Myriad of Questions

[ImSoExcited]

Goodness, I am so overwhelmed by this board! I have a few separate questions and if this isn't in the correct spot, I apologize.

We're going Sep 17-20 for my kids' first trip. My son will be a few weeks away from three years old and my daughter is a few weeks old now. I've been to Disneyland many times but never as a mother

Here are my questions:
1) My son loves Elsa and is hoping to meet her. He's an incredibly emotional toddler and will be crushed if he doesn't meet her. We purchased a package from Costco and it includes a Magic Morning. Should we try to get in line ASAP during the Magic Morning to do this? Should I be sending my husband to wait or run for it when the park opens? Is there a strategy? We will be arriving midday Wed and our first full day will be Thursday with addt'l full days Fri and Sat.

2) We have a Premium Character dining and a "regular one. From what I can tell, the difference is in the restaurant selection? Are there specific recommendations on where to go? We have Park Hoppers so we can go wherever. My son isn't attached or really even aware of other characters yet so we have no loyalties to whom specifically will be where. We just need a good experience.

3) My son is 40 inches depending on the shoes he wears. Do they measure with or without shoes?

4) I think I'm going to get autograph books and pressed penny books for him to do, since I think he will enjoy hunting for them. Is there particular etiquette to the autograph experience or do we just ask every character we meet?

5) If I wear the baby in the Ergo or another wrap/carrier, will she need to come out for rides or can she stay in the carrier?

Thank you in advance for any answers!

 

[bumbershoot]

They measure in shoes. Just be aware that people do shrink during the day, so be sure any "must do" rides that he's borderline for are done first thing in the morning. Stay hydrated and rested!

If you see a character you'll see a line. Get in the line. When you get up there, either take a pic first or get the autograph first. Have the book open and hand the pen to the character.

Babies might need to come out and sit on your lap facing forward. Some CMs might not make you do that. Be prepared to take her out.

My son loves Elsa and is hoping to meet her. He's an incredibly emotional toddler and will be crushed if he doesn't meet her.

So....in general, sometimes a character just won't be there. If the character is sick that day and they can't find a clone for that character, they cannot be there. It's ALWAYS a good idea to be really very realistic with a small child, even though I know that's hard to do, to prepare them (and you) for the "what ifs".

We did Princess Fantasy Faire with DS when he was 3, and the line was over an hour and there was absolutely NO guarantee what princesses would be there apart from Princess Minnie. We talked about that with him over and over (and didn't even mention Minnie, just in case!). We talked about how when we're next in line we might see one princess, but just before he gets there she might have to go to the bathroom and another princess would come out. We tried really hard to prepare our family for such eventualities.

First princess he met was Belle, and he was seriously NOT interested in her. (I took a "he's just not that into you" picture when he was just looking sideways at her with a "meh" expression on his face, though she tried really hard) It got better as we went along, though he thought Pocahontas was Sacajawea (we had seen Night at the Museum). Minnie was a hit. But I'm pretty sure he wanted to see Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. No luck kiddo!

I really recommend you do this about Elsa (prepare the family just in case). Honestly, if DS hadn't been to Disneyland before and if he didn't know about meeting the characters, I never would have told him about the Faire. If I had a little bitty now I wouldn't have talked about Elsa, since she's such a popular character. If the line was decent and I felt we could do it, THEN I would get in the line, but talking about it before, when sometimes the fates just decide that there can't be that character on a certain day or hour...it's just tempting fate in my opinion.

Because she's so popular the chances of her not being there are very small. But the chance still exists. Just be prepared, somewhere in your mind, to deal with that possibility.

 

[GatorChris]

For the 40 inch question, they measure you with shoes on, and the measurements are pretty much true 40". Maybe we're bad parents, but we took our kids to get tennis shoes about a month before a Disney trip and made sure they gave at least an inch. It was important!!!! And it still is. If my youngest isn't right at 40 by November (which she should be), it'll be off to Payless!

 

[figment_jii]

As the PPs said, it's 40" with shoes. There have been occasional reports here on the Disboards of CMs asking children to remove their shoes if they've the kind that have very thick soles (think like the platform style shoes).

 

[Californiacicle]

This is what I wrote in a trip report about seeing A&E on our trip earlier this month.

"-WE SAW ANNA AND ELSA IN 20 MIN WITH NO RUNNING! Yes, I am yelling, yes, I was/am super excited! One morning was a regular entry day and we weren’t particularly quick that morning so I was surprised we got to the gates before 8am opening. We used gate number 19 and were within three families from the front of the line. I figured what the heck, I’d take a chance to get in line for A&E. I told my family my intentions and told them to meet me either next to the Partners statue or in line. When they opened the gates I went through the left hand tunnel to be on the correct side (yes, even though both empty onto Main Street). I limped with my stupid ankle to the left side of the Partners statue where I saw the CM with the Frozen sign. There were CMs all up and down Main Street directing people where to go but maybe people weren’t paying attention and just headed to the rope. Anyway, when I got there I saw that I was within four families from the head of the line! I couldn’t believe it! All of the parents in line were high-fiving each other for being so close to the front. They lead us to the M&G spot before rope drop and at rope drop the line behind us was up to 90 min. DH checked his phone after we left A&E and it was 8:20.

I was so glad I took the chance to see them that morning because on our MM day it was insane! There was no way we would have been able to see them so my advice,

See A&E on a non early entry day. Use gate 19 or 14 when the open the gates, not at rope drop, and be at the front of gate line if you can. Go through the left tunnel, stay to the left, and keep going (eyes on the prize, avoid Starbucks) until you are to the left of the Partners statue and in the CM’s Frozen line."

 

[perlster]

Because she's so popular the chances of her not being there are very small. But the chance still exists. Just be prepared, somewhere in your mind, to deal with that possibility.

I've read too many reports of only one (of Anna & Elsa) being present to say it's a "very small" chance of occurring, and it seems that Elsa is the one more likely not to be present.

 

[YukonMommy]

1. I am not sure but I have read on here that they prefer 1 parent stay in line and wait and the rest of the family keep checking in. If this is still true and this is a must do for you then I would send hubby on MM day to get in line. If your not going to do that on your MM then I would follow the advice already given by Californiacicle!

2. Personally the food is almost all the same (good, but not 5 star quality). Its the character interaction that varys. We had a great time at Minnies Breakfast but a not so stellar time at Goofy's.

3. With shoes. But I have seen a CM ask a parent to take kids shoes off and then been denied entry due to the huge discrepancy in height due to heel height. We have never had a problem with just regular runners though!

4. Just so you know your son may not like meeting characters. My youngest loved to wave when his siblings met characters but freaked out if they got close to him .

5. Depends on the ride.

Have a magical time!

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I agree with pp that you just never know, so it may be best to just give a noncommittal answer if pressed by the 3-yr-old about meeting Elsa, and don't bring it up yourself until he's face to face with her.
Maybe you could make time to see the Anna & Elsa (and Olaf!) float in the afternoon pre-parade. He has a very good chance of having Elsa wave in his direction and you could take photos of the float to remind him later that he got to see her.
With the line holding opportunity, it should be pretty easy to have one adult try to get in line for A&E without a big explanation to the little one - then there's no meltdown because even the smartest 3-yr-old will not understand when and where the character meetings will happen, and will also not understand what exactly a Meet & Greet is if he hasn't been in that situation before (Santa doesn't count!)
"Daddy's getting Fastpasses."