Tag Archives: Disney with Children

Walt Disney World 2021 – A Completely Different Plan

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It’s been a rough 16 months since our last visit to Walt Disney World for the 2020 Dopey Challenge. It’s time for a much needed vacation. While the main components of our upcoming getaway are familiar, there are quite a few factors that have made planning this trip vastly different from our usual modus operandi.

Balloon Vendor on Main Street U.S.A.

First and most importantly, we are taking our granddaughter, Violet, for her first visit! She may only be two, but she already loves Disney. She’s a big fan of princesses in general and Buzz Lightyear in particular. I know I’m partial, but Violet happens to have an exceptionally sunny disposition which makes her an absolute joy to be around. I cannot wait to see her reaction to all the magic she’s about to experience.

Planning Differently

The combination of COVID measures and travelling with a toddler has given us an opportunity to plan more creatively. We’ll also be spending differently while we’re at Walt Disney World. Having done quite a bit of research, we know the parks, resorts, and restaurants on this trip will be very different than in the past. While COVID restrictions are starting to be reduced, those still in place will have an effect on our overall experience. We are committed to being as positive as possible and determined to have a great vacation. We are incredibly grateful to not have to wear masks outdoors!

Dining

In the past, we have faithfully made our dining reservations at the 180-day mark. Usually securing our priority restaurants for dinner first, then tend to go back and add a few lunches and breakfasts to round out our plans. Now we have a couple of things to work around: no Tables in Wonderland card and Violet’s naptime.

Right now many (or most) of our favorite restaurants have limited menus. Not a problem! I booked only three dinners (out of 7 nights): The Wave on arrival day, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ during our one and only planned visit to Disney Springs, and California Grill for Raymond’s birthday celebration. The rest of the time Violet can nap as long as she likes and we can figure out what we want to eat more-or-less on the spur of the moment. Several table service places are offering carry out right now and we think it might be fun to take advantage of that. We can always eat quick service at our resort or hit the Flower and Garden booths at Epcot for dinner.

The Hollywood Brown Derby / Disney's Hollywood Studios

I might be flexibly planning meals, but I’m still me – a borderline obsessive vacation planner. I’ve scored a lunch reservation in each park I think we’ll enjoy: Skipper Canteen, Biergarten, Yak & Yeti, and Hollywood Brown Derby. We won’t be getting that Tables in Wonderland discount, but I’m doing my best to keep the food budget the same. Normally, we may eat 10-15 table service meals in a week. It’s a miracle I’m not hyperventilating over having only 7.

Transportation

We haven’t rented a car on a Disney vacation since sometime around 2004. We usually take advantage of Magical Express or we hire a car to get us to our resort from the airport and back. I started thinking about the effect of COVID measures on Disney Transportation and how that might slow things down. For sure, Violet needs to experience the Skyliner and Monorail, but we’d like the option to get to and from the parks without waiting for busses. We’ll likely be spending a good bit more time at our resort than we ordinarily do with naptime and early-ish park closings, so having our own ride for grocery shopping and food pick-up would be extra convenient.

Renting a large SUV & car seat is taking a big chunk of our vacation budget. By not eating out for every meal and stocking our own supply of snacks and adult beverages in our resort, I’m hoping to offset some of the costs of car rental. Yes, that means Disney is getting a good bit less of our money than usual. It’ll be good practice for when Magical Express is gone for good in 2022.

Grandparenting

The last time we visited Walt Disney World with a toddler was in 1996. Yeesh, I feel absolutely ancient. A good cure for that feeling is spending time with Violet! Some of our friends are surprised we think two is the perfect age for a first trip to WDW because Violet likely won’t remember a bit of it. But we will. We’re healthy, fully vaccinated and enjoy all the rides and experiences Disney has to offer. What better time to share our favorite vacation spot with the next generation? Violet will get this one trip on her own before she becomes a big sister in a few months and we are all about it!

If you want to follow along with our adventures, we’ll be sharing tips, reviews, and our general excitement over on Facebook and Twitter. Hope to see you there!

The Perfect Age For Disney World

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RM-Stroller-Jockeys-DisneyLots of people ask and bunches of folks have opinions about it – What is the right age to take children to Walt Disney World for the first time?  When I’m asked, my answer is always in the form of another question – How much do YOU like Disney?  That, my friends, is the most important aspect in determining what age is the right age for that all-important first trip.

SO many schools of thought!  One is: If we go when they’re too young, they won’t remember it!  That’s true!  Your kids won’t remember their first trip to Walt Disney World, but YOU will.  If you love Disney vacations, then there’s probably not a “too young” for Disney World.  You probably intend to take your children there more than once during their childhood, so the first trip is not the only visit.  That was us!  We knew when we took our children for the first time that it was only the first of many future visits.  RM-Joseph-Meets-Minnie RM-Meg-Meets-MinnieMegan was 5 and Joseph just 13 months when we took them for their first visit – neither remember that vacation, but both love to look at the pictures of our trip and listen to Raymond and I talk about our happy memories from that time so long ago. RM-Joe-Meets-Tiki

Next philosophy – we’re only going one time.  This category is for the parents who feel that a Walt Disney World vacation is a mandatory part of child rearing, but are faced with challenges that make repeat visits unlikely.  Not Disney haters, but perhaps not passionate Disney fans either – these parents initially plan on doing it only once, so it had better be memorable for the offspring!  RM-Fam-in-StudiosIf you’re in this category, you will indeed find it best to wait until your children are old enough to remember this once-in-a-childhood-opportunity.  Ages 7 or 8 and up will probably do it.  Old enough for retaining those happy moments and young enough to embrace (and still believe in) all the magic.

Finally, there are the parents who never intended to go at all, but now find themselves pressured into considering it.  Gasping at the cost (we feel your pain!) and researching Walt Disney World for the first time, parents in this category may be looking at the sad, beseeching faces of their children who have heard the recounting of countless thrilling tales from classmates who visit Walt Disney World regularly.RM-Lilo-and-StitchDo it!  Take your children to Walt Disney World – even if they’re tweens or teens (or young adults) who don’t care about meeting characters or dressing up as a princess or pirate.  It’s not too late!  That’s the beauty of this – Every age is the perfect age for Disney World.

Which category are you in?  What age do you think is the perfect age for Disney World?