realistic itinerary for 5yo and almost 3yo

[2ndxmommy]

we want to spend 5 days at WDW. We will be traveling by car and it will take us 2-3days of driving. This is our first trip.

we are staying at the moderate resort that has a pool with a slide and would like to maybe spend a day at the beach.

we originally thought we would get the park hopper and then thought about adding the water parks and then even purchasing the 7 day hopper for a few dollars more and then adding the NO EXP option to use leftover days on another trip (knowing we'd need to purchase a full price ticket for 3yo next trip).

Now realistically, does this make sense? Do you really hop the parks at this age? Are the water parks worth it seeing that we will have a pool at resort? And beach - real and resort?

I am starting to wonder if daily tickets by themselves would be the better way to go.

 

[slo]

Absolutly get the park hopper tickets. It is very realistic to believe that you will be park hopping at this age. I started taking my DD at the age of 2 and we used our park hoppers alot.

An example from one of our trips: We went to AK in the morning and we just didn't care for it. DD was 3 at the time and she just seemed bored. By 12 noon we left and went back to the MK for ice cream and to catch a couple of rides.

Another example: When DD was 2 we went to MGM in the morning and left at around 2pm. We then went to Epcot to go to The Living Seas, eat, and see The Tapestry of Nations and Illuminations.

I could give you more examples, but I don't want to bore you. I personally love the freedom of the hopper passes - I think you will too.

The question about adding on for the water parks is a tough question to answer. I would say it depends on your kids. If you feel they will absolutly love it, then I would do it. If you feel the pool at this age is enough for them, then I would probably not add on.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[san2ting2mom]

Hi --

We are in a similar situation. We are traveling this May with our 5-year-old and 2-year-old (who will turn 3 during our stay). We are staying 7 nights and are buying the 7-day park pass.

We are not adding the water parks becauase I don't think my girls would really "appreciate" them, kwim? To them at this age, the water slide at our resort would be good enough for them.

I've also debated on whether or not to add the "hopper" option, and in the end, I think we will. That's because with young kids, our schedule will probalby look like this: Get up early, have breakfast, go to park, have lunch, go back to room for nap/rest, go back to park in late afternoon/evening. Now, if we don't have the park hopper option, we'd have to return to the same park in the afternoon. However, if the girls did not enjoy that particular park that morning, we would no other park option for that day. Of course, we could always do DTD or stay by the pool, but if the girls wanted to go back to MK or another park, then we would have the capability to do so. Does that make any sense?

It's all up to you, however. If your plans are to just relax in the late afternoons/evenings, then perhaps you don't need the hopper option. But, if you would like to be able to at least have the choice of entering another park later in the day, then I would encourage adding it.

And if you are going for the no-expiration option, why not look at the 10-day ticket pass? Would that be more cost-effective in the end???

Linda

 

[tjmw2727]

I would definately add the park hopper option but I would think twice about water parks with kids your ages. We usually only do the water parks on longer trips, during the shorter trips the resort pool and slide are plenty.

We do like to park hop esp since our family has our favorite morning and evening parks. We love MK and AK in the morning and usually save MGM and Epcot for our evening parks. For example we may hit MK in the am and do fantasyland, a few things in adventure land and maybe the castle show. Then back to the resort for some downtime - maybe a nap and a s swim. Then out to epcot for a more relaxing evening, esp for the kids, a few rides but mostly strolling the WS and listing to the entertainment etc. We like the freedom to hop even if we do end up returing to the same park after the break, fwiw we usually don't!!

TJ

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The first year we went the kids were 5, 4 and 2. We went to BB, I think it was a waste on the kids (especially 4 and 2 year old). I think they would have been just as happy staying at the pool. I don't think there's a beach close enough to drive to in that short of a time. If you're staying at a moderate, why not stay at CBR - it has a beach. Definitely give yourself the option of park hopping. It makes it easier if you're not stuck going to only one partk. With small kids we go to a park when it opens, go back to the resort in the early afternoon, swim/nap, and go back to the park at night. You might want to go to AK in the morning, and since it's not open late at night go watch the parade and wishes later that night. For $35 it's definitely worth it. Have a wonderful time and remember kids under 3 also eat free at the buffets!

 

[minkydog]

The park hoppers will come in handy. I would definitely see myself going to one park in the morning, returing to the room for naps, and hitting another park in the evening.
Water parks, though, are a whole different animal. They are huge and crowded. It is hard to keep a close eye on the kids when they are this young. They will have just as much fun at the pool and won't feel they are missing a thing.

We also get the no expiration date, because you never know--you may have a day or two when you can't go to the parks (like the kids are vomiting or you decide everyone needs a "down day".) It happened to us.

 

[senecabeach]

Ditto Slo...

Have a wonderful time !!

 

[Disney_1derland]

I would get park hoppers but forego the waterparks. We have a four and two year old and the hotel pool is more than stimulating enough for them.

Our kids are early risers so we are right there first thing in the morning. We play till noon, each lunch then go back for nap/rest/pool time. Then we make it back to the parks just before or just after dinner. Then they are ready to go for the evening. This is hectic but they are good for about 2 days in a row, then they need a parks break (even though they don't think they do!) So, the third day we hang out at the hotel and swim and relax and sleep-a LOT. Then we do another two days, then a day of rest, then our final day.

It's different for each kid, so it's really going to depend on how much you think they can handle. It will also depend on how hot it will be, the heat is VERY exhausting!

Have a great time!

 

[ToyStory Fan]

The park hoppers will come in handy. I would definitely see myself going to one park in the morning, returing to the room for naps, and hitting another park in the evening.
Water parks, though, are a whole different animal. They are huge and crowded. It is hard to keep a close eye on the kids when they are this young. They will have just as much fun at the pool and won't feel they are missing a thing.

We also get the no expiration date, because you never know--you may have a day or two when you can't go to the parks (like the kids are vomiting or you decide everyone needs a "down day".) It happened to us.

I agree about the parks - morning will be one park and then back for quick naps or whatever and then new park at night or dinner etc.

As for the water parks though I disagree - they can be much more fun than the hotel pools, DW and I usually split up - I take DS 5-1/2 and we hit whatever slides/tube rides he is capable of managing (he's not a strong swimmer, so he wears his life vest), but nothing that will drop him into 3+ feet of water without me "out-racing" him to the end of the slide. DD 2-1/2 and DW will usually hang out at Tike's Peak or the kiddie area of Typhoon Lagoon.
This works out for us since DW is not a huge fan of waterparks/water rides anyway. But the hopper is the way to go and good thinking on the No Exp option too.

 

[Leota]

Hoppers yes.
Waterparks, I'd say not yet.

Only you know your kids tho & what they like & can handle. If they are little Fish & not overwhelmed, than they might enjoy the waterparks, even this young. My DS was not a strong swimmer at that young age & his first 2 trips we stuck to the now defunct River Country, which was very tame.

 

[Mainebound]

We will be there in 2 weeks with out DS5 and DS3. this is our third year in a row at WDW. I have found that whether we hop or not, we tend to leave the park after an early lunch and veg out for a couple hours at our hotel. It works really well to schedule an 11:30 lunch PS, return the the hotel for a swim, then head up to the room where DS5 can rest/watch TV and DS3 can nap for an hour.

It is up to you whether you return to the same park of a different one. This year we decided to purchase just the base ticket -- no hopping.

You know, studies show only 10% of leftover tix get used. In our case, we actually had one day left on two adult tix from our last trip, but I went ahead and bought 7 day adult tix for this trip anyway, because it was only a couple extra dollars over the 5 day tix. We'll use the old park hoppers if me and DH want to hop one day, or put them back in the drawer! Anyway, we didn't pay for the nonexpire option, and used th emoney saved on that and PH to buy 7 day instead of 5 day tix.

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[mhingher]

Definitely get the hoppers. Sometimes we'll plan to go to a park, let's say MK, but it's too crowded... then we'll just hop on a bus or the monorail and go to another park. It also makes it easier to break up the day. I'm sure you'll be taking naps or breaks once during the day, so you can go to one park in the am, go back to the hotel, and then to another park in the evening. We're going for 7 days, and we have four day hoppers and 1 day left on an older hopper w/3 extras. We also plan on going to Universal and/or IOA one day. I was thinking of upgrading to the 7 day MYW to save for another trip. We'll see!

Melissa

 

[2ndxmommy]

does anyone know about this biometric reading recorded to your ticket? are tickets transferrable? if I purchase 7day and use only 5 and not the no exp option, can I give or sell my ticket away with the remaining days within the 14 days?

 

[lllovell]

The tickets have always been non transferrable, but now ALL of them (for adults) you have to use the bioscan. Therefor, you could get away with giving away your children's tickets, not yours, but it is against the rules. I honestly would just keep them. The more days you pay for the cheaper they are per day and I bet at some point in your life, you will be back again! If your one child is too old to use her 3-9 pass this trip, you can certainly upgrade it (but if you buy pluses you will not be able to keep those...i.e. water parks, etc).


BTW - about your question - the bioscan records the shape of your fingers. That is why they dont do it on children's tickets, because they grow so quickly that their fingers would probably not match from trip to trip. Your's, as an adult, wont change unless you break them or have surgery in which case, you might as well get a reprinted ticket and start over (where you will have to show ID to get the new ticket) or you will be slowed down every time at the gates having to show id.