Help! First trip with children

[kha100399]

Hello, I am new to the DISboards. They have been so helpful the little i have read, we are taking a our first with our two daughters in May. Our girls our 2 and 4, and this is a special trip before next baby arrives in August. I would like advice on where to stay, considering monorail or resorts with boat trips.

Also, is there such a think as last minute resort rates if I wait? I've looked on the disneyworld website and all are available at regular rates. I have tickets already, but may puchase one day for the dining.

Thank you for any help!!

 

[DisneyWorldOct08]

For children that young, I would definately try to do a monorail resort or Wilderness Lodge if you can afford it. You'll probably spend most of the time in the Magic Kingdom and you will love the convinience of the monorail and boats for strollers.

WL is not on the monorail but it does have a boat to Magic Kingdom which is just as convinient, I think. And it's cheaper than the monorail resorts.

Welcome to the boards!

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

Yeah, if I had the funds I would DEFENIENTLY stay on the Monorail line or at WL. I think your best bet for children that young might be the Poly or WL. In terms of the tickets and the Dining Plan, I would call Disney and explain the situation and see what they can do for you. Good Luck!!

 

[spaceace510]

I agree with staying at a monorail resort. WL would be good, but is a little isolated, compared to the monorails anyway. But between the monorails, for you i would avoid the GF, a bit too "fancy" and adult. I think you and girls would either enjoy CR or Poly. Poly has excellent theming and atmosphere. The CR has a great location and view of MK and the monorail goes through the building. You can go through the resort's picture and info threads to help decide:
CR
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1710920
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1747476
Poly
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1591953
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1708173

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi and welcome! (and congrats on your upcoming arrival!!!)

This may help: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

 

[alldiz]

Welcome to the Dis

I would pick the poly. the monorail will make your life so much easier
since you will have a stroller.

also the pool is zero entry....great for kids....and you can see the fireworks from the pool.....awesome.
happy planning.
Kerri

 

[cart-mom]

Welcome!

I agree with everyone else - if you can afford it, go with a monorail or Epcot resort. One trip I had two little ones under 5 and was 8mos along at All Star Sports and it was way too much walking before AND after the parks.

Congrats on the impending arrival and your trip.

 

[kha100399]

thank you all so much for your opinions. it seems as though I have a lot of planning to do it such a short time, since this is sort of last minute. I had no idea there was such a science to this. Since I am so close and people book reservations at 180 days do I have any shot of getting good restaurants?

thanks again

 

[Aliceacc]

Sure! But you may have to be flexible with dates and times.

If you have your dates down and you're within your 180 day limit, you can make your ADRs before you make your resort reservations-- right now if you want.

 

[720L]

We stayed at the Contemporary in October. We said to ourselves "this is where we should have stayed when the kids were smaller". You can push your stroller right into the Magic Kingdom (there is a walkway from CR to MK). When the kids were smaller, we spent most of our time at MK. We never used the buses while we stayed there so I can't tell you how quick/slow they were. We took the monorail to Epcot and that would have been easier to do than a bus because on the monorail you don't have to fold the stroller up.

 

[clareita]

Five years ago, I was you! In May of 2003, I was pregant (due in early September) and we took our 4 and 2 year old daughters to WDW for the first time.

May can be really hot, and our kids were just too little and tired to do the park in the morning, hotel in afternoon and back to the park in the evening. We got to the parks for rope drop, did rides until lunch time (11:30 or 11:45) had lunch, did a few more rides and left the park by 2. We took naps and swam in the afternoon, but even with that the kids were too tired to go back in the evening. They needed to be in bed asleep by 8. Although we were staying offsite, our hotel was very close to the MK. It didn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes to drive, and I think it was no more than 30 minutes from walking out of the park to pulling into the hotel parking lot. Even if we had stayed at a monorail resort, I don't think we would've made it back for the evening. Given that is so much cheaper to stay off-site, this worked for us. However, if you think your kids can stay awake in the evening and/or you would use a babysitter, you should definitely consider staying on-site.

Another recommendation I have is to consider visiting the Islands of Adventure Universal park. It has a wonderful Dr. Suess land that any fan of Dr. Seuss will love.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Have you ordered the WDW DVD? I did and got it in about a week and then a week later I got a discount postcard. We are not going till Jan 2009 so I could not use it but I think May was included.

 

[alldiz]

I would start thinking about your ADR's. Pick a few character meals.

Remember the whole vacation is new to the kids.....if they are getting cranky at the park....(it is overwhelming for adults....nevermind a child)
Go back to your hotel and rest....for young kids....this is the BEST part
of the vacation.

Don't worry about seeing everything......you can't even if you tried.
Besides your pregnant.....take it easy.
happy planning......it's so much fun

I agree get the planning video.....let the kids watch it...ask them if they
want to go see Mickey
Kerri

 

[spaceace510]

i agree with start looking into ADRs and to help, besides going through the forums here is a link to AllEars.Net It is an great site that has tons of info on resorts, planing, dining, menus, parks, and all other things WDW! Good Luck and Welcome

http://www.allearsnet.com/index.html

 

[AllyGirl_79]

I was reading the thread and don't think anyone else adressed one of your questions ... don't wait on booking a room! Disney does not offer any last minute rates, but it is very common that certain categories of rooms will book up.

Also, if you are a AAA member or an annual passholder, you may find some discounts that way, but they too can run out. The sooner the better for Disney rooms - you can always make changes until you hit your cancellation window. Or, if a discount beomes available (like free dining or something through the Disney Visa), you can always call back to see if you can apply it to your room reservation or change your resort or room category to benefit from the discount.

You will definitely be able to book good restaurants. Some things will be booked up, but most places will be available if you're flexible on times. Make sure you have some back up choices when you call. And, as has been mentioned, you can call to set up your dining before you have a room reservation if you're having a hard time deciding.