Planning our first trip to WDW

[mb1017]

I'm in the initial planning stages for our first trip to WDW. I'm a single mom with a 4 yr old daughter. She loves the Princesses and I'm looking into staying at one of the Value Resorts. We'll limit our park visits to MK and MGM. My travel dates are very flexible but I was thinking about mid-May, 4 or 5 nites. We'll take the bus transportation so I won't get a rental car.

We haven't done much overnight travel and this will be her first trip on a plane (looking at non-stop flights from NH).

My big question is: I want to use the time we are there wisely. I know we won't be seeing everything in this one trip. What are the "Must See's" for a first timer with a 4 yr old?

Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[jcemom]

Welcome to the DIS! You'll find lots of helpful info here, I know I did! I would also recommend either subscribing to TourGuideMike.com (if you go to Mousesavers.com there's a discount code) and/or picking up the Unofficial Guide to WDW. They were both indispensible with planning our first family trip to Disney, along with these boards of course!

I would say at MGM: Playhouse Disney, Beauty and the Beast Live, Little Mermaid, Muppet Vision 3D, and Fantasmic would be must-do's. If she's adventurous and meets the height requirements, then Star Tours and Tower of Terror also. (I'm not sure about Rock'n Roller Coaster, it's pretty fast.)

At MK: Pretty much all of Fantasyland, Toontown, Buzz Lightyear, breakfast at Cinderella's if you can get it, and depending on your DD's height/bravery levels, Splash and Big Thunder Mountain. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean are great too! Wishes fireworks is a must-see, and she'd probably like the parades, too.

Wow! Just about everything...lol

 

[mb1017]

My DD is tall for her age and VERY adventurous... "don't tell me I can't do that... just watch me!" LOL

It may be me that's the chicken here. But I'll endure for her sake...

All the attractions you mentioned were on my initial wish list of stuff. I know she's a morning person so going to things in the morning and taking a break after lunch would probably work out.

Thanks again.

 

[jcemom]

We took our kids (10, 9, 1 1/2) last month and the breaks worked for us. I didn't think we would need them, but we did. We hit the parks at opening, took a break after lunch, then went back to the parks for a few more rides, dinner, and fireworks. My next trip will be just DD and I, she'll be just shy of her third birthday, so you'll have to post a report and let me know how your trip went when you get back! That way I'll know what to expect alone with a little princess! LOL

 

[XStAnt]

If you'er staying 4 or 5 nights then I certainly think you can go to more than just MK and MGM. May is a good time to go because the crowds are relatively low and the weather is nice. If she likes animals then she'll enjoy AK. Even if she's not crazy about animals the FOTLK is great, especially for kids her age. There is also Dino land which has some good rides, plus the safari (not fast or scary) and Kali River Rapids (not fast but one decent drop and you do get soaked).

All of MK is good with the possible exception of SM, SpM, BTMRR. Depending on her bravery you can also do POC and HM, but don't push her if she gets scared and doesn't want to go on them.

At Epcot, HISTA is great, so is Cranium Command. The ride in Mexico is slow and relaxing, so is SE and the ride in the Land. And don't forget Figment and Illuminations.

I know it's a lot and I think you're smart to realize you can't do it all. But I'd stay a little flexible and consider hopping to the other parks if you're getting a lot accomplished at MK and MGM.

Also, give some thought to the luau and/or HDDR at night. You know your daughter best and will know if she willbe too tired at night to do them. However, I think a 4 yo will enjoy them.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[BAST]

The rides that my (then) 41/2yo DD wated to ride and now 51/2yo still talks about are Tower of Terror, Test Track, BTMRR and Splash Mountain. She did not care for but did do Dinosaur and ITTBAB/ She cannot wait to go back to ride these again.

My then 21/2 yo loved Winnie the Pooh, Haunted Mansion, Snow White, Peter Pan and Country Bears and she still talks about them.

Depending on your DD's adventure level, she will really love (and will talk about for a lont time to come) pretty much any of the star attractions at WDW. Just watch to see what enjoys and ride those sort of rides.

 

[mb1017]

thanks to all of you who posted suggestions.

My DD is very adventurous and tough as nails. She just had ear surgery (tubes removed) and bounced right out of recovery. I think she's part Tigger

I'm leaning toward a week in mid-May (17-21). Southwest has some really great air fare deals and the Value Resorts (All Star Movie) are inexpensive and seem fun.

Not sure who is going to have more fun....I'll probably plan a loose itinerary to use as a guide but leave lots of room for Plans B, C, D, etc.

I'm definately getting more excited every day that I plan this trip.

Thanks again...

 

[mommystieg]

Since you are thinking about 4-5 nights I second the idea of taking in more parks. Lots of people think Epcot is not a park for kids but my kids love it there. There is a link on this site that has lots of great info
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Just_for_kids/epcotkids.htm

 

[elmo2wdw]

jcemom mentioned some good websites to go to, but here are a few more that we have found helpful on our trips. passporter.com, wdwmagic.com, and allearsnet.com

You definitely want to get a princess character meal of some sort and try to hit the places she mentioned as well. One other ride she may like is Small World. My 5 year old loves it.

 

[Jackie H.]

I jsut want to throw in my 2-cents!

I agree with the others that are encouraging you to go to all the WDW parks!

There will be plently at EPCOT and AK that you child would enjoy. My kids loved all the parks from their earliest visits (son was 4 his first visit, daughter was 18 months). By all means, if you are staying 5 days I strongly encourage you to visit Magic Kingdom, Mgm, EPCOT and Animal Kingdom.

My number one hint would be to take it easy and take mid-day breaks. Acknowledging you can't see it all will go a long way toward making your trip enjoyable!

 

[Atotty]

I also recommend getting Tourguidemike.com Small children and lines don't mix...I know...I've got three. We used TGM's sample tour plans for young children and didn't wait in any line longer than 15 mins...and that one time was for Dumbos. He'll tell you get a FP, go ride this and this, go it'll be your FP return time..and it worked...every time.

He has tons of pictures and tips on where to sit for all the rides/shows/parades, etc. More than last year. He has best AM and PM to go to each park and best rides/shows to see in each park broken down by AM, PM, Afternoon, any time, etc.

I'm using TGM for our trip this year, too, and have noticed that he is keeping everything updated very well...he even dates the pages when the info changes so you can tell if it's up to date. WDW changes so often that by the time a guidebook hits the shelves, some of the info is outdated. Passporter is the most up to date guidebook out there because they wait to put out the 2004 edition in 2004...not late 2003 like the others. But I've already had to download Passporter updates for changes WDW has made since it went to press.

 

[rpbear]

For a daughter that is 4 I would make sure I get a meal with the princesses. If you can't get Cinderellas castle then the Storybook Breakfast at Epcot is a good second choice. Also there is a dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian that has one of the pricesses and prince charming. I have never been to it so I am not sure of the characters. My second DD was 3 1/2 the first time we went to WDW and she is tough as nails too. Her favorite ride was the monorail at that age. She cried because she wasnt tall enough for Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror. As a five year old these two rides became her favorites. At 7 Rock n Roll Roller Coaster became her favorite.

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by Atotty
I also recommend getting Tourguidemike.com

We also used many of Mike's touring plans and they worked like a charm!