I think I'm ready to start planning DD's first WDW trip!

[melsmom12]

Eeeeeeek! I'm getting that "itch" where I need to start planning a WDW trip! This one will be DD's first trip to the World, and I'm so darn excited I can't stand it!

I think we'll probably go for 4 days, not a week. Probably Thursday-Sunday. I want to stay on property and have access to Disney transportation. DD will be 3 when we go and I don't know if she'll still be napping or not, so that might add some challenges. She's an only child - for now - and will be even if I'm pregnant for the trip. She hasn't been to too many amusement parks and gets overwhelmed sort of easily, so we'll have to pace ourselves. BUT, she's been on 2 Disney Cruises already and this past one was a HIT!

I don't think she'll like the BBB, but do you think she's ready for the Princess Tea Party at the GF? I know it's pricey, but what an experience!

Any advice you can give me for planning this trip? It will most likely be me, DH, and DD. Maybe my mom, too. I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions and tips.

THANKS!

 

[mrstomrice]

Congratulations! It is a lot of fun to plan a trip and I think 3 is a great age, especially since you have experience on a cruise. Park admission is free however if your child is still 2, so if it is a matter of a month, it may pay you to bump up your trip.
Here are my tips...I am sure you'll get many more!
My sister took her dd to the tea...she was 5 and liked it but due to her age, I don't think she'd appreciate it at that age like she would on her next trip. You only have 4 days and there is a lot to do so for the money, you're better off sticking to the parks, imo.
Instead of BBB, you can get a trim at the barbershop and they will add gel and pixie dust to the hair for $14.00. This is in MK.
We like to get to the parks for early EMH (my kids are up anyway We like to take advantage of short lines. You can literally walk onto most rides in Fantasyland (do Dumbo first b/c the lines get long b/c only 16 pairs can ride at a time). It is really worth your time to get there early. Then you can head to Toontown when it first opens and get in character lines when they aren't too bad.
We like to do character meals at the last breakfast seating b/c it acts as a brunch and the character interaction is better b/c there are less people.
We bring a stroller from home and DS tends to sleep as needed in the parks. If we need a break from the heat, we go back to the room, swim, relax and get ready for the night.
We have ordered groceries from garden grocer to be delivered to our room when we didn't have the DDP...now we are in on a fridge swap too.
Get a baby swap for rides dd can't go on so you can all enjoy the rides and she can get a break.

GET A DOLE WHIP!!! They are a great snack in MK!

See the Festival of the Lion King in AK then meet the characters right outside after the show.
IMHO, I think you can skip EPCOT for this trip...I am probably going to get flack for this one, but 3 is young for EPCOT and they will enjoy MK more.
hmmm...sooo much to share! If you can, go a few more days so you can pace yourself. Have fun and enjoy the Disboards...lots of great info here!

 

[melsmom12]

Wow, thank you! This is exactly the advice I'm looking for! Keep it coming, everyone!

Unfortunately, DD will be 3 next week, so it looks like we missed that opportunity. Ah well!

 

[pink223]

Hi, When my DD was 4 we went for the 1st time, I booked the Princess Breakfast in Norway. She loved it. The only problem I ran into is that I did not bring her Belle Dress, and believe me she reminded me for about a year and a half. Even if you do not plan a Princess meal, there are other opportunities to see the princesses. The really nice thing with booking a meal is that each Princess visits the table, will sign her autograph, and pose for a picture. It depends on how much your daughter is into it, especially if she has a favorite one. At 3 my daughter would have enjoyed it. Now my DD is to old for the Belle costume (she's 9 1/2 we are packing Jasmine) but each time in the past I would buy a costume before leaving (the price in the park is more) usually I do really well at our Disney store after holloween. Either way you will usually see little 'Princesses' thru the park so you may want to bring a costume and let her wear it. Most cast members will make special comments which made my daughter float on air. At Epcot one cast member ask her for her autograph and where ever we went they called her Belle.
As for a nap, when my kids were younger I always rented the stroller. when one of them needed a nap they would climb in and we would find a show or take to oppurtunity to just walk around and enjoy.
It is amazing to watch a child's face the 1st time in Disney.

 

[MNdisneymom]

Is there any way that you can take her to some small amusement type place before you go, to gauge her reaction to things like characters, and rides? (I live near the Mall of America in Minnesota (which has a small park in the middle of it), so that was what I did before my now 5 year old's trip when he was 3...--it was there that I discovered he wasn't scared of the characters, he just was a lot more interested in the rides.) Also, keep in mind that every kid is different...My then 3 year old loved rides and seeing all the different parks (he actually really enjoyed Epcot, he's geography-obsessed, so seeing all the countries was cool for him), but one of his best friends went at the same age, went on exactly one ride during her whole week there, and spent the rest of the time Princess-hunting and seeing shows....That's what's great about Disney, there's something for everyone!

 

[quinnc19]

Sounds like great advice, but please tell me what a "baby swap" is?

Congratulations! It is a lot of fun to plan a trip and I think 3 is a great age, especially since you have experience on a cruise. Park admission is free however if your child is still 2, so if it is a matter of a month, it may pay you to bump up your trip.
Here are my tips...I am sure you'll get many more!
My sister took her dd to the tea...she was 5 and liked it but due to her age, I don't think she'd appreciate it at that age like she would on her next trip. You only have 4 days and there is a lot to do so for the money, you're better off sticking to the parks, imo.
Instead of BBB, you can get a trim at the barbershop and they will add gel and pixie dust to the hair for $14.00. This is in MK.
We like to get to the parks for early EMH (my kids are up anyway We like to take advantage of short lines. You can literally walk onto most rides in Fantasyland (do Dumbo first b/c the lines get long b/c only 16 pairs can ride at a time). It is really worth your time to get there early. Then you can head to Toontown when it first opens and get in character lines when they aren't too bad.
We like to do character meals at the last breakfast seating b/c it acts as a brunch and the character interaction is better b/c there are less people.
We bring a stroller from home and DS tends to sleep as needed in the parks. If we need a break from the heat, we go back to the room, swim, relax and get ready for the night.
We have ordered groceries from garden grocer to be delivered to our room when we didn't have the DDP...now we are in on a fridge swap too.
Get a baby swap for rides dd can't go on so you can all enjoy the rides and she can get a break.

GET A DOLE WHIP!!! They are a great snack in MK!

See the Festival of the Lion King in AK then meet the characters right outside after the show.
IMHO, I think you can skip EPCOT for this trip...I am probably going to get flack for this one, but 3 is young for EPCOT and they will enjoy MK more.
hmmm...sooo much to share! If you can, go a few more days so you can pace yourself. Have fun and enjoy the Disboards...lots of great info here!

 

[mrstomrice]

When you have a child that does not meet the height requirement for rides, parents can take turns riding and avoid the wait for the 2nd ride. You simply approach the CM as a family at the beginning of a ride (I think this is where it is...we haven't used it yet). You ask for a rider swap pass and the 1st parent rides the ride. When they return, the rider swap pass acts as a fast pass for the other parent, as well as 3 more people. It is even good for the rest of the day (or even trip possibly, not sure.)