single mom and 3 kids alone for first time in DLP HALLOWEEN - help please!

[ceciliao]

Hello all - I am looking for advice.

I am bringing my 3 children [2 girls ages 6 & 8] and a boy aged 3 to DLP Halloween for 1st time. We are staying at Newport Bay.

I am a bit anxious now as I realise that the Newport Bay is enormous [we are not on admiral floor - i tried to upgrade after reading how busy and large it is but travel agent says it is not available - even though it seems to be available on the DLP website.... ]

and I am worried about reserving restaurants for meals. Can anyone please advise timing and restaurant for children of this age. I Have looked at the choices but it is overwhelming to decide. I just want someone to say : do this and this and this!

Also should I bring a buggy for the smallie or can I hire one for the whole 3 days [ideally as I don't want to be dragging another piece of luggage with me and kids].

Also [!] i wonder have I bitten off more that I can chew with halloween and wonder is it going to be too scarey for my 3 year old boy who - living in house of girls - is really a scaredy cat... I must say I am anxious and ANY advice would be appreciated. Thank you. !

[ps. I sent this post before but to the end of someone elses thread - first timer me ...so i apologise]

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi ceciliao,
Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome you to the DLP DIS board

We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477038,
DIS posting guidelines can be found here
http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

The Newport Bay Club is indeed a huge hotel, but it does have lifts etc.
I can thoroughly recommend the Cape Cod restaurant in the NBC itself. We were there last week, and the food - both choice and quality, was excellent, for adults and children alike. You can reserve a table in advance at this restaurant too.

If you think your 3-year old may need a buggy (and bear in mind you do an awful lot of walking at DLRP) I think you'd be better bringing yours from home - as you can hire them in the parks, but without paying a hefty deposit, you can't take them out of the parks at all, and so your little one would have to walk at the end of each tiring day.

 

[FiFi Rose]

Hi Don't panic for the last 2 years I have done halloween at DLRP on my own with 2 children and an OAP (guess who was more work!) All the restaurants cater really well for young kids. Cafe Mickey in the Disney village was brilliant with lots of good character interaction to keep young children amused (and good cocktails )
I find Halloween a great time in the parks. Its not as busy as the summer months, the decorations are great and the queues are shorter so theres not so muck waiting around. One thing I did this year was bought my DD (4 just before we left) a 'littlelife' backpack with reins attached. They have them on ebay and in mothercare. This was a godsend She wont sit in a buggy (wouldn't do this last year either when she had just turned 3) and refuses to wear reins (cause she not a baby!) It depends how u r getting there whether you can cope with 3 kids plus a buggy, baggage etc. May be easier just to hire and pay the deposit to take it out of the park.

 

[Cyrano]

Glad you have found us

If you are used to managing your three troops I'm sure you will be fine.
They might be a little overwhelmed with the sheer scale of DLP but take it slowly and ask lots of questions. Everyone will try to put your mind at rest as well as help with any queries you have.

The NPB is close enough to wander back during the day or at the ned of the night

 

[cap'njack.]

We have just come back from DLRP. My 18 month old loved the Halloween decorations. They aren't scary they are just Disney Halloween.

My the end of the trip Kacee was hugging the pumpkin men! Id recommend taking a buggy as the walk to the NBC would be tricky with 3 tired kiddies

 

[ceciliao]

Thank you for all your advice. Sorry it took so long to thank you but I couldn't find my thread! I am so bad at this computer business!

I am going to take all your advice and I appreciate your time!

 

[dlpfan]

it will be a good idea to hire a buggy from the park cause even though at 3years old they would want to walk their way around, after a busy day im sure that he'll get tired.
on our last trip we stayed in newport and its true its a big hotel but we easily found our way around and im sure u will have no trouble. (maybe you could ask for a room close to the lifts, not sure about this)

regarding food, in the parks there are a lot of fastfood places where u can just queue and buy for all the gang. i personally, love casey's corner in main str.
cafe mickey in disney village is a really great place for lunch or dinner with characters.