planning first trip to WDW

[Aarory2004]

Hi, I am planning a trip to WDW in Aug 2010 with my husband and 6 yr old boys. We want to go for 7 days but want to go to Universal too. As for the WDW parks I was thinking to go to Magic Kingdom, MGM and the water parks. Should I be going anywhere else or is this too much? Any help would be great. Also, I heard Magic Kingdom is more for girls....any truth to that? One more thing, how do I find out the restaurants that I could make reservations to that accept the meal plan?

 

[lovetoscrap]

Check out our Disney Restaurants board for all the information you need on the Meal Plan and the restaurants.

I don't think that MK is more for girls? There is a lot for everyone there! Check out our MK information found here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/mkindex.htm

 

[eastcarolinafan]

Hi, I am planning a trip to WDW in Aug 2010 with my husband and 6 yr old boys. We want to go for 7 days but want to go to Universal too. As for the WDW parks I was thinking to go to Magic Kingdom, MGM and the water parks. Should I be going anywhere else or is this too much? Any help would be great. Also, I heard Magic Kingdom is more for girls....any truth to that? One more thing, how do I find out the restaurants that I could make reservations to that accept the meal plan?

Wow, somebody done lied to you!

As a boy -- a big boy -- I can assure you that you have been misled to a degree that is criminal. WDW is for everybody, girl or boy, and I promise you I am not just sayiing that. Your boys are like the TARGET AGE for DW. They will not only love the parks but they will be forever grateful you took them.

Please, please, please don't skip MK. All fanatics on these boards have their favorite parks. Magic Kingdom is mine. And I promise you -- I mean, I really PROMISE you that your boys will be nutty for it.

Astro Orbiter, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear ... and let's not forget how they are gonna flip out over Mickey's Philharmagic, Pirates of the Carribbean or Space Mountain ... or Peter Pan or Monsters Inc., or Small World, or Jungle Cruise ... You get my drift???

As a guy I give you my word they will love it. As a Dad let me assure you you will be giving them -- and YOU -- memories you will cherish for the rest of your life. Yes, you should go to the Magic Kingdom. In fact, you should plan to spend at least two days there, especially if you are visiting for a week.

Now, I personally would not want to cram another trip (the one to Universal) into it. In fact, though I have never been, I do hear that those rides are aimed toward older, more adventuresome riders. Perhaps your boys might be a bit young still?

As for the meal plans, you should MOST DEFINITELY make reservations as soon as you are eligible to (I think now it's 120 days before your trip, but you should definitely check on that.) Meal plan is critical for a WDW trip of your length. If you don't do the meal plan, you are at the mercy of regular prices, which have been known to cause erratic heart beats.

Are you staying at a Disney resort? This could affect your decisions a great deal. You mention dining reservations. Go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/restaurants/. Pretty much ALL resort and park restaurants, cafes, snack booths -- anything -- take the meal plan. DW makes it very, very easy to use the meal plan, and there are some fantastic restaurants in the parks.

So much to do, so much to see, so much to know ... it's crazy! But you are in the right place to help you minimize mistakes. These boards have saved more than one WDW visitor, I assure you.

I hope this helps you some. At the very least I hope it steers you in the right direction.

 

[Aarory2004]

ok, thanks so much for that info. I def think my boys will love it with all those attractions. As for Universal, I did hear its more for older kids so i guess I'll save that for the next trip. I was thinking of staying at a value resort. Everyone I've spoken to says they spent so little time in the room that it didnt matter which one they were in. You agree? How about Epcot...is 6 too young?

 

[TyTyandMickey]

That is a long time!!!!!

 

[gojoe]

I wouldn't miss Magic Kingdom, Hollywood or Animal Kingdom. We saved Universal until our girls were teens. Nickelodeon was big at one time but I don't think it is anymore.
Value resort are great. Food courts are great with kids. No waiting to be served. The rooms are small but it's OK with small kids. You can rent a Frig, I wish we had.
Best advise I every received was to go to the parks for rope drop and get out before noon. Beat the heat, beat the crowds, head for the resort pool and the kids will love you for it. Go back to the parks late afternoon, maybe after a nap. Not for the kids but for you.

 

[mdinme]

Skip Universal. You and your kids will love all 4 disney parks. 17 days wouldn't be enough, with 7 you'll get a lot done but you're going to feel the chaos, not to mention the heat, in August. The water parks are certainly fun, and the kids will love them too.

No matter what you'll have a ball.

 

[mdinme]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...09 Disney Dining Plan - Walt Disney World.pdf

 

[Flight]

I heard Magic Kingdom is more for girls....any truth to that?

Well, that is a new one that I have never heard and it cannot be more wrong.
Your boys will love it there. When they get older, they will still continue to love it.

With a 7 day trip in the summer, consider skipping Universal for now. With all the fun at Walt Disney World and enjoying your time at the resort, including naps, you may find a trip elsewhere will be pushing things.

 

[serene56]

epcot for kids-- http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/entertainment/kidcot-fun-stops/


you can make it just as fun in epcot as the magic kingdom.

Dont forget the talking with Crush- Soaring- test track

 

[amzking]

You have already heard many posters saying to skip Universal for now. I completely agree. They will love it when they are teens.

I would strongly recommend just going with the quick serve dining plan. That way you are not bogged down figuring out all the tons of choices with table service restaurants, when to make each reservation based on your park choice for that day, how to get to each restaurant, etc. You will have maximum flexibility and will be able to get to know WDW without the added stress of dining reservations.

The only exception I would make for this would be character meals. Make at least one reservation for this. Chef Mickies at the Contemporary, Donald's Safari Breakfast at AK, Cape May breakfast at Beach Club, are a great way to meet the major characters without waiting in a huge line. If they like Pooh you can do Crystal Palace. Stitch? Ohana breakfast at the Poly. Playhouse Disney? There is a meal at Hollywood Studios.

Have fun planning!!

 

[Metro West]

 

[wdwtweets]

Welcome to the boards! I would echo most of the advice given here. Definitely stay on property. The Values are nice. Pop Century is our pick. And definitely skip Universal.

I would strongly encourage you to go to all four of the Disney parks. Your boys will probably absolutely love Animal Kingdom. If I were going to skip any of the parks, it would be Hollywood Studios. But with 7 days, you could easily do all of them.

In my opinion, you don't need to waste the money on water parks when your kids are only 6. The resort pool would do the trick.

Oh, and you can now make dining reservations 180 days in advance, if you choose the regular dining plan.

These boards are a great resource for planning. If you need any extra help, let me know. I'd be glad to help you.

 

[DisneyClown]

Great advice from everyone! The only thing I would have to challenge is Quick Service opposed to Table Service. Going in August, with children, you may find a Table Service meal in air conditioning a welcome relief and a nice break! I would only schedule one TS per day though, as it can be quite cumbersome to try to make it to more than one reservation in a day. Definitely get to the parks at rope drop, and quit midday for a break at the resort, then head back in late afternoon. Everyone will be in better moods to enjoy the rest of the day!
I agree with skipping Universal. You will find you'll need the whole week to enjoy WDW. You will avoid the extra cost of a separate park and transportation there, and can utilize Disney's free transportation.
For Epcot- check out the Kim Possible missions in Epcot. They will be fun for you entire family. Keep using these boards! They are an invaluable wealth of information that will make your trip soooooo much more enjoyable!

 

[wdwtweets]

I'd have to agree about with the Table Service recommendation. Having been to WDW in August, I know that we greatly appreciated the little breaks we took to sit down and have a nice meal.

 

[Aarory2004]

Thanks everyone. Everyone's advice is soooo helpful!

 

[eastcarolinafan]

ok, thanks so much for that info. I def think my boys will love it with all those attractions. As for Universal, I did hear its more for older kids so i guess I'll save that for the next trip. I was thinking of staying at a value resort. Everyone I've spoken to says they spent so little time in the room that it didnt matter which one they were in. You agree? How about Epcot...is 6 too young?

Let me say I have never stayed at a value, so I can't speak as to that. I can tell you I have stayed at the moderates, specifically Carribbean Beach and Port Orleans Riverside and have loved them both. POR has the edge as far as I am concerned because it was so quiet and Building 14 was about 100 feet from the restaurant. Nice.

I do see you mention only sleeping at your resort, and some indeed do that; however, with two kids 6 six years old, you might be spending more time there than you thought, so plan accordingly.

Epcot can go either way for your 6 year old kids, but Disney has really amped up their efforts to make it kid-friendly. Now, with Soarin, Mission Space (the one for the younger kids), Test Track and Turtle Talk with Crush, kids are nutty for it, and there is plenty for us older kids to enjoy, as well. And there is always Spaceship Earth -- we all lOVE that one. Sodas around the world, Illuniations -- AWESOME!

Anyway, Epcot is a must-see, even if it's just for you. No law says you have to stay there if you don't like it, I guess, but I think your kids will like it. I am so happy for you. I hope you all have an awesome trip!

Good luck!

 

[Puget Peach]

You don't necessarily need a table service restaurant to have a meal in air conditioning and even a quiet environment. Upstairs at the Columbia Harbor House is my absolute favorite restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. Most people don't get up there, there are lots and lots of window tables (for people watching). My favorite is the area behind the condiments. It actually sits above the walkway between Liberty Square and Fantasyland. Spectacular people watching, usually quiet, and you can even catch glimpses of Spectro Magic if you get the right table. Cosmic Rays is also air conditioned but a bit more chaotic. At Animal Kingdom, Pizzafari is air conditioned and large enough to find an out of the way table. In the Disney Studios the ABC Commissary is huge, but if you go at an "off" hour, there are tables offset into the window nooks that work well. At Epcot you can choose the Electric Umbrella and watch the amazing fountain performances. For some fresh choices other than Disney's standard CS fare, the Sunshine Seasons in the The Land Pavillion is a great place to dine while waiting for your fastpass time to ride Soarin'. I usually book a couple of Table Service Restaurants for a week long trip, but try to do so at Breakfast to get in early at a park, or at my all time favorite, the Sci Fi Dine-in at the Studios.

I like the freedom of not having to watch my watch to meet mealtimes. If there's magic happeing, I don't want to have to be the one to say "Oh Cinderella, we would love a personal tour of your castle, but we have an ADR at O'hana. Bye bye now."

 

[wdwtweets]

The thing about ADRs, though, is that you can always cancel one if you find that it isn't fitting into your plan. While it's true that there are many lovely quick service establishments, there are so many excellent table service choices as well. Many of them offer an experience much different than quick service restaurants.

 

[Disn3y]

Welcome to the DIS! Enjoy your trip!