Disney is officially booked!

Hi ladies! We just booked our first Disney World vacation for early November. I know that a lot of you are old pro's at Disney World. I haven't been in years and DH hasn't been since he was 7, so we have no idea what we are in for. We are going for 4 nights with 4 day park hopper passes. In that amount of time, what would be your MUST do's and what would be your save for next time's? What character meals would you book and which meals would you skip? What are the shows that the kids need to see? I have boy/girl twins who will be just over 4 at the time.

Thank you so much for any and all advice!

Jenny

 

We just went right before the kids turned 3. Must sees included all Dumbo like rides. They also liked the country bear jamboree. Best character dining was Cinderella's royal table. We also did Chef Mickey's, the Crystal Palace, Hollywood & Vine. Along with a ton of non-character dining. Where are you staying?

 

Congratulations on your trip ! Early November is a GREAT time to go. We used to go the week after Thanksgiving and the weather was perfect and the crowds were low.
We don't usually park hop .. it's not as easy to do as it sounds. Plus I find the kids get cranky if we try to do too much in a day. I understand trying to fit as much as you can into 4 days though. I would say Magic Kingdom (obviously !) will be the park you'll want to spend the most time in. I would also do Epcot .. but just the front part .. The Sea and The Land. There is lot of fun rides geared for kids, Nemo ride, Soarin', Figment and Space Ship Earth are my guys favorites to do there. Walking around World Showcase is not only tiring, but can be a bit boring for the younger kids, Mine are used to it by now and don't complain too much .. but it's something I do more for myself than for them ! I DO recommend staying for Illuminations. It's very neat.
Animal Kingdom is our favorite park .. but not all people agree. Although there aren't a lot of rides geared for little ones .. there is the Lion King show (a must do) and the Nemo show. Also the Kilimanjaro Safari ride is one of our favorite rides of all time.
Disney Hollywood Studio is our least favorite but we go there mostly for the Indiana Jones show and Lights Motor Action (a car stunt show). We also love Toy Story Mania ride .. it's very fun !
We don't do sit down meals, we do counter service, because I don't like to be tied down to a reservation. But I hear Chef Mickeys is a must do character meal. We've done Crystal Palace and loved it. It's Pooh Bear and the rest of the gang.

Good luck with the rest of your planning .. I'm sure you'll get some great advice from our resident experts !

 

Thanks, Rachael! We are staying at Port Orleans. My parents and brother and sister-in-law are coming with us. We are doing the deluxe dining plan (which, I think, includes the character dining options). I saw the Cinderella's royal table, but wasn't sure it was worth it since it's only one princess. There was also a princess meal at Epcot (Akershus or something like that). I was also thinking of booking the Chef Mickey's meal, but my mom mentioned another one with Tony (not sure who that is). We aren't going for very long, so I am stressing getting them to as many events as possible!

-- Jenny

 

We are thinking about going the beginning of December. Mine will be over 4 1/2 so I will be watching this thread. Do we really need a stroller? I'm thinking of getting 4 day tix, but spending 7 days there that way we can build in time to go visit the other resorts, hang at the pool and relax a bit. I have a feeling we'll do a couple hours at each park, and some fun character meals, but not bust our butts to try to see as much as possible. So I'm thinking we could go without the stroller. What do you all think?

Oh and instead of the princess meal at the castle, we are thinking of doing the one in epcot ( think it's Norway?). Anyone do that one?

 

CRT is five princesses. Both my kids loved it. Deluxe dining plan is great. I have lots of recommendations. Will type more later.

 

Stroller. Absolutely stroller. We bought two cheap umbrella strollers.

 

We didn't do Akershus. I hear it's not as good food and not as much one on one. Cinderella's was definitely the best character meal for both kids. They got tons of time with the princesses, gifts, photos, and Jack still talks about being a brave knight. He didn't like the costume characters, so the princesses were perfect. I didn't expect to enjoy it and really did.

We also did breakfast buffets at crystal palace (pooh) and Hollywood & Vine (playhouse Disney) and dinner at chef Mickey's. All three were mediocre food, decent character experiences. Best breakfast was our hotel (wilderness lodge). Amazing!!

Best dining is Jiko at AKL. I totally drug my three year olds there. We also went to Coral Reef, Chefs de France, Tusker House (good but insane).

 

Such helpful information! Thank you so much!! Leighann, I think I was thinking of booking the same princess meal you are talking about. Now, I think I'm going to book the one at Cinderella's royal table. I think that one costs 2 meals, but it sounds well worth it! I still remember eating there when I was a kid. Mostly, I remember the goblets (and getting fruit punch!), but still. My mother also mentioned some safari dinner with live animals and a guided tour at Animal Kingdom (Tusker?). We are still into Playhouse Disney, so maybe we will try the Hollywood & Vine. Do you remember who was there?

I was going back and forth on the stroller myself. We do lots of zoos and museums and never bring a stroller, so I'm not sure I'll want to deal with one at Disney. I do have 2 cheap single umbrella strollers and a cheap Jeep double umbrella stroller, though. If you were going to bring one, would you do the singles or double? I was thinking it might be nice to be able to separate, but we'd always need 2 people pushing strollers.

Wow, there is so much to think about! I am definitely over my head on the cruise director-ing!!

 

We did the two umbrellas with stroller connectors so we had either option. Worked great. If you had to choose, I would do separate.

 

We are planning on staying at wilderness lodge so I'm glad you thought the breakfast was good Rachael.

And Jenny I was thinking about that other princess meal because it only counts as 1 sit down, but maybe it's worth it to use up 2 for the castle. W are thinking about the regular dining plan (1 sit down, 1 counter, 1 snack). I think that's the best plan for our family. But if we go to the buffet character breakfasts, those count as our daily sit down, right? I'm sure we will end up paying out of pocket at the end of the week for meals, but I think my girls will love the character experiences so much! Probably as much or more so than the rides!

 

Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge is the best breakfast place. They have a family style breakfast skillet. Sooooo good, and fun with joking waiters and hobby horse races. We ended up there three times for breakfast. Highly recommend. Not bad for dinner too.

We ended up just paying for CRT separate because you have to pay when you book. You can convert to the meals, but we didn't bother on that one.

 

We did Akershus and thought the food was "funky" so I'd go with the CRT.
I STILL do strollers for the boys and they're 6 .. I make a deal with them and they get to use the stroller every other day. Usually for Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Animal Kingdom and DHS are smaller (or so they seem) and easier to walk around in.

 

Oh I am forever wondering what to do, where to eat, where to go for Disney! I LOVE when someone brings up a topic in here about it! :laughing:

I just planned(and will change numerous times before we go) our family's first trip to Disney! I went with dh for the first time ever when I was 23. He had gone as a child. We went through a travel agent who does mostly Disney vacations...

My boys will have just turned four as well, and Annabella will be 2 1/2(almost). The travel agent said absolutely strollers. So I need a double and a single. We are staying at POR for five nights, six days. We do have the six day pass(not hopper-one park/day). I added the extra day on the advice of these wonderful ladies! I didn't want to run and run and run. This allows for some downtime. Maybe.

Here's our dining plan as of now. I have the regular dining plan which is table service, quick service, and one snack.

11-27 Epcot 6:20pm Tutto Italia in Italy
11-28 Magic Kingdom Day 7:45am Ohana Breakfast
11-29 Animal Kingdom Day Tusker House Breakfast 9:10am
11-30 Magic Kingdom Day 4:40pm Crystal Palace
12-1 Epcot Day Norway 1:20pm
12-2 Hollywood Studios Day Sci Fi diner 12:20pm

On 11-29, we added the Lua dinner at Polynesian, but I heard I should cancel that, as the kids may not like it, and it is 2 TS credits. And now you ladies have me questioning the princesses in Epcot-which we have. So each day has been planned out for us-we hve two in Epcot and two in Magic Kingdom, and then one at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. If you are on FB, become a fan of allears. They are a great source of info I have found as well!

And if anyone has any thoughts on our meals-please advise! Five of the six are character dining. Is that too much? And I am still deciding on the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Not to mention, that's an added $200. I'm hoping free dining or something comes out for that time frame! And Leighann-we will be there 11-27-Dec 2. Not sure if you will be week after though!

 

Meaghan, I am very impressed by your schedule! Do you think you can get from POR to those breakfasts that early? I was trying to plan ours for around 10am figuring I'd need to build in extra time to get places. I wanted to book more days in Disney -- maybe a couple for downtime alone -- but my parents didn't want to stay for more than 4 nights. I figure that having the extra hands will be worth it. Though, considering that they move at the pace of snails, I'm not so sure.

Rachael, where did you get the connectors -- TRU? I had forgotten about those. That is probably the easiest solution.

I was planning to book a few character meals. Probably breakfasts because I figured it was easiest to do them and then have the day to ourselves. Do you think I should be planning for dinners as well? I'm not sure I want to have the pressure of having to get to reservations. But, I don't want to have to hang around wasting time waiting to eat. What do you guys think?

 

I didn't plan it-the travel agent did. As for getting their on time, I'm guessing there is a way if we are booked for that time! I will add it to my list of questions! Lol! And we are not park hopping...so if our lunch reservation is in Epcot, we are going to Epcot for that day. If you have reservations, that's where you have to be organized to do parks where reservations are, if it's in the actual park.

 

Good question Jenny. I really cannot imagine booking what I'm going to eat 4 months in advance, but I've heard it's worth it. I think we are going to do big breakfasts late morning ( we are not morning people).

Also if you bring your own stroller did you bring a bike lock for it? Or is it safe just leaving it while going on rides? We actually don't own a stroller anymore, but I might troll craigslist for a cheap sit and stand to bring. My dh was so excited to be rid of all strollers he might lose his mind if I buy one. But the rental prices are a lot at disney and the seats don't recline.

 

Leighann....I'll be lookin for you on Craigslist! Lol! And when we go places where the stroller sits, I just grab my wallet, or whatever and go on ride.

 

I would REALLY recommend early breakfast. Getting to the parks early is a huge difference in crowds and what you can see without lines.

Stroller connectors at BRU.

 

I just usually do a multi day rental for the stroller. (it's a bit cheaper that way) I hate trying to get on and off the buses with the stroller especially at the end of the day when the buses are packed like sardines ! I've never had anyone bother our stroller (although CM's will come by once and awhile and move them around on you).
Meaghan I love your itinerary ! Nothing too early, nothing too late.
I don't usually do ADR's because 1. I don't like getting the meal plan, because for US it's not worth it. (unless it's free !) 2. I don't like schedules ! 3. I'm not a big fan of Disney food. Some of it is ok .. but just not what I expected. I find the meals in Downtown Disney to be much better. We love T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood and Earl of Sandwich is AWESOME !
That being said ... they have some great quick service meals. It's not all hamburgers and chicken nuggets. I love the chicken and ribs at Flametree in AK and the porkchop meal at Seasons in Epcot are some of my favorites. My boys usually split meals because they just don't eat that much. Last trip we were there for 10 days and I spent like $300 on food.

 

I have been to Disney with my girls a few times. We have always taken a stroller. The last time we went they were 5 and we took the mountain buggy. First trip at 18 months old we did the two umbrella strollers with the connectors .I hated it. We used the combi till they outgrew it. I always had bags hanging on the stroller when we were in a restaurant or a ride. I once even left my camera sitting out on the stroller in front of coral reef. As soon as I remembered I went out to get it.


When the girls were 4 we did the deluxe dining planning. My DH did a dining review at disboards if you want to take a look at it .

 

Thanks for the link Lisa! I go up to page 7 of your dh's reviews and I've already got some ideas for where I want to go when we are there.

 

Hey guys! So, do you think 10am is too late for breakfast? With my kids, parents, brother and SIL, I was thinking it would be hard to get to breakfast around 8am. But, I don't want to blow our whole day. We are not at all schedule people, so this is going to be interesting. Maybe I'll book the character meals w/o my brother so that he doesn't have to rush. Arg. And, this is probably a stupid question, but I seem to be full of those (aside from the fact that the kids have melted my brain), but how do I go about reserving a stroller for several days? I think it may be easier than dragging them with us. I can already tell that I'm going to be totally unprepared for this trip. . .

 

I thought we were losing tons of good time if we ate breakfast at 9. I can't imagine 10. We ate at 7:30 most days. But that was my vacation. By the time you are done with breakfast, we would have hit all the major rides without crazy lines. If you aren't a morning person, don't do character breakfasts. Do dinners.

You can just rent a stroller there. They are like $35 for the day for a double, and it's a tiny double really more like a single. Are you flying or driving to Disney? If you have a car, it's easier to drive to all parks but Magic Kingdom. Then the stroller isn't a big deal. Personally, I loved having the two singles. Made it simple maneuvering through stores, but we could still link them up. And when we didn't want to fuss with them, we parked them in stroller parking and went around without them. Never found them annoying and could not have lived without them. Unless you are prepared to carry a tired four year old two miles, make sure to have a stroller.