need trip advice please

[momtotwogrrls]

Hi!
I am a Disneyworld novice and we are taking my daughter in June for her 3rd birthday (she is Disney-obsessed, esp with the Princesses!. . .my husband also just returned from Iraq and we are moving again so we thought this would be a nice break from all of the upheaval!)
Any specific recommendations on things to see and do and eat while there? The only thing that I've reserved is the DP Tea Party with Sleeping Beauty and a dinner at Gulliver's with Timon and Rafiki.
I guess the only thing to note is that she is super, super sensitive (doesn't like to read about/look at "grumpy queens" or anything else scary!) so if you could let me know things to avoid, too!
Oh, and what would you recommend as the best place to have her birthday dinner? We would like somewhere with characters but not overly crowded and rushed (if that is even possible!)
THANKS so much! I have a newborn also and am having a hard time finding the time to research all of this!!!!

 

[budbeerlady]

I would try 1900 Park Fare Dinner at the GF. Its a buffet with cindy, the mice and prince charming (Sig. pic was taken there). DD loved the food, since it is a buffet you set your own pace. She can get a birthday cake sent over and everyone will sing to her. So cute!

Maybe before take her to bibbity boppity boo boutique to get decked out for dinner. If you own a dress for $45 they do the hair and nails. I am taking DD for a surprise this year.

The Perfectly Princess Tea party was ok, I wouldnt do it again for $200. You can read more about it here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1100643

The wonderland tea party with alice and the mad hatter was great! DD loved that, it was at the GF and was $35.

See the beauty and Beast show at MGM, it was great! The little mermaid show at MGM was cool, but the storm scared DD a little.

You'll have a great time!

 

[theflowerladee]

Just a side note for your newborn in each park there is a baby station, which is a nice quiet place to change and feed they have rockers to sit in and a little play area with tv for your 3 yr old and in a bind they sell diapers, formula, and first aid stuff.

if your dd likes pooh the crystal palace is very nice, they also have a great princess breakfast in norway that is served family style so it doesn't feel
as hectic and they have ariel there.

if she watches playhouse disney they have a great show for toddlers in mgm,
and if you are going at the right time(i think after june) they will have a breakfast with jojo and goliath and the little einsteins in mgm.

look at your map when you arrive they have storytime w/ belle in a little garden on the side of cinderella's castle in the magic kingdom. probably best to avoid the snow white ride if dark scares your dd. when my son was about
3 he didn't want to do anything that was dark related. he hated the mexico
pavillion and the rainforest cafe.

I hear if your daughter can be the first one into the shop inside the castle she can wake up tinkerbell in the morning. ask a cast member,it maybe a
shop right out the back of the castle, since i have only boys i am not sure on that one.

My best advise is there is so much to see and do, just take your time and
enjoy everything, with children as young as yours you will be back to do
anything you may miss this time.

 

[mommystieg]

Hi and welcome to the DIS This trip will be our 5th visit during June--we will be there the 4th-15th--maybe we will bump into each other.

The Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's would be a great place for a birthday meal. The Crystal Palace is probably a little less hectic than Chef Mickey's. Be sure and pick up a birthday pin from City Hall in the Magic Kingdom.

Stay away from Snow White's Scary Adventure, Fantasmic! and The Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Ursula scared DD#2 two years ago and she hasn't been back since).

Take a change of clothes--in most parks and at Downtown Disney are fountains that your DD can play in to cool off.

It is hot, humid and will rain at least once a day every day--bring plenty of sunscreen, drink lots of water and take lots of breaks. Lots of the attractions are indoor and air-conditioned so take advantage of the shade

Our DD#2 is Princess-crazy so the Princess Storybook Breakfast in Epcot is a must. There is also a Princess room in the Judge's Tent in Toontown Fair at the Magic Kingdom. Try to catch "Cinderellabration"--lots of Disney Princesses in their finest attire.

Visit the other boards in the trip planning forum -- they are a great source of info. Happy planning

 

[MichelleChell]

Get the Unofficial guide to Disney 2006. It helped me out so much! It is big but you chip around and it will answer alot.

 

[snickerboo]

Stay away from Snow White's Scary Adventure, Fantasmic! and The Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Ursula scared DD#2 two years ago and she hasn't been back since).

ITA. Ursula at Voyage of Little Mermaid scared the you-know-what out of my 3-yr-old ds and every time we saw Ursula afterwards, he freaked. We skipped SWSA because I'd read about the fright factor. My ds liked Fantasmic except for when the lake is engulfed in flames but it could be very scary for one afraid of the witches! My 6 yr-old dd rode Splash, Big Thunder, Soarin', Kali River Rapids, etc but was terrified by Dinosaur at AK. There is not a lot for the peanuts at Epcot except for the Living Seas and Turtle Talk with Crush. If you have park hopper, go early and see Crush but, if not, you might wnat to do a second day somewhere else. We didn't find a lot for little ones at MGM either but apparently they're trying to add things there. If you go to the Disney page, check out the "Magical Beginnings" Not sure what date that starts.

I highly recommend your dd wearing her princess gear to MK as the CMs treat them very specially and call them "Princess" all day long. I also highly recommend being at Toontown for the rope drop (10 am). Get there 15 minutes early and wait. When the characters come out, go around them, past Minnie's house into the tent (it's a gift shop on one side, character line-ups on the right). The far right line is "Storybook Characters" AKA Princesses. If you're there right at that time, your dd will get to the princesses early. They sign autographs and pose for photos. There are 3-we got Snow, Cindy and Aurora every day we were there. The only downside is that Ariel's Grotto opens at the same time and the little girls who love Ariel run there. You might do what we did and go one day to Toontown and one to Ariel. Also, storytime with Belle is lovely for the little ones. Sit on the right. She does meet and greet for just a short time afterwards to the right of the stage-parents and kids will stampede over there to get in line and she won't have time to greet them all. Your dd will love Cinderellbration, too.

 

[mommy*RN]

Hi , I too am pretty new the DIS, but if you get time throughout the day visit this section (families) and read posts...that is the big help.

I also recommend two GREAT books. The best touring book I've found is the Walt Disney World Passporter by Jennifer Marx. This book has a ton of information packed into it. The author also has a toddler son and he adds his "Toddler Tips" throughout the book. It is awesome. It also doubles as a keepsake when you are finished. The second book I have for our upcoming trip is Walt Disney World With Kids 2006 by Kim Wright Wiley. It doesn't have as much information as the Passporter, but I have found tips in this book that weren't in the other. Both have been my bibles for planning our vacation! (I want to mention that I DO NOT receive any sort of kickback or anything for plugging these books, I just found them to be instrumental in helping me plan my trips.)

I hope you have a magical first trip to the World ...I am sure it won't be your last! A BIG THANKS to your DH for all his hard work in Iraq! WELCOME HOME!

Happy planning and travels!