Wife has been on me to go with our kids (5 y.o. twins) to WDW for like a year. She finally broke me down and I agreed to go this May.
How horrible is this going to be for me and our bank account?
Welcome to the club.
#1 question is where do you want to stay and how long. That will go a long way to determine how much of a dent it puts in your wallet. If staying on property, there are a lot of benefits, but they cost more then staying off site. You need to weigh the differences.
Some of the bennies for staying on site:
• Free transportation to and from the airport (MCO) called magical express
• Free transportation around property via bus system, boats and monorail
• Eligible for the dining plan where as you buy a pre-paid package for your food and snacks
• Fastpass window opens at 60 days from check in vs 30 for off site guests.
• Anything bought in the parks can be shipped back to your resort.
• Magic bands: Free bracelets that have digital chips in them that control your room entry, park entry, purchases and other guest services. means you don't need to carry much cash around with you.
Things to consider when staying off site:
• renting a car
• paying for parking at the parks
• not as easy to leave mid day and come back (got to get in your car and drive)
• some hotels have shuttles but they operate on a schedule
WDW has 3 classes of hotels:
•Deluxe: most expensive, closest to the theme parks, often within walking distance, more dining and amenity options. Rooms usually larger.
• Moderate: middle class, close to parks but would still need transportation. Good sized rooms but these are generally in separate buildings so there is no central 'hotel' lobby.
• Value: these are the cheapest. Generally furthest from parks and are more spread out, so you will have a few bus station stops within resort. No sit down dining option, only quick service type.
all of them will have great themed pools and activities, some better then others but overall its a wash.
When traveling with very young kids, it is important to go at their schedule. Take mid-day breaks and swim or rest. I guess you will still be in strollers. I recommend 2 smaller strollers over 1 double just b/c of size and portably. You need to fold up the stroller on the bus so consider the size and weight. Plus 2 people can bob and move easier then 1 with a double when the crowds are heavy. You do not need to fold them up on boats or monorail.
Grab fastpasses. You get 3 FP's a day. FP's are basically ride reservations whereas you can pick 3 rides and at a certain time, go through a special line that is faster then the normal standby one. Once you use your 3, you can book a 4th and then a 5th etc.
With kids that young, you will be doing 90% kid friendly rides. These lines generally move pretty fast but grab a FPs anyway. And while this is primarily about the kids, i recommend you and your wife have some fun and grab a FP for an adult ride too. Most rides offer a "Rider swap" pass whereas you see a CM at the ride entrance and ask for one. They give your wife a special pass and then she goes and watches the kids while you get in line. Once you are done, you go watch the kids and she takes ther pass and can enter through the FP line for that ride giving her a shorter wait. It sucks that you have to ride separate, but at least you get to ride.
There are delivery services that will deliver groceries to your resort for a small fee. Garden grocer is one of the best. Look into it and it will save you from having to pack lots of snacks, food and other needs in your luggage. They will deliver to bell services the day you check in and all the resorts will have refrigerators to store milk and other cold food deliveries.
Everyone will need their own identity on the Disney web site, even the kids. This way you can make your fast passes b/c each person riding will need their own FP reservation. Download the MyDisneyExperience app and that will be your main gateway while there. You can check wait times, modify fast passes and order quick service meals right from there.
I highly recommend character dining with kids that age. It is the best way to have solid character interactions w/o taking up park time. There are many around property. I mean you gotta eat right...might as well knock out some character photos while you are at it.
feel free to ask any other questions..lots of helpful, experienced peeps here .
