One special thing .......

[ryanpells]

I guess you could call us Disney regulars now, my now 7 year old can plan a day at all the parks without looking at a map. We normally go for a week in October when we go, but this year fiances and timing did not allow us to go. Well it just so happens I will be in Florida in Jan and we were able to finagle a Sat - Wed trip thanks to great package pricing and free flights. We ended up booking a value resort with the dining plan, which will be new to us.

So long story short, we are going to do one additional special thing this year. We have been debating it since we booked a few weeks ago, but we cannot decide. Should it be dinner at Ohana's (we love that place), a character breakfast, Fantasmic dinning package, another dinner place, or something else? So .....

If you could pick one special extra thing to do what would it be????

 

[wdwjeffc37]

I've heard the Pirates and Pals cruise is fun, especially for boys your DS age. We've never done it so I don't know many details. The fireworks dessert party is also something to consider. It gets mixed reviews on these boards. I would read the descriptions of things and make up you own mind about what to do based on what your family likes. We have done things at Disney that we read were terrible that we ended up loving. Remember, people are more likely to complain if they didn't like something than praise when they do like something. There are a lot of possibilities at WDW. I know you can find something. Have fun!

 

[ryanpells]

I've heard the Pirates and Pals cruise is fun, especially for boys your DS age. We've never done it so I don't know many details. The fireworks dessert party is also something to consider. It gets mixed reviews on these boards. I would read the descriptions of things and make up you own mind about what to do based on what your family likes. We have done things at Disney that we read were terrible that we ended up loving. Remember, people are more likely to complain if they didn't like something than praise when they do like something. There are a lot of possibilities at WDW. I know you can find something. Have fun!

Thanks - These are the kind of ideas I was hoping for. Maybe a few hidden gems we have not looked at. I will check out that cruise, Pirates are big in our house right now. The dessert party is another one I forgot all about. We thought about it in the past, but it was Halloween time so we went with the trick or treating night.

 

[Mattsolo]

O'hana. It is the best restaurant you can get for the value.

 

[Pooh2]

With a 7 year old, I might go with the character breakfast at Ohana. They bring the food to you, you do not stress about missing characters and have some wonderful photos with your little one.

 

[eculmone]

Hmmmmm Disney extras? I like Whispering Canyon. DD loved it and you get to check out Wilderness Lodge if you haven't already

 

[Elizaspride]

My favorite special, non-park memories as a kid were spent doing activities..either renting a boat, horseback riding, bike riding, movies outside (although could be a bit cold in Jan?). Sometimes it's the simple things...

 

[Disney44please]

We had booked the pirates and pals cruise for our upcoming April trip . It is around 65 per adult and I think 57 or so for each kid, that sounds about right. Regardless, we ended up cancelling it because we found out that Captain Hook and Mr. Smee only do a pre-boarding meet and greet and do not actually go on the boat with you. The event timeline is apparently as follows:

Pre-boarding snacks (pretzels, cake, ice cream bars, granola bars) and drinks (lemonade, ice tea, coffee, hot chocolate) and a meet and greet with Captain Hook and Mr. Smee during the 45 mis or so before you board. A 1 1/2 - 2 hour boat ride around bay lake, views of the electrical parade and then wishes viewing from the boat. Please note, that these are small boats, not pirate ships and have no bathrooms! After the boat ride you get to meet peter pan at the dock.

It just didn't seem worth almost $200 for us and that no bathroom for two hours after eating and drinking for 45 mins sounds horrible! (at least to me with a toddler)

I would save my money on the P&P cruise and maybe look into one of the tours for his age group or of course, Ohana.

Edit: Saw that pirates are big for you guys right now, there is pirate league which is like BBB, but for boys. They dress them up like pirates and do pirate activities (the second part might be at a different place). It is significantly cheaper at around $45 for him to be transformed into a pirate.

 

[ryanpells]

Well we leave Sat and so far we have still only booked the dessert party. I let me kiddo pick what he wanted, and in the end he really wants to go back to the boardwalk and rent a bike this time. He absolutely loved the boardwalk last year.

So as someone said sometimes with kids it is the simple things. Although I might try and sneak in the whispering cannons, and ohana. My wife said to me last night, can we eat there again this year. She is not the planner in the family.

 

[Krissy562]

I know it's last minute, but have you considered the Family Magic Tour? My DD LOVED it at that age.