Meals with toddler & baby...?

[PJackson]

Sorry for all the questions tonight but got a few things going round in my head

As it will be our first time at Disney Paris (or any Disney resort!) we'd like to blow the budget and do a few character meals. The prob is we'll have a 3.5 year old and a 5 mth old so I know we're going to be limited to times and tired children really.

I'd like to do Auberge for DD1 and I know this is lunch only. But I'd also like to do Cafe Mickey (lunch & pm) and also possibly Inventions (which I believe is only pm). We are staying off site at the Marriott Vacation Club so don't want to come and go too much but may end up having to go back to the villa mid afternoon for DD1 to have a nap which also blows some of the day away...

So, are we better off doing lunches, going back to the villa for nap, then going back to the parks and then getting away after the parades finish which I guess will be early (7 pm ish latest). This will mean early-ish bed for them in partic DD1 as I'm hoping DD2 will sleep in her pushchair a fair bit!

I'm reading the Brit Guide right now and there just seems sooo much to do but I know we are going to have to miss quite a lot with the children as there is no way we'll get it all seen and done in 3.5 days in the parks Having said that, I've resigned myself to the fact we'll probably do more of the Park than the Studios as it seems more suited to littlies.

As you can tell I'm fairly confused and just a little worried about fractious kiddies and seeing what we'd like to see in the time we have...

 

[jillrobinson]

Firstly I'd really consider taking a buggy for the 3 1/2 year old, you've mentioned the little one sleeping in the pushchair but not her, there is an awful lot of walking involved and you will cover far more ground if she doesn't have to walk.
My niece was 3 and a half the first time she went, we had a buggy, she didn't use it all the time but it did make things a lot easier, we were in the parks from 9.00/10.00am to around 6.00pm every day and she never slept during the day, some days we had a nice lunch and some a nice early evening dinner - she coped whatever, but obviously all children are different, only you know your own child's routine and it's not worth disrupting that more than necessary.

I'm fairly sure that the parade will be around 4.00pm in September and the park will close around 7.00pm. and yes there will be more for you in the DLP park than the studios, but I'm sure you may have to pay at least one visit to see the HSM shows and you should try and see Animagique.

I'm sure there'll be lots more suggestions tomorrow, to "help" you decide a rough itinerary and don't forget baby-swap so you and OH get to ride the bigger rides without queuing twice

 

[scampbunny]

hiya
as jill says, u know ur children best!! i didnt take a pushchair for my 2 (4 1/2 & 2 1/2) and they both walked, tho, on the last day being in the park from 8am to 7pm took its toll on the youngest and i ended up carrying him!! my oldest was fine, and tbh the youngest was too, just carried him every so often - like he needed a breather
for girls, yes the is more in the park, we only made it to studios for a few hrs, to get on cars ride (with 2 boys we HAD to!) but in december i want to spend more time to see Animagique and prob stitch as well!
as for meals, we tended to do a late lunch (2pm) as it fitted inwith the day..... we wud arrive for emh then once those finished go and find the characters the boys wanted to see and queue for them, catching mary poppins & the character express, then have a wonder around, and then sit down for lunch. by the time that was done, we wud head back to fantasyland and prepare for the parade.
baby swap was easily done, the hardest bit is finding somethin to do whilst waiting to swap over *** oh has to queue and for btm it was 35 mins wait - but it workied fine
we had 3.5 days in june, and it wasnt enough, good excuse to go back
with ur dd, i think anything princess related is a must, so def catch the sleeping beauty show - she sometimes signs autographs after it!
hope that helps a bit

 

[PJackson]

Thanks for the replies.

Nikki - that's a great idea about eating at 2pm If you went for a service restaurant (ie Rainforest cafe) would you be out and finished in time to see the parade at 4pm?

There is so much to consider esp with taking little ones.

Jill - we were considering taking a double pushchair but think it will be a bit of a nightmare. We are planning on buying Dream APs for DH & I so we'll hire a pushchair for DD1 free if we need one.

My Mum & Step Dad are going with us too so they are willing babysitters if we want to go on any rides minus the kiddies

 

[scampbunny]

we did plaza gardens one day, and then annettes the next, and both times were out in time for the parade - usually seems to be done in about 1 hr, hence the choosing of 2pm!!