WDW Itinerary with 3yo and 1yo

[DblJ369]

Hi,

We are heading to WDW in September with a 3yo, 1yo, two parents and two grandparents. I'm working on our itinerary and am looking for some input on what we have planned so far. We will be using the dining plan and am a bit confused about it. Let me know what you think about our itinerary so far and what changes/additions you would make considering the ages of our kiddos. Also, if anyone can help me figure out what is left for dining each day, I'd aprreciate it. Thanks in advance!


Friday – arrival by noon, Magic Kingdom - need lunch and dinner ideas

Saturday – Chef Mickey then over to Magic Kingdom, Quick Service lunch, Grandparents to California Grill for dinner

Sunday – Epcot – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall for lunch, Parents to California Grille for dinner

Monday – Hollywood Studios - Hollywood and Vine for lunch

Tuesday - Free Day, Luau at Polynesian for dinner

Wednesday – Animal Kingdom - Breakfast in Room, Where to have Lunch in AK?, Dinner?

Thursday – Magic Kingdom

Friday – Early Morning Departure

I know 1 night we will do room service for the kids to burn 2 of their dining points since we'll be using them on signature restaurants without them. We will also order groceries in, so some meals in room are an option as well...

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

If you don't have ADR's, then for Magic Kingdom, Pecos Bill's is a great choice. Cosmic Ray's has a lot of choices, and the foods pretty good. If you want fish, Colombia House.
Did you pick California Grill two days in a row because you could get a reservation or because they really like it there. I would try for Rose & Crown. Food and atmosphere are great. Your parent's would probably love it there.
I was able to get a reservation there today for Sept. 22. Sunshine Seasons in Epcot has something for everyone and it's reasonable. It's a quick service.
For quick service in AK without ADR's, I would recommend Restaurantosoarus (sp). We enjoyed Tusker House, but it's probably too late for an ADR there. Yak and Yeti is good also. We do breakfast at Pizzafarie(sp).
For HS, for quick service, can't beat Backlot Express. With an ADR, we like 50's Prime Time.
For my family, the best meal anywhere is at Crystal Palace in MK.

 

[journ116]

Hi,

We are heading to WDW in September with a 3yo, 1yo, two parents and two grandparents. I'm working on our itinerary and am looking for some input on what we have planned so far. We will be using the dining plan and am a bit confused about it. Let me know what you think about our itinerary so far and what changes/additions you would make considering the ages of our kiddos. Also, if anyone can help me figure out what is left for dining each day, I'd aprreciate it. Thanks in advance!


Friday – arrival by noon, Magic Kingdom - need lunch and dinner ideas
L: at your resorts QS restaurant or Casey's Corner in MK; D: Columbia Harbour House

Saturday – Chef Mickey (1 TS) then over to Magic Kingdom, Quick Service lunch, Grandparents to California Grill (2 TS) for dinner

Sunday – Epcot – Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (1 TS) for lunch, Parents to California Grille (2 TS) for dinner

Monday – Hollywood Studios - Hollywood and Vine (1 TS) for lunch

Tuesday - Free Day, Luau (2 TS) at Polynesian for dinner

Wednesday – Animal Kingdom - Breakfast in Room, Where to have Lunch in AK?, Dinner?
L & D: Pizzafari, FLAME TREE BBQ, and grab a snack at Yak & Yeti (mmm...fried rice)

Thursday – Magic Kingdom

Friday – Early Morning Departure

I know 1 night we will do room service for the kids to burn 2 of their dining points since we'll be using them on signature restaurants without them. We will also order groceries in, so some meals in room are an option as well...

Is it safe to assume that you have the Table-Service DDP? If so, you will receive:
-7 TS, 7 QS, & 7 snacks, plus 1 refillable mug (good at your resort only) per person on the reservation (except for your 1 y.o., unless you specifically requested to pay for him ) x 5 ppl = 35 TS, 35 QS, 35 snacks & 5 refillable mugs TOTAL! Once you burn thru your points, have cash or a credit card on hand to pay for the rest of your meals (or for your 1 y.o.). Remember: your points will expire on that Friday at 11:59 p.m....so use every last one!!

By the look of things, you will have exhausted all of your TS points with the meals you have planned, including 1 night for your 3 y.o. to order room service . And, it looks like you'll have no problem exhausting your QS points. Snack points, at least for us, are the first things to go (usually on the big bottles of water or treats).

*NOTE: Because you can use anyone's room card to "pay" for meals, it's important to keep track of of who used which points on either a TS, QS or snack. Disney does a running total for TS, QS and snack points, and does not break it down for each individual (hence, being able to use anyone's room card to "pay"). Also, because you have a 3 y.o. in your party, he or she, will have to order off of the KIDS MENU for TS & QS meals, and will have a running total of his or her own.

When we go (and we usually do the QS plan), I ask everyone to hold onto ANY receipts they get whenever they swipe their room card for a meal or snack. At the end of the day, I collect them, write their name next to the meal or snack, and then mark it on a DDP log I made at home. This way, I know who has what left in terms of meal and snack points. If you're not sure how many points you have left (in TOTAL) per TS, QS or snack, you can always call down to the front desk and have them check. (Be careful that a CM does not charge you twice for anything...I had this done and had to dispute it at the front desk...I got my points back).

Lastly, if you don't want gratuity charges charged to your room, DO NOT add a credit card to your room card. OR, only allow room charging privileges to your card, & then "pay" with someone else's room card who doesn't have your credit card attached. When we did do the TS plan (only once), we paid gratuities in cash. And before you tip, make sure the gratuity wasn't already automatically added to the bills' total (our kind waitress at Le Cellier made out with a $100 tip this way). ALWAYS tell the CM that whatever you're buying with your DDP points, "This will be on our Dining Plan."

NOW, for DDP specifics:

For each TS: you can get a buffet (w/ non-alcoholic drinks) OR 1 entree, 1 non-alcoholic drink & 1 dessert (served with lunch & dinner only).

For each QS: 1 entree, 1 non-alcoholic drink & 1 dessert (served with lunch & dinner only) OR 1 combo-meal (which you'll get the most value for).

For snacks: there will be an insignia next to the item (i.e. bottled water, popcorn, ice cream, fried rice in AK) indicating it's a snack.

Many people will tell you to use your points on lunches and dinners in order to get the most value for your buck, and eat breakfast in your hotel room. If your family is anything like mine, we LIVE for breakfast and almost always burn thru our QS points on this. However, having snacks and breakfast items on hand in the room is always a plus!!

A little TIP: you have your first character meal scheduled for the next morning after you arrive. Might I suggest that while you're touring MK the day before, slowly introduce your children to a full-costumed character. If your child has an adverse reaction, do not push him or her any further. You could just "wave" or "blow kisses" from afar. This will be a great gage as to how they'll react at the character meals you have scheduled. If either have a bad reaction, you can simply ask the character yourself to "sign the autograph book" and to "pose for pictures" with one of the adults in your party.
My DD6, who was 1.5 years at the time, was terrified at her first character meal experience (at Crystal Palace); and, she hadn't met a single character up until that point (it was always just waving to them from a distance). Every time a character came over, she'd clammer for me to hold her. We tried to show her that the characters were nice by posing for pictures and interacting with them ourselves. Needless to say, she is still iffy about the full-costumed characters to this day!!

Enjoy your vacation and pack some clip-on stroller fans!!

 

[SAV]

If the kids like Toy Story, then you can take them to Pizza Planet on your DHS day. Most of the DHS quick service is pretty bad IMO.

Also at Animal Kingdom, we absolutely love Flame Tree BBQ.

At MK. Cosmic Ray's has a lot to offer as well as Pecos Bill's.

 

[DblJ369]

Thanks, everyone for your responses and help! Thank you especially Journ116 for outlining the meal plan so thoroughly and for your tips!! I think I have a better handle on the meal plan now. RE: two California Grille Reservations...my parents haven't been there before and want to try it/watch the fireworks from dinner. My husband and I have been previously but are going again mostly for convenience sake. We are staying in Bay Lake Tower and my parents will be staying with the kids. My 1yo is a bit of a wildcard with sleeping, so need to be close in case of a wakeup and also to have a better chance of making it there in time after putting kids to bed!!

 

[DblJ369]

Also, I'm figuring my 1 yo will mostly eat off of our plates or my 3yo's plate. Any other ideas/suggestions for food for a 1 yo? Things to bring/things I can get in the park, etc. Not too much of a picky eater....also, we are still nursing, so will at least have that covered

 

[dopeylover]

Also, I'm figuring my 1 yo will mostly eat off of our plates or my 3yo's plate. Any other ideas/suggestions for food for a 1 yo? Things to bring/things I can get in the park, etc. Not too much of a picky eater....also, we are still nursing, so will at least have that covered

When we took our DD, she was a week away from being a year old. I Fed Exed a package to the hotel ahead of time with food, snacks, cups, wipes, etc. It was a lot cheaper than loading down my suitcase and paying the over the limit fee! I don't know if you use them now, but my daughter loves what we call 'space baby food'. Its the pouches with food in it, and there is essentially a straw at the top that they suck the food out of. We use those a lot for snacks while we're out and about, or if she is having a fussy spell in eating to make sure she's getting her fruits and veggies. They are so easy, and you don't have to worry about glass jars, spoons, and all the other accessories needed for snacks and meals. Also, the freeze dried yogurt drops are easy to travel with and need no refrigeration. If you ever do run out of anything or forget anything, MK had am amazing Baby Center. It was a great place to take a break, do a diaper change, cool off, and breast feed quietly and comfortably.

Eating breakfast in our room saved time and money.

Our daughter ate off my plate 99% of the time for meals, and everyone was very understanding about it, bringing her her own tiny plate so I could just cut up some of my stuff.

Have an amazing time! Let me know if you need anything else!

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Also, I'm figuring my 1 yo will mostly eat off of our plates or my 3yo's plate. Any other ideas/suggestions for food for a 1 yo? Things to bring/things I can get in the park, etc. Not too much of a picky eater....also, we are still nursing, so will at least have that covered

Hey, food before one is just for fun, so the 1YO shouldn't need much. They can share off of others' plates. For something specifically for them, I'd say something simple like Cheerios or something like that would do the trick. Something that won't stain, end up coating their entire body, or melt in the Florida sun.

 

[dopeylover]

If the kids like Toy Story, then you can take them to Pizza Planet on your DHS day. Most of the DHS quick service is pretty bad IMO.

Also at Animal Kingdom, we absolutely love Flame Tree BBQ.

At MK. Cosmic Ray's has a lot to offer as well as Pecos Bill's.

Great places for little ones! Don't forget a Dole Whip for a snack! A fun treat, and (somewhat, hee hee) healthy!

 

[DblJ369]

Thank you! Forgot about Yogurt Melts, great idea!! I'm not familiar with Dole Whips, but will look them up. Thanks for all of the great ideas! I'm SO excited!!!