Help i need somebody!!!!!

[lisare]

So my dh & I are taking our DS 5.5yrs & DD 4yrs to the world on Oct. 17-24th. My DH & I have been there before but our kids have not. I would love any and all helpful tips or must do's or don'ts with them. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for any info you can give.

 

[OhMari]

My biggest tip, is get to the park at Openings.
Do Fantasy Land at the MK right away.
It's Dumbo first thing.

Take rests in the afternoon, and then return for the evening for parades and fireworks if your boys are not afraid.

I am going to send you to our Family Board.

Also check out our Theme Park Strategy Board and Tip Boards.
You will find lots of great info.

OhMari

 

[kpgriswold]

Go to your local library and find the book "The Unofficial Guide to Disney." You may not like all the advice in the book -- it is geared toward OCD planners like me -- but they have a GREAT chapter on doing Disney with kids.

Advice includes not trying to cram everything into one visit. Take your time and really enjoy what you do see, and save the rest for the next trip! Take time to rest every day, preferrably at your resort. You kids will get more out of the trip if they are not exhausted.

The book also has tips on how much kids of different ages will enjoy specific rides and restaurants.

 

[tribus121]

Don't try to go without a stroller in the morning it may only carry backpacks and stuff but by afternoon even your DS may want a turn we used a cheep walmart umbrella type when our DD was 4.5 it was easy to get on and off buses and monorail and easy to maneuver through crowds we did not have to worry about it being taken

 

[Perditamarie]

Here are some tips that worked great for us:

* bring your own stroller...even if your kids have been out for years, you will need it.

* bring your own cooler bag into the parks w/drinks and familiar snacks -- we have found it tricky to track down juice when we need it so it is easier to bring your own. Also, having familiar snacks on hand is a lifesaver when waiting in line or watching shows and cuts down the number of lines you need to wait in!

* get autographs at character meals....waiting for autographs takes a huge chunk of time if you didn't plan on it.

* If you want to dine in a restaurant, make reservations NOW.

* We find it works great to hit the parks at rope drop, take a swim break when we get hot and then back to the parks after our break. We have found that swim time is as important as park time!

* Pack non-perishables in your luggage so you can eat an inexpensive breakfast in your room. This saves time and money and gives the kids something to do while everyone is getting ready!

* Put on suntan lotion before you set out for the day, then you can touch up w/spray on in the parks or when you hit the pool.

* Have a plan for when you will buy/shop for souveniers....many rides exit into shops and there is Disney merchandise EVERYWHERE!

Have a great trip!

 

[ScrappyRN]

I will be in the World the same time as your family!!!! The stroller suggestions are a must. I'm bringing the umbrella stoller just in case DS8 gets tired, he's to big to carry. If he never sits in it, at least it will hold the backpack and water so we don't have to carry it. Plan on how much you'll let each child spend on a souvenier they want(not the t-shirt or things you want to buy for them), like a special toy. Get a gift card from the Disney store or Disney dollars with that amount so they can have their own money to choose what they want. When the money is gone then they know they can't buy anything else.

 

[lisare]

Thank you all for the great advise. Maybe we'll see you scrappyrn.

 

[big_thunder_girl]

You know all the good tips they gave you right? They always help...
I would like to say, though - If going from park to hotel and back is too stressfull or time consuming (farther hotel, maybe?) then take 1 or 2 DAYS off at the hotel. Downtown Disney is great, but not really a kid centered place, so I'd say take a time off down at the hotel. If you stay at a disney resort, the pools are great and your kids will have a blast, most of the time (actually all) the pools are themed and have slides or fountains, and sometimes even playgrounds next to them!

I feel weird giving advice, because I'm not a mom - I'm actually too young to be a mom. But I love disney, so does my mom, dad, brother, and sister...WE LOVE planning together.

The suggestions on the strollers are absolutley right. 4, 5, even 16...You need a stroller for your kids, even if they are older you can use them for carrying things, you might find souviners you want to buy and want to keep them somewhere. And since your kids are 4 and 5, they might get sleepy and/or tired of walking. At Epcot, they have those kidcot fun stops or whatever at every pavillion where you can decorate and color a mask, and though they might be getting old for us...Your kids have never been before, and since the world showcase is really boring for kids, if you happen to want to go there, thats a great place for you and your kids to have a break. They are usually in the shops, so you can look around while your husband watches the kids and vise versa.

If you are not planning to go in a while, toontown is a good placce to go, they are tearing it down sometime during the magic kingdom fantasyland makeover. This is a cute place to go, and if you packed your kids swimsuits to go with you to the park, they can change into them and play in donald's boat. (A water fountain kids thing)

Last time we went, we went with my family and my best friend and her family. she has a 3 year old sister, and she tends to get REALLY thirsty and hungry. Make sure you bring drinks and snacks with you in a bag so that you don't have to stop for little snacks all the time. Bring stuff like gummis or cracker snacks.

I can't help you with rides, because I don't know your kids. My BFF's 3 year old sister complained 24/7 because she wasn't tall enough for rock n' roller coaster, and my 6 year old brother won't even get NEAR one of those things. I am 12, almost 13 and I love Big thunder mountain (obviously) and my 16 year old sister would go on that to save her life.

Oh, yeah...This tip is A MUST.
Keep reading, please.




HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!

 

[Darcy03231]

I took my niece last October for her first trip (she was 4, almost 5). Here's what I found worked the best for us:

1. Bring a stroller. While she didn't ride in it all the time, it was a definite must by the end of the day.

2. Plan "down time". We got up early and got to the parks for rope drop and did rides/shows until about noon. We then had lunch and went back to the resort for a swim/rest. We'd go back to the parks around 3 pm and stay until close.

3. We were there for 7 days/6 nights and I knew there was no way we could see/do it all. I made sure to go at her pace, since the trip was all about her. If she wanted to play in park for half an hour, that's what she did. I definitely took my cues from her. If she seemed to be getting hot/tired we left and went back to the resort for a swim rest. I wanted her to have a good time, not necessarily rush from thing to thing.

4. Charater meals are the best/easiest ways to see the characters and get pictures and autographs. We saved so much time by not standing in line for characters.

5. We attended MNSSHP which was great. We got to do a lot of rides with little to no wait. We did stand in line to see some of the characters and saw the late parade.

6. For souvenirs I told her she could get something on the last day. I took a picture of everything she thought she wanted throughout the week and on the last day she got it (Polly pocket type tinkerbelle doll & clothes for about $10). I brought a bunch of stuff with me that I purchased at home at the local Dollar store and the Disney store on clearance. "Tinkerbelle" left a small gift each night. It definitely cut down on the I wants.

We had a great trip! She still is talking about it a year later. Don't stress about the stuff you don't do. If you ask her about her favorite things, rides end up being way down on the list. Favorites included swimming in the pool, playing in the parks (Winnie the Pooh, Chip n' Dale, Honey I Shrunk the Kids), having dinner with Cinderella (1900 Park Fare), being made up like Princess Ariel (BBB), seeing Princess Ariel, trick or treating in the Magic Kingdom, trading her pins (she loved this), being in the Lion King Show (she was picked) all come before any rides.

Have a great trip!

 

[Jellyman]

Crowds should be light so wait times probably wont be an issue.

They are at the perfect ages for a first trip just make sure to build in some rest time mid-day.

If you can work it out. Try and get by the campfire sing-a-long and movie at Fort Wilderness campground one night. Our kids loved it when they were younger. Your resort concierge should be able to tell you what movie is playing on what night.

 

[ddoconnell]

The best suggestions you have received are to carry the strollers and to have some downtime. WDW is alot to take in at one time so just take it easy and see your top picks to begine with. Your kids are the perfect age for their first trip because it is all still so magic So relax, take your time and just enjoy And remember naps are a parents best friend!

 

[sharonabe]

If you haven't got the planning DVD from Disney, get it. It will help your children begin to visualize where they are going and they can help you know what they want to do. You may also want to sit down at the computer with your older child (younger one too if she will) and look at Disney's site, this site, and allearsnet to see the pictures of the different rides and attractions. The more you know what interests them, the easier it will be to plan your days. Take it easy and let them lead you....You'll all have a great time!