Planning a family trip. Have some questions!

[Captain Masamune]

Hi DisBoards! I'm a big fan of allears.net and this site was also recommended to me by a friend of the family who is a huuuuge WDW fan.

I'm currently planning to take my 2 year old to WDW for his third birthday in September (just the two of us). With the military discounts now, I plan to stay at Riverside (I've stayed at the French Quarter before and was pleased with it). I plan to take advantage of the 5-day military pass as well. I'm hoping you can help me with some questions I can't seem to be able to get answered anywhere else online.

1. My son and I are best buds. Any recommendations for taking a toddler/preschooler? He looves the Fab 5.

2. allears.net says this: "The Disney Dining Plan is an option available only to guests staying on a WDW Magic Your Way package, Annual Passholders stayining at a Disney resort, or to DVC members staying at a DVC resort. It is not a discount but can provide significant cost savings depending on dining preferences. Additional information is available directly from Disney, including a list of participating dining locations." So does that mean I won't be able to purchase the Dining Plan with my current plans? My little piggy and I were going to save money by doing this (Quick Service Dining) =/

 

[MushuGirl06]

I have no idea about your second question sorry but

considering you said that he loves the fab 5 I would definitely spend alot of time in Toontown and I would definitely consider going to Chef Mickey's because some or all of the Fab 5 is roaming usually.

 

[Captain Masamune]

Thanks for your input. I definitely plan on taking him to Toontown to explore Mickey and Minnie's houses! We have a preschooler computer game that shows their houses too.

I was planning on staying at the Contemporary until I saw the huge discount for military. So I will def be taking him to Chef Mickey's at least once!

And is that... is that NKOTB in your sig? I'm an 80s child and love my boy bands, I just don't get why 80s FASHIONS are coming back in style.

 

[Wendybird55]

We took my son last year in Sept for the first time when he was almost 2. We are taking him again this year, same time before he's 3.

My biggest suggestion is go to the play areas in the parks! My son LOVED them! In MK you have Pooh's play spot and in Toon Town Donald's Boat and Mickey's play area - there's even a little play area by Splash Mountain.

In AK there's one in Dinoland and in DHS there's Honey I Shrink The Kids play area. They were my son's favortie part of the trip. He's a very active boy and he just loved running around in these areas going on the slides, climbing in and thru things and playing with the water sprouts.

The areas are somewhat confined which make is easier for you to follow him and keep a close eye on him as he's running around and playing. My son would have stayed all day in these play areas if we let him. It was alot fo fun for him and he enjoyed interacting with the other kids there.

Be sure to get him a "My First Visit To DisneyWorld" button. You can get it a town hall in MK - or probably at your hotel when you check in. A cast member gave us one when we were entering DHS one day (after we already got one at town hall).

Plus cast members tend to give stickers to little kids that they put on there shirts or where ever -when we got home from Disney my son was looking for stickers every day to wear!

Rafikis Conseration station in AK has a nice petting zoo and the indoor area is a great place to cool off and let your little one walk around and check things out.

I know Dumbo is a popular ride for kid and the line can be long - Aladdins Carpets (MK) and Triceritops Spin (AK) are the same type of rides and lines don't seem as long. We were able to go on both twice in a row without a wait.

When we took our son on the Indy Raceway (MK Tomorrowland) they gave him a license when he got off.


We went to alot of character breakfasts and he enjoyed them - he really liked hugging the Pooh characters. I like the one at Cape May (Beach Club) the best. My least favorite was Tusker House. Maybe it was tto crowded the day we went - I don't know.

My son liked Whispering Canyon restaurant in Wilderness Lodge for dinner. It's very loud and he had a great time yelling along with the waiters and such.

Also Cosmic Rays in MK is a good place for counter service - lots of food choices and there's this animatronic alien guy that plays music - we sat close to the front and my son enjoyed watching him while we had lunch.

I found he enjoyed interactive things and movement rides the most. His patience sitting thru shows was OK - I'm hoping it will be better this year so we can see some of them.

It's a great age and I'm sure you andyour son will have a great time!

 

[AmyMama2AvaNtheo]

We are going in May .. using the 40% off military room thingy and we were able to add the dining plan on because of the special tickets available.

 

[GRUMPY D]

the way i under stand it the dinning plan is a add on so as long as you stay at a Disney resort and have a valid ticket you can add the dinning