Help with 3rd FP?

[BethanyRichardson]

We're headed to MK for one day in September before leaving on our Disney Cruise. It will be me, DH, DD1 (3 yrs, 40 inches) and DD2 (14 months). Since the kids are little and easily overwhelmed, our plan is to get Fast Passes for our top 3 things, so we'll have a set time we know we have to be there, then keep it pretty casual in between-- catch whatever rides are nearby that DD1 is interested in and don't have long waits. Trying to plan a 'strategy' and schedule out our day beyond that will probably lead to disappointment, as the 3-year old is not prone to cooperation when we try to drag her about. Both girls will mostly enjoy just soaking in the experience and busyness around them. Also, while meeting some characters is likely to happen, it's not a priority since most of the ones our girls are familiar with will be more easily accessed on the cruise.

Our top 3 are:
7 Dwarfs Mine Train (DD really wants to try out some roller coasters)
Peter Pan's Flight (DD1 is PP obsessed)
Enchanted Tales with Belle (I think! Am I right that we need to do this with this age kiddos?)

Here's the thing. Since DD2 won't be able to go on 7DMT, there is no point in both DH and I getting FP's for it. We'll have to use Rider Switch, and it will be nice to be able to take DD1 back to ride it again if she wants. But I don't know what to use for the 3rd FP for me? (Assuming I'll hang out with the baby while DH and DD1 ride). Neither DH or I have much interest in riding things alone, and we obviously can't send the 3-year old on anything by herself (right??).

Anyone else faced this and have a suggestion? Just get myself a FP for something nearby and baby-friendly to take DD2 while the others do 7DMT?

Is this situation possible: I get FP for Splash Mtn (which DD1 is interested in trying). Approach ride, get RS pass for DH, use my FP but don't actually ride (no fun riding alone, and super time-consuming), exit ride. DH and DD1 then use RS to actually ride it. Seems shady, but not really any different than if I had actually ridden it, right?

Anyway, I'm open to other suggestions and stories of how you've managed schedules for little one's. We're early risers and will for sure be there at rope drop, take a long PM break, and come back for dinner. Will use up FP's before nap, in case we don't come back (and so we can try to snag a 4th for dinnertime).

 

[ErinsMommy]

With baby you can do a number of rides with baby:

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Any height
• It’s a Small World: Any height
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Any height
• Peter Pan’s Flight: Any height
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel: Any height
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover: Any height
• Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid: Any height
• Walt Disney World Railroad: Any height

 

[itchin2go]

With baby you can do a number of rides with baby:

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Any height
• It’s a Small World: Any height
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Any height
• Peter Pan’s Flight: Any height
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel: Any height
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover: Any height
• Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid: Any height
• Walt Disney World Railroad: Any height

Yes - I was going to suggest Pooh since it's so close.

 

[BethanyRichardson]

If I planned on doing Pooh alone with DD2, then we would probably not try to do it as a family. Will we be missing out if we don't try to take DD1 on it?

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

If I planned on doing Pooh alone with DD2, then we would probably not try to do it as a family. Will we be missing out if we don't try to take DD1 on it?

Even though you are going on the cruise, I would suggest getting a FP for Cinderella and Rapunzel or Anna and Elsa for you and the little one. They are close to SDMT, and I am not sure those princesses will be on your cruise. Have you seen a schedule for characters on the cruise?

Also, I was unpleasantly surprised at how long the waits were for characters on our Disney cruise. Almost as long as at the parks, and we went at a low-crowd time when many kids are in school (first week of December). We had read that characters were easy to meet on the cruises, but that was not our experience.



Pooh is definitely a family ride, and your 3 year old will love it. I would not ever skip that one with a 3 year old.

And you will love the cruise! It really is a special experience, in spite of the waits for characters.

 

[itchin2go]

My daughter is 13 (though she was little when we started going to WDW), so I'm probably not the best person to be answering this, but yes, that was my one caveat to what I originally posted. It would certainly be suitable for the whole family.

It is a cute ride, but nothing particularly special IMO. If you do go that route, and you do think your other daughter would like it, you can do it standby and/or book it as a family FP on another MK day (if you have one).

Per this (scroll to the back pages): http://www.easywdw.com/cheatsheets/mk_cheatsheet_v3.pdf
Pooh only gets to 30 minute waits at moderate times, so standby wouldn't be *that* terrible. When you're going in September may actually be considered low crowds - not sure.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Your Splash Mountain plan sounds like mine last summer, but my sister end up riding by herself anyway. Unlike most other rides, Splash Mountain doesn't give you the SW ticket at the entrance of the ride but get a lanyard to exchange for the SW ticket at 2nd FP scan (where the lines merge) After the long walk to the merge point, my sister felt might as well as finish the ride.

 

[BethanyRichardson]

Thanks, y'all! I might just plan on the princesses with my little princess! There's a good chance that meet-ups on the cruise will be while DD2 is sleeping anyway, so we can get her pictures then!