please help me with my itinerary!

[brookewalker]

OK...
This is my first time to Disney, so I have no idea how to do this.

We have a 3 and 1 year old...so traveling on the buses will definitely be an experience and Im trying to make things as easy as possible.

The days we go to Magic Kingdom (2 days) we have ADR at Ohana one night and Chef Mickeys the next.

Our plan was to be at the park at 8...go back to room at 12 for nap...come back to park by 3...then both nights we have dinner reservations at 6...then we will go BACK to the park for fireworks...etc.

I have just realized that neither restaurant is in MAGIC KINGDOM.
How far are these restaurants...and is my plan feasible...

Or should I change nap to 3-6...stay at park 8-3...then go back to park after dinner.

Or should I back dinner reservations to late dinners...


Any recommendations on this?
Wasn't sure how big of a deal it is to go back and forth so much to these restaurants?

 

[timfromjersey]

Fortunately, both of those restaurants are quite close to the magic kingdom.

For O'hana, take the monorail from the magic kingdom to the TTC, then it's a 5 minute walk, or wait for the resort monorail and it'll take you right to the Grand Ceremonial House at the Polynesian (which is where O'hana is)

For Chef Mickeys, you could take the 2 monorails to the Contemporary Hotel, or simply walk from the Magic Kingdom front gate to the hotel (10 minute walk)

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Luv4Disney]

I'm not sure when your trip is, but the monorail will be closed from 11:30am - 7pm on WEEKDAYS through the end of March. If this effects you, they will have busses running. You could also walk to the Contemporary or take the ferry over and walk to the Poly. Oh, you could also take the boat over to the Poly.

 

[princesswishes]

I think these ADRs are definitely doable. I know from experience with my little ones, you will definitely want/need that nap in the afternoon. You may even want to wait until after dinner to go back to the parks. Have fun!

 

[Surfinpiratee]

They re both close! Ohana is at the Polynesian resort..just take the monorail there! Chef Mickey is at the Contemporary resort..you could walk there from MK!

 

[kimbe21]

I'm not sure where you are staying but I would think about renting a car. We have traveled with two little ones and trying to manage 2 strollers, 2 kids, diaper bags and everything else while standing in line for a bus was just too much to think about for us. The extra cost of a car was worth our sanity and flexibility. Parking is free at the resort and the hotel so you don't have to worry about that.
With little ones being able to come and go on your schedule (not the buses) makes a big difference in everyone's "happy level".
Your ADRs are very doable- even without a car.
As far as when to go back and take a nap- so it at or near the same time your kids nap now. Try to keep their schedule as close to they are used to at home.

it is a bit overwhelming but their faces when they see the characters and the memories you create are worth every minute of frustration!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Both restaurants are on the monorail, so easy to get to....and I think you're family will enjoy both.

I would definitely, definitely, definitely recommend a nap EVERY day. It can be exhausting!

 

[williamscm3]

After taking our first trip last September with our 4 year old I realized that it is very convenient to eat in whatever park you will be at that day. There are a few options inside both parks that would save you a lot of time traveling. If you really want to eat at those two they are very close to Magic Kingdom. Chef Mickeys is in the contemporary which is the first stop on the resort monorail loop (make sure you get on the resort monorail!) Ohana is at the Polynesian and is the third stop on the resort monorail loop. Afterwards you just hop back on the monorail and it takes you right back to the Magic Kingdom. We ate at both and enjoyed them Mid day naps are very important at that age! Have you looked into the crystal palace or be our guest? Both are fun restaurants inside magic kingdom

 

[jimandami]

Depending on when you are going and how the late the parks are open, I agree with the poster who said you may want to wait to go back to the park until after dinner (maybe you could eat a bit earlier...5ish?). If you stay at the park until 12, you realistically won't be back in your room and settled until 1. A 2 hour nap means awakening around 3, IF your kids go right to sleep. By the time you get everyone back up and ready, you won't be back to the park until 4-4:30 and then will have to turn right around and leave for dinner. It can be very tiring just going in and out of the park that many times. I do agree that the naps/rest breaks are a must with kids those ages, but you just need realistic expectations of how long it takes to get in and out of the park, to the hotel, down for nap, etc....

I would go to MK early, leave around 12-1, go to dinner at 5ish, and then back to the park for fireworks. One other thing to think about is each dinner will take a minimum of 60-90 minutes so you want to give yourself plenty of time to get back and watch the parades, fireworks, etc...

 

[nfceagles]

If the monorail is down that changes everything. Otherwise, those restaurants are doable. If I had little ones and really wanted to make things easy, however, I would like a PP suggested go from your resort (you didn't say where you were staying) directly to dinner, then back to MK. Depending on your kids and their flexibility that could mean staying a little longer in the morning or moving dinner up to 5ish. When my kids were that age I would have done 8-1 and dinner at 5. Even easier would be changing your ADRs to restaurants in the park, such as Liberty Tree Tavern or Crystal Palace.

 

[kerriemiller]

our first trip my girls were just 2 and a month away from 4, I have lived this dilemma.
Great choices for restaurants very close to MK, walking and boat rides are my preference over the monorail. You will have a wonderful meal at both.

We got right to the parks asap in the morning, did our ADRs for lunch around the kids regular lunch times, then we left the park for our naps. This was great because we didn't have that time line on our naps that a dinner ADR creates. What if they don't fall right to sleep, what if they sleep longer, what if they want to swim, what if they are over stimulated and just need down time.
There are other places to watch the fireworks that are not inside the park and may provide an easier exit if your kids decide they have had it. There are great viewing spots at both the Poly and the Contemporary. Actually we didn't even try to get back for the fireworks. But our trip was in Sept when the parks are still open past 10pm that's late for my kids even now at 4 and 6.

 

[brookewalker]

I am actually staying at POR...forgot to say that.

Ive been toying with the idea of napping 2-4...then dinner 4:45
then to the parks while others are trying to eat dinner...maybe we could avoid peak times...

thoughts?

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

We have always grabbed a quick breakfast on the run to rope drop and eaten dinner in the 3-5 range and then had a snack later in the evening while watching fireworks. It makes more sense if you are planning on an afternoon break for naps and/or swimming to come back after dinner. When my boys were young they also took naps in the stroller and we just found a quiet place in whatever park we were in. I would just go with the flow and see how they were doing.

 

[mom2cgj]

I would strongly consider what PP poster said - leave the parks around 1, nap 2-4, dinner at 5, and then back to the parks.

Remember that buses won't run from POR to either of the resorts. You will have to bus to a park and then to the resort. Or bus to MK and monorail/boat to the resort. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind. We did resort dinners almost every night staying at AoA, and had to switch buses at parks. Worked fine for us!

Have a great trip!!

 

[williamscm3]

I am actually staying at POR...forgot to say that.

Ive been toying with the idea of napping 2-4...then dinner 4:45
then to the parks while others are trying to eat dinner...maybe we could avoid peak times...

thoughts?

Eating after nap and then heading to the park sounds like a good idea but make sure you give yourself at least an hour to get from your resort to the other resorts. Buses don't run from resort to resort so you will have to catch the bus to magic kingdom after naps then get on the monorail to get to the other resorts. Are you going during the time frame posted earlier when the monorail will be down?

 

[brookewalker]

we are going in april...so the monorail shouldn't affect us
(april 23-27)
I changed my ADR to 4:45...I think thats a great idea.
Thanks everyone!