Megatron’s first journey to Walt Disney World was certainly one of our greatest household holidays, but it surely wasn’t with out challenges. That is the ‘grand finale’ to Child Bricker’s first WDW journey report, with persevering with protection of what went mistaken. It options images & ideas on forcing firsts, early mornings vs. late nights, trip downtime, our Figment Fail and extra.
That is the fourth a part of our Walt Disney World journey report, the direct follow-up to our ‘father or mother fails’ throughout Megatron’s first WDW journey. Earlier than that, we shared ‘what went proper’ throughout our household journey – half 1 and half 2. For those who’re in search of the positives from this journey (and the overwhelming majority was wonderful), take a look at these first two elements. They’re the heartwarming tales and images from Child Bricker’s first trip to Walt Disney World.
General, this was enjoyable and immensely satisfying as we rediscovered Walt Disney World as dad and mom. It was additionally an enormous studying expertise and went removed from flawlessly, however we wouldn’t commerce this journey–warts and all–for something. Anyway, right here’s the ultimate installment of this report with extra of our challenges in taking Child Bricker (Megatron) to Walt Disney World for the primary time. Let’s dig proper in…
Early Entry & Rope Drop – Given the previously-discussed points with Megatron’s sleep schedule, this isn’t going to come back as even a slight shock, however we didn’t do a single Early Entry or rope drop as a household. (I did a pair solo and can have stories on these quickly.) Collectively, we made it to the parks earlier than 11 a.m. a grand complete of 1 time.
The shortage of rope drops was to be anticipated, as we have been protecting Megatron on Pacific time. She will get up for the day at dwelling between 5:30 and 6 a.m., and early as that’s, it’s nonetheless too late for Early Entry when you account for preparing and transportation.
What I didn’t totally recognize is simply how lengthy it could take to get out the door every morning. (Now I do know why the later Early Entry at Magic Kingdom is a lot busier than those that begin an hour earlier!) Positively far more of a manufacturing to get a child prepared, and it appeared that by the point we acquired all the things accomplished, there have been sure steps of the ‘course of’ that already needed to be repeated. Once more, I hope that is partially a “expertise concern” and as we grow to be more proficient at touring, we’ll be capable to get out the door quicker.
On the different finish of the spectrum, one factor I forgot to say as one thing that went proper was late nights. Megatron’s “preferrred” bedtime at house is 7 to eight p.m. (massive time air quotes round preferrred), which is 10-11 p.m. Jap. Because of this, we have been capable of do park closings with ease. We didn’t try Prolonged Night Hours, however assume we’ll subsequent journey. That might be through the hotter summer time months and we’ll wish to spend extra day out after darkish in consequence.
Forcing Firsts – A couple of months in the past, we made ourselves a ‘Child Bricker Bucket Listing’ that additionally capabilities as an inventory of meant firsts. Our considering was that we wish to be purposeful about what she does and when, so we (and he or she) can look again on the issues she did first at every of the parks and when. We additionally need to have the ability to repeat sure milestones and recollections over time, so we wished to be strategic in selecting sights and experiences that can in all probability be round for many years to come back.
That is all an excellent thought in principle, and we’ll kind of proceed to do it. The issue is that infants are about as unpredictable and sleepy as a home cat. We discovered ourselves placing issues off that we meant upon doing as a result of naps or different issues intervened. For instance, we deliberate on her sporting a selected outfit for her first trip on Journey into Creativeness, after which assembly Figment as we exited the trip. We additionally deliberate on her being awake for this.
We walked over to Journey into Creativeness three separate occasions with that plan in thoughts. All 3 times, she fell asleep through the commute. Because it seems, EPCOT is a giant park (who knew?) and the child provider is a great spot for a nap! I’m unsure that I essentially remorse this, as her first trip (awake!) on Journey into Creativeness was actually memorable.
Typically, although, I believe we tried to choreograph an excessive amount of with the firsts and that led to us losing lots of time and doing extra strolling and fewer precise issues. The top end result with Journey into Creativeness made that “price it,” however even that had one not-so-minor downside. Sooner or later, we’ll be extra prepared to roll with the punches and simply let no matter occurs, occur.
Figment Fail – That one not-so-minor downside with Journey into Creativeness is that Megatron has but to satisfy Figment. Between our late begins, his restricted set schedule, and her falling asleep en path to the Creativeness Pavilion…it simply didn’t occur. We virtually known as an audible and went to EPCOT on our final partial day, however we’d’ve had ~45 minutes when all was mentioned and accomplished and that might’ve been a giant waste had she simply fallen asleep once more. Plus, we’ve realized {that a} 45 minute window can vanish very quickly in any respect with a child.
Truthfully, we don’t remorse this! Whereas it could’ve been wonderful to roll with the punches and do different issues whereas she was asleep, assembly Figment was not a kind of issues. It’s actually vital to us that she’s awake for her first encounter with Figment, as the entire meet & greets she’s accomplished whereas awake have been particular and enjoyable, whereas those she’s accomplished whereas asleep haven’t. If meaning pushing Figment off till she’s probably much less enamored with characters (I do know there’s an ebb and circulation), so be it.
Wanting scheduling a number of extra days at EPCOT, there was nothing we might’ve accomplished in another way to keep away from this. It wasn’t a mistake–simply one thing that went mistaken. Hopefully she’ll be visiting Walt Disney World for the remainder of her life, so not each main “first” needed to occur this primary journey. Right here’s hoping the Figment meet & greet occurs subsequent time!
Sophisticated Outfits – Megatron should store at Dan Flashes, as a result of her outfits are so sophisticated. I get why folks like cute clothes ensembles for infants as they’re nice for images and all that, however I’m not a fan. The extra items an outfit has, the extra seemingly one thing is to get misplaced or get bunched up within the child provider and trigger discomfort.
Maybe worst of all, it’s an amazing problem for inept people making an attempt to vary infants and scuffling with socks or pants as child does their greatest Pelé impression. (Not that I converse from expertise or something–simply searching for my fellow fathers…or moms! However severely, why do not one of the parenting books talk about this? There ought to be a full chapter devoted to socks shenanigans.)
I’m the knowledgeable on lots of issues. that. I do know that. Uh, not lots of issues. A couple of issues. However vogue is positively certainly one of them. And in my thought of opinion, the head of child type is the onesie and the highest designer is the Home of Burt’s Bees. Shopping their lookbook for the Summer time 2024 season, and there are simply so many putting kinds. Dinosaur onesies, dragon onesies, shark onesies. That’s a design workforce on the high of their sport; true child couture.
Half-joking apart, actually all of my favourite outfits for Megatron are from Burt’s Bees and so they go onerous. Going ahead, I hope that she solely wears onesies whereas touring for his or her ease and ease. I do know that if I might get away with all the time sporting one-piece pajamas in public, I completely would. We shouldn’t deprive her of this golden window of alternative earlier than it turns into socially unacceptable.
Journey Downtime – This was not distinctive to our journey. Many company as of late appear to assume they skilled atypically unhealthy trip breakdowns throughout their Walt Disney World trip. In actuality, that’s as a result of attraction downtime is much increased than its historic common.
I’m unsure whether or not that rationalization makes it higher or worse. Distress loves firm, so maybe you are taking solace realizing others are in the identical boat. Or possibly you’re mad that Disney doesn’t tackle this recognized concern. (Truthfully, I don’t know if it’s one thing they even can totally tackle. Bear in mind how we warned of the lack of institutional data with the furloughs and layoffs again in 2020? Nicely, look no additional than this for the “fruits” of that short-sighted resolution, as upkeep departments have been decimated and have far fewer years of tenure.)
Both approach, this was a problem for us but once more. It was additionally a much bigger deal, perception-wise, when visiting with Megatron for the primary time since there are extra shifting items with a child. Whereas on a solo journey or when it’s simply the 2 of us, we are able to shortly pivot when what we meant to do is down. Not likely that massive of a deal, besides throughout Early Entry. It was positively extra annoying this time, and I can see how this may be much more irritating with older youngsters, grandparents, or anybody with mobility points.
Animal Kingdom – We have been extra excited to take Megatron to Animal Kingdom than some other park at Walt Disney World. Nicely, aside from EPCOT. Okay, and Magic Kingdom. However we have been positively extra excited for DAK than DHS…and third place out of 4 continues to be respectable!
This was totally for the animals. She loves Yossarian the Cat and Walter Dogsney–and I imply loves them. The cat particularly, as a result of he’s very cat-like and spends his day tucked away in random containers and sleeping within the closet, so she doesn’t see him a lot. However when Yossarian comes up for deal with time and he or she spots him, she goes nuts. Yossarian in all probability ranks increased than I do along with her.
Megatron additionally actually likes seeing the child geese and cats at Disneyland, so we assumed Animal Kingdom can be a house run along with her. That it could simply blow her thoughts with otters, unique pigs, flamingos, massive cats, and so forth.
We assumed mistaken. As greatest I can inform, she noticed one animal all day lengthy–a random duck within the walkway. The remainder of the time, she fixated on posts, handrails, or reflections in glass of the animal enclosures. I’m no child scientist, however she simply stored specializing in the foreground–and there was all the time one thing nearer to her than the critters. So it didn’t matter {that a} actually cool creature that might’ve blown her thoughts was off within the distance, as a result of she had to determine what was up with the pole inside her attain. And by that, I imply she needed to try to seize it so she might lick it.
Since we don’t let her lick any international objects, Animal Kingdom was a giant disappointment for her. (What’s the purpose of all these posts in the event that they can’t be licked?!) Consequently, Megatron’s favourite “animal park” is a crown nonetheless held by Disneyland because of its ducklings, goslings (child geese, not Ryan), cats, and different assorted critters. DAK was her least favourite park and positively our least favourite as dad and mom. As soon as you are taking the animals out of the equation, there’s not a ton to do for infants.
That’s actually the salient level of this from a planning perspective. When you’ve got a child and are debating which park to skip at Walt Disney World, give critical thought to Animal Kingdom. Earlier than this journey, I might’ve assumed Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be the park to skip given how thrill-centric it’s grow to be and what number of sights have top necessities. However DHS is extra doable and gratifying with infants, a minimum of in our view.
Animal Kingdom’s concern is that there’s not a ton for anybody, however infants have it particularly tough as a lot of the rides price doing have top necessities and/or are jerky. It’s additionally a sizzling park with a ton of space to traverse, and never many “low stakes” choices for sitting in air-conditioning, because the stage exhibits are all pretty lengthy and concerned. Usually that’s factor from our perspective, however not a lot with an toddler. It’s robust to commit that a lot time to a high-quality manufacturing in an enormous theater, as you don’t wish to disturb different company if issues go sideways, and leaving shortly isn’t precisely simple.
Unsurprisingly, Magic Kingdom was far and away the very best park for a child. We went in totally anticipating that as a result of Magic Kingdom is arguably the very best park for all age teams with the biggest and most well-rounded slate of sights–and likewise as a result of it’s our private favourite. We’re additionally massive EPCOT followers, in fact, however we ended up being barely shocked at simply how good of a park that was for infants. All the indoor pavilions supply large benefit; there are additionally sufficient smaller scale and low stakes sights which are good and relaxed for babies.
Celebrity Sarah – This isn’t one thing that went mistaken, however somewhat, the rationale this checklist isn’t double or triple its size. Whereas I’m actually struggling to placed on pants (each my very own and the child’s on her), Sarah is singlehandedly holding the entire operation collectively. Simply have a look at her within the picture above…she’s not even flexing!
To not perpetuate the bumbling dad stereotype–I’d like to consider myself as semi-competent and I actually hate not being good at something–however I simply appear to come across extra, ahem, technical difficulties with Megatron. For instance, socks. How do you retain them on a child and, moreover, how on earth do you get them again on (assuming you don’t lose them outright) these tiny, consistently shifting ft? If Megatron is simply 50% sockless when left in my care, I take that as a win.
Sarah by some means manages to do all of it flawlessly, in a perpetual state of sleep deprivation with out criticism. I don’t know when the final time was that she acquired ~3 hours of uninterrupted sleep, however positively not within the yr 2024. Possibly someday final November? There was a quick window the place issues gave the impression to be swell earlier than sleep regression reared its ugly head. I’m in fixed awe that Sarah has managed the stress and calls for of this 24/7 job with out lacking a beat. I’d be completely shedding my thoughts.
At dwelling and through this journey, Sarah does and did the heavy lifting. I assist the place I can, from carrying Megatron to rocking her to sleep at evening, amongst different issues. However there are limitations on what I’m capable of do as contrasted with Sarah. When the child begins crying and Hey Bear (my final line of protection) can’t get her to cease, there are solely two issues Megatron desires, and I don’t have these. I’m clearly a distant second favourite, maybe #3 behind Yossarian.
In the long run, fortunately far more went proper than mistaken on our first journey to Walt Disney World. At the least 90% of that was on account of Sarah being an excellent mother, anticipating issues and desires earlier than they come up and making all of it appear simple. I’m very, very conscious that it’s most positively not simple, as a result of after I’m working the present, we’re having hassle simply protecting ft totally socked. Though I suppose possibly these journey stories would’ve been “simpler” if it have been me in cost, as a result of what went mistaken would’ve been a one phrase submit: all the things.
Even over the span of 4 posts and over 12,000 phrases, there’s nonetheless so much that we haven’t even lined. Issues that neither went proper nor mistaken, however simply “went.” This contains lots of issues, from two of the hardest airports anyplace (Los Angeles and Orlando) to the flights to desk service meals and extra.
The excellent news is that this journey was an excellent studying expertise for us, and we’ve already put a number of the classes to make use of. I’m so glad we did this earlier than touring to Tokyo Disney Resort for the primary time, as this expertise taught us so much and reshaped our method. From issues so simple as packing extra effectively to studying how one can higher alter her sleep schedule. Already, the second journey goes higher than Child Bricker’s first!
As we proceed to get extra expertise underneath our belts, we’ll begin sharing recommendation somewhat than first hand stories. Flying with a child is a giant one from that perspective, however we’ll even have extra on child sporting, navigating locations with and with no stroller, character meal critiques, and a ton extra. For now, thanks for becoming a member of us on this journey–we hope you realized one thing from what went mistaken throughout Child Bricker’s first journey to Walt Disney World…or a minimum of had amusing at my and Sarah’s expense!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. 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 novel have a look at intelligent gadgets 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 all the things that you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on what went mistaken or proper throughout Child Bricker’s first journey to Walt Disney World? Anything you’re taken with studying about with regard to Megatron, infants within the parks, and so on? Anecdotes of your personal about first visits to the Disney parks? Every other questions? Listening to your suggestions is all the time appreciated, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
