Disneyworld with 2 and 5 Year Olds

We've been with a 1 1/2 year old and again a year later. Go to Magic Kingdom first. Epcot has precious little for kids. Sign up for character dining. Liberty tree tavern is very good as is Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. Pooh and Tigger are at the crystal pavillion. All other parks we have found to be 1/2 day parks.

go early in the morning - maybe do one of the breakfasts - stay until about ten thirty - then go back to your hotel or to one of the many pools or playgrounds - feed the kids lunch - take naps and go back toward the end of the afternoon or around 2:30 - do the same around dinner and go back later for the parades or a boat trip over in adventure area - have fun!

We went last year with a 1 1/2 year old and a four year old. We are going again in June with our now 2 1/2 year old and 5 year old. Your not crazy to go... they are the best age for it. Seeing their reaction is magical.

It's great that your staying within the resort. We stayed at the sports resort and it worked out great. We started each day with breakfast at the resort then into the park on the bus, we had lunch in the park and did rides until 3 when the parade starts on main street. After the parade (and some ice cream at the end corner of main street)we rode the bus back to the resort for naps. After naps it was a quick dinner at the resort and then back to the park for rides, fireworks, the night parade (which is amazing, all with lights), and more rides. Then back to the resort around 10. After 5 days you will be pooped, but you won't feel so rushed which will be great!

Have fun!

You are definately not crazy. I started taking my kids at 1 1/2 and 3 (and a 12 year old) and we are going for the forth time in a row this summer. Magic Kindom will definately be your best park. There are lots to do there with little ones. MGM has a playhouse disney show and breakfast with characters. Go slowly up to the characters because often children will be scared. Take strollers (or you can rent them... up to you). If they like animals, animal kingdom has the safari and small dinosaur rides. You will have a blast.

We did the same thing several years ago when our kids were the same age as yours, except we went in February when the crowds were much less of an issue. Both of my kids had a great time, though my son (who was 2 1/2) doesn't really remember it now. We found that the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom were the best for the kids, though my husband and I really had a blast at MGM studios. If you and your husband like to ride roller coasters, you can trade off and each ride alone while the other watches the kids. If your kids are easily frightened, avoid the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion rides. Also, save some time to play at the resort and at Downtown Disney (great shopping and fun Legos store). My final advice to you is bring snacks and drinks with you to the park. You will spend a fortune on food at the park. We had planned to do some grocery shopping after we got checked in to the resort so we'd have snacks and stuff for breakfast, but once we got to the resort, we never wanted to leave! So do your grocery shopping BEFORE you get there!

We just went in January with my 4 month old, my 6 year old, and our 2 year old nephew. Despite my baby not feeling well the first few days of the trip, all in all it was great. We stayed at the Music themed hotel which is between the Pop century and the sports. They are all great for kids!

My first suggestion is to take your own stroller. You can rent them there but it will cost you $10+ per day and ultimately it's a lot nicer to have your own from the time you leave the hotel to the time you come back at the end of the day.

If you have not purchased the meal plan I highly suggest you do. It covers one sit down meal, one snack, and one quick meal per day you purchase. It's $40/day but well worth the expense because a sit down meal can cost just that for the entre.

Take advantage of what is available at the resort, the pools, the food, etc... Be sure to set aside a day to hit the water parks. It will be fun for the kids and a bit relaxing for you.

Most of all, understand you are not going to be able to see EVERYTHING. Think about the things you really want to see and those that you would like to but are not top of the list. Then play your trip accordingly.

Best of luck and have fun!

We have gone almost every year since our daughter was 20 months old. She is 8 now and we have a 5 yr old and a 21 month old. We just went in Jan when the yougest was 18 months. They are so amazed by everything at these young ages. I wouldn't worry and don't think you are crazy. Both of my younger ones went when they were 6 months old. Just remember to take your stroller all the way up the the gate at the airport and let them check it right there and then its waiting for you right outside the door of the plane when you arrive. We also checked our car seat - its not counted as one of your allowed luggage. Have the best time ever ! And make sure you take advantage of the fast passes when you get into the parks, especially at the Peter Pan ride (I don't know why that one takes so long, but it does). But you can't miss it. I know this also sounds crazy, but try to take the medium or smaller luggage - the bigger ones are hard for the children to help you manuever them. Especially as your family grows you will need extra hands.

First of all I am Canadian and have worked abroad for many years. Disneyland and Disneyworld. We went to Disneyland in California and had a great time. Our oldest daughter was 5 with a 2 year 10 month old. They had the time of their lives, we all did.

This is how it worked for us the first year we went. We stayed close to the park, and we took the buses home each day for the youngest ones nap time. We tried to keep the routine as similar as it was at home. With a well rested baby the day is a breeze.

Another idea if you have a resort farther away from the park is to rent a stroller. Dont worry about drop offs and the rest, we would drop ours off at one area, hop on a train at the other end of the park and they give you another one. Really smart and well organized. So our little one would sleep in the cart when it was nap time. Make sure to invest in one of these as it makes the day 100% more organized for all of the family when the little one is happy. Their little legs get tired.

So the only thing was that mama was alone with the little one while daddy took my older daughter on the big girls rides that the baby could not get on while the babe was napping in her stroller. So I just walked about all the gift shops, all by myself with the stroller and had a great time. Wow was that fun and relaxing for me. Picked up a coffee and just relaxed.

Last but not least. For kids it is a free forall. And let me tell you, they are going to want everything. So what we did was set the bounderies before we left the house. O.K. kids, each of you will get 1 (ONE) item per day. For example one stuffed animal to be bought for each of them per day. The could pick the item. They knew the rules before hand so they understood and did not have a breakdown when we said no to many of the toys after they had their selected item. Made the world of difference to us.

Lastly, bring a insulated thermos with some juices and some little snacks in it for when you know their snack time is. The line ups can be very long sometimes and the wait a little longer than the babes are used to. Keeping their blood sugar level will make all the difference in the world with their attitude happiness and behavior.

Best wishes, really our children loved it. Just so you know we just returned back with our girls for the second time. Now 4 and 6. They loved it once again. My 4 year old even remembered the bus we took from to and from the resort. When she saw the Goofie bus, she said. That was our bus last time wasn't it mom. She was correct. So don't let anyone tell you that the baby won't remember a thing. Our baby amazed us on the second visit in what she remembered when she was almost 3.

Good luck, have fun, just remember, Snacks, Stroller, Naps, and Bounderies. You will have the time of your life.

Deb

I can't tell you if you are crazy or not because I think it depends on your kids. My sister and I took 2 6 month olds and a 3 year old two years ago but it was more to do the family vacation together. The whole week we were gone, we had one meltdown that was solved with a nap at the hotel so I think they adapt quickly. We are going this Sept (free dining plan that I hope you are enjoying too).

http://www.disboards.com/ - the discussion forums are great though a bit overwhelming because of how much info they have. Get specific about your questions and I am sure that they will have a thread about it. mousesavers.com also has good info.

First, I would make reservations for the character or restaurant dining if you plan on doing that. I called two weeks ago for a week in Sept and they were already almost full.

Second, I would say that the more research you do, the better. I have ours planned out just by theme park per day, taking advantage of the extra morning hours tha tthe parks are open. Go through each park and make note of the things that the kids will really want to see. Once you have all of the must sees out of the way, you can do more of the laid back roaming thing.

Lastly, just be prepared. If your kids like the character shows, know that you will have to wait in line so bring plenty of snacks, small toys or colors/activities. Take advantage of fast pass. Be flexible and go with your kids schedules. You know how far they can be pushed and when they have had it. Let them sleep in on the mornings that you want to stay and see the firework show at night.

This fall, we are taking a five year old, two three year olds, a one year old and a nine month old so I think we're way more crazy than you are! :) Have a great time!

Hi, I went to Disney World in 2005 with boys aged just-turned 3 and almost 5. We stayed in Pop Century as well, and we had a GREAT time. I would highly recommend getting a guidebook, the libraries have several you can read before you buy. There are some for families that are quite good, but my favorite is The Unofficial Guide to WDW, which has a new edition every year. In fact, you can go to Half Price Books and get the 2007 edition for less than $10. Also websites such as Mousesavers, Allearsnet, and DISboards have very valuable info. All I can say is that the best thing we did was ride the monorail to one of the resorts for lunch (instead of dining in the Magic Kingdom) and my younger son was able to nap in the cool air during the ride. And we didn't make them ride anything they didn't want to, so no fights and tension. My husband and I just went in the singles line or got FASTpasses and rode the "big" rides by ourselves. We brought our own double jogging stroller, since we drove, and the only time we didn't love that was getting on and off the bus, but we managed. A 5 year old may still need a stroller, esp in the Magic Kingdom. You will have a great time! Oh yeah, and we brought my parents too, they had an adjoining room, and twice my DH and I put the boys to bed and went back out to enjoy extra magic hours or a nice restaurant while my parents relaxed with the adjoining door open. Hope that helps, A.

K.,

I wouldn't say you were crazy to go with a 5 & almost 3 yr old, but do you expect them to remember any of it? At that age chances are they won't really remember any of it later in life. Yes, you'll have pictures, but that's it. Will THEY have any memory of it other than seeing themselves in pictures? Personally, I would wait until they are older to take them somewhere like that so that they would remember it long into their lives and they'll be able to ride more of the bigger rides as well.

Just a thought....