Our first trip!

[grainsmommy]

Hello friends, I am new here. Id love some help from all the Disney pros!

I am taking my kids (9,5 & 4) to Disney World for the very first time ever (theirs and mine!) the 2nd week of December. I will have 2 other adults with me to help with the kids. We will have 4 day park-hopper passes (military discount) and staying off-site from the 8th-15th. Which days would be best to visit?

We are also going to buy Very Merry Christmas Party tickets (which day would be best??) and
my son's birthday is the 13th.

I plan to eat breakfast in our condo and bring snacks/lunch. We are a gluten-free, milk-free family.

So!! With that tall order, suggestions on itinerary, places to eat, must-see attractions for newbies, etc would be so appreciated. Thank you for everything!!

-Tara

 

[DSNY4ever]

I suggest checking out all the forums on here- the restaurant forums for dining, theme parks attractions and strategies for tips on itinerary plans etc. You really just need to start reading up and get an idea of what there is and what might be best for what your family likes.

Parties are usually less crowded on week nights because less locals go. Try checking out EASYWDW for touring advice or use something like Touring Plans or Tour Guide Mike.

Sometimes reading a book like The Unofficial Guide to WDW is a great place to start.

There are some great info threads for your dietary needs on the restaurant boards. Disney is very accommodating so there is no need to pack your own food- unless you want to of course.

Good luck starting off, you will have a magical time!

 

[Taylor'sMom]

To decide which parks to visit which days, I would look at the park schedules. Based on that:
1. Since you are staying off-site, avoid the parks on days when they have extra magic hours
2. I would (personally) choose to visit Magic Kingdom on a day when they are showing the Main Street Electrical Parade, in addition to Wishes. And I would NOT choose Magic Kingdom on a day that has a MVMCP, as it will close early and you will need to leave at a 7:00, without any evening entertainment
3. On the same token, I would visit Hollywood Studios on a night when they show Fantasmic!
4. As for when to attend MVMCP, I would avoid a weekend... and I would make that day a non-park day until the party (dont waste a day's regular ticket, the party ticket will allow you in at 4pm). Sleep in that day, enjoy the pool or tour decorations at the monorail resorts, etc.

 

[amym2]

I agree that you'll want to start by looking at a Dec. crowd calendar on a site such as easywdw.com. I took a quick peek, and this is what I would probably do:

Dec 9 DHS
Dec 10 MK
Dec 11 EP
Dec 12 rest and then MVMCP
Dec 13 AK

If you have a full day on the 8th or 14th, you might switch out one of these days and add in more rest time. The most important advice I would give is to be at the parks before they open (for rope drop). You will have the shortest lines for the first couple of hours the parks are open.

In terms of meals, Disney is known for their allergy friendliness, so you won't have issues. But you can certainly save money by eating in the condo or bringing in food. You'll want to take a look at menus on a site such as allears.net to determine what meals your family would most like.

I agree that The Unofficial Guide to WDW would be a great resource for you. They often have it in public libraries or you can buy it at Barnes & Noble.

 

[grainsmommy]

Thank you all so much for your help so far! Am I understanding then, that if we buy the MVMCP tickets, we don't have to use one of our days on the pass!? That would be incredible!

Do they do the Jedi training in Dec? I know my little guy would adore that. The girls are so much easier!

 

[grainsmommy]

I agree that you'll want to start by looking at a Dec. crowd calendar on a site such as easywdw.com. I took a quick peek, and this is what I would probably do:

Dec 9 DHS
Dec 10 MK
Dec 11 EP
Dec 12 rest and then MVMCP
Dec 13 AK

If you have a full day on the 8th or 14th, you might switch out one of these days and add in more rest time. The most important advice I would give is to be at the parks before they open (for rope drop). You will have the shortest lines for the first couple of hours the parks are open.

In terms of meals, Disney is known for their allergy friendliness, so you won't have issues. But you can certainly save money by eating in the condo or bringing in food. You'll want to take a look at menus on a site such as allears.net to determine what meals your family would most like.

I agree that The Unofficial Guide to WDW would be a great resource for you. They often have it in public libraries or you can buy it at Barnes & Noble.

OOOOOH, my nerd self just figured out how to do the schedule. Thank you! So *if* we really can get in w/o an extra ticket, I'm thinking
9: MK
10: rest and MVMCP
11HS (seems like not as much the kids will be into.)
12:EP
13:AK

It's getting really real!

 

[JessM]

OOOOOH, my nerd self just figured out how to do the schedule. Thank you! So *if* we really can get in w/o an extra ticket, I'm thinking
9: MK
10: rest and MVMCP
11HS (seems like not as much the kids will be into.)
12:EP
13:AK

It's getting really real!

You might not want to do DHS the morning after your MVMCP. TSM is very popular and I think your kids would LOVE it but you have to get there at opening (15-30min) earlier than posted opening time. You also have to sign up for Jedi Training first thing in the morning as well! I'd send one adult with your tickets to TSM for FPs while another takes the kids wanting to do Jedi training over to sign up.

 

[grainsmommy]

Good thinking. Is there a park that is slightly less insane on a Saturday and then we can rest the whole day after MVMCP.

 

[grainsmommy]

I think I'm going to DL that book onto my nook. I also looked at the crowds chart. I think I managed a good schedule to fit our needs, as long as we don't need to use up a day on our passes for the MVMCP. It'll put us at the park on Sat, but it should be a more leisurely week.

9HS
10: rest and MVMCP
11: rest, downtown disney
12: EP
13: MK
14: AK

Any suggestions on a fabulous place to eat to celebrate the little guy's birthday on the 13 at MK?