Question About 1st trip to WDW w/3 yr old?

[klstiger]

We booked our first family trip for the Sat after Thanksgiving for 7 nights. I have been 6 times but the last trip to Disney was in 92 with high school and we marched in the main street parade. Hubby hasn't been since he was 12. He is not really thrilled to go at all. (He rather go to the Carribean)

However we have 21 adults and 5 kids going. Our son will 3 1/2 when we go but he is not very familiar with Disney characters other than Cars. He is a Thomas the Train kid. Does anyone have any recommendation on books that I could get with all the Disney characters that I could get him somewhat familiarized? I went to Borders last night and could not find anything other than princess stuff..
Also what are Disney Dollars and the benefits?

Just an FYI... We are staying at POP Century and No we do not plan to all eat together every night or stay together everyday!

Thanks in advance!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Mickey Mouse ClubHouse is very popular right now - look for books or maybe dvds. Before we took our first trip with the younger kids I had DIsneyland and DIsneyworld Sing a Long tapes (now they are on DVD) and it really got the kids into the spirit of things - at that time they were 21/2, 4 and 5.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[all4fun]

Go to www.disneyworld.com and order the free planning DVD and let him watch that. I think I've also read that people like to get the sing-along DVD's w/the Disney characters because it shows the life-size characters w/kids. This shows scale a lot better so hopefully the characters won't frighten him due to their size. You might also pick up some Disney storybooks to read to him. A book like the Disney's 5 Minute Bedtime Stories Here might be ideal (we have this one).

hth

 

[lalagrace]

but I also reccomend playhouse disney on the disney channel. my almost 3 yr old loves loves loves Little Einsteins, My friends tigger and pooh, and Mickey mouse clubhouse. We also use Disney themed workbooks and coloring books. We also have watched some of the the other disney movies, but i doubt he'll know who any of the princesses are!
I hope this helps.
Laura

 

[MNdisneymom]

...did the same trip last year with my little guy who is now 4. First, don't forget to do the train ride around the MK...a couple of times, we just rode it around the park and didn't get off for at least a full circuit. Next, and I know it's not a train, try and ride in the front car of the monorail. You just ask the loading attendant...(When we did it it was really cool because there was bad weather rolling in and we got stuck on the track for a bit...my DS loved that ). Another train ride that might be forgotten is the ride to Rafiki's planet watch at AK. It takes you through some of the more remote areas of AK, and the destination is fun too.

For character familiarity help...my DS has a book called Disney's Junior Encyclopedia of Animated Characters. It's really cool, has lots of details that even I didn't know about, and plenty of pictures.

Also, my DS enjoyed the Birnbaums Kids WDW book. I know it's meant for older kids, but he liked it. (And can still identify, to this day, what section his favorite rides are in.)

Oh, I almost forgot...don't forget to go see Lightning and Mater at MGM--just check the daily schedule as you enter the park to see when and where.

Have a great trip--hope your son likes it as much as mine did!

 

[mrstomrice]

We are taking our DS3 for his 2nd trip (shhh...it's a surprise to him He enjoyed his first trip after watching Playhouse Disney and old Mickey Mouse cartoons that I found on DVD. For this trip, I have shown him our old trip pictures, so if you have some of you in the park, you could show him as you take a walk down memory lane. I have also shown him Snow White, Cinderella, Toy Story, etc. on DVD. I am hoping that I am preparing him without him knowing what is going on
PS...he loved the area outside of the 60's hotel of Pop that had the pop up sprinklers...can't think of the name right now, but it is next to the blue Yo-Yo. Have a great time!

 

[eeyorefan74]

I've seen big storybooks of Disney stories at Walmart and Sam's Club, though I haven't looked lately. They're about $10, and the one we have has lots of the classic stories. You might also look at your local library for storybooks or videos for him to watch, like Classic Mickey cartoons, Toy Story, etc. And your Caribbean loving husband might enjoy a trip to eat at Ohana or Kona at the Polynesian. With all those people, I'd definitely line up someone to babysit and have a grown up night out.

 

[SalandJeff]

These are all great suggestions and you can find Disney merchandise at a lot of stores these days. If you still have a vcr, you can find vhs disney tapes on ebay for low prices. You can sometimes get a "lot". You can get DVDs also, they are just more expensive. Just keep your eyes out for the ones with the characters. DD loves playhouse disney on tv and mickey mouse clubhouse will get your ds familiar with the fab 5 (or 6 in this case...mickey, minnie, goofy, donald, daisy, pluto). Also, my dd has Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas movie which is her favorite. We watch it a couple of times a week! It has all these characters also.

P.S. Once your dh sees how happy your ds is at WDW, he will forget all about the Carribbean

 

[jkearson]

We're taking our DS6 and DD3 to WDW for the first time in Sept. and DD3 also didn't know a lot of the Disney characters or movies. We bought the Disney Storybook Collection at Wal-mart for less than $15. It has 21 of the Disney moviesThe illustrations are just like the movies and the stories are complete without being too long to hold a 3yo's interest. My DD3 is now much more familiar with all of the characters.

 

[enhanceyourgreen]

I have been to Disney more than I can count.
Your little man can meet the Cars at MGM Studios. Also the Incredibles are also there. They are very very cool. Lightning McQueen and Mader. How cool. Anyhow instead of buying books just take a look at allearsnet.com Deb is great with her information. She knows more than Disney itself at times.
you will have a great time. However if are going during that time i highly recommend that you make dinner reservation before you get there. If you need any other tips give me a hollar.