questions about planning a first trip to disney

[Anonymous]

Hi! We're planning our first trip to Disney with a 4 and 1 year old. Yes, I know it's young, but the grandparents want to do it for their 60th wedding anniversary.

I have a few questions. Background is that we're military so can use the discounts offered for park passes and resorts. We are looking at sometime in March - whenever we can get off-peak rates. Most likely flying in on Sunday, using a 4 day park hopper pass for Mon-Thurs, and leaving Friday, though we may shift that all a day later (fly in on a Monday)

1) Favorite hotel on site? Maybe at a few different price points. Probably one that is convenient to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom as I imagine spending the most time at those.

2) Do you recommend the meal plan?

3) Is 4 days too much with a 4 and 1 year old? Should we do 3 day instead? Is there a 3 day?

4) What are the must-dos? Favorite character breakfast? No one in our group has been to Disney in over 20 years!

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

1) Favorite hotel on site? Maybe at a few different price points. Probably one that is convenient to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom as I imagine spending the most time at those.

There isn't a hotel that is convenient to both of those (the parks are pretty far apart.) With your age kids, I would focus on Magic Kingdom. If you can swing the contrmporary (walking distance from MK) then go for that. If one of the other monorail resorts (Poly and grand floridian look better to you, do that.) If you can't do a monorail resort choose based on what appeals to you/price. They all have buses that go to the parks.

I love Beach Club (awesome pool), Contemporary for it's proximity. We've also done Port Orleans - a cute moderate resort and you can take the boat to Downtown Disney. I've also done the value resorts, and while fine, they are really if you are on a strict budget.

Last time we went, we stayed off site (windsor hills) and got a great 3b 2ba condo for a fraction of a hotel room on disney property. It took less time to drive to the parks than it does to take the buses. You do have to rent a car/pay for parking, but we loved the room it gave us and the $$ we saved. I


2) Do you recommend the meal plan?
Not for kids that age. I can't figure that the counter service is worth it and I found planning seated meals (aside from 1-2 special ones) difficult for young kids.

3) Is 4 days too much with a 4 and 1 year old? Should we do 3 day instead? Is there a 3 day?
You can do anything from 1-annual pass. the more days you stay, the cheaper it is. I think for that age 3 days is good and you can do other Disney stuff (Downtown Disney, character meal, ride the monorail, see the electric water parade from the beach at the Poly...)

4) What are the must-dos? Favorite character breakfast? No one in our group has been to Disney in over 20
years!

Character meals - Chef Mickey in the Contemporary. I recommend doing it the day you arrive to get a quick jump start into your vacation. Plus, it is an easy way for your kids to see characters without the long lines for characters that happen in the park. Plus, you don't have to use a day of park admission. We do dinner the night we arrive.

If you're kids are early risers, you could also do the first seating at Crystal Palace (Pooh characters) or Tusker House (Animal Kingdom.) You can get in before the park opens (unobstructed view of Main Street) and have breakfast.

Your kids will spend 99% of their time in fantasy land (the new and old section.)

learn to use fast passes to your advantage.

since your kids aren't in school, go between Thanksgiving-beginning of Dec or Jan/Feb for the lightest crowds. don't go in the summer if you don't have to. Never go for christmas/new year/4th of july. UGH.

Go to wdwinfo.com - there is more about disney than you will ever care to know!

- a disney nut

[Anonymous]

I don't have time for a full response, but for March - beware Spring Break season! The first week might be okay, but otherwise you will get both high room rates and high crowds.

[Anonymous]

March is peak season because of spring break! The last week of February is ideal for off peak. I would skip park hopper passes and just do one park a day. Between meals & naps your not going to do more than one park a day. MK & AK are perfect for that age, also know you don't need a ticket for the 1 year old but do for the 4yearold.

[Anonymous]

Second most of these great responses. If you can skip March entirely. If not, be sure to look very carefully at the crowd predictor levels. With kids that age, I would splurge and stay at Bay Lake at the Contempory. If you plan 7-11 months out you might be able to rent points from a DVC member and stay in a 2 bedroom for a good rate. You have to rent points from a member and there are some downsides (you'll,probably have to pay in advance and not cancel), but for location and price it's the way to go, particularly given the age and size of your group. Also, walking to MK is priceless!

I'd skip park hopper. One park is PLENTY! I have a 7 and 4 year old and we have yet to manage to park hop. One park and pool is plenty!

You will spend most of your time in MK. Our first trip with a new 5 yo and 2 1/2 year old we spent 1 full and 2 half days (arrival and departure days) and MK. I had no idea we would spend so much time there!

[Anonymous]

OP,
Since you are elligible for the 4 day ticket military deal, do that. It is an OUTSTANDING deal, and as far as I know, there is no comparable 3 day military option.

I agree with PP that if you can afford a monorail resort (and make sure you ask for the military discount!) it will be best for your Magic Kingdom days. Really none of the resorts are truly "convenient" to Animal Kingdom--even the AK lodge you still need to take a bus--there's no "walking" to the park.

For convenience and room size, if you can not get a monorail resort or other deluxe resort, I would look into Shades of Green. It is a DOD resort and the rooms are much larger than the moderate or value Disney Resorts. You will still get on site "perks" such as extra magic hours, but you will not be able to purchase the meal plan or use Disney's Magical Express (free bus from airport to Disney World)--so this option might not be so good if you are planning to fly in and not rent a car.

[Anonymous]

www.disboards.com has a wealth of info

[Anonymous]

See if you can get the military discount for a suite in a DVC property. Bay Lake Tower would be perfect for Magic Kingdom walking proximity. The Animal Kingdom DVCs could also be great if your kids love animals.
If you want a budget option, try POP or Art of Animation. My 3 yo was nuts for the theming/play areas at both of those (stayed at one, walked over to visit the other) and thought they were much more fun than the pricier resort we split our trip with. I also appreciated that the food courts there had a good range of options, and not just junk.
I think the "Moderate" resorts are a waste with young kids - they are less fun for them than the "Value" resorts, and you gain no convenience there compared to a "Deluxe." It's all still bus service at the Moderates, and POP/AoA both have dedicated bus service and less spread-out buildings, unlike the Moderates where the bus will need to loop around all the stops and is sometimes full when it shows up to yours.
The Boardwalk area will require bus service to both MK and AK, but the adults will probably enjoy the location a lot, including evenings at Epcot while one adult watches the kids.

How much extra is the Hopper option for military tickets? I wouldn't recommend it at the usual upgrade price (nearly $60/person) with young kids, but I know some of the discounted tickets have a much smaller price difference between regular and Hopper tickets. Depending on the price, could be worth it if adults want to go somewhere different in the evenings.

The meal plan is rarely a good deal, but it totally depends on your eating habits, and you might be in one of the situations where it does make sense (wanting to do lots of character meals). I think if you google for "is Disney Dining Plan worth it" several of the Disney blogs have good explorations of this.

With two young kids, bring a good/foldable double stroller or rent one. Don't rent the Disney ones, they are $$ and uncomfortable for young kids. There are a billion off-site stroller rental companies, generally renting City Minis. I have used Baby Wheels Orlando twice and they were great.

[Anonymous]

allears.net is a great site to plan your trip.

I thought there was a Military only hotel on the property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:allears.net is a great site to plan your trip.

I thought there was a Military only hotel on the property.

Yes, I am pp at 13:56 and that is the "Shades of Green" DOD hotel that I mentioned.

But right now, Disney is offering some great military discounts on their hotels

Depending on a family's individual needs, one might workout better than the other for them.

[Anonymous]

Just saw that the Touring Plans blog has two posts today relevant to OP: one about character meals, one about the military discount.
http://blog.touringplans.com/

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend checking out The Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld. Tons of great information and advice. Disney can be great or miserable, and your experience will depend a lot on how much you plan in advance. This book will definitely help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend checking out The Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld. Tons of great information and advice. Disney can be great or miserable, and your experience will depend a lot on how much you plan in advance. This book will definitely help!

+1000

[Anonymous]

We were just there last fall with our then 4 yo girl and 2 yo boy. We stayed at Art of Animation and our kids loved it. We really enjoyed having the kitchenette and extra bedroom. Yes, it is not right next to MK, but we used the buses which were quick and easy. We did not get the meal plan and actually ordered food from a local grocery store and had it delivered. We ate breakfast in our room and then typically our restaurant reservations were around 11 so that was our lunch or some days we even brought peanut butter and jelly along with snacks. We did have the park hopper passes and like the flexibility of being able to hop around. Typically we would be at the park at opening, then head back to hotel around 3 or 4 and then head back to another park at dinner or after for the night shows/parades. If your 4 yo is a girl and into princesses I would rec the Cinderalla's castle character meal. It is the best princess one (and believe me we tried them all). We also like Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. We also had two strollers which worked out well since sometimes we split up to go on different rides. We were exhausted every night and got up early each day, but we are the type of family who has to fit in everything we can. We had so much fun and can't wait to go back again. I love Disney as an adult, but to see if thru my kid's eyes make me love it even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:allears.net is a great site to plan your trip.

I thought there was a Military only hotel on the property.

Yes, I am pp at 13:56 and that is the "Shades of Green" DOD hotel that I mentioned.

But right now, Disney is offering some great military discounts on their hotels

Depending on a family's individual needs, one might workout better than the other for them.

Shades of Green is great, convenient location, quiet, big rooms. It does not have the "Disney Atmosphere" that you would find at a place like the Wilderness Lodge, but it has lots to offer and you can't beat the price. You can walk to the Polynesian if you want and pick up the monorail there, but they also have their own transportation service which is much easier. I have been there 3 times, also stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and the Animal Kingdom. Each Disney place has it's own appeal, that SOG does not have but if you are looking to save money and have a large room, SOG is great. SOG has it's own restaurants and a little deli that you can get a to go breakfast in or eat there, a starbucks an ice cream place, (not super great, though), pools and you can buy discounted tickets to the parks right there at the hotel. You can sponsor other people so if you want to get rooms for other people in your party, no problem and they will bill the others separately, no no worry about fronting all of the money and getting reimbursed.