First trip to WDW on May 3rd, Need as much advise as there is

[zizi]

HI This is my first trip to wdw with my 2 little girls 5 yrs and 2 ys, And I feel theere is so much info out there. Firstly could you recommend a moderate priced hotel. I feel that convenience is the most important thing as the hotel should be a place where we can keep coming back to inbetween when the kids need a break. We drive in on Tuesday and will do a theme park ech day for the 2 days after, on friday we will drive out. I think given the kids ages we should do the Magic Kingdom and the other park I am not sure of. It is my first trip theere and I cant help but want to make it feel like I did all my homework to make it perfect. Can anyone give me some advice. on anything that will help my trip
Thanks

 

[shari71]

Congrats on your first trip. I have (currently) a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 year old. Magic Kingdom is a must. My husband and I love Epcot but on the last trip our oldest didn't like it unless she was on a ride each minute. Disney Studios has the Little Mermaid show and Playhouse Disney which we had to see. She also liked the Mupphet 3D show and many other attractions. Animal Kingdom has lots of shows and animals, but for younger children the draw was only the animals. The shows were too much for her.

I guess if I had only two days I would either go to MK twice or go once with a trip to Disney Studios.

Moderate Hotels - Port Orleans Riverside is my pick. It is so unique. It is affordable and close enough to most everything that we could come back for naps.

 

[zizi]

Thankyou so much for your feedback. I will surely follow your advice, I dont know if Port Orleans is available however Disney`s Coronado Springs Resort Walt is available for those dates, Any ideas how close that is to the MK and Disney Studios? And is that a good hotel. I am also showing availibility for The Dolphin HOtel, Is that hotel as good as any disney resorts?

 

[katiesmom]

If you can swing the Wilderness Lodge... it would be my suggustion. You can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom, which is VERY nice to skip the trams and monorail when you have extra's like a stroller. Plus younger kids think the boat is the best ride in the world. I have 2 girls, now 7 and 4, but we started going to Disney when the oldest was 18 months. In the past, my kids have gotten off the boat, and said... "Can we ride again mom?" :hammer: Do 1 or 2 days in the Magic Kingdom. If your kids like animals... then try the Animal Kingdom... My kids love it! If you go... make sure you see the Lion King show... my kids have always LOVED it. With only 2 park days, don't bother with MGM or Epcot, I think you'll regret it. If you have some open time... make sure you visit the marketplace at downtown disney. Legoland is great and it's a cheep place to entertain kids for a while. If you can, book a character meal, you can get some great photos of your kids, and you won't have to wait in line.

 

[Nansafan]

Zizi, check out the maps found on the Disney website. It will give you an idea of how close things are. Remember, WDW is like 47 square miles of property and the Magic Kingdom is at one end. WDW transportation is pretty good but if you are driving, taking your car to the parks is not a bad idea. My cousin went with her boys when they were 6 and 8 and the car ride back to the resort in the middle of the day offered the boys a chance to nap.

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by zizi
Thankyou so much for your feedback. I will surely follow your advice, I dont know if Port Orleans is available however Disney`s Coronado Springs Resort Walt is available for those dates, Any ideas how close that is to the MK and Disney Studios? And is that a good hotel. I am also showing availibility for The Dolphin HOtel, Is that hotel as good as any disney resorts?

Are you trying to get some sort of discount for the room?

If not, there should be plenty of rooms at Port Orleans as well as Caribbean Beach (CB). CB is more centrally located than any of the other moderate resorts.

I would suggest Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge if you can afford a deluxe. AKL has it's own bus and only one pickup location. The moderates all make multiple stops within the resorts.

 

[zizi]

Character meal?

Thankyou for all the replies, can you please tell me how does one book a character meal??

 

[shari71]

The majority of character meals can be booked 90 days in advance. I got the phone number off of www.disneyworld.com. Just tell them the date and place and they will tell you if there are any time slots available. Booking them sooner the better. I called to have reservations at Cinderella's Royal Castle exactly on the 90th day before and got in fine.

 

[katiesmom]

I forgot to mention, check out wdwig.com. If you read everything on the website, you will be more informed than most Disney Vets. Good luck with your trip planning, I'm sure no matter what you choose to do, you and your kids will have a GREAT vacation.

 

[SafariGuy]

Coronado Springs is nice, but if you have little ones, I would ask for a room in the Casitas section near the lobby/bus stop/food court. All of the Disney moderates are big, so room location is important. Make sure you ask at the front desk when you check in.

 

[Tom]

Go to www.wdwig.com - it's the best planning site out there.

Also, break down and pay $15 for the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World - it's right on the shelf at your local bookstore. It is, by far, the single best guide to WDW in existance! It even has a whole chapter on taking kids! A wise investment, you won't be disappointed.

Have a great time!!!!! :sohappy: