Our first trip in 2 weeks...lots of ?s!

[missa]

2 weeks ago, we decided plan a trip to DW! I haven't been since I was a kid, and my hubby has never been at all. So of course, we have lots of questions! I have been reading and have found a lot of good info, but thought I'd ask some questions of my own.

A little info:
~We are staying at Disney Movies Resort for 6 nights
~2 boys: ages 4 and 18 months

Questions:

1. My hubby is military...we will be getting the free and discounted park hoppers. Does this include the water parks and do we want to take such young kids to the water parks?

2. Is there a discounted dining plan for military?

3. Any suggestions on a good order to visit the parks in?

4. Anything we MUST see or avoid considering ages of the boys?

5. What else can you tell me that might help us?

Thanks!!

 

[brymolmom]

I can't comment on the military discounts...but I've been with kids those ages.

As far as an order for the parks - we usually go by park hours - we like to hit at least a couple morning magic hours - since we're all early risers. We usually split up our 'all day' parks with the 'shorter day' ones. For example - this next trip we've got:
arrival day - hang at resort (getting there in afternoon)
day 1 - MK all day (maybe a break for a swim at resort in afternoon depending on heat level)
day 2 - DHS
day 3 - morning 'off' - afternoon - few hours at EPCOT then Poly for the Luau
day 4 - Water park in morning - EPCOT in evening
day 5 - MK morning - DTD afternoon/evening - MAYBe back to MK for Spectro
day 6 - EPCOT all day
day 7 - AK - then head to resort for swimming and mom or dad packing to leave
day 8 - depart early

Personally - I don't think there is a right or wrong order for the parks - one thing that might affect your plans would be if you're doing some/a lot of character meals (Crystal Palace at MK would be great for your kids' ages). I like to spread mine out and not do them back-to-back days.

As far as the water parks - if your tickets do not include them, I don't recommend spending the extra $ on them. Your kids are very young for the water parks AND since you're going for only 6 nights - honestly, you will have trouble fitting water parks in along with everything else. We already have WP tickets on some non-expire ones we have and we're staying 8 nights and we're having a lot of trouble fitting it into the plan.

One thing I'll warn you away from with the ages of kids - Fantasmic my kids have found way too scary at those ages. And honestly we still steer clear of it even though my kids are older. Other potentially scary things for the little one especially: Philharmagic, Tough to be a Bug.

Have a blast!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My two oldest were almost the exact ages of your boys on our first trip!

I can't help you with the military aspect, but if the park hoppers don't come with water parks, I would not pay extra for them. There is a spot for little ones at the water parks, but at that age mine have always been just as happy with the hotel pool.

When you go to Magic Kingdom, do Fantasyland first. All kids love Dumbo, but the line gets so long and moves slow. I would do that ride first. They will probably enjoy everything in Fantasyland except Snow White (scary!).

If your 4 year old is 40 inches and wants to try the mountains, I would suggest Splash Mountain first. Big Thunder goes faster and is jerky. It scared my DD when she was 4, and I had to convince her to try Splash Mountain. She loved that one.

It's going to be hot. I would get there early and then swim/rest in the afternoon. My oldest doesn't like to go back so sometimes we just sit and people watch for awhile.

If you want to eat any sit down meals, make your ADRs now. (see Restaurants board)

Even if your 4 year old doesn't need a stroller at home, I would expect him to at Disney. There is a lot of walking. On my last trip, my youngest had just turned 4. He hadn't used a stroller at home in awhile, but he did at Disney.

As far as order of parks: If you are not doing early morning entrance, avoid that park which opens early. If you are taking advantage of early mornings, get there as soon as it opens and make the most of it. We don't do them every morning but try to take advantage of Magic Kingdom's.

Toy Story Mania in the Studios is very fun, but gets crowded FAST. If you are going to the Studios, go there first. We got there within 20 minutes and grabbed a Fast Pass because the line was already an hour!

Have fun!!

 

[mirandag819]

2 weeks ago, we decided plan a trip to DW! I haven't been since I was a kid, and my hubby has never been at all. So of course, we have lots of questions! I have been reading and have found a lot of good info, but thought I'd ask some questions of my own.

A little info:
~We are staying at Disney Movies Resort for 6 nights
~2 boys: ages 4 and 18 months

Questions:

1. My hubby is military...we will be getting the free and discounted park hoppers. Does this include the water parks and do we want to take such young kids to the water parks?Your DH's ticket includes water parks and hopper, if you wish to upgrade yours and your 4 year old's it is $25 a piece on the military tickets. It is an additional $25 a piece to make yours hoppers. Both of these amounts are less then it normally costs to add those options

2. Is there a discounted dining plan for military? There is no military discount on the dining plan, but you can add the regular dining plan to your 40% off military discounted room rate

3. Any suggestions on a good order to visit the parks in? If you want to do EMH I would check the schedule, that helps us choose our park order usually. We often do Epcot first, it is probably DD3's least favorite, so it would be less exciting for her after Magic Kingdom, but if she does it first she doesn't remember she is missing anything

4. Anything we MUST see or avoid considering ages of the boys? The only 2 things My DD was terrified of Honey I shrunk the audience and It's tough to be a bug. She loved everything else! With young kids Fantasyland in MK is don't miss

5. What else can you tell me that might help us? If you want to eat at any table service resteraunts, call now and see what you can get, walk ups are near impossible.

Thanks!!

Have a great trip!

 

[missa]

Thanks for all of the info!

One more question: Do they allow you to bring snacks and drinks into the park?

 

[junipertree5]

Yes, you are allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages in along with any snacks. We have also brought sandwiches in and had no problem. They will ask you to open your cooler to check it along with your other bags at the Security table before entering the park though. No sharp knives or glass containers either.

Have a great time, trust me....its only the beginning. YOU WILL BE BACK

Oh, and when I say cooler, I mean the little soft-side ones that you can collapse when they are empty. There is no place to store a picnic-size cooler.

 

[mjkacmom]

Get to the parks at rope drop, and if you are thinking about the DDP, call now to see if you can get your ADR's - and if you are thinking about not doing the DDP, but want some table service meals, call now to see if you can get your ADR's.