Child Bricker’s First Journey to Disney World: Planning & Pre-Report

It’s loopy how some issues in life can come full circle. The final time I wrote a pre-trip report for Walt Disney World, this weblog was not but even a twinkle in our eyes. Such a ‘submit’ would’ve come through Flickr and boards, to satiate our personal pleasure and solicit suggestions on Advance Eating Reservations and our each day itineraries for the parks.

Quick-forward over 15 years, and we’re again at it. Like these, this pre-trip report is usually a matter of getting an outlet for our pleasure and approach to rely down the times. I can not categorical the feelings we’re feeling for Megatron’s first go to to Walt Disney World. It’s essentially the most or second-most excited I’ve been for a Walt Disney World trip, proper up there with our honeymoon or November 2007 journey.

I had been anxiously-awaiting that Christmas 2007 journey for a number of months, because it’s after I deliberate on proposing to Sarah. I used to be a ball of nerves, realizing that–for higher or worse–that journey was going to alter the trajectory of my life. (Spoiler: it turned out to be for higher!) Whereas I don’t have the identical nagging worry of rejection–even when there’s a lot driving on Megatron’s first Figment meet & greet–it’s a related flurry of emotions. However largely simply unbridled enthusiasm and pleasure, as we open the subsequent chapter of our household holidays to Walt Disney World!

We haven’t actually shared any household updates since Christmas, save for a couple of offhand mentions in different posts, however we’ve been having a incredible time visiting Disneyland within the final couple of months. After an unimaginable first go to for Christmas, Megatron’s subsequent half-dozen or so days at Disneyland have been pretty uneventful. Earlier than we acquired inside both park, she was all the time asleep. We now have rather a lot of images with characters pretending to sleep or doing the “shhh” sign. The one two instances she was awake, she’s making (for lack of higher time period) a WTF face on the characters.

Then got here the go to that was like a revelation. Not solely did Megatron meet a personality whereas wakeful, however she had her thoughts blown (figuratively) by the expertise. She additionally debuted a brand new function that we’ve come to name “Dolphin Mode.” (Her finest mode.) Throughout Dolphin Mode, her eyes get actually vast and stuffed with happiness as she flaps round her legs and arms. She makes a high-pitched chirping noise and tries to, I suppose, echolocate the character. It’s actually essentially the most cute factor I’ve ever seen, and watching the movies we now have of her doing this could immediately fill me with pleasure irrespective of my temper. In the event that they have been VHS tapes, I might’ve worn them out by now.

It appears like we’re solely simply beginning to scratch the floor of watching her develop and alter with Disney, and we couldn’t probably be extra excited. We’re very a lot wanting ahead to taking her “residence” to Walt Disney World, and experiencing these parks for the primary time by way of her eyes.

And whereas it wouldn’t sting fairly as a lot as a rejected proposal, there’s rather a lot driving on that first Figment meet & greet. Some cute echolocation motion would most likely break me, whereas a WTF face wouldn’t. (I suppose we’d like her to fulfill Figment earlier than she rides Journey into Creativeness in its present state. To date she solely is aware of the character and journey by way of the wonderful Figment Little Golden E book, which is learn to her at the very least as soon as per day.)

Anyway, on with the pre-trip report and planning for Megatron’s first journey to Walt Disney World…

I’ll begin with the place we began, which was selecting dates. We deliberated lengthy and arduous over when to make Megatron’s first journey to Walt Disney World, and ended up altering our journey dates a few instances. In an ideal world, we’d’ve gone in January or February, throughout one of many ‘valleys’ between vacation lengthy weekends and sporting occasions. However we’ve been attempting to err on the facet of warning and mitigating threat by avoiding extended indoor actions through the peak of respiratory sicknesses season. In order that was by no means actually a severe contender. Subsequent yr, although!

As a substitute, our preliminary plan was to focus on the candy spot earlier than Spring Break kicked into excessive gear. The very first week of March would’ve been superb, however that simply appeared too early as we have been nonetheless within the midst of midnight feedings and witching hour. Then got here a quick window the place we felt like we have been on prime of the world, Parenting Execs who may journey wherever. At this level, mid-March seemed like a superb choice.

Proper as we started firming up plans, one thing known as “sleep regression” began. I had heard tall tales of this within the ‘The way to Be Mother and father’ books we learn, and maybe underestimated it. Whenever you’re feeling like Ishmael after slaying Moby Dick (a bizarre approach to phrase “getting a couple of weeks of near-normal sleep,” however that was our white whale), you perhaps develop a little bit of overconfidence? Suffice to say, sleep regression is a factor and it very a lot spooked us. Not Parenting Execs, we as an alternative felt like we would have liked to select up Parenting for Dummies.

As the standard of the writing right here over the previous few months most likely demonstrates, I’m sleep disadvantaged and never fully coherent. (Or perhaps it’s all the time been that method.) No matter I’m, double or triple that for Sarah. I actually have no idea how she will get by way of the day. The concept of getting to navigate Walt Disney World as zombies, probably speaking to individuals and who is aware of what else–all without having the house courtroom benefit and combating a 3-hour time change–was simply rather a lot. 

Not that we’re complaining. It’s been a wild journey up to now, however a tremendous one. We’ve by no means been so completely happy to be so drained. Every day, her character begins to crystalize a bit of extra. She jogs my memory of Sarah when giving me a “sympathy smile” in response to a hilarious joke I inform her. She furrows her forehead after we introduce her to a brand new not-good meals. Conversely, her face lit up after we gave her avocado for the primary time final evening. We acquired so excited when she rolled over for the primary time that she acquired excited in response. She feeds off our power, we feed off hers–drained or not.

All a long-winded method of claiming that we delayed Megatron’s first journey to Walt Disney World by over a month. We’re now going within the second half of April, hopefully after Spring Break season absolutely finishes. Except for sleep, these dates have been additionally extra fascinating from the angle of pricing on just about the whole lot (airfare, inns, and so on). In order that definitely made the choice simpler.

We thought-about ready till even later in shoulder season, pushing off till Could 2024 within the (unlikely) hope of previews for Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Dates we thought-about then additionally would’ve had even decrease costs–not as a lot as going from mid-March to mid-to-late April, however nonetheless higher. One other large level in favor of Could was that after we began making reservations, sleep regression was nonetheless in high-gear, so going sooner felt like a serious leap of religion. Nothing like a slight sense of dread earlier than a visit!

The case towards Could was climate. We’ve developed divergent views on this, as I think Sarah has been away from Florida for thus lengthy that she’s begun to overlook–or mentally block out–how scorching and humid it will get. In the meantime, I’m virtually scarred from the triple-digit ‘appears like’ temperatures of final summer season and early fall.

There’s additionally the truth that we’ve grow to be avid babywearers. That works splendidly the place we dwell and at Disneyland; it’s been chilly or at the very least snug since Megatron’s arrival. Walt Disney World looks like it’s going to be an entire completely different babywearing ballgame. Even April is enjoying with hearth with regards to WDW climate; Could is juggling incendiary grenades.

Talking of climate, it’s one purpose we’ve opted to lease a stroller relatively than convey our personal or rely solely on babywearing. Whereas we do it on a regular basis at Disneyland and at residence, opting solely to babywear at Walt Disney World looks like strolling a tightrope and not using a security internet. It’s presumably going to be hotter and can also be an extended timeframe. It’s one factor to babywear for 4-5 hours as soon as per week at Disneyland, one other solely to double that period of time for a full week.

As for renting a stroller, this actually wasn’t even on our radar till Sarah talked to a few of her associates. A lot of them lease strollers, versus taking their very own, because of the rain and different components. Clearly, rain covers exist. So we may simply use that. However I’ve funkified sufficient pairs of footwear within the Florida monsoons to know that doesn’t all the time work out as deliberate. To not evaluate our stroller to one in all my nasty footwear, however I’d want to maintain our stroller good for so long as attainable–particularly since we now have different journeys on the horizon.

One other factor we (over)thought lengthy and arduous about was flight situations. Particularly, 3 vs. 2 seats and whether or not to do nonstop flights. These deliberations alone might be a full submit–and possibly will sooner or later, since we now have each “kind” of flight combo booked for future journeys.

After initially solely reserving 2 seats in bulkhead on nonstop routes, we spooked ourselves into shopping for a 3rd. Neither of us love this, however it’s an extended flight and we now have loads of worry of the unknown. Plus, the post-spring break airfare was much more manageable–to the purpose that 3 seats in late April value lower than 2 in mid-March. (As of proper now, a number of rows round us are empty…it’s going to be a bit bittersweet in the event that they keep that method and we may’ve gotten that additional seat free of charge.)

The following element was selecting inns. We debated loads of choices right here, with essentially the most consideration given to the Crescent Lake and monorail resorts. We briefly thought of doing a severe ‘TREAT YO SELF’ trip given the entire financial savings final yr from cancelled journeys and me touring solo to Walt Disney World and nearly all the time reserving the most cost effective choices. (Accordingly, the 2 resorts I dominated out have been All Star Sports activities and Coronado Springs. I’ve seen sufficient A.S.S. within the final yr for a lifetime.)

We priced out the Backyard Cottages at Boardwalk and Membership Stage at a couple of resorts…and really shortly dominated all of that out. After growing a style for the cheaper stuff over the yr, that was a bit a lot of a splurge. Positively need to do each now that we now have a child, however we’ll wait till the speed charts are much more favorable through the low season.

Nonetheless, we landed on a cut up keep between a Royal Room at Port Orleans Riverside and the Backyard Wing on the Modern. Not precisely cut price basement resorts! We’re a bit weary about this after the entire current reader feedback in regards to the challenges of fixing resorts with infants, however on the plus facet, it offers us an opportunity to area take a look at our personal recommendation below modified life circumstances.

We’re actually wanting ahead to that, and each resorts. It’s been some time since we’ve stayed at Riverside, so we’re due for a return. Sarah additionally identified it was the place we stayed after we acquired engaged, so it appears like a little bit of a full circle expertise. (Costs have gone up barely since then!)

Modern was our choose for quite a lot of causes, the at the start being that we wished breakfast at Chef Mickey’s to be Megatron’s first character eating expertise. These firsts are crucial to us, and a giant a part of that’s watching her develop up at Walt Disney World. So we will have recollections and images of her as a child, toddler, preschooler, and so on., all in the identical place.

Consequently, we need to select firsts which might be significant, iconic and (hopefully) enduring. Whereas Chef Mickey’s is just not our favourite character meal at Walt Disney World, we truly do get pleasure from breakfast there (it’s dinner that was on our “by no means once more” listing…however we can be doing it once more, so scratch that, I suppose).

Regardless, we figured Chef Mickey’s is extra prone to be round in 20 years than the present incarnations of Cape Could Cafe, Topolino’s Terrace Crystal Palace, or (hopefully) 1900 Park Fare. The expertise at Chef Mickey’s is simply so iconic and memorable that it’s arduous to think about it ever altering. Then once more, I might’ve stated the identical factor in regards to the identify “FastPass” a couple of years in the past, but right here we’re. So who is aware of. Perhaps the brand new “wishers” meal at 1900 Park Fare will outlast ’em all.

Talking of which, 1900 Park Fare was the subsequent character meal we booked. No attention-grabbing clarification for this one, it’s very a lot for the weblog. Whilst we’re taking Child Bricker’s first household trip, we is not going to forsake our solemn obligation as Disney bloggers. We’ve already sat Megatron down and defined to her that the digicam all the time eats first. To arrange her to take over the household enterprise, her first excessive chair is definitely a trash can. (Not likely, however that does really feel like a missed alternative.)

It’s the opposite ADRs the place we’re struggling. We at present have Backyard Grill booked for the day of our resort change, however we’d want to do breakfast at Crystal Palace. The difficulty is that we waited too lengthy, later seatings weren’t accessible, and we’re uncertain about our skill to get out the door for an ADR earlier than 10 am. We’ve additionally observed loads of Stroll-Up Waitlist availability for Crystal Palace within the final couple of months; we’re going when it’s even much less busy, so we predict winging it is perhaps the pragmatic plan of action.

Story E book Eating at Artist Level is an alternative choice about which we’re on the fence. ADRs at this level are a no-go, and we’re undecided that we’d need them, anyway. However I believe we will most likely rating day-before and even same-day reservations for Artist Level, ought to Megatron be sport for it.

This lack of ADRs and ‘wait and see’ strategy is purposeful. One among our targets has been to keep away from overplanning, as we don’t need to set expectations at an unrealistic degree. We’ve already seen (many instances) that the very best laid plans typically go awry. That’s simply true on the whole, however particularly so with a child. There’s additionally the truth that we’ve achieved a grand whole of 4 sit-down meals within the Megatron period.

She’s achieved very properly, however all of these meals have additionally been open air with just about nobody round. (For no matter purpose, she loves being open air.) How she’ll react to consuming indoors in a crowded and chaotic eating room stays to be seen. Level being, we don’t need to make and get excited a couple of half-dozen ADRs, solely to have the primary meal be a nuclear meltdown that annihilates the plan.

Which results in one other level. We’d love to do an precise journey report for Child Bricker’s first go to to Walt Disney World, however that won’t occur or might happen in condensed ‘highlights’ type. As we’ve talked about a couple of instances earlier than (and possibly will once more since not everybody reads each submit and that is understandably an space of confusion), we need to be conscientious about her privateness and even handed about what we share. That’s why we’re calling her Megatron (not her actual identify, sadly) or posting full-on images of her face.

Meaning not writing something that Megatron can be mortified to learn later in life. I keep in mind being embarrassed when my mother instructed sure tales about after I was a child…and that was simply to shut associates, not immortalized on the web. We preserve studying horror tales about ‘social media youngsters’ rising up and hating their dad and mom. We clearly don’t need to do this, or something even approaching it. We love her so, a lot and are petrified of doing something that would jeopardize our relationship together with her later in life.

It’s additionally straightforward to see the way it occurs. You are taking an cute video of your daughter in Dolphin Mode when assembly Goofy, and there’s a pull to share that with the world! However then I believe again to these horror tales–and I additionally imagine that there’s going to be a “correction” with regards to privateness, and younger individuals valuing it extra sooner or later. Everybody has to find out what’s the appropriate degree of sharing their household’s lives (we aren’t judging anybody else), however the line we’ve drawn is privateness and embarrassment.

Then there’s additionally a pressure if I write a visit report, however pass over main chunks of the day or play free with issues to remain on the appropriate facet of these traces. We satisfaction ourselves in not pulling punches with the nice, dangerous and ugly of Walt Disney World–so I don’t need to current a ‘rigorously curated’ journey that omits the dangerous/ugly and pretends we’re good. We don’t need to misrepresent our lives that method, because it’s nobody’s actuality.

Given all of that, it is perhaps higher to take what we be taught from this (and different) journeys and, relatively than writing about it in narrative type, to distill it into suggestions & methods and proposals of that nature. Simply type of considering aloud, and giving a little bit of context into our thought course of.

Clearly, this doesn’t cowl the whole lot of Child Bricker’s first journey to Walt Disney World. There truly continues to be rather a lot we haven’t decided, each so we will savor spontaneity–not the whole lot needs to be scripted–and since we’re nonetheless uncertain of some issues.

Talking of scripted, that brings us to the ultimate level of this submit, which is to flip the script and solicit reader suggestions. Often we share our planning recommendation with you, however this time, we would like you to share your experience and expertise with us. Not essentially for first journey or park or that kind of factor. I don’t need to faux that is up for a ‘vote’ when that actually isn’t the case. (C’mon, does anybody actually imagine that EPCOT and Journey into Creativeness aren’t going to win out for first park/attraction? Particularly with Nation Bear Jamboree at present closed?!?!)

Honestly, I don’t know what kind of recommendation we’re hoping to obtain. What I do know is that there’s rather a lot that we don’t even know that we don’t know about visiting Walt Disney World with youngsters. The quantity of random information gaps we’ve already found at Disneyland have been stunning, and it’s often the case which you could multiply by 5 for the complexities of Walt Disney World. The recommendation to lease a stroller because of climate, for instance, was one thing that by no means crossed my thoughts. One other occurred when readers instructed us in regards to the delay in receiving a pack ‘n’ play when doing cut up stays.

Suffice to say, we’re extremely excited (and a tad bit anxious, if we’re being sincere) about Megatron’s first journey to Walt Disney World. This appears like our first journey another time, which is a ‘magic’ that I by no means thought we’d have the ability to recapture. We all know it’s not all going to go in line with plan, which is why we’re incorporating going off-script into the plan itself. It doesn’t matter what occurs or doesn’t, we’re overjoyed on the expertise we’re about to have…and hope to share elements of it with you!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Motels Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot you’ll want to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Any random suggestions for Child Bricker’s first journey to Walt Disney World? Ideas on selections for character meals or anything? The rest you’re involved in studying about with regard to Megatron, infants within the parks, and so on? Anecdotes of your individual about first visits to the Disney parks? Another questions? Listening to your suggestions is all the time appreciated, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!