Thank you everyone for all their wonderful advice especially HydroGuy for your tips. It truly made our first Disney trip amazing and very smooth. We were there last Mon-Wed, Oct 19-21. Crowds appeared to be light and we were never in the park very late in the afternoon when it got busier. I will say that this trip was concentrating on the little kid stuff as our kids are 6 and 4.
On Monday, we were at security at 8:15 for a 9:00 opening. We were about 2 back at ropedrop and we walked straight to Nemo and walked on. Then went over to HMH and walked on and then walked onto POTC. DH and I were loving it. DD6 and DS4 were not all that impressed yet as those rides were a little scary for them. In fact, on HMH right when Jack finished is preamble,DS4 said "get me outta here". It was perfect! I assured him all would be ok and we continued. But I digress. So next we had a snack in Frontierland and then did Tarzan's treehouse and Jungle Cruise. Kids liked those. It was then time to stop at the Horshoe Saloon for the 11:15 Billy Hill show. We loved it. Then went on to Mark Twain's island and let the kids explore the caves. Then rode Winnie the Pooh 3 times (so far DS4's fave). Got some treats at Pooh's corner and headed back to the hotel for a swim. Had dinner at ESPN zone in DTD. When we checked into the DLH, we asked for a room with a fireworks view and they gave it to us. We faced the parking lot but the park was to the right and we could see them and the tv had a channel that played the music. Kids watched them in PJ's and then right to sleep.
Tuesday was MM so we were at security by 7:30 and at rope drop. Walked onto Peter Pan then Dumbo. DH and DD6 rode Teacups and then Matterhorn. We all rode Alice then Mr. Toad all with little or no lines. By this time it was around 8:50 and we walked over to Autotopia which was just opening. That was pretty lame - would recommend skipping that one. Then we rode Buzz 3 times with less than 5 minute lines each time. Then we stopped for breakfast and carried on to IASW. DS4 wanted to go again but we said no. We then explored Toontown and met Goofy, Minnie and Mickey. We walked back through the castle and over to DCA as we had 12:50 reservations for Ariel's Grotto. The kids met Ariel, Belle, Aurora, Snow White and Cinderella. It was magical for them. Then we went on all the rides in A Bug's Land and caught the 3:15 Playhouse Disney Live. That was awesome and highly recommended for anyone with a preschooler. Then went back to the hotel for a swim and had dinner in DTD - Tortilla Joe's.
Wednesday we went to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast and met Goofy, Chip, Dale, Ballou, Alice and Jasmine. Then we were at DCA at 9:30. We went and saw McQueen and Mater and DH & DD6 rode Soarin -about a 10 min line when we were there. Shortly after rope drop, we went to TSMM and rode 3 times with about 5 minute lines each time. Rode the carousel and then headed back up. Stopped at a Bug's Land and road the train again. Then went to Taste Pilot's for a snack. Shopped a little bit then went to see Crush's Turtle Talk. We also visited Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto in Candy Corn Acres as we walked through various times. Then went over and rode Monsters Inc. 3 times with less than 5 minute waits. We then had an early dinner at Rainforest Cafe and went back to the hotel to rest and get the kids costumes for TOTP.
The TOTP was fun but I was unimpressed with the candy. We got a good amount and only missed the stations near the Redwood Creek Trail. But the quality was poor. Very little chocolate and a ton of jawbreakers which I won't let my kids have. Most of the other stuff they don't like either. But the cavalcade was fun and being there at night was fun. Rode TSMM with a less then 5 min line and played the carnival games next door - prize was a handful of candy. I was glad we met most of the characters during the day as the lines were really long but it was nice to just walk by as we had already met them. As we were leaving, the DL fireworks had just started so we watched them from near the DCA exit.
A great trip and can't wait to go back again!
On Monday, we were at security at 8:15 for a 9:00 opening. We were about 2 back at ropedrop and we walked straight to Nemo and walked on. Then went over to HMH and walked on and then walked onto POTC. DH and I were loving it. DD6 and DS4 were not all that impressed yet as those rides were a little scary for them. In fact, on HMH right when Jack finished is preamble,DS4 said "get me outta here". It was perfect! I assured him all would be ok and we continued. But I digress. So next we had a snack in Frontierland and then did Tarzan's treehouse and Jungle Cruise. Kids liked those. It was then time to stop at the Horshoe Saloon for the 11:15 Billy Hill show. We loved it. Then went on to Mark Twain's island and let the kids explore the caves. Then rode Winnie the Pooh 3 times (so far DS4's fave). Got some treats at Pooh's corner and headed back to the hotel for a swim. Had dinner at ESPN zone in DTD. When we checked into the DLH, we asked for a room with a fireworks view and they gave it to us. We faced the parking lot but the park was to the right and we could see them and the tv had a channel that played the music. Kids watched them in PJ's and then right to sleep.
Tuesday was MM so we were at security by 7:30 and at rope drop. Walked onto Peter Pan then Dumbo. DH and DD6 rode Teacups and then Matterhorn. We all rode Alice then Mr. Toad all with little or no lines. By this time it was around 8:50 and we walked over to Autotopia which was just opening. That was pretty lame - would recommend skipping that one. Then we rode Buzz 3 times with less than 5 minute lines each time. Then we stopped for breakfast and carried on to IASW. DS4 wanted to go again but we said no. We then explored Toontown and met Goofy, Minnie and Mickey. We walked back through the castle and over to DCA as we had 12:50 reservations for Ariel's Grotto. The kids met Ariel, Belle, Aurora, Snow White and Cinderella. It was magical for them. Then we went on all the rides in A Bug's Land and caught the 3:15 Playhouse Disney Live. That was awesome and highly recommended for anyone with a preschooler. Then went back to the hotel for a swim and had dinner in DTD - Tortilla Joe's.
Wednesday we went to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast and met Goofy, Chip, Dale, Ballou, Alice and Jasmine. Then we were at DCA at 9:30. We went and saw McQueen and Mater and DH & DD6 rode Soarin -about a 10 min line when we were there. Shortly after rope drop, we went to TSMM and rode 3 times with about 5 minute lines each time. Rode the carousel and then headed back up. Stopped at a Bug's Land and road the train again. Then went to Taste Pilot's for a snack. Shopped a little bit then went to see Crush's Turtle Talk. We also visited Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto in Candy Corn Acres as we walked through various times. Then went over and rode Monsters Inc. 3 times with less than 5 minute waits. We then had an early dinner at Rainforest Cafe and went back to the hotel to rest and get the kids costumes for TOTP.
The TOTP was fun but I was unimpressed with the candy. We got a good amount and only missed the stations near the Redwood Creek Trail. But the quality was poor. Very little chocolate and a ton of jawbreakers which I won't let my kids have. Most of the other stuff they don't like either. But the cavalcade was fun and being there at night was fun. Rode TSMM with a less then 5 min line and played the carnival games next door - prize was a handful of candy. I was glad we met most of the characters during the day as the lines were really long but it was nice to just walk by as we had already met them. As we were leaving, the DL fireworks had just started so we watched them from near the DCA exit.
A great trip and can't wait to go back again!
