Gay Parents

[pdy11366]

My Partner and I are headed to WDW in July. It will be mine and our sons first trip, and her first in over 20 years.

Moms and Dads, how have your experiences been in WDW with your kids?

 

[Timrobb]

We have been three times in the last two years with our daughter. We have NEVER had an issue. Of course our DD is cute as a button (LOL) - but nobody has ever said boo!

Go = have fun and be YOURSELVES!

 

[Uncle Remus]

My Partner and I are headed to WDW in July. It will be mine and our sons first trip, and her first in over 20 years.

Moms and Dads, how have your experiences been in WDW with your kids?

OMG, 20 years?
Tell her it's really grown.

Disney is still lots of fun and the folks are much more broad minded now.

Have fun.






My gawd, they've never been to Disney and that's all they wanna know? Don't they wanna know where to
see all the characters 'n where's the best place to eat 'n do they already know where to stay or which parade starts when?

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

My gawd, they've never been to Disney and that's all they wanna know? Don't they wanna know where to
see all the characters 'n where's the best place to eat 'n do they already know where to stay or which parade starts when?

I know it's amazing isn't it?


Um, Hi! It's nice to have you here on the board. I don't have kids, but I am a huge planning nut when it comes to going to WDW. Do you have any other planning questions that we can help you with? Really, I would love to help you.

 

[pdy11366]

RIght now we are waiting for Allegiant to post AUgust airfares, since we are flying home on the 1st. And waiting for the July schedules to come out.

How about the park hopper? WIth a 3 year old, we won't be going at full steam. But have thought about the strategy of going for EMH then hitting a different park once it gets crowded.

Do you like the parkhopper?

Thanks, Dawn

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We have APs so love park hopping. However, we took a 6 year old relative to WDW for several days. We bought him a park hopper and ended up never using the feature.

We'd go to the park of the day, come out in the early afternoon, swim, have some lunch, and a bit of a rest and then return to the same park for the evening.

For AK we did the character breakfast in the morning.

WDW is huge. We bought a stroller strong enough to hold the 6 year old, and were we (and he) glad we did. We also carried in snacks and drinks (the stroller helped with that) which defrayed the cost of dining out every day.

We would discuss what was available in each park and let him choose what it was he wanted to do. We'd get the park map each day and have him "lead" us to where he wanted to go. We'd sent him a Child's Guide to WDW for Christmas that year, so he was pretty well informed by the time he arrived in Florida for a July visit.

We've also taken another one of our relatives to WDW since he was an infant. He is now the whopping age of 5. He's a real Disney pro and knows what he wants and how to get there! He's very willing to eat snacks and food that we carry in.

Another benefit of carrying in your own food is you really do avoid all or most of the stomach upsets that can come with eating too much fast food, sweets, ect.

So, have we convinced you yet that we are all Disney freaks?

If you have any questions really do feel free to ask. There is much help for you amongst all of us here!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I think of having a park hopper as being an insurance policy. If I find myself in a place that I don't like, I have the freedom to go elsewhere.

I prefer to do AK in the mornings. So, with that in mind, I like to schedule 2 morning visits to the AK park then hop to another park. AK always feels about 5 to 10 degrees hotter than the other parks do. I guess it's all of the plants.

Also, I don't like the dining choices at DHS and with the shorter park hours at AK, it makes having the ability to hop to Epcot a wonderful bonus. Epcot is open late and has some pretty darn good dining opportunities.

As big as WDW is, you can certainly make a day or more out of all of the parks, but I like to change things up.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I think of having a park hopper as being an insurance policy. If I find myself in a place that I don't like, I have the freedom to go elsewhere.

I prefer to do AK in the mornings. So, with that in mind, I like to schedule 2 morning visits to the AK park then hop to another park. AK always feels about 5 to 10 degrees hotter than the other parks do. I guess it's all of the plants.

Also, I don't like the dining choices at DHS and with the shorter park hours at AK, it makes having the ability to hop to Epcot a wonderful bonus. Epcot is open late and has some pretty darn good dining opportunities.

As big as WDW is, you can certainly make a day or more out of all of the parks, but I like to change things up.

That's good advice there, that dang AK does get mighty warm in the afternoon and Epcot has the best places to eat.

Ah, pdy, ya might be interested in getting a dining reservation for a character meal, maybe Chef Mickey's and ya can ride the monorail over for that. Here's a tip for ya, if you're at the front of the line for the monorail, ask the conductor if you can ride in front with the driver 'n then cross your fingers. If you get lucky, not only do ya get to ride in front, but ya also get a special card that sez you're a co driver of the monorail. I mean, your kid, of course.

Wanna know what a Dole Whip is?

 

[OrlandoMike]

Certain Monorails are easier to "pilot". The trip from TTC to EPCOT is my favorite! The longest ride, and the best sights sailing through the park! You may have to wait for a second train, but ask, you will get on!

Woo Hoo!

Group planning session! I love planning for people with kids!

Are ya gonna want a night out for yourselves?

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Oh! Will your kiddo want to have a new 'do for the holiday? The Main St. Barber Shop is a fun place to get a haircut and/or some paint and pixie dust!

It's the most reasonably priced thing at WDW!

 

[OKW Lover]

My Partner and I are headed to WDW in July. It will be mine and our sons first trip, and her first in over 20 years.

Moms and Dads, how have your experiences been in WDW with your kids?

Our 6YO grandson has two mom's and they have all been to WDW numerous times. Last trip he even wore his "I love my two mom's" shirt. And at least one of his mom's was often wearing either a P-Town or rainbow logo. Never had any problem, nor noticed even a second glance.

Of course, the grandson is totally focused on all the great stuff at WDW, just like any other 6YO would be. Just go and have a great time.

 

[Goofyluver]

Oh! Will your kiddo want to have a new 'do for the holiday? The Main St. Barber Shop is a fun place to get a haircut and/or some paint and pixie dust!

It's the most reasonably priced thing at WDW!

Ooooooh! Yes. One of my kiddo's favorite memories from his birthday trip a few years ago.

<------------------Look over here for his rockin' 'do!

 

[pdy11366]

Wow! awesome suggestions. I am leaning towards Park Hoppers, so thanks for all the input.

I had read about the barbershop, and we will probably plan on that too. Do you need an appointment, or do they take drop ins? And if we need an appointment, is it a 90 day out kind of thing, or could we call from our hotel?

Chef Mickey's is on our list for sure. He LOVES Goofy and Pluto, and I believe I read they are both usually there. I am also wondering about Tusker House for a Character meal.

We are taking a night out if my Brother and Sister in law join us. They are still up in the air, and it will probably be that way for months so we just decided to move ahead with our plans. If they do come, we would love a night out! What are the best suggestions?

Thanks so much for all the input! There is a lot to wade through

 

[pdy11366]

Certain Monorails are easier to "pilot". The trip from TTC to EPCOT is my favorite! The longest ride, and the best sights sailing through the park! You may have to wait for a second train, but ask, you will get on!

Woo Hoo!

Group planning session! I love planning for people with kids!

Are ya gonna want a night out for yourselves?

That's awesome! He will love that. We did Smoky Mountains, Outer Banks NC and Colonial Williamsburg last year. His favorite things were the Train Ride in the mountains, the Ferry Ride between islands, and #1 was the big shuttle busses at Colonial Williamsburg.

I think "piloting" the monorail will put him over the moon!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

No appointments at the Barber Shop. You just show up and stand online waiting for your turn. We try to get there at opening and head directly for the barber shop, which opens at 9:00 am. It fills up fast!!!

It does seem to slow down a bit in the afternoon near parade time, so if you don't get in during the morning, you can check back then. We like the morning time as it allows the little guys to parade around all day with their cool 'dos!

 

[OrlandoMike]

I miss my quiet Barber shop back on the end of Center Street, where it was quiet, relaxing, and a nice place to go...


But I miss my hair too!

 

[starann]

My boys also loved the monorail...and the train ride in MK.....it's a nice 'break' that also cools you off!

 

[C&G'sMama]

We have had nothing but great experiences. DP and I have been going to WDW since 1996. We went without kids up through 1999. We started taking DD when she was 18 mos old in 2001 and DS had his first trip at 18mos old in 2005. Our trip in April/May will be their 7th and
5th trips respectively.

As for park hoppers. In the past we have either had park hoppers or Annual Passes. This trip we are going to try without the park hopper. We are doing some other extras this time, so we're justifying it by foregoing the park hoppers. We'll see how it goes. We plan a lot of down time with the kids. They love the pools. We don't try to do it all at once. We are each picking some "must sees" and anything else will be bonus.

Have a wonderful time.

 

[mom2meiko]

as a now adult child of gay parents i can tell you to go, have a fabulous time and don't worry about any kind of issues. we didn't even experience any back in the 80's when we went! now cruises - there may be another story unfortunately, but disney truly is the happiest place on earth - for everyone!!!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Actually, I have found DCL to be even more accepting than WDW, if that is at all possible!