How should I prepare for Disney World?

Question

My parents are taking me, my husband and our two kids (ages 3 and 21 months) to Disney World in mid-August. I'm starting to consider making a packing list, but also just getting prepared in general. We'll be driving down (yikes!) which will be about a 19 hour trip. We'll start driving at night, and have a DVD player in the van. I also have another portable DVD player that I'm going to bring so that the adults don't have to watch the same movie as the kids.

So, I'd like to know what we should do to prepare for a week at Disney. All serious answers are welcome--including things like cleaning the house before we go so that we can come home to a clean house. Thanks!!

Answer 1

well you should pack lots of snacks and pillows. lots of drinks. you should get a map that tells you where all of the rest stops are because that is a very important thing to know espeasially if you are going to be rideing for 19 hours. snack suggestions: cereal bars, granola bars, chips, cookies, sandwitches, and fruit cups. you will need to take paper towels and some wash cloths. you will need bottled water some juice maybe and some sodas. please take sun screen because it is hot in orlando. take some swim suits because you will never know when you will get wet. take umbrellas too because florida has suprise rain storms and when it rains it pours. take some medicine for nausia because you never know when you will get car sick or you may get sick on a ride. before you leave double check your doors to make sure you locked them and make sure there is no water running or any lights on. if you have animals make sure you get some one you can trust to feed and give them water. on the way there if you go through Bamberg south carolina thats where i live. sorry just being silly. hope you have a nice trip.

Answer 2

I've been to Disney 5x...drove 4x for 16 hours and will be going again this August too!

a. pack a whole outfit a day per person in the family including the shoes. Restrain yourself from over packing too many clothes...but bring 2 extra shirts per child.  

b. Bring a cooler with you filled w. water bottles...very expensive to buy it there.

c.  bring snacks galore! also, some books or a DS game

d.  try and use the umbrella strollers, easy to dismantle when you ride the buses to get to the park.  

e.  bring rain poncho's...it rains everyday in August at 3pm

f.  sunscreen and hats for your kids, they'll need it.

g. make sure your fridge is empty or at least free of perishables

h.  turn off your AC

i.  Ask one trusty neighbor to watch your house and hold the mail at the post office.

j.  If possible, get the dining plan at Disney...wl save you 30 to 40%  and try and book all your reservations as early as possible.  Character dining is hard to get...but you must try Crystal Palace.  

k.  My youngest usually gets homesick for the first 2 days, so make sure they have a special blankie or toy with them to remind them of their comfy bed at home.  

l.  Then enjoy!  Have fun and don't bring a pocketbook, use one of those f***y packs...i know they're ugly as sin but at least you have two free hands to hold your children with.

Answer 3

Good walking shoes for everyone!!

Answer 4

We just came home a few days ago.  There is so much to tell! Where do I start?

Are you staying on site?  If so, get the dining plan!  Totally worth it ! Either way, call for your meal reservations for sit down meals including character breakfasts or dinners, ASAP!  You won't be able to get in once you get there. You may even have trouble now, so call asap!   Our favorite two were the O'Hanas Polynesian Character Breakfast with Mickey Mouse, Lilo and Stitch and Pluto.  We also loved the character breakfast at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom.  That had all of the Winnie the Pooh characters.  I also recommend the Princess lunch at the Norway restaurant in Epcot, but the food was so- so.  

These were the best places for our kids to meet and hug characters without standing in long lines.  

FAST PASSES!  Get as many as you can right away for any of the rides and things you want to see.  We went with grandparents, too and they didn't always want to go on the rollercoasters, so often, we could use their passes and ride a ride quickly twice in a row.  

LOVED the Rock-n-Roller Coaster at the Disney's Hollywood Studios!  - for adults!  

Kids - LOVED the new Toy story ride at the Studios, and the Buzz Lightyear ride at the Magic Kingdom.  

Do you have girls? If you are thinking of buying dress-ups, buy them from a Target or local Disney store before you go.  They will cost half or a third less.  In fact, we stocked up on t-shirts and swimsuits at the Disney store before we went and saved big bucks there too.



My five year old wore her Minnie Mouse Princess costume and ears to Spectromagic one night and ALL of the characters stopped and smiled, blew a kiss or waved to her.  Oh, and for the MK parades, don't stand in front of the castle!  It is much less crowded down the street by the Country Bear Jamboree.  

It stormed everyday we were there.  I would say with kids your age, check the weather before going to the waterparks.  If it is storming the waterparks close.  Theme parks stay open, and you can go in shows or rides.  We skipped the waterparks and spent more time in the parks and resort pools, which were just as enchanting for my three young children and their four grandparents.  

Oh, here is another tip.  I pack each of my kids' outfits in a large ziplock bag complete with underwear, socks.  This makes it easy for you to know how much to pack, and allows the kids some flexibility in helping to get dressed in the am.

Oh, also you don't have to buy water at the parks.  Instead of standing in long cart lines, all you have to do is walk into a quick serve restaurant and ask for water.  This helped my kids and our wallet!  We could pretty much get a new ice cold drink as soon as we wanted it, for free!  

Have a great time!  I wish we were going back, today!