Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

We are thinking of going to Disney in September, around Brody's first birthday.

My parents and DH's parents will be joining us.

We went when Ava was 2. We only went to Magic Kingdom and Down Town Disney. We stayed outside the park at a condo. It was nice, but we would like to stay in the park this time. We can only stay for 5 days and 4 nights, so we can't do that "pay for 4 days, and get 3 for free" deal.

What is a nice hotel, that is also good for kids??? Which parks should we go to?

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

we are going to the Wilderness Lodge in a few days. It all depeds on what you want to spend. The Buy 4 get 3 ends in June anyway so you wouldnt qualify. Must do parks for little ones, all of them

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

We are planning on going to Disney in July, also with a 1 yo and a 5 yo. I have not started my research yet b/c I am too overwhelmed w/ everything Disney. I would love to see some responses though.

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

September is when they offer free dining typically, I think that comes out in April or around there. So that's a plus.

Hotels..we've stayed at values: Pop Century, Movies, Sports and Music and Deluxe: Yacht Club. The YC is very nice, I loved it, LOVE the sandy bottom pool, but I think the values are better themed for kids. The rooms are smallish though, but you don't spend a lot of time in them anyway (typically).

www.mousavers.com is a good resource.

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

Well disney is great with the little ones and 5 years old is a great time and much easier too.

For the 1 year old though - there are NICE baby centers in every park - multiple changing tables (and tvs for your older child to watch a disney movie while you change - or if you need it feed your younger child). They sell diapers, juice, food, medicine like tylenol etc. in the baby care centers so if you forget something or need something it is easy to get/find.

Under 3 they are free so that helps too. If you do a sit down meal or counter service and they eat off your plate they are free if you buy a meal you will have to pay. At buffets and family service meals under 3 eats free.

Whole milk was available at all locations in case you need it so you don't have to lug it to the parks.

There is something called baby swap so if your 5 year old wants to ride something that is not baby friends (height restriction) you just go to the entrance of the ride with both children and explain you need to do a baby swap for the 1 year old. They will give you a pass and explain how it works at each ride - so that one parent can ride with your 5 year old then you swap and the other parent rides with the 5 year old again and you don't have to re-wait in a long line.

Hotels - well it greatly depends on your budget.

The values are all child friendly.

The moderates I think are all child friendly - but riverside port orleans and caribbean beach are probably the most friendly for young kids.

Deluxes -
I love animal kingdom the kids love watching the animals and if you don't want to swing for a savannah room - get a standard room and there are still plenty of places for the kids to view the animals from the tons of public viewing areas. They also have story time around a fire pit at night.

Polynesian is a great kiddie place too - expensive but you are right on the monorail so you can wheel your stroller right onto the monorail and go straight over to MK. Or walk over to the TTC next door and get onto the EPCOT monorail with no buses to worry about. Also the pool is really nice with a great slide your 5 year old will love. There is a small sprinkler area too that the kids love. It is right on the beach so they can play on the beach. At night you can watch the fireworks at the MK right from the beach or pool and they pump in the narration/music to the fireworks so you can experience it without the crowds.

Wilderness lodge is supposed to be fun for kids - there is a boat that takes you to MK and the pool is nice.

I believe the yacht club/beach club resorts have an amazing pool which has a lazy river.

If you are there for his birthday make sure you tell everyone they will give him a pin and some extra magic!!

As far as parks I think they would like MK most of all, DD at 15 months like EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. HS was the least interesting to her. She didn't like the shows (except for the muppet 3d movie) and Playhouse disney she was upset b.c she wanted to run up to the stage and couldn't. Your 5 year old will probably really enjoy HS b.c they have several shows (little mermaid) rides etc. But honestly that park is usually our last choice.

So maybe you want to focus on MK, then hit AK and if you have time go to EPCOT and HS.

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

Posted by KPtoys

we are going to the Wilderness Lodge in a few days. It all depeds on what you want to spend. The Buy 4 get 3 ends in June anyway so you wouldnt qualify. Must do parks for little ones, all of them

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

Posted by JessicaluvsCharles

Posted by KPtoys

we are going to the Wilderness Lodge in a few days. It all depeds on what you want to spend. The Buy 4 get 3 ends in June anyway so you wouldnt qualify. Must do parks for little ones, all of them

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when we went to disney in Sept. We loved it there. Everything was so convenient and clean. It's very kid friendly and the they have 2 pools u can use (one has a waterslide and the other has bubbling springs in the pool). There is a boat right at our hotel that takes you to the MK and from there we took one day the monorail to epcot or other disney resorts (the poly, contempory, grand floridian). They also have the buses that always come and they were never crowded or anything.
DD was only 17 months at the time and she enjoyed the trip so much. She is obsessed with everything Mickey since our trip. We are going back again soon!

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

Check out allearsnet.com. It's an awesome resource!

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by JessicaluvsCharles

Posted by KPtoys

we are going to the Wilderness Lodge in a few days. It all depeds on what you want to spend. The Buy 4 get 3 ends in June anyway so you wouldnt qualify. Must do parks for little ones, all of them

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when we went to disney in Sept. We loved it there. Everything was so convenient and clean. It's very kid friendly and the they have 2 pools u can use (one has a waterslide and the other has bubbling springs in the pool). There is a boat right at our hotel that takes you to the MK and from there we took one day the monorail to epcot or other disney resorts (the poly, contempory, grand floridian). They also have the buses that always come and they were never crowded or anything.
DD was only 17 months at the time and she enjoyed the trip so much. She is obsessed with everything Mickey since our trip. We are going back again soon!

How were the boats from there? We were thinking of going there for our next trip but I wasn't sure how convenient the boats were to the MK? I assume you can't wheel your stroller onto them so you have to fold them up to get on?

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by JessicaluvsCharles

Posted by KPtoys

we are going to the Wilderness Lodge in a few days. It all depeds on what you want to spend. The Buy 4 get 3 ends in June anyway so you wouldnt qualify. Must do parks for little ones, all of them

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when we went to disney in Sept. We loved it there. Everything was so convenient and clean. It's very kid friendly and the they have 2 pools u can use (one has a waterslide and the other has bubbling springs in the pool). There is a boat right at our hotel that takes you to the MK and from there we took one day the monorail to epcot or other disney resorts (the poly, contempory, grand floridian). They also have the buses that always come and they were never crowded or anything.
DD was only 17 months at the time and she enjoyed the trip so much. She is obsessed with everything Mickey since our trip. We are going back again soon!

How were the boats from there? We were thinking of going there for our next trip but I wasn't sure how convenient the boats were to the MK? I assume you can't wheel your stroller onto them so you have to fold them up to get on?

Message edited 1/22/2009 4:26:58 PM.

Re: Disney with a 5 year old and a 1 year old.

Posted by JessicaluvsCharles

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by JessicaluvsCharles

Posted by KPtoys

we are going to the Wilderness Lodge in a few days. It all depeds on what you want to spend. The Buy 4 get 3 ends in June anyway so you wouldnt qualify. Must do parks for little ones, all of them

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge when we went to disney in Sept. We loved it there. Everything was so convenient and clean. It's very kid friendly and the they have 2 pools u can use (one has a waterslide and the other has bubbling springs in the pool). There is a boat right at our hotel that takes you to the MK and from there we took one day the monorail to epcot or other disney resorts (the poly, contempory, grand floridian). They also have the buses that always come and they were never crowded or anything.
DD was only 17 months at the time and she enjoyed the trip so much. She is obsessed with everything Mickey since our trip. We are going back again soon!

How were the boats from there? We were thinking of going there for our next trip but I wasn't sure how convenient the boats were to the MK? I assume you can't wheel your stroller onto them so you have to fold them up to get on?

The boats were right on our property. The wait time for the boats depended on when u get there. Sometimes we were lucky and the boat just arrived and sometimes we had to wait. (not too long though). The actual boat ride was I think maybe not even 10 minutes. It was very convenient as another way of transportation.

Wilderness Lodge is right in between the Poly. and the Contemporary.

ETA: No, unfortunately u need to fold up the stroller to get on and off the boat, but it wasn't too bad. They were very patient about waiting. It's not like the monorail that you HAVE to rush to get in quick.