Newbie wants to plan the perfect WDW trip

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

Hi all,
I am brand new and am so glad I found this site. There is so much great info here.
I am planning a trip to WDW for Sept. 2009 (I know, I'm way early). We will be celebrating my daughter's 5th birthday and my mother's retirement. My sister and her daughter (3 yrs) will also be joining us so we will be 4 adults, 2 kids.
I want to have the vacation of a lifetime plus give my daughter a one of a kind birthday she will never forget. I haven't been to WDW since 1993 and have tons of questions:
How far in advance can I/should I reserve? Can I arrange something special for my daughter on her birthday (I am already planning to do a character breakfast at CRT but would like to do something else unique to Disney)? Can I also arrange something special for my mother's retirement?
I have tons more questions but I'll stop here for now.
Thanks!

 

[DizneyNutz]

We have never taken little children YET ( have a new grandson), but I have read where many moms take their little girls to the Bibbity Boppity Boutique for kind of a makeover I have read good reviews of this. As far as it being her B-Day make sure she gets a button to wear and she will certainly get EXTRA attention all day wherever you go at WDW.

 

[Tinkalink]

I think I read or heard they are opening a BBB at/in Cinderella's Castle in the near future. Congratulations and good luck on planning your trip. I am sure you will be a WDW expert by 9/09! Since you have already found the DISboards I only have 2 suggestions for you: Get yourself a notebook/folder to hold all your info and notes. Second, go to the bookstore and pick out the "Unofficial Guide To WDW" or the "Passporter to WDW", look over each and decide which will be your reference for planning. LOL and enjoy! Planning can be half the fun!

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Yes, you're early, but planning and anticipation are half of the fun! As another poster suggested, buy a couple of comprehensive guides. I like the Unofficial Guide; it's very thorough.

I think that booking a year out or a little more is a good idea, if you have your heart set on a certain resort and room type.

If you stay plugged into these boards, you will pick up a lot of tips, including ways to make the vacation special for everyone.

Enjoy !

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

BBB sounds like a great idea! I am looking forward to the planning almost as much as going.
I must admit that the last time I was at WDW, I thought things looked a little dated and shabby, especially EPCOT. However, now that I have a child, I want to experience it all again from her point of view. It seems that Disney has been doing a lot of updating so I can't wait to see it all.
I look forward to hanging out with you guys!

 

[DizneyNutz]

I am sure that any pre concieved notion of WDW you had will quickly be changed watching your your daughter experience the MAGIC. We have not even had little ones in tow and have found the Magic ourselves. NOW we have a little grandson and with us being in the DVC program, we are planning a reconaissance mission this Dec. to find all of the places where LITTLE ones get absorbed in the magic It will be ALL about him on his first trip, since we have been fortunate enough to have experienced it for several years prior. He will experience WDW with a couple of seasoned guides. IF we could all be this fotunate Anyhow take your daughter and feed off of her enthusiasm and have a great trip

 

[mjy]

How far in advance can I/should I reserve? Can I arrange something special for my daughter on her birthday (I am already planning to do a character breakfast at CRT but would like to do something else unique to Disney)? Can I also arrange something special for my mother's retirement?

Just a thought . . . if the kids and you, your mother and sister like boats, how about something like the fireworks special? Get one of the boats that cruises the lake to MGM and then goes to EPCOT for Illuminations. With the chips and pops they supply and the water-level fireworks, that could be a really special arrangement and is certainly unique to Disney.