Schedule for 4 day trip with 2 toddlers

[4evrdisney]

Hi All!
Any help would be great. We are making a trip to DL in September with our kids DS3 and DD1. We are staying on-property and will be in the park during 4 weekdays. So, we will get EE/MM on Tues/Thurs and TTMM on Wed.

Any opinions on a sketch of a schedule for us? I have read the Unofficial Guide to DL 2008 and also all of Hydro Guys tips. So, I at least have our EE/MM morning figured out. As well as when we might ride Nemo. And, also our first day based on the Unofficial Guide Touring Plans. But, I'm not sure when/if to get fastpasses? Alos, when to fit in the other rides.

Finally, it will be DS's birthday - we are going to get him the birthday buttons, order a birthday cake, etc. Any ideas on the best restaurant for a birthday dinner for a 3-year old? I'm open to lots of ideas. You all have so much great experience!

Any help is SO appreciated - I will take all ideas I can get

 

[avalon451]

It sounds like you're getting well prepared! You are going to have SUCH a fun time with your little ones!

One question: do you and DH want to ride the "grownup rides" or are you not big on them? Because if you want to ride, you can, you just have to get familiar with the baby swap passes. We did a lot of that while we were there and it worked out fine, although you probably will have to take turns riding alone while the other parent stays with the kids. But that's ok, when they're older you'll be able to experience them together.

If you want to ride the big rides with FPs then it is definitely worth it to have one of you be the "runner" and collect FPs for those rides. I'm thinking of Indy, Space Mt., BTMRR, Splash, Soarin', Screamin', GRR. The big fun ones, in other words! Collect in the morning, take your midday nap break, come back and do baby swap with the FP rides, while DH either waits in the queue with you, or just goes to the water playground or whatever while you ride them all in quick succession, then you take over for DH.

It might also work for you to collect your FPs in the morning, then have one of you go use theirs while the kids are napping in the afternoon. Then if you go back to the hotel in the early evening, the other parent can run and use theirs until park closing time.

It is fun to go to DL with your little ones. It's also fun to have a little alone time in the parks without them for a few hours, to do what you want, at the pace you want.

Enjoy!

 

[4evrdisney]

Avalon - Thanks for the tips! Can I ask you a question about FPs? Yes, my DH and I would love to do the big kid rides! If we get a FP and it says to use them between 12:00 and 1:00 - do we have to use them in that hour? Or, can we use them anytime after 12:00? I've been getting mixed ideas from different threads.

Also, would you parkhop and do both parks big kid rides on the same day? Or, do one park one day and one park the next day?

 

[avalon451]

4ever, to answer your question, you can definitely use FPs past their "return time" window. They are good till the end of the day, no question about it. DL doesn't advertise this, but all the guides to the parks know about it and use it to their advantage when making plans. So you can collect FPs all morning, as soon as the next one becomes available, and just hang onto them. Then you can come back after your break, and use them all, right in a row!

You might want to read about how to use FP, and to maximize your touring, by reading Hydroguy's most excellent tip thread, which is a sticky at the top of the forum : http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483. It also has good info about how easy it is to park hop every day!
There are links there to tell you everything you need to know about FP, ride order, etc. Come on back and ask any other questions you have, after you've checked that out.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I wouldn't really suggest having an actual schedule. Just follow their lead. You will probably want to have some time to go back to the hotel for naps.

Have snacks for lines. We like to use dumdums to keep them entertained and quiet

 

[Sy-]

You can order a birthday basket and caked crom "Vacation Planning". You can also get a birthday button that you can have engraved. Sounds different than the ones available at City Hall. Also I'd do a Character breakfast on the Wed. since there is no Magic Morning that day. Ya youldn't want to be eating breakfast durring a MM