DIS Dads The Dis Dad's Club III

[stopher1]

I am making my first trip to disney ... with the wife and 2 kids 1 year old and 5 year old.

Each of the 4 parks has stuff for smaller kids, but the Magic Kingdom certainly has the most, especially considering Fantasyland! You can even get a special map of the park with attractions that are geared for the little ones. Many attractions are height restricted throughout WDW, but many are not and will be just fine for your 1 yo to go on with you and enjoy. Many people find Epcot to be the least kid-centric, but you can enjoy meeting various characters throughout World Showcase in pavillion specific settings... i.e. you might find Mary Poppins or Alice in the UK pavillion; or Aladdin & Jasmine in Morocco; or Pinocchio & Gepetto in Italy; Belle or Sleeping Beauty in France; Mulan in China, etc.

You'll be able to see/greet/meet characters in all of the parks, and is usually a great activity with little ones. Get an autograph book and let them collect signatures throughout your vacation. And, if you have the characters sign on every other page (leaving one side of the book blank - left or right side), you can then take a picture of your child with the characters and print them out to paste to the blank page. This makes a fun momento for your child after they are home to "relive" the trip.

Naturally there are all kinds of nice shops in each park, that are filled with lots of stuffed, plush toys to choose from, as well as other fun toys and souvenirs. A neat but cheap souvenir that many of the dads on here like are getting pressed pennies. You'll find machines (both automatic and hand crank) throughout each park with neat images of lands, parks, attractions, characters etc. For the penny plus two quarters you can accumulate a bunch more cheaply than many of the plush dolls.

Along the way you'll encounter the "PhotoPass" photographers. These are Disney photographers who will take your picture in front of many of the most popular icons in th eparks, as well as with characters. It is free to have your picture taken, you just pay if you want to actually purchase the images they take. BUT, you can always ask them to take a picture with your own camera. This is a great way to get complete family photos throughout your vacation - and not constantly have mom or dad missing from a shot.

There are lots of great shows, parades and non-riding attractions in the 4 theme parks. Many of which will be great for your 1 yo as well. All indoor attractions are air-conditioned, which will be key for your late August visit.

Many parents like to take a break in the afternoon, or the worst heat of the day and go back to their resort for a nap or swim - especially with small children. Just keep the transportation time in mind if this is something you and your wife want to do. Have a way to communicate with each other, either by cell phone or 2 way radios, however these usually only work well in the parks though given the number of miles between parks and resorts.

Remember to stay hydrated!!! Especially in August. All 4 of you. You can get ice water for free from any counter service restaurant - just ask. You can also take bottled water into the parks with you. Staying hydrated is key #1 in the summer at WDW.

 

[stopher1]

So I just took a stroll over to that "other" board, and saw that Barry's wife Bambi is now on there as a DIS Mom. And they're up to page 5. Wow, they're flying now...

 

[stopher1]

For a counter service in Epcot I would highly recommend "Sunshine Seasons" which is located in the land pavilion. Almost all of the counter service restaurants have the exact same menu EXCEPT SUNSHINE SEASONS. It is a nice change from the standard fare, and has the most food choices. It also has a great dessert variety. The manager came by our table the last time we were there and spoke with us for a few minutes. You could tell he took a lot of pride in the menu, service and quality of food. In my opinion it is the best counter service at WDW.

Yes, Sunshine Seasons is good, because it is more of a food court variety, with lots of different choices/options.

 

[Emma's Dad]

don had a sleep over last night, someone should check on him.

I'm here! Whew... the sleepover went well... had the kids in bed around 8:30 and they were up until around 9:30-10 before we stopped hearing movement. Fortunately, there were no middle-of-the-night incidents.

Okay, as I was making pancakes for the kids, I got to thinking about the criteria for the DisDads and I think we may need to add one. After re-reading, we need to add "you own a silicone Mickey that forms pancakes like a Mickey head." DW and I got one of these on our November anniversary trip and the kids love it (well, I do too... )

Added!

For a counter service in Epcot I would highly recommend "Sunshine Seasons" which is located in the land pavilion. Almost all of the counter service restaurants have the exact same menu EXCEPT SUNSHINE SEASONS. It is a nice change from the standard fare, and has the most food choices. It also has a great dessert variety. The manager came by our table the last time we were there and spoke with us for a few minutes. You could tell he took a lot of pride in the menu, service and quality of food. In my opinion it is the best counter service at WDW.

I second the Sunshine Seasons! We tried it for the first time last year and LOVED it!

 

[Emma's Dad]

I am making my first trip to disney at the end of august. Driving down from Philadelphia with the wife and 2 kids 1 year old and 5 year old. Looking for any advice from those who drove down from my area places to stop on the way and spend the night. Any tips for where to eat a Disney (Dinsey Dining Plan Places). Wanted to book my ADR now already booked breakfast at Chef Mickey's.

WOOHOO!! First trip Dad!! Welcome! You are member # 445!

Oh... and Stopher1 is the king at giving useful information!! He's like our encyclopedia

WELCOME TO THE DIS DAD'S CLUB!

You have been added to the DIS Dad's Club list

 

[itJeff]

stopher1 - Great write ups! You should write a book! "The Dis Dads Guide for first time visitors to The World" We all know you have enough pictures for a book.

I will chime in and agree with all that stopher has said. I will add that although most people don't think there is much for smaller kids in Epcot, we've found there is lots for them to enjoy.
In World Showcase there are the Kidcot stops, and the passports you can get stamped in each country. There are tons of ideas like learning to say hello in the language for each country, playing with the toys from each country, having a cast member write your name in their language, etc. Now there's the Kim Possible Missions you can do in several countries. We hope to do this on our trip in May.
In Future World you can try soft drinks from all over the world at club cool. Don had a write up about a show that I had never heard of somewhere in Innovations. The Living with the Land ride is neat, to see all the funny shaped veggies they grow.
Anyway, I think Epcot has had a bad rep for being boring. No, it doesn't have the appeal like the Magic Kingdom. But, we've found there's lots to do that is fun.

This May will be our third trip. For each trip we start the trip out going to Epcot the first day. I read this idea in the Unofficial Guide. If you go to the Magic Kingdom first, then the kids will expect the same level of excitement and entertainment from all the parks. We figured it made sense to start at the low end, and work our way up. This might explain why our girls enjoyed Epcot.

 

[itJeff]

I'm here! Whew... the sleepover went well... had the kids in bed around 8:30 and they were up until around 9:30-10 before we stopped hearing movement. Fortunately, there were no middle-of-the-night incidents.

DD11 had a friend spend the night last night, and DD7 also had a friend spend the night. Not as bad as the last slumber party we had. Glad to hear you survived!

 

[lawsonsontour]

can any of you guys help....i keep going to the park hours on the disney site and it sticks on todays date...the date chooser just locks in....am i doing something i shouldn't?

 

[stopher1]

Oh... and Stopher1 is the king at giving useful information!! He's like our encyclopedia

stopher1 - Great write ups! You should write a book! "The Dis Dads Guide for first time visitors to The World" We all know you have enough pictures for a book.

I will chime in and agree with all that stopher has said. I will add that although most people don't think there is much for smaller kids in Epcot, we've found there is lots for them to enjoy.
In World Showcase there are the Kidcot stops, and the passports you can get stamped in each country. There are tons of ideas like learning to say hello in the language for each country, playing with the toys from each country, having a cast member write your name in their language, etc. Now there's the Kim Possible Missions you can do in several countries. We hope to do this on our trip in May.
In Future World you can try soft drinks from all over the world at club cool. Don had a write up about a show that I had never heard of somewhere in Innovations. The Living with the Land ride is neat, to see all the funny shaped veggies they grow.
Anyway, I think Epcot has had a bad rep for being boring. No, it doesn't have the appeal like the Magic Kingdom. But, we've found there's lots to do that is fun.

Ahh thanks guys! And Jeff, thanks for the cool comments. I have actually pondered writing a book before. You're now the 3rd "outsider" (meaning not in my family) to tell me that I should. Who knows, perhaps in the next year or so you'll see something like that from me....

Like Jeff said, and I would have gotten around to myself if my DD didn't come up to me earlier and ask me to play with her...

Epcot has those fun Kidcot stops where the little ones can do some fun stuff. We still have numerous masks from different trips "around the world" that our kids have made through the years. Kidcot stops are free.

The passports are not free, but not very expensive either. They make great souvenirs. You can get them at numerous places in Epcot, but most notably the gift shops on either side of the promenade going around World Showcase on the Future World side of the lagoon (you'll start going around the lagoon in either Mexico or Canada). Then at each pavillion, as Jeff said, you can get them stamped with special stamps from each country, and each book has stickers the kids can place on each page. Plus the cast members will be happy to write a greeting of some kind inside their respective country's page. Often times they'll write in their native language. DW and I first did these on our honeymoon, and then in later years our boys did them. They're still pretty fun to look back at years later.


Another thing is that each of the parks have little play areas for the youngest set where your 1 yo might enjoy toddling around, climbing and playing. Some are in "out of the way" locations (i.e. there's one in Frontierland near the exit area to Splash Mtn vs. the more prominently located Pooh playground area across from the WTP attraction in Fantasyland), and others are right there out in the open for all to quickly and easily see. Several have pop-jets or water features - a big bonus on those hot summer days.

And Animal Kingdom has Rafiki's Planet Watch, which is an interactive type area with a petting farm. They can then touch and interact with standard petting farm type critters.

 

[AirGoofy]

Ahh thanks guys! And Jeff, thanks for the cool comments. I have actually pondered writing a book before.

Epcot has those fun Kidcot stops where the little ones can do some fun stuff. We still have numerous masks from different trips "around the world" that our kids have made through the years. Kidcot stops are free.

Go for the book. You've won over some tough critics.

As for the Epcot countries, we have tried them a few times and just do not like them. We like a few of them (Mexico - boat ride; Norway - boat ride, Princess Breakfast; France - Belle, movie; Morrocco - Jasmin; Canada - Le Cellier) and now, only do the repeats. We do spend 1 day in Epcot, and spend most of the time on the rt side up front - with Soarin, Nemo, Aquarium, Figment, etc. There is just so much to do at Disney. My advice - take your time, enjoy it, and plan a return trip.

 

[middlepat]

My advice - take your time, enjoy it, and plan a return trip.

I couldn't have said it better myself. We always go with the attitude that if we don't get to do something there is always next trip.

 

[Disney Commando]

since we are at it, kevin, ktme, is not that far from me either. maybe we can get him to meet up.

sounds like a plan to me

 

[trennr]

can any of you guys help....i keep going to the park hours on the disney site and it sticks on todays date...the date chooser just locks in....am i doing something i shouldn't?

I just clicked on the little "Blue" Calendar Icon...turns "Green" once you mouse over it...I was able to get all the way to September 30...shows time for that plus 9 days after.

 

[Disney Commando]

So I just took a stroll over to that "other" board, and saw that Barry's wife Bambi is now on there as a DIS Mom. And they're up to page 5. Wow, they're flying now...

My wife is thinking about joining , now that Bambi has joined and they will be meeting in Dec she is thinking of a head start, I guess it's all good, maybe they can plan some events and let us do our thing

 

[DisneyFed]

Fed- I saw a Merc. Cyclone on a flatbed the other day, it was a rustbucket but I bet the paid a good penny for it, after all it is one of the fastest production cars ever made in the U.S., I'd like to have it in my garage

Man, I would too......wouldn't even want to THINK about how much one would set you back---not to mention the rare parts you'd need to get it up and going!



I lose the Facebook bet with Don, he got sleep last night


Um, Barry, you may have a spy in the household

 

[pwiedower]

I am making my first trip to disney at the end of august. Driving down from Philadelphia with the wife and 2 kids 1 year old and 5 year old. Looking for any advice from those who drove down from my area places to stop on the way and spend the night. Any tips for where to eat a Disney (Dinsey Dining Plan Places). Wanted to book my ADR now already booked breakfast at Chef Mickey's.

You'll be able to see/greet/meet characters in all of the parks, and is usually a great activity with little ones. Get an autograph book and let them collect signatures throughout your vacation. And, if you have the characters sign on every other page (leaving one side of the book blank - left or right side), you can then take a picture of your child with the characters and print them out to paste to the blank page. This makes a fun momento for your child after they are home to "relive" the trip.

We took my son when he was 18 months old and hey LOVED meeting the characters. Like stopher1 mentioned you can see them all over the parks but we happen to hit a gold mine, IMHO, in Disney Hollywood Studios at The Magic of Disney Animation!!! After watching a short movie about animation the exit drops into lobby where there were no less than 5 Characters with short lines. We had pictures with Mickey, Chip & Dale, Mary Poppins, The Incredibles, Minney, and Goofy. Also, if you go just after the Playhouse Disney show begins the lines for characters just outside are non-existant. I am sure this varies depending on the time of year your are going but either way you are sure to have a blast.

 

[GoHerd1028]

Hey Everyone!!! Been a few days since I have been a le to check in. I figured I had better see how things were here because I am sure that hell just froze over with WVU beating Kentucky!...I became a UK fan just for tonight and they let me down!!!

I noticed that the cruise tTrip report has been hijacked by pirates LOL Love it! Ancious to see what happens next LOL

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Guys, just a heads-up (especially you, Fed):

There's a new store open at Downtown Disney called Ridemakerz. I know, we don't care about shopping that much. Except this might be different. Think of a Build-A-Bear store...

...with cars. Oh yeah.

All Ears report on the opening

I could totally picture my sons and me draining the entire family trip budget here.

 

[pwiedower]

Guys, just a heads-up (especially you, Fed):

There's a new store open at Downtown Disney called Ridemakerz. I know, we don't care about shopping that much. Except this might be different. Think of a Build-A-Bear store...

...with cars. Oh yeah.

All Ears report on the opening

I could totally picture my sons and me draining the entire family trip budget here.

"I also think this store offers a great bonding opportunity for fathers and sons. I saw a number of dads helping their boys build their car with big smiles on their faces." - I can't wait for my son to be old enough to appreciate this, maybe I can force the issue in September? I mean hell he will be 2.5 then!!!

 

[stopher1]

you can see them all over the parks but we happen to hit a gold mine, IMHO, in Disney Hollywood Studios at The Magic of Disney Animation!!! After watching a short movie about animation the exit drops into lobby where there were no less than 5 Characters with short lines. We had pictures with Mickey, Chip & Dale, Mary Poppins, The Incredibles, Minney, and Goofy.

Oh yeah! That's right - we went there in January so that DD could meet Carl Fredrickson and Russell from UP! And she got Mickey in his Sorcerer's Apprentice getup. It was great. There were a couple of others too, but the lines were too long to wait and we had a dinner reservation to get to. We've been there many times through the years for various character meet & greets.