Planning my trip. 1st time going how does this look?

[NeverBeen2DW]

I need help with planning my trip as I have never done this before. How does this look? I need ideas for CS meals and just ideas in general. This is very overwhelming all of this info. My DS is 4. It will just be he and I. Everyday we will return to the hotel after lunch time to play in pool relax and take a nap. see below.

Thanks!

Jacquelyn

*******************************

day 1 arrive at airport 11am
Look around hotel AKL
pool
nap
Garden Grill - TS
Epcot

Illumination Fireworks
************
2nd day
Magic Kingdom
Crystal Palace Breakfast -TS
after lunch go back to hotel
pool
nap
snack go back out for the evening events


Need ideas for the evening
************


3rd Day
MGM - Disney Playhouse
after lunch go back to hotel
pool
nap
snack go back out for the evening events

3;40 Coral Reef late lunch/ early dinner

need ideas for evening
************


4th day
Not sure???

Boma ?
Ohana ?

************

5th day
Animal kingdom
Donald's Breakfast

OR Pirate Adventure - GF , walk around DD -have a reservation already. I think am going to do this and cancel Donald's breakfast. What should we do after Pirate cruise?

need ideas for at night

************
6th day
Jester -Sassagoula River Adventure
reservation for massage Saratoga Springs while son take adventure


Tony's Town Square
Mickey Very Merry Christmas
************


7th
check out 11am
Revist park my son wants to go to

leave 5PM

 

[GoinToDisney]

For us, the more time in Magic Kingdom, the better. We are spending 3 days at magic kingdom, and only half days in the other parks.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

Are you worried that at 4 yrs old he might be tired with a very full schedule?

 

[Love the Mouse]

I would definitely take time for a nap. For my DD(2), we went back to the room every day for a nap of at least 2 hours. Disney gets VERY tiring!

I agree with the other poster as well about the Magic Kingdom. MGM can be done pretty quickly as well as Animal Kingdom...Plus Animal Kingdom has shorter hours than all other parks.

When we went again in September, we did MK almost every day...even for a bit. There is so much to see and do there.

Either way...you and your son are going to have a great time. The Christmas Party is great fun!

Michaela

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I am planning to go back to the hotel after lunch time, swim in the pool for an hr to relax and then nap time for at least 2 hrs. Wake up have a snack and go back out to a park for a bit have dinner end the night with fireworks on some nights then go back to the hotel and right to bed. My kid is mr. high energy. He will out last me.

 

[katie111]

Chef Mickey's one night for dinner would be fun. Or Mickey's Backyard BBQ. Also, for evening activites my kids loved just going for a swim after dinner. They thought swimming at night was the coolest thing ever.

Also, you can check & see what parks are open late which nights. Although you're schedule may not seem that full, it will fill up quickly once you get there. Your 7 days will fly by. With kids that age, I think its important not to schedule too much. Although you think he will nap there may be days when he's just too wired & you may have to go to bed early instead. Or you may go to a park & just be having too much fun to leave for your midday break. This happened to us a couple of times & we just ended up cancelling our evening plans. Which was fine. As long as the kids were happy, we were happy. Just relax & have fun!

 

[ndgqmiller]

First I would plan more time at MK. It was our favorite ds9, dd6, dd2. We went 3 full days there and then went back just to see the fireworks before we left. You have to to be able to see all the great shows, fireworks and parades. I loved the show in front of the castle, the illumination parade and the nightly fireworks! We also loved Chef Mickeys breakfast. It was excellent! Our favorite character meal was Liberty Tree. We even got to have a "Magical Moment" there lots of fun. We did not go back to the hotel everyday even with a 2 year old we just took our time and took breaks at the park to rest and have snacks. The counter service resturants we liked were Pacos Bill (MK) and Tusker House (AK) both very good and on the dining plan. We liked the counter service at POP Century the best we had a lot to choose from. Also if you are going to MGM don't forget about Fantasmic, awesome show! We just got back last week and it was the best vacation we have taken as a family . I am already trying to talk my dh into going back Dec. 2007. My best friend is going and I am helping her plan hers. Have a great time!

 

[ndgqmiller]

If you want something fun to do at night that is fun for your son and relaxing for you. Chip and Dales Campout and sing along. We did this one night It starts at 7:30 chip and Dale come, there's a sing along, you roast marshmellows and hot dogs if you want and then there's a movie. It's held at Fort Wilderness campgrounds. Our kids ran and palyed and did the sing along, while my husband and I sat back and sang along to. Lots of fun. Don't forget a blanket it can get chilly and its fun to get under a blanket and have hot chocolate. Best thing about it's free all you have to do is pay for the marshmellows and snacks.

 

[mecllap]

You may find that it can take a lot to go back to the hotel every day. Some early evenings might be good (altho that's very hard to do). I would recommend a stroller even if you're no longer using one regularly. A 4yo will get very tired, even a hi-energy one, esp in the afternoons and evenings (and it's handy to carry around some extra stuff, too). There's a lot of walking, waiting, and standing around at WDW. I hope you've read the forums about traveling with kids, and hints and tips (what to take along, etc.). I'm sure you will stick like glue to your son, but WDW is very distracting -- show your son each morning how to recognize a CM to ask for help if something separates you -- and put your cell phone number on him (a lot of people label shoes -- or at least a note in a pocket). If he doesn't like loud noises (Illuminations is really loud, and also some other things) you might take some ear plugs (if he will wear them) or ear protectors (my DGS was using those last year sometimes at age 6) -- that's not a problem with most kids, I guess.
Mostly, try to go at your son's pace, don't try to do everything (there's no way to do/see everything in a one-week trip -- WDW is huge and overwhelming) -- but you can have a wonderful time, without overdoing it.
Use PhotoPass a lot -- keep an eye out for the photos at key scenic spots and with characters. Also always try to have a Fastpass for something -- they're a big help. Major TS meals, without characters probably won't be too exciting for a 4yo -- you might want to spend less time eating, and more time looking around.
One of DGS's favorite things is the Boneyard at Dinoland in AK -- it's pretty much just a big playground (so either steer by it, if you think it's "not getting your money's worth" -- or let him have fun there).
I envy you staying at AK (I can't afford to take our little group there) -- you can spend a lot of time there just enjoying the animals -- I think there's an evening "safari" right there.
Have a wonderful time -- maybe you'll want to keep a journal to help plan your next trip - and so you can share a trip report when you get back. It's always fun to see the magic thru new eyes (and remember why we fell in love with the place to begin with!).

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

If you want something fun to do at night that is fun for your son and relaxing for you. Chip and Dales Campout and sing along. We did this one night It starts at 7:30 chip .

what a fun idea! Do I need to bring Marshmellows and hot dogs or can I buy them at the campsite? How about hot cocca? Is all of this there for us to buy? thanks for the idea!

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

Use PhotoPass a lot -- keep an eye out for the photos at key scenic spots and with characters.

Thanks for the tips! What is photopass? Gosh I was staying 7 days because I thought we could about cover everything! LOL! Well I guess I better go back to planning then and redo. Sounds like MK is the place we should be. Can I do the things at Epcot in the morning and MGM in the afternoon after lunch and cover everything? I thought there were some toddler friendly things at both those places.

I plan on putting engraved tags like the ones you put on a dog on my sons shoe with my cell # on it. He does know my name and cell # by memory. I live in the city of Chicago and for me him knowing this is a must. I may also bring one of those wrist type (hate he word when speaking about a child) leashes. But my son is one who is a bolter. He will run and not look back for mom. He gets so in the moment. We have been practicing "not" doing that in public crowded situations.

I am bringing a stroller. My son is 39lbs and 44 inches tall at 4 years old. I am 62 inches tall (5'2") and 110lbs. I can not carry this child for very far when he is exhausted. I have had to do it and it is not pleasant. We went to a fair recently and he became tired after an hour and I had to carry him piggy back for the next hour or so. I about wanted to cry. I am looking at buying the Maclaren Quest (I think that is the name) stroller because weight wise it goes up to 55lbs, it is roomy and it is still very light (12lbs). I found some on clearance at a website marked down signigicantly with free shipping. But they are pink. Not sure if my son will dig that. I will though! But I may splurge and get the color I want at the target website. I also plan on having an ebay sale to help fund my DW trip as this stuff sure adds up fast!

 

[ndgqmiller]

They have everything for sale there. Some people did bring there own. When you bought marshmellows they even give you the sticks for roasting. It was alot of fun and laid back. We were planning on going to Mickey's not so scary halloween party and we took a family vote and the Campout won and I glad bc it was a lot easier sitting and enjoying the music and atmostphere then walking more LOL! You seem to be very organized. You guys will have so much fun. Let me give you one more piece of advice I received from this site. You seem to have a lot of reservations and stuff planned. I went out and bought a photo book. You know one of those brag books holds 4x6 pictures. I took index cards and wrote the date the park we would go to that day, any reservation #'s , rides and shows we really wanted to see that day. It kept me organized and it was plastic so if it got wet it didn't matter. We didn't stick to our plan completly, but it helped.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I went out and bought a photo book. You know one of those brag books holds 4x6 pictures. I took index cards and wrote the date the park we would go to that day, any reservation #'s , rides and shows we really wanted to see that day. It kept me organized and it was plastic so if it got wet it didn't matter. We didn't stick to our plan completly, but it helped.

awesome idea! Did you also go to Mickey's BBQ? Was it 2 TS? Not sure I want to do this one after reading some of the reviews about it. It sounds like it could be fun or a complete disaster. Since I am going in Dec (7th to 13th) maybe it will be slower paced.

 

[ndgqmiller]

We did not do Mickey's BBQ, we family voted on everything son wanted bbq daughter wanted Ohanas son lost.
We did Chef Mickeys, Cinderellas Royal Table, Teppenyaki, Liberty Tree, Coral Reef, Ohanas, and Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic show. The only one we would not do agian is Ohanas. Loved the rest. And to answer your question about the bbq I think it is 2 service meals.

 

[mecllap]

PhotoPass is great -- and if you're going to be there more than a few days, the CD is well worth the cost ($99 -- you'll probably spend more on soda pop while you're there)-- it's about the best souvenir and memory aid you can get. You will get all the original photos that they think turned out okay (we had a photog try a night shot that didn't get included, am sure it was too dark and blurry). Most of them will be great shots, especially if you cooperate and ham it up! Most of the photographers do a really good job (but of course, working with people, there will be some shots that don’t look as good as you might like).

The photogs will be in several key locations -- just look for people in costume with a large camera. You can get a new card (free) from any of them -- after you have a card, you just hand the card to them before you pose. Be sure to get it back! You can also combine cards on the web site (and you can share the address of that with family/friends, so they can see the photos -- they're on it for about 30 days), if you end up with more than one -- write down the numbers of them on something you will not lose -- then you can still get the CD and get to your site online if you lose a card.

They will take individual and group shots for you if you ask, or just pose that way, taking turns -- it's a treat for me to actually be in some of our photos now --since I've always been the family photographer. If you do a pose with Simba (AK), Tinkerbell (MK) , Ghost in carriage by Haunted Mansion, Stitch (MGM) those photos will be on the CD (you can ask if/where they do that -- it usually involves holding your hands out) -- they're really cute.

The photogs will be in front of the parks with characters sometimes, at "vista" locations near the entrance -- and at character stops. They will not be with all the characters, even in the group character areas. They, or a CM, will also take a photo with your camera (but their photo will probably be better). Sometimes there are lines, esp. for popular or “rare” characters, and in Toon Town, but some places the lines are short and /or move fairly quickly. Camp Minnie-Mickey tends to have longer lines.

The photos on the CD are high resolution so you can get nice enlargements, and/or do your own enhancements at home – ordering individual pictures (for $12.95 each) . Okay, here's the sneaky tip -- you can add the enhancements to your online photos and use print screen and cropping to get low-res versions of them that are okay for scrapbooking, etc. -- but, by all means, if you're there a few days or more, get a lot of PhotoPass pics taken and buy the CD.

Don't wait 'til the last minute to go get the CD; they are available now at each park -- even if you get a couple taken after you get the CD -- that you'll only have online, you'll still be assured of having gotten the CD in time (the lines will be short to nonexistent in the afternoon). You can look at your photos without buying in the Parks, then you can see if you want to go back and redo any (if you have time).
The online site for print photos is different than the site to order CD. I think it is //www.register123.com/event/177271

On another topic -- I'm a big fan of harnesses/leashes (I prefer the harness type) -- needed one with both DD and then her son. The safety they offer is worth far more than the annoyance of the very few odd looks you might get from a couple of people.