Strongly Considering a Trip to WDW: Please Help me plan or talk me out of it

[mickEblu]

You might be better off with the package with the park passes - the cancellation policy should something change will also include cancelling the park passes - so even though you might find it's a little extra to do a package with passes, you will have more flexibility in the long run. Plus it enables you to go ahead and book your parks now so that will be all taken care of!

I'm not sure if someone else mentioned it but the Mobile Ordering for food is awesome! So easy to do, let's you grab a table and avoid the long lines to order food, and the quick service restaurants are really good!

Focus on the excitement! It's all good!

I was seconds away from booking with the park passes but received a text from my bro in law saying tickets are non refundable. I’m going to call them today and see if I can just add the tickets to my hotel as an add on and if they are refundable. I thought like you - that tickets are part of the “vacation” that as refundable but after the text I received I googled it and did find something about tickets being non refundable.

I was in a rush to book the hotel because I had been monitoring the hotel and noticed a few of the rooms were getting booked up.

 

[mickEblu]

I’ve done it with a 6 month and 2 year old , you will be fine. The most challenging part for us was the flight , the 2 year old wouldn’t sit still

Ya this is the part I’m most worried about all I can given an iPad to my 5 year old and my baby sleeps well and will usually atop crying for just about anything if she’s nursed. So I guess my wife gets the window seat lol

 

[mickEblu]

The tickets aren't non-refundable like you just lose them - the value can just be applied to a future trip. We just booked also and clarified it.

So no, you don't get your money back but you do get the value towards your next trip...

Also, you MUST reserve the parks by the day you can not only buy tickets and you can not reserve your days at the parks until you buy tickets. Do not wait, buy the tickets and reserve your days.

Ahhh ok. That’s what I thought. At the very least you’d have credit. Not terrible as I’ll definitely going at some point but not ideal either.

Thanks!

 

[mickEblu]

WDW guests have such an obsession with dining and refillable mugs and other things that are afterthoughts or non-thoughts on my trips. I just go there for the rides.

With the parks having such short hours, I don’t seem myself doing more than 2 sit down meals during park hours even though I have a 7 day pass. The rest of them will have to be in the evenings after the parks are closed

 

[mickEblu]

I've considered going too but I honestly went twice a few years back and

1) Would miss the entertainment
2) Would rather wait for the new things to open (Tron and Ratatouille)

Since you have not been yet you will have PLENTY to see or do.

Our favorite restaurants

Sitdown:
Chef Art Smith's Homecoming - Disney Springs (the only time in my life that I ate so much that I made myself sick)
Ohana - Polynesian Hotel
SciFi Drive In - Hollywood Studios
Yak and Yeti - Animal Kingdom
Sanaa (Order the "Bread Service", its a huge meal in itself) - Animal Kingdom Villas Hotel
Jiko - Animal Kingdom Lodge
Via Napoli - Epcot
La Celier Steak House - Epcot
Liberty Tree Tavern - Magic Kingdom
Jungle Cruise Canteen - Magic Kingdom
Cinderella's Royal Table - Magic Kingdom
Crystal Palace Breakfast with Winnie The Pooh - Magic Kingdom

Quick Service (kids will love these too):
Caseys Corner
Flame Tree BBQ

Honestly when it comes down to it I'd say just don't overplan the dining. Our second trip we ended up having 1 dining reservation a day and it made things way more care free.

For all the "must try food" people talk about, at the end of the day sometimes you are tired and just want to eat a quick meal at your hotel.

Thanks for the tips! I think I’m going to try Sanaa for dinner on the day I go to AK. Hopefully we won’t be exhausted. It’s really strange planning meals 60 days in advance for a a place I’ve never been too. Not only do I not know what I’ll be in the mood to eat that day obviously but we don’t know how we ll be feeling. It’s almost like you have to make multiple reservations. One at the place that’s may be inconvenient that you may or may not have the energy for. One at the convenient place etc...
But I agree, I’ll probably only put in 3 dining reservations. Do you like California Grill? That one keeps coming up too. Since I’m only doing maybe 3 dining reservations it’s hard to narrow down to the places I really want to try.

Homecoming sounds good and keeps coming up. If eat anywhere at Disney Springs it will probably be there.

 

[mickEblu]

I have done this trip with a 5 year old and 5 month old in the heat of summer and don't regret it one second... HOWEVER - here are the things (after many more trips) that I would suggest:

1. Would you make any changes to the itinerary? Considering I'm going with two young children I figure I'll need the relaxing days in between the days at the park. Yes - Get a park ticket for every day you are there. It is much more fun to do the park a little bit in the day and have the down time in the afternoon vs trying to push and get it all in in one day. It gives you a feeling of more downtime vs less, you can see all the parks twice for the most part and you don't feel like you won't be back.

2. Are there any days of the week you would recommend for specific parks? No. They are all busy and slow at random.

3. With the current capacity restrictions, do I still HAVE to be at the parks early to ride headliners like FOP and MMRR and still be able to do most of the rest of the parks? With two littles, get to the park at opening (30 mins before) and yes, jump on rides right away. You will already be awake - take advantage of it. I wouldn't go to the most popular rides because everyone does, I've been able to ride 5-6 rides in the first hour the park opened while everyone was in line for the biggies

4. Which park would you do twice? Ideally, knowing what I know about WDW and being a DL vet, Id probably appreciate a second day at AK the most. However, due to the higher attraction count at MK and more stuff to do for the kids, MK might make more sense. I would do MK, AK both twice. Epcot may surprise you, my little ones absolutely loved it and we spent hours at the aquarium when they were under 10.

5. We'll be going with my sister, brother in law and 2 year old nephew so we'll be doing a lot of child switching on the coasters etc. Is this any less convenient at WDW than it is at DL? No. You'll be fine.

6. What are some MUST EATS at the parks, hotels and Disney Springs? Anything from a snack to fine dining. Although the latter may be difficult to pull off. It doesn't have to all be about the food. For example a lunch at Sci Fi Dine in really appeals to me. Something unique or atmospheric is fun too on vacation. Lots of stuff is closed right now but our favorites (with kids but still good food) Ohana, Sci-Fi, Mama Melrose, The French pastry shop at Epcot, Yak/Yeti and Via Napoli (inside, not the walk up window) are the only "musts" the rest we rotate around. We do love California Grill also if it is in your budget. We avoid most everything on the boardwalk area.

7. Am I making a mistake not getting a park hoppers? I just don't see the value in them on this trip because of the lower crowds and just the inconvenience of it all with my young kids. I also feel like Im allowing myself enough time to where I don't need them. I do worry however about one of my must do attractions going down and missing my chance to ride (unless its at the park I do twice). With park hoppers you can try again another day. No. We didnt' switch over until the kids were both over 10, it is exhuasting and honestly we used them more to eat at other places...

8. Any strong opinions on Coronado Springs? Is it a bad location and does it make it difficult getting to the parks with youngsters? Am I better off staying at the POP Century that has easy Skyliner access for example AND saving money? Caribbean Beach resort also has pretty good rates for a Moderate, is that hotel any good? Do not stay at the value resorts if possible. I understand that is in some budget, but if there is any way to move to a moderate do so. I really like both Carribean Beach and Coronodo springs and have been happy also with the port orleans. We finally bought DVC and have stayed in most of the deluxe as well and my kids still have fond memories and tell stories (they are 15/19 now) of CS and CB. The walls are a bit thicker and you usually get a better night sleep. Less kids for some reason... I have not done the skyliner but the buses are actually pretty good and really easy with a baby and stroller, especially that time of year.

9. What are the best ways to get to the parks with a baby and a 5 year old? Babies don't need car seats in buses right? Im not planning on renting a car as it doesn't seem necessary since I'm staying at WDW the entire time except for maybe the one day at Universal. Don't go to universal. take a front packAND stroller for the baby. Don't try to only do a front pack (i see this all the time). You are on/off bus pretty fast, no car seat.

10. What is the best way to get from the airport to WDW? Magical Express - it is free and so awesome at getting you ready for disney. We miss this when we drive

11. Id like to hop on the monorail and Skyliner at some point, even if buses may be more convenient from my hotel. What would be the best days to try out those modes of transportation? Whats the best way, convenient and or fun/scenic way to get to the parks from Coronado Springs? Monorail can do a loop in front of magic kingdom. Skyliner you can just jump on at one of the parks and do the loop. I promise you the bus is likely your fastest and easiest way even if it is not the most fun

12. Would Disney Springs even feel like a down day? With the hassle that it takes to get there, would I be better off using it as a park day or just going to Disney Springs on days where I possibly finish with the parks early? Disney springs is basically a shopping mall california style (outdoors) - if you go at night there is some music, etc that is cool, we skip it unless we are going to eat (boathouse is good and raglan road is fun but may be too loud for baby). Unless you want shopping to be your all day thing....

13. Is a 1 day park hopper enough for Universal? Is another day there, worth sacrificing one of my down days? Off the top of my head, there are only about 5 Must Do's for me between both parks. Skip it. The kids are way too young and it will be more of a frustration for you.

14. Whats the best way to get to Universal from WDW? Don't

15. Am I crazy for considering this trip right now with a 5 year old AND 5 month old? No!! You will love it.

Thank you for all this! Really appreciate you taking the time to write it up. For the parks we do twice MK is for sure but I haven’t narrowed down which other 2 parks I want to do twice. I have a 7 day ticket. MK will be two full days the park as will the 3 days the other 3 parks. For my “down days” where I’m not rushing to get to the parks in the morning I thought Epcot and DHS might make the most sense as I’m conveniently located next to the skyliner. Wish I could save the down days for the end of the trip so I could know which parks I really want to do again but that defeats the purpose.

Based on what I know about the parks I might want to use those down days for an afternoon/ evening in DHS and AK.

 

[mickEblu]

We did a trip in September of '19 with a 5 year old and an 8 month old. It will be a great trip for your family. Rider Switch gave the big kid a chance to ride some things twice, and the baby had a chance to rest and recharge while we used it. My wife nursed the baby during shows, and slow moving dark rides. The baby was a trooper (it was HOT) and the double stroller with a fan was our best friend. Have a great trip!

Thank you!

 

[truecoat]

I've considered going too but I honestly went twice a few years back and

1) Would miss the entertainment
2) Would rather wait for the new things to open (Tron and Ratatouille)

I'm planning a big trip for the 50th. Staying on property for the first time. Since Tron won't open next year, I'm pushing it to 2022.

 

[mickEblu]

The lines at WDW look atrocious on the park app right now. This isn’t what I signed up for. Granted it’s, 12:30 pm and it’s the holidays. Hoping this changes drastically by the time I go.

 

[imsosarah]

Thank you for all this! Really appreciate you taking the time to write it up. For the parks we do twice MK is for sure but I haven’t narrowed down which other 2 parks I want to do twice. I have a 7 day ticket. MK will be two full days the park as will the 3 days the other 3 parks. For my “down days” where I’m not rushing to get to the parks in the morning I thought Epcot and DHS might make the most sense as I’m conveniently located next to the skyliner. Wish I could save the down days for the end of the trip so I could know which parks I really want to do again but that defeats the purpose.

Based on what I know about the parks I might want to use those down days for an afternoon/ evening in DHS and AK.

I would 100% do my second day at AK - there is so much to just see without the rush of lines and rides that it always feels so much more relaxing than the other parks with the kids (and even when we go alone as 35-40 yr olds) The skyliner is likely not *that* much faster and if there is really not a ton at DHS anymore.

We also tried to always book 1 reservation dinner a day to just give us a break and relax a bit. Look at the menus, make sure you like what is on them. I know we were SO EXCITED for saana and everyone talks about it, it was one of our biggest disappointments - and everyone loves yak/yeti instead (we love ethnic food also). I would make sure that you end the day at Animal kingdom by catching a bus and going to the Animal kingdom lodge. There are animals there and it is one of the prettiest of the resorts. I think poly is worth a visit also - we love to just sit outside with a drink and you feel like you are in kauai. its bizarre. I think the monorail to poly is closed but if you want to do your monorail ride, take it to the main parking area at disney and it is a short 5-10 walk to poly and its beautiful.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I can appreciate this. To be honest I’m ok with the lack of entertainment. I’ve been going to DL since I was a kid and have been an AP the last few years. I’m not big on shows, parades and fireworks. They re usually one and dones for me... except MSEP. What I do enjoy is some nice streetmosphere like the little bands playing here mad there so hopefully they have some of that going on.

The thought of wearing a mask all over WDW is really what kind of bums me out. My glasses fogging up every few seconds isn’t fun. It’s probably time to dust off my contact lenses.

I was thinking last night, there really is no safety reason they are closing the parks so early right? This is just a cost saving measure by them. They already have your money for the parks and hotels which you paid nearly full price for so they cut a a few hours to save money on operating costs? You also have to wonder how much they are losing (not making) by not being open in the evenings.

I think missing entertainment is a mixed bag. WDW doesn't have the influx of smaller things like DLR does, and there's a lot of it that isn't particularly good (thinking about a lot of the DHS shows particularly when I say that). They do, however, have some fantastic entertainment that DLR doesn't, like the Lion King show at DAK and Happily Ever After, which may be the best fireworks show they've ever done anywhere. Epcot normally has a ton of smaller acts in World Showcase (and it can be weird coming from DLR that Epcot, not MK, is actually their ambiance park).

My mother was having the same problem with her glasses fogging up because of mask wearing, and she found these little things from Amazon that she wore that helped solve that problem, I believe they sit on your nose under the mask? I can't imagine they're too expensive.

WDW park hours are always shorter than DLR's (in fact, that 8 AM-12 AM business doesn't really happen anywhere outside of California), but the WDW parks don't have different waves of guests coming in throughout the day the way DL does. Most people start early and go until they run out of energy (or the fireworks).

Thanks for the tips! I think I’m going to try Sanaa for dinner on the day I go to AK. Hopefully we won’t be exhausted. It’s really strange planning meals 60 days in advance for a a place I’ve never been too. Not only do I not know what I’ll be in the mood to eat that day obviously but we don’t know how we ll be feeling. It’s almost like you have to make multiple reservations. One at the place that’s may be inconvenient that you may or may not have the energy for. One at the convenient place etc...
But I agree, I’ll probably only put in 3 dining reservations. Do you like California Grill? That one keeps coming up too. Since I’m only doing maybe 3 dining reservations it’s hard to narrow down to the places I really want to try.

Homecoming sounds good and keeps coming up. If eat anywhere at Disney Springs it will probably be there.

Definitely get the full bread service for Sanaa-it's a little bit more than the "sampler" option, but it's well worth it. You may not even need a meal after that, as it's a lot of bread, but it's very much worth it. I'm not sure when the sun will set, but if you want to see the animals while you eat, lunch on an off day may be better.

I was disappointed by Homecoming tbh, but I'm clearly in the minority on that. I just didn't think the fried chicken was good enough for the price point.

 

[SaltyD]

The lines at WDW look atrocious on the park app right now. This isn’t what I signed up for. Granted it’s, 12:30 pm and it’s the holidays. Hoping this changes drastically by the time I go.

Keep in mind regardless of covid this has always been the busiest time of year for Disney. Goes to show you that people are still going and enjoying the parks. When you head there, crowds should be less so I wouldn't panic just yet!

 

[PiratesMansion]

One other thing to note re: WDW crowd levels: it is completely normal for WDW attractions to have higher waits vs. Disneyland. Part of this is because WDW across the board has less ride capacity and also they have a tendency to cut capacity if they think nobody will notice (they do, however, tend to be better about telling you what attraction/restaurant hours are than DLR), and cumulative resort attendance is often higher.

While it may not be quite to this extent now when there's no FP system operating, it's very normal to wait about double what you would at DLR for the attractions, especially at Magic Kingdom. Those 120 min waits for RSR that are kind of anomolies at DLR are much more normalized at WDW during non-covid times. But because there's considerably more room on the walkways it won't *feel* as crowded as DLR even as the lines are longer. Although now because covid lines might spill into the walkways more I suppose.

 

[mickEblu]

I would 100% do my second day at AK - there is so much to just see without the rush of lines and rides that it always feels so much more relaxing than the other parks with the kids (and even when we go alone as 35-40 yr olds) The skyliner is likely not *that* much faster and if there is really not a ton at DHS anymore.

We also tried to always book 1 reservation dinner a day to just give us a break and relax a bit. Look at the menus, make sure you like what is on them. I know we were SO EXCITED for saana and everyone talks about it, it was one of our biggest disappointments - and everyone loves yak/yeti instead (we love ethnic food also). I would make sure that you end the day at Animal kingdom by catching a bus and going to the Animal kingdom lodge. There are animals there and it is one of the prettiest of the resorts. I think poly is worth a visit also - we love to just sit outside with a drink and you feel like you are in kauai. its bizarre. I think the monorail to poly is closed but if you want to do your monorail ride, take it to the main parking area at disney and it is a short 5-10 walk to poly and its beautiful.

Thanks for this! Is yak / yeti at AK lodge?

Well we LOVE Kauai and had our honeymoon there so we ll definitely have to pay the Poly a visit!

 

[PiratesMansion]

Thanks for this! Is yak / yeti at AK lodge?

Well we LOVE Kauai and had our honeymoon there so we ll definitely have to pay the Poly a visit!

Yak & Yeti is in the park.

 

[mickEblu]

One other thing to note re: WDW crowd levels: it is completely normal for WDW attractions to have higher waits vs. Disneyland. Part of this is because WDW across the board has less ride capacity and also they have a tendency to cut capacity if they think nobody will notice (they do, however, tend to be better about telling you what attraction/restaurant hours are than DLR), and cumulative resort attendance is often higher.

While it may not be quite to this extent now when there's no FP system operating, it's very normal to wait about double what you would at DLR for the attractions, especially at Magic Kingdom. Those 120 min waits for RSR that are kind of anomolies at DLR are much more normalized at WDW during non-covid times. But because there's considerably more room on the walkways it won't *feel* as crowded as DLR even as the lines are longer. Although now because covid lines might spill into the walkways more I suppose.

ugh! Without the shorter lines that my bro in law and sister had in late October at WDW, I lose a lot of perceived value in this trip. I have until the day before the trip to cancel though.

So I just cancelled my hotel room and rebooked the same hotel stay and included the 7 day park tickets. I called WDW this morning and they confirmed park tickets are indeed refundable as long as they are purchased/ bundled with the hotel reservations up until 1 day before your stay. The tickets are only non refundable if they are purchased separately.

So now that this is official, I'm starting to book my reservations and I'm thinking about it all in a little more detail so my itinerary has changed slightly. Not to mention All of the great tips I've gotten that have now permeated my brain. I made sure to do DHS on the weekend and the other 3 parks on the weekdays to take advantage of the attendance drop off. I also changed around the "down' days. What do you think of this...

Day 1, Mon 2/22: Arrive hotel between 6-8pm. Haven't booked flight yet
Day 2, Tues 2/23 : MK (sets the tone for the trip, lets my son know we re at Disneyland East and it also makes sense as we'll be doing a second full day at MK so we don't have to be here super early after flying the day before and getting to the hotel in the evening).
Day 3, Wed 2/24: Down day (DHS by Skyliner some point in the afternoon/ evening). I originally had this as a full park day but I think we could probably use an easier day here considering the traveling and MK two days prior with the kids. I choose DHS because it has a lot of headliners I want to ride and I know its the busiest park right now
Day 4, Thurs 2/25: AK
Day 5, Fri 2/26: Epcot
Day 6, Sat 2/27: Down Day (AK at some point in afternoon or just half day starting in the morning)
Day 7, Sun 2/28: DHS
Day 8, Mon 3/1: MK
Day 9, Tues 3/2: Depart

Now I just have to fill in the dining and some of the other non park activities around this itinerary. My concern is if my "down" days will even feel like down days at all if I'm still going to the parks at some point AND exploring some hotels or going to Disney Springs.

 

[PiratesMansion]

ugh! Without the shorter lines that my bro in law and sister had in late October at WDW, I lose a lot of perceived value in this trip. I have until the day before the trip to cancel though.

So I just cancelled my hotel room and rebooked the same hotel stay and included the 7 day park tickets. I called WDW this morning and they confirmed park tickets are indeed refundable as long as they are purchased/ bundled with the hotel reservations up until 1 day before your stay. The tickets are only non refundable if they are purchased separately.

So now that this is official, I'm starting to book my reservations and I'm thinking about it all in a little more detail so my itinerary has changed slightly. Not to mention All of the great tips I've gotten that have now permeated my brain. I made sure to do DHS on the weekend and the other 3 parks on the weekdays to take advantage of the attendance drop off. I also changed around the "down' days. What do you think of this...

Day 1, Mon 2/22: Arrive hotel between 6-8pm. Haven't booked flight yet
Day 2, Tues 2/23 : MK (sets the tone for the trip, lets my son know we re at Disneyland East and it also makes sense as we'll be doing a second full day at MK so we don't have to be here super early after flying the day before and getting to the hotel in the evening).
Day 3, Wed 2/24: Down day (DHS by Skyliner some point in the afternoon/ evening). I originally had this as a full park day but I think we could probably use an easier day here considering the traveling and MK two days prior with the kids. I choose DHS because it has a lot of headliners I want to ride and I know its the busiest park right now
Day 4, Thurs 2/25: AK
Day 5, Fri 2/26: Epcot
Day 6, Sat 2/27: Down Day (AK at some point in afternoon or just half day starting in the morning)
Day 7, Sun 2/28: DHS
Day 8, Mon 3/1: MK
Day 9, Tues 3/2: Depart

Now I just have to fill in the dining and some of the other non park activities around this itinerary. My concern is if my "down" days will even feel like down days at all if I'm still going to the parks at some point AND exploring some hotels or going to Disney Springs.

I'm glad to hear that everything is refundable up until the day before.

I would start the down days with a vague plan to *maybe* hit a particular park later if you feel like it, but don't feel like you have to go just because you're "committed" to it. The down days are your time to be flexible and spontaneous and do whatever feels best in the moment. If that means more time at the parks, great! If that means everyone would really be happy hanging out at the pool all day (or you split and some go to parks and some relax), that's good too.

I would say that if you want ease yourself in on day one and not quite go in at full tilt I wouldn't start at MK. MK has no chill and you're best off devoting full open to close days there IMO. By contrast, if you start at Epcot, there's not that much there that's life-or-death high priority other than Frozen, so you can be leisurely without being penalized as much. Even more so if you're ok with skipping Soarin' (identical to the one at DLR except it flies over Epcot at the end) and will use the single rider line for Test Track (will your son be tall enough to ride TT? 40" height requirement). So therefore you can wander, do what you want to do, explore World Showcase, or do whatever suits your fancy. The park may also come off better for the younger ones if they haven't immediately experienced MK beforehand, which they will almost surely like more than Epcot.

Likewise, I wouldn't end four consecutive days in the parks (even if some of them end up being partial days) with Epcot, the park that will require by far the most walking. I think Epcot will be better received if it's somewhat front-loaded within your itinerary.

I would try to separate DHS and MK so that they're not on consecutive days and, if possible, go back to scheduling one down day for every two park days, as that has worked well for me in the past. You may end up feeling like you don't need to do that once you're there, and then you may be able to adjust, but I'd stick to a relatively conservative schedule until you know for sure what the group can handle (unless you've traveled with your sister's family a bunch and you are confident of what you can expect the group dynamic to be). Four mostly-full park days in a row, in my experience, is a lot for most people, especially with smaller children in tow.

I might do something like this:

Day 1, Mon 2/22: Arrive hotel between 6-8pm.
Day 2, Tues 2/23 : Epcot (allows you to be a bit more leisurely and relaxed on Day 1; the fact that it opens at 11 and the other parks open at 9 or 10 means you have more time to adjust to Eastern Time)
Day 3, Wed 2/24: MK or DHS
Day 4, Thurs 2/25: Down Day (DHS by Skyliner some point in the afternoon/ evening). I originally had this as a full park day but I think we could probably use an easier day here considering the traveling and MK two days prior with the kids. I choose DHS because it has a lot of headliners I want to ride and I know its the busiest park right now
Day 5, Fri 2/26: MK or DHS
Day 6, Sat 2/27: DAK
Day 7, Sun 2/28: Down Day (AK at some point in afternoon or just half day starting in the morning)
Day 8, Mon 3/1: MK
Day 9, Tues 3/2: Depart

 

[DugLovesU]

So boredom has kicked into full gear. I never thought these would be the conditions I'd want to take my families first trip to WDW but here we are. I’m starting to seriously consider a trip in late February/ early March. Masks, 5 year old, 5 month old (if and when we go) and all. The perks of low capacity and short lines seem to outweigh the mask requirement, shorter hours and less entertainment. Plus we all need it. Well maybe not my 3 month old daughter. But the rest of us do. Looked up the weather in late Feb and it seems pretty nice and mask friendly. This would be our first trip to WDW. Deals seem to be pretty good right now. I looked into pricing tonight for an 8 night stay in late February to Mid March and Coronado Springs is available for $200 per night. The Lakers recently stayed there during the NBA bubble so it can't be too shabby right? 8 nights and 5 day 1 park per day tickets are going to cost about $3500. Flights are about $120 non stop. Dining plans aren't being offered right now but I'm not sure id buy one anyway.

Im a little concerned about how this trip would go with my 5 year old son AND a newborn daughter who is pretty much breast feeding all day So I'm open to anyone calling me crazy or telling me to stay home. With that said its very common for us to go on a day trip and for my wife and I to ask each other if we left her at home as she'll sleep for hours in her stroller.

Here is my rough itinerary: Im planning on spending full days at the park. They all seem to be closing pretty early anyway. I don't think park hopping or going back go the hotel mid day is necessary with the low crowds or convenient with the kids.

Day 1: Arrive at WDW. Dinner at hotel or Disney Springs
Day 2: Park Day
Day 3: Park Day
Day 4: Down Day - Relax at Hotel, Disney Springs and/ or check out other hotels
Day 5: Park Day
Day 6 Park Day
Day 7: Down Day - Relax at Hotel, Disney Springs and/ or check out other hotels
Day 8: Park Day - (whichever park I pick to do twice)
Day 9: Depart

Side note: I might add a Universal park hopper instead of one of the down days (or 5th park day at WDW) and shift my itinerary around a little bit.

So a few questions for some of you WDW vets or DL'ers who have been to WDW:

1. Would you make any changes to the itinerary? Considering I'm going with two young children I figure I'll need the relaxing days in between the days at the park.

2. Are there any days of the week you would recommend for specific parks?

3. With the current capacity restrictions, do I still HAVE to be at the parks early to ride headliners like FOP and MMRR and still be able to do most of the rest of the parks?

4. Which park would you do twice? Ideally, knowing what I know about WDW and being a DL vet, Id probably appreciate a second day at AK the most. However, due to the higher attraction count at MK and more stuff to do for the kids, MK might make more sense.

5. We'll be going with my sister, brother in law and 2 year old nephew so we'll be doing a lot of child switching on the coasters etc. Is this any less convenient at WDW than it is at DL?

6. What are some MUST EATS at the parks, hotels and Disney Springs? Anything from a snack to fine dining. Although the latter may be difficult to pull off. It doesn't have to all be about the food. For example a lunch at Sci Fi Dine in really appeals to me. Something unique or atmospheric is fun too on vacation.

7. Am I making a mistake not getting a park hoppers? I just don't see the value in them on this trip because of the lower crowds and just the inconvenience of it all with my young kids. I also feel like Im allowing myself enough time to where I don't need them. I do worry however about one of my must do attractions going down and missing my chance to ride (unless its at the park I do twice). With park hoppers you can try again another day.

8. Any strong opinions on Coronado Springs? Is it a bad location and does it make it difficult getting to the parks with youngsters? Am I better off staying at the POP Century that has easy Skyliner access for example AND saving money? Caribbean Beach resort also has pretty good rates for a Moderate, is that hotel any good?

9. What are the best ways to get to the parks with a baby and a 5 year old? Babies don't need car seats in buses right? Im not planning on renting a car as it doesn't seem necessary since I'm staying at WDW the entire time except for maybe the one day at Universal.

10. What is the best way to get from the airport to WDW?

11. Id like to hop on the monorail and Skyliner at some point, even if buses may be more convenient from my hotel. What would be the best days to try out those modes of transportation? Whats the best way, convenient and or fun/scenic way to get to the parks from Coronado Springs?

12. Would Disney Springs even feel like a down day? With the hassle that it takes to get there, would I be better off using it as a park day or just going to Disney Springs on days where I possibly finish with the parks early?

13. Is a 1 day park hopper enough for Universal? Is another day there, worth sacrificing one of my down days? Off the top of my head, there are only about 5 Must Do's for me between both parks.

14. Whats the best way to get to Universal from WDW?

15. Am I crazy for considering this trip right now with a 5 year old AND 5 month old?


Thanks in advance for the tips! I promise a very thorough trip report when I get back.

You have really done some research....I'm quite impressed. Not everyone does this ("Why isn't this place more like Six Flags??"). As long as you are aware of all the limitations in place and the experiences that are currently excluded like live shows, fireworks, traditional parades, most character dining-you'll have a great time!! A couple of other suggestions:
1. I'd skip Universal for now. There's not a lot there for your young children and they're less serious about their COVID protocols. You can catch Uni next time!
2. Unless you really want to dine at one of their restaurants, I'd skip Disney Springs as well. It's very pretty but it's basically a deluxe mall. Ordinarily I'd still go, but it's by far the least COVID compliant location on WDW Property.
3. I'd recommend staying at Pop Century or Art of Animation. They're on The Skyliner and are very kid-friendly. The standard rooms are a bit cramped at 265 SF but your kids are still small so it's probably not going to be an issue.
4. I would definitely look to another trip as well in about five years. Everything should be re-opened and several new attractions will have opened. Your son will be 10 and your daughter 5 or 6. Those are near perfect ages for the full WDW experience. It would be awesome.

Happy New Year!

 

[mickEblu]

I'm glad to hear that everything is refundable up until the day before.

I would start the down days with a vague plan to *maybe* hit a particular park later if you feel like it, but don't feel like you have to go just because you're "committed" to it. The down days are your time to be flexible and spontaneous and do whatever feels best in the moment. If that means more time at the parks, great! If that means everyone would really be happy hanging out at the pool all day (or you split and some go to parks and some relax), that's good too.

I would say that if you want ease yourself in on day one and not quite go in at full tilt I wouldn't start at MK. MK has no chill and you're best off devoting full open to close days there IMO. By contrast, if you start at Epcot, there's not that much there that's life-or-death high priority other than Frozen, so you can be leisurely without being penalized as much. Even more so if you're ok with skipping Soarin' (identical to the one at DLR except it flies over Epcot at the end) and will use the single rider line for Test Track (will your son be tall enough to ride TT? 40" height requirement). So therefore you can wander, do what you want to do, explore World Showcase, or do whatever suits your fancy. The park may also come off better for the younger ones if they haven't immediately experienced MK beforehand, which they will almost surely like more than Epcot.

Likewise, I wouldn't end four consecutive days in the parks (even if some of them end up being partial days) with Epcot, the park that will require by far the most walking. I think Epcot will be better received if it's somewhat front-loaded within your itinerary.

I would try to separate DHS and MK so that they're not on consecutive days and, if possible, go back to scheduling one down day for every two park days, as that has worked well for me in the past. You may end up feeling like you don't need to do that once you're there, and then you may be able to adjust, but I'd stick to a relatively conservative schedule until you know for sure what the group can handle (unless you've traveled with your sister's family a bunch and you are confident of what you can expect the group dynamic to be). Four mostly-full park days in a row, in my experience, is a lot for most people, especially with smaller children in tow.

I might do something like this:

Day 1, Mon 2/22: Arrive hotel between 6-8pm.
Day 2, Tues 2/23 : Epcot (allows you to be a bit more leisurely and relaxed on Day 1; the fact that it opens at 11 and the other parks open at 9 or 10 means you have more time to adjust to Eastern Time)
Day 3, Wed 2/24: MK or DHS
Day 4, Thurs 2/25: Down Day (DHS by Skyliner some point in the afternoon/ evening). I originally had this as a full park day but I think we could probably use an easier day here considering the traveling and MK two days prior with the kids. I choose DHS because it has a lot of headliners I want to ride and I know its the busiest park right now
Day 5, Fri 2/26: MK or DHS
Day 6, Sat 2/27: DAK
Day 7, Sun 2/28: Down Day (AK at some point in afternoon or just half day starting in the morning)
Day 8, Mon 3/1: MK
Day 9, Tues 3/2: Depart

Hmmm you make a good point about Epcot first from a building up standpoint. In regards to it being the first park after a day of travel, isn’t there there a lot of walking? I suppose all the parks will require a lot of walking and the difference is negligible.

I might just do Epcot the first day and then MK on the second day and down / DHS day on the third day or possibly vice versa. I think I like the second half of my itinerary. The rationale of doing DHS on the weekend makes sense to me and I also like the idea of not ever doing the same park 2 days in a row.

Why do you recommend not doing DHS and MK back to back? Because they re the most hectic?

Yeah Soarin is definitely low priority for me unless we re doing really good on time. At Epcot I’d like to do SSE, American Adventure, Test Track, Frozen, Living with the land, Gran Fiesta Tour.

Impressions, Journey into imagination, Mission Space and Nemo are on the list but a little lower down. Soarin is at the very bottom.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[mickEblu]

You have really done some research....I'm quite impressed. Not everyone does this ("Why isn't this place more like Six Flags??"). As long as you are aware of all the limitations in place and the experiences that are currently excluded like live shows, fireworks, traditional parades, most character dining-you'll have a great time!! A couple of other suggestions:
1. I'd skip Universal for now. There's not a lot there for your young children and they're less serious about their COVID protocols. You can catch Uni next time!
2. Unless you really want to dine at one of their restaurants, I'd skip Disney Springs as well. It's very pretty but it's basically a deluxe mall. Ordinarily I'd still go, but it's by far the least COVID compliant location on WDW Property.
3. I'd recommend staying at Pop Century or Art of Animation. They're on The Skyliner and are very kid-friendly. The standard rooms are a bit cramped at 265 SF but your kids are still small so it's probably not going to be an issue.
4. I would definitely look to another trip as well in about five years. Everything should be re-opened and several new attractions will have opened. Your son will be 10 and your daughter 5 or 6. Those are near perfect ages for the full WDW experience. It would be awesome.

Happy New Year!

Thank you sir! Appreciate you taking the time. Definitely want to do another trip when the kids are older.

Happy New Year!