Trip Plan with two little ones

[Feberin]

We're going to Disney in late-May with our four-year-old son and nearly two-year-old daughter. I hope this is the right place to post our plans but I'd love some feedback.

We're driving from Maryland leaving on Saturday morning and staying somewhere overnight on Saturday night. We're waiting to book a hotel to see how far we get on our journey since this will be our longest trip with the kids. We're hoping to arrive on Sunday before dinnertime. We were thinking we'll stop and buy some food before going to All Star Sports. Then check in and unpack. We're going to probably go somewhere in Downtown Disney hopefully for dinner. Probably quick service and also stop by the toy store there where you can get Mr. Potato Head parts since my son is obcessed with Mr. Potato Head and it'll give him something to play with whenever we're in the room. We're bringing our own Potato Head assuming the parts are interchangeable and you don't need to buy a special Disney one. If we get in later then expected or are too tired then we'll just do the food court.

On Monday we're going to Hollywood Studios in the morning and doing Toy Story Mania. We may do a couple other rides there too but that's the only must ride for my son. We're going to take the boat over to Epcot since the kids both love boats. Then we're going to walk around and get lunch somewhere in the World Showcase. Possibly just do snacks. We're planning on skipping naps today since the kids should be well rested my daughter does fine with a couple days without a nap and my son almost never naps. We have Fast Past+ reservations at The Seas with Nemo (3-4), Turtle Talk with Crush (5-6) and Soarin' for my son and I. My husband has one for Test Track (6-7). We're hoping to back by 8 pm for bedtime.

On Tuesday we're going to Animal Kingdom in the morning. My son HATES petting zoos so we're not doing a ton of stuff. We have Fast Pass+ for the Safari (9-10), Outpost (10-11) and River Rapids (11-12). We're planning on packing a lunch and by 1 pm be heading back to the hotel. In the evening we have 6:15 reservations for Hollywood and Vine for the Star Wars Disney Character meal. We are not doing the Fantasmic dinner package since my son scares easily and I've been told it's kind of scary for little ones. Instead we'd like to go over to Magic Kingdom and do the Mickey's Electric parade.

On Wednesday we're doing Magic Kingdom. We have Fast Pass+ for Peter Pan (10-11), Jungle Cruise (11-12) and Splash Mountain (my son and husband 12:20-1:20). I also have a Haunted Mansion one to possibly do with my daughter. She doesn't scare easily unlike my son. We're planning on going back to the hotel around 2ish for naps. No plans for the rest of the day so we'll plan it by ear.

Thursday we're in the Magic Kingdom again with Fast Pass+ for Buzz Lightgear Spin (10-11), Space Mountain (using child swap for my husband and I to do it) and Enchanted Tales with Belle (12:30-1:30). Once again a packed lunch and back to the hotel for naps with rest of the plans up in the air. However we're hoping to make this an early night.

Friday we're going to Hollywood Studios for Star Wars weekend! We're all really big Star Wars fans. We're planning on using the morning to just wait for one or two autographs and take in the fun. We really want to watch the motorcade parade. We have Fast Pass+ for Toy Story Mania (11:40-12:40), Star Tours (just my son and husband will probably go 12:40-1:40) and Indiana Jones (3:30-3:50). We also have lunch reservations at the Sci-Fi Dine-In at 1:50. We're going to head back to the hotel for possibly a late nap or just a break from the parks after we see Indiana Jones. We're thinking of going to Mickey's Electrical Parade either again or if it didn't work out on Tuesday night.

Besides the dinner reservations we're pretty flexible. We're doing breakfast in the room every morning and I already bought oatmeal and yogurt pouches for the kids. My husband and I will probably do a granola bar or something. We're hoping to save money by packing lunch (either lunchmeat or PB&J) most days. Unless we have a reservation we'll just do quick service for dinner.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

on your plans for Tues, I would guess that your kids will crash on bus ride from Studios to MK. I would plan on at least an hour and half for dinner and then walk to catch bus. if parade is going on Wed, I would plan to go back that night as you will have more time without rushing

 

[MSSANDRA]

Plans look good and with lots of flexibility and reasonable expectations. The only major thing I question is going to HS the first morning, just for TSM and without FP for it. You would need to be sure to be there well before opening and that park tends to open early and crowds head straight for TSM. I see you have FP for this later and have quite a bit a time for this park later so I might not spend time doing it the first morning. Maybe spend the whole day at Epcot.

Have fun and enjoy those babies!

 

[Feberin]

on your plans for Tues, I would guess that your kids will crash on bus ride from Studios to MK. I would plan on at least an hour and half for dinner and then walk to catch bus. if parade is going on Wed, I would plan to go back that night as you will have more time without rushing

There is no parade on Wednesday night and I don't necessarily want to do it on Thursday since I want to make sure the kids go to bed on time to be well rested for Star Wars weekend. Monday we're already planning on a long day and I don't want to leave it until Friday however we will if it's clear the kids are really exhausted. It's after their bedtime as it is so I'm not sure if there will ever be a night that they won't be tired if we go to it.

According to easywdw cheat sheets wait times will be at about an hour for Toy Story Mania with crowd levels when we visit. My son loves Toy Story and it's easily his favorite movie. He has asked that we do something with Buzz first. I love the idea of taking the boat from Hollywood Studios to Epcot since we're not staying at a resort that uses a boat.

 

[laughinplace199]

On Tuesday we're going to Animal Kingdom in the morning. My son HATES petting zoos so we're not doing a ton of stuff. We have Fast Pass+ for the Safari (9-10), Outpost (10-11) and River Rapids (11-12). We're planning on packing a lunch and by 1 pm be heading back to the hotel. In the evening we have 6:15 reservations for Hollywood and Vine for the Star Wars Disney Character meal. We are not doing the Fantasmic dinner package since my son scares easily and I've been told it's kind of scary for little ones. Instead we'd like to go over to Magic Kingdom and do the Mickey's Electric parade.

You may know this already, but AK is so much more than a petting zoo. There's so much to see and do (but skip Rafiki's Planet Watch since that's where the actual petting zoo is). I like the way you've scheduled the rides there. We always do KRR last in case we're soaked.

Is there anyway to reorganize your days so that you're not going to 3 parks in one day? Even though you're just going to HS to eat, it's still time consuming (and sometimes tiring) to be hopping around that much.

Also, don't be surprised if your kids nap more than you would expect. When our DS was 5, he took a nap every day (and he hadn't napped at home in 2 years)!

 

[Dasha Hermosilla]

I'll echo what the other posters are saying. Counting on riding TSM first thing stand bye is risky with two young kids. You really must be there before opening and head straight there at a decent pace to attempt to minimize your waiting time. I also second AK is so not a petting zoo. It's an experience of animals around the world and the cultures of the countries those animals live in (Africa/Asia predominantly).

In terms of the parade.... We have been 6 times in the last 3 years and my kids have seen it once. The value of getting them to bed has always trumped the parade timing and crowds of people departing after which further delays bedtime. You get the most done at Disney if you do Rope Drop (arrive at the park before it opens) and we just can't do that when we have our kids stay up late. Just something to consider.

 

[Feberin]

We'd like to do the parade at least once but it could be on the last night if we don't have enough time on Tuesday. Since we're driving home the kids being tired the day we leave would work in our favor since then they'll sleep and we can make better time on the way home.

Perhaps we'll just head straight to Epcot unless we're all up early in the morning and will be at HS before rope drop. Can you meet Buzz and Woody in HS? I think that's actually more what my son is interested in doing there.

Oh and I am aware that AK is not a petting zoo since I visited there in high school. However I seem to remember the petting zoo being one of the big attractions for younger kids. I LOVED the Safari and I think both of my children will really enjoy that part.

 

[happymommy]

I just wanted to say that I could have written your post! Our first trip with both kids was the year they were 4 1/2 and 2 1/2, and we also drove from Maryland!

We had just bought our first minivan, and I had that loaded with so much stuff. One thing that helped packing was in addition to an overnight bag for our first night (we ended up making it all the way to Orlando, as the kids fell asleep so we just kept driving) was packing all our other stuff in plastic storage bins! We were staying at the BWV, so I had brought lots of food and drinks (case of juice boxes and water from Costco - we were there 10 nights). The bins made better use of the trunk space in the van than suitcases would.

I also brought our good double stroller (Peg Perego Tandem Twin). The kids took a nap in it every day that we were out at a park.

I would suggest avoiding the I-95 route through DC. Even though it's longer mileage wise, I'd go down 301 (that bridge scared me!) and catch up with I-95 in Richmond. Last two trips to Williamsburg I made this mistake and sat in traffic forever! What should have been 3.5 hours turned into 6.5 hours! I can't wait till they get that all opened up! Or just check the traffic and see I guess? Maybe it's just summer that's bad.

I think your plans on being flexible with meals is a good idea. Plus keeping regular (almost) bedtimes. We did that also when they were little - they were happy to get their rest at night (we never saw any fireworks when they were little; it was just too late for us!).

Have a great trip!!

 

[Feberin]

Thanks for the tip about 301. I'm really debating which way to go along with what time to leave. Our "plan" is to leave at 6 am but that would put us in DC rush hour traffic. Part of me thinks we should just leave at like 4 am or something...but I don't want to arrive utterly exhausted.

 

[happymommy]

I'd check the google maps traffic a few days about the time you think you'd be hitting Springfield, and see what the traffic looks like versus 301. That way you can make the call.

To me, normal road trips (like the few times we've gone to St. Louis) leaving at 4am is actually better. The first couple of hours, DH and I don't even remember (we drink our coffee and just get a couple of hours pre-dawn out of the way). The kids would still be sleepy, so they'd just fall back asleep (leave then in their jammies then change late morning at a rest stop). When we do St. Louis, it's also 12 hours, and with two drivers we go nonstop. I did it myself, so took two days. And was exhausted when I got there! Of course, going back home is always harder....

I seriously do think, though, that 301 does bypass a ton of traffic. Next time we go to Williamsburg, I'm doing that.