Our First WDW Trip EVER-- May 2009!

[ekatiel]

So, I've been hanging out on the Disboards for a while now, and I thought I'd start my own pre-trip report! Here's a little bit about the "cast" (remember NONE of us have EVER been to WDW!):

ME (the mommy): I've ALWAYS wanted to go to WDW, but as a child my dad always told us, "The weather in Florida is just like the weather in Texas: Hot and Humid. We're going somewhere cool." So, nearly every summer, we headed off to Colorado to camp. I love Colorado, but I've still got a hankerin' for WDW, and since I'm the mommy now, I get to make some of the vacation decisions!

DH (the daddy): DH has never been to see the mouse, either, but he's not as super-excited about this vacation as I am. He's always sort of non-plused until we actually get to our destination. I think he's gonna LOVE it.

ODS (he's four and a half): ODS is one of the main reasons we chose to go to Disney so soon (we had always thought we'd take the boys when they were older). ODS has MULTIPLE severe food allergies (he's allergic to wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, barley, rye, millet, flax, bananas, carrots and pineapples!). After I heard how great Disney was with food allergies (they have an excellent reputation among food allergy moms!) and realized that Disney was quite possibly the only place on earth where we could vacation, and Mommy would actually get a break from cooking, I was sold!! ODS is super excited about the trip-- and has been since his grandpa spilled the beans about it a few months ago (we would have prefered not to tell him so soon-- now we get asked almost daily when he is going to Disney World!)

YDS (he's two and a half): We timed the trip for May b/c YDS turns three at the beginning of June. So, in May, he's still free, and he's ALMOST three-- which is just as good as already being three! YDS won't know what's hit him when we get to The World! He's going to have a blast!

Memaw (my mom) and Grandpa (my dad): Yes, these are the same people who would never take me to WDW as a child! My how things change when you have Grandkids! The minute I told them that we were going, and that they were welcome to come, too, they were in! They just couldn't miss seeing the grandkids faces as they experienced Disney World.

So, there you have it. Six newbies going to Disney World for the first time! I'll post more about our plans later (I just turned off Playhouse Disney (I will adamently deny that it's been on all morning if pressed in a court of law!) and there is much whining and nashing of teeth!) --Katie

 

[carissanboys]

How exciting! Your first trip sounds very similar to ours. It was myself, dh, our 3 boys (youngest was almost 3 - middle son almost 5), and my parents - and none of us had ever been!

My parents ended up loving it so much - I think that surprised them. I had more fun watching my dad then I did the kids!

Can't wait to hear more of your plans.

 

[penni520]

I am first
I am so in, can't wait to read more. I went to disney 1988 and this past December I went Solo for the first time. It was great
So when I got home I book another trip to talk my DH18 for the very first time again in December. I recoment you all going in December, It is the more great place to be, and when you get back home from a december trip and look around at your neighbors christmas lights you will be like "WHAT" these lights are nothing
So I can't wait to read more and read your TR when you get back
Good luck...

 

[ekatiel]

CarissanBoys-- That's great that your dad enjoyed WDW so much! I'm just hoping mine doesn't get grumpy waiting in line or for the buses!! Maybe he'll surprise me! He has been warned by my mom not to get grumpy on the trip!

Penni-- Funny you should mention going in December-- I've already told DH that the next time we go, we should go in December to see all the Christmas stuff! DH said, "NEXT TIME??? We haven't even been yet! You're obssessed!" To which I replied, "Yes, but you love me anyways !"

So, after lunch, a time out (for fighting over which identical sword was whose! ), a walk trying out our (bought off craigslist and new to us) Joovy Caboose Sit-N-Stand stroller (purchased for, you guessed it, our trip to WDW!), and a short preschool lesson with my four year old, it is FINALLY nap time!! AAAHHHHH, blessed nap time!!

So, to get down to some serious planning business-- Here's our basic plan as of now (It would be a lot more detailed if May park hours were ever going to be released ). We are staying at POP with the 4/3 deal from May 3rd-10th. We have regular dining (remember my vacation from cooking? ) and 7 day park hopper tickets. Don't ask why we don't have 8 day park-hopper tickets -- Basically, when I called to change our package to the 4/3 deal, we got a bum CM who could only do it with 7 day tickets. I'm still trying to decide whether we need the extra day or not, but it's only like $10, so I really should just call back and try to change it!

We don't have flights, yet. I am waiting for a good "ding" from SWA! Right now, the cheapest SW tickets are $260 round trip. I'm hoping for closer to $200, but I'm wondering how long I should wait . Anyone who has some insight on plane tickets, feel free to jump in!

So, here's what I have planned so far (I'm sure this will change when Park Hours come out!):

Sunday the 3rd: Early Flight in to MCO. Check in at hotel and then head to Epcot for a half day.
Luch: ?????? (maybe Pop food court, depending on what time we arrive)
Dinner: Garden Grill Character Meal

Monday: DHS
Breakfast: Cereal in room (I'm already in a Pop fridge swap)
Lunch: ???? (CS)
Dinner: Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Watch Fantasmic (this day might change when hours are released, depending on when Fantasmic is)

Tuesday: Animal Kingdom
Breakfast: Cereal in room
Lunch: Flame Treee BBQ??
Dinner: 'Ohana
Watch Eletrical Water Parade from the Poly

Wednesday: Magic Kingdom
Breakfast: Cereal in room
Lunch: ???
Dinner: Crystal Palace with Pooh
Watch Wishes

Thursday: Memaw and Grandpa to Epcot by themselves; We return to Magic Kingdom with kids
Breakfast: Cereal in room
Lunch: ???
Dinner: Meet at Epcot; LeCelliar
Watch Illuminations

Friday: DH and I go wherever we want (any suggestions??-- I'm thinking we'll probably go do thrill rides at the parks); Memaw and Grandpa take the kids to whichever park they want to return to (probably Magic Kingdom!)
Breakfast: Cereal in room
Lunch: ????
Dinner: Chef Mickey's (5:45 pm ADR!)

Saturday: No plans, yet!! This is actually an "extra" day b/c we were originally only staying 6 nights before the 4/3 deal came out-- for just the price of dining, I was able to tack on an extra day, so I went for it! Now, I'm not sure what to do with it. We don't have waterpark tickets, but I guess we could upgrade-- any ideas??? I'd also like to do something special for my mom this day since Sunday (when we leave) will be Mother's Day-- any ideas on that??

Sunday: All depends on when our plane leaves. I'd like to do DTD in the morning, and maybe eat (at least dessert) at T-Rex cafe. It would be OOP, since it's not on the dining plan, but technically, we should be out of credits by then anyways (Although, I hear that through sharing, etc, we may have some CS credits left). What do you guys think?

So, that's our plan for now! Any suggestions to improve it?? I would love input! Also, what do you guys think about a mid-day break for naps, etc. The four year old doesn't really nap anymore (he just plays in his room so Mommy can have "naptime" ). But our two year old still naps. We have some late nights, too with fireworks, etc. I'm thinking a mid-day break might be good. I'd really appreciate any input! --Katie

 

[carissanboys]

I definitely think you should call back and try to get an extra day added to your tickets. Even if you only spend a short amount of time at a park on that extra day - it won't cost much.

Taking breaks - we've done two trips now and we've never made it through all day in a park. You'll be going the beginning of May and it'll probably be hot. You're probably more use to the heat than we are! But, I just find walking around when it's hot like that drains you a lot more. We always get to the parks at opening (or close to it) - hang out until early afternoon and then leave. Sometimes we'll go back, but normally that's not how I've planned it. Usually I plan our evenings at the parks on days where we've had a morning off from the park. I may try things differently this year since our kids are older, but we'll see. I get tired too!

As for your mom and Mother's Day - a couple of ideas are the two of you could have a spa treatment or go have afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian.

If I think of anything else I'll come back.

 

[carissanboys]

Here's a link to a thread about the afternoon tea (has pictures too):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052291

 

[ekatiel]

Tea at the Grand Floridian sounds wonderful!! I posted my Mother's Day delimma on another thread, and someone there mentioned it, too. I'm thinking that I'll have flowers delivered to her room earlier in the week (so she has time to enjoy them) and include on the card an "invitation" to Tea on Saturday! I'm so excited-- the picutres on that thread were great-- AND since tea time corresponds with naptime, DH and my dad can stay with the boys while mom and I go have tea . Thanks for the great suggestion!! I'm so excited, I don't know how I'm going to keep this a secret for the next three and half months!! --Katie

 

[Disneyfan71]

Oh how exciting I remember the first time I went way back in 1980 and was sooo excited. I haven't been in 14 years but remember the park well. You will have a very good time

 

[MeMom]

It's exciting for me to come along on this trip for first-timers, because you just can't even imagine the magic that awaits you!

Your boys will like the T-Rex restaurant, and there is a Build-a-Dino shop there that is neat. They'll also like the Lego Store, and there's an area of tables where they can spend time building things.

They also have Build-a-Sword stations in some of the stores, and I'm guessing your boys might like to do that.

Since it is your first time, just for me personally, I would say not to spend money upgrading to a waterpark. There is already going to be more to do than you will ever get around to.

My best piece of advice I could give you is to try to get to rope drop on at least some days. If you are at rope drop at Magic Kingdom, you can walk on to everything in Fantasyland in less than two hours with no hurrying, and then you have the rest of the day to take in the rest of the park. If you're not there early, you will spend a lot of extra time waiting in lines unnecessarily.

Second, take time to rest in the afternoons. Go to the kiddie pool and take naps, then go back out refreshed and have a great evening.

Crystal Palace, 'Ohana, Flame Tree - all good places. You'll like them all.

We've stayed at Pop Century many times. If you want to see pictures, just go to some of the trip reports in my signature. In Baby and the Tramp, we were at Pop for ten days with the whole family, so those pictures might help you out some. Pop has a nice playground, great kiddie pool and fun Goofy jets that are a big hit with kids.

The grandparents are going to have the toughest time, because they'll be torn between seeing things themselves, watching the grandkids, and watching you see the boys' reactions to everything. I'm a very busy person when I'm there, because I'll try to watch a show myself, look at my granddaughter, and then watch my daughter as she watches her own daughter. The joy that is so evident in both of them is just awesome! Your parents are going to have the best time of all!

If you have any questions, you will find hundreds of good people around here with lots of experience and advice who will try to give you the best advice for getting the most out of this trip. If you have specific questions, ask away!

I'll look forward to peeking in on the rest of your planning, and I'll especially look forward to hearing and seeing it all when you return. I think you are truly in for a trip like none other you've ever known!