I want to be all New Years-y and goal-setting-y and fresh start making. But that is just going to have to wait until another post because we are taking the kids to Disney in the near-ish future and I have no idea what I’m doing. My sweet husband has done all the planning for the past six months and now my part is fast approaching: the packing.
I’ve never been to the Magic Kingdom so I’m really looking forward to the castle and the princesses and all the magic. The girls are looking forward to meeting Ariel but they very much expect her to be in a tail. Not sure how that’s gonna work. But first I have to pack. And I am filled with anxiety about the whole thing.
Have you been with your kids? What would you say is the number one must have thing that I may not think of? Or perhaps your top three must have things? We will be flying, if that changes anything. It makes a big difference to me as I am super anxious about flying. But that’s a whole nother post.
I would appreciate any Disney advice you would like to offer: packing related, ride related, anything really. Ready? Go.
Wow, you have gotten a lot of great tips! I’m not sure if someone said this, but Ariel is in a beautiful, sequin-y tail, and she sits down the whole time. So your girls should be pretty happy.
Hey Emily!
The kids are going to love this! I think that everyone has covered the actual trip to Disney World part really well, I’d like to offer some advice on the flying part. I want to echo the ear popping that will happen because of the plane ride it can be pretty painful because the kids eardrums are so little and don’t allow as much air through to equalize the pressure in their middle ears (learned that this past semester!). Also, I know that some kids can even get motion sickness from the planes, like my brother did one time when he was little, so you might want to prepare for that. Oh and comfort things like dolls and blankets are always a good too. My sister still insists to this day on taking a pillow with her while flying and she is 17. Also, in the airport wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off because of the security check point and laces become a big pain especially if you are running late for a flight. Comfortable clothes are a must too; I used to fly in my jammies when I was little. Also, things to do on the plane and while waiting in the airport like coloring books and toys are great distractors. Also, the best thing that my mom did when I was little and we flew was that she told me what to expect, that way I didn’t get nervous when something little happened or I heard an odd noise. I hope that helps a little!
I’ve been over 30 times. Every year since I was born. Layer your clothes and carry one backpack for the family. The meals can be kind of large, especially if your doing the dining program, so share and that way you get more meals. Make reservations early…they are hard to get. The princess breakfast in Norway at Epcot is wonderful. Eat warm chocolate chip cookies on Main Street. Take advantage of the photopass. A great way to get pics of your whole family together. And at Disney Studios make sure you do Toy Story Mania first thing. The line is long and the fast passes run out. Have a great time.
Love, love Disney. I recommend eating at the the Sci-Fi Drive in theater at MGM for dinner- it will be the most relaxing time you have and the kids are happy and entertained.
ALWAYS rent their double stroller – worth the $$ and an easy place to put tired kids and stuff. Buy the multi-pass if you’re going for 2 or more days.
PACK lunch and snacks and save yourself a bundle.
MAKE the kids ride in the stroller as much as possible: you always know where they are and it reserves their energy.
Surpringly, the Winnie the Pooh ride and the Bugs Life shows are scary for little ones (among others).
Go to Ariel’s grotto for a nice show if they like Ariel- it’s a live show but doesn’t last long.
The Dinosaur part at Animal Kingdom is so fun!There is the “boneyard” where the kids can run free which they need to do througout the day and there are few places to do it. Also the Safari ride at Animal Kingdom is a must – do it first thing in the am while the animals are def. out.
FAST-PASS: take full advantage of this. Send your husband off to get the fast passesn (or you) for the rides you really want to go to.
Have a great time!! The best advice is to decide in advance what you want to see and then let the rest go…so you don’t wear everyone out.
deb
Clearly you do not need another comment but I must. We go to Disney every few years with my husband’s family. My in-law’s are Disney Vacation Club members and therefore we mooch off of them. I heart Disney more than I can say. {I even wrote a post about it at one point after our last trip.}
I really recommend getting one of those Birnbaum guides. They come out every year. The books have great info on how to make the most of every park, where to meet & greet characters, a map of each park, and lots of worthwhile tips. I skim through it ahead of time and take it with me in my bag while there. You can get them at most any bookstore I think (if you don’t already have one.)
A fun splurge that makes the BEST pictures: getting your face painted at Toon Town. It’s pricey: $15…but this is not your average face painting. Last year my sister-in-law got ours painted along with the kids and it was the MOST fun $15 I ever spent. Plus the pictures last forever. I hope you and your family have one magical day after another at the happiest place on earth. Can’t wait to see pictures!
I feel like you should now make some kind of downloadable book available with all of this advice in it! Really great stuff.
Have fun, act crazy and get a profile picture of the girls watching the parade! The best….oh and next time, come to So Cal Disney so me and my girl can meet ya!
We use to go to Disney every three years when I was a child and oh how I miss all the memories we shared there as a family! No matter what you end up doing you will have a blast and remember it for a life-time.
One of my favorite things is getting to watch the parades, and the fireworks each evening. No other fireworks show will EVER beat Disney!
Meeting characters is ALWAYS fabulous… and make sure you take one of those notebooks for each child to have so they can get signatures from Mickey and EVERY one else they see. So fun!!!
I’m sure every one above me has offered a ton of helpful advice so i’m done!!! Hope your family has a blast together at Disney! It’s a wonderful place!!
I didn’t take the time to read through all of the comments, so I’m not sure if this advice was already given or not, BUT . . . when we go, I always make sure we pack a few of our Disney toys to take with us. The dolls, the light up toys, etc. I hide them in the stroller before we get going. That way when we pass all the gift shops and kiosks that draw in my girls, and they beg to buy a toy, I can pull out a Disney toy. They’re happy having something Disney to play with, and I’m happy not spending any extra cash!!
Hi Em! We’ve taken the kids to Disneyland twice now and here’s what I’ve got for you (in addition to all the other great advice I’ve read in your responses!)
1. Don’t go on Snow White’s Scary Adventures. It’s in Magic Kingdom where the rides are all tame, but it was too scary for young kids and the rest of the day mine kept asking if every other ride was going to be scary.
2. Don’t try to do it all. I read all the Disney books and had a written gameplan for packing as much in as possible. We went early in the morning and did two rides, then the kids wanted to do Winnie’s Honey Pots a second time – not on the agenda! With Tim’s help, I threw my plans away and just let the kids have fun doing what they wanted.
3. Have some down time in the middle of it all. We sometimes left the park after a few hours and just came back to the pool to swim and the kids loved that.
if you go to Ariel’s grotto in the Magic Kingdom she has a tail. I’ve always had to wait in line to see her but there is a water pad right next to the line so I always had my kids play in that while they waited.
Where to start?? We love Disney and go at least once every 12-18 month.
(1) Ice water is FREE in the parks. Bring in one water bottle per person and fill them up with free ice water as the day goes on. It will save money and energy if you aren’t lugging around multiple water bottles for each person.
(2) bring extra socks and change in the middle of the day when your feet get tired. It’s an amazingly easy pick-me-up. Plus you have dry socks if you go on a wet ride.
(3) Definitely visit Ariel’s grotto in Magic Kingdom for those Ariel-with-tail pics. The line is *long* so one parent can wait while the other deals with the kids elsewhere.
(4) Take advantage of the playgrounds in each park. You’ll be amazed how much better behaved the kids are after they burn off some adrenaline “off the leash” for a little while (some time not ina stroller or holding someone’s hand or glued to a parent’s side to avoid getting lost). It’s hard not to feel like it’s time wasted, since it’s “just a playground,” but it really does make the rest of the day more enjoyable.
(5) If you do want to eat a meal in the parks, do so at off peak times. Eat lunch as soon as lunch starts at 11am and you’ll be able to eat in 30 minutes and be back to rides. Wait until noon and youmay stand in line nearly that long. Likewise, think about eating dinner at 5 to 6 at the latest (or eat a big snack and plan to eat late, though that nevers works for my little ones).
(6) Do know that you don’t have to do *every* ride. If the line for Dumbo is too long in Magic Kingdom, skip it and walk around the corner and ride Alladin’s Magic Carpet ride which is nearly identical.
Have a great trip!
Laura
Hi Emily!
I work at Disney and grew up in Orlando and I have a few tips for you!
- Definitely take snacks and jackets!
- Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios is a great show!
- Chef Mickey at the Contemporary is my absolute favorite character breakfast. Its Mickey and the gang and it’s buffet style–anything you can possibly imagine they have. I also like Ohana at the Polynesian.
- For a more restful day, you may want to go to Downtown Disney. There is a playground at the Lego store, lots of stores, and some nice places to eat. Check out the Earl of Sandwich for a less expensive lunch.
- Circle the places your kids really want to go to on the map. That way you can at least make it to those and if one child doesn’t want to do a certain ride you can reassure them that the attraction they want to go on is on the “must do” list and won’t be forgotten.
- Definitely put business cards with numbers in your kids’ pockets and if they have bright shoes, let them wear them (Much easier to find them! lol)
- Not sure if it is your first visit, but everyone should get a button–either a We’re Celebrating or First Visit or Happy Birthday for the girls.
- Relax and enjoy it. Don’t expect to get everything you want done. Do expect to have a blast and see your children smile a lot!
Are you going to the Social Media Conference there or just a vacation?
I’ve never been there, but wanted to make sure you knew about the Disney Mom Panel site – http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/home.aspx
and
Janice&Susan have a lot of Disney info – http://www.5minutesformom.com/7157/10-days-of-disney-video-tour/
Have fun!
I didnt read through all the comments since I last commented…so someone else may have shared this–but I have thought of one more thing…
EVERYONE is a kid at Disney. I know you will have to be all mommy-ish too…but have fun being a kid too. Take your picture with the characters, wave at them in the parade, skip through the park, put on mickey ears, and completely let your mind wander to enjoy all of the magic. It’s your trip too–
Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Oh, how exciting!!!! We live about an hour and a half away and just went in November to celebrate my daughters birthday! Make sure you get the pins that tell why you are there celebrating. The castmembers make a big deal of it to the kids and they love it! My suggestions would be to take advantage of the fast passes! They saved us a ton of waiting in line times for the most popular rides. We also divided the park in half and covered one half one day and the other half the next, this made it much easier in making sure we covered everything! Definitely bring snacks and drinks in they will save you a ton of money!! Also, if you plan on eating meals in the park the Starlight Cafe (in Tomorrowland) has some larger family size meals at a GREAT price!!
A great place to get Disney souvineers is at Downtown Disney…they have this little breezeway store (can’t remember the name of it) that everything is $10.00 and under and they have great stuff!
Have fun, oh and don’t forget the sunscreen!!!
FYI from a Floridian…
It’s FREEZING here right now. Where I am it’s supposed to be in the teens sometime this week, though it usually warms up a little in the afternoons and Florida in general doesn’t get as cold as typically predicted. It’s a different cold than in the mountains though. Northerners have described it as, “cold to your bones,” because of the humidity. Heavy coat and layer, layer, layer with a short sleeved shirt underneath (in case it warms up)… you’ll be so glad you did.
how fun, Emily!!! I remember when we went as a family my brothers and I all had a fanny pack (super cool back then…maybe not now) and in my fanny pack my mom packed a couple of snacks/treats and maybe hand sanitizer or chapstick or something…who knows. I thought it was fun and exciting, maybe your kids would too!
We were just there on Monday! In winter coats no less, but the sun was shining and we had a glorious day! Please tell me you weren’t there on Monday, I would have hated to missed you. Hope you have a wonderful time!!
I would go to the Barnes and Noble travel section and get the 2010 Disney handbook. (Can’t remember the exact name) It will tell you the most successful times to visit each ride and each princess/character. For instance, there is a very specific time that you can see Ariel without having to stand in a crazy line. It really helped us plan how we went around the park; even where we stopped to eat and get snacks. The book even has restaurant details and reviews. It will even go so far as to suggest which shows or rides might frighten young children. It was VERY helpful.
You will also probably want autograph books and a pen for all the princesses and characters to sign. Some people bring their own with them to save money. BUT, when you first enter the park, there are some shops with adorable princessy ones with spaces for autographs and photos. I thought it was worth the splurge, but then again, I only had to buy one. The other thing you’ll see a lot of kids with is the mickey mouse ears with their name embroidered on the back.
Hi Emily!
I stopped reading through the comments so if you get a repeat…sorry!
We have gone several time with our kids, at all different ages and here is what I have found…
Try to get a park map at your hotel (even the off-property hotels have these in the lobby) the night before you go into the park. Look it over together and try to come up with a plan for the next day, based on what you MUST SEE and Maybe/kinda/sorta/wanna SEE. It helped us prioritize especially in the Magic Kingdom, where you are in different “lands”. You could waste a lot of time standing in line for something that you didn’t really want to see.
Every night as we were waiting for the bus or on the ride back to hotel, we pulled out our kids autograph books and starting in the back and moving forward had them write or dictate their favorite memory from that day. I have done this since our oldest went the first time at age 2 and it is so neat to see her “journal” of her vacation and how it has changed. She was 9 the last time we were there.
Without shame, I will also tell you that I planned their outfits to somewhat coordinate so that my pictures would look great. AND THEY DO! Every time, when we go on the day to stand in line to see Mickey, we are all in RED! My friends tease me for this, but it matters to me! And did I say my pics look great! I will also throw in that it was easy for me to remember what my kids were wearing because I had put so much thought into it. Which by the way, comes in handy when your 4 yr. old wanders off and you have to describe him to a cast member. Never fear, he was located in less than 90 seconds!
Lastly, I think this was already said, but DO NOT miss the WISHES fireworks in front of the castle! Even if you need to go back to the hotel and let the little ones rest earlier in the day, come back. It was worth every penny of our vacation fund! It completely encompasses the *magic* of Disney!
Have a blast and try to take it all in, and plan some down time when you get home! It takes a lot to recover!
My BIL and SIL just went to disney world and the surrounding parks for a week. They don’t have children, but pretty much act like children themselves (ie: they like to have fun). They posted a series of blog posts with their experiences, recommendations, ratings of rides, food, etc… They posted them from Sep. 2009-Dec. I’ve never been, but their blogs look very useful for planning. Here is a link to their first post on their trip. http://theweirdneills.blogspot.com/2009/09/wdwed-day-1.html
We did a character breakfast at Animal Kingdom that was pretty amazing. It was a buffet with lots of choices. The kids had time to eat before the characters arrived. The characters went from one table to the next so no one had to wait in line and they spent lots of time taking photos with us. We also did the Hoop de do Revue. I didn’t expect my kids to like it that much, but they did ! We also took our regular babysitter with us. We have three children so each adult was responsible for one child. Not many of the Disney hotels cater to families of more than four, so we rented two connecting rooms at one of the lower price resorts and had four beds and two bathrooms. That way, our sitter didn’t feel awkward sleeping in the same room with us, and the kids could roam back and forth between room without going outside. Have fun!
I’m so excited for you! We are going to Disney in February (our first time) so I’m soaking this all in. The only advice I have is that we always take a picture of the kids with a digital camera when we enter an amusement park. God forbid if something happens, I have digital images of them and what they are wearing.
Also, a friend recommended the bippity, boppity, boo salon in downtown disney & at cinderella’s castle. I haven’t really looked into it yet but I thought I would mention it. have fun!
we’re going too! we leave Saturday morning. we are not flying though. when are y’all leaving? anyhoo, the thing that i find most helpful when packing (which is hard to do since my girls are older now) but i pack their clothes in the gallon size plastic bags and let all the air out. makes more room in the suitcase and it easy to find clothes once you get settled.
i’ve not read through all your comments so you may have already seen this. you can take your own snacks into the park, as well as lunch. oh, rent a stroller! it makes it so much easier than having to carry yours around. you can also buy the autograph books down there. on our first trip i had no clue they did that. the girls enjoyed standing in line and meeting the characters. Oh, y’all are gonna have SO much fun!
I’d say rent a stroller too as opposed to taking your own. It’s not worth the hassle getting it on the plane and they’re bigger and more manuverable than anything you’d have yourself. Tie something to it so it’s easier to locate when parked up. Have a great time!
We took our 4 kids (ages 5,7,9,10 )
1. We bought a hot pink umbrella-ish stroller at Walmart with a carry bin underneath etc. Best money we ever spent(then I sold it when we got home) . You can spot that thing in the sea (and I do mean sea) of strollers.
2. We took 2 strollers and needed them/used them. We put gear and kids in them. 5 and 7 year olds were tired.
3. Bring your lunch. We packed ours every single day. Saved a small fortune. Bought ice cream or hot pretzel for fun snack.
4. Princess breakfast at Norway castle in Epcot. Easier to get into. Loved it. 4 or 5 princesses there. Great food.
5. Fast pass. yes.
6.Buzz Lightyear ride. great.
7. Animal Kingdom waste of time.
8. AAA Diamond parking pass from Ebay. great.