please help with things to do

[tcpm21]

Hi everyone! We will be going to Disney in Sept. Myself, my hubby 4 year old and a 17 month old. We have the free dining. I wanted to go ahead and make all of our dinner reservations, but then my husband brought up a good point. We never know when our kids will be hungry or sleepy. I mean right now we eat at normal times, but while we are there I am not sure if everyone will hungry at the same times. I know my 4 year old will want every little neat snack she sees. My baby will most likely be tired because she wont have her normal naps. I guess I am asking what are my chances of just going to a resurant and not having to wait a very long time? Another thing I have been pounding my head on the wall is what to do the first and last days. We will be getting there quit early. Our plane lands in Orlando at 9:14 am. We do not have hopper passes. Leaving our plane leaves Orlando at 5:20. Any kind of input would help.:brick:

 

[JimboJones123]

Book early dinners 5pm or so. You don't want to wait if the kids get hungry. Also, if you have to nap, and get back to the hotel at 2 or so, that gives a little time before your reservations so you arent just getting everybody right back up again.

 

[brisem]

Going in August what we'll do is go to the parks in the morning back to the hotel around 12-1. Let my almost2 yr old nap and the other will go swimming. I think with the exception to Le Cellier, all our dinner reservations are between 4:30 and 5:30. It works out well.

 

[tcpm21]

Another question I have is, at the Boardwalk, are there stroller rentals?

 

[shoppingnut]

I would make the dinner ressie's just like jimbo said, 5p seems to be a good time for kids, especially if they are used to eating around that time. As far as snacks go, that is something you are going to have to control.

On the first day, figure that you will probably be on bus by about 10:00a on the way to the resort, so should get there about 10:45ish and they might just have the room ready and if that is the case, maybe you might want to plan to spend a little time at the pool, so I would pack the swimwear and carry that on with me so you have it when you get to the resort. This, of course, is if you're using DME. Just because you don't have a hopper doesn't mean you can't go to the same park that you planning on going to earlier in the day, leave it and go back to it later on. You can re-enter the same park more than once during the day.

 

[amykissangel]

I'd go to DTD when you get there...or perhaps a water park? They don't open until ten, and the kids will probably be wired and ready for some fun...if not, take a nap and lay by the pool. That's what we do our first and last days...they're our only days to relax as we're Disney Park Crazy the rest of the week

 

[tigsmom]

Another question I have is, at the Boardwalk, are there stroller rentals?

No stroller rentals because its not a park, its a resort/entertainment area. You will need to use your own stroller or carry the baby.

Now about that dining problem... on one trip our kids were 7 and 18 months old. We went to the parks in the morning,had lunch there then headed back to the resort for a swim and a rest; we sometimes ate back at the resort's snack bar. Then we headed back out for dinner and an evening in the parks. The baby slept in her stroller when she needed to and I carried snacks and juice boxes in the diaper bag for those times they just couldn't wait. We never went to any "fancy restaurants" when they were small because we knew they would never make it through the meal. Because of the popularity of the free dining and the demise of the quiet season (its always busy now) you will need ADRs. We always had early meals when the kids were little so we avoided the busy regular mealtime hours.

Be prepared to not be able to do everything you may want to do, but do enjoy watching your kids have the time of their lives!

If you want to head to the parks on your arrival day then check in and head on out. Otherwise explore your resort, settle in and maybe check out DTD. After a busy morning of travel you will need to unwind.

We always save our DTD shopping day till the end of our trip...just to squeeze out a little Disney fun before we head on home.

EDIT: I would invest in the park hopper option (especially with little kids) because you may want to spend the morning in one park and head to another in the evening, especially with EMHs and the great restaurants that are around. (yep, the little ones can do the EMH too).

 

[TwoTigersMom]

I strongly suggest adr's for any sit down restraunts your planning on. Whatever time you choose for your meals, start working on getting your children on that schedule a few weeks before your trip. If your planning 8am breakfasts, 1pm lunches and 7pm dinners, then practice eating at those times at home. A few weeks should give you enough time to figure out which kid needs what snacks between which meals to sustain them. We don't let our kids have those tasy little treats seen everywhere in the parks. We take along snack bags of Kiddie Trail mix (various flavers of goldfish, raisins, cherrios (they really like that new Kashi honey crunch mighty bites), scooby snacks and animal cookies. I just put a little bit of everything into the small ziplocs and keep several of them in our back pack and hand them out as needed. They are also great for standing in line boredom, although I only do this if I'm in a pinch and have nothing else to occupy them with. I hate the thought of them eating out of boredom but occasionally it's your only choice. By handing these out periodically between meals the kids can last til the next without getting too full.

 

[Nemo14]

I'd have to agree to make your dinner ADR's for 5ish - seems to be a good time for the kids to take a break. Also, pack some of their favorite snacks in individual ziplocks, and bring along a few juiceboxes or small water bottles with you - it will save you $$ and aggravation when they get cranky.
As far as the first and last day are concerned, you'll probably find that they'll enjoy an afternoon at the pool, or as others have said, then maybe go over to Ft Wilderness for the campfire program the first night. We like to visit DTD on the last day.

 

[3fordisney]

We have taken our son twice, once at 2 and lst yr at 3. He is used to being on a schedule with his eating. We eat at the same time everyday, except when we are at WDW. He is so distracted by being there, he doesn't want to stop and eat. He is a breakfast snacker so he munches on cereal in the am, we eat about 10:30 to 11 for lunch (beat some of the lunch crowd) and about 5 for dinner.

We take snacks in our backpack, just in case. I didn't think about the small water bottles. We will have to do that on our next trip. We have asked for cups of ice for our son when he drank out of sippy cups. We were never charged for the ice or a cup of ice water. Prior to your trip, I would start doing meals at the time you have reservations.

If you 17 month old still uses sippy cups, I suggest getting the toss and go cups from Walmart for about $3. It is great to travel with because you can throw the cups away and not really loose anything. Its easier than trying to keep up with the more expensive ones or trying to clean them.

 

[Firewolfe51]

If you plan to eat @ Chef Mickey's (a kiddy fave) make PS now! That place stays booked.
For your early arrival, hit the pool and relax. Your week is about to be BUSY!!
Take an umbrella stroller. You can check it at the gate.
Have a great time!!

 

[natalia1681]

I would also suggest getting the Park Hopper option. I would also agree with the majority of folks on here saying that afternoon nap or pool time for your kids would be good. It will allow for a little down time for them and you and your husband:lol:

Good luck, I hope that you enjoy your trip!

 

[brertigger]

They don't open until ten, and the kids will probably be wired and ready for some fun...

During some parts of the year, the water parks will open at 9AM, for EMH.

 

[Craig & Lisa]

To make as simple as possible, do not try to do any one park in one day, go in the morning at parks openning stay for about 5 hours max, then go back to the resort for a nap. Take about 2 to 3 hours at least, at that point everyone should be on their second wind, a very small snack before you leave for another park then you'll be ready for alittle touring and then dinner. Hey it worked for us for 13 visits, and still going strong. That's not to say it will work for you, but to keep everyone happy and not dragging their rears, the nap is the best way to go. For ressie's make it an early breakfast or early lunch before you leave the parks, try not to make dinner too late your youngest may fall asleep during the fireworks. Hope this helps, and enjoy your visit. 56 days and counting for visit 2 for this year, not soon enough!!! :sohappy: