Wow.....you WDW fans are awesome! And so very quick on the old keyboard too!!! I think Disney lovers are the best people EVER:kiss: :kiss:
I really appreciate the advice, since this will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip...as a result, I'm probably over-plannng just a teensy bit!
If I was a character...I'd be Rabbit. Huggies to you all:animwink:
You can NEVER plan too much for Disney! Especially with young children...
My oldest was 5 years old on our trip last year... But even my younger two children got a lot out of their trips to the World. This year everyone will be 2, 4 and 6...
Anyhow...can I ask... why not the water parks? If you have plus options on yoru tickets...a day at Typhoon Lagoon can be QUITE enjoyable... Did you know they have a Castaway Cay, which is a "lazy river" raft ride around the entire park....you hop in an innertube and float around indefinitely... they even have innertubes for two if you'd prefer your daughter be righ in the same tube with you (otherwise you hang on to her tube with your big toe so she doesn't float away from you.). They also have Ketchakiddee Creek which is a play area just for little ones... Though she'd certainly be tall enough to go on some of the tamer water slides and the family raft ride.
We always try to shoot for a day at Tyhpoon Lagoon to recharge our batteries midweek. It all depends on weather of course....but I don't like to do TOO many days in the park without a day to rest a bit...and TL is perfect for that...
So I'm GOING to include TL in my suggested 10 day touring plan...
MK- 2 days
EPCOT - 2 half days... one morning to do Imagination/Test Track/The Land/Honey I Shrunk the Audience/Living Seas/Space Ship Earth... I'd skip Mission Space...but if you and your DH want to ride it... you can do a switch rider pass and there is a fun Mission Control inspired play zone at the end of hte ride that your daughter might enjoy... Then I'd come back late afternoon to tour World Showcase... I might even advise renting a stroller for a 5 year old...it's a lot of walking and can be tiring even for grown ups... I know my 5 year old HAPPILY went in a stroller at EPCOT... Take her to El Rio Del Tiempo at Mexico... and the Maelstrom at Norway. Have an ADR planned at one of the World Showcase restaurants for dinner... then stay and watch Illuminations and the fireworks...
Animal Kingdom... 1/2 to 2/3 of a day... there are not a ton of rides here for a 5 year old... The Safari ride is a must, and she'll probably enjoy Kali River Rapids... My son was tall enough for dinosaur, but not brave enough to ride it.... They have a ride similar to Dumbo over at Dinoland...and there is a fun play area--I think it is called the Bone Yard... up on the top level there is a giant sand pit and it is shaded and a nice place for you to rest in a cool spot.... (the rest of the play area is pretty darn hot). Definitely see the Festival of the Lion King Show and visit with the characters afterwards to take some pictures... If you don't plan to stay for the parade (not one of the better ones in my opinion) you need to get out of there well before hand because otherwise the parade and the crowds block your hope of escaping the park...
MGM - at least one full day...see the stage shows (Indian Jones, Lights Camera Motor Cars, Beauty and the Beast... Voyage of the Little Mermaid... PLayhouse Disney. She MAY or may not like Tower of Terror....let her decide... My son was tall enough, but too chicken. He says he's going on this year, though. The Great Movie Ride is good.... the Backlot Tour. I'd recommend eating at the Sci Fi Dine In Theater as it is very entertaining for kids and it is a nice escape from the sun and heat for an hour or so... they have great milkshakes.
I'd recommend taking her to Fantasmic, especially since it is a once in a lifetime trip.
I'd do a day at TL for sure...
Save a day for shopping at Downtown Disney... there is the Lego store with a large play area she'll love, and there are fountains to play in if you pack her bathing suit and a towel in your day bag. My kids have a blast in the fountains. A good source of free entertainment! If she's a real girly girl... make her an appointment at the new Bippity Boppity Boutique to get her hair styled like a princess...
I'd spend a day at the hotel enjoying the pool and relaxing... and use your remaining days to wing it to do whatever it is you want to do... rent a boat on Seven Seas Lagoon... whatever....
Make sure you schedule at least one character meal--let her help you choose based on her favorite characters. For a little girl, I recommend Cinderella's Royal Table for sure... or Chef Mickey's is she's not that into the princesses.
Ten days makes for a nice manageable trip...plenty of time to get it all done... I find it hard to pack it all into a 7 day trip.
Have a great time! You will so enjoy seeing it all through your daughter's eyes! Take lots of pictures, and video if you can... those pics and videos will not only help her remember...if she watches them enough, she'll never really forget. And neither will you. My kids LOVE to watch the videos of past trips when they were little... It's somethign she'll enjoy sharing with HER kids some day!
:wave: Have fun!
