HELP! First back as a mom! Taking 7 y/o daughter - advice /suggestions please!!!!

[Golf Widow]

Boy have things changed in the past 14 years!!

My Husband and I are taking our 7 y/o DD to DW for the first time this October for 4 1/2 days (5 nights).
We plan to do MK for 1-2 days, Animal Kingdom for 1/2-1 day, Epcot for 1/2-1 day, Typhoon Lagoon, and Universal. I got tickets for MNSSHP on Sunday 10/19, would like to do breakfast with Cinderella one morning and the Hoop Dee Do one night. What else is a "must see"/"must do"?

Any itineraries or schedules you can recommend? Thanks!

Kara

 

[zulaya]

Get a guidebook and go over it together. Pick out 1-2 "must-dos" for each park for each person. That way everyone gets to do something they want and whatever else you get to is even better.

Everyone likes something different. My DD turns 7 this year and she's been to WDW the past 3 years. I can tell you waht she likes but it might be entirely different from what your DD likes.

My DD likes:
Teacups
Tomorrowland race cars
Winnie the Pooh
Aladdin's Magic Carpets
Jungle Cruise
Splash Mountain
Spaceship Earth
Star Tours
Kilimanjaro Safaris
The Boneyard
Indiana Jones stunt spectacular

There's probably more but that's off the top of my head.

 

[3for Me]

I too ,have a 7 year old but she has been twice in recent years and so is "over" the princess thing. However, I have booked her and her siblings on the pirate cruise (better hurry and call about this one) there is also grand aventures in cooking and the wonderland tea party for something special.

I would definately do a character meal somewher- if not the princesses, then I recommend Crystal Palace @ MK or Chef Mickey's.

Also, although not everyone on these boards likes the food - the atmosphere at Sci Fi is one all my kids love.

I would definately do Fantasmic! maybe with the dinner package to guarantee you a seat - I recommend Hollywood and Vine for this - best bargain and alot on the buffet.

I would also take her to the HUGE disney shop in DTD - what girl doesn't like to shop?

Also, my DD loved having her hair wrapped at AK last year - but I know they do it at the resorts and other places - she really got a hoot out of it.

Also, we had our kids faces painted (beautiful job on this too) for about $10.00.

I know others will recommend other things, but these were little "extras" that really added some magic to our trip.

 

[Prince Eric1]

Definately at least one princess breakfast, but mine preferred the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Epcot. Ariels Grotto, long line but the only place you can see ariel that I've ever found, and if you are first in line for the Pocohantos show they take you up front to start the show by banging the drums (if you are a kid)

 

[kalamazoo]

Gosh, it seems like there is too much in there for 4 1/2 days. Are you sure you couldn't save Universal for another trip? I would recommend a day at MK first with a character dinner either in the park or at a resort on the monorail.

The next day I would go to Epcot. Honestly a 1/2 day is not enough. Make a day of it and try to see Epcot at a leisurely pace. Make sure you take time to catch as many performances as possble. Eat a sit down lunch at the restaurant of your choice and have a counter service dinner. Stay for the fireworks show - it's wonderful.

On the third day, I would go to AK in the morning (a 1/2 day is okay though to really appreciate the park a full day is better), then either MK or Epcot in the afternoon.

Day four TL in the morning then either MK or Epcot in the afternoon.

I don't know if your 1/2 day is in the morning or afternoon. If it's in the morning then I would save it for MK. If it is in the afternoon then what about Disney Studios (MGM)? You just have to be careful because early in the morning there are not a lot of shows going on yet and in the late afternoon the last shows finish relatively early. But if you can go see Fantasmic which is the last big show of the night, then do so.

Of course all this depends on weather (especially in the case of TL) and your MNSSHP (don't know where that fits into your trip - beginning, middle, end?). Also, sometimes you just don't feel like doing what you had planned for a specific day. Definitely consider spending more time at Epcot than you have allocated.

If your dd has never been to WDW, I don't think you have to plan a lot of special things because the whole thing will be special and sometimes if you plan too much you stress yourself out for nothing. Make sure you leave time for swimming at your resort. On the topic of swimming, there is a fountain at Epcot between Future World and World Showcase made especially for kids to play in. Bring a change of clothes for dd and let her play there while you and dh sit back and enjoy a beverage.

 

[Dancind]

Our first trip to WDW was for nine days, just after DD's 8th birthday. We only went to a water park one day, and we felt like we still missed a lot. This may be because we stayed at BC, and went to the pool every day for a while! She loved the pool. She also really enjoyed Disney Quest at that age. Diana

 

[RobinMarie]

My 6 yo dd will be returning this year and has finally reached 40'' so she'll be doing the parks with thrills in mind this year! Other than those attractions some of her favorites are:

Teacups
Pirates of the Carribean
All the Parades!
Kilimanjaro Safaris
The Haunted Mansion
The Boneyard
Beauty & Beast Show
Tarzan Rocks
The Monorail
Norway Attraction
Fantasmic
Festival of the Lion King


Face painting at Universal (love their unicorn one!)
Dinner at Chef Mickey's

I just want to add there is some great advice here. I think first timers will find very special events within the parks and you won't have to search too much. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[swilphil]

I agree with Kalamazoo, AK can be done in a 1/2 day, and you can skip Universal and go to MGM instead. There are some good shows at MGM and a few thrill rides she might like. It's also the best place for characters. I think you have scheduled some great things already, and there are some other good ideas here. You might let your daughter make some of the final decisions.

 

[polkadotminnie]

Don't skip US if your DD is a nickolodean fan. My 7 year old DD said she liked the Jimmy Neutron ride better than any Disney ride. She can't wait to ride Shrek in 3 weeks. At Disney, she liked Kali River Rapids at AK and Aladdin's Carpet ride. US is a blast! MGM is ok, but unless your DD is a daredevil, there aren't many rides when you consider the cost.

 

[Magic2000]

My DD and I were planning a "Mommy and Me" trip - but now DH is coming too! (He didn't want to miss out on her first Trick Or Treating at Disney!!!)

We've been to Disney MANY times (this time, 2 teen DDs are staying home) so this is a trip for Allison!! We'll ride the things she wants to ride and see the shows - we've never seen Tarzan Rocks or Festival of the Lion King!!! Be sure to allow enough time to do the "Mask" at Epcot at all the Kid Cot stations! My DD loves to work on her mask at each country!

I have her booked for Grand Adventures in Cooking and the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party! She has also requested to go to the Cub's Den one night, while DH and I have dinner at Artist Point. We will also be doing the MNSSHP, with an early dinner at LTT! And, of course, breakfast at the Castle with Cinderella!!!

I've also arranged to have a gift basket delivered to our room for her - with an autograph book, pen, stuffed Minnie, etc! Can't wait to see when she gets it!!!

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Golf Widow
would like to do breakfast with Cinderella one morning and the Hoop Dee Do one night.

From the way you phrased your comments above, it doesn't sound like you have gotten your PS yet. If you haven't gotten Priority Seating for these events, you should start calling IMMEDIATELY.

PS is available 90 days in advance of the day you want to dine, and at Cindarella's Royal Table it normally fills up within MINUTES of the phone lines opening exactly 90 days ahead of time. For your October trip, you are already well within that 90 day window.

You may be lucky enough to find a day during your trip in which there has been a cancellation. If not, you'll have to look at alternatives. EPCOT also hosts a princess breakfast at Restaurant Akershus in the Norway Pavilion.