Is there a cliff's notes somewhere or do I have to read all 286 pages?
I'm going in a couple of weeks with my 3 year old and 9 month old. The in-laws live an hour away so we won't be staying at the park.
no cliff notes, but some simple tips.
How far past 3 is the oldest? Kids under 3 are free but many people try and get some wiggle room in there with either a very small 3 year old or one thats only a few months over. I've never seen them ask for a birth certificate or any other ID
1. Go to Disney's web site and create an account for you and everyone else going to the parks with you (kids are too young and don't need accounts—unless you are getting the 3-year-old a ticket), and download the "my Disney experience" app for your phone. Buy your tickets and link them to those accounts. From there, on the web site or App you can pick your Fast passes (continued on point 2)
2. FastPasses are basically "ride reservations." You get to pick 3 rides per day and make a reservation for them so that you can minimize your wait. Each ride has a special FP line that will be shorter than the regular standby wait. You get to pick 3 before you visit, they are given in 1-hour windows and the windows cannot overlap (so 10-11am, 11:05-12:05, etc). Everyone in your party needs to have a FP reservation (hence their own accounts) if they want to ride the attraction. You cant have a Peter Pan FP for yourself and expect to bring the wife, kids and grandma through the line with you. You can break FPs up however—so if Grandma wants to take the kids on Small World but you hate those GD freaky puppets, you and the wife can make a FP for a similar time for another attraction. Once you use all 3 FPs for that day, you can go on the app and make a 4th from the remaining inventory, once that is used you can go for a 5th, wash and repeat. Its helpful to make your original 3 as early/mid day so that you can try for those 4th and 5ht at night. If your last original FP isn't until 8pm, then you're pretty much SOL for any more. You can begin booking these at 30 days away from your trip, so i'm not sure which side of that "a couple of weeks falls" if you are outside your 30 days right now, mark it on your calendar. FP booking begins at 7am on your 30th day. B/c you are staying off site, i'm not sure how many consecutive days you can book, you may need to book each day individually as it hits it's 30. Guests staying on site are able to book starting at 60 days, so they have a month head start on you, therefore you may have less of a selection—just the way it is.
3. Dining. If you want to do any sit-down meals, book them NOW. Don't wait till you get there. It will already be a challenge to book anything (although I'm not sure what the expected crowd volume is when you go), at this time so short from your trip (dining bookings begin at 180 days away from a typical trip). With kids, I highly suggest doing at least 1 character meal. It gets you out of the sun for a bit and allows the kids some fun, quality time with a few characters. Poke around on the WDW web site dining section and filter by 'park' or 'character dining' to see whats available.
Magic Kingdom has Crystal Palace (Pooh and friends) or Cindy's Royal Table (inside the castle) with all the princesses. Its pricey but if you have a little girl, its a great experience.
Epcot has Askuhus/Norway (princess) or Garden Grill (MM, pluto and Chip and Dale)
Studios has Hollywood and Vine —either Disney jr characters (Pirate Jake, Doc McStuffin, etc) or Minnie Mouse
Animal Kingdom has Tusker house (one of my favorite Char meals) with Safari MM, Minnie, Donald and Goofy
If you can't get anything at MK, the bonus is there are a few at the resorts just outside MK and connected via Monorail, so very easy to get to.
Grand Floridian has 1900 Park Fare, Polly has Ohana (characters are breakfast only), and Contemporary has Chef Mickey, one of the best Char Meals for kids.
4. Breaks. Take them. Esp being you are staying off site and don't have a hotel room near by to retreat to, the day will get long. Find quiet places to relax and get out of the sun. THere are little-hidden playgrounds the kids can play in while the adults relax. One is right under the RR tracks by Splash Mountain and another is at the end of Mission Space at Epcot. Also, go ride dumbo, inside the air conditioned tent, is a whole playground for the kids to run around while you wait for your turn to ride.
Note the locations of the Baby Stations in each park. If you need anything—diapers, bandaids, cream, etc they have it. Also, the baby can escape the outside noise and heat and nap there for a bit.
5. Time: If you are going to MK and parking, note that it could take you an additional 45 mins - hour to get into the park from your car. You don't park at the gate, you have to take a ferry or monorail over the lake first. Plus there is security/bag check to deal with. MK is the only one like this, but I'd hate for you to miss a dining reservation or FP b/c of it.
6. Strollers: IDK if you were planning or not, but bring a stroller for the 3-year-old. He/she will get wiped out at some point and you will be the one lugging the little sweat monster around. Not fun, i've been there. If they are not using it, then it becomes a sherpa for all your stuff.
7. Rides. Look up the height restrictions for the rides. Youtube them and see if they will scare the kids. My daughter was afraid of the dark at that age, so we bought her glow bracelets to wear on dark rides. It's better than a flashlight or something else bright that might ruin the experience for other guests. Use "Rider swap" It's a service that allows you to ride bigger rides w/o the kids. Go to the ride CM and tell them you need a "rider swap card". Give that to Grandma while she takes the kids for ice cream and you go on the line. Once you are done, you go watch the kids and grandma takes the rider swap card and goes through the FP line (even if she doesn't have a FP) so that she can also enjoy the ride with a lesser wait.
I think thats it, If I think of anything else or you have questions, post it. Have fun.
Edit: you will most likely be there during Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. If you can make it part of your plans, do it, just don't do it on the weekend. Weekends bring out a ton of locals and sometimes people use it as a place to get drunk, causing a less than magical time for vacationers.
At F&W, in addition to all of the individual World Showcase pavilions having ethnic food, they spread carts with all sorts of exotic fare through out the park, along with adult beverage specialties. It's a great time to go 'adulting' at Disney and still be with the kids. Look up Epcot's Food and Wine for a taste (pun intended) of whats there. Warning, it can get expensive (what at Disney isnt) b/c each small plate is about $4-6 and you can rack them up pretty quick.
@AAABatteries is an expert at F&W and can shed more light on the events if you think you might be going there.
it seems Disney is testing '
