Questions Answered: Part One Disney World

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Questions Answered: Part One Disney World

Let me first start off by saying, I am not a real expert, but we do go a lot. I think any Disney trip should be tailored to work for your kids, and I try to do what my kids are into at the time. Since we do go a lot, I am pretty relaxed about how much we “get done” when we go. If my kids want to do the splash pad? play at the playground at dumbo for an hour? Sounds good to me. It is all about having a fun family time afterall, and sometimes that means meandering a bit. I had a big response to this post … so if I didn’t get to your questions – I am working on it. Part two to come asap! If you have another question feel free to email me or ask in the comments.

We are taking our 2 and 4 year old boys for the first time. What are the “must do’s”?

That’s such a cute age at Disney! At that age, my boys loved it all. The transportation – monorail, and train were huge hits. I’ll never get over 4 year old tuck telling me “that is my favorite part!” … and we had just gone through security. Even the “mickey police” is fun at that age. But here’s probably what I fast passed at that age with my two boys. The paranthesis are other things my kids love)

Magic Kingdom:

Tomorrowland speedway
Peter Pan ride
Buzz Lightyear or it’s a small world.

Epcot: (the miniature train area near epcot, my boys have and would watch there for hours)

Frozen ride
the mickey character spot
Nemo ride

Animal Kingdom: (rafikis affection section + train ride is great for this age. Doc McStuffins is usually inside Planet Watch to snag a pic)

Safari Ride
Lion King show
Na Vi river journey

Hollywood Studios (most shows you can walk into in my experience – my boys love the muppet show)

Disney Junior Dance Party (may not need a fast pass though, and if you don’t, just change it before you get to the que and save it for something else).
Toy Story midway mania
space ranger spin

How old were the boys the first time you took them to Disney?

JB had a client meeting in Orlando and asked us if we wanted to do Disney while he went to his meeting. Tuck had just turned one, and we went to Animal Kingdom.

Wes was around 6 months old.

Best Disney resort to stay at lowest price point for 1-2 bedroom villas?

If you have RCI (my parents have one they rarely use) doing Saratoga Springs through that is such an inexpensive and fun way to do Disney. I’ve also heard Key West, the treehouses by saratoga springs, can be price competitive. Though I’ve never stayed at Art of Animation, they have 1 bedrooms that look like so much fun for the kids!

Best food options at Grand Floridian?

One of my favorite character brunches is there at 1900 park fare. If you’re looking for fine dining they also have Victoria & Albert. I wouldn’t be too intimidated about bringing a kid here, as Disney is great at accommodating kids. Even at fancy restaurants.

Considering taking me two grandsons (age 3 and 5) by myself. What tips do you have?

What a fun grandma! I have a post about doing solo trips, and have taken them by myself several times. I would try to go mid week, or during a time where it’s less crowded. I think the most manageable way to do it, is to do more a half day at the park. Maybe mornings by the pool, and then head to the park. Or vice versa. I am also really clear about the kind of behavior is expected from them before we head into a park.

Is it worth it to get in lines for the parades? even with a toddler.

Parades are a lot of fun. If I’m with JB, we will split up and one of us hold the spot in the parade. Helps if you have a stroller for this. If you can’t do this. Kids can watch it from your shoulders … we have done this a time or two (:

If you are going for Mickeys Very Merry or not so scary, I would say this is when you should make the effort to get a spot.

For whatever reason, we almost always see the parades near frontierland.

Which season pass do you have for your family?

We have the weekday select. We may have to bump up to the next pass for weekends next year. But the weekday select has been a great pass for us.

How early should we HONESTLY start planning a trip?! Always feels too late.

I never think it’s too late! I think you could honestly go on a whim, take the lead from your kid (what they are into at that age), and you can have a good time. More research will help you, but I think the only thing you really need to plan a trip to disney is a good attitude and patience.

Is it a mistake to take two small kids the last week of March?

We’ve done it before! It did help that we stayed at the contemporary, and could just pop in and out.

What’s best for little ones? We’re going in July with our 18 month old.

I am probably in the minority, but this is such a cute age at Disney. Here’s a post I’ve done on it.

Magic Kingdom – do dumbo, tea cups, meet mickey, winnie the pooh. Again, whatever your child is all about at this age.

Hollywood Studios – Do Hollywood and Vine character meal, disney jr dance party, toy story midway

Epcot- my kids love the miniature train here and have always been fascinated. may be a good place to go for your afternoon, if they will nap on the go. do the character meet up here.

Animal Kingdom- affection section, lion king, safari.

Favorite deluxe hotel? And the hotel you most want to stay but haven’t yet.

I honestly think it can’t get better than Four Seasons Orlando

… but I do think there is something so special about staying on property. Especially the ones with a lot of theming.

I haven’t stayed at either the Polynesian or Grand Floridian since I was a kid… Both of those are top on my list for the coming year. I think my boys would really love The Polynesian, especially when it’s warmer and they can swim.

Favorite time of year to go? less crowds/weather? Anytime school is back in session. Mid week – tuesdays and wednesdays I find the lowest crowds. I use this crowd calendar, but can be off. I definitely try to avoid parks when they have extra magic hours (a perk of staying on disney property)… as I feel like that park always gets extra crowded.

best age to go for your first time?

I’m in the minority I’m sure, but I think around 2. Then you don’t have to pay for a ticket, and they know some of the characters!

On a day trip to Magic Kingdom. Purchase one day trip ticket online?

I don’t have a ton of experience with this since we have passes. I think you may get a discount if you have AAA. Would be worth looking into! Otherwise, you can purchase online or just at the gate.

Never been as an adult. Feel overwhelmed. Tips for first timers. Kids are 4 and 6.

I definitely get that, it’s A LOT of info. This age is great because they’ll be in awe, and they can ride almost everything (height and preference for thrills depending).

Good fast passes at MK for that age may be – Seven dwarf mine train, Peter Pan, splash mountain. Go in early and do tea cups, barnstormer, dumbo, speedway. If you have two days at MK do the other side early – pirates, magic carpet ride, jungle cruise. If you need to get away from crowds and waiting – tiki room show, country bear jamboree, take a ride on the train.

Animal Kingdom – safari, lion king, expedition everest are my faves.

Hollywood Studios – grab fast passes for all of the toy story rides if you can.

Epcot – frozen ride, test track maybe (but I think it’s kinda scary), the nemo ride and turtle talk (you don’t generally need a fast pass for either but both are cute).

Explain fast pass.

I hope i don’t butcher this explanation! So you get three fast passes to book on The My Disney Experience App. They can be within one hour of each other. Sometimes I’ll get a fastpass, and the actual line isn’t bad so we will save the fast pass and go through the line. You can just cancel it on the app. Just try and do the ones that you think your kids will love, and that also typically have high wait times. For example, I wouldn’t do Dumbo or tea cups for a fast pass necessarily (unless they are so young they can’t ride much else), because they usually don’t have long wait times. After you are done with three, you can check in a fast pass kiosk at the park and get another one. You can repeat this, until all of the fast passes run out.

What do I bring into the park? Stroller for big kids? Snacks? Change of clothes?

If you don’t plan on heading back for nap, I would do a stroller. When they were younger the double stroller is how I did it. But now that they are older I probably bring my single bob maybe 25% of the time, and the rest of the time I am just holding their hands.

You can bring in any food. I usually have a couple snacks, and uncrustables for them.

Always bring a change of clothes! Wes always loves to get wet in the little train splash park by Dumbo, and I think it’s a great place where they can just run around. So I always have to change him after that.

Also if I am the one with the stroller and backpack… I go through the security line and have Jb/sister/mom go with the boys through the no bags security line. They can run around on the other side and it’s one less line for them.

Best bag to take in the park and what should be in it?

If you have a backpack, I would suggest that so your hands can be free. i use my uashmama. When the boys were in diapers, the diaper bag backpack was great. This is an older post on what goes in my diaper bag at disney. But non negotiables – snacks for the hard times, hand sanitizer spray, extra clothes, rain jacket if there’s any chance of rain, a phone charger.

How can I find the best deal on Disney Property hotels? how long in advance do I have to book it?

Not the best person to ask because I have never booked in advance (other than saratoga springs through RCI(my parents timeshare))… but have just stalked the site the week before to find out any deals. It’s tricky, sometimes I find the best deals can be last minute ones. But I know that’s not super helpful!

Best parks and sights for a three year old?

MK – My three year old currently loves it’s a small world, and could ride it a hundred times. He doesn’t love any thrill rides except barnstormer. He pretty much loves it all except for meeting princesses (gets very shy) and roller coasters.

Hollywood studios – if they are into Disney Junior, you have to hit up hollywood and vine character meal and do the disney junior dance party!

Animal kingdom – I think the shows are fun. DO NOT take them to it’s a bugs life – both my kids were terrified by this. Affection section, train ride out there is fun for them at that age. Safari is so much fun – for them and you.

Chef Mickeys is probably my favorite character meal!

Best birthday treat for a boy turning 5 on the trip

Definitely get him a birthday button – he will LOVE how everyone says happy birthday to him. At any dining reservation, make sure to let them know at check in that it’s his birthday. You can also order a celebration cake through disney – but I have never done this. Take him on a wagon ride or ride horses at Tri-Circle-D ranch (where the wilderness cabins are).

Good things for couples to do who are visiting without kids

Epcot and Animal Kingdom are my two faves for visiting without kids.

What to do at Epcot for ages 19months and 4 years?

There’s actually quite a bit for your kids to do at Epcot. Other than meeting mickey and pals, frozen ride, nemo ride … you can also do the kidcot at every country. This is something they can do at nearly every country … it’s great if your kid loves coloring and completing the page could be almost like a treasure hunt. At the end get them a mickey ice cream (: The figment ride drops you off at ImageWorks, and it’s a great interactive place for kids to run free and have fun. I’ve mentioned this a bunch in here, but my kids are obsessed with the trains in Germany.

How do you plan outfits for your kids at Disney? Extra Clothes, best shoes, etc.

My older one is not messy, but my younger one has ALWAYS needed a change of clothes… sometimes two changes of clothes if he gets wet at two different splash parks. So most of the time wes is wearing tucks change of clothes by the end of the day. My favorite shoes are these London Fog ones that fit like a tennis shoe but is no trouble if they get wet. I almost always pack their raincoats. If it’s cold you will probably want to bring an extra set of tennis shoes in case they get wet. Few things worse than wet and cold feet!

Schedule for the day? All day or break at hotel? 14m and 7yo.

If you will have help, you may want to try to go a little longer with the 7 year old, or maybe the 14 month old will nap in the stroller. BUT I will say that I have never done a morning until fireworks before. We always break – I think I need it just as much as them. I try to have our fastpasses ready, but leave room for when they need to not be waiting in lines, want to play at a splash pad or play on one of the playgrounds at the park. It’s about having fun most of all … and if my kids need a break for free play, I will always give it to them.

Going in October with MIL who has knee problems. Best way to do parks with someone who has trouble walking and refuses to rent a scooter?

I think about the times I’m with my kids and we don’t get a scooter, we are probably at her speed. If you have young kids, they may be at that speed too. You’ll inevitably have to slow down, but that’s not too bad. You just may not be able to do as much. Or you could always have her come a little later in the day, and go early with your family and hit up a bunch when lines are low.

It may be worth it to get one of those VIP tours so they can scoot you around the park easier. By the second day though, she might be renting herself a scooter on her own volition.

ps: the train at MK will be her friend!

Best hotels to stay?

I absolutely love four seasons orlando – but if you are staying there you’ll likely want to spend a lot of time at the resort.

There’s something so special about staying on property.

Deluxe: I’d probably say Grand Floridian // we’ve also enjoyed saratoga springs but there is a drive

Moderate: if you have princess lovers, port orleans royal suites are great. // fort wilderness cabins are so much fun for outdoor lovers

Value: Art of Animation has great theming- obsessed with the lion king or nemo? they’ve got you covered.

Need some room to spread out? The Villas of Grand Cypress are lovely and The Grove is a great value.

Where do you like to shop for clothes for your trips?

Zara, H&M, Cecil and Lou, Target, and lots of etsy shops have realllly cute disney items.

Stay tuned for the rest of the answers! Other Disney Posts:

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