Planning My 4 Year Old Daughters First Disney Trip!

[Belle1230]

Ok so everyone knows that the first trip to Disney has to be perfect. I need so much help on getting this thing together. Where should we eat? Where should we stay? I want her to have the time of her life. I want to make memories that she will have for a life time. Our trip isn't until Sept. so I have lots of time but she is already so excited. We have been the Disney store close to our house a hundred times because she wants just the right outfits to wear each day ( yeah she is only 4) amazing right. Her favorite characters are Belle because well what we call her. Her name is Isabelle but she likes Belle. She love Beauty and the Beast and I would love for her to be able to have a meal with them. It would make her so happy. I just want her first trip to be as magical as mine was!

 

[emmiesmom]

What fun
We took my daughter last year for her 3rd birthday in April and then a longer trip in July Some thoughts of what we did/what we would change
- she loved the bibbiddi boppidi boutique - we did it in the middle day and had a long wait/big crwods next time I would try to get a first thing in the AM appointment.

I also bought sale items at Target and the Disney store that were Disney themed to give as little gifts throughout the trip (from the plane to the last day I had so many things!) like flip flops, new pajamas, stickers, new sunglasses etc...

For the plane and "rest time" at the hotel we had a host of disney movies for DD

We haven't done it but it seems Belle is often at the Askerhaus meals to greet you in Norway at Epcot (but it's not guaranteed) and we have it on our to do list for our May trip

Inspired from these threads we also created a countdown chart together using the mickey head paint chips

We stayed at the Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge with DD and we loved having a boat or monorail to take to the Magic Kingdom - DD thought it was a ride in itself. We liked both resorts for different reasons with her but both were wonderful!!!
Enjoy your planning!!!!

 

[la79al]

When DSD was 4 she loved Chef Mickeys but hated Rainforest Cafe. 4 is probably the perfect age for a meal in the castle. DSD loved the sand area of the Boneyard at AK.

 

[nettii]

Maybe you could do an enchanted phone call before you leave or have a friend pretend to be Belle and call to say how excited she is your Belle is coming to visit. A count down calendar or chain is always fun. Dont forget Tinker treasures and Pixie dust around them for each am, she could even visit the night before you leave to fill her bag with goodies for your flight. First visit pin. You could also go over to the creative DIS board and ask if someone could make you invitations for your character meals, and set them out in the hotel. Decorate your hotel room, and or window. make goodie bags with cute snacks for in the park and maybe a cute inexpensive figure to go in side the goodie bag. Dollar stores have a bunch of little princess figures. Hope I helped a little and I hope her trip is Magical!!!

 

[lntsmom]

Just saying...when you go into something feeling that it has to be "perfect" you are likely to come away disappointed. Try to pick a few "must do's"...lunch at CRT or whatever...and let the rest just happen.

I'm a major planner, but I try to go into the trip itself thinking that if something doesn't meet my expectations it will exceed it...if I look for the good.

For example, I really wanted to stay in Toy Story last year, but didn't want to pay the extra. On our first trip I was able to get a free upgrade. Not so this time...we were in Mighty Ducks. I was fussing to myself when my older son started going on and on about how cool it was to have a pool all to ourselves. The main pool was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, but in our area the kids could actually swim and play. Voila...possible disaster turned inside out into a perk!

Have a wonderful time on you trip. I personally think 4 is the perfect age for a first trip!

 

[Stitch76]

Definately do breakfast or lunch at the castle with all of the princesses, and don't miss storytime with Belle in the little garden theatre, I think it was near the teacups (somebody help me here if you can tell better directions, I was only there once). My 6 year old DD is princess crazy. We went to this and she and her sister got to get up on stage and help Belle act out a play, they will never forget it. They were Luminere and Mrs. Pots. Afterward Belle poses for pics and signs autographs.

 

[pheathers24]

Our first trip is planned for April!! We are so excited! I agree to try for the Princess Storybook Dining at Askerhaus in Epcot and the Storytime with Belle. Here is what we chose for dining:

Cinderella's Gala Feast at 1900 Park Fare
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique then Cinderella's Royal Table Breakfast (daughter's birthday)
Donald's Safari Breakfast
Princess Storybook Breakfast
Le Cellier (husband's birthday)
Chef Mickey's

allears says that Belle is sometimes at Princess Storybook and Cinderella's Royal Table.

I would suggest Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique with a Belle dress and then CRT or Princess Storybook. If you do BBB you can buy a dress there or she could wear her own. Mine will be wearing their own.

Hope that helps some.

 

[fottafamily05]

You should take her the Hollywood Studios to see the Beauty and Beast Show! I am sure she would just LOVE it. Akershus in Norway (Epcot) also does a Princess Breakfast that Belle is at (Actually the breakfast is centered around her) You get a picture package with her included in the price of the meal WOO HOO right? Good Luck!!! I know ya'll will have the best time!

 

[DISNEYNV]

Well you have come to the right place for great advice! My DD is four and our last trip was in December, but it was her fourth trip to Disney and DSs first. I recommend the Askerhus dinner in Norway at Epcot for Belle and the princesses. The Beauty and the Beast show at Studios was a hit with her as well as the parades. She had to have a princess dress while we were there (after she would not pick one out at Disney store before we left) so we bought one at MK and it was pricey! Have your DD pick one for the parks at your Disney Store if you want to save some $. If you are doing the Bibidy Bopity Botique you can get the whole package take a stroller with you or rent one. I think you can get a package sent to your resort for thirty dollars that includes mickey ears, an autograph book and snack. It can be waiting for her when you get to your room! I would use photopass to get some good pics of the family in front of the castle. Get to MK early and hop on the horse drawn carriage on Main Sreet. It's awesome. All the CMs wave to you with their mickey gloves as the barbershop courtet sings as it takes you directly to the castle. Go straight to Fantasy land and get on Small World, Dumbo, Peter Pan etc with hardly any wait. September is a great time to go especially for a first trip with a little one...great weather and less crowds! Still make your ADRs as early as you can. I would also recommend Chef Mickeys for breakfast and Crystal Palace for dinner. Most of all have a great time planning the trip with your DD...besides being there it's half the fun!!! Just a few suggestions that we found our kids really loved.

 

[Belle1230]

Oh my! You guys are awesome! I love all the ideas. My sister was Belle last year for Halloween and still has the full outfit. I think having her come over for a visit before we leave would be great. I have put up a countdown calander in her room that she actually helped me make. I checked on the DIS boards and found some really neat ideas for t-shirts to for her to wear. I wanted to have some minnie mouse ears made with her name on them.

The story time with Belle would really make her day. Did you guys use a travel agent or planner from this site. I have noticed alot of people used Dreams Unlimited. Would they be able to help me set all these things up?

You are very right about the outlook of the trip. I don't expect it to be perfect to my standerds. Belle is very easy to please so even if things go wrong she always seems to find the good. She doesn't like to complain. Which is good for my DH and me!

I am so glad I came to this site!

 

[RMulieri]

Try not to stress about the trip being "perfect". We took our 4 yr old princess for her first trip last Sept.We bought all these cute little outfits and princess dresses,I booked BBB,I booked the princess stroybook breakfast, and I ordered a special gift basket to be delivered on arrival to the BCV.I had every magical moment planned in my mind.Well Sept rolls around...The gift basket never got to our room,I had to have it searched out.She got it in bed that first night instead of when we arrived.Plus by day #2...she lost the mouse ears,the misting fan broke, and her autograph book got ruined by a leaking water bottle.It was so hot and humid she refused to wear any of the cute little outfits or princess dresses we bought.She took one look at BBB and refused to do it( why? who knows but she refused)At the princess breakfast she really was only interested in eating and just looking...not interacting with the princesses at all.She was afraid of a lot of rides and attractions.The little things I planned in my mind never materilaized....I went prepared for anything and everything and downsized my expectations.If I went thinking to myself everythin would be just so I probably would have been extremely disappointed.You knw what? we still had a fantastic, beautiful time.Maybe not what I dreamed about exactly, but magical nonetheless.