Okay...call me slightly obsessive

[Happyathome]

but I am planning our 1st trip to WDW, and I need everything you got...what to see, what to miss, etc. All of your expertise on traveling with kids. We're leaving on the 12th, flying down, staying at BWI, and have a 4 day hopper. My dd's are 7, 5, and 3 (lil man whose 15mos will be staying home with relleys)

Thanks

 

[safetymom]

I would suggest doing a lot of reading here on the DIS. Those questions have been asked and answered quite a few times. If you do a search you should be well prepared for your trip.

 

[PatricenPete]

Take the 15 month old ;-) We took our DS this past October at age 1 and he had a BLAST!!!!!

 

[Sandcass]

Take the 15 month old ;-) We took our DS this past October at age 1 and he had a BLAST!!!!!

I AGREE ! TAKE HIM !

You'll spend the whole trip w/o him thinking how much fun he would have had.

 

[WDWfor5]

I AGREE ! TAKE HIM !

You'll spend the whole trip w/o him thinking how much fun he would have had.

I third this!! I took my DD when she was 3 and my DS was 13 mos and it was great!! My DS took his 1st real steps to Tigger who got down on his hands and knees to play with him . This is one of my favorite memories

Couldn't imagine leaving him behind for such a child friendly vacation - with my luck he'd look at the scrapbooks when he was older and ask why he wasn't there

 

[Happyathome]

I'm afraid of the lines, etc. I mean, I can't get him to sit quietly ANYWHERE!! I'd hate to have to leave all the shows, etc, b/c of his "vocal skills"

How did you handle it? How did you get them to stay on your lap on the flight down, did they nap in the stroller (mine won't...he's a crib sleeper. 99% of the time it's great, just for stuff like this, it's not so convienent ) Any tips to encourage me would be helpful. It's still not too late to bring him along. (I just had a moment last night tucking him into bed where I was wanting to bring him again )

Thansk for you advice!!

 

[mom22boys]

We have a DS 5 and a DS 2. Here is a list of our most favorite attractions:

MK: It's a Small World, Peter Pan, Pooh ride, Pooh playground, Dumbo, Mickey's Philharmagic, Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear

AK: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Boneyard, Festival of the Lion King, Jungle Trek, Forest Trail

MGM: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, Playhouse Disney, Beauty & the Beast

EP: Soarin, listening to the live performers around World Showcase

Hope you have a fantastic trip! I can see the pros and cons for bringing DS. The extra work he might add could take away from your vacation with your DDs, but on the flip side DS could have the most fun of all of your kiddos! Sometimes the littlest ones experience Disney with the purest of innocence. Best of luck with your decision!

 

[Sandcass]

You might be surprised by his ability to nap in the stroller at WDW, he will be EXHAUSTED!

Also, does your 3 year old still nap? Maybe you'll just need to plan a 2 hour break in the middle of each day to go back to the hotel & snooze. Even you & DH will be exhausted!

We didn't take our kids until this year at ages 7 & 10 because we always thought we had to wait until they were older. Then the entire trip DH & I were saying "Why didn't we come here years ago?"

 

[pedro2112]

I'm afraid of the lines, etc. I mean, I can't get him to sit quietly ANYWHERE!! I'd hate to have to leave all the shows, etc, b/c of his "vocal skills"

Then dont' bring him. He won't remember any of it anyway. If you think (and you obviously know best) that by bringing him it will take away from your enjoyment of your trip with your girls, then don't sweat it and just go with the girls.

Enjoy!

 

[dman11]

Take the little one. There's not a lot of difference between the things a 3 year old and a 15 mo old can do at WDW. Don't put yourself in the position of being at the park and wishing you would have brought him and then regretting that you didn't. Plus he's free now. The lines in mid January shouldn't be bad so waiting with him shouldn't be bad at all.

Definitely do lots of character dining. With 3 girls definitley do the Princess Dinner at Ackerhaus in Epcot. My 2 and 10 year old daughters loved it. With the little ones do Crystal Palace in MK. Pooh Bear and friends are there. Breakfastosaurus in AK was a big hit with everyone too. And all the kids loved the SciFi Dine in at MGM. It's not character dining but definitely a different dining experience that you'll only get at WDW. Also try to get into Chef Mickey's for any meal. It's probably going to be tough now but give it a shot. Make sure you call and get the ADR's asap. It might be too late already for some of these but again, give it a shot.