Starting a New Tradition (could use some help)

[PABeachBum]

Hey all,

My wife and I don't have kids of our own but we do have 5 soon to be 6, likely to be 7 or 8 nieces and nephews. We have made a decision that we will take each of them to WDW sometime around their 13th birthday. We are going to do a lot of special things we have done before like make a tour book with trivia and information about each park, get t-shirts made, etc. etc.

The first trip will be this year. Either November around Thanksgiving or at the end of January. We are going to let the kid help plan everything but I wanted to get some tips.

The first thing we want to do is think about rooms. We are getting one room for the three of us. J*** (the kid!) is going to be sleeping bagging it on the floor. So lets dig in shall we?

1) Where to stay. We thought about either POP or Riverside (we stayed at POR last time we were there and the rooms were nice) Can the three of us be moderately comfy in a POP room?

2) How to plan. We are going to let J*** plan a lot of the trip and do a lot of research, but I want to have some ideas. We are going for 7 days (5.5 park days) and we were wondering how much park time everyone thinks we need. We want to do all four parks.

3) A special meal. We want to have at least one really special meal as a celebration. Any ideas? We have been to many of the restaurants, but wanted some ideas.

Thanks!

P.S. Here is the poem we are putting on his invitation (I know it is a little silly, and will take any advise on this too! )

A new Tradition starts with you
‘cause you’re the oldest of the crew.
The other ones will walk behind
Until they reach this magic time.

So now we would like to invite
You on a trip that’s out of sight
To Disney World with *** and ***
So what do you say J***? Are you in?

(The ***'s are our names and it rhymes)

 

[aepecoraro]

Sounds like a great idea!! Maybe take him to California Grill [hopefully not a picky eater.] and schedule it around wishes.

 

[Donald is #1]

Love the poem! Taking your nieces & nephews is an awesome idea! Has J*** been to WDW before? I would find out what J***'s favorite character is and then plan your first day so that J*** can see that character.

 

[PABeachBum]

Love the poem! Taking your nieces & nephews is an awesome idea! Has J*** been to WDW before? I would find out what J***'s favorite character is and then plan your first day so that J*** can see that character.

We thought about that, but is 13 too old (or too young as I am always on the look out for Pooh) to character hunt? J*** has been there before but always with his large family.

 

[Donald is #1]

We thought about that, but is 13 too old (or too young as I am always on the look out for Pooh) to character hunt? J*** has been there before but always with his large family.

That's a good question. I guess that it may depend upon the kid. I don't have kids either but I am not as brave as you. When I went with my oldest nephew, my sister (his mother) came with us. He was 9 at the time and claimed that he didn't want his picture taken with the characters. Then at the end of the week, he complained that he didn't get his picutre taken with Goofy! So, we had to run all over the parks our last day looking for Goofy. It turns out, he was just too shy in the begining of the trip. Last October I tagged along with my other sister's family and my niece (8) and nephew (9) did get their pictures taken with some characters.
My sister & I did take my oldest nephew on a disney cruise when he was 13 and he didn't really take any pictures with the characters except at the character breakfast (we dragged him to it ).

 

[Mickeefan]

I do not have children of my own, either. I have taken a friend's 3 daughters and my nephew. I've done this sometime during the year that they turned 12. For the girls, we went to Cinderella's Royal Table at the castle. For my nephew, we went to California Grill and then watched Wishes from the top of the Contemporary. I think around 12 is a good age, because they are ready to be away from Mom and Dad and they are old enough to appreciate Epcot. Whatever you decide to do, have fun.

 

[daisyduck123]

What a nice thing for you to do!
You're nieces & nephews are very lucky to have you in the family!!

My DD is turning 13 this summer.

She said she wanted to go to WDW on her b-day (we've never been in the summer), so now we've got an 8 night trip booked.
We're staying at the Dolphin for 3 nights, & then BCV for 5 nights.

She picked the restaurants also....
CRT in the morning
1900 Park Fare for dinner

We're also going to do a fireworks cruise that week (our 90 day booking period hasn't opened up yet).

 

[figgy4me]

I think this is great and agree that 13 probably is a good age. DH and I took our neice and nephew at a 11 & 10. Our neice was no problem at all, but when we took our nephew..................... you couldn't do enough for him to be satisfied - and he wouldn't ride any of the mountains. His mother had told us that his teacher the next year would not count his trip as an educational experience, and he could not miss a whole week of school and pass. Neither of them had been before and one has been several times a year since her own children have been born. So don't guess Dh & I will not have to worry about taking them in the future. We have never done any table service or character meals. But we did spend plenty of time in the parks + Sea World & Universal Studios. It is so much fun watching there expressions and excitement.

Have a wonderful time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FayeW]

If you and your wife don't have children, why is J*** sleeping on the floor?

I like the poem, I think it is cute.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you and your wife don't have children, why is J*** sleeping on the floor?

I second that question! If my brother is cool enough to do such a thing, I'd have some issues if they didn't get DS a bed!

 

[Dashzap]

I have sons who are 12 and 7.

I think 13 year old boys won't be that interested in the characters. My kids aren't interested in characters anymore.

They like roller coasters. And fireworks.

Why not get a room with a pull out coach or something? A bad night's sleep = a cranky kid the next day.

If you are driving you could bring an aero bed...

 

[PABeachBum]

My wife just asked the same question about the bed. We stayed in Riverside last time and the beds seemed small. We may likely get a cot or a pull out. We are going to let him make some decisions on this stuff as well.

Thanks for all the input. We are talking to him tomorrow about it. I will fill everyone in.