Disney Advice - Waterford,MI

One piece of advice...this is a LONG trip for a 3 yr. old. Schedule rest times, and remember that you will all be exerting MUCH more energy than normal and will need rest times daily! Perhaps even schedule a "down" day every 3 days or so!

We did Disney with my daughter for only 3 days - a 5 day trip total, and even though she got long naps in the car each day (just worked out that way), she was A MESS by the last night! She was so tired. It's hard for kids this age to be off schedule, and they are not eating the same, etc. Try to keep things as normal as possible for her. A 13 day trip is long for even adults!

Do breakfast with Pooh at the Crystal Palace - go up Main Street and take a left before you get to the castle. It is really really fun!
Spend time in the Magic Kingdom - it's perfect for little ones.
Bring warm clothes - you just never know what the weather is going to be...
LBC

Order groceries to be delivered to your condo for the day you get there!! We went to Disney last January and it was amazing. Since we were flying too we also sent a box ahead of time with things like diapers, wipes, snacks, etc. so we could have more room in our suitcases. They recommend doing that more than a week in advance though, so just remember that for next time! I would assumine your 3 year old is probably potty trained, but we sent more ahead of time than those items. Those are just what I thought of right now! Anyhoo....back to the groceries! Here is the link to who we used. http://www.gardengrocer.com/?gclid=CPW1qoyWgKcCFQjrKgodi2... You make your shopping list online and it gets delivered to where you are staying at the time you request. For us, when we weren't there yet the hotel even kept our cold items in their refrigerator until we checked in. We stayed on site at Disney, but I don't see how it would be any different where you are staying. I would just call to verify what they do or just schedule your drop off to be when you are there. It was so nice to already have our milk, coffee creamer, fresh fruit, etc. and we didn't have to go out and get it! www.gardengrocer.com It worked out great and when we go again next year we will definitely be doing it again!

Another thing that I highly recommend is at Epcot. Find the Character Spot! My sister has been many times and didn't even know about it. You wait in line, just like with any other ride, but then you get to meet and have your picture taken with 5 of the characters! It was fantastic. They take your picture with the photo pass card, but then the photographers will also use your own personal camera. My daughter got to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto all within minutes and we weren't rushed and got to take our time and get our good pictures. It wasn't like when you see them out and about in the park and a mob rushes them. It was just like waiting in line for a ride and then it was your turn :-) It was the highlight of her trip and I have the pictures to prove it!

Follow one of the plans in the Unofficial Guide for how to tackle each park. They tell you which rides to get to first and what order to do things. We followed it with our 4 year old twins and pretty much never had to queue for a ride. I suggest going to a waterpark one day if it's warm enough and also Sea World - our kids loved that as much as Disney. For a day off try Gatorland - kooky but fun (where else do you get to feed real alligators?!) or you could drive to the beach and see the rockets at Cape Canaveral

My biggest piece of advice is that while it is great to have a 'plan' it is important to know when to deviate. If you are like me you have read the UGTDW and have it all mapped out how you want to do it according to the books suggestions. That is all well and good but when you walk in the park and your DD wants to do something different-let her. Or if the fireworks are too loud at Illuminations that you have to leave. So have a 'loose' idea of what you want to do but be flexible. I am so jealous!! Have a great time.

One more thing-the dining plan has made it pretty important to make reservations for the popular restaurants b/c they fill up. So if you haven't already -you should.

Don't try to do the whole park in one "shot". Go very early in the morning and do as much as you can... leave the park for lunch and "rest time" and then go back when it gets dark for the rest of the rides and the amazing parade and fireworks!

Make reservations for dinner very early in the day if you would like to eat in one of the restaurants vs. one of the park "cafeterias".

Do the "pass" thing where you can swipe your pass at one ride, go do something else and then come back at a set time. Let her do the park on her own pace... she may find things interesting that you didn't expect!

We took our grandchildren when they were 4 and 2. We would go to the park as early as possible in the morning...kids were fresh and the park wasn't as crowded, took a break w/ nap in afternoon and went back for a bit in the evening, to the pool and then bedtime. Worked great. We weren't there for that length of time, though just 4 nights. It was a blast!

One thing that I suggest that was suggested to me when travelling with kids... Purchase books, coloring books, small toys and surprise them along the way. Taking a favorite book is a lot of fun, but they become more interested with a "new" something than the story that you've read them 250 times before. :-)

Have lots of fun and take tons of pictures!

You have already given yourself some good advise! We always take a day off from the parks in the middle of our trips to Disneyworld. It's just too grueling to go ten days straight.

Be prepare to spend a lot of your time traveling from condo to parks. I guess this isn't so unusual but we live in California and frequent Disneyland a lot so Disneyworld requires a different pace and schedule.

I would call the Disney dining number and make some Priority Seating for restaurants. With a three year old, you won't want to wait in line to eat.

Be prepare to be flexible with your little one. I once went to Disneyland with my three year old and he refused to go on ANY rides even though we went about every three months and had no problems on any other trips.

Epcot has a lot of 'areas' that would amuse your daughter that is not ride oriented. There are usually stations to create 'art' projects and other things for kids to do. There are two large buildings that have stations for your family to discover and would be a good way to have fun and change the pace.

We are off to our first Disney cruise this October so I would love it if you had some advise once you got back.:)

Have fun!

I wish we could take a vacation like that!!

We just got back from WDW this past Monday, it was cold and raining, so bring some warm clothes, just in case!!!!
I went to the Disney store by me, before we left and got my DD a princess dress, and had i laid out on the bed, with a printed note in a frame from the princess (if you would like I can email the template). I was going to get her hair done at the high end hair salon, bibbity bobbity boo, but while at the disney store, the cashier told me that Harmony Barber shoppe on Main St in Magic Kingdom, does little girls really pretty for much cheaper, I made an appt there, and her hair came out so cute, for only $5 (have cash if you tip, you can't tip on your cc) !!! If you do that make the appt this week.... I called the number on the website for dining reservations.
That's all I really have for you, my DD ended up getting really sick so we cut our trip short, and taking her back in June!!
Have fun!!!!

Staying on site is REALLY great. No parking fees,it's 15$ a day for parking at the parks. Free shuttles to and from the parks and downtown disney.
And to and from the airport.

Check out www.allears.net

dvd player for the plane with headphones. take a bag big enough to carry some snacks and water when you go to the parks. eat a big breakfast before leaving your condo each day and bring stuff like cheese crackers, fruit etc in the bag. you will be amazed at how much a bottle of water and pc of fruit can cost you at disney. pick your places to eat ahead of time and stick to them. take sunscreen and a hat for the little one. go do the disney princess thing it was my granddaughters favorite thing

We were just there with our 4 and 2 year old in October. My biggest tips are this:
If you are planning to do multiple parks, start with Epcot. It is the least amount of rides for small children and she can't compare it to the Magic Kingdom and be disppointed.
We did Animal Kingdom second and then the Magic Kingdom. MGM (or Hollywood Studios as I believe it is called now) doen't have a whole lot for little ones so we just stayed away for now.
Know the ride height requirements so you can skip standing in line for a ride your child can't get on and avoid meltdowns.
You CAN bring your own food into the park too! It helped us by packing healthier foods the parks do not offer, and it saved us a TON of money (if you are not doing the dining plan, as we did not either because we did not stay in the park).
Hope this helps!

EDIT: I double checked another's post and she suggested in Toon Town to stay.... I have heard that is now closed due to construction. You will want to look into what is closed right now as well.
wdwnewstoday.com is helpful.

Take her to the T-Rex Cafe in Downtown Disney. Reservations are suggested, but not necessary. She'll love it!

Advice for the flight.
- check as much luggage as possible, but include at least one change of clothes for your daugther in your carryon.

- you can take food through security just not liquid, so pack a bookbag for your daughter with a bunch of snacks, single serve cereals, etc. Buy milk and such once you are through security.

- have your daughter where slip on shoes like crocs. you take them off at security.

- we had our 3.5 yr. where a harness for both the airport and the park. It was a lifesaver. You have to take it off at security, but otherwise it gives you and them SOME freedom. Amazon has one that is Mickey Mouse.
http://www.target.com/s?keywords=buddy+harness&search...

- If you take a DVD player it will need to go through the scanner seperately.

- when you arrive at the Orlando airport, you take a free shuttle to the main terminal. They are roomy. I believe that the car rental is on the 2nd floor of the main terminal.

The Park:
- take suntan lotion for the park as well as the cruise. there is alot of blacktop that the rays bounce off. you can put it in your checked baggage.
- At Magic Kingdom there is a tent in Mickey's Toon Town near Mickey's house that is a store. There is a room on the side/back where Tinkerbell & Friends, AND Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle sit all day for pictures.
- Snow White and Fairy Godmother take pics near the backside of the castle
- Belle comes and tells a story in a corner near the right side of the castle/the Starlight (? Its silver and futuristic) cafe.
- You can bring food/drinks into the park. They do a bag check at the entrance, but don't stop food/drinks.

Take a portable DVD player and headphones for the plane ride. This is also great for the car rides and restuarants. Might consider picking up a $5 DVD or two from target too to keep the interest :)
Snacks and a few "new" items for the plane to keep her entertained. Target's dollar section is great for new little notebooks, stamps and stickers. I usually buy a few items that I stash away for the return flight too.

You may want to bring a few small items that she likes for in the condo or on the cruise ship for the "down" time. Kids get bored quick in a room with nothing too do, but sometimes the NEED that break from it all.

Have fun!!!