First trip in November! Few questions for the pros

[barb702]

hi everyone! We have (me, DH and DD, will be 4 a week before the trip) Nov 12-16. We are only going a few days due to work, but we wanted to use this trip to get our feet wet, so to speak. So far here is the plan..
W 11/12, arrive 8:20pm at POP, via Spirit

TH 11/13, CRT 10:15, mk, mvmcp...not sure how long dd can make it, but she can always nap in the stroller if she needs it. When it's time for FP+, should I make one for right after CRT? We are not going to overplan, as I want DD to be able to explore and enjoy. She is a Frozen fan, so I thought maybe A&E, but then I thought by that time she may be happier just to start hitting some rides???Also, should I save the meets for the Xmas party, or do them during the day?

F11/14 AK...DD is allll about animals, so no way we are skipping AK! Any tips for the day? Depending on how she is by evening, we will either do DD or go back to POP.

S 11/15 back to MK to repeat or do what we didn't do Thursday.

s 11/16 leave at 3pm

Any tips are appreciated...I'm not sure what I should save for mvmcp and what to prioritize.
Do I need to call POP for anything ahead of time? What about magic bands, are they an additional cost?


Can't wait!!!!!!!! Thanks in advance for any input!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, barb.

Lots of questions there.

This site may be of some help...

http://**************.net/

 

[Robo]

to posting on the DISboards, Barb!

 

[Robo]

1. Do I need to call POP for anything ahead of time?

2. What about magic bands, are they an additional cost?

1. Nope.

2. Nope.

 

[wareagle57]

If she likes Animals I would suggest doing the Safari at least once. In the morning first thing and again close to closing. Maybe even make a FP for another one in the middle of the day? Definitely do all the animal trails and shows in the early afternoon when crowds are at their peak.

 

[suchaclassylady]

DH, DD4, and I will also be at POP that week as well 11/10-11/16! We plan to meet most characters at character dining and ride the rollercoasters w/o a long wait during the MVMCP. I haven't been to WDW in over 20 years and this will be DH and DD's first time ever. We use wdwprepschool.com a lot as I find this site is more small-child-family-friendly. She has a guide and touring plans for each park for young kids.

 

[BrianL]

Well, you're lucky in that md-November should be pretty light crowd-wise, so that should be nice.

I would do any meets you really want to do during the day, an the party has limited hours and exclusive meets. I don't know what the Christmas Party offers specifically, but there will be characters you won't see during the day. Ride lines should be super short during the party as most people will be doing these meets and other party activities.

Welcome to the boards!

 

[wildernessfreak]

For your AK day I'd suggest getting to the park at opening and walk straight to the back and do the Kilimenjaro Safari. There is usually little to no wait 1st thing in the morning. I also agree with others...do the animal viewing trails and shows (especially the bird show) for your little animal lover.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

If you AK trip is all about DD and animals don't skip Rafikis Planet Watch and the Conservation Station.

 

[Quasialamodo]

1. Nope.

2. Nope.

If your kid really likes Frozen, I would get the free magic band and then, once at Hollywood Studios- if they still have them- buy one of the Frozen magic bands and get all the info transferred over. Best of both worlds for 13 bucks, if you ask me.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

If your kid really likes Frozen, I would get the free magic band and then, once at Hollywood Studios- if they still have them- buy one of the Frozen magic bands and get all the info transferred over. Best of both worlds for 13 bucks, if you ask me.

I thought the special bands were thirty bucks?

 

[hops&dreams]

hi everyone! We have (me, DH and DD, will be 4 a week before the trip) Nov 12-16. We are only going a few days due to work, but we wanted to use this trip to get our feet wet, so to speak. So far here is the plan..
W 11/12, arrive 8:20pm at POP, via Spirit

TH 11/13, CRT 10:15, mk, mvmcp...not sure how long dd can make it, but she can always nap in the stroller if she needs it. When it's time for FP+, should I make one for right after CRT? We are not going to overplan, as I want DD to be able to explore and enjoy. She is a Frozen fan, so I thought maybe A&E, but then I thought by that time she may be happier just to start hitting some rides???Also, should I save the meets for the Xmas party, or do them during the day?

F11/14 AK...DD is allll about animals, so no way we are skipping AK! Any tips for the day? Depending on how she is by evening, we will either do DD or go back to POP.

S 11/15 back to MK to repeat or do what we didn't do Thursday.

s 11/16 leave at 3pm

Any tips are appreciated...I'm not sure what I should save for mvmcp and what to prioritize.
Do I need to call POP for anything ahead of time? What about magic bands, are they an additional cost?


Can't wait!!!!!!!! Thanks in advance for any input!!!

First - Welcome! First trip - how exciting!!

next - What type of vacationers are you? Early risers? Night owls? If you are early risers, and are a up and at 'em type of vacationing family, then I might suggest being at MK at rope drop (or EMH, if they have them) before your CRT meal on the first day. That way, you can get a couple of rides in before her big meal with Cinderella.

Also think about any traditions you may want to start.... Our first trip, we went on Small World as our first ride, and did again on our next trip. It will be our first ride our next trip too.

As for AK - Make sure you check out the Nemo musical... DD LOVED it when she was about 5-6. There were bubbles in the audience during one part of the show, and I thought DD was going to LOSE HER MIND with glee! DH and I enjoyed the show too - the puppets are amazing! And the movie has a sentimental significance for me and DH, so we never tire of the story.

We did not love the park as a whole (we have a general dislike for zoos/animals in captivity), but we did enjoy the Conservation Station. It was very educational, for kids and adults alike.

Also at AK - Dinosaur might be a bit intense for your DD. The kid in front of us about wet her pants, she was so scared and she was older than DD, who was 6 at the time. DD was scared, but was able to handle it, and asked to not go on it again. It was also very jarring for DH's back, so it was easy to skip the rest of the trip.

In case you don't know - here are times for Nov: (WDW travel agent info)
http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDWTravelAgent_november.pdf

and check out easywdw for projected crowds.

Looks like there will be a light parade on Sat night - try to catch it. DD LOVED watching it atop DH's shoulders when she was a tiny one. I also came armed with glow bracelets (from Michaels or clearance after halloween) to snap and give to DD, instead of her begging us for light-up toys that they always sell at night-time. That and Wishes - IMHO, there's not a better way to spend a last night at WDW!!

If your DD doesn't last all day, don't be afraid to take a trip back to your hotel room to get a good rest. It'll keep her fresh for the evening fun!! There are also plenty of things you can do if you don't have a hopper or can't get to a park after a rest - check out other resorts, go mini-golfing, take the monorail loop- just for fun!, watch the EWP and/or Wishes from another hotel's beach. We love to watch from Poly, but I think it's under construction? If you're not too pooped from travelling, you might be able to do the wishes/EWP that night. Wishes starts at 9 on the day of your arrival.

ok... that's all i've got. HTH!

 

[barb702]

Thank you all so far for all of the information!, we are definitely laid back travelers, more of the night owl variety. DD is...ummm quite hardy...never napped much, dropped her nap at age 2, very high energy. I am fine in letting her nap if she needs it, but I expect her to be amped up!

Do I need a FP for fotlk?
Think we will get through MK fairly quickly the day of mvmcp?