Just back-happy to answer questions!

[nemomama]

Hi - we are just back from our trip with 2 yr old DD. We had SUCH a great time!! I'd be happy to answer questions anyone has. Here's a really brief summary:

1. Crowds - parks were crowded, but not as bad as I expected. We never waited more than 10 minutes for a single ride! We had a few strategies for this.

2. Heat - yeah, it was hot, but again, I thought it was totally manageable. Just drank lots of water, crystal light, lots of water for DD. Misty fans were great. I thought with the exception of MK, the parks had lots of shady areas/AC places to cool off.

3. Food - Crystal Palace, California Grill, Fulton's, among others...Pecos Bill was great for lunch.

4. Favorite ride (adults) - SOARIN'!!!!!! It was so awesome. I thought Dinosaur was so SCARY though!

5. DD favorite stuff - basically everything! She LOVED the characters, IASW, Peter Pan, parades...

Again, feel free to ask me any questions! I'd be happy to pass along any advice!

 

[lovewdwdvc]

What strategies did you use to not have to stay in the long lines?

I read somewhere to go the day after and EMH night at a park. What do you think. Any other ideas would be wonderful

Thanks in advance

 

[disneygirl1977k]

I have a question.....so glad you had a great time....my DH and I are taking my 2 yo DS in October.......how did she react to all of the attractions? Did you take her on HM, PoC, Snow White, Great Movie Ride?? I am curious to see how other 2 year old's react to these attractions......my DS loves mickey mouse but freaks out when people are dressed up as characters, so I don't know how he will react when he sees them in person????
Kristy

 

[nemomama]

lovewdwdvc: We did kind of what you said about EMH - we avoided parks that had EMH in the morning or evening. It worked really well. The other strategies that we used were 1. Getting to the park an hour before opening! This put us at the front of the line to get in and helped us do all the major rides in the morning. 2. We followed the touring plans in the Ultimate guide book. I highly recommend this - it worked so well! If you follow those plans you really can't go wrong, in my opinion. The book tells you everything to do, step by step. Hope that helps!


disneygirl1977k: We didn't take DD on any of the attractions you mentioned...what is PoC? She went on Peter Pan, IASW, Winnie the Pooh, Tricerotop thing (sp) in AK, the WDW railroad, Minnie's house, El Rio de Tiempo in Mexico and that's pretty much it, I think. She loved them all! She was just so fascinated by everything. Oh, and she also LOVED the living seas in Epcot. I heard Snow white was kind of scary for their age so we didn't even try. We tried the tough to be a bug show, but she freaked out and we had to leave. She absolutely LOVED the characters. I mean she couldn't get enough of them! Crystal Palace was great for spending a little more time with them. Maybe she's not the norm though, because I always hear about kids this age not liking the characters. Also, I forgot to mention we went to Hoop de Doo Revue which she also loved.

Feel free to ask any other questions - you're going to have such a great time!

 

[Jakesmom504]

Our DS will just be turning two when we go so I'm always curious about other families with two year olds and how they reacted but it sounds like your DD had a wonderful time! Is there anything you can tell me that we absolutely should do or not miss for a two year old? Attractions or otherwise? How did she sleep by the way?

 

[mrskay9]

Which tour plan did you follow? I think we'll be doing the Dumbo or die plan, I think it's called.

Glad you had a great trip!

 

[nemomama]

Jakesmom504: If you think your son will like the characters, then I say definitely do a lunch or dinner at Crystal Palace or another place with characters. Our DD loved that! She also really loved IASW and el Rio de Tiempo in Mexico. She loves the music and the moving dolls

Another thing she loved, although not an attraction, was the little toddler playground near Splash Mountain. It was just her size, and I loved it cause because it was in the shade! Also it gave her something fun to do while the grownups took turns with the rides. It's kind of near where the fast pass machines for Splash Mountain are.

She slept very well! She actually took her naps at pretty much the same time each day, like at home. I was wondering how she would sleep in the stroller, but we had a clip on fan and an extra-large sunshade so she was nice and cool, and she slept for at least an hour and a half at a time. We chose to not leave the parks for her nap, and it worked out great for us. We stayed in the parks all day, and then she would go down for the night at 8:00.

mrsk9: We did a combonation of the 1 day touring plan for adults/1 day plan for parents with young children. We skipped some things we weren't interested in, like the Jungle Cruise, Tiki Birds, Country Bear Jamboree.

 

[Windy City Heather]

I took my dd at 14 months and then again at 28 months. 14 months, pooh ride, snow white, dumbo, aladan, tiki birds (her favorite), small world (2nd fav.), great movie ride (got up tight a couple of times same at 28 months), back lot tour (only got up tight when the truck fell and the fire started same at 28 months), huney I shrunk the kids play area. At 28 months we added, PoC (she was fine with it), Philharmanic (did not like this but it was also nap time), story time with belle (the best), beauty and the beast show (loved), playhouse Disney (loved). She loved all the parades and night time shows. At 14 months she was a little scared of the characters but at 30 months could not get enough. I have not taken her in HM but I kind of think she would be fine. She is too young to understand about ghosts. There is nothing really load or really bright in there.

She is very easy going and will ask to lay in her stroller when she is tired. So, we start early in the day and go until the adults can't take it anymore.

Crystal Palace is my favorite character meal for little ones. We also did O'hano for breakfast. We are going in September and she will be 37 months old. We are getting into the princess and will be trying to find them at all costs.

 

[Jakesmom504]

Thank you for the info, my DS is pretty easy going as long as he gets his naps and we are planning to return to the resort in the afternoon for that (the DH needs his naps too!)
We definetely want to do some character meals, I just hope my DS isn't afraid of them. We haven't been anywhere that has had any kind of life size character yet, but like I said he is pretty easy going. I personally think he will love IASW, I'm leary about PoC and SW. I know I cannot wait to take him and see the look on his face when he sees everything. I think that is the most exciting part of planning this trip! Thanks again for the info.