Walt Disney World questions

Re: Walt Disney World questions

• ashiscute member

  January 2014

  I actually have not taken two small kids to Disney World but I was a travel agent before becoming a full time mommy so I can try to answer some questions based on my experience of booking a lot of Disney trips.  

  
  

  Your first question is not something most people can answer.  Disney is very expensive no matter what you do but whether or not it's worth the money is up to you.  It's not the type of trip people regret taking.  Your kids will not remember the trip but they will enjoy it while they're there.

  
  

  The moderate resorts are not on the monorail.  Only Deluxe resorts that are right outside of Magic Kingdom (Polynesian, etc) are on the monorail.  All other resorts including deluxe, moderate, and value are only on the bus line.  Value resorts would be comparable to a Super 8 type hotel.  The rooms are quite small, the pool is fine, and the only restaurant is a food court.  If you go up to a moderate you get bigger rooms (like a Hampton Inn), a better location, a better pool, and onsite sit down restaurant as well as the food court.  I would not stay at a Value personally but lots of people do.

  
  

  Character Dinings depend on your child.  The princesses are a good one because they talk and interact with kids where Mickey is silent.  I would definitely schedule one or two because the prices are on par with other sit down restaurants.  

  
  

  Keep your expectations low, consider a hopper pass, def baby wear.  I'd plan on heading back to the hotels for naps.  Kids can get overstimulated easily and it's good to give them a break.  What time of year are you planning to go?  That will def affect what you can see or do.  I hope this helps!

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• ginafun member

  January 2014

  Wow! Thanks, ladies. So helpful! In regards to accommodations, the last two times I've been we stayed at a value resort. Perfect for us because we were never at the room. However, my dad also agrees this time we should stay at a resort along the monorail line or within walking distance from a park because of the easy access to go back and rest. It will be a bit harder convincing DH that it will be worth the extra several hundred dollars a night. Tips on convincing? Have any of you tried fast pass + yet for dining reservations and ride passes? I'm curious to hear how it works in conjunction with the magic bands. We would go in early May....of next year. I know. It's super early to start planning, but I want to book 6months out and I need several more months to research and decide how we want to do this. So it sounds like moderate to deluxe accommodations are the way to go with small kids. For the moms who went with infants under a year, how was that? Did you switch off with DH babybearing? We are getting a side by side double stroller when #2 gets here in July so I'm thinking that will be a must. The baby swap option is great too, I've heard?

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• JENandJEH member

  January 2014 edited January 2014

  We went when DS2 was 10 months old and he did fine...it was actually so much easier than I imagine it would be now.  We rented a stroller (it was delivered right to our resort and cost about $60 for 7 days - it was a Baby Jogger City Select) and he rode in that majority of the time or in the Ergo on my front or back for the rest.  DS1 who was just about to turn 5 rode in the stroller some because he was exhausted with all of the walking we've done.  I know you can rent double strollers.  The baby care centers in the parks were awesome and I used them frequently to nurse DS2 because he was a very distracted nurser.  Hollywood Studios was the best because they had little private "rooms" with a rocking chair.  

  
  

  We stayed at Art of Animation which is considered a value but were in a Cars suite and it was amazing.  Bedroom with a very nice/large bathroom (large enough for the pack n play to fit because DS2 refused to fall asleep/stay asleep when he saw me in the room with him), a murphy bed and a pullout sofa in the living room along with another nice/slightly smaller bathroom.  Next time, I will likely look into what Lala is mentioning with the DVC point rentals.  For us, a suite is the way to go so that we can put the kids to bed and then have a separate space to relax/regroup.  I didn't find the buses to be all that inconvenient but can see how the monorail/walking would be more convenient.  I always had DS2 out of the stroller and another adult in our party folded the stroller and carried it on the bus.  We probably just got lucky but never waited longer than 10 minutes for a bus except at Downtown Disney once.  

  
  

  ETA:  We used Kingdom Stroller Rentals and it was $60 for 7 nights (a Baby Jogger City Elite) and then $25 for insurance (covered any damage, loss or stolen).  They delivered it to the concierge and then picked it up after we checked out.  Easy peasy and so much better than traveling with it.  

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• ashiscute member

  January 2014

  ginafun said:

  Wow! Thanks, ladies. So helpful! In regards to accommodations, the last two times I've been we stayed at a value resort. Perfect for us because we were never at the room. However, my dad also agrees this time we should stay at a resort along the monorail line or within walking distance from a park because of the easy access to go back and rest. It will be a bit harder convincing DH that it will be worth the extra several hundred dollars a night. Tips on convincing? Have any of you tried fast pass + yet for dining reservations and ride passes? I'm curious to hear how it works in conjunction with the magic bands. We would go in early May....of next year. I know. It's super early to start planning, but I want to book 6months out and I need several more months to research and decide how we want to do this. So it sounds like moderate to deluxe accommodations are the way to go with small kids. For the moms who went with infants under a year, how was that? Did you switch off with DH babybearing? We are getting a side by side double stroller when #2 gets here in July so I'm thinking that will be a must. The baby swap option is great too, I've heard?

  Not to sound snotty but there really is no such thing.  Keep in mind how huge these resorts and parks are.  The resorts right outside of Magic Kingdom are on the monorail.  The other resorts you would mostly take buses.  If you stay at the Beach Club like LalaMama81 suggested you can take a boat to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.  It just depends on what your preferences are for your resort.  FWIW Beach Club would be my #1 choice to stay! 

  
  

  I would book more than 6 months out as well.  Disney is very good at letting you make changes to your reservation once it's made.  It's not really super early.  People are crazy early at this stuff.  Disney lets you make reservations at their reservations like 120 days out and those things  book up fast!!  

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• jllmb79 member

  January 2014

  We just went in October 2013 and my DD#1 was almost 2.5 years old and DD#2 8 months. 

  
  

  Direct flight and paid for a seat for the 8 month old as well

  
  

   We also brought Nana to help.  

  
  

  We rented a double stroller (didn't want mine to get abused + not much price difference then paying to check it)

  
  

  I rented two cribs so my little ones could get good sleep

  
  

  We had two baby carriers (ergo) ..great for waiting in lines

  
  

  Stayed off Disney at a 3 Bedroom at Orange Lake Resort. Loved putting my kids to bed and being able to stay up and relax in the living room.  I looked at a resort on property but way to much money to get a suite.  one room hotels are too hard for us with two little ones.

  
  

  We slept in and ate breakfast and made our way to the parks probably by 10am

  
  

  When we got to the parks we tried to get character lunch reservations (didn't make them in advance because we didn't know how many parks or what days we would do what)

  
  

  My 8 month old napped in the ergo and a few days my 2.5yr old fell asleep in the stroller

  
  

  We got fast passes for long lines and waited in the short lines while waiting for our fast pass time

  
  

  No melt downs, didn't leave the parks for naps

  
  

  A few night we got take out and brought it back to our hotel to give the kids time to relax or be crazy.  Going out to dinner at a restaurant after all day in the park is not so much fun and took too long sometimes.  We tried to go out to dinner the days we left the park by 4pm.  We also ate dinner a the park too some nights.

  
  

  It was such a great vacation that we are going again in April. 

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

   

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• jllmb79 member

  January 2014

  LalaMama81 said:

  jllmb79 said:

  We just went in October 2013 and my DD#1 was almost 2.5 years old and DD#2 8 months. 

  
  

  Direct flight and paid for a seat for the 8 month old as well

  
  

   We also brought Nana to help.  

  
  

  We rented a double stroller (didn't want mine to get abused + not much price difference then paying to check it)

  
  

  I rented two cribs so my little ones could get good sleep

  
  

  We had two baby carriers (ergo) ..great for waiting in lines

  
  

  Stayed off Disney at a 3 Bedroom at Orange Lake Resort. Loved putting my kids to bed and being able to stay up and relax in the living room.  I looked at a resort on property but way to much money to get a suite.  one room hotels are too hard for us with two little ones.

  
  

  We slept in and ate breakfast and made our way to the parks probably by 10am

  
  

  When we got to the parks we tried to get character lunch reservations (didn't make them in advance because we didn't know how many parks or what days we would do what)

  
  

  My 8 month old napped in the ergo and a few days my 2.5yr old fell asleep in the stroller

  
  

  We got fast passes for long lines and waited in the short lines while waiting for our fast pass time

  
  

  No melt downs, didn't leave the parks for naps

  
  

  A few night we got take out and brought it back to our hotel to give the kids time to relax or be crazy.  Going out to dinner at a restaurant after all day in the park is not so much fun and took too long sometimes.  We tried to go out to dinner the days we left the park by 4pm.  We also ate dinner a the park too some nights.

  
  

  It was such a great vacation that we are going again in April. 

  
  

  
  

  FYI, you shouldn't have to pay to check a stroller - certain baby stuff is free. We always gate-check it so we have it until the end anyway. Ours have never been damaged. 

  
  

  It's funny how we can have an equally awesome trip at the same place but they were practically opposite in every way!

  That is funny

  
  

  When we flew out of the US on Southwest to Orlando we bagged and gate checked our BabyJogger stroller. Right now we fly Air Canada and they are one crazy airline and only gate check umbrella size strollers free.  They make you pay baggage fee $25 each way with big strollers.  The gate checked strollers are a lot better off then a baggage checked one. They have a huge boom device that hits the luggage with a lot of force here at Toronto Pearson.  $60 for a double baby jogger city mini to rent is better then paying $50 to baggage check my $700 stroller.  We use those little cart things in the airport that make the car seat like a stroller when we don't bring our stroller.

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

   

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• Leap08 member

  January 2014

  We went to the Magic Kingdom last winter when DD1 was barely 3 and DD2 was 14 months.
  
  DD1 LOVED meeting characters. We did a Cinderella dinner and a breakfast with Mickey and Lilo and Stitch (at the Polynesian resort). They were both a big hit. DD1 also had a really great time doing the Belle experience (I'm not sure that's what it's actually called), and her highlight of the day was meeting Arial in Arial's Grotto. That was our longest line of the day but in the end it didn't matter because she was so thrilled about it. She still talks about meeting Arial a year later. Both girls liked most of the Fantasyland rides. And really none of our waits were too long. We fastpassed everything we could.
  
  We stayed at the Polynesian and it I think the extra $$ was worth it for the convenience. It was really nice to just take the monorail back for a nap and some relaxation. We spent one day just kind of hanging out at the pool and at the resort beach. The girls loved that. You can see the fireworks from the beach at the resort it was really nice to watch them there instead of from in the park. 
  
  We didn't do a long vacation and pretty much only went because my husband was there for work anyway, but it worked out well. I'd take kids that age again.
   
  

  

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• HML5382 member

  January 2014

  We have taken DD1 twice now (at 20 months old and again 2 months before her 3rd bday, DD2 was 4 months old for that trip.) I'm from a Disney family, my parents have the vacation club so we are lucky enough to go down very regularly. For us, knowing we'd be down again and knowing we wouldn't need to "do it all," it was absolutely enjoyable and worth while. If we were only making the trip once or twice, I'd probably wait till my kids were a bit older so we could get more bang for our buck without overwhelming the little ones.
  
  We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge both times, it is FAR from the parks. A super cool resort with lots to do, which was great because we did stay "home" and do a lot right there. Saw the animals, enjoyed they're very cool pool/splash park, participated in drum circles and crafts at the lobby, roasted marshmallows and made smores at a bonfire... it was all very fun. But it did make for long rides to and from Magic Kindgdom. Next time we plan on staying closer since I think we'll do more park time as the girls get a bit older. If you are planning on going back and forth between the hotel and park a lot, then I'd pay to stay closer, I think it would be worth it.
  
  The days we go in the park, we only do half days. I broke this rule once and sincerely regretted it. Some days we would stay around the hotel in the am and have a good nap and then hit the parks in the afternoon/evening and push bedtime later. Other days we would do the parks first thing, nap in the stroller, but make it back to the hotel for dinner and normal bedtime. For my daughter, she either needs a decent nap or a regular bedtime to stay happy and well rested, messing with both in a day was a recipe for disaster. The baby was so young and didn't have a real regular schedule yet so we didn't have to really factor her in, she easily snoozed on the go. Even with our shortened park time, we saw a lot! I think if you plan your day well and know what you want to do ahead of time, you can really get a lot out of even a half day in the park. Just be reasonable with your expectations and flexible.
  
  We took the double stroller and the ergo carrier. My husband and I switched off wearing her, mostly we wore her inside when we had to ditch the stroller to go in an attraction. We didn't do much of the line swap thing because mostly everything DD1 could go on we could carry (or wear) DD2 on as well. I've heard it's very good though! Given my toddlers age and patience level, I couldn't see making her wait in line for something she couldn't ride. We did go on Expedition Everest and my parents took the girls to play in the "boneyard" while we rode it, so if you have grandparents along you might consider something like that, or even having them keep the girls for a night out just you and hubby... We haven't done the new fast pass stuff yet either, will be interesting to see how that all works!
  
  We had good luck with the character dinings and meet-and-greets, those were my DD's favorite things so we made an effort to see them, but I think that definitely depends on your kid. How is she with the Easter Bunny and Santa, and does she have favorite characters? If you don't want to spend the money on the meals, there are lots of places to meet the characters in the park. The new Fantasy Land has a ton of them. They have the Mickey/Minnie group and a lot of the princesses, and Tinkerbell is in Adventure Land if you have a fairy fan (when we were there they showed the Fairy Games movie in the waiting area, makes for a great air conditioned break).
  
  One little planning tip that seemed to work out for us, pay attention to the early entry days (extra magic hours I think it's called). If you're an early riser, go for it, but if not, we found the parks that opened an extra hour early were always thinned out in the afternoon, so we would head there is we were doing a late day. Or if you want to do a regular opening time, pick the park that had the early opening the previous day, not as many people will be there bright and early if they were just there the day before. Good luck! I hope you have a great trip! Can't wait for our next one
  

  
   

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