I recorded the kids' immediate reaction, but it was very sad and hilarious (sadlarious?) because they have no in-depth concept of time. ("Oh! Cool. We're going WHEN WE GET BIGGER??" "No, but REALLY SOON, guys." "We're going TONIGHT?!" "Oh, forget it.")
Once they understood a little bit more about when they were going, and what exists there, we were all very, very excited.
J has been to Disney World once in his life, as a seven year old, so he basically remembers nothing.
I, on the other hand, have been a number of times, all noteworthy in their own right:
Age 2: Meet Donald Duck. Proceed, per family legend, to have horrific, shriek-filled nightmares, all centering around Donald Duck's beak for the remainder of the trip.
Age 5: Apparently in a ballerina stage, I wore a series of leotards throughout the trip, and the only good picture of me is with the fat wolf sheriff from Robin Hood. This will become a theme.
Age 15: My grandparents took our entire family on a Disney cruise with a stop in the World itself, to celebrate a milestone anniversary. So nice, right? Yeah, QUID PRO QUO: We all had to wear matching oversize silk-screened t-shirts with a family picture, and "THE [LASTNAME] CLAN" emblazoned on it in red, 987-point font. Again, I was 15. Imagine, if you will, the vision of me, in a XL shirt, bloused out of pinstriped jorts, and Doc Martens, with matte raisin-colored lipstick, braces, and an expression like a hobo just shat on my shoes. RESPLENDENT.The only good picture of me is with an elderly man and Jafar, side by side.
Age 17: As I've mentioned in the past, I went to a very religious private all-girls high school. Somehow, we convinced them to allow us to go to Disney World for our senior trip. What they lacked in a bare collarbone/elbow/knee tolerance policy, they made up for in trip choice-related laxity. The only good picture of me is directly after I was felt up by the fat monkey from the Jungle Book. Do you see my arm positioning? PROTECTING MY BIDNESS. My modestly-attired high school self was scandalized!
Age 21: This was a time of my life punctuated by numerous good decisions, chief among them -- at least during my trip to Disney World -- getting my face painted like a toddler and purchasing a beaded, sparkly crown and prancing around like a fancy lady-slash-idiot.
Age 31: AIEEE! This is the second time we are taking the kids on a plane trip, and the last time was over two years ago. So, this could be a breeze, or I could want to off myself mid-flight. O, THE EXCITING MYSTERY OF IT ALL! And so, I ask you: what are your tried-and-true flight distractions for young kids (a 5 y.o. and a 3 y.o., to be specific), aside from the obvious (DVD player, snacks, tranq darts)?
Also, we are so thrilled about taking the kids to the park, and have plans about what we THINK would be good, in terms of schedules/attractions/rides, but --again -- what do you know that I don't? If you've gone to Disney World (and/or any similar gigantor park) Were there any things that were a huge hit (or a disastrous horrorshow) with your young kids? Do I bring a stroller for my five-year-old? WILL I GET PTSD FROM DONALD DUCK'S BEAK? Lay your knowledge on me!
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21 comments:
I have never been, so I can't advise, sadly... but PINSTRIPE JORTS has made me love you even more.
We're going to WDW this March (My first time ever!!). So, I'm hoping you will post all the tricks, b/c those Disney websites just scare me.
I loved WDW. We took my oldest wen she was 4 or 5. We told her a couple of weeks before we left. I reverted it after about the 400th time she asked "are we going TODAY?" She wanted me to take her picture next to every blue fire hydrant we saw. It was a little bit weird.
Took my then-5-year-old in 2010 and it was a magical trip. Definitely take the stroller. My only regret was that we spent the whole week trying to cover every inch of the parks and didn't spend enough time in the Magic Kingdom riding the spinny teacups like she wanted. Hope we can go back soon and make up for that!
I'm a Disney fan. An adult. No kids. As this person, I beg you, if you do bring a stroller for your five-year-old, make it an umbrella stroller. The massive strollers are taking over Disney, and they are...unwieldy. Also, if you are planning on taking the Disney buses, they'll make you fold it every. single. time.
And this is what our adult selves do: we buy park hoppers, and then we take a break every afternoon between 2-5:30. Sometimes even longer. Some people think you miss things that way; I think we stay sane.
I am 27 and have never been to Disney World. I was deprived as a child, obviously. Can't wait to hear about your experience with your kids!
I am excited you all are going! I live in the Orlando area and have an annual pass to DW. I go all the time. There is a really good website I still use to get info, i.e. park hours, restaurant menus, events. I do not have children, so I can't help with that part of it, but this might be a good place to start http://allears.net/pl/planning.htm
Also, I have noticed that characters don't just wander the park anymore. There are specific times and places to meet them. I know this because I tried to go up to Mary Poppins as she was walking through EPCOT and I was almost tackled by her "bodyguard". I was told I'd have to go to the UK area to get an autograph and picture. Just an FYI! lol
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I love talking about DW!
I once spent approximately 14 hours in a Korean Air bathroom with my newly adopted four year old, who alternated between vomiting and screaming obscenities in Vietnamese. I do not recommend this as a way of passing time on a flight. Better ways of passing time on flights have been buying a whole bunch of stickers at the dollar store and a cheap notebook and telling her she can put all the stickers anywhere she wants in the notebook, and Nintendo DS (thank heaven for the Nintendo DS). I would also recommend an aisle seat for you and a center seat for the child who is most likely to want to get up eleventybillion times to pee.
Did you read Emily's recent post on this? I imagine it will be helpful!
Have fun!
http://www.emilycassee.com/not_that_you_asked/2012/01/the-great-big-disney-planning-post.html
I had season passes growing up (my parents own a condo in Orlando), and given that we're now back in driving distance, I'd say we'll probably be there a lot. I (finally)(welcome to five years ago) switched over to an iPhone this weekend and was stoked to find this app for Disney wait times: http://www.versaedge.com/ios/disney-world-wait-times/
Figured it might come in handy with two little kids!
Yes to the stroller! I went to Disneyland with our 4-year-old and almost 7-year-old last May. We did the first day without a stroller, just to see how it went, and quickly came to the conclusion that the stroller was the most important thing we brought with us. We got a used one (one of the sit and stand ones) for $40 on Craig's list. My oldest has a lot of stamina for walking and even he wore out by late afternoon. We stayed close enough to the park that we didn't have to deal with getting it on and off a bus though. Have a great time!
We took my boys when they were 2 1/2 and 4 (but it was 20 years ago). We had two days--we wisely went to Epcot the first day--they were thrilled and thought it rocked. The next day we went to the Magic Kingdom which TOTALLY rocked for them--we were lucky we'd done it in that order . . . so that's my only advice.
OK, it's me again. I've had more time to look back over our trip and think about specifics. Honestly, we could have skipped Epcot as far as the kids were concerned. At Animal Kingdom we did the safari, but it was a loooong hike across the park and back and not worth it to me (pushing the stroller). Stick to the attractions at the southern end and they'll have a full day of fun. Hollywood Studios is great for indoor shows -- we were there in June and it was HOT, so we welcomed any chance to get out of the sun and to rest our feet. Magic Kingdom is the place the kids will want to go back to again and again, but everything west of Fantasyland (except for Splash Mountain) was kind of ho-hum for them. Definitely catch the Electrical Parade one night. And definitely use the FastPass system whenever possible. Um, what else... Oh, we had breakfast at the Cape May Cafe one morning -- Mickey, Donald and Goofy all stopped by our table, no reservations needed and no extra charge. If you stay at a Disney resort, take full advantage of Extra Magic Hours -- very short waits or even NO lines at all! Yes, I had my 5-year-old out until 2am, but it was VACATION, man, and we all took naps after dinner and then went and rode Splash Mountain over and over and over without waiting in line!
I've been several times (with and without kids) and my number one piece of advice is to NOT go to Magic Kingdom on a Monday. Everyone who goes wants to start their vacation there an it's usually way overcrowded. The difference in crowds from Monday to Tuesday is noticeable.
Google just recommended your blog to me...I started reading this post and when I got to "raisin colored matte lipstick" I thought, hold on a minute I bet we are the same age. Because I spent a lot of my high school years in that exact color. LOL. I will be going to WDW in about a month, with my 2 year old. It will be his 6th trip I think. I would say bring a stroller if you can, because as you know, it's a lot of walking. Little legs will get tired out. However, if you don't want to take one, they do have them that you can rent. For the small cost of an arm and a leg a day. Or you can also check out the Orlando Stroller Rental company.
Yay! Disney World. I went when I was about ten and I still have fond memories of rides and my favorite Disney characters brought to life and hugging me and making my dad sick on the Magic Teacup ride.
Just went in July. Rent a double stroller from Orlando Stroller Rental. Disneys are too expensive and hard plastic...NOT COMFY. My four year old loved being able to get in the stroller, we loved not having to carry everything on our bodies.....so much walking.... My son even took naps in the stroller, allowing us to have some rest and down time while he recharged. Lines are long so while one of you waits with the kids, send the other one to go get fast passes for other rides.
You can get the kids dressed up as pirates/princesses...if you want to do this call ahead a day or so to get a reservation, figured this out too late so never did get my son in.
My son did not like the snow white ride, too scary (?!?), but loved everything else, including the haunted mansion...go figure, lol. Don't try to do it all in one day.
Hollywood Studios was great. The star wars ride is awesome.
To distract Emmy on plane rides, we like to spill ice cold soft drinks (served in those tiny plastic airplane cups) all over her. ok, not on purpose. but it takes at least 45 minutes to clean up the mess, change your kid's outfit, and get them to calm down, and in the sticky afterglow of it all, you look at your watch and say "wow. that really made the time pass quickly."
Disneyland was such a fun trip for our family it leaves me daydreaming about going back. Hopefully real soon!
I've never been in Disney.We were supposed to spent the Christmas break in Disney but unfortunately I have qualm in bringing kids to a long travel. But knowing stroller rental Orlando, I decided to take the trip again.
I just started reading your blog, and I'm so glad I found it. My husband and I were fortunate enough to take our then 2 1/2 yr old to Disney World last Spring, and it was my favorite thing ever! I get so excited for people when they get to take their kids there. :) Glad it went well.
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