Planning Session Advice Question, but for entertaining our kiddo with Grandma ?

[Skylersmommy5]

Advance Heads up: Moderators if this is in the wrong place, please feel free to move it. Thank you.

As Lurkyloo has very kindly and much appreciatively informed me in my question about Planning Sesssions that kids aren't allowed(not a big deal as I could already know off hand our little guy would be bored anyways). Right now he's only 2 1/2 years old (but will be about 4 when we go to give you an idea of age wise for suggestions). He has never been to Disney yet and we plan on having my mom whom lives in the West Palm Beach Area (2 hours south of Disney) drive up to help us out with him and let them have some special GiGi(she thinks she's too young to be called Grandma) and DS time together while we're busy planning. We're not going to plan on telling him until he gets his 1st Wake Up Call from one of the characters to know he's there.

Instead of sending them to a park(since we're planning on going for Osborne Family lights later that day), I had an idea of sending them to a Character Breakfast at one of the Monorail Resorts(also sending him with a camera and autograph book), and sending them on a mission after to check out the Christmas Decorations at the Resorts on the monorail loop and Wilderness Lodge, as well as plenty of quarters and pennies or him to get pressed pennies from all the resorts and money for a magnet from each resort(he loves playing with magnets on our fridge at home and think this may be more age appropriate than pin collecting), and DTD or BW/ BC or YC(Hurricane Hanna's comes to mind) for Lunch if tey're still hungry after breakfast and meet up with them somewhere after when we're done. I was thinking of including a list of Hidden Mickey's for them to look for too while they collect pressed pennies and look at Decorations, and enjoy the Monorail & Ferry together.

My mom is a very frugal person(so everything we'll pay for them) but we want the magic starting before he gets his first glimpse in a park. Please let me know what you think of this idea, and other suggestions will be greatly
appreciated. I haven't been to Disney in 10 years so I know a lot has changed
since I've been, but I do want him havin a fun time with his GiGi while we're
havin fun planning our VR, and something my mom's back can handle. I know we'll miss seeing him meet his first few characters, but at least GiGi can get the pictures for us, an there will be more characters to meet.

Also any little extras besides a Disney Plus, Ears, Disney Dollars, stickers, Autograph Book & Pens to make his 1st Trip more Magical before it even starts will also be greatly appreciated too. Thank you everyone. Sorry this post is long.

 

[Skylersmommy5]

If anyone has a better idea of something they might enjoy, please let me know, thank you. I am going to buy a Disney backpack to place his little goodies in and we are going to make him think Mickey visited him in the room somehow. We are planning to buy Disney themed items for him leading up to the trip.

 

[Pirate's Princess]

My nephew is coming along on our ps trip. We are doing the planning session over 2 days. One day for the session and the next day for the tasting. He's only not allowed to come to the tasting because it's in the epcot kitchens. So for the real session he can join us and we'll be bringing along a DVD player and then for the food my dad is coming down and taking him to the parks. Maybe you can do a split session as well. We didn't even ask for one. It was what our planner picked and it just worked out.

 

[Skylersmommy5]

My nephew is coming along on our ps trip. We are doing the planning session over 2 days. One day for the session and the next day for the tasting. He's only not allowed to come to the tasting because it's in the epcot kitchens. So for the real session he can join us and we'll be bringing along a DVD player and then for the food my dad is coming down and taking him to the parks. Maybe you can do a split session as well. We didn't even ask for one. It was what our planner picked and it just worked out.

Thank you so much for letting me know your nephew is allowed to come with you for some parts. We would suggest my mom bring him to a park, but I think we want to enjoy his first tine in the parks with him just so we can see his reactions(not trying to sound selfish) since our planning session will also be our first trip as a family and his first trip ever to Disney. For the rides in the parks, I would hate for him to ask her to take him on a ride her bad back can't handle, and would rather him wait until DH and I could take him instead, so it's not threatening to my mom's back problems.

My mom has only been alone thus far with DS in a car for a few minutes, so I know she may think we're nuts leaving him with her even for 4 hours for planning. Please don't get me wrong I love and 100% trust my mom with DS
which is why she is the 1st person I would leave him with in my
absence(besides DInlaws), but we think she may enjoy that time she doesn't
get to spend with him and being something for a pre-schooler and a Grandma
with a bad back can enjoy together.

 

[Pirate's Princess]

Thank you so much for letting me know your nephew is allowed to come with you for some parts. We would suggest my mom bring him to a park, but I think we want to enjoy his first tine in the parks with him just so we can see his reactions(not trying to sound selfish) since our planning session will also be our first trip as a family and his first trip ever to Disney. For the rides in the parks, I would hate for him to ask her to take him on a ride her bad back can't handle, and would rather him wait until DH and I could take him instead, so it's not threatening to my mom's back problems.

My mom has only been alone thus far with DS in a car for a few minutes, so I know she may think we're nuts leaving him with her even for 4 hours for planning. Please don't get me wrong I love and 100% trust my mom with DS
which is why she is the 1st person I would leave him with in my
absence(besides DInlaws), but we think she may enjoy that time she doesn't
get to spend with him and being something for a pre-schooler and a Grandma
with a bad back can enjoy together.

Fair enough. I'll let you know how it goes since we're going in June. He'll be 6 when we go. We figure he can handle watching a movie/show during the actual planning session, and the food session shouldn't take too long. It could definitely work to take him to the hotels, and a meal. I think 9-3 (which I think is the allotted time for a PS AND tasting) is a bit much for no parks. I understand the urge to take him yourself, no need to explain.

 

[Skylersmommy5]

Thank you and please let me know how it goes with your nephew during your Planning Session.