Random observations of my first trips as a parent.

[Stitch,esq]

As the title says, this is not really a fully detailed trip report but random comments that come to mind from my first trip as a parent. My DW and I took our 17 month old son to WDW Feb 4-10 and stayed at the WL.

*The Disney Visa Greet is a great way to get a toddler used to the characters. Its only your family and the characters and he can take his time to explore. He was scared at first but really warmed up to them quickly. He loved all characters the rest of the week.

*Finding Nemo attraction and new version of Mexico really get better through a child's eyes.

*Bring your own stroller if you can. Our son really loved taking naps in his own stroller.

*Getting from Downtown Disney to Hollywood Studios can be a real pain. (Do not trust anyone that tells you the studios is a "short walk" from the Boardwalk.)

*Disney could charge $10 for a bottle of water in the walkway from the Boardwalk to the Studios. (My DW assures me she would have gladly paid $20)

*I have noticed a lot of criticism here for the interactive queues. I found them to be well done and effective. Almost makes you wish you had not gotten a fast pass.

*I had always complied with my fast pass return window until this trip. My son seemed to be taking a nap anytime our window for Pooh arrived. Two weeks ago I was all in favor of enforcing the window, now I am not so sure.

*Did Space Mountain for the first time since the rehab. Did not really notice many differences. Maybe it was all the screaming?

* The Yak and Yeti Quick service has some really yummy food. The honey chicken was great.

*Is there any better smelling but worse tasting popcorn than the one at WDW? My wife always falls for the smell only to be disappointed.

*You want to collect hundreds of Mickey stickers in a week? Take a child to Disney. WOW! They came at us from all angles!

*The Roaring Fork's flatbreads are great. Too bad I discovered them on our last day.

*You think Epcot is huge? Take a stroller. Then you will really know how huge it is. Our favorite park became our least favorite during this trip.

*While the lines were not bad at all during this week, it seemed as if the walkways were always full.

*Have read a lot about the cheerleaders and brazilians during this week. There were a lot of cheerleaders, but I only saw one brazilian group and it was not made up of only teenagers, it seemed to be made up of families. The big touring groups we saw filled with teenagers were not brazilian but argentinian. I found them to be well behaved in the most part. The only problem is when you see them walking towards you or even worse in front of you towards the same attraction you are headed to.

*Is there a worse place to be on a crowded day than the Studios?

*The carrousel at MK seems to be a really short ride. Not an easy one for parents of infants who still don't undersatnd the concept of having to get back in line.

*Disney should establish a weekly schedule for characters. Having different ones on different days of the week in addition to the regular ones that appear daily. While I know the Fab five, Pooh, Buzz, and the princesses must be there every single day. Would anyone really mind if on Monday you had Pinocchio, but on Tuesday it were somebody else? The characters were all the same at all times during the whole week. While I appreciate they do not change characters during breaks like they used to, you could still change from day to day.

That is it for now maybe I'll remember a few more later. The trip was great, our son really enjoyed it and I can't wait for the next one.

[Ms. Mode]

Great Post

[magicofdisney]

*Is there any better smelling but worse tasting popcorn than the one at WDW? My wife always falls for the smell only to be disappointed.

We've always enjoyed the popcorn, but taste is subjective.

*You want to collect hundreds of Mickey stickers in a week? Take a child to Disney. WOW! They came at us from all angles!

I agree. When my youngest was younger, we'd get tons of stickers each trip.

*Disney should establish a weekly schedule for characters. Having different ones on different days of the week in addition to the regular ones that appear daily. While I know the Fab five, Pooh, Buzz, and the princesses must be there every single day. Would anyone really mind if on Monday you had Pinocchio, but on Tuesday it were somebody else? The characters were all the same at all times during the whole week. While I appreciate they do not change characters during breaks like they used to, you could still change from day to day.

I would hate this. Among all the other things we have to schedule around, I would not want to add this to the mix.

Going the first time with your child does open you eyes in a whole new way. I fell in love with Disney all over again after my children began going. It's a new magic!

[faline]

*The carrousel at MK seems to be a really short ride. Not an easy one for parents of infants who still don't undersatnd the concept of having to get back in line.

This was certainly our experience when we traveled with a 2 year old who did NOT want to get off the ride at the end!

We dined at the Yak & Yeti quick service location on our last trip and really enjoyed it!

You have certainly outlined how different trips become when you have children along!

[c&d]

When DS was young the hardest one for us was Dumbo. You wait in line forever for a really short ride.

I miss, now that DS is older, the way he changed our view of WDW. It was so much fun seeing it through his eyes.

[Suz36]

Our first trip with our children was so special! I cherish those memories, and only wish we hadn't waited so long to take them (they were 3 and 6 at the time.) I'm glad your first experience was a positive one, and here's wishing you many more magical Disney trips as a family!

[Pocahontas]

I also was completely in favor of Disney enforcing the fast pass time windows; however you make a valid point. It would have been disappointing for your baby to either miss out on seeing the ride or waking him up for it and not being able to enjoy it because he's sleepy and probably cranky. It's been a long time since I've been at WDW with a baby, so I didn't think of this!

Loved your post. Thanks!

[vizsla]

Thanks for the report.

[Joannelet]

I wonder if they could have helped you out with this. We have yet to ride Toy Story Mania with children. My son was always napping during our fast pass time but one time we were actually all the way at the front of the line when my son fell asleep in my hubby's arms, they told us to come back and gave us a fast pass that didn't expire. While I don't know if they will do that for people not on line yet because I didn't try but it could be a thought to try next time? I would roll my sleeping child to the entrance and ask. You have nothing to lose.

[hauntedmansiongirl]

So glad to see your perspective. We are travelling with a child for the first time in April and can't wait to see his reactions! He is 11 (our Godson), so it'll be different than a toddler, but I still really enjoyed reading your post!

[Dream'nDisney]

(Do not trust anyone that tells you the studios is a "short walk" from the Boardwalk.)

LOL. Actually, we walked from the Studios to Boarwalk and then on to Yacht Club this summer after Fantasmic. We were surprised at how short the walk was! Maybe the difference was that it was late in the evening and the temperature was comfortable. I certainly wouldn't want to take that walk in 90 degree humid weather.

[CuteAsMinnie]

Each time you now take your DS. to WDW you will see it in yet another perspective and each trip will be like no other.


Enjoy!!

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

sounds great, i agree Roaring Forks flatbreads are yummy

[grumpydude]

every bit of this is very good "food for thought"

[DizNee143]

Thank you for this post! Taking my 2 year old in May for the first time..should definitely be a different experience..

[January-2007]

My son Loved Loved Loved all the Mickey stickers he was given everywhere, there are still some in the car...