Have a few questions from WDW first-timers

[Brenda in CA]

DH and I have decided to take the kids (ages 13, 10, 5, and 1 at the time of travel) to WDW as a surprise trip next January. We have decided we will stay at POP and get 2 connecting rooms (need to save money on accomodations as we will probably spend a ton on airfare from California). We have a few questions...

1. Do we need to have a car seat (for our 5 year old and/or our 1 year old) for the shuttle ride between the airport and the hotel?

2. What are some "must-do" activities during our stay?

3. What are my options for character breakfasts/meals (we love these)?

4. What is the weather like at the end of December/beginning of January? Is it nice enough to enjoy the pools and waterparks? What kind of clothes would you recommend for that time of year?

5. When is the best time to book airfare? Any airline suggestions? I wanted to do Southwest, but dh says he doesn't want to be cramped up so tight for that long of a flight (about 7-8 hours).

6. Any other helpful hints for a family trip with children these ages?

 

[Oofies]

1. Do we need to have a car seat (for our 5 year old and/or our 1 year old) for the shuttle ride between the airport and the hotel?
No

2. What are some "must-do" activities during our stay?
Buzz Lightyear (your 5 year old will LOVE it), many others but that one really sticks out that my son LOVED

3. What are my options for character breakfasts/meals (we love these)?
Chef Mickey's dinner (I have never had breakfast)- great theme and characters galore, Crystal Palace- GREAT food

4. What is the weather like at the end of December/beginning of January? Is it nice enough to enjoy the pools and waterparks? What kind of clothes would you recommend for that time of year?
Maybe the pools if they are heated, probably not the water parks, layers- shorts with sweatshirts but you may need jeans and sweatshirts- I reccommend a raincoat too

5. When is the best time to book airfare? Any airline suggestions? I wanted to do Southwest, but dh says he doesn't want to be cramped up so tight for that long of a flight (about 7-8 hours).
I look for what seems like a good fare and book it, I have fare watcher on travelocity and expedia to give me a good idea when the fare sales are going on

6. Any other helpful hints for a family trip with children these ages?[/QUOTE]

I would personally stay on dis property- EXPECT an nap, and if you are a super planner who can't tolerate variation in your schedule- take some valium with you or plan on drinking alot- the kids will get cranky and hungry and tired- don't let it stress you out or you will be miserable. I think of staying on site as a vacation in itself- park or no park.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

1. Do we need to have a car seat (for our 5 year old and/or our 1 year old) for the shuttle ride between the airport and the hotel?

I'm assuming you'll be taking Disney's Magical Express, Disney's free airport-to-resort-and-back transportation. This transport is in plush, upholstered motorcoaches with drop-down TV screens and bathrooms. This is a shared ride, with people from up to 3 other resorts on the same bus as you. It's been very successful, as well as time-efficient. Because of the automatic luggage delivery, you totally skip baggage claim. The average reported time from airport to resort is 70 minutes.

Now, to answer your question ...
You can't use any sort of child safety seat on DME. Buses don't have seat belts, and seat belts are required to harness such seats to the bus seats. It's the same on Disney Transport buses, the buses you'll take to get between Pop Century and the theme parks. Disney Transport buses are like city mass transit buses, only cleaner, and all the ads are Disney ads!

 

[CleveRocks]

You have lots and lots of character meal options for all three meals. There are character meals in each of the 4 theme parks, as well as at numerous WDW resort hotels. Check out this link:

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/cb.htm

 

[CleveRocks]

DH We have decided we will stay at POP and get 2 connecting rooms (need to save money on accomodations as we will probably spend a ton on airfare from California).

I've never stayed at any of the "Value" resorts. From the pictures I've seen, Pop Century would be my choice, too. It just looks very cool and Disneyesque.

However, you might want to look into the new family suites at All Star Music. They are basically 2 connecting rooms but include a kitchen area, which may make it easier for you to have more substantial breakfasts in the room rather than paying for prepared meals at the food court each morning.

You can arrange for a grocery delivery to make the kitchen really worthwhile. There are 3 services in the area, and I've never read a single actual negative experience from customers of any of them. I've twice used Goodings (www.goodings.com), a pretty expensive supermarket that has a delivery service; I've used them twice and was completely satisfied each time. There are 2 stand-alone delivery services that will shop wherever you want them to: Garden Grocer (www.gardengrocer.com) and WeGoShop (www.wegoshop.com). I've never dealt with WeGoShop, but I'm very impressed with Brian, co-owner of the Garden Grocer franchise. I wanted to try out his place during our last trip (cheaper than Gooding's), but he was sold out for my day of arrival. I called to ask about this (I read it on this site and I wanted to make sure it wasn't a false rumor that he was sold out for that date), and he called me back and we hd a great conversation. He was a nice guy who, more importantly, seemed to be very very concerned about giving the best possible customer service, and he said he was "sold out" that day because he wanted to put good customer service over profits (with the likelihood that deliveries would have been late that day and/or mishandled). I really liked his attitude and will try to use his business in the future.

 

[Hannathy]

6. Spend time on this site! Spend some hours reading thru all the different forums and posts. Read the regular Dis site. You have a lot of time do some research before making any decisions. Sign up for mousesavers news letter.

Do your homework and do the best you can then relax and remember it's a vacation not a life altering decision.

 

[Brenda in CA]

Thanks so far to those who have responded. Just thought I'd give you a little more information.

We have done Disneyland many times and always stay on-site (love the Grand Californian). I'd love to do a Moderate resort, but with our size family and airfare, it is just too expensive.

I've been reading here on DIS for a little over a year, but still had these few questions. This will probably be our only trip we take to the World just because we are happy with the Land, but want to experience the World at least once. We "might" go once again when our two youngest are a little older, but we may not.

All of our children are girls, so I appreciate any tips on things that they might want to really see/do, especially anything that I might need to book/reserve ahead of time.

 

[pbharris4]

I have all girls as well. Some things they can try: Grand ADventures in Cooking, The Tea Party or the Princess Tea Party (that one's really expensive though), Bippidty, Boppity, Boo at Downtown Disney, Albatross Pirate Cruise, your older girls might like to go for a horseback ride at Ft. Wilderness, Eat at Cinderell'a Royal Table..it's IN the castle. Goofy's Candy Company is neat.

 

[badblackpug]

Here are the things mine love/loved:

Buzz Lightyear
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Mission Space
Tower of Terror
(thrill seekers!)
Winnie the Pooh
Bibbity Bobbity Bootique
Indy Speedway (they think they are "driving")
Light parade
Fantasmic (an absolute must!)
seeing Tinkerbelle fly at the nighttime fireworks

 

[Oofies]

I have not seen it, but apparently there is a new princess program where they make up your child and have a party (princess). It sounded like a must do!

I have 2 boys- though my older son would love to do it, his father would have a stroke!

 

[mikymouse]

My DD4 LOVED having lunch with the Princesses at Norway in Epcot. The food gets mixed reviews but we actually enjoyed our meals (we like our veggies and chicken). We had great character interactions here and through out Epcot.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I love POP Century resort. Walking the grounds at night is fun. Lots of picture taking opportunities. The resort has a couple of pools. Good choice!

 

[Perditamarie]

I had to chime in and add some more fun activities:

1. Autograph collecting -- a lot of fun to meet characters and collect their autograph, not to mention fantastic photo ops. In anticipation of your trip, it could be a lot of fun to make your own -- the characters love them and will give your kids a lot of attention. You will be able to collect quite a few at character meals.

2. Penny presses -- fun to look for and collect. Pay $0.51 to press a penny with an image in it. My kids loooooved doing this.

3. Pin trading --collect & trade pins w/cast members. I think it would be more fun for older children...invest in locking pin backs!

 

[Dragonfly0521]

We did an early January trip. The weather was all over the board.

Jan. 5th thru 7th- Mid 80's. Hot! We swam both days and nights.
Jan. 8th and 9th- Mid/upper 60's. We were cold, esp. at night when not prepared. Bring a blanket into the parks so kids can cover up in stroller or for fireworks. Full jeans and sweatshirts for most of day.
Jan. 10th and 11th- Mid 70's. Very pleasant. Cool in morning and evening (but not cold) and tee-shirt weather in afternoon.

So, we were glad we packed for all weather! Although it was an extra suitcase worth of clothes at least.

Have fun and Good luck!

P.S. I would also recommend pin trading for kids. Buy pins on ebay (official disney ones). and let them go wild trading for favorites with cm's.! We didn't know about ebay and spent a fortune on these in the stores first. Or buy the starter pin sets with pins that are about $5.00 each.