New Here and some questions

[babsd218]

Hi all. We have booked our first trip to Disney in January. We are giving it to the kids for Christmas. They will be thrilled. We are going for 7 nights/8days. Should we get tickets for 5/6/7 days? The price difference is minimal. Difference between 6 and 7 days is $4. Should we get the 7 days just in case the kids hold up well and want to go everyday? They are 7 1/2, 5 1/2 and 9 months at travel time. The baby is very laid back and will sleep in the stroller. Do you have any tips for me as to what to carry everything in, yes we are bringing the stroller. Should we get info tags for the older kids in case they get lost? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks, Barbara

 

[Robo]

Hi all. We have booked our first trip to Disney in January. We are giving it to the kids for Christmas. They will be thrilled. We are going for 7 nights/8days. Should we get tickets for 5/6/7 days? The price difference is minimal. Difference between 6 and 7 days is $4. Should we get the 7 days just in case the kids hold up well and want to go everyday?

Absolutely!

 

[LoveMickey]

Depending on where you are coming in from, your first day will not be a full day in the parks.

So keep that in mind when purchasing tickets. Also factor in the departure time on your last day. If you are using ME (Magical Express) the bus will pick you up 3 hrs before your flight. So if you have an afternoon flight, you won't get much park time that day either.

I do not have experience with children at Disney so I will not comment on that part.

I advise people to check out allearsnet.com when they are first timers. That site has a lot of useful info especially for first time visitors.

 

[julsmom]

I guess do the 7 days. Why not? I bet your kids will be great. I put a little tag on DD in case. The first year I forgot and then grabbed one of those paper luggage tags at the airport check in counter. I tied it to her shoe.

We rent a stroller there so I bought a bag at MGM that was able to slide over the handle of the strollers. I carry that in everyday.

What a great gift and what a great mom!

 

[Got Quattro?]

yes, you may not want to go to the parks every day, but may want to run and see whishes, or illumination one night.

So the more days the better.

 

[jarrdisney]

Hi all. We have booked our first trip to Disney in January. We are giving it to the kids for Christmas. They will be thrilled. We are going for 7 nights/8days. Should we get tickets for 5/6/7 days? The price difference is minimal. Difference between 6 and 7 days is $4. Should we get the 7 days just in case the kids hold up well and want to go everyday? They are 7 1/2, 5 1/2 and 9 months at travel time. The baby is very laid back and will sleep in the stroller. Do you have any tips for me as to what to carry everything in, yes we are bringing the stroller. Should we get info tags for the older kids in case they get lost? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks, Barbara

I think if you plan to stay on disney property the whole time you should get the full 7 days. The upgrade is a minimal cost compared to how much fun you're going to have!

 

[Tigger714]

Hi all. We have booked our first trip to Disney in January. We are giving it to the kids for Christmas. They will be thrilled. We are going for 7 nights/8days. Should we get tickets for 5/6/7 days? The price difference is minimal. Difference between 6 and 7 days is $4. Should we get the 7 days just in case the kids hold up well and want to go everyday? They are 7 1/2, 5 1/2 and 9 months at travel time. The baby is very laid back and will sleep in the stroller. Do you have any tips for me as to what to carry everything in, yes we are bringing the stroller. Should we get info tags for the older kids in case they get lost? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks, Barbara

I PM'd You, I have more tips than you would ever want to read! Can you just say, been there done that, and loved it!

 

[addicted2disney]

When in January are you going?

We have gone every January since 1999 and one of the really nice things about off season in January, is that the weather is not hot. Being in the heat wears kids down faster. We have had wonderful January weather on almost all of our trips. One really cold trip and it wasnt cold the entire time. Also, the parks closer earlier in January. Cooler weather, shorter park hours and really low crowds ( unless you are going at New Years or Martin Luther King weekend) make for a great trip with little ones.

My girls were almost 4, and 5 on our very first trip to Disney which was in January. We never needed a stroller, we never had to go back to the room for a nap. We never did ( and still dont) get to the parks extremely early. Usually around 9:30-10. Then we stay all day. There are lots of ways to have down time at the park without leaving. Have a nice long counter service or sit down meal ( my kids LOVE LOVE LOVE eating in the cars at Sci Fi and watching the drive in movie clips) Get your spot for the parade 30-45 in advance. Find a shady spot if its sunny and grab something to eat while you wait. Or get some ice cream. The kids can eat, sit and rest and watch the parade. Go inside and watch some shows.. you can sit down and rest, and be cool in the airconditioning while enjoying shows and movies and attractions.

The baby centers are great, so take advantage of them if you can!! There is one in each park.

When we go in January, I always bring warmer clothes and jackets to the park with me. But in stead of dragging them around or taking up all the room on the stroller ( DS 4 uses a rented one ), we rent a locker and put all extra clothes, and warmer stuff in there. Its there if we need it and not in our way if we dont.

Oh.. and I would definately do the 7 days!!

 

[babsd218]

Thank you all for the information. We are going Jan 6-13th. We are staying outside Disney. We are arriving around noon on Saturday, so I was thinking that after we settled in, we could maybe go see one of the fireworks show and maybe a little time to walk around. I was there when I was 14, much older now, but my husband and kids have never been.

I figured why not have the extra time incase they wanted to go everyday. If they want to hang out at the hotel, then that would be fine also for a day or so.

I don't want to be rushed or stresses. I want them to have the time of their little lives.
Barbara

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

I don't want to be rushed or stresses. I want them to have the time of their little lives.
Barbara

Smart thinking, Mom! Your kids are sure to have a great time with that attitude

 

[blessedby3]

I would go with the 7 day pass. Even if you dont stay for the whole day each day, the added cost is so little that you wont feel bad just going in for a few rides, fireworks, etc. The longer the better is what I say. You are only out a few bucks per ticket if you dont use them. Have a great time

 

[krissyh]

If you rented a house/condo or are staying with family/friends - great. Otherwise, you may wish to consider staying onsite. The reason I ask - I've done both and will never stay off site again unless I'm in a house. Some will disagree - to each his own but for me, the benefits of being onsite outweigh any cost differences. And with kiddos that age - being able to go back to the resort for a nap is HUGE!

They'll have such a great time.

 

[babsd218]

We are staying at a friend's timeshare. 2 bedroom suite, and able to have some meals at home. Really big savings. We will still be able to take the kids back for a nap or rest and go back. Price difference was great. They practically gave us one of their weeks.

 

[Eljay]

On the topic of kids getting separated from their families, I saw the smartest thing the last time I was at WDW. I saw a little boy with a cell phone number written on the back of his shirt, in black marker. Great idea, no? Everybody has a phone these days and the child can get help from the first person they go to. I hear that people will tell their kids to tell the first mom with kids that they see, that they are lost. CM's might be hard to recognize, but there will be a million moms around. I also hear that people tell kids to stop and stay right where they are, if they get lost, not to wander around looking for their family. They will be found easier if they stay put.

Be sure to allow a full day for the World Showcase section of Epcot. You might not think your kids will like it, but they will love the Kidcot Fun Stops at each country. They could learn how to saw "hello" and "thank you" in each countrys language. That would be, Spanish, Norwegian, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Arabic and French. For America, Canada and UK, they get a break!

Have fun!

 

[lbarnes]

You might want to consider the park hopper option so you can visit more than one park on a given day. It's nice if you want to spend one day in a park and then hop to another for evening fireworks or parade.

Have fun! We took my niece when she was 7 mos old and had a blast with her. Our pictures of her with the characters are priceless.

 

[Eljay]

You might want to consider the park hopper option so you can visit more than one park on a given day. It's nice if you want to spend one day in a park and then hop to another for evening fireworks or parade.

So true, AK closes early in the winter, often 5 p.m., and you could leave there and run over to another park for fireworks.

 

[babsd218]

I am planning on getting Park Hopper tickets. So many people have said that is the way to go. I was even thinking of going the night we arrive to see the fireworks. We will be getting in around noon, so there will be plenty of time.

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions and advice. I am trying to be prepared before we go.

Oh, do we really have to make reservations at places for lunch or dinner. We usually take the approach of "let's see how things are going and what we feel like" when we are away on vacation. But if I need to make reservations, I will.

Barbara

 

[kvogel11202]

I am planning on getting Park Hopper tickets. So many people have said that is the way to go. I was even thinking of going the night we arrive to see the fireworks. We will be getting in around noon, so there will be plenty of time.

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions and advice. I am trying to be prepared before we go.

Oh, do we really have to make reservations at places for lunch or dinner. We usually take the approach of "let's see how things are going and what we feel like" when we are away on vacation. But if I need to make reservations, I will.

Barbara

If you want to have a sit down table service meal, I would reccomend ADR's. The restaurants have been pretty full the last few visits I've made. When my guys were a little younger we welcomed the break from the action, and it helped them regroup before we headed out again, without the chaos of a counter serevice place, and findind a seat ect...of course I've never been in January, so take my advice witha grain of salt!

 

[krissyh]

I really believe in ADRs - why take chances?

Here's my thoughts on it:
1. You are traveling with kids. They get hungry and want to eat
NOW MOM!!!!
If you know what time you're supposed to eat, you can give
them a snack.
If you are told there is a two hour wait - let the fussing begin.
2. You will likely have restaurant you really want to eat at.
This will guarantee you a seat.
3. A set dinner time will a preplanned "break".
If you go for the earliest dinner or latest lunch (cheaper)
ressie that you can get, you will be able to break up your day nicely.
4. Since you plan on getting park hoppers - and will have a car
you will be very "free" with where you set your ressies for.
You will still be able to hit whichever park you decide on.
5. ADR's are a must if you are looking at any character meals.

I would also suggest a "light" day in the middle where you maybe spend the day at the timeshare and maybe hit DTD or the Boardwalk.
With kids - WCC, 50s PrimeTime Cafe should be fun.
Have you checked out the menus at www.allearnet.com?