Newbie here -- we're going to Disney!

[Ardenne]

We've been talking about going for a long time, but hadn't made any plans until a friend told us about the free dining promotion. That sounded like a deal that would make our stay so much more pleasant, but we only found out about it on Friday, so we sure had to move fast! But long story short, we now have a weeklong trip booked for the first week of October. DH and I, our 7 year old DD, our 2 year old son, and probably my parents are all going, staying on-site (though in one of the less expensive places), with the free dining plan, and 7-day parkhopper passes.

I've been perusing the forums all weekend and just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of the helpful info I've found already! I'm sure I'll learn a lot here about how to make the most of our trip I haven't been to Disney since 1983, and that was for just a weekend, staying off-site and eating mostly pbj sandwiches and fruit that my mom carried into the parks with us. I had a great time then, but I'm sure staying on site and having actual meals will make it much nicer!

First question, for all you experienced people -- I think my 7-year-old might get worn out by the end of the day and want to be able to ride like her brother, but she's almost 50 lbs now, which I think would make her too big for a stroller. But the double stroller rentals seem pretty pricey, at least once you consider doing it every day for 7 days. Any recommendations on alternatives, or is that the best way to go, despite the price? I was thinking about a kid-size wagon we could pull, but someone told me this am that wagons aren't allowed anymore? (I'm sure they were in 1983, because my brother and I kept seeing them and wishing we had one!)

Thanks in advance! I'm really looking forward to chatting with all of you!

 

[mrcricket]

Welcome back to the world. You'll have a blast. As for the stroller question I'd personally put convenience at the top. Renting strollers may seem pricey, but consider that you don't have to lug a stroller on and off buses. That's huge in my book, especially at the end of the day when the buses are really crowded. I can't tel you how many times I've seen dads having to hold on to a stroller while the mom tried to hold both very sleepy kids in her arms. It'd be a lot easier if dad didn't have to wrangle the stroller. That's the reason we always rented strollers when our kids were younger.

One note of advice, invest in some ponchos big enough to cover the double stroller. It will rain and having a large enough poncho will help keep the kids and the stroller dry. Also, consider tieing something of a unique color or pattern onto your stroller. It will make it easier to find in the see of look-a-like strollers at the exit of attractions.

 

[Ardenne]

Thank you, Mrcricket! We booked with Small World Vacations and I had seen the thing on Mousesavers about their free ponchos, so I think we'll be getting those. Anyone know if they're large enough to go over a stroller? If not I can pick up an extra large one before we leave.

Another 2 super-newbie'ish questions, I expect -- are there things in all of the theme parks which will keep the 7 year old and the 2 year old entertained? I know they'll love Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, but I'm not sure about Epcot, and I know next to nothing about MGM, which didn't exist when I was last there. I got parkhopper passes since I wasn't sure whether all of the parks would have enough to interest them for an entire day at a time. And what about character meals -- where do I get a list of what's available, and which ones would you all recommend most for kids 7 and 2?

I'm hoping I can get my parents to babysit one night so DH and I can go out for a romantic meal mini-date -- where are the best places for that, and do any of you have suggestions for other especially romantic things to do?

Thanks in advance, again If some of these topics have already been thoroughly covered elsewhere, please feel free to just point me at the right places to read up!

 

[philaround]

One thing they don't tell you about is that you can get a multi day stroller rental. You still have to leave the stroller when you leave the park but you get a receipt that shows how many days rental you have paid for. Just show the receipt at any stroller rental station at any park and off you go.
Doing the multi day rental reduces the per day charge but you have to pay the whole thing up front and if for any reason you do not get a stroller on any of the days you are there you lose that day altogether. I believe that you still have to pay the daily deposit the first time you pick up a stroller every day. If you must leave the stroller somewhere due to ride restrictions [i.e. The Railroad in Magic Kingdom] and are getting off at one of the other stations just take the large card with your family name on it out of the pouch on the back of the stroller and leave the stroller on the platform. When you get to where you are going just pick up another stroller at that location. If you are going all the way around and coming back to where you started just park the stroller [leaving the name card on the stroller] and it will be waiting for you when you get back.

 

[mrcricket]

I think you'll be surprised at all there is to entertain young ones. MGM was my young ones favorite outside of MK. Kid friendly shows like Little Mermaid, Playhouse Disney Live on Stage, Muppet Vision 3D, Honey I shrunk the kids playground and more all seemed to satisfy our young ones. And shows like Beauty and the Beast and Fantasmic were real adult pleasers as well.

As for Epcot there's Figment, Living Seas (what kid doesn't like watching fish in the largest aquarium in the world), and innoventions has some of the best hands-on exhibits anywhere. The World Showcase may not be interesting to them, so this could be a special date place for when your parents take care of the kids. There are several great restuarants here, especially in France. You can't go wrong with either of them.

As for character meals, our kids love Pooh and Friends, and we always made a point to see them by booking the meal at Crystal Palace in the MK. CP is great for breakfast, but we prefer lunch as it offers a huge variety of food, including vegetables which my DW craves.

If you're really wanting help planning, might I suggest Tour Guide Mike. www.tourguidemike.com. You can search this forum for others thoughts on Tour Guide Mike if you want more info. I just signed up last week and although I've gone to WDW 3 times in the last 4 years, I've learned a lot from his tips. It is a pay site, but well worth it if you haven't been in a while.

Good luck on the planning.
Mrcricket

 

[Ardenne]

Thank you, again, especially for this:

Living Seas (what kid doesn't like watching fish in the largest aquarium in the world)
Mrcricket

My kids absolutely adore aquariums, and I didn't know about Living Seas -- I'll put that on our must-see list!

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I'm hoping I can get my parents to babysit one night so DH and I can go out for a romantic meal mini-date -- where are the best places for that, and do any of you have suggestions for other especially romantic things to do? Thanks in advance, again If some of these topics have already been thoroughly covered elsewhere, please feel free to just point me at the right places to read up!

ask the resort you're staying at for either in-room babysitting or i believe they have some sort of a day care center in each hotel....just incase your parents are too pooped themselves!

 

[Ardenne]

Thanks for the info I'm one of those very protective parents who would much rather leave my kids with someone I know well, but I'll keep that in mind, just in case

 

[swtnikki]

Welcome to the DIS! Have a safe & fun trip when you go too!

 

[Ardenne]

Thanks, Nikki!

And thanks, everyone else, once again. I think we'll be going with the rental double stroller -- sounds like it'd be worth it. I've printed out the # to call to try to get CRT and other PS reservations, asked our TA to try for CRT also, printed out all of the dining plan locations, started reviewing menus, started collecting tips on avoiding long lines...

Who ever knew going on vacation could be so much work? But I'm having lots of fun trying to figure out the details, and these boards are just fantastic

Edited to add: do those double strollers have some kind of storage area built into them for carrying stuff in addition to the kids, like the basket we have under our regular stroller? Or should I bring along something that would strap on to the handle somehow? I want to bring water bottles for each member of our group, extra sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bandaids, rain gear, our toddler's security blankie in case he gets overtired and fussy, etc.... not a HUGE amount of stuff, but maybe 1 cubic foot or so of gear.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

They do have mesh hanging things on the back- usually a large one for bigger items that goes across the back and smaller ones for water bottles/etc.

I believe that you still have to pay the daily deposit the first time you pick up a stroller every day.

We did the multi-day stroller rental for the % discount and we paid it all at once- we did not have to pay the daily deposit each day. Also you don't have to get the deposit back each day, you can save the tickets and get them all at the end of the stay if you want. They are usually in the form of Disney Dollars though- just a warning in case you want to get the deposit back before you're heading off to LEAVE WDW.

If you must leave the stroller somewhere due to ride restrictions [i.e. The Railroad in Magic Kingdom] and are getting off at one of the other stations just take the large card with your family name on it out of the pouch on the back of the stroller and leave the stroller on the platform. When you get to where you are going just pick up another stroller at that location.

I'm REAL confused by this statement. You can't just take someone else's stroller and put your card in it. Do you mean at each theme park? At each theme park you can save your card (or get a new one each day) to use when you pick up a new stroller but I thought you always had to get your stroller at the front of each theme park or at guest relations at DownTown Disney. I don't think there are any other spots you can just pick up another rental stroller?
Do they have other stroller rental places near the stations on the railroad that runs around MK?

When you go to living seas- do NOT, I repeat do NOT, miss Turtle Talk (w/Crush from the movie Nemo!). The line will seem long since it's a little queue inside there but a lot of people get in at once so the line isn't as long as it seems and you won't regret it. It's an experience you can't describe really- interactive screen w/crush doesn't seem to really describe it. Plus it's different everytime. We all enjoyed it and did it twice because of it... should have done it even more. LOL

 

[KAMommy]

Something else not mentioned previously about stroller rentals (at least multi-days) - when you return the stroller at the end of each day you receive a $1 "Mickey Buck" - good anywhere on-site & at Disney Stores! So a 5-day rental nets you $5 - more than enough for that bag of trail mix for the car ride home...

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

You're going to love it!!

This is the place to be to get advice of all kinds.

I might suggest getting 2 single strollers, rather than a double, simply because those doubles are a little much to maneuver. But either way, a 7 yr old definitely might need a stroller by the end of the day.

Some years ago I went with my sister and her DH, and we had 3 kids between us, 3, 5 and 6 at the time. We rented 3 strollers each day, and it was well worth it.

There are lots of good places for a romantic dinner, we love California Grill, especially if you can get a seat near the window at the time of the fireworks. Just walking around at night at the resort, with no kids, is a treat - we just did that a few months ago and it was very relaxing.

Have a great trip!

 

[ANTSS2001]

And have fun !!!
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=853260

 

[eeyore45]

Hello! (again~ I introduced myself in the October thread! Glad you jumped in!!)

For Epcot, its our favorite park, and you're going during Food and Wine Festival (have you ever heard of Taste of Chicago? It sounds similiar to me, but like you we're on the free dining plan... but I'm still looking forward to that!_

Epcot and kids - well the aquarium sucks up about an hour of time (and could be more, but *I* get bored!! It totally fascinates dd, and that was before Crush - and we go to the Chicago aquarium 2 or 3 times a year!!!)

When you go thru the lands at Epcot get your DD a "Passport" it has stickers, and you find the place in each country to get a "stamp" these are around $15, or for free your ds and dd can make "masks" think of a paint stick, and a "Kid Station" where the decorate, and add a cut out to the 'mask" so they make one "mask" and then add to it at each country!

Also you didnt mention Animal Kingdom, its another park that totally sucks up our time - dd loves to take up her time at each trial, we do the Safari and Kali River Rapids several times - I loved the Lion King, gorgeous! We never made it to the Dinoland, and we went two full days!! Please accept the warning on the 3D movie, Its Tough To Be a Bug - it is too intense for young children... if your dd doesnt like bugs, I'd skip it, or try and see it while your mom is with the kids, and then let your mom and dad see it while you're with the kids!! (I cant spoil it, but when it gets foggy in there, the bugs go wild, and all the kids scream, the adults scream with surprise, but pretty much the kids lose it! Those darn bugs!!)

MGM didnt do a whole lot for us, we did Star Tours, Muppets, Indiana Jones, Backlot Tour, and of course the Great Movie Ride, we did the artist drawing (way cool, its where the used to make movies like Mulan) and saw One Man's Dream... and of course Beauty and the Beast, and that was it, about a half day (for us!) It rained, and cancelled Fantasmic, so we went back a different day for that! (well worth it!)

 

[Ardenne]

Thank you, once again, for the friendly welcomes and plentiful advice!

What is the Food and Wine Festival? Is it held in Epcot? Where can I read more about it? It sounds like something my DH would love, and he's a somewhat reluctant Disney-goer, so the more I can learn to interest him in the trip, the better.

Eeyore, it just so happens that my DD adores bugs, and she's one of those absolutely fearless kids. I might try the 3-D movie with her, but not her little brother, from the sounds of things. Thanks for the tip

I'll have to go read up on the California Grill. The name didn't sound like a highly romantic place, but everyone keeps recommending it as one, so I'll definitely look into it

I'm assuming there's a thread around here somewhere already on best tips to avoid long wait times -- can anyone point me at that info?