Disney with toddler - few questions

We are going to Disney at the end of March/early April. DD will be 2.75 years old. We are staying off property (Sheraton Vistana Villages). We will be there Sun-Sat, with Mon-Fri as days to go to parks (so, 5 days).

I am trying to figure out which parks we should go to and when. Obviously, Magic Kingdom. We are thinking 2 days there. Does that sound right? Also, one day at Animal Kingdom. Is Epcot worth it with a toddler? What about the water parks? I don't think we plan on doing the park hopper passes (is that even an option staying off property?
).

I looked at the different parks and think we should go on the days that DON'T offer extended hours, to avoid crowds. Good idea, or bad?

Also, if you were to suggest one or two character meals, which would you recommend for an almost-3 year old girl? (I realize I may be a little late in making reservations, but I will call ASAP!)

Anything else that I will need to know?

Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

At that time of year - definitely 2 days at Magic Kingdom. I would do one day or even a half day at Animal Kingdom and definitely Hollowyood Studios. I would skip Epcot (although we always go because I INSIST on walking around the world showcase and boring everyone for a full day! ) I would skip the water parks, only because I'm not into them.

I never found the parks to be more or less crowded on days with extended hours. We also go at a quieter time of the year so I'm not sure how it is during the busy seasons.

It may be tought to get reservations now for character meals, but for a 3 year old girl I would recommend:
1. Lunch with the princess in Cindarella's castle
2. Breakfast with the Winnie the Pooh Characters at Crystal Palace
3. Dinner at Chef Mickeys (at the Contemporary Resort)

Anything else, please ask. We go every year, have eaten in just about every restaurant, etc.

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

PLEASE leave room in your suitcases for us!!!

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

I'd like to know too since we'll be going at the end of april and jacen will be almost 2 at that point.

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

Hi we took DS to disney in Oct and he had just turned 2 - we were there for his bday :)
we're disney nuts so we did 4 parks - animal, magic, epcot and Hollywood.
I was shocked at how DS held up so very well at all parks - we were there each day from about 8am till 6pm - and the only naps he had were in the stroller for about 30 mins.
I just could not see going back to the hotel (we were on the property) and wasting that time and worrying if he would not want to go back and be all cranky. so naps were stroller only and really he was very happy.
If you're not doing all parks, I would say maybe skip epcot. we only did it becuase DS is a huge nemo fan and there is a ride there. it was fun for DH and me becasue it was wine week :)
definately do the character breakfast in hollywood at hollywood and vine (little einsteins there!). DS loved it! but book now.

we had the TIME OF OUR LIVES -and I'm sure you will too! and don't let people tell you they are too young and won't remember - when you see the look on your child's face when they see the castle - YOU will remember it always :)
ps - DS loved every character and hugged them all.

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

not a disney buff, but you can get hopper passes even if you stay off site. Just FYI

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

1900 park fare is a character buffet with cinderella and her step sisters at the Grand FLoridian hotel. SHe will love it and its entertaining to the whole family!

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

We go to Disney every year (sometimes more than once).

With little kids I would def do 2 days at Magic Kingdom, one day at Animal Kingdom and one day at Hollywood Studios. EPCOT isn't really kid friendly. There is the Living Seas where they have a Nemo ride and a show with Crush the Turtle. If you end up getting a park hopper and have a little time those two things might be cute to check out.

We always eat at the Crystal Palace for breakfast, we sometimes eat at Liberty Tree Tavern (homestyle food with Minnie, Chip, Dale, Goofy). We've eaten at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary and at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian.

My sister did the Princess breakfast at Norway in EPCOT and she did not like the food at all.

I think the water parks would be a waste with a toddler. We usually go but because we go with a big group of adults and some older kids.

As Michelle said I've never really noticed the parks being more crowded on days that have the extended hours than any other day.

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

Since you are staying off site you are wise to avoid parks that are offering extended hours to resort guests. The Extra MAgic Hour park will always be the most crowded park of the day. March is peak season and it will be crowded....my advice is to be at the park you plan to visit ten minutes prior to opening and make good use of the first hours the park is open. You can accomplish so much in the early part of the day... ..We avoid character breakfasts unless it is a non park day...it wastes too much time during the least crowded part of the day. I'd rather fly on Dumbo all morning and then have a character lunch when the parks starts to get crazy. Schedule ADR's now if you have not already. (Advance dining reservations) Also, make good use of the fastpass system and you will have multiple fastpasses to be used after lunch when it is most crowded.

Check out:

www.disboards.com

It is a LIF style board with sub-categories of all things Disney!!!

We are DVC members (Disney Vacation Club) and go multiple times a year and would be happy to help you plan/answer any questions you might have.

Disney with a toddler is a magical experience....just be sure to do some planning ahead.

Message edited 12/30/2009 3:52:46 PM.

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

If you FM me I can help you we took K when she was 15 months and we are going back in May for DD#1's birthday before K turns 3.

That is a very busy time you are going.

Character dining is hard to get much past the 180 day window but...
try...

akershus - princess storybook meals (b,l,d) epcot
chef mickey's - contemporary hotel (b,d)
crystal palace- pooh and friends - magic kingdom (b,l,d)
1900 park faire - grand floridian- breakfast- mary poppins and friends, dinner cinderella and friends- ****warning*** we are skipping this one b/c several friends said the wicked stepmom and stepsisters really get into their roles and can scare the kids- so if that might be an issue you might want to skip it.
garden grill - (d) mickey and friends epcot
hollywood and dine - little einsteins and jo jo circus - (b, l)

Get the unofficial guide to WDW 2010. It will give you everything you need to get started. And it gives tips for staying off property.

You might want to get park hoppers so you could do say AK in the morning and MK or Epcot at night. We eat most of our meals in the past at epcot. DD btw loved epcot - i would definitely go there. then it is a toss up as to whether you go to AK or hollywood studios. If your daughter sits well there is the playhouse disney show, little mermaid and beauty and the beast shows, as well as a muppet 3/d show. Otherwise we liked the AK. There are some great shows - finding nemo and the lion king.

Plan to spend the most time at the MK - you could do full days w/ a break there or we go to the MK mornings and epcot evenings.

Also check out- allearsnet.com
this site has every menu for all dining on property, plus rehab/closure schedule.


disboards

Posting boards like this one - but for disney - you can get info on everything there - and there is a TON of great tips for traveling with little ones.

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

I went with my boys the past 2 years. My little one was 14 mos and just over 2 - each time.

We did Magic Kingdom 1.5 days both times and pretty much accomplished all of the park and some rides 4-5 times. We didn't really wait on lines for characters though - only short ones since we had character dinners planned. The parks were empty this past year and it was awesome.

We love Animal Kingdom and did a full day there although a little rushed this year to get it all in since we travelled with a large group this year so that slowed us down some. That park closes early so that day we'd use as either the day to travel to a far dinner or go back to the hotel have dinner there and have a more low key day and enjoy some of the hotel ammenities. We really hated Hollywood Studios.

There was hardly anything for my youngest. The first time we did a half day there and that was more than enough time. The place doesn't have much and is packed and hard to navigate thru. So after lunhc we left and went back to Magic Kingdom. The 2nd year we only went for extended magic hours and we had an ok time = I think since it was the first park we went toand we were all psyched to be in Disney. A lot was closed for the little ones. All the character meet and greets closed at 6 as did most of the shows and the Toy story ride which I hear is their best kiddie ride stillhad over an hour and half wait and no fast passes left and the place was empty!!! The only thing we had an absolute blast at was the Playhouse Disney turned into a disco for kids blaring music and characters came out and danced with the kids. They kids had so much fun dancing.

Epcot - I had found boring when I went with DH many years ago so we skipped the first year. This year we did a half day there. We enjoyed it. I would go back. We didn't do any of the counties or character meet and greest and even skipped some rides (older stuff - not my toddler - he did what was offered to him) due to lack of time. ALthough I think the kids enjoyed what we did and had enough.

Charater Dinners:
We love Chef Mickey. We did dinner once and breakfast the 2nd time. Breakfast was pretty cool - we did that the day of our flight home...rather than waste the morning.

Did Crystal Palace - cute for Pooh characters but so crowded and long wait even with reservations. I felt like we didn't get enough character time.

We did Holloywood and Vine lunch with Little einsteins and jojo - very cute and fun but they should really weed out Jojo and goliath most kids have no clue who they are now....bring in Handy Manny or Oso or something!

My neices did breakfast with the princesses at Epcot and loved, loved it!!! With 2 boys who hate princesses we skipped that!

We did Garden Grill this year - Mickey, Pluto, and CHip and Dale. I'd go back. The only downfall is we had 13 people and I think that gave us a sucky table....and and a looong wait even with reservations in a noncrowded time.

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

Thank you all SO much for the info you provided. It has helped a LOT! We have decided to get the Park Hopper pass since it seems we may want to opt for more than 1 park a day.

I am about to go on the Disney site and book a few breakfasts/lunch/dinner. Is Chef Mickey a lot better for breakfast, or is lunch/dinner equally as good?

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

Re: Disney with toddler - few questions

How am I supposed to choose times for these reservations?! I have no idea if DD is going to nap or not, etc. Decisions, decisions!