Help! First time disney trip with kids and im confused!

[beginnerdisney]

Help!! I am in charge of planning our Disney trip for my family and parents. Normally I'm tpretty easygoing, but now have a 9 mo old and 5 year old and I have heard such a range of opinions and horror stories about taking the little one. We were going to stay at Car Beach Resort but I have been warned it's a far walk to food places when lugging kids..I think we can only afford the MOderate hotels so I know we need to take the buses wherever we go, but another person told me they can be such a long ride bc they stop at other hotels for pickups. Basically, I'd like to hear from ppl who have traveled with a baby (im not worried about my 5 yr old) and if how they managed and which hotels seemed to work best or just any tips in general!! I'm starting to worry this is going to be a disaster trip!!!!

 

[partypa]

I would suggest Port Orleans French Quarter, it's small and compact. Caribbean Beach is quite large and could be overwhelming with little ones.
You will be fine, thousands of people have babies and toddlers and manage. Don't be in a big hurry to get anywhere, take your time, no one can see and do everything, even on a low crowd day with no kids. Not sure when you plan to travel but be sure to check out the current discounts, saving a bit of money always makes it a nicer Holiday

 

[mb187143]

First, don't stress. The best thing you can do taking a 9 month old and a 5 year old is plan to relax. The moderate resorts are beautiful, well appointed, and no more than a 5-10 minute ride from any of the parks. They're actually located centrally to all of the parks, so in my opinion, it can be much easier to get back and forth. The one thing to consider is time of year - certain times are far more crowded than others, so the bus stops can get a bit crowded around opening time and closing time. The fall, and early spring are usually lightest with crowds, and the Christmas months and summer are most crowded.

With a small child, the best thing you can do is plan to go back to the hotel around mid day to give everyone a rest. The moderate resorts differ slightly in this area - the Carribbean Beach has a pool for each set of buildings, as well as a main "Theme" pool. Port Orleans Riverside has a similar set up - both are good if one of you wants to take a dip in the pool with your 5 year old, while the other relaxes with the baby. The Coronado Springs has small pools as well, but the resort is HUGE, and walking from the back of the resort to the front for the food court would probably be tough with two small children. The only bus that stops at multiple resorts is the Magical Express. The theme park buses occasionally combine both sections of the Port Orleans, but only when it's not crowded. The moderates have a mix of food courts and a sit down restaurant which makes dining pretty easy. Bottom line, have fun, and plan some downtime to give the kiddos time to rest up so they're not overstimulated. Enjoy

 

[beginnerdisney]

Thanks Partypa! We are going October 2 (it was a bit last minute)..I saw they offer free dining plan for the week we are there and I also have a 25% off hotel discount coupon but obviously we can't use both I am trying to figure out which one is the best offer. I am going to look into the French Quarter to see if they have any availability during our trip cause a few places I looked were already booked..

 

[tink15823]

congratulations on your first trip. Our first trip our kids we DS 6 DD6 DS 11 mo. It was one of the most magical trips we have had. I would take the time to go back and swim with your older child and let the little one nap . On our trip Daddy and baby napped . Remember you can ride swap so all the rides are doable . Enjoy use the baby centers in the parks . Going in Oct I would bring a something to cover your stroller in the event of rain I used a shower curtain and cloth pins now you can even get a rain cover at Babies R us.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

Help!! I am in charge of planning our Disney trip for my family and parents. Normally I'm tpretty easygoing, but now have a 9 mo old and 5 year old and I have heard such a range of opinions and horror stories about taking the little one. We were going to stay at Car Beach Resort but I have been warned it's a far walk to food places when lugging kids..I think we can only afford the MOderate hotels so I know we need to take the buses wherever we go, but another person told me they can be such a long ride bc they stop at other hotels for pickups. Basically, I'd like to hear from ppl who have traveled with a baby (im not worried about my 5 yr old) and if how they managed and which hotels seemed to work best or just any tips in general!! I'm starting to worry this is going to be a disaster trip!!!!

Don't be worried! You can have a great time with your kids, even when they are babies at disney, even if you get home and realize you didn't see everything. Plan well for sure, but be flexible.
My nephew Max just turned 3 and is already a seasoned disney veteran of 7 trips, (He'll be crossing off his 6th Disney hotel when we go to Saratoga Springs in Nov.) start them young I always say! Caribbean Beach is fine for little kids, some of the buildings are pretty far from Port Royal, but you can request a closer building. (We stayed in one of the pirate rooms when he was a year old or so, and it was a hike to the main building, but not an unpleasant one, as long as you've got a stroller, it's fine.)

the best advice for Disney with little kids and babies, is don't worry about seeing everything, just relax, the kids are going to be happy with the simplest stuff (when we were talking about this upcoming trip, seeing mickey again, going on racecars, going on dumbo "and the bus!!!" from Max. . .who knew?) also, don't take it personally when the 5-year old doesn't want to leave the swimming pool to go to the theme park you've paid dearly for. Its nothing against Mickey, its just how little kids are.

 

[beginnerdisney]

Thanks everyone for your positive advice!! The French Quarters is unavailable so we are looking at the Riverside I think. That and Animal Kingdom but don't know if we can swing that one I am going to relax and not stress out like Chevy Chase trying to see every site there is!!