So, Tips for Disney?

We went last sept with a 7 yr old and a 3 yr old. I loved the Crystal Palace Buffet with the Pooh characters. Chef Mickey's is also fun. My kids loved the buffet there and the dancing.

I would have to agree about skipping the Stitch ride. Scared my 7 yr old and we didn't take the little one. Both loved the Buzz Lightyear ride. Last Sept, we could get off and get in line and be back on in minutes. I think we rode 7 times in a row once!! That was definately a favorite!!

We also stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter which seemed to be very kid friendly and colorful. They have a dragon waterslide which is slow and the kids love it!

I would be interested in what people have to say as well We are headed to Disney Land In Ca however insted of Fla. we will be going the last week in June to butt up against my sisters wedding out there.

Hi C.!

My husband went every year of his childhood - sometimes even 2 times a year! Our first trip with our kids was well thought out and I wouldn't have changed a thing. There is so much to do that you really need to pick the must-sees first and save the rest for another visit. We picked 3 big to-dos and planned to hang out at the pool on the days between. We went to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and then drove to Cocoa Beach to see the ocean. The first day we hung out at the pool where we stayed to relax from the trip. That night we went to Downtown Disney and visited Lego Land and got Ghiradelli (sp) ice cream. Boys and girls will love all of the huge Lego creations. The next day was the Magic Kingdom. The day after we spent at the pool again to recoop! Then was Animal Kingdom, a rest day, and then the ocean. We stopped in Ron Jon's surf shop too! The best part was at the Polynesian - we went to a character breakfast that was so much fun for everyone. The theme went along with the resort - Stitch, Mickey, Pluto, Goofy...the kids got autographs (before you head to any park or when you first get there get an autograph book and a BIG pen so the characters can actually write with them.) My son obviously didn't want to do the princess breakfast, but I've heard that Chef Mickey is good too. One of our resting days we went to the Boardwalk at night for dinner and ice cream. There was an outside show and was really fun. If you his these places you'll be satisfied with all you'll get to do. Even though the ocean was a bit of a drive (45 minutes) it was a straight shot and well worth it. Next time we'll add another park like Universal or Sea World. But we were so busy that it really didn't matter that we couldn't see it all. You're going to have a great time - I wish we were going back this year again, but we're waiting until next year. I'd love to see if I can answer any other questions you have that I didn't answer. Just let me know!
(By the way, my mom was a single mom too and I would have given ANYTIHNG if she would have taken me on a trip like that. Your son is very lucky to have you. You're doing a great thing!)

C.,
We just went to Fl. with our three children. We went to the magic kingdom. With our youngest being four and five it was great and instead of taking a signature book we took tee shirts that we purchased from the disney store at home (much cheaper)and had the characters we came across sign them with sharpie permanate markers. They are wearing them every other day and they love showing them off. After all of the washing they get they still look great!

Make sure you have lots of cash. Meals are very expensive on Disney property. The best place for you and your son would be the Magic Kingdom and try to see everything there. That park is most suited for the younger children. However you cannot go wrong with any of the Disney parks they are all alot of fun. Suggestion that you make sure you find out what the times are for all the parks, the close times vary from park to park and from day to day. Make sure you use your longest day for the Magic Kingdom and your shorest days for the Amimal Kingdom and water parks. Go to their website with your son and go over the activities and maps for the parks so you both can decide where you want to go. No worries you'll have fun no mater what you do, just make sure you two have comfortable walking shoes and sun screen. Have a safe and wonderful trip!!!

I have managed to take three trips to Disney since 2004 (we LOVE it!!) with my 3 very different aged kids. Our last trip was this past October, and my kids on this trip were 16, 11, and 4. I could write 10 pages on what I love there, but my best advice would be READ UP! My absolute favorite book is called 'The Unofficial Guide To Disney World'. It is revised every year, so you will find it very easily at Borders or another bookstore of that type... along with all kinds of great, up-to-date books with great tour plans based on kids specific ages. I think you'll have a great trip... just try to plan a little bit of a schedule because there is sooo much to do, and it's easy to get distracted and forget certain things once you're there. Even if you don't like to be regimented, just write down 5 or so things that you know you want to be sure to do at each of the parks, and stick those notes in the backpack or bag you plan to carry. The books will really give you great descriptions on what a 5 year old is going to love. All the parks, except Animal Kingdom, have a night-time show or big parade w/ fireworks, and all are exceptional, so don't miss any of those. Take a jacket just in case it's cool, and pack a few disposable rain ponchos... much cheaper than buying them there. Snacks, sandwiches, & water bottles, etc. are OK to bring in... they check bags at each park entrance, and will look right past your food stash... so is a great way to save money and just buy one or two meals at the parks each day. Have a great trip & enjoy the planning... once you get some of those books you'll be even more excited! I want to plan another trip just thinking about it!

My grandkids loved the Contemporary Character meal, it is called Chef Mickey, it is a buffet and the character's are walking around while you eat to get pictures and autographs. It was fun for the adults also. We loved staying at the Port Orleans French Quarters. It is alittle smaller and nicer than the big ones, the kids loved thepools. The kids had fun there It is easy to get on the buses or the boat. Magic Express is the best along with the dinning plan. Would do all that again when we go next.

I went last year with my 4 year old and 2 year old. I highly recommend lunch or dinner at Chef Mickey's. It was a great selection at the buffet and the highlight of our trip I think. Try not to plan too much each day. They do get tired out pretty easily. Do stay up to see the fireworks at least one night and also catch the parade at night as well. Have a great time!

We just got back from a disney trip and loved the Contemporary Hotel's character breakfast. All the characters came to every table to sign autographs and take pictures. And the food was great! My 5 yr old nephew loved the Adventureland in Magic Kingdom with the Pirate's of the Carribbean ride and themes. Have a great time!!

Buy the UnOffcial Guide to Disney. Not the official. The Unofficial guide to Disney tells you about anything you need to know. It will describe each ride and give you a game plan for each park. I laughed at my husband the first year we went because he wanted to try and follow their plan. I was singing his praises after the first day. We saw everything we wanted and then went back for the 2nd or 3rd time on our favorite things. It even describes all the area hotels and rates them. It tells you about secret places to get the best seat for fireworks shows. Best place to sit for the parade. It really answers any question you have.

We love Disney! We went to all 4 major Disneyworld parks in '06, then took our now 15 month old to Sea World and Busch Gardens last April. Then we went to Disneyland (CA) in Sept and we are planning to go to FL again in May this year. Magic Kingdom is the best for kids but a 5 yr old can ride a lot of the roller coaster type rides already if he is tall enough and likes them of course. Go to the Disney web page where it shows each of the parks and their maps/hours. It is really good for planning and researching where you want to go. We also love Animal Kingdom and MGM. Epcot is ok. Sea World is awesome too and I have been to Universal a few years ago but would say its not as good for kids. We love it so much we are planning to move there this year if it all works out! Oh yeah we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and loved it, the Magic Express from the airport was SO easy, and the shuttles to the parks were crowded at times but what do you expect? It was still really nice, and a moderate priced hotel. Good Luck!

My family loves Disney and we go often. My girls were 7 and 5 last summer (when we last went) I recommend visiting the www.disboards.com it has a ton of information on it. We use the dining plan when we visit and I love it! I think the kids were $11.00 a day and adults are around $39. Basically your food is prepaid - you get a counter service, table service and snack per day. It's wonderful! We did many character meals, Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace, Castle, Askerhouse etc...They were all wonderful - the girls liked the Crystal Palace the best (we did breakfast) They also loved the castle but I think that one is geared more towards girls. I think a must see would be Fantasmic at MGM studios..it was amazing! If you are on the dining plan you pick a restaurant to eat at and then they will give you your ticket to the show and you can go in early to get your seat. My kids loved it and still talk about it! We rented a stroller for the girls - it was very convient - you drop off at one park and if you are heading to another you just show them the ticket and pick it up there. It's a lot of walking and late nights so we were thankful for the stroller - even as old as my kids are. I do recommend putting somthing on your stroller so you will know it is yours - there are thousand strollers out there that look the same. My husband strapped on a bright green luggage tag to ours and we could always spot it.

Have a wonderful time - we are hoping to go again this fall. D.

Hey C.-

Everyone has given some great advice, so I'll try not to repeat too much! I used to work for WDW so I have some tips that I like to share that I learned about during my time down there!

First, utilize the bus/monorail/boat transportation to get around. Don't waste your time trying to park at the parks, and it's a waste of money. Since you'll be staying on property it will be very easy for you to travel by bus! And,the buses run around the clock, for the most part, so you can travel all around at your leisure!

Second, you really don't have to take a stroller, unless you really want to. They have great stroller rentals and I always heard parents talk about how much they loved the rental strollers! You can bring your own though, but the service is available.

Third, at your resort, purchase the plastic, travel, drink cups. You pay one price and can refill as much as you want, at any resort that sells them. This was the case a few years ago, but you may want to double check when you check-in. It's a great investment for your time at WDW and you'll have souvenir cups to take home!

Fourth, try to take advantage of the early park openings. This is where you can get in to the parks early, especially when you're up anyway with little ones! This is another thing to check in to when you check in!

Fifth, don't try to do all of the parks in one day or even during your whole trip. Take your time! If you only have a fews days, I would recommend the Magic Kingdom for sure, and the Animal Kingdom. These two are the best for younger kids.

Ok, so that is all I can think of for now! If you're like to email me back directly, please do so. I love to talk Disney!!

Have a great Trip!

We took our 18 month old in January and had a blast. Stroller is a must for little people and storage of your stuff. (We brought one b/c I needed it to recline for his naps but they do rent them there too.) Catch a parade (afternon or evening -- they're all good but I love the one at night at MK.) MK has the most for kids that age.

Also, you can bring in water, soda, snacks, etc so if you can stop by a grocery store and stock up, you'll save some cash in the park. You can go to any restaurant and have your waterbottle refilled with water for free. You are also allowed to bring in a cooler. (We saved a ton and had snacks handy while waiting in line doing this. We brought a lot of sandwich sized plastic bags and doubled bagged the hotel ice machine ice each morning to keep things cool and fresh.) We also brought a tube of those handy-wipes and threw it in the bottom of the stroller/backpack.

Staying on a Disney property does give you the option to park for free at any of the parks and allows you early entry to certain parks on certain days. But the buses and trams are nice too.

We did a character breakfast at Crystal Palace - which was Winnie the Pooh and friends. Food was outstanding but I think you'll find that in any of them.

Enjoy!!

C.,
I went to Disney a couple of years ago and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting Frommer's Guide to Disney. It made the trip even better! We were travelling with our then 16 year old, 8 and 5 year old and the book gives you a rundown on the rides, Fast Pass, the whole nine yards. The one I purchased even has itineraries for 3-7 day visits--which parks to go to first, what not to miss, restaurant guides--it even has what rides to ride first, last, etc.! It made for a great vacation and we got to see just about everything we wanted to in our 4 days there.

I used to wonder why people would want to go back year after year until I went there with my family. I remember my daughter asking on the last day as we went through the arches for the last time, 'When are we coming back?' and dad saying, 'soon' with a smile! Have a great time--it truly is the hap-hap-happiest place on Earth!!!

L. K

We just got back from Disney with our two 5 year olds, and first of all, let me just say that I think 5 is the perfect age and you and your son will have a blast. We stayed at the Polynesian. It's great to be in a Disney resort, because it's easier to get back to your room to take a rest because it will be tiring.
Even more than any rides, my boys LOVED getting the character autographs and taking pictures with them. There is usually a wait to do this, but the characters are all over the park, so they got a lot of autographs. Make sure to buy the autograph book with the picture slots, so that when you get home, you can put the picture of your son with that character next to the corresponding autograph.
My boys loved the breakfast with Lilo and Stich (Mickey and Pluto are there to) at Ohana's at the Polynesian. We also did the Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends in the Magic Kingdom. Just make sure to book these months in advance, as they book up fast.
We spent most of our days in the Magic Kingdom, only went to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom for half days. We never did Epcot because there's not too much to do for that age group.
Have a blast, you and your son will never forget it!

Allears.net and mouseforless.com are two websites I have been using in planning out trip for Aug. I would also say go to the bookstore and grab the Birnbaums book for planning a Disney trip or the Plan your Walt Disney World Vacation in no time by Doug Ingersoll. Have Fun!!!! I can't wait for our trip!!!!

Hi C., I have been to Disney at least 10 times, my kids started at 1yr old. Go to a Disney Character breakfast, you can get all your pictures/autographs/video done with and then go enjoy the parks. The best, I think, is Chef Mickeys, they also sing for birthdays, it's a blast, make sure to call and make a reservation, the buses take you to the parks and you catch the tram. Also, when you take the tram, ask the "captain" if you and your son can ride up front to "drive", they may even give a "license". Get a styrofoam cooler and keep it in your room, it will save you some money, the eating areas are open til midnight, but can get expensive. Bring a rain poncho just in case, it comes in handy. Of course, the best park at 5yrs is Magic Kingdom, there's lot of character area so make a plan the night before. Take a little backpack with snacks, again, food can get expensive. Don't forget the lotion, even Sept gets hot. Hope this helps, have fun!

Hi C.,

I have been going to Disney every year for as long as I can remember. I am the nut who is still there at 2am when the parks are open late. My kids schedule all got screwed up while there & once we got home were back on track. What resort are you staying at? I have a couple of websites for you that have great planning tips: www.allearsnet.com & if you go to disneyworld.com they now have a moms panel where you can ask questions and view old questions. I have only been to 3 character meals. By far I think the one in the castle is the best but it is also the most $$ and geared more towards girls. I have heard the one at the Crystal Palace is good and has winnie the pooh characters. You definately have to preplan & also make dining reservations as soon as you are able, especially for any character breakfast. We usually hit the pool in the morning & then go to the parks around noon or so and stay until they close. Being a resort guest, you get extra privileges like staying late or going early into parks each day. I usually have a somewhat schedule of what parks we are going to that coordinate with our dining plans and also take park hours into consideration. For your age kids, the Magic Kingdom is a definite. My kids love all of the parks because there is something for everyone. If you venture to Epcot, in each country the kids can make a mask & then get cutouts of that country on it. Future world does a similar craft but they make a pass that goes around their neck. If you have specific questions, send me a message.

Good luck
C.

If it is nice enough, don't miss going to one of the Disney waterparks. People get so caught up in the Disney world and Epcot stuff that they skip those. We have been down a few times because I own a time share there and the best time I had with my boys was at Typhoon Lagoon. Have fun on your trip!

K.

Enjoy your trip!

I know people have weighed in for and against taking your own stroller so I'll add my opinion. We sort of regretted taking a stroller and thought the rental things looked better for older kids -- they're sort of like wagons so we saw lots of older kids taking naps in them or just sitting and hanging out. If you decide to rent one, you'll still need a blanket or jacket to use for padding since they're hard plastic.

If you do Magic Kingdom, try to get there early for the opening skit -- it was pretty cute and a neat way to start the day. Also, be sure to tell a cast member that it's your son's first visit -- we got cute little buttons for our kids.

We also really loved Epcot but it depends what your son is into. Not sure if you're considering it, but we also had the best time at SeaWorld -- could've spent a whole other day there.

Oh yeah, don't forget the Photopass stuff -- the Disney folks are stationed throughout the parks and take your picture and give you a special card that can get scanned every time you get pictures taken. Then when you get home, you can view your pictures online and order them on CD. The price of the CD was a little steep ($100) but we got a ton of great pictures and some had little "surprises" digitally added in.

Hi C.,
We did a make a wish trip to disney with our daughter and her 4 siblings last spring. They were 4, 6, 8, 10, and 11. One of their favorite dinners was the "Hoop dee doo Musical review". You do have to call ahead to make reservations. We called only a month ahead and took the one night they had open. It was something that more than one person suggested to us and we had a great time. There is a western 'musical' show and they bring out all you can eat corn on the cob, ribs, and fried chicken(all served in buckets). I would also make use of their 'fast passes'. We would go get a fast pass, do something else and then come back and use the fast pass to avoid waiting in line. We loved the transportation there. We stayed at Port Orleans, Riverside and rode the ferry a lot.
We had different ages to cater to but they all loved the Hoop Dee Doo. So did my husband and I.
If your child frightens easily do not do the 'Lilo and stitch ride'. That was the first thing we did. It goes totally dark and has scary lights and music, a little water sprays in the dark(I think It's supposed to be stitch spitting) and air whooshes. My seven year old was ruined for anything that was dimly lit the rest of the trip.

We just went to Disney at the end of January with my 5 year old and now 2 year old. It was great! First off, bring a stroller for him. I bought a MacLaren Volo stroller for my 5 year old (we plan on going often) and it was great. He was able to last all day and it made it so much easier for everyone to keep track of him. Plus, it was a nice place to put extra stuff while we went on rides. We would sometimes park it in one place and pick it up a few rides later. My 5 year old's most favorite character meal was Chef Mickey's, by far. It is located in the Contemporary resort and he still talks about it today. We actually walked up to Cinderella's Royal Table in MK and got in because they had a cancellation. That was a close second for him since he got to eat in a castle. I bought the Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld and must say that is a must for Disney. I learned so many valuable tips. You are going at a great, low volume time, so you don't need to worry so much about getting to the parks early to beat crowds, etc. since there won't be many at all. But, that book lists great restaurants reviews that are spot on, and other tips. We loved the Irish restaurant in Downtown Disney for a place to eat. We loved Downtown Disney in general and I think it is a must if you have any sort of shopping to do. My 5 year old loved MK and AK, but didn't care much for Epcot or Hollywood Studios. If I did it over, I wouldn't go to Hollywood at all. I would go to Epcot for a half day maybe. He loved the Buzz Lightyear ride (fastpass is available) in MK. In Epcot, the Nemo ride and Crush show was awesome. Crush actually picked my son to talk to and that was a big highlight. Such a cute show! I personally LOVED philharmagic at MK and saw it 3 times. That was my favorite. My son also loved Dinosaur at AK, although I thought it was a little scary and way too jerky of a ride. But, if your son likes roller coaster type movement he will love that ride. I thought the best show was the 8PM show at MK with the fireworks over the castle. It is the last show before the park closes- Illuminations. I've seen the Epcot show many times, and that one is nice too. That one is at 9 over the lagoon. Those shows are tough because then you have to compete with everyone else trying to get back to the resort, and the bus lines get really long. We ended up taking the first bus we saw to Downtown Disney and transferring to our hotel bus there. It saved us a ton of time. Make sure you bring snacks and sippy cups and entertainment to do at the parks/in lines. I took a picture of my kids every day just in case they got lost. There are a ton of tips on www.disboards.com. I read tons on that board and learned tons of little tips on packing, etc. I packed each daily outfit for the kids in a plastic ziplok bag and that made it so quick and easy to get ready in the morning. One of the many little tips I learned off of that board. Have fun! PM me if you have any specific questions. I feel like a disney pro now after having done so much research to go.