Toddling around Walt Disney World: Dec 10-18, 2011 (We leave today!!!!!)

[RNBelle]

The cast:
Myself (27)

I am always scheming to take our next vacation. I have been at Disney World between 15-25 times!!! I'm a labor & delivery nurse.

DH

He is a new Disney convert. We have been 7 times together in the past 4 years. We got engaged on our May 2008 trip, and spent part of our honeymoon at WDW in May 2009.

There may have been some, erm...

a lot

of arm twisting involved. We bought Disney Vacation Club on our honeymoon and haven't looked back since!

Our Son

Our beautiful son has already been to Disney World once as a tiny newborn. He was about 6 weeks at our last trip. While he was adorable to dress up, we swore we'd wait until he was sleeping through the night to return! He gets his temper from his father, of course...

Here's him before Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party:


MIL
(NOT PICTURED)

The stage:
Animal Kingdom Villas Savannah View 1 bedroom



The timeline: December 10-18, 2011

We will be on the Deluxe Dining Plan every other day (11th, 13th, 15th, 17th) and we will be using 4 day park hoppers.

 

[RNBelle]

We have the Deluxe Dining Plan for Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Sunday (MK): Kona Cafe, Whispering Canyon Cafe & Christmas Party
Monday: Boma for Breakfast; Jiko
Tuesday (MK): Crystal Palace for bfast, The Wave for dinner
Wednesday (Epcot): Princess Storybook Breakfast, Fulton's Crab House
Thurs (DHS): Hollywood & Vine for breakfast, 50s PTC for dinner
Friday (DAK): Tusker House Bfast & House of Blues (OOP w/ restaurant.com gift certificate)

Buffets are bolded (That's a lot of buffets.)

 

[RNBelle]

I have chosen a lot of character meals, but I am nervous that he will be scared of the characters. Also, I hate buffets. I am wondering if I should switch some? I know they'll be child friendly, but they're just not my thing.

Our son does well in restaurants at non-nap times (1030a-1130a) and (2p-330p). He's a phenomenal eater, will currently sit still for about an hour, but is NOT walking yet. I know this will probably change in the next few months (he is 13 months). Does anyone have any experience with being better off scheduling breakfast, lunch or dinners (TS)?

Our son does well in restaurants at non-nap times (1030a-1130a) and (2p-330p). He's a phenomenal eater, will currently sit still for about an hour, but is NOT walking yet. I know this will probably change in the next few months (he is 13 months).

Should I trade Boma for Kona Cafe (tonga toast)?
Chef Mickey's for Ohana?
50s PTC for SciFi Dine-in or Mama Merose?
Should i trade a Princess Storybook breakfast for a dinner at Coral Reef?

 

[RachelNinja]

Yay for a PTR! Personally, I'd probably only do a buffet or two only because I'd worry about getting up to get food constantly. If my baby were in a grumpy mood, and I wanted to go and take my time to get food, I'd feel bad. Of course, this is all surmising because I don't know what it's like to have a baby! I think I'd prefer to order and have my food brought to me.

All my current TRs are in my signature below!

 

[RNBelle]

Yay for a PTR! Personally, I'd probably only do a buffet or two only because I'd worry about getting up to get food constantly. If my baby were in a grumpy mood, and I wanted to go and take my time to get food, I'd feel bad. Of course, this is all surmising because I don't know what it's like to have a baby! I think I'd prefer to order and have my food brought to me.

All my current TRs are in my signature below!

I've been reading "Delicious Indeed". I just know that I hate buffets, and I worry about people's germs all over the serving handles... Since we will be on deluxe, I will have enough for him to eat off my plate!

 

[CandleontheWater]

I like buffets with young toddlers because they are fast! You can get in and out in much less time than a signature or really popular TS. If you DS does begin to get antsy and not tolerate sitting for long periods after he learns to walk, you'll be happy for all the buffets.

Personally I think its awesome that your DS will sit for an hour at a restaurant. I wish my DS would, he is almost 2 and we still can't go out to eat. He always was a really active kid though, so maybe you lucked out and got a more chill baby.

Also, if he doesn't like the characters, you can just let your server know, and they will steer the characters away from your table. Its hard to judge, but if you are going in Dec, you can maybe get a practice run in with a mall santa before you leave. If he is good with the santa, then you have a good chance he'll be fine with the characters, if he isn't, then there is a good chance he might not like them.

 

[RNBelle]

I like buffets with young toddlers because they are fast! You can get in and out in much less time than a signature or really popular TS. If you DS does begin to get antsy and not tolerate sitting for long periods after he learns to walk, you'll be happy for all the buffets.

Personally I think its awesome that your DS will sit for an hour at a restaurant. I wish my DS would, he is almost 2 and we still can't go out to eat. He always was a really active kid though, so maybe you lucked out and got a more chill baby.

Also, if he doesn't like the characters, you can just let your server know, and they will steer the characters away from your table. Its hard to judge, but if you are going in Dec, you can maybe get a practice run in with a mall santa before you leave. If he is good with the santa, then you have a good chance he'll be fine with the characters, if he isn't, then there is a good chance he might not like them.

Thanks for reading I think you're right about the buffets. I am just so paranoid during flu season about the germs. I have a feeling DS will be much more rambunctious during meal time once he has the freedom of walking on his own. My son is only happy when he is destroying things- but thankfully he can destroy things from within a highchair.

Thanks for all your advice!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

Hi, saw your PTR and thought I'd stop in. We'll be doing a Disney trip with a toddler a couple of weeks before you! We're taking DS who will be 20 months at the time. I have to echo the thoughts about buffets. We're going to have QSDP, but are planning a few TS meals that we want to try. We like the buffets for a few reasons. First is the obvious idea that we can go and grab some food right away to keep DS distracted, the second main point is that he can eat off our plates... If we went to any other TS restaurant, we'd probably get him his own food to eat. At a buffet, we'll just throw some child friendly options on a plate for him and it won't cost any extra.

It looks like you're pretty much a Disney pro, so I'm sure you've thought all the angles out already anyway. I look forward to following along.

 

[RNBelle]

Hi, saw your PTR and thought I'd stop in. We'll be doing a Disney trip with a toddler a couple of weeks before you! We're taking DS who will be 20 months at the time. I have to echo the thoughts about buffets. We're going to have QSDP, but are planning a few TS meals that we want to try. We like the buffets for a few reasons. First is the obvious idea that we can go and grab some food right away to keep DS distracted, the second main point is that he can eat off our plates... If we went to any other TS restaurant, we'd probably get him his own food to eat. At a buffet, we'll just throw some child friendly options on a plate for him and it won't cost any extra.

It looks like you're pretty much a Disney pro, so I'm sure you've thought all the angles out already anyway. I look forward to following along.

Thanks so much for stopping in. I value any input-- I may have been to Disney a great deal, but I am clueless when it comes to toddlers. I like the idea about being able to feed him quickly... and him being entertained. How did your son do with the buffets???

 

[RNBelle]

It's awfully difficult for me to focus anymore on dining reservations since I feel so nauseated today!!!! I suppose I will just leave them as is. I did add a Kona Cafe one to our first morning... Time for bed. I am zonked!

 

[RNBelle]

I added Bistro de Paris-- DMIL said she wanted to do a room service and "camping" night in the living room so we could have a date night to ourselves....

Has anyone been there?

 

[afwdwfan]

Thanks so much for stopping in. I value any input-- I may have been to Disney a great deal, but I am clueless when it comes to toddlers. I like the idea about being able to feed him quickly... and him being entertained. How did your son do with the buffets???

Well, we haven't made it to Disney yet... He can do the restaurant thing for a little bit but gets impatient quickly. That's why I think buffets will work well for us. We did take him to Kings Island one day this summer and they have a Peanuts themed children's area. He seemed to enjoy the characters they had there. We'll just have to see how he does with Mickey.

 

[RNBelle]

Well, we haven't made it to Disney yet... He can do the restaurant thing for a little bit but gets impatient quickly. That's why I think buffets will work well for us. We did take him to Kings Island one day this summer and they have a Peanuts themed children's area. He seemed to enjoy the characters they had there. We'll just have to see how he does with Mickey.

I hope they play playhouse disney songs at the H&V breakfast. My son is more into the songs than the characters, I think. You will have exactly one week between our trips to give me all your advice !!!

 

[afwdwfan]

I hope they play playhouse disney songs at the H&V breakfast. My son is more into the songs than the characters, I think. You will have exactly one week between our trips to give me all your advice !!!

I know what you mean about the songs. That will change quickly though. DS used to just like the musical parts of the shows, but now he loves Mickey and Pluto. We'd probably do H&V, but he really doesn't watch Handy Manny or the Little Einsteins very much.

 

[RNBelle]

Sorry I haven't been updating-- I have been feeling really ill.

We are so excited to announce that it looks like I am going to have to miss Expedition Everest and Space Mountain for the second time.

We are expecting a little person!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Congrats!! What wonderful news! I have been reading a lot of baby announcements on the Dis lately, I sure hope it isn't going around (cuz I don't want to catch it!)

DH and I are going to try Bistro on Tues night, when we get back I'll give you the full report.

 

[RNBelle]

Congrats!! What wonderful news! I have been reading a lot of baby announcements on the Dis lately, I sure hope it isn't going around (cuz I don't want to catch it!)

DH and I are going to try Bistro on Tues night, when we get back I'll give you the full report.

1 day until food and wine for you Don't drink the kool-aid around here

 

[RachelNinja]

Congratulations!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

Congratulations!!!

There have most definitely been a few pregnancies going around the DIS. I believe that your post is the first time I have ever seen a picture of a pregnancy test on the DISboards though.

Having just read and replied to your last post in my PTR, let me just say that I hope this prenancy is much easier for you.

 

[PirateKate]

Congratulations!! That's so exciting!