Special Disney trip for son

[mdbuchman]

Our son has been sick for awhile and we have decided to get away from appointments, doctors and needles for awhile. We booked a last minute stay at Disneyworld in the middle of May. Curious if anyone has any ideas of something special I could do for him, or maybe something I could request from a staff member. We are probably only going to be in the parks for about 4 hours a day...as that is about all he will be able to do . He is 6 and one of his favorites is spending time in the pool...so we going to do a lot of that. Speaking of that does anyone have a review of Animal Kingdom Lodge pool?

Thanks,
The Buchmans

 

[aaarcher86]

Our son has been sick for awhile and we have decided to get away from appointments, doctors and needles for awhile. We booked a last minute stay at Disneyworld in the middle of May. Curious if anyone has any ideas of something special I could do for him, or maybe something I could request from a staff member. We are probably only going to be in the parks for about 4 hours a day...as that is about all he will be able to do . He is 6 and one of his favorites is spending time in the pool...so we going to do a lot of that. Speaking of that does anyone have a review of Animal Kingdom Lodge pool?

Thanks,
The Buchmans

AKL pools are great. Lots of fun, and the resort itself is really spectacular.

As far as something special... what are you thinking? You could order an in room celebration from the Disney Florist to have in the room but you can't have balloons at AKL so you will have fewer options.

A character meal would be fun.

Maybe get him an appointment at Pirates League and he can dress like a pirate.

The Pirates and Pals cruise is fun.

It really just depends what you're wanting. I don't even know what you had in mind as a request from a CM?

 

[mdbuchman]

Forgot about the Pirates and Pals...looking into that. No idea from CM...maybe a special pin....or anything...really have no idea

 

[aaarcher86]

I think they have just generic 'I'm celebrating' pins or 'accomplishment' pins or something like that.

I don't know how he feels about it, but seeing it the CMs will probably ask 'what are you celebrating' etc. If he doesn't want to talk about treatment I'd probably skip the pin, but if he wants to talk about how well he's doing I'd go for it

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . anyone has any ideas of something special I could do for him, or maybe something I could request from a staff member . . .

BIRTHDAY-ANNIVERSARY-HONEYMOON-GRADUATION-ETC Celebrations by Cast Members:

1) It is a matter of the CM's personal initiative.
. . . depends upon how much they like you as a guest
. . . it always helps to wear a Happy Birthday button
. . . depends if they feel like doing anything special today
. . . depends upon the phase of the moon
2) CM's can do a lot, or they can do nothing at all as they have immense control
. . . they are under no obligation to give goodies or even acknowledge special day
. . . they can go way overboard, give lots of gifts
. . . they have A LOT of leeway for what they will or will not do for you
. . . they can see the event if listed on the ADR or hotel ressie and you hope for the best
3) Some of the things a CM can do for free are
. . . table with Mickey confetti
. . . your name/celebration on menu at TS locations (except BOG)
. . . best table location
. . . special personalized menu
. . . character-autographed birthday cards
. . . balloons
. . . balloon animals
. . . wine or champagne or Shirley Temples
. . . room towel animals
. . . appetizers or desserts
. . . cakes
. . . cupcake with candle (almost always available for the asking)
. . . place mats autographed by characters
. . . free appy or free dessert
. . . ride an attraction with a character
. . . personalization items for the Magic Bands
5) Some other items CM's can give for free
. . . room full of balloons and/or flowers
. . . fruit basket or wine basket in hotel room
. . . individual fast passes or booklets of several fast passes
. . . food and snack items (candy, popcorn, sundries)
. . . room upgrades
. . . attraction rides with characters
6) If you really want something special, buy it yourself.
. . . eatery: carry presents in and keep/hide them in a paper bag
. . . eatery: carry a cake in, but, WDW won't prepare, store, or serve it
. . . eatery: order non-decorated cake at the eatery podium check-in
. . . eatery: order decorated cake from the WDW Cake Hotline
. . . room: order special in-room celebration decorarting by Disney
. . . room: order strawberries and cream, if resort has room service
. . . room: decorate the room yourself
7) There are hundreds, or thousands, who celebrate everyday at WDW.
8) It is too much time/money for CM's to attend or recognize all.


NOTE: I have personally given out freebies such as major room
upgrades, fruit baskets, wine & cheese baskets, fast passes. It
all depends upon how you act toward us and the mood we are in at
that time.

 

[lanejudy]

I think they have just generic 'I'm celebrating' pins or 'accomplishment' pins or something like that. ...

Just to clarify for OP...these are buttons -- big (maybe 3" across) buttons. Not the pins for pin trading. If he's interested in pins, some CMs have pins to trade; I wouldn't expect one to simply be given to him, but it can happen.

I really don't know that there's anything you can request from a CM. Pixie dust either happens or it doesn't. You can note on your reservation if you are celebrating or any special events, but as PP mentioned, if you/he would prefer not to get into repeated discussions (or just repeatedly answering "what are you celebrating?") then I wouldn't advise this.

PP gave some good suggestions. A few more, that don't really require much (if any) advanced planning:

• You could go to FW to see the horses -- though that may not be as exciting if he can see safari animals at AKL.
• There are usually a lot of activities going on at the pools in the afternoons; he can participate or just swim.
• Most resorts also have a movie at least a couple of nights each week, maybe a campfire and roasting marshmellows.
• He can play at the Lego store at DTD,
• Also at DTD plan a meal at T-Rex if he's into dinosaurs, or Rain Forest Cafe.
• You could order a special dessert -- either to have at a restaurant or delivered to your room.

Much of that will depend on his stamina.
Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Hannathy]

Are you doing a day or 2 at one of the water parks? I would think that would be a great day if he likes pools.

 

[SueM in MN]

The buttons that say "I'm celebrating" have a spot for adding what you are celebrating. I've seen people in your situation write in something like "getting healthy" or "finished treatment".
Those should get your child attention without a lot of awkward questions.

AKL is a great resort and the pools are really nice and there is a water play area by one of the pools.
Here's a link for more info:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/animal-kingdom-lodge/pools-animal-kingdom-lodge/

The kids activities include nightly storytelling and marshmallow toasting at the fire pit.
Even if you don't get a savannah view room, there are animal viewing areas throughout the resort. The CMs in those areas are very used to interacting with kids. They can answer a lot of questions and give a lot of information about the animals.

 

[mdbuchman]

Booked a private boat ride to see the fireworks at Magic Kingdom on our last day...just the 3 of us. Curious if anyone has done this before.

15 more days and counting!

 

[Globalfootprint]

Booked a private boat ride to see the fireworks at Magic Kingdom on our last day...just the 3 of us. Curious if anyone has done this before.

15 more days and counting!

How did you go about doing that? Was it expensive?

 

[mdbuchman]

Hello,

Booked it through the Disney reservations line. It leaves from Contemporary. The price is $300 for up to 8 people...so kind of figure a pretty good value if you have 8 people. There will be only us three so maybe not as good a value...but still worth it for the memories for us

The cruise includes snacks, music pumped in and just your party and the captain. They have another a little cheaper, but that one you share with other people.

Leaving next week! Will update you with a short review

 

[mdbuchman]

Thanks for the idea about the water parks...he LOVES the water! Called and added the water park option and came out to $70 extra for the week for all of us. Not a bad deal!

Concerning water parks....have been MANY times to Disney World but not the water parks. Any recommendations for which park better for kids? I am guessing we will spend about 95% of our time on the lazy river. Down in Houston we have Schlitterbahn and they have tubes with a solid bottom for kids...do you know if they have that there also?

Thanks!