Moms of LO's, speak up!!

[kstand]

New here! We're traveling from Colorado to DL sept 28-oct 4 with 4 year old princess-crazed girl and 1.5 yo wheel-obsessed boy, staying at Parkvue for the 2 room suite, easy breakfast, and short walk to the park.

I'd love to hear from some BTDT moms (dads, too, of course with some sage words of wisdom, tips, warnings, anything that might help me wrap my head around the planning of our first family trip! I want to learn from all of your mistakes and experience!

 

[carolinamama]

Well, I'm a BTDT of WDW, but a few strategies seem to apply to DLR. We, too, have a princess obsessed girl. While I love the impromptu character greetings, we've found that doing a character meal helps make sure that we see exactly who we need to see. So, we're doing Ariel's Grotto to make sure DD sees her princesses, especially Belle. Yeah, it's expensive, and I've heard mixed things on food, but to us, it's worth the price just to not have to go stand in a time sucking line with an impatient LO.

And make sure you do an autograph book. Our DS didn't do one at 3, did one at 5, didn't want to do at 6, but wants to do one again at 7. I know DD will want one!

 

[jacobsmommy]

Here's something we use instead of an autograph book. I have 4x6 index cards that I have the characters sign. I also take a picture of the kids with the characters. Then I put the index card and picture together on the same page in our photo album. I bought a really big winnie the pooh album that we've added to for our one DLR and three WDW trips. The kids love to look at it all the time!

 

[kstand]

No doubt about Ariel's Grotto, I am planning on setting up a breakfast. I hadn't even thought of getting autographs for some reason, thanks! And I like the idea of putting them in an album with pictures . Keep 'em coming, ladies!!

 

[jacobsmommy]

We are doing Minnie's for breakfast b/c I've heard they have the most characters out of any of the character meals. Another tip-if you're taking a stroller, tie a bandana or ribbon around the handle to easily identify your stroller. More than likely, you will have lots of "stroller twins".

I also bought two disney themed reusable water bottles at our local grocery store for each kid, along with the powder packets of lemonade and gatorade. This will ensure that they drink enough (and not soda!) while we're there.

 

[kstand]

Good stroller and drink tips!

Hey, if there are any other parents of LO's out there also in the planning stage, feel free to chime in with any questions you may have. Maybe the experienced ones can help us all and we can help each other in one place, since there is no thread devoted to little kids at the park like there is for WDW. Or is there ??

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Ask away! This will be our 4th trip (6 overall with kids) since September and our kids are 8, 5, 2/3, and 18 mo. For the little guy who loves cars, you can meet Mater & Lightning McQueen in DCA (they even sign autographs) plus see them in the Pixar Parade. I highly recommend AG for the little princess. Take in lots of snacks to the park. Especially helpful in lines.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

One more thing, they sell Disney and Star Wars themed matchbox cars in the parks. They make a great souvenier. We have already started DS's collection.

 

[nana50]

Some of the autograph books have a space next to where the princesses sign to insert a picture. That is what my granddaughter uses. Also what is an LO?

 

[tiffntwins]

LO= little one, I think...

 

[jacobsmommy]

Get to the parks early and make sure to take mid-day breaks for the little ones (and for the big kids too!)

 

[JiminetteCricket]

I don't have anything to add here but I'll be watching and reading it as we're planning our kids' first trip to Disney too .

 

[kstand]

Haha, yes LO=Little one. Everyone here is so abbreviation-savy, I didn't even think twice about using it!

 

[PinkBudgie]

LO is a new one to me. I was trying to think was it some sort a special needs child but couldn't think what it could be. In that case I'm the mom of BOs. And with active teen boys, BO fits!

 

[trctjs]

Take your own double stroller!!!! You can only rent singles for $15 per day.

 

[brenda1966]

My advice would be: when you go back to the hotel so the little ones can nap, the big ones nap too.

Spend some time in the Bug's Life area in CA, but don't go see the 3D movie -- too scary. Take dry clothes in case they play in the splash area. Get a cherry slushie back there -- yum!

Also take them into the climbing brother bear area. Get there early if it's hot out.

I'd probably stay out of Snow White ride and Pinocchio -- can be too scary for the little ones. We did ride Haunted Mansion -- we called it "halloween ride" and DD was okay in there as she knew there would be halloween ghosts.

Save line standing time by doing character meals (Ariel's grotto for sure).
Have fun!

 

[BigCheese]

Ask away! This will be our 4th trip (6 overall with kids) since September and our kids are 8, 5, 2/3, and 18 mo. For the little guy who loves cars, you can meet Mater & Lightning McQueen in DCA (they even sign autographs) plus see them in the Pixar Parade. I highly recommend AG for the little princess. Take in lots of snacks to the park. Especially helpful in lines.

Mater & Lightning sign autographs!!?? We've taken pictures with them at Condor Flats, but I didn't know they did autographs. How do they do these? DS loves going to see them, and getting an autograph would be cool.

 

[kstand]

Oh, my boy is crazy for Mater. He will LOVE to see him in person. Either that, or be terrified. You never know when they're 1 1/2 .

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

LO is a new one to me. I was trying to think was it some sort a special needs child but couldn't think what it could be. In that case I'm the mom of BOs. And with active teen boys, BO fits!

Too true, lol!


My girls are 5 and 6 (4 and 5 when we went last), and my advice would be to definitely take breaks in the middle of the day so that they don't get overstimulated. Also Bug's Land in DCA is a great place for some down time. Ariel's and BBB were a favorite. Also, if you have a Magic Morning available, make sure to catch Peter Pan without the horrendous lne. My girls talk about that ride a lot and how much they loved all of the stars.

 

[erinbharris]

So many great tips on here!

We're going for 5 days in August, and while my kids aren't that little (4 and 7), they are still little to me!

So, Peter Pan is the ride that we should do first during MM? Is there a recommendation of what to ride next? Is there a philosophy (I'm sure there is) on what day to use a MM? We'll be there Monday-Friday but not until around 3:00 on the Monday so our only days for MM are Tuesday-Friday...can't remember off hand what days MM runs.