NOt about the park:

I really like watching "The Emperors New School" I hate that it comes on soooo late.

"We go to Kuzco Academy"
"K-U-Z-C-O Kuzco, Kuzco, Go, Go!"

I will be taking my 8th graders to Epcot in March and I think I am just as excited as they are!

It is funny how I could ride Space Mountain five times in one day when I was 12 years old. A couple of months ago, I went on the ride one time and all I could think was "Lord please don't let me die". :p

Space Mountain
 

I did not heed any of the warning signs and went on Space Mountain, sitting in back of my son, who was about 6 at the time. Everything was fine until he heard me calling for my mommy. Then he burst into tears. At the end, though, he wanted to ride it again! Kids!

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔTPatriae Multi Spes Una One Hope of Many People

I am a true DISNEY A HOLIC! I can ride Space mountain over and over again. I make sure i am the first in line for the front seat and sit by myself.

I think i got my 8 yr old that way too. He started to fight me for the front seat 2 yrs ago. :)

I wish i could the year of a million dreams and stay at the castle accomadations.

It is my own true guilty pleasure...disneyland and Disney calif adventure!

BUMP.

So, we will be headed to Disney in May with the kids (aged 3.5 and 1.5 at the time). We hadn't planned to go with them at such a young age, but my brother's bride-to-be has decided that that is where the wedding will be. So, off to Disney we go for a 5 day vacation.

We already have our hotel reservations to stay in the Contemporary, which we chose for its convenience to the park given the kids' young ages, and my son's fascination for all things trains. We know that we will be making a few trips back and forth to the room each day for rests, etc.

What can you seasoned travelers tell me about the dining plans? For our family, and situation (snacks in room at rest times), it just doesn't seem economical. Two of our meals will be paid for as part of the wedding festivities. In addition, I have been told that only certain places in the park take the dining plan.... not exactly something that a 3 year old and a 1 year old would understand when they want to eat RIGHT NOW!

However, every single time that I am on the phone with Disney they tell me that I am making a HUGE mistake by not getting the plan. The skeptic in me seems to think that just confirms my theory that it isn't a good economic deal, because why do they care about saving me money? I have to pay for the phone calls since they don't even have an 800 number for crying out loud!! My husband is leaning more towards the idea of getting it, just for convenience.

Anyone have experience with this, especially with young children who will just want a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner every night?

I am a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge - :) - and certified Disney travel planner! My take on the meal plan - which I did one time just so I could speak from experience - is that it would be great if you had teens who could eat all that food. For us, it was too much. We like a light breakfast, big lunch, and then dinner on the fly. Eating your big meal at lunch saves you money - and breakfast in the room gets you out earlier (although since you are staying at the Contemporary, there will be no avoiding Chef Mickey's. If you don' have reservations there yet, I'd suggest you get them ASAP. Maybe for your first night dinner?)

Back to the dining plan - Yes, they push it pretty hard - but just say no would be my advice. Let me know if you have any other questions.

My boyfriend and I are going in July and got the "standard" dining plan, which is one quick service, one table service, and one snack per night. We did it for two reasons: a. less stress and b. we wanted to eat at some of the pricier restaurants, so it was actually cheaper to get the dining plan ($40 per person, per night) than to pay as we went. We ended up making dinner reservations at Le Cellier, Coral Reef, and Cinderella's Royal Table(!!!!)

I honestly think it depends on the individual family and what you want to do on your vacation. I can see scenarios where the dining plan would be a good idea, and others where it wouldn't. I do, however, second that you should make reservations ASAP. We made ours last weekend, and had to compromise on times for both Le Cellier and Coral Reef, and got THE LAST reservation for Cinderella's Table for that week. We weren't aware how cutthroat dining at Disney had become until our AAA agent told us.

Thanks Belle!

Are you suggesting Chef Mickey's for the Characters aspect? We do have reservations for a Character Breakfast that the bridal couple is hosting. However, my 3 yr old son is petrified/terrifed/wet-your-pants scared of all things that come in a suit (Santa, Chick-fil-a cow, Sesame Street Live, etc). So... suffice it to say that we only need to do a character meal that one time!

Now, if Mickey's is where the good food is, but the characters will keep their distance (!!) then I will go ahead and make reservations. Do we need to have reservations for all the dinners or can we just show up?

We also were just thinking of bagels in the room for breakfast, as we tend to eat light breakfasts anyway. Are the breakfasts in the restaurants la carte or huge buffet? Any reason that we should have a disney breakfast instead of our packed bagels?

We were told that if a restaurant takes reservations, you need to make them.

In March, I'm going with the dance team that my daughter sponsors! We thought about the dining plan but really, the kids are in it for the dance competition and the rides so we'll just eat whatever wherever.

Live-in and I have been talking about maybe going this summer if we're still here... I'm kindof excited - it's been 20 years since the last time I went!

go to your nearest bookstore and buy a copy of "the unofficial guide to disney world". this book is great-even for seasoned disney visitors.

reserve two strollers-even if the 3 year old "thinks" they want to walk-they are going to get tired and having that extra stroller will pay off in spades in keeping you or hubby from having to hold them. get distinctive bandanas or ribbons(they can match) to tie on the handles of the strollers so that you can spot yours easily when you come out of a ride/exhibit. it also helps keep folks from getting "mixed up"and "accidently" taking your stoller, when their non-strollered child gets tired. we actually had one of ours stolen once, but i was able to track it down because the creep who stole it did not take the bandana off of it. i know that people make fun of leash kids, but it might give you some piece of mind to have the 3 year old a little more secured-those crowds can be overwhelming.

take backpacks/diaper bags and put some juice boxes/water bottles and snacks in them under the diapers-in case they look in the bags as you enter the park. you could even buy a loaf of bread, some p-nut butter and jelly to keep in your room and make sandwiches to take for lunch. you would save tons of $$ and you could feed the kids when they are hungry-the lines at the disney fast food restaurants get reallllllllll long around lunch time and the noise can be overwhelming. paying $12-15 for a hot dog/hamburger, french fries and drink when the kids will eat a bite or two is a waste of money. even water sells at a premium at the disney parks. bagels in your room for breakfast is a great idea. as far as a la carte or buffet breakfasts, it depends on the restaurant.

you are really being smart to take breaks and go back to the hotel. the kids will need it-and you may too! if you get the opportunity to speak to someone involved with the monorails, you might ask if one of you could ride in the front(the nose) of the monorail with your son. sometimes they will let you. and of course, there is the steam train that goes around the magic kingdom.

may should be a wonderful time to go. temperatures should be nice.

my kids never liked people dressed up in animal suits, and we managed to have a great time and avoid the characters with no problem. the characters usually don't approach you-they let you come to them. hopefully if your son is gradually exposed to them over the course of the trip, by the time you attend the wedding breakfast festivities, it won't be so scary for him.

I went in Dec while I was in Orlando for business. I wish the Harry Potter attraction had been open. I saw the preview on the HBP dvd.