Magic kingdom with little ones

[canadianamanda]

Hi! We're going to Disney in May! Going for first time with my 10month old and 5 yr old daughters! We've planned to go to Magic Kingdom three days in a row. I've split up the days by getting fastpasses for different rides/princess meets each day. We also have a bday party for my niece at Cinderellas castle the second day. We are going with grandparents and a set of in laws and their kids. They like to take there time and go slow type of people, and they don't like waiting a long time for anything lol We don't want to rush around, being our stress level is already high travelling with other family members lol and are planning on standing in long lines for rides! Are goal is to go slow, see everything (including all parades, and night time shows) we also want to take advantage of our resort, by spending a chunk of time there mid days in the pool, and possibly going to downtown Disney one afternoon, and even leaving the park around 6 one night so when can get a good night sleep! We don't have park hoppers, only there for 5days, we know which parks were doing the other two days. I'm happy with my decision, and feel it's sounds some what relaxing, knowing that if we have meltdowns, or accidents, or need to leave MK for whatever reason ect we have 3 days to fill in what we missed! Plus I think knowing we have 3 days will keep me calm and will thus lessen any chance of fighting with the hubby haha! However on another forum when I mentioned 3days at MK a lot of ppl said I'm nuts! I figured 3days was a good number, and I already have fastpasses for all the major attractions including Elsa and Anna meet and greet! I just don't want to be stressed out, Or rushed, and with a 10monthold and a 5yr old I feel this is the best option?! Advice??

 

[kohlby]

Do what works best for your family! Not everyone has the same touring style. Also know that you can change your fastpasses later if you find that 3 days is too much. If you do decide to do another park, I strongly recommended Epcot - as it was all of my children's favorite park at 2-8 years old. (Plus, Epcot can be relaxing).

We've found that the biggest thing we had to be careful of was nighttime entertainment. So plan later nights appropriately for your family. My kids wouldn't nap at Disney. Even at 11 months, my youngest didn't nap until 6pm when we were at Disney! (And by only 2 years old, a nap wasn't happening no matter how late). We focus on getting enough sleep at night since it makes everyone happier. However, anything goes the last night with us! A cranky kid for the trip home is manageable for us. A cranky kid in the parks is totally different! Since we've had to focus on getting kids to bed on time, we have had to spread out night entertainment over more than one trip. On one trip, our late night was going to 6:30pm Fantastmic. On another trip, our late night was 8:00pm Wishes. That would have been too late the trip before for my kids. We have yet to make it to Illuminations, thought we came close on our last night on our last trip.

One piece of advice is to have some sort of carrier for the 10 month old. I used a ring sling during our three trips with a baby and it worked out quite well. (I also had a 3 year old in all of those trips and found the 3 year old was more work than the baby of the moment, even though the 3 year old wasn't the same child in two of those trips).

 

[canadianamanda]

Yes I have a sling a boba wrap and a double stroller! Got that covered! My 5yr old will not nap! But I think if we push her around in the stroller for a period of time she will relax a bit and maybe pass out?! My 10month will pass out in the boba wrap if I try hard enough, so I'm hoping that will be useful for The fireworks/nighttime events! My 5yr old can stay until until 11pm and still wake up at 7am :S in the case that we don't make wishes or the electric parade, that's why I want the extra days there so, maybe the next day we can try again! Sunday is Epcot, just late afternoon/evening (I have the fireworks fastpassed) Monday MK I have belle tales, Ariel ride and meet Ariel fastpassed. Tuesday we have a party so we have to go to MK, and Wednesday was the only day I could get Elsa and Anna fastpassed! So that's why we gotta go three days!

 

[msmama]

What I would do personally, is try to plan 2 days at MK (plan the FPs for those days) and leave a third day up the air.

If you want to go back to MK - GREAT, but if you find you've done everything, you don't want to necessarily limit yourself to HAVING to spend at day at MK, when maybe you don't want to (that could make people just as cranky as rushing).

 

[MSSANDRA]

The baby could care less where he is and a 5 year old will be very happy to spend a whole week at MK. At 5 DS wanted to do the same things over many times!!! kids will be happy as long as the parents do not get a bit crazy after three days of the same park. I could easily be happy there seeing every little thing, but many people would not. Are you doing other parks on the other two days or just not doing parks on those days? Where are you staying?

 

[canadianamanda]

The baby could care less where he is and a 5 year old will be very happy to spend a whole week at MK. At 5 DS wanted to do the same things over many times!!! kids will be happy as long as the parents do not get a bit crazy after three days of the same park. I could easily be happy there seeing every little thing, but many people would not. Are you doing other parks on the other two days or just not doing parks on those days? Where are you staying?

Ya I agree! I think my 5yr old will love MK. The 1st day is when we arrive, so we're going to Epcot late afternoon/evening. I have fireworks fastpassed. We are completely going for me bc last time I went I was like 10 and I loved Epcot. And the last day were going to HS. Asked my daughter and she wants to go there instead of AK. I'm happy with that decision. We're staying at Art of Animation

 

[bacoach2014]

MK is very kid friendly. Day times are great. My kids would always be wore by night time.

 

[kohlby]

My kids have the issue of being able to stay up late but then waking up at the usual early time in the morning. (And will not nap). This means that they do not get enough sleep if they stay up late. Since it sounds like your 5 year old is the same way, I would not recommend doing Epcot fireworks as your first night. I'd see if there was a way of putting that last instead. Or skipping the fireworks this trip if there isn't a way.

 

[canadianamanda]

They will be fine. Thanks for ur advice though