[Margaret Arena]

Any help for a first time wdw itinerary? May1-7 '02. First day we figured we'd do the resort, pool etc AKL. We're thinking of getting 4 day hoppers. I already read that Tue. Wed. seem to be best park days, but since we arrive on wed. and leave early tue., we're missing both. We also are going to do one day for SeaWorld (looks like mon.). Considering Thur. full day at AK. Fri., Sat., Sun., Hopping parks. Our children are young (3 & 5). I actually would consider not doing Epcot and MGM at all, but I would like to see IllumiNations and Fantasmic. Any opinions? We really want the kids to have a great visit and not exhaust them.

[mickey]

My three suggestions would be:

1. Get to AKL before opening and run to Kilimajaro Safaris. Ride it twice, then go about your day. Kids love it, and the animals are so much more active first thing in the morning.

2. Make sure you take plenty of time at the pool, or doing relaxing things.

3. Definitely hit EPCOT and MGM, if only for part of the day. Little kids love the Beauty and the Beast show and the Muppet 3D show. My kids love EPCOT as well, and really enjoy visiting the different countries. By the way, there is a little park in the back of England that has a little hedge maze. Grab some candy in the shop and head out to the shady benches while your kids enjoy themselves.

Have a great trip.

[brumcg]

Margaret,

I'm with Mickey... Give MGM and Epcot a whirl; since you're park hopping, you can always jump somewhere else if it's not the kids cup of tea.

I can remember having a great time at MGM when my daughter was 4... Her favorite ride? Tower of Terror. I was stunned...at 4 I wouldn't have gone near the place! :p Epcot was a big hit as well...the cast members in the World Showcase were fantastic with her.

They'll definitely love MK and AK... If you're going to do the late shows, make sure they get a good nap in the middle of the day. They'll be exhausted otherwise!

Have a great trip!

Bruce

[Margaret Arena]

It makes sense to give them a try while we're there. I guess I'm still falling prey to the "I have to do everything" syndrome even though I'm trying to fight it. Neither of my kids nap anymore, so even though I'm planning to return to the hotel for down time, I don't know how long they will last. I just think that they'll get a real kick out of Fantasmic and the other shows as well.

What about the save MK for last idea? I was trying to aim for that, but it doesn't seem to be working out. Looks like we can do MK in three different 1/2 days. One guide book recomended taking the train to Mickey's toon town fair, then doing Adventureland and Tomorrowland, then Fantasyland after lunch (a different day for us). Then I noticed on a map that fantasyland is right next to the fair. Does it make sense to run back and forth, or is it better not do all the "really good stuff"(at least for the kids) at one time? Thanks to all!:)

[minnie]

As the mom of Five I will give you my take on Disney world. I think the best idea is to let them try everything, sometimes I am surprised by what they enjoy the most. My boys have all loved innoventions at Epcot even when they were very young. There are so many interactive creative things, that with a little help from Mom and Dad they get a real kick out of it. The Kodak display at Honey I shrunk the audience, is also really fun. My girls ages 4 and 3, last trip, laughed their little heads off. You can take their pictures and then use the computer to superimpose their heads on to animals or the center of flowers etc., then email the pictures home and to Grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends with a message. The kids love it when you come home and get email with a memory from the trip. One more favorite for Epcot is the kidspot art spaces. Each of the countries in World Showcase have a little corner where cast members will help the kids make an art project having to do with that country. It is really fun for little ones and provides a little in park down time. Mickey's suggestion of the hedge maze is one of our favorites also. The maze has only one entrance or exit and there is rarely any one in it. It is the perfect spot for mom and dad to sit down and just let little ones out of their strollers to run, run, run. No worries of getting lost. I love to watch the street performers, the living statues in France are always a big hit with kids, as are the pantomime actors in Italy, and the children's acrobatic troupe in China. If it is warm take a swim suit for the kids and let them run through the water fountains at the entrance to world showcase, my kids absolutely love dodging the spontaneous water spouts. OH and DO NOT MISS THE WORLD SHOWCASE PARADE, stand on the edge with kids in hand, arms out, and all of the puppets wil come over and touch the kids, our little ones have been invited by the puppets to go into the parade and dance. It is absolutely magical for kids and parents. Epcot is actually my favorite park with kids. It is slower paced with less line time. I usually find my kids LOVE MK but with the lines and sensory overload it is consistantly the park where we have major melt downs. You know your kids so my biggest advice is watch for signs of stress and overload. It is so much better to avoid a tantrum than try to stop one. When my kids have had it we either leave the parks for a while or at least go to one of the secret little corners where they can just run for a few minutes. MGM is also fun for kids because there are so many shows with characters they know and love. BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE show is a big hit with very young kids. You are right, that there is no way to do everything you want to do. With little ones you just need some careful research, take your cues from them and you will have a great time. Running from ride to ride with BIG waits in line between fun is a recipe for disaster in our house. Take it slow, and you will find yourself tearing up as you watch your kids experience such shear delight.

[Margaret Arena]

Thanks for the great info Minnie. Your comment about the careful research made me feel better. My husband and mother think I'm being totally obsessive-compulsive! Also, your seeing your kids joy will make your eyes tear up made my eyes tear up just reading it. Thanks again!

[brumcg]

Margaret,

First...you can't do too much planning in my book; I've seen so many people with "deer in the headlights" or "chickens with the heads cut off" syndromes. It's much better to have a general plan. Be prepared to zig when everyone else zags though... :)

MK is pretty small. It's pretty easy to get from one end of the park to the other if you want to stick to that plan.

I have a nemesis at MK... Dumbo. Sure, it's cute, it's classic. It also takes forever unless you hit it very early or somewhat late. If we HAVE to do Dumbo - and normally we do - we hit Dumbo at the rope drop.

I heard Toontown can be great at the rope drop; there should be characters everywhere. If characters are the priority, that plan makes sense. If the rides at Fantasyland are a priority, though, I'd hit them first due to the lines.

As for naps, my oldest - when she was 4 - never took a nap at home. She did really good at the parks for the first 4 days (we were off site, so a return trip to the resort wasn't feasible). The last 2 days, she was miserably tired, and she finally had a total meltdown on our final day. Don't be afraid to take a mid-day break - even if it's grabbing a snack in a restaurant.

You're going to have a great time!

Bruce

[Margaret Arena]

Sorry I took so long to get back on-line. Thank you Bruce for the MK info. Since we're probably going to do 3 1/2 days at MK we can probably do both fantasyland and toontown at rope drop.

We are definitely going to do our best to have downtime midday.

Thanks again!:D