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Original poster

DIsney World with a 21 month old....

33 replies

Monkeygi · 17/02/2009 10:44

....are we mad? I'm just having a quavery moment. It's a moot point really cos we booked the hol back in Dec so we're definitely going.
I made the mistake of reading one of those travel guides (Disney World with the kids or some such) and it says don't even think of taking infants there in the first two weeks of August (too hot. Too busy etc etc). Well guess when we're going!?!
Anyone got any tips on how to get the most out of it? We're staying in a villa about ten mins away from the parks so will be able to get out for lunch/naps and so on.

OP posts:
mckenzie · 17/02/2009 13:45

Buy the passes that allow you to enter different parks on any one day as many times as you like (rather than passes that only allow you to enter one park once on any one day). That way as you are only 10 mins away you can do smaller blasts of Disney and then go home to chill out / cool off / sleep etc and then go back out again if you wish.
I'm sure better tips will be forthcoming. We went for the first time this December just gone with DS 7 and 3 year old DD. We all had a fabulous time.

bellavita · 17/02/2009 13:51

It will be very hot and very humid. Just make sure you all drink plenty.

We used to buy the multipacks of water (the sports bottle size) and the night before a trip out, we would put say four in the freezer.

For part of our visits then to the parks we would have iced/cold water to hand.

seeker · 17/02/2009 14:04

Go very early, then go back to the villa at 11.30ish for lunch, swim and siesta then go back in the evening. Don't feel you've got to stay all day to get your money's worth.

Don't eat in Disney except for the experience. It's fun to eat in one of the themed restaurants at leas once, but there's better and cheaper food outside the parks.

Hire a car if you can - there's lots to see that isn't Disney. And some brilliant shopping.

Make sure you've got a sturdy, comfortable pushchair.

And be prepared for your LO to be absolutely terrified of all the characters. Mine was - Micky Mouse completely freaked him out!

DontCallMeBaby · 17/02/2009 14:14

Frontierland (the area with Big Thunder Mountain in) has more trees and shade than any of the other lands, might be handy to know. I seem to remember the play area in Frontierland being quite shady, although sorely lacking in places for adults to sit.

Running behind the shop facades on either side of Main Street there are two arcades (Liberty and Discovery) which are a useful alternative to a hot slog up Main Street itself (also useful if you're trying to get out of the park during a parade).

Siesta sounds like a VERY good idea!

bellavita · 17/02/2009 14:36

Even with my boys being as old as they are 11.8 and 9, on our rest days, we either go out just before lunch to a mall (to keep cool and be out of the heat) or rent a dvd to watch in our apartment for a couple of hours - sounds boring I know, but you will flag in the heat otherwise.

MrsBadger · 17/02/2009 14:41

21m? better off at the beach in Clacton imo

top tip: Epcot is better than you might expect - we spent more time there than in the Magic Kingdom

Original poster
Monkeygi · 17/02/2009 15:19

Thank you all so much for your tips. I hadn't thought of the bottles of water in the freezer but will definitely be doing that now.
I'm glad about Epcot- it was our favourite park when we went there a few years ago with ds1 but I couldn't remember/didn't know what would be good for our LO.
I am a bit worried about ds2 being scared of the huge characters, especially as Mickey Mouse is one of his favourites,but I suppose there's only one way to find out!
What about shows? We only did one or two last time- are they easy to get out of if ds2 starts crying? Or is it best to leave them altogether?

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 17/02/2009 15:27

shows not worth the hassle IMO
better to potter round and do things at your own pace not 'quick it starts at 1pm, it is 11.43 now, we must have lunch now then a wee then join the queue'
and then once you get in there you have to sit still for the duration, no provision for toddlers running up and down the aisles.
The best one was a bird-of-prey show but I can;t remember where the hell it was - must have been ANimal Kingdon

and do not underestimate the time it takes to get out of the park to your car then back to the villa - 10min drive but I guess total 30min transtit time
not great if toddler has already started to melt down

ladymariner · 17/02/2009 15:40

Good tip we used was to buy one of those cheap polystyrene freezer boxes, fill it with ice and leave a couple of bottles of water in it in the boot of the car so that when we got back we had a cold drink on hand.

bellavita · 17/02/2009 16:16

MrsBadger - Animal Kingdom was my favourite park out of the Disney ones. I totally get what you mean about it not just taking 10 mins from park to villa - 30 mins a good estimate.

ladymariner - good idea about the cheap ice/freezer box.

We always go the wrong way around the park ie. start at the end and finish at the beginning. Most of the time it does work with less queuing for rides etc.

newpup · 17/02/2009 17:02

It will be very humid at that time of year and often there are quick heavy storms but they stop as quickly as they start and the heat drys everything quickly.

You will need to get your DCs to drink water, water, water and more water as you can dehydrate quickly in the humidity.

Although Disney is busy, there are plenty of quiet spots if you know where to find them. Also, look for the fountains that spurt out of the holes in the ground. Great for cooling off the DCs. There are some in Downtown Disney, surrounded by benches for the adults. Also, Curious George's water play area in Universal is great but they will need a change of clothes or a swim suit.
Really, good for a quick cool off!

The malls are super air conditioned if the outdoors gets a bit too much. Also, if you go to Animal Kingdom, you will need to get there early and do the safari straight away, as in the heat the animals go and hide in the shade!

You will have a fab time but be prepared to rest often and drink lots!

llareggub · 17/02/2009 17:06

So when is it cooler in Disney? I'm not a massive fan of ridiculously hot weather, but I do like a bit of warmth. When would be pleasant, rather than heated?

Owls · 17/02/2009 17:08

llareggub, we've always found Easter the best time to go if you're tied to school holidays. Pleasantly warm just right for walking round the parks.

If not, May is supposed to be great. Warm and the parks are apparently quite quiet.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/02/2009 17:44

Beginning of December is also good if you are not tied to school holidays.

bellavita · 17/02/2009 18:07

May was good for us too, although a friend swears by October.

We have been May, July and August oh and March/April (although this was years ago).

The only problem I can see with May is the Lovebugs, they do not harm you, but are a bloody pest and can smell the sun lotion a mile off!

bellavita · 17/02/2009 18:08

is the

should be

are the

doh - two glasses of wine and everything goes to pot!!

ladymariner · 17/02/2009 18:37

We went in August and it was scorching!!!! Those spurty fountain things are fab, we used to stand in them, get drenched and within minutes you were drying off, it was surreal

ds and dh wore those floppy hats and every time they passed an ice-cream/drinks vending trolley they used to fill their hats with ice out the trolley and cool their heads down that way!!!!

newpup · 17/02/2009 20:14

We always go in October/November and the weather is lovely, ranging from 70-85 degrees. So lovely Summer weather without the humidity. Also, the parks are very quiet then, very rarely have to queue, you can often stay on the rides and go around again. The Americans usually go for thanksgiving, so avoid then and then it is busy at Christmas. We went for 2 weeks mid November this year and it was amazing. A little cooler than last time but still about 70 degrees. All the Christmas lights were up and we went to Mickey's Christmas party in Magic Kingdom. It starts after the park closes and amongst other things it snows on main street!!!! The next day we were sunbathing at Aquatica!!!

We come back and Christmas is only a few weeks away. Love it

Went in August on year, before DDs. Also went in April with DH but November is my favourite time to go.

Original poster
Monkeygi · 17/02/2009 20:28

I love the idea of the ice under the floppy hats ladymariner. Might even try that myself

Thanks again all for the tips-my quavery moment has now passed and am back to being a ridiculously over-excited schoolgirl-type at the prospect of our hol!

OP posts:
bellavita · 17/02/2009 21:08

I loved Aquatica - but it was so bloody hot, I had to have a brolly (which is very unlike me) so I could sit in the shade.

newpup · 18/02/2009 08:22

Bellavita, in November Aquatica was heaven! It was about 80 degrees the day we went ( the hottest day we were there) but it was so quiet - acres of sunloungers to ourselves, no queues for the water rides. We spent a whole day there relaxing and then went to a fab restaurant called Fish Bones for Dinner.

Ahhh such great memories! The photographer there caught some amazing photos of the DDs coming down the water slide, I love them. They look so happy and carefree. definately a day to remember.

We have taken them to Disney 3 times now and every holiday has been wonderful but we have decided not to book for next year as we might try something different. Thinking of maybe California. We thought we would give Florida a rest for a couple of years and go back when they are a little older. ( I could be tempted though)

bellavita · 18/02/2009 09:00

California is lovely - we stopped in LA and San Fransisco.

This year we are going to Las Vegas (in August) and it is going to blardy hot! But, DS1 at high school now so school hols it is and the flights with Virgin going on the 8th to the 23rd August were actually the cheapest for the month.

We were going to go to Mexico, but because DH ummed and arred, the flippin flights went up by £400 (in just over a week) putting it just out of our reach.

Back to Aquatica newpup - luckily we went to Discovery Cove first and they advised us that Aquatica was having to close to guests at around 10.00am every morning because it was to capacity and they said to get in for 8.00am. So, cars are actually queuing to get in at this time and people are actually running for their lives to get to the sunbeds with brollies! For those that just got in before 10am there was disappointment, walking around in the heat with all their stuff just looking for somewhere to sit.

Last year we were getting $2 dollars to the £1 but it does not look brilliant at the moment!

Original poster
Monkeygi · 18/02/2009 11:45

Is Aquatica one of the two water parks? Discovery Cove sounds familiar.

We found that BA's prices for 5th to 19th Aug were the cheapest for the month which is why we're going then.

And we went to Las Vegas for part of our honeymoon. (not with dcs though). I LOVED it! Although was not good at gambling and kept falling asleep in the helicopter-over-Grand-Canyon.

OP posts:
bellavita · 18/02/2009 12:10

Aquatica is one of three waterparks - Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are the other two which belong to disney. Aquatica is across the road from Seaworld and Discovery.

Original poster
Monkeygi · 18/02/2009 13:12

Ahh ok. We are planning to get the Ultimate Passes for Disney so I assume that one's not included.

I really am getting ridiculously over-excited.

OP posts: