2 days at Disney- need help with plan!!

[NewbieDisney]

My family will be going to Disney for 2 days in late April this year. I have 2 kids, 6 and 4 years old and this is their first time the. I haven't been since probably 1990, and I need some advice on trip plans. Here are my questions:
1) A day at the Magic Kingdom is a given, but I'm not sure what to do with day 2. Another day at TMK? Animal Kingdom? Does Epcot have enough for young kids to make it worthwhile?
2) we will have a rental car, but I'm not sure where to stay. I've heard that it's worthwhile to stay on the property, but then I read another website that was saying the shuttle bus ride from some of the value Disney hotels could get quite long. My budget could afford the moderate Disney properties but not deluxe.
3) I heard I should make dinner reservations ASAP. Any recommendations around places to eat that are convenient, family friendly, but have decent food would be great.
4) any other advice
Thanks for the help!!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Welcome aboard !!!!

2) If you can afford it then choose a Disney Resort hotel. For a Moderate, I'd recommend Port Orleans French Quarter. You're close to DHS & EPCOT and about equal distance from MK & AK. Plus there's a lovely boat ride to DownTown Disney. Let the Disney transportation system take the strain while you sit back and look forward to your day ahead.

1) Now that you're staying at a Disney Resort you can take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours (if you can get the kids out of bed early enough). As a Resort guest you get to visit one park an hour earlier than the general public and you remain in the parks up to two hours after the general public leave. The parks which get EMH are done on a rota - you can check Disney parks opening hours and EMH hours online.
MK is a definite (as you say) and I'd squeeze in as much as possible on your ONE full day. Day two, you may want to visit AK in the morning (it really is only a half day park). After lunch I'd head off to either DHS or EPCOT. If you have time take a look around DTD before you leave.

3) Your Advanced Dining Reservations can be made from 180 days before you visit (and as you're staying at POFQ you can make them all in one phonecall or online).
While in MK you have several good food venues. Crystal Palace is a lovely place for breakfast - its a serve yourself buffet and the characters from Winnie The Pooh come around to your table for photos etc. Dinner, I'd try and book Be Our Guest - it is THE most popular dining venue in the entire 40 square miles of Disney property. Try every day if necessary.
Depending on where you decide to visit on day two will determine where you eat. Check the dining reviews on here.

4) Fast Pass+. As a resort guest you can book FP+ 60 days before you travel. You can book 3 per day (before you travel) for one park each day. So day 1 - all three in MK. For your second day (if you follow my example) you may want to visit AK first thing and use the stand by lines and book your FP+ for when you arrive in DHS or EPCOT later that day and beat the queues. You can book extra FP+ each day when you're in the parks - but only when your first three have been used / expired and only for use in the park that you're actually in (and if there's any left).

Have a great trip

 

[RiceCrispyMickey]

I agree with everything Captain Hook said. Stay on property if you can afford it- even value resorts are fine, there's always horror stories about transport but we have never had a problem, and I think often it feels like it's taking longer than it is because your so excited to get to the parks!

I would also second the suggestion of spending your second day across 2 parks if you can stretch to the price for a park hopper tickets. Whilst I now love EPCOT and could happily spend my whole life there, for young children DHS may appeal more, but then again if you have a park hopper there is nothing stopping you from spending a few hours in all 3!!

If your children are beauty and the beast fans, I would definitely try for a be our guest reservation as it is fantastic.... But don't worry if you can't get one as there are so many brilliant table service options at the world. Don't forget though that if your family are grab and go eaters there are also a great selection of counter service resturants and these do not require reservations, so if you would rather just go with the flow than be somewhere for dinner at a certain time then these options are for you.

I hope you have a magical trip!

 

[lilclerk]

Even if you stay on site, you can always drive to the parks since you'll have a car! You won't have to pay for parking if you 're a resort guest.

 

[JillC LI]

My family will be going to Disney for 2 days in late April this year. I have 2 kids, 6 and 4 years old and this is their first time the. I haven't been since probably 1990, and I need some advice on trip plans. Here are my questions:
1) A day at the Magic Kingdom is a given, but I'm not sure what to do with day 2. Another day at TMK? Animal Kingdom? Does Epcot have enough for young kids to make it worthwhile?
2) we will have a rental car, but I'm not sure where to stay. I've heard that it's worthwhile to stay on the property, but then I read another website that was saying the shuttle bus ride from some of the value Disney hotels could get quite long. My budget could afford the moderate Disney properties but not deluxe.
3) I heard I should make dinner reservations ASAP. Any recommendations around places to eat that are convenient, family friendly, but have decent food would be great.
4) any other advice
Thanks for the help!!

1 - If you can afford a park hopper tickets, then I agree with AK in the morning in EPCOT or DHS in the afternoon for your second day. Check out the Unofficial Guide to WDW to see what attractions your kids might enjoy at each park to decide best. If you go to two parks in one day, I recommend you book your FP+s for the second park. (And like the other poster said above, definitely book your FP+s 60 days out if you are staying on property.
2 - We like to stay on property and to have a rental car of our own. When you go to the MK, you might want to take Disney transport because it will take you directly to the Park whereas driving your own car only gets you to the TTC. We stayed at a Value resort when our kids were 5 and 7 for their first trip. They liked the more in-your-face Disney theming, and we spent little time in the room. If it's a choice between a Moderate room or a park-hopper ticket, I'd go with the park hopper, but that's me since we never hang out at the resort swimming or whatnot.
3 - YES, make your dining reservations asap! You can check out menus here: http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining.htm
Decide which Park you will go to which day (Extra Magic Hours should play into this decision if you stay on property), and then book something either in that Park, or readily accessible in that park. We like to grab a fast bite in the resort for breakfast, do counter-service in a Park for lunch, and have a sit down dinner in a Park or a resort for dinner.
4 - Try a Dole Whip Float at Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom - a little bit of heaven in a cup! Create a loose touring plan for each Park that includes the highlights you do not want to miss, and then be flexible about putting it into play based on Park conditions and how everyone feels that day. Build down-time into your day even if you plan to stay at the Parks all day. For example, Carousel of Progress, Philharmagic, a meal or a snack are good ways to relax off your feet in air conditioning throughout a day at the MK. Enjoy!