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Wait until the oldest is 5...

We took my oldest 2 when they were 5 and 3. Oldest still remembers a lot of what we did, youngest, not so much. Since then we've added a 3rd whose now 8. We went last year and all of them had a blast with no issues on what they could ride (for the most part). My brother went with us and he had his 9 and 3 year old. Again, 3 yo barely remembers anything about the trip today. We did 5 days, 4 in parks and one down day.

If you do go, one of the lower level resorts is fine as little time spent there. Just a place to rest your head. We stayed at the Orleans last time, highly recommend it and about same cost as Pop/Sports or similar. Plus you could catch a water taxi from there to Disney Springs.

We did the meal plan with one table service and one fast service meal a day. We did our table service for lunch, were able to get reservations very easily and provided a rest period for the kids, especially the younger ones. I believe this was the primary reason we had so few blowups from them. It worked well for us. If you do the meal plan, RESERVE YOUR TABLE SERVICE MEALS THE FIRST DAY YOU ARE ABLE!!! This is usually 6 months before your trip. If you wait until the week or even month before, you will not eat where you want to.

Honestly, take them to the beach for a week and wait until they are older. You will enjoy it more as will they.

(In response to this post by hokiehunter07)

Posted: 03/09/2017 at 2:57PM

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Current Thread:

Disney Experts. When and how much? -- hokiehunter07 03/08/2017 11:11AM

Wait until the oldest is 5... -- Burruss Writer 03/09/2017 2:57PM

May, best off property rates and smallest crowds -- Vienna_Hokie 03/09/2017 09:44AM

Week after Thanksgiving is one of the slowest weeks of the year. ** -- BamBam 03/09/2017 05:16AM

Went at the beginning of November 2 years ago - perfect time. -- VT_Consul 03/08/2017 4:58PM

Just went a few weeks ago.... -- Freddyburg Hokie 03/08/2017 3:19PM

Holy cow, this long thread and hasn't been said yet: Watch out for crocs!! ** -- Nova Hokie 95 03/08/2017 3:07PM

This gal is nearby... -- UTPr0sim 03/08/2017 4:15PM

As some have said below, too young in my opinion. -- Late 80s Hokie 03/08/2017 3:00PM

Don't miss Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios. We got better seats -- reestuart 03/08/2017 2:56PM

First you need a project manager to plan your trip to disney -- vt_mughal 03/08/2017 2:48PM

Yep. They don't charge anything. They save you money. They save you -- reestuart 03/08/2017 5:00PM

WOW, Lots of great advice. Thanks! This trip serves 3 purposes -- hokiehunter07 03/08/2017 2:40PM

Be patient and wait a few more years for both Disney and Yellowstone. -- 6GHokie 03/08/2017 6:09PM

Reading that, I'll reiterate one thing I said -- Nova Hokie 95 03/08/2017 3:03PM

Why go? No more paradise Island! -- AtlantaHokie 03/08/2017 2:38PM

Disney expert... -- `lag 03/08/2017 1:39PM

Get a house in Anna Maria for the week and make an -- TheNuke 03/08/2017 1:36PM

Go Saturday before Thanksgiving, leave Thanksgiving day or next. No lines ** -- Hokebury 03/08/2017 1:33PM

We went in mid-October. Also pretty sparse. Awesome. ** -- Will Stewart

03/08/2017 1:58PM

Last time I was there.... -- 48zip 03/08/2017 1:25PM

Circa 72ish? ** -- astrohokie 03/08/2017 3:39PM

I am going to get killed for this -- bigbadbird 03/08/2017 1:13PM

I'm not a fan of taking little, little kids to Disney. -- Will Stewart

03/08/2017 1:57PM

Yup, our 4 yr old spent most of the time terrified ** -- astrohokie 03/08/2017 2:02PM

Four is a good age if someone else is buying. lol -- Nova Hokie 95 03/08/2017 2:23PM

I'm with you as well -- HokieMacDaddy 03/08/2017 1:43PM

100% agree with you... -- SugarDaddyVT 03/08/2017 1:37PM

Disney resorts used to be known for smaller rooms -- TabbHokie 03/08/2017 1:35PM

We make a trip once or twice per year, and here's something to consider -- herndon teach 03/08/2017 12:47PM

I would echo reestuart's post below about working with a planner. -- s.mill hokie 03/08/2017 12:38PM

You've gotten some great advice -- TabbHokie 03/08/2017 12:34PM

One year we rented a car and stayed at buena vista suites. -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 12:42PM

I am a self proclaimed expert -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 12:13PM

I agree with all this (No, Epcot isn't as fun for most kids), except for -- hokiemas 03/08/2017 12:49PM

I was thinking more in terms of "have access to a stroller", but you are -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 12:53PM

WOAH on the 'Skip Epcot' thing !!! -- vt90 03/08/2017 12:18PM

If I'm skipping next time, I'm skipping Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. -- reestuart 03/08/2017 2:55PM

I would normally agree with you as my kids and I LOVE -- herndon teach 03/08/2017 12:42PM

Haha. Even as an adult its my least favorite. But let me backpeddle -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 12:24PM

I thought Soarin' was amazing. Other than that (and Anna/Elsa) forgettable. ** -- Freddyburg Hokie 03/08/2017 3:24PM

Mine LOVED Test Track but they were a little older ... -- vt90 03/08/2017 12:53PM

I agree, Epcot is very dependent on kids' ages. -- s.mill hokie 03/08/2017 12:30PM

Could your 3 year old ride soarin? -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 12:41PM

IMO, they've ruined it with CGI with the reboot. ** -- herndon teach 03/08/2017 1:04PM

When was that? -- s.mill hokie 03/08/2017 1:24PM

First time we saw it was October 2016. So, sometime before that. ** -- herndon teach 03/08/2017 1:39PM

Oh no! We did it pre-refurbishment and loved it. We just couldn't -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 1:06PM

Ok, sorry. Ruined is a strong word, but I liked the old version better. ** -- herndon teach 03/08/2017 1:09PM

Yeah, he was 3 1/2. I think the height req. was 40 inches? ** -- s.mill hokie 03/08/2017 12:44PM

Ditto. ** -- PhotoHokieNC 03/08/2017 12:23PM

I'm gonna rain on the parade a bit here -- HokieMacDaddy 03/08/2017 12:10PM

The question is, who is the trip for. I debated this with my own family. -- hokiemas 03/08/2017 12:43PM

I know you're right, because we did it -- WestyHokie 03/08/2017 12:39PM

Agree that the younger one won't remember, but at the same time -- reestuart 03/08/2017 12:51PM

This is true. You want to go while it's all still magical and before they -- hokiemas 03/08/2017 1:29PM

Yep. I'd say 90% of that day was a bit of a PITA, but it -- reestuart 03/08/2017 2:11PM

I'm saying there is a sweet spot, and it is older than 3-6 -- WestyHokie 03/08/2017 2:59PM

Not disagreeing that at that young age it's about the parents... -- reestuart 03/08/2017 4:02PM

Oh, one other thing for you and your wife ... -- Nova Hokie 95 03/08/2017 12:03PM

Child swap is a better option. You get a tag before they even go into the -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 12:16PM

Recommend avoiding the "heat of the summer" -- EDGEMAN 03/08/2017 12:02PM

The two times I've been with my daughter, we felt the heat more in April -- hokiemas 03/08/2017 12:51PM

Based on my two trips in the two years, do fall and not spring. -- hokiemas 03/08/2017 11:59AM

We went through a Disney travel rep. Saved a little money, but -- reestuart 03/08/2017 11:57AM

Having been 10-12 times, and going again in June -- TabbHokie 03/08/2017 11:45AM

Or if you go in september-oct you get not so scary halloween ** -- HokieJamie 03/08/2017 11:51AM

And definitely use the quick queue to get the kids on the rides they want -- HokieJamie 03/08/2017 11:43AM

Meh, not as important with kids that age -- Nova Hokie 95 03/08/2017 11:46AM

Hire disabled people to go with you and go to front of all lines -- statmanfromHCyrs 03/08/2017 11:33AM

Do you have anyone military or ex-military that might go with you? -- psychobilly 03/08/2017 11:30AM

I'd definitely recommend staying at a Disney resort -- Nova Hokie 95 03/08/2017 11:27AM

I have been a few times the week before Thanksgiving, coming home Monday -- 3011Cochrane 03/08/2017 11:24AM

Anytime that school is in. stay at a disney resort, i would fly -- HokieJamie 03/08/2017 11:16AM

Disney does service right - they take your bags from the plane directly... -- Gobble Gobble 03/08/2017 11:22AM

Timing wise, early November is great ... -- vt90 03/08/2017 11:14AM

Wait until the oldest is 5...

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