Is WDW a definite must for a 5 year old Disneyland raised child?

[elainesj]

that's a fantastic idea. look into free activities outside the parks:

-spend some time in dtd
- watch wishes from the poly
- watch illum from the boardwalk
- check out the performers on the boardwalk
- hit a waterpark if u have the time pre or post cruise?
- campfire with chip n dale?
- check out akl and the animals there

and like the others said, ride the monorail and get the lay of the land.

have fun!!

 

[Badge]

Well, a Monorail hotel would be a great option! We have only ever stayed at the value hotels because we always get two rooms, one for the parents and another for the kids, lol.

Really, using the Disney bus system is super easy! Each hotel has a bus area (and some hotels have more than one). For example, at Pop, outside the hotel are different lines for the different parks and areas. You have a bus for just MK, one for Epcot, one for HS, one for one waterpark and AK, and another for DTD, Pleasure Islands, and another waterpark. Simply wait in line for the bus to arrive and you are dropped off were you want to go.

To get back to the hotel, it is just as easy! However, there are a LOT more bus stops! Each hotel is numbered (but the numbers are NOT the same at each park). They have a HUGE board at the bus area with all the hotel names and the bus number. Simply find your hotel name and the number and then follow the path to your hotel.

The only reason I got so complex was so you could get the full ride experince. The Monorail system is complex in itself. You have three different Monorail lines if I remeber right. You have the resort Monorail that takes you to the different hotels around the lake with a stop at MK. You have another Monorail which is a direct Monorail from the Ticket and Transportation center to MK with no resort stops. Finally, you have another Monorail that takes you from the Ticket and Transportation Center to Epcot.

Getting around on the Monorails is just as easy as the buses. You could take the bus to Epcot, board the Monorail to the Ticket and Transportion Center, and then jump on the Resort Monorail to get back to your hotel. This would allow you to experince the bus system and the Monorail system without much headache!

Whatever you end up doing, you will have a great time! The Poly offers a great view of the MK Fireworks (and I think they even play the music in the area!) so that would be a great thing to see at night and give you some free Disney magic as well. Enjoy your trip!

 

[owensamo]

If you're doing a 7-night Disney cruise, it sails Saturday-Saturday are you flying back on Saturday?. We've done a number of these and always fly in the night before, stay at a WDW resort, and then when we get off the ship, stay Saturday night at a WDW resort and enjoy the area! Since you have to be off the ship by 9am, you can have almost 2 full days (depending on flight times on Sunday) to enjoy WDW - either parks or not.

One post-cruise trip we did completely park free. We resort hopped, we played mini golf at Winter Summerland, we spent time at Downtown Disney, we rode the monorails and boats and visited Fort Wilderness - we had a blast! It was one of the more relaxing WDW trips we've done!

Since you can get off the ship early, you can also get a full park day in as well. You could always pick a park that isn't at DL (Epcot? Animal Kingdom?) and *just* do that park after the cruise. Or you could do the Magic Kindgom, and take it slow and easy since there's a fair amount of duplication.

If you plan to return, I'd say using a few days around a cruise as an exploratory trip - to get a feel for the resort, which is completely different from DL, and to get an idea of what you'll want to focus on next time - is a great idea.

I'll admit, though - as much as my family loves the parks, DCL is our absolute favorite vacation! My DD would rather cruise than go to WDW. We're looking forward to visiting new parks - but we're also hoping to try some new cruise itineraries as well! If DCL ever does an Asian cruise to Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai, I'll be the first to book!

 

[luv2sleep]

I tend to want to have a day to unwind and get ready for the week after vacation so I was planning on returning home on Saturday. It's a good thought though. Thanks!

 

[starshine514]

I don't think it's a requirement. We took our girls to WDW first (at 5 and turning 3 on the trip) and it was nice. However, we have APs to DL this year, and they absolutely love it! Will we go back to WDW? Sure, but probably not until they are old enough to appreciate Epcot a bit more. It's just expensive for us to fly all the way to Florida.

However, I would have a really difficult time not going if we were already in Florida. I would probably keep them out of school for a few extra days and get some WDW in. (I missed three weeks straight of Kindergarten when I was a child, and still managed to graduate Summa Cum Laude from college, so I wasn't destined to academic failure because of it.) However, I understand that there are many people that would disagree with me and I respect that. Luckily, I don't have to make that decision since my girls are home-schooled. We actually worked straight through Christmas break because we had taken off for a Disney trip shortly before. If I didn't teach at the local college, I wouldn't have to worry about the regular school schedule at all.

 

[Tommy_B]

I would wait a couple more years, I think 7 or 8 is about the right age.

But you can start saving and planning now

I'd stay on the Disney property at a moderate resort if you can swing it, if not the value resorts are cool too.

There are probably things you can skip at the Magic Kingdom because the DL version is better, but there are the side attraction like Blizzard Beach that DL doesn't have that you want to be able to take advantage of.

 

[PHXscuba]

I think I'd wait a few years (agree about before 10 to have child rates). I think the biggest issue is not only stamina for one day but more days than you probably spend at DLR in any trip. If it's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you don't want to spend all that money getting there and have them just want to go in the pool after second day.

Unlike at DLR where you just walk up to the gate, almost anything in Disney World involves waiting for transportation by bus, monorail, or boat. It's a lot of extra time in transit and more waiting for impatient kids.

I'd go in a few years, when they are more that 48 inches to be eligible for any ride they choose, can handle a week's vacation (if you're going once, go big) and can have some say in the planning.

PHXscuba

 

[mousireid]

Just wanted to say that my 6 year old is 48" NOW and is a daredevil so this worked well for DW! My son is 10 and its actually a VERY close call to them which park is their favorite, either Epcot or Magic Kingdom (but MK still wins for them by a hair). I think it depends on your vacation style. I was a commando forever but suddenly realized I needed to slow down, stop and smell the roses (although I am mlike a duck organizing like a nutjob under the water while I calmly sail on top - but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the planning!!!) I enjoyed early entries and relaxing by teh pool after lunch, hanging at the reort, out to dinner and a park in the evenings. We remembered there is SO MUCH MORE at DW but it will STILL BE THERE! We chose our favorites and did not focus on MUST DO even if it means cranky, hot and bothered! You don;t HAVE to do anything. My first trip to Disney I was 20. My son went when he was one but we sure had an awesome time watching his face (I maybe spent most of my time watching HIM). I personally will never forget. DL is like a quaint, welcome home town to us whereas DW is like the big city. So many differences but a lot of similarities. It is 'easier' to travel around DL/DCA (errr, you mostly walk). The World is huge and has way more to do immersed in all things DW, four major parks, four minor parks, so many restuarants, so many hotels, so many other entertainment choices that you would never have to leave the 'World' at all. I love them both for very different reasons, but 'easier' screams DL to us while DW yells BIG VACAY!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I have 6.5 and 5 yr old girls and they have gone to DL almost every month since birth. They have also been to WDW at ages 5 month (the oldest), 2 and 8 mos, and at 5 and 3. We are headed back there again in June, because of my involvement with the DIS Unplugged (this website's own podcast).

That being said - I would do the one night pre-cruise, but definitely save a vacation for older - at least 8. (This is a big change from my original thoughts on the matter.)

Why? A couple of reasons.

We were stuck on the fine line of trying to include more than the kids or I could handle. It's like herding cats. You see a lot of frazzled families in WDW that are trying too hard, rushing from one place to another. I felt that and had to scale back my plans. We even skipped a theme park day because of it. Many families don't feel like they have that option.

Distractions. Kids that age are of the "ooh shiny" genre. It will take you much longer to do an activity than you expect, or that any commando planning will allow for. You, however, know that from Disneyland. It's better and more satisfying to go with the flow and follow their lead. That is the way to feel like you have really gotten the most "planning bang" for your buck. Otherwise, you run the risk of being disappointed or needing a vacation from your vacation (and possibly your child).

Dining. We would often make dinner reservations (ADRs) and have to cancel them because we needed to feed the kids sooner or later than the reservation called for.

Walking. While they did well for short jaunts, we had a double stroller to rely on. The oldest (at 5) was in it quite a bit, due to the sheer volume of walking - they haven't used a stroller at DL for a few years now.

I'll be interested to see how mine do this year, now that they are older. I think we still plan on taking it slow and easy!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Moving this over to the DL Community Board.