So Many Questions, So Little Time...

[monkeybum]

Hey DIS'ers,
We leave next weekend and I still have questions...any help is appreciated. Traveling with DH and DS 2yrs old.

1. Should we bother taking DS2 to Disney Quest? Anything to do there for a toddler?

2. Same question as above except about Downtown Disney? I know there is some kind of Lego house there, anything else? Is the Lego house worth the trip? I think I remember some really good chocolate store...hmm, that might be worth the trip.

3. DS LOVES trains. Any tips on maximizing the train ride - that little one that goes around MK?

4. Miniature train garden at Epcot - can someone explain? Is it something you stand and look at, or do you walk around the garden and the little trains go by?

5. How far ahead should we try to get a seat for the parade? (Anyone know what parades there are in March? Is there a night parade? How about the water one - any suggestions for a good seat?) (I have fond memories of the water one - name escapes me - Spectromagic or something? - when I was 10, we caught that one by "accident" when staying on a ground floor unit in the low-rise section of the Contemporary, it was literally out our back door!).

6. Anyone heard that rumour - or is it true - that Epcot unlocks the turnstiles right before the show/fireworks so you can get in free just for that part?

Thanks everyone!!!!

Kathy.

 

[rcraw45425]

Okay, first, my girls are 8 & 10 and we still haven't done DQ. They have height requirements for all of the VIrtual Reality stuff. DTD is mostly shops and restaurants. The Ghiradelli chocolate place is good, albeit pricey. Your toddler would probably enjoy Rainforest Cafe (two locations, DTD and at the AK). RFC at DTD takes call aheads a few days ahead of time, 850-827-8500. The lego place is nothing but a shop. The World of Disney store is awesome. Once Upon a Toy is a neat toy store. You could easily kill a few hours and several hundred bucks at DTD. It's stroller friendly too. Tons of shopping opportunities for everyone. The train at MK goes in a circle, you can ride as long as you like. We have stayed on for like 5 circuits during a rainstorm. The miniature train in EPCOT is in Germany, It's just a huge diorama with trains running through a miniature town. Neat, but you just stand there and look. Enjoy your trip, check out the barber shop on Main Street in MK, I think you can have your DS' hair gelled and "pixie dusted" there.

 

[mjmcca]

The train at the MK isn't so small. It travels around the perimeter of the park. There are stops at Frontierland and Toontown. You can stay on for as long or a short as you want. You will have to fold your stroller to take it with you or leave it and take a full round trip. If you rent a Disney stroller then you can get a new one at the next station just take everything with you.



My kids who are a little older than yours ( ds 5 dd 4) love DTD. They have been going for years. At the Lego play area there is a slide and Legos to play with as well as a lot of other kids to interact with. There are fountains in DTD for him to play in and a small train that you can pay for a ride on as well as a small carouselthat you also pay for.


I have never been to Disney quest so i cant answer that qiestion.

 

[rcraw45425]

Oh yeah, I forgot, since he's into trains, be sure to ask when boarding a monorail if your family can sit up from with the driver. The view is incredible andthey usually give out drivers licenses too.

 

[nkjzmom]

Hey DIS'ers,
We leave next weekend and I still have questions...any help is appreciated. Traveling with DH and DS 2yrs old.

1. Should we bother taking DS2 to Disney Quest? Anything to do there for a toddler?

2. Same question as above except about Downtown Disney? I know there is some kind of Lego house there, anything else? Is the Lego house worth the trip? I think I remember some really good chocolate store...hmm, that might be worth the trip.

3. DS LOVES trains. Any tips on maximizing the train ride - that little one that goes around MK?

4. Miniature train garden at Epcot - can someone explain? Is it something you stand and look at, or do you walk around the garden and the little trains go by?

5. How far ahead should we try to get a seat for the parade? (Anyone know what parades there are in March? Is there a night parade? How about the water one - any suggestions for a good seat?) (I have fond memories of the water one - name escapes me - Spectromagic or something? - when I was 10, we caught that one by "accident" when staying on a ground floor unit in the low-rise section of the Contemporary, it was literally out our back door!).

6. Anyone heard that rumour - or is it true - that Epcot unlocks the turnstiles right before the show/fireworks so you can get in free just for that part?

Thanks everyone!!!!

Kathy.

We made our first visit to DQ in October and I would say don't bother taking a 2 year old. Not worth your while or $$.

My kids do love DtD though...World of Disney, Once Upon a Toy Store, just walking around, eating an ice cream cone, people watching.

Train ride around the MK...your son can be a conductor for the trip. Find a cast member and politely ask about being the conductor and see what they say!! If it's not too busy or no one else has asked DS may get to stand in back and yell "All aboard" over the loudspeaker...great fun!

Train in Germany...cute hidden Mickeys...I've only found 2... both in the lower level of the garden...one is a bush and the other is on the corner of a chimney. A cast member may be able to help you find them.

For parades go to the official Disney site and search the calendars for each park for each day you will be there. They list park times and parade schedules. Spectro is inside MK...the other (whose name I can never remember) floats around the lake past the Contemporary, Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. I would suggest finding a spot about 1/2 hour before the parade...you can adjust it depending on crowd levels.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index

Can't help with the Epcot rumor!!!

Have a great trip!!!! It's wonderful to see WDW through your child's eyes.

 

[GEM]

Here are some things my totally train obsessed two year old loved on our last trip -

The MK WDW Rail Road. We must have ridden 50 full loops over the course of the trip. He just couldn't get enough! No matter where we were in the park, he would go insane when he heard that whistle or caught a glimpse of the train.

Riding in the front of the monorail. This was easily the highlight of the trip for him. We were able to ride from the MK all the way around to the Grand Floridian in the front cab. He just kept saying, "I'm driving the train, Mommy! I'm driving the train!"

The Thomas the Tank Engine play table in the little shop in England (Epcot World Showcase). Yes, we have a similar one at home, but this one was cooler, somehow.

The little train ride at Downtown Disney. It's similar to the one at the mall here that he's ridden a million times, but sill a big hit.

The miniature train in Germany. This is a large outdoor garden with model trains running through it. You can walk around the garden and watch the trains running through tunnels, over bridges, etc. My little guy was in HEAVEN. We spent 2 full hours one afternoon watching those trains! I'm not exagerating. And, after two full hours, we still had to drag him away screaming! He was absolutely enthralled. I think more people were watching him watch the trains than were actually watching the trains!

The parking lot tram. I'm serious. He loved that "train". And, we took the Disney transportation, so we had no need for the tram at all. But, once he saw it, he HAD to ride it. So we rode it out to the end of the parking lot and back.

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority (aka the "blue train in the sky"). We probably spent 30 very relaxing minutes riding around on that. A true favorite for all of us!

Any ride where the cars are connected (making it even vaguely "train like") was enough to thrill him - Spaceship Earth, Journey Into Your Imagination, etc.

As for your other qustions, I would skip Disney Quest with a toddler. There's nothing for them there. The Downtown Disney Marketplace is great, though. My son loves playing in the squirting fountain (in warm weather), the huge play area at the lego store, eating at the Rainforest Cafe, checking out the Once Upon a Toy Store (really cool moving displays and things), riding the little train (as I mentioned earlier), and lots more. We always spend at least one evening at DD, and we all enjoy it.

Check the parade schedule for March, but I'm sure that Spectromagic (the night parade at MK) will be showing then. It's peak season (spring breaks and all that) so I'd get there plenty early! As for the Electrical Water Pageant, that goes around the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake every evening. You can see it from the Contemporary, Poly, Grand Floridian, and Wilderness Lodge. The time varies for each resort.

As for getting into Epcot just for Illuminations, I'm pretty sure that isn't the case - at least not any more. I dont know if it ever was, but I don't think they do it now anyway.

I hope you all have a great trip! The trip in December was my two year old's fourth! He loves it and we all have the best time. It's such a great age. They're totally amazed by everything - even the smallest stuff. Take plenty of time to stop and notice the little things that grab his attention. We spent 20 minutes one day just sitting on a bench watching those white birds at the Magic Kingdom. Great memories!!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I would not recommend taking a two year old to Disney Quest. Much too young to do anything over there.

As for Epcot unlocking their turnstiles before Illuminations......I really doubt that this is true.

You may find info to help you on allearsnet.com.