***Official March 2021 Thread***

[DeeBee3]

1) THOSE WITH LITTLES: This will be our 2 y/o daughter’s first trip to “Mickey’s House” and we’re only doing one park day in MK 3/8. The hours were extended to 8:00 so we’re debating nap time. Here are our options:

1. Head back to the resort (AKL) midday for her nap – it’s just such a far hike to and from AKL! But we will have our car.
2. Bring nap supplies (sound machine, small blanket) and lay her down in the stroller – she rarely naps anywhere but a bed
3. Power through and hope for no meltdowns (she never has meltdowns….but we’ve also only ever gone without a nap twice).

I would definitely get the park early - from what I have gathered, they often let people in to avoid crowding at entrance and then you can line up for a ride - and then you can leave mid-day for the nap and go back later in the day. Also should have lower crowds toward closing time. My kids were tricky nappers and gave them up pretty quick, but if you could get a nap in, everyone is happier!

I definitely wouldn't cart all your nap stuff with you just to find out it doesn't make a difference. Go back to the room to have some down time.

 

[dez1978]

Does anyone know if there is anywhere to get chocolate almond milk on property? Trying to decide if we can just buy it there or if I need to add it to my instacart list.

 

[Bama Mom]

Does anyone know if there is anywhere to get chocolate almond milk on property? Trying to decide if we can just buy it there or if I need to add it to my instacart list.

I'm not sure. You could call the gift shop of the resort you are staying in and ask them. I know they have distilled water you can buy but you have to ask for it at the check out counter because they don't keep them out. They have to go to the back to get it. Maybe they have chocolate almond milk too? But it may be safer to just odd it to your Instacart.

 

[HokieRaven5]

For those coming after March 22! Here's something positive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1363951088387428352

 

[HokieRaven5]

Now I'm hoping for 8am openings of DHS once it opens up. I doubt it will happen but I can dream.

 

[MomOTwins]

For those coming after March 22! Here's something positive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1363951088387428352

Thanks! Glad they are reopening another character meal, but for character meal prices kind of annoyed it is a la carte (and a fairly basic menu at that) rather an all you care to eat family style like at Chef Mickey’s or how garden grill and Ohana used to be. Recognize that Topolinos (and, when it was a character meal, Trattoria al Forno) have a la carte too, but the menus at those places seem more unique and high-end. Here it is mostly a choice between scrambled eggs or pancakes

 

[dez1978]

Now I'm hoping for 8am openings of DHS once it opens up. I doubt it will happen but I can dream.

NOOOO!!!!! I don't want to have to be there at 7 lol. I'd much rather it be open much later than open so early.

 

[HokieRaven5]

NOOOO!!!!! I don't want to have to be there at 7 lol. I'd much rather it be open much later than open so early.

Sorry!!! My kids (5 and 2) will be up and in my face at 6am no matter what time they go to sleep so I'm ready for earlier days.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Thanks! Glad they are reopening another character meal, but for character meal prices kind of annoyed it is a la carte (and a fairly basic menu at that) rather an all you care to eat family style like at Chef Mickey’s or how garden grill and Ohana used to be. Recognize that Topolinos (and, when it was a character meal, Trattoria al Forno) have a la carte too, but the menus at those places seem more unique and high-end. Here it is mostly a choice between scrambled eggs or pancakes

Yeah i'm not trying to sell it as anything other than another offering at breakfast time! Hopefully the prices will be on the lower end of character meals? (Wishful thinking, I know!)

At least it could be something that will consume some of the morning rush crowd? Maybe?

 

[dez1978]

Sorry!!! My kids (5 and 2) will be up and in my face at 6am no matter what time they go to sleep so I'm ready for earlier days.

Mine are at home. But they are exhausted at Disney. And our family thats going with us, they are not big on mornings. I gotta drag my kids outta bed at 630 Mon-Fri to go to school, but every freaking weekend, they are up on their own at 615

 

[Wosmama6]

Sorry!!! My kids (5 and 2) will be up and in my face at 6am no matter what time they go to sleep so I'm ready for earlier days.

My kidsto a tee. If we make it to 6 am I am pleasantly surprised. No matter what time I put them to bed.

 

[Bama Mom]

Now I'm hoping for 8am openings of DHS once it opens up. I doubt it will happen but I can dream.

]

My daughter and I are both early risers too so earlier opening or later closing wouldn’t matter to us a bit. I’ll take either one as long as we are getting more time in the park.

 

[skeettafic]

Heck, I have the only teens in the world that are up and happy in the morning, I think.

However, I would be perfectly happy if hours stayed the same so I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn!

 

[MomOTwins]

NOOOO!!!!! I don't want to have to be there at 7 lol. I'd much rather it be open much later than open so early.

Sorry!!! My kids (5 and 2) will be up and in my face at 6am no matter what time they go to sleep so I'm ready for earlier days.

Count me in on the "8am is too early" crowd. We have kids who get up at 6am too at WDW because they are so darn excited, and we have a trick--we pop on the TV on low and they are so captivated by the possibility of watching disney cartoons from bed we get an extra 30 mins of snoozing

Yeah i'm not trying to sell it as anything other than another offering at breakfast time! Hopefully the prices will be on the lower end of character meals? (Wishful thinking, I know!)

At least it could be something that will consume some of the morning rush crowd? Maybe?

Yes, am definitely excited that the return to in-park breakfasts could help reduce some of the line wait times. That's been one of the most annoying aspects of the restaurant closures--would definitely make a dent in morning MK wait times if they reopened breakfast at BOG, CT and CP.

 

[dez1978]

Count me in on the "8am is too early" crowd. We have kids who get up at 6am too at WDW because they are so darn excited, and we have a trick--we pop on the TV on low and they are so captivated by the possibility of watching disney cartoons from bed we get an extra 30 mins of snoozing



Yes, am definitely excited that the return to in-park breakfasts could help reduce some of the line wait times. That's been one of the most annoying aspects of the restaurant closures--would definitely make a dent in morning MK wait times if they reopened breakfast at BOG, CT and CP.

Our 1st trip (2019) my kids were 5 & 7. It was May and hotter than heck. We did all the early things. PPO at BOG so we were there at 745, at all the parks by 8-830 for rope drop... It was hot, everyone was miserable. Even leaving mid day. My kids are NOT nappers, no matter how tired they are. Unless they are sick, nether of them have napped since they were 2, much to my dismay. 2nd trip was Jan 2020, with the in laws and cousins. PPO for BOG, 5 am at HS to get a bleeping BG, all the early things. Which meant that we left the parks by 6-7 bc we were all exhausted, except for MK, bc you have to stay for those fireworks. All of the running around trying to be somewhere super early, making it to FPs, and reservations, made it stressful with 4 boys between 6-11. Even my kids, who are normally early risers at home are asking if we have to get up so early this time lol. I am determined to fight my inner "we must hurry and do all the things" and relax a little more this trip. Hoping the later starts will help everyone.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Our 1st trip (2019) my kids were 5 & 7. It was May and hotter than heck. We did all the early things. PPO at BOG so we were there at 745, at all the parks by 8-830 for rope drop... It was hot, everyone was miserable. Even leaving mid day. My kids are NOT nappers, no matter how tired they are. Unless they are sick, nether of them have napped since they were 2, much to my dismay. 2nd trip was Jan 2020, with the in laws and cousins. PPO for BOG, 5 am at HS to get a bleeping BG, all the early things. Which meant that we left the parks by 6-7 bc we were all exhausted, except for MK, bc you have to stay for those fireworks. All of the running around trying to be somewhere super early, making it to FPs, and reservations, made it stressful with 4 boys between 6-11. Even my kids, who are normally early risers at home are asking if we have to get up so early this time lol. I am determined to fight my inner "we must hurry and do all the things" and relax a little more this trip. Hoping the later starts will help everyone.

Well now that the BGs are open at a set time that will help! Also not having FPs reduces the stress around making it on time for a FP or even scouring the phones trying to book the next best fastpass to maximize your day. Now we know we just will be waiting in a socially distant line wherever we go.

I'm going into my Easter week trip with no touring plan in mind, no set plan in motion to try and get everything in, no FPs to worry over and very minimal ADRs to try and rush to. Just taking it at the pace my group goes and enjoying a family vacation.

 

[skeettafic]

Well now that the BGs are open at a set time that will help! Also not having FPs reduces the stress around making it on time for a FP or even scouring the phones trying to book the next best fastpass to maximize your day. Now we know we just will be waiting in a socially distant line wherever we go.

I'm going into my Easter week trip with no touring plan in mind, no set plan in motion to try and get everything in, no FPs to worry over and very minimal ADRs to try and rush to. Just taking it at the pace my group goes and enjoying a family vacation.

I'm trying to look at it the same way. I've been several times over the past few years but the kids haven't been in a while. I'm hoping to just relax and help them see stuff that's changed since we were there last as a family ... they haven't been on the new Soarin', haven't seen Pandora, haven't seen GE...

Other than being at the parks early and hitting the big things early, I'm going to try and go with the flow (and since I'm usually a laminated spreadsheet kind of planner, it's easier said than done. lol)

 

[Wosmama6]

I'm trying to look at it the same way. I've been several times over the past few years but the kids haven't been in a while. I'm hoping to just relax and help them see stuff that's changed since we were there last as a family ... they haven't been on the new Soarin', haven't seen Pandora, haven't seen GE...

Other than being at the parks early and hitting the big things early, I'm going to try and go with the flow (and since I'm usually a laminated spreadsheet kind of planner, it's easier said than done. lol)

my solution to this is to have multiple spreadsheets. instead of saying "what do you guys want to do next?" i try to anticipate... like after lunch, the options are go back to the pool, keep touring, or go to X. So i make a plan for each of those LOL. it looks "on the fly" because they get to choose but you've still optimized that choice.
this can get a little tricky because some things do need to be set... park reservations, BGs, etc. But I solve this by having the mornings pretty set until lunch, and then the afternoons flexible.

 

[BellesLibrary]

We're T-minus 6 days until the vacation fun begins, and I. AM. SO. EXCITED!

I need a few suggestions from my brilliant Disboarders!

1) Does the Swan and Dolphin count as a Disney resort for the purposes of taking advantage of the early morning access to the parks?

2) We're going to Beaches and Cream for the first time! What are some can't-miss dishes?

3) What's the best pool at the Swan and Dolphin for kids?

4) Talk to me about Satu'li Canteen! I'm trying to branch out of my usual dining options, and this is one I've never tried before.

5) Has anyone tried the breakfast buffet at Garden Grove in Swan?

6) We have early Droid Depot appointments on our HS day. I'm hoping to go on MF:SR this morning, but I'm not sure what to do with the droids while we're riding: take them with us? Put them in a locker? Run back to the hotel? I certainly don't want to leave them in our stroller, so any advice there would be helpful.

 

[tlm345]

I can answer for the Droids! My girls are 11 and 14 so I’m not sure how successful this would be with younger children (you mentioned a stroller)...but my girls carried them around like pets. The droids interact in the land so they enjoyed “showing them around” and we placed their boxes between our feet on Smugglers Run. We returned to the hotel midday for a swim and to put the droids down for a nap.