Starting to Panic Now

[Dchef]

2 weeks out and I am starting the feel like I have read myself silly yet have retained very little. I have been planning for months for it to come down to this. I have only booked 2 breakfast and no additional priority seating because I suspect maybe it won't be necessary in Jan (probably wrong) I have NO CLUE as to what clothes to pack and how much for 8 days...don't know the weather in Fla. I am just grasping for info now that the important stuff is done. I have no clue what to do on the first day for dinner plans (plne lands at 3pm) Should I make PS somewhere? Will my family (5 year old twins) be too tired to go anywhere?
HELP!!!! This is not our average ski trip or camping trip!!! This is BIG.

Darlene

 

[mjmcca]

Where are you staying? That will make some difference about dinner. The flight is a long one if you are comming from Colorado so it is true you may be tired. If you are staying on Disney property you can do anything from a nice sit down dinner to a character meal to dinner in the food court to pizza in the room.Of they arent too tired whne you get there why not try for Chef Mickey at the Contemporary for dinner or Whispering Canyon on the Wilderness Lodge.


I have never been in January but i have gone in Feb and March and the weather can be unpredictable. I would suggest a little of warm weather clothes and some cooler weather options.I would plan on doing laundry mid way through the trip but i have younger kids than you and ususally have to do laundry cause they go through so many clothes.

 

[Kuffam]

Be prepard for both warm and cool. We went early January last year and it was down right cold 2 days (not as cold as Chicago or Colorado mind you). But we did manage to pull of 1 afternoon at the pool.

Funny guests were in the pool and sunbathing . The locals were walking around in their winter coats.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

TAKE A DEEP BREATH!!
You will be fine. While I would make some more PS, we have found in January, you can make them even a few hours before and be fine. We often make them the night before or the morning of the day we want to go. I think I would leave that first night open. Not only will the kids be tired, they may be overwelmed at the resort. I would just get some thing when you all get settled in and are hungery. You will want an early night.
We found layers work best this time of year. Try hard not to overpack. WE took SO many clothes our first trip in January. A couple pair of jeans, a couple pair of shorts, a couple tees, a sweat shirt or two and a mid weight jacket. Take the swim suits. DS has never not swam at least a day or two on our winter trips!! You can always rinse out a tee or turtle neck in the sink if needed!!
Have fun,

Jordan's mom

 

[fun & fancy free]

I don't know about the rest of you but my dd's(4&5) are toooo worked up to lay low the first night. What type of passes are you getting? If unlimited maybe get a small dose of MK. We always have our first dinner at the CP. Winnie the Pooh & friends. We see how kids are during dinner and if gtood maybe venture into the park to catch a few attractions. The park seems to really clear out after the parade. This leaves alot of the kiddie things pretty much walk on. If the kids are tired you atleast saw main street with some really neat shops. This always works for us so I thought I would share.

 

[dmaz]

I can relate 100%. I have made 4 Ps for the first 3 days and then figured I'd leave the rest of the week to be spontaneous - it's Jan I thought.
Well I tried calling to switch one of my PS to later in the week and they told me it was booked for the week.
It is the Princess Breakfast in Norway and CRT is closed the week we'll be there so I'm hoping that's it. Should I make others or is it already too late?
I did make a ps at O'hana for the first night. Nice to waych the castle change colors.

 

[Dchef]

I thought about making PS for Ohanas for the first night or even Chef Mickeys. We are staying at the WL and I have heard that Whispering Cayon can be loud and crazy with children running around--I would like to avoid this since we have worked really hard to get our kids to politely sit at the dinner table and eat in a restaurant.
I also thought of Rain Forest in downtown too...any thoughts, I know you can't make PS there.
Swimming is a bit of a disappointment since the pools are heated I thought there wouldn't be a problem swimming most days.Right?

We have 1 annual pass and the rest are PHplus tickets so I don't think we will be entering the park as we would waste one of those! I think we will be a bit tired and ecited at the same time so we will want to venture out somewhere...But I don't know how the pass works yet and where we can go in the evenings--what is open...Stuff like that. More help and I appreciate the comments.So much to do on this trip!

Darlene

 

[Dchef]

 

[mikki]

I would avoid the Rainforest Cafe the 1st night if you think your family will be worn out from the flight. It seems like there is always a long wait during the evening hours. After a long flight kids can get a real rush by finally arriving and can come down just as quickly. Something fairly close to your resort either on or off the park would be my recommendation.

 

[Kallison]

Chef Mickey's is fun.

I just called for Crystal Palace ressies for week after next and they were wide open with times. I got first seating in the AM, I'm pysched.

 

[Dchef]

Thanks everyone--I just made PS for Ohana's the first night...I thought that it would be as relaxing as anything else and we then might take a monorail ride before heading back to the lodge.

Darlene

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

Also go to weather.com and put in Orlando and you can get a 10 day forecast while no weather is 100% it can give you a starting point. Also trust your own judgement. We come from Wisconsin swimming in 60 degrees in a heated pool is fine. To other this would be unthinkable. We like to make PS for each night and a few lunches just so we really don't have to wait or because we want a specific so we can get to our next activity in a timely manner. Just relax and most of all have fun.

 

[gymmom]

I don't know about the rest of you but my dd's(4&5) are toooo worked up to lay low the first night. What type of passes are you getting? If unlimited maybe get a small dose of MK. We always have our first dinner at the CP. Winnie the Pooh & friends. We see how kids are during dinner and if gtood maybe venture into the park to catch a few attractions. The park seems to really clear out after the parade. This leaves alot of the kiddie things pretty much walk on. If the kids are tired you atleast saw main street with some really neat shops. This always works for us so I thought I would share.

I would just like to echo a recommendation made by UOG. When we went to WDW with our 5-year-old we made the mistake of going to MK the first day. The rest of the parks were disappointing by comparison--especially AK. We're planning to start with the least exciting parks first and saving MK for mid-week sometime.

Lisa

 

[Dchef]

Thanks for the advice--I would imagine by the time we get our car and checked in to WL and our bags up...we won't have much time but to get ready for dinner. We have PS for O Hana's but may change to Kona. But now we just found out Wishes is for 8pm that night so we may try and get dinner at 6 and go to the beach to catch wishes, other than trying and hoping to get a window at Ohanas....Oey Vey ....decissions are hard!

We have Plus passes and not Utimate BTW

 

[henrylovespooh]

If you plane lands at 3 p.m., you probably won't get to your room until around 4:30 p.m. I doubt you will want to drop everything and go eat at that time. I would make a PS at Whispering Canyon, but if it's slow you probably won't need one. It is not that raucous - your children have to sit through dinner but can participate in a little parade type thing. The only real yelling thing is if someone asks for ketchup. The food is great and you can't beat the convenience.

You could also take the boat over to Wilderness campground and eat at the restaurant there. It is a buffet dinner with barbecue ribs, chicken and other stuff. It is quite good and very reasonably priced. No reservations needed there, so you can go when you want.

We arrived around the same time as you at WL two years ago, and I think a character meal would be wasted on the first night. Your kids will be tired and sick of sitting on a plane. Take it easy instead and save Chef Mickey's for another night. We went to Whispering Canyon and it was a nice relaxing start to our trip. Save up your energy for an early start the next day!

 

[Dchef]

You have made some really good points! I had made PS for OHanna's but I think I am going to cancel those and make PS for Kona instead... more laid back and relaxed for us and then we will take the Monorail around the park before heading to sleep! That is my thought right now! I have no idea how the the monorail runs--anyone?

D

 

[Steffi]

I think eating at Kona & then taking the monorail around the loop (don't forget to ask to ride with the driver) will be a nice, relaxing way to spend your first evening at WDW.

The monorail, from Polynesian, runs to GF, then to MK, then to Contemporary, then to TTC, then Poly again. So you can either get off of the monorail at MK and take the boat back to WL from there (nice, slow ride, plus it is mostly enclosed which is great on a chilly night). Or you can get off the monorail at the Contemporary, go to their marina, and take the smaller, faster, non-enclosed boat back to WL.

As for the weather, it's chilly here in Florida now, but a few days ago it was in the 80's...the weather changes fast & often. I'd definitely bring the swimsuits and shorts as well as jeans and sweatshirts/sweaters/light jackets.

Most of all, don't stress too much, you'll have a great time! I think it's sometimes better not to have every single minute planned, it leaves you more time to wander and enjoy. I hope you and your family have a magical vacation!

 

[mmounsey]

This is what our friends are doing since they are at WL...spending their first evening eating at Whispering Canyon.

As for us, our usual thing is to grab a bite at Wolfgang Puck's cafe at DTD, and do some light shopping, ride the carousel, then head back.

This trip, we are doing something different, we decided to book the Spirit of Aloha Luau for our first night. Then we will walk down to the beach and catch Wishes. (and hopefully that Water Pageant too). Then a super quick trip to DTD to try and get a badge.

 

[msudawgs30]

I would just like to echo a recommendation made by UOG. When we went to WDW with our 5-year-old we made the mistake of going to MK the first day. The rest of the parks were disappointing by comparison--especially AK. We're planning to start with the least exciting parks first and saving MK for mid-week sometime.

Lisa

I would just like to echo you Lisa!

I know that our DD (5) LOVES Magic Kingdom so I am building up her level of entertainment as each day goes on. When we arrive I thought we'd check in and then tool around Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk. We would maybe take in a swim and then a dinner somewhere close to Beach Club (which luckily could be just about anywhere).
The first day at MGM with Fantasmic in the evening (kinda low key day). Then Epcot the next day with Princess Storybook dinner (new for April) in the evening and then Illuminations cruise that night (a little more exciting day). Then BAM! Magic Kingdom with Cinderella's breakfast (of course this is her birthday so why not?). I agree that starting them off slow when they're that young is best as not to over stimulate. I did that last time and we didn't see much of anything.

I also recommend a mid-afternoon break back at the hotel (that is if you're staying at Disney...I didn't catch that). Hope this helps!

msudawgs30