The one with the Toddler - Pre-Trip Report

[miked1e]

So here we go again, although this time it's going to be slightly different! Not just the 2 of us anymore after 5 WDW holidays together... this time will be with DS Bobby! His first trip to the magic at 22 months old!

So lets get straight to it!

Cast

Mike (34) - Holiday planner and overall big kid at heart! I am the one responsible for booking the holiday, ADR's, FP's (with help from DW of course) etc and usually the one making sure we are up early every morning to get to the parks first thing! Although going to have to rain it in this year and play it by Bobby's schedule! Most looking forward to walking down Main Street USA that first time with Bobby!

Holly (30) - Again big kid, and loves WDW holidays! Last time she went was without me when she met her family in Orlando for a week back in 2016 (after we got back from the West Coast). Holly picks all the restaurants and FP's... I just book them! Plenty of character meals for Bobby... Not Holly, of course. ... Most looking forward to being in WDW with Bobby. Least looking forward to the flight

Bobby (22 months) - Great little character and amazing fun! Had his first experience of Disney in Paris last November and loved the parades and It's A small World. Didn't like the other rides we took him on including POTC and Peter Pan. I think both were a little too dark for him... he was only just over 17 months old! Probably most looking forward to seeing the Magic Kingdom choo choo (He loves Thomas) or the mono (rail). Mickey, Stitch, dragon (FoF parade) and bang bangs (not difficult to guess).

Itinerary

Airport/Flights

06/04 - VS075 - MAN/MCO
20/04 - VS076 - MCO/MAN

We have booked Bobby a seat as didn't fancy having a 22 month old on our laps for the 9 hours. Plus with sitting in economy and unless going right at the back in the rows of 2, we would be sitting next to someone... which I am sure wouldn't be too much fun for them!

So we have row 26 booked on the way out and row 47 (extra leg room behind us). We like to be towards the front, so we can get out early and hopefully into a quieter immigration hall... pot luck I know, but lets hope! As again, I can imagine hard work after a 9 hour flight with a little one!

We also have the V-Room booked in Manchester Airport. Plan to get here between 0700-0730hrs and get a seat near the play area so Bobby can hopefully tire himself out before the 0955hrs flight. Maybe get a little sleep from him after we take off!

Hotels

05/04 - Radisson Blu Manchester Airport (1 night with parking)
06/04 - BLT (1 night Theme Park View Room on DVC points)
07/04 - Port Orleans French Quarter (13 nights standard view with DDP)
15/04 - Cabana Bay (2 nights Volcano Bay View Room)

So I probably have to explain a little about the hotels! Note the hotels that we have stayed in before are POP, ASMu, POR, SSR, Beach Club and Hard Rock hotel!

We love staying in the airport hotel the night before, and although we only live in Liverpool so 30-40 mins away, we find its a great start to the holiday!

Anyway, when we booked the holiday with VH back in April 2017 we booked POFQ with upgrade DDP from QSDP. However, this was a pre-booking and once DDP was confirmed we were changed to POR as there was no availability at POFQ for the 14 nights and only 13 nights from the 7th. We couldn't change the holiday dates as Holly is a teacher and we are stuck to the Spring Break holidays (2 weeks).

Now POFQ was our preferred choice of moderate, although we did like POR! It was mainly because 1. it's smaller and 2. the splash area looks fab for toddlers! We are going to spend a lot more time in the hotel in the afternoons, so great to have this little area for Bobby!

Anyway, we decided in the end to change the hotel booking to 13 nights in POFQ with upgraded DDP and looked to treat ourselves the 1st night with DVC Points. BLT it is, and we look forward to some pool time, QS, trip on the monorail and then watching the bang bangs from the balcony! Plus we had always decided that we wanted to meet Mickey and the gang on our first morning... so what a great way to start with Chef Mickeys first morning before strolling over to MK.

Then finally, Holly bought me Universal tickets for Christmas as I had not been the Universal parks since our honeymoon in 2012... So to make the most of this we have decided to book 2 nights in Universal to do the 3 parks! HRH, PB and RPR were a little too expensive so no FOLP, but Cabana Bay looks great and ideal position for Volcano Bay!

ADR's

Again, this is slightly different to our usual ADR's... we tend to have more signatures and or sit down evening meals on previous trips. But of course with DS, we have decided character meals and breakfasts are the way forward (I so hope he likes the characters... otherwise a change of plans whilst out there, if we can).

So we have the following booked:

Chef Mickeys breakfast - 1st morning to meet Mickey and the gang!
Tusker House breakfast ROL package - a favourite of ours, and gives us the pass for ROL which we have never seen!
FOF dining package Tony's Town Square - eaten here once, and have decided to book again to hopefully get good view of the parade for Bobby!
Storybook Dining dinner - Really looking forward to this, and again another character meal! We love Wilderness Lodge!
Garden Grill lunch - Again another family favourite!
Crystal Palace breakfast - Family favourite and we have an early ADR before park opening!
Teppan Edo - Love Japanese food, and hopefully the chef entertainment will keep Bobby well... entertained.
Be our Guest dinner - Last night of the holiday! Eaten here before but only lunch.
Ohana breakfast - last morning of the holiday and Bobby gets to meet Stitch (his favourite).

Also planning on getting a Landry card for T-Rex and Rainforest so we can have a bit of flexibility with these ones... not too sure if I have left it too late though

We have a lot of buffets or family style meals where Bobby will get his own plate and will be plenty for him. No problem with paying OOP for meals for Bobby depending on how he is!

Fast Passes

Nothing too exciting on the fast pass side, as we have booked most for Bobby! Had no issues getting what we wanted (as you can imagine)... we have 2 x FP's for FOP and 1 x FP for Slinky Dog.

We plan on doing very little rider swap (if any) as we want to do all of the rides together! With exception of the 2 mentioned above as neither of us have done these... however, we have booked a FP each for these so will have to ride alone!

Think I also may have Mission Space booked... which I love... as does Holly (she doesn't like it and won't ride) as she just goes crazy in Mousegear whilst I am on it!

Other stuff

Not much to tell here really... but we are planning on just taking it easy and taking it all in with Bobby. We are going to take it at his pace and spend most afternoons back at the hotel, hopefully at the pool!

We are doing all WDW parks including WDW water parks with most time spent in MK, then AK, some time in Epcot and finally I think 1 evening in DHS.

Then we are doing all 3 Universal parks and the outlets whilst up that end for the 2 nights/3 days!

I am sure i will think of other things and will add them to this report, but if any questions please ask!

Will be doing a full report when I get back... and hopefully some sort of VLOG!