Im sooooooooo confused

[Queen Elisabeth]

I would like to add to others' ideas about having a general plan for the morning, and then playing the rest of the day by ear. I printed out a few RideMax plans for each day, and then when we got to a lull in the day where we needed some direction, I would look at the plans and see what rides were more likely to have shortish lines, and then we also had my older boys and my husband as fast pass runners, so we sort of tried to follow the schedule when it came to that too so that we wouldn't have to wait in long lines at night. I also suggest staying as close to the park as possible if you plan to go back to the hotel for naps (which I also suggest to avoid overstimulation). We spent alot of time and valuable energy travelling back and forth twice a day.

Have a great time! Oh, and don't forget the Bug's Land area in DCA, especially if the weather is warm/hot, or if it all gets to be too much for the little ones. The pace there is much slower and the rides are nice and low-key and there's a water play area. This was a great place for us to recharge and refresh for an hour or two without having to trek back to the hotel.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Whenever I start to stress that we aren't going to see "everything", I take one look at the kids and remember why I am there--to have a good time with my family!

Good luck!

I just had a lightbulb moment when I read this. My family is about to take it's first (and maybe only) trip to DL from Australia. My children are 11 and 7 and I am obsessed with doing everything, seeing everything, etc. in case we never get back there.

Thank you for writing that, I think we will have a much better holiday if we just remember why we are there.

 

[snickerboo]

I've never done DL but been to WDW several times and here's what we do (pretty similar to everyone else):

*Write down the absolute "must sees". I'll bet for your dd that's a character greeting. At her age, she'll enjoy a lot of Fantasyland, too.

*Check the ride max. Which of your 'must sees' are on everyone else's must see, so they have to be done early or you need a FP. The crowd levels at these times are very important. If it's not a peak time, you shouldn't have to charge like a maniac to all of your must sees. On a Saturday in July, well, get your running gear out. LOL

*Map out what makes sense to travel along to (make a sensible path-don't run from one land to another and back again if you don't have to). Know how to get from one land to another.

*Make up a touring plan based on that info BUT be willing to be somewhat flexible. If you want to ride something 2x, do it. Dd needs a break, do it. It is not worth following a rigid schedule just to see and do it all. The point is to have a fun, magical vacation. As long as you are all enjoying yourselves, that's what's important. It's not worth anyone in your party being miserable (entirely possible with a 3-yr-old) because "it's 2:15pm we must get on Small World right now!" KWIM? Make a loose plan, know your way around and then follow it where it makes sense and don't when it doesn't.

Have a wonderful time and bring your little kid sense of magic and adventure. Seeing the characters through a preschooler's eyes is a precious event, for sure!

PS: I almost forgot....your dd is only 3, if she's showing signs of tuckering out, be willing to leave the parks for a break or a nap and come back for the evening festivities.

 

[Buttercup26]

If you & your little one are early risers I really do recommend going the park as early as possible. I don't know if you've been at DL for rope drop or Magic Mornings (formerly Early Entry) before - but to my family it is a whole different experience - and much more enjoyable. You don't have to do it every day, but I would try to do it at least once.

Main Street is so much more "magical" when you can actually see all the storefronts and not just crowds of people. It will be far easier to appreciate the little things and go slowly before the crowds hit.

FantasyLand specifically is much more enjoyable when not so crowded, especially if there are rides you want to do more than once.

Our girls were always up early when they were little, so it was not a big deal to be at the parks early. We would always take a break mid-afternoon and head back in the evening - unless we were there during short park hours - then it's a little more difficult to take a good break.

I always have everyone pick 2 things each that they "must do" on the trip and make sure that happens.

I don't like to overplan - but some kind of loose plan - especially in the morning and for things like fireworks, fantasmic, and character meals relieves a lot of the stress for us. There is nothing worse than it being your last day and realizing that there are several things you wanted to do but haven't.

 

[Anater]

I can only suggest that you NOT do what I did. We went to DL for my son's first trip in 2007 for his 4th birthday. I was so focused on getting to the FL rides that I was totally stressed out trying to get into the perfect line prior to park opening. When the gates opened I was so wound up that I was silently cursing the family ahead of us who couldn't get their tickets to work. Then once we made it inside I dashed up Main Street, walking with purpose, leaving my poor husband running behind me toting our son. I was so determined to make it to FL that I totally missed seeing the expression on my son's face, taking in Main Street and the characters for the first time. We did use RideMax and we thought it was great. But I was so focused during the entire trip that we had to be somewhere at a certain time, that it just stressed us out. We're now planning our second trip and my husband is not that thrilled to be going, I think he's scared it's going to be a repeat this trip. But this time, I've assured him that this trip I'm slowing down and taking it all in. ENJOY your trip!

 

[nunzia]

I like the follow your child approach, when traveling with little ones. there are so many little things that couldn't be planned. Like making time to pull king Arthurs sword, taking a pic in Toads car, knocking on little doors by the teacups and many more.
We used to say we'll do "that" later, well "that" later never happened most of the time. Take time and enjoy

My feelings exactly! We pretty much are go with the flow people also. Now, we've been tons of times and will go again, so we can always do things next time and really do it, but this is supposed to be fun for you, not super stressful, especially with a little one. One of my then 5 you DGS funnest things was just standing by the wishing well and listening to Snow White and watching the kind of cheesy fish come up in taht little area by it. Really take time for the little things they want to do..much more enjoyable for all.

 

[PinkBudgie]

A word about rushing- We were there for a week. We found that on non magic mornings we were able to get good places in lines in Fantasyland and get a lot done and it didn't matter if we were near the front of rope drop or the back. When we were near the back, we had our 3 year old nephew with us. We went on Peter Pan, Dumbo, and Case Jr. in that order without much wait. This was this June. I forget what we did after that.

We tried Ridemax this trip to see how it was. I had a zillion plans but when we tried to follow them, the ride was closed. We ended up never following a single plan exactly. But because I had played around with it so much I had an idea of when a ride's line was likely to be shorter so we went at those times. I suggest you do like you were thinking and just get an idea of when some of the non FP rides are shortest.

If you don't plan on riding many FP rides because your DD is too young, make sure you get FPs for the ones she can ride. Autotopia, Roger Rabbit, Buzz. Don't wait in a long line for these rides when you can be getting FPs for them all through the day. Roger Rabbit isn't connected so you can a FP for it and another ride at the same time. Buzz FPs were still available in the evening after others were gone. And they had a short wait to return time. If you don't have anything else to get FPs for, why wait in even a 20 min line when you can wait in a 5 min. one.

Oh, someone asked what Ridemax is. It is a computer program you download and it tells you the projected wait time for rides depending on when you go. It also gives some tips and helpful instructions for what side of the line to stand in or where to find the FP machine.

 

[HydroGuy]

What exactly is RideMax?

RideMax www.ridemax.com is software that can create an optimized itinerary for you to minimize time waiting in line and walking. They have versions for DLR and WDW.

Some people feel put off by having a rigid schedule - go to POTC at 10:17AM - etc., while others feel stressed by not having any good idea of what rides to do and when. They end up in long lines mid-day and are hot and stressed. And they waste time walking around looking at their map all the time. So RM can be a stress reducer for some people who just want some guidance.

I think the key with RM is to know when to stick with what it is telling you and when to set it aside and go your own way. RM can help you get on more rides than you might be able to on your own. But the fact that it has any schedule at all can diminish a feeling of spontaneity if you are not careful.

 

[fairykin]

This is really a nice thread.

I was thinking last night I would come back and tell you a few of the highlights from our twin 4 year old's trip...

FantasyLand
Loved meeting the princesses..{you have to wait in a line..but the princesses spend one on one time with your child and it's really disney magic!}

It's a small world...this is close to the princess meet and gives you all a chance to sit in the little boat and rest..it's cool on a hot day and so delightful} Also if you are looking for souveniers.. when you get off this ride..there is a it's a small world gift shop.. we bought the clear tub of it's a small world characters..chunky for little hands to hold. Wait to buy your souveniers til last day or in the afternoon before going back to the room, so you don't have to keep up with them all day.

Teacups..... while waiting in line we always talk about what color of tea cup we want. You don't have to spin the dial in the cup, if you do it spins on it's own. If not..you are just swished around nicely, which is nice for a first time little one.

Alice in wonderland.. a great hugging ride..
Dumbo.. a favorite
Peter Pan's flight... always a long line but really special.

Adventure land..they loved the cruise.. and the tiki bird show.

By new orleans square..they loved the big ship.. this was a highlight..

We saved DCA for their next trip.. by that time they will be bigger and we will have an entire park to explore that they haven't been to.

If you haven't planned on photo pass.. I would do it.. It's so much nicer than having to worry about getting out a camera..and missing being in the moment..because you are trying to capture the moment.

I can't wait to read your trip report!

Ooohh i was going to tell you... I bought little toddler meals at Target in the baby section... then when we came back to the room at night.. i could feed them a nice little meal with veggies and then give them a bath.

I also took a couple of cans of play dough and they had quiet time before bed playing with that. It was a way to have them unwind.