye level) and Fantasyland.

If you haven't already, expose the 3 year old especially to video of the characters, so they know what to expect. Make their first "ride" something very innocuous - preferably something they can see and want to go on.

Hope this helps!

I appreciate the suggestions about AK - we're debating spending a second day at AK or going to HS on our last day, it's all still up in the air. But, this tells me that we may be looking at two days of AK. I'm fine either way.

I already know what line we will be taking the older one to first. We probably won't make park opening, but hopefully the line won't be too long for Magic Carpets. I plan on spending multiple hours going through the line, getting on, getting off, getting back in line, getting on, getting off. I'm not sure if they offer a rider swap there since there is no height restriction, but I'm not sure how you secure a 1yo. If available, it could be an even busier timeslot. As for Disney characters, I don't know how she knows who Mickey Mouse is (we've never watched a Mickey video), but she's pretty familiar with all the Disney characters, especially the princesses, especially Jasmine.

The dinners should be fine - we normally eat around 8 at home, but our latest WDW meal, WCC, is at 6:40 (earliest, CRT, is at 4). Looking at your itinerary, ours will simply have us getting back to the hotel earlier for nap time, and leaving earlier to get to dinner.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I appreciate the suggestions about AK - we're debating spending a second day at AK or going to HS on our last day, it's all still up in the air. But, this tells me that we may be looking at two days of AK. I'm fine either way.

I already know what line we will be taking the older one to first. We probably won't make park opening, but hopefully the line won't be too long for Magic Carpets. I plan on spending multiple hours going through the line, getting on, getting off, getting back in line, getting on, getting off. I'm not sure if they offer a rider swap there since there is no height restriction, but I'm not sure how you secure a 1yo. If available, it could be an even busier timeslot. As for Disney characters, I don't know how she knows who Mickey Mouse is (we've never watched a Mickey video), but she's pretty familiar with all the Disney characters, especially the princesses, especially Jasmine.

The dinners should be fine - we normally eat around 8 at home, but our latest WDW meal, WCC, is at 6:40 (earliest, CRT, is at 4). Looking at your itinerary, ours will simply have us getting back to the hotel earlier for nap time, and leaving earlier to get to dinner.

Have fun! I bet she has seen Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We just went last November with a 3 year old and 4.5 year old. We're going again in March with an (almost) 8 month old, a 4.5 year old and 6 year old. I'm sure your kids will have a blast! Definitely plan on spending time in character lineups! Also, be prepared of your kids being scared by things you wouldn't necessarily expect. Our very first ride after Dumbo was Pooh, which is an indoor ride that isn't supposed to be scary. My almost 5 year old FREAKED OUT and refused to go on any other indoor rides. My husband and I thought oh god, we spent all this money and we can't go on rides! We went on no other indoor rides that day (luckily it was arrival day - a half day!!! It would have been awful if it was a full day!). We went only on Tomorrowland Speedway, the teacups, then saw Mickey's Philharmagic, and saw Spectromagic and Wishes. The day was still magical, but a fear of indoor rides is very problematic for Disney.

But then, we eased her back in by forcing her to go on Nemo at Epcot (this was after she refused to go on the Mexico Boat ride) - we lured her on because she thought the clam shell looked cool and because we told her that this was an "easy ride" and if she couldn't do this one, there was no way she could go on Soarin, which she had seen on the WDW travel video and really wanted to ride - and she loved Nemo. We went on it again and after that she was fine - she went on Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track...no more ride issues. I've heard of other kids having issues with characters. So just be prepared that they might get scared and if they do, don't be discouraged. Try and reintroduce whatever it is they are afraid of slowly. Also have them watch some rides on Youtube and on the free WDW vacation planner.

 

[Brygida]

Also, be prepared of your kids being scared by things you wouldn't necessarily expect. Our very first ride after Dumbo was Pooh, which is an indoor ride that isn't supposed to be scary. My almost 5 year old FREAKED OUT and refused to go on any other indoor rides.

But then, we eased her back in by forcing her to go on Nemo at Epcot (this was after she refused to go on the Mexico Boat ride) - we lured her on because she thought the clam shell looked cool and because we told her that this was an "easy ride" and if she couldn't do this one, there was no way she could go on Soarin, which she had seen on the WDW travel video and really wanted to ride - and she loved Nemo. We went on it again and after that she was fine - she went on Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track...no more ride issues.

You took your 5 year old on Mission Space? After she was afraid of Pooh?

 

[Kathy Z]

Having a small light up toy is a good idea for little children who may be afraid of the darker indoor rides. We took a ball, slightly smaller than a tennis ball, that, when squeezed, lights up in various color lights for a short while. It's not enough light to interfere with other passengers enjoyment of the ride but gives your child something with light to hold onto if needed.

Our only problem with 7 year-old granddaughter occurred in EPCOT's "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience." She got very upset and I took her out of the theater where we waited for my DH & our 10 year-old granddaughter. The other 3-D shows we went to she refused to wear the glasses and was fine. If we had done them in a different order she might have well enjoyed Mickey's Philharmagic and Muppet Vision with 3-D glasses on. We skipped "It's Tough to be a Bug" in AK.

Back to op & ADR questions: Hopefully you already have your ADR's for the TS meals. Boma is one of our favorites. We've done CP & Akershus each for lunch. The 7 & 10 year old girls enjoyed both of them. Jasmine was not at Akershus the day we went but Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella & Ariel all were. We saw Jasmine & Aladdin later at a character greeting spot by the lagoon near Morocco. We also think Flame Tree is the best CS in WDW. They're closed for renovations sometime in October, I forget the exact dates. We also liked Cosmic Ray's.