1st Time Taking Grandchild - Help

L

Laine

New Member
Original Poster
HELP! :veryconfuPlanning a trip to Disney World and we are taking our Granddaughter who will be 8 or 9 when we go. We would like input on which Resort we should choose, which restaurants to take her to and which character experiences would be best for her age. So far we have looked at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Caribbean Beach Resort and both of those look like possibilities, but I am looking at everything through a Grandmother's eyes. We need help from those who have taken that age girl. We know nothing about the restaurants.

Thank you so much for any advice you could share. We also have no idea about what time of year to go. I am glad we are planning a good year to two ahead of time. I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment.

Laine
 
CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
Welcome aboard :wave:

Laine said:
we are taking our Granddaughter who will be 8 or 9 when we go.
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Always a good sign when you can't remember their ages :ROFLOL:

Seriously - have you asked your granddaughter for her input ??

Which resort(s) does she like the look of ??
Show her the menus and find out which ones she likes the best, which ones have her favourite foods.
Finally, which (or who) are her favourite characters.

You'll probably make more headway asking her than reading everyone else's suggestions when taking their own child
 
L

Laine

New Member
Original Poster
HI,

Funny Joke. Of course I know how old she is we just do not know how old she will be when we go. We haven't decided on a date, but from what I gather it takes some planning ahead to make sure you get the reservations you want. So we have time to get some valued input from others with experience. Isn't what this forum is for? The other thing is that we don't want to tell her until we actually have a date picked out and we want it to be more of a surprise. She is pretty quick so if I ask her to much she will put it together.
Laine
 
T

tink68

Member
Welcome. First time I took my daughter she was about 7 I believe and what she enjoyed the most was Downtown Disney for shopping and swimming in the pools. As for the parks her favorites were and still are MK and AK. My favorite of the hotels are Value:pop Century, Moderate:pOFQ and Deluxe so far) Yacht Club/Beach Club. First I would pick a price range you want and go from there. Summer is very hot and crowded so if you do not mind her missing maybe a day or two of school I would suggest going in maybe Oct-Feb? For a character meal I would pick one that will have her favorite characters at it and maybe do a breakfast and a dinner.
Have fun in whatever you decide. :wave:
Sheri
 
coltow

coltow

Well-Known Member
I'm a believer that resorts don't matter that much to kids. They are more than happy just to be there. That being said, pick where YOU like, she'll be happy no matter what.

If you know what characters she likes that will help with your character dinning choices. I think older girls probably like the princess things. 1900 Park Fare is good, we like the breakfast as there is sometimes different people there like Alice and Mary Poppins.

If going in the fall is not an option I suggest as late in the summer as possible. Right now alot of schools are starting back so (hopefully) the crowds are lighter the later into you August you get. My all time favorite time to go is the 3rd week in October.
 
kstella

kstella

Member
I know everybody immediately thinks of princess things when talking about talking a girl to Disney. My DD couldn't care less about princesses but was thrilled when we took her to the Onana breakfast at eh Poly. What kind of things does she like? If she's into Stitch, maybe the Poly might be a good place if you can swing a deluxe resort. If she just likes all Disney stuff and a Value is what you're looking for, then the Pop or any of the All-Stars would be good. If she likes animals, then Animal Kingdom Lodge might be the place. I really don't think she'll care where you stay, though, especially if it's just you and her. She'll be thrilled with the attention.

If she's into princesses, then maybe a meal at Cinderella Royal Table or Askerhaus and a trip to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.
 
disneychic71

disneychic71

Member
What a wonderful treat for your granddaughter, and for you! As has already been said, any Disney resort is great for the kids. I personally think the pools with slides are superior, and they are located at the moderate and higher resorts. Be sure to check if the themed pool is open (not being refurbished) during the dates of your trip, no matter where you stay! We have stayed at most of the Disney resorts, and I can honesty say the the Carribean Beach is one of my all-time favorites. The theming is great for kids and adults! Asking for a preferred location is worth the extra $.
Character meals are really fun; our favorite is at the Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom (Pooh and friends).

Have a wonderful trip!
 
TinkerCarol

TinkerCarol

New Member
We have taken our granddaughter twice now. Last August age 3. This july almost 4. 1900 Park Faire is so fun for dinner at the Grand Floridian. You will see Cinderella, Prince Charming, the Stepmother and both Stepsisters. there. They interact very well and often with evreyone, especially the kids. Also if you use the monorail, ask to sit in the front with the driver. We always stay at all Star Movies, and she has loved it. Then we save enough money to do Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique, purchase more stuff, and but her more trading pins. Wherever you stay, the trip will be magical. I love watching evrything at Disney in the eyes of my granddaughter. It just makes the experience greater! We take our grown kids with too. And the same goes with them! Make sure you do the photopass and gets lots of pictures on there. By the castle, day and night, all the "special" pics you can do with Tink and other characters. Every park will have photgraphers all over. Do some of all of you together and even some of her alone in the. Order ahead of time and save some $$$. Have a magical trip.
 
KC82271

KC82271

Active Member
I have taken my 8 year old godson a few times. His favorite was the All Star Movies for the design of it. However, he got shrewed and told me to stay in the All Star Sports - because he could get a seat!! Buses serve al three AS resorts so Sports is first, Movies is last (Music is in between). On the way to parks you are usually not getting a seat! He preferred to get a seat to staying in the better hotel! We would then take the bus over to Movies and walk around and then find the next bus that came and go to that park for a short time - even if it meant not sitting.

As for meals, Chef Mickey's was and is his favorite. But if you GD is into the princesses, try Cinderella's or the Epcot breakfast.

One that he enjoyed at that age was the 50's Prime Time cafe in the Studios. He loved the fact that my mother and I were always getting in trouble!
 
H20Babie

H20Babie

Well-Known Member
I know a lot of girls in the 8-9 age range are into Hannah Montana. You could create a themed vacation ... stay at All Star Music, have a Hannah Montana gift basket made for her, and then a trip to the Bippity Bobbity Boutique for the new Hannah Montana makeover. There's so much you could do if you have a theme in mind :)
 
L

Laine

New Member
Original Poster
Photo Pass?

Thanks everyone for all your great suggestions. I will have to start doing some undercover detective work. She lives in AZ and I am in MI so it makes it a little harder to keep track of her chaning likes. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach when our kids were teens so that is in the running, but I like the idea of AK. It seems like the POFQ gets great reviews.

What is a photopass that was suggested???

Laine
 
T

tink68

Member
Photopass is everywhere. They are photographers that take your pictures in all the parks. You can order them there or wait until you get home. They will give you a card and everytime you have a pic taken they swipe it so they are all together. You can even get a cd made. They have borders on them and some have characters like Tink and Stitch added. They are great because you can get alot of family photos without someone always being left out or always trying to find someone to take your pic with your camera.
Sheri
 
disneychic71

disneychic71

Member
Laine said:
Thanks everyone for all your great suggestions. I will have to start doing some undercover detective work. She lives in AZ and I am in MI so it makes it a little harder to keep track of her chaning likes. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach when our kids were teens so that is in the running, but I like the idea of AK. It seems like the POFQ gets great reviews.

What is a photopass that was suggested???

Laine
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POFQ is lovely, but if the AK is a possibility, I would recommend it. It is breathtaking, has a lovely pool, and you will love to dine at Boma (the best buffet on property!). One word of warning: due to the animal population, there is a slight "zoo" odor to this resort. If this is a turn-off, you should stay elsewhere and just visit for lunch or dinner!
 
Ravenclaw87

Ravenclaw87

Member
My grandparents are the ones who introduced me to WDW--- and they took me for the first time when I was 8 years old, and they let me pick the hotel. :)

I chose POFQ because the pool was "SOOOOOOOOO COOL!" It is very, very cool to slide down a dragon's tongue when you're 8 years old, I promise.

Just for some former-8-year-old input :)
 

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