You're Gonna Think I'm Insane But...

[ifoundnemo]

As some of you may know, I am a current WDW CM so normally I can answer 99.9% of my questions... HOWEVER:

I have family coming next month, my mom, stepdad, his daughter (27), her husband (???), and their 2(girl), 3(boy), and 4(girl) year old kids... all of whom (with the exception of my mother) have NEVER been to Disney.

So, usually, when I roam the parks, I'm with college 20-somethings up to my parents age. I have no idea how to plan this itinerary to accomodate this wide age range. When I go to the parks, I usually know my plan of attack- Fastpass the popular thrill rides, maybe see a show or two, and maybe hit single rider on a few other things...

I may be able to get away with back door-ing my family on the attraction I work at, I know that the kids will LOVE the Playhouse Disney show at DHS, catch all the parades we can, and hit the fab 5 in the meet and greet lines... but from there, I seem to be at a loss.

This is my call out to all the parents of 2-4 year olds... how the frick should I go about planning this one???!!!

I pretty much need to be an unofficial Guest Relations VIP guide without actually being one...

PS- The kids will not be going to Epcot as we don't have the time to accomodate... and I know about child swap.

[luckylady]

First thing to do is hit all the kiddie rides before melt downs or naps.Make sure all 3 are in strollers so you can move faster and ask the parents/grandparents to spring for the $15 fan you attach. A cool kid is a happy one.Hopefully kids will nap at the same time, that's when you hit the big rides. Really tho after you do the kid rides you can pretty much do whatever you want they will go with the flow. Just remind parent to bring a change of clothes so kids can go play in the water at EPCOT.

[mousefan]

also be very aware of their fears - dark rides in particular. Snow White may be the best ride for most toddlers, but a lot of them come out screaming because of the dark nature of that ride.

Do plan on the a/c rest movies - ie Philharmagic is golden for that! The faces of the young ones is perfect!

BUT do skip Its Tough to Be a bug at AK - hate to say it but we know which kids are going to have a major meltdown and never want to do a movie again! BUT dont miss Lion King show (again, a/c and seats, its a good thing)

Must have strollers!!

I would also look at some of the strategies the touring sites have - to get everything done in Fantasyland can be a bit overwhelming, but it helps to do the rope drop do the Dumbo Line (I think the Unofficial Guide has this down to a science!)

and dont forget the kids LOVE that Speedway car ride (well boys for sure!) and that line moves very slow, and there isnt much shade - so timing there is so important - imho

[scpergj]

also be very aware of their fears - dark rides in particular. Snow White may be the best ride for most toddlers, but a lot of them come out screaming because of the dark nature of that ride.

Do plan on the a/c rest movies - ie Philharmagic is golden for that! The faces of the young ones is perfect!

BUT do skip Its Tough to Be a bug at AK - hate to say it but we know which kids are going to have a major meltdown and never want to do a movie again! BUT dont miss Lion King show (again, a/c and seats, its a good thing)

Must have strollers!!

I would also look at some of the strategies the touring sites have - to get everything done in Fantasyland can be a bit overwhelming, but it helps to do the rope drop do the Dumbo Line (I think the Unofficial Guide has this down to a science!)

and dont forget the kids LOVE that Speedway car ride (well boys for sure!) and that line moves very slow, and there isnt much shade - so timing there is so important - imho

All good advice...but don't forget Finding Nemo the Musical at AK...Benches are not the most comfortable, but between being off your feet and in the AC, it's pretty nice too - not to mention the talent in that show is good too!

[CptnSkippy]

we bring the little light up keychains for rides like HM or any of the dark rides. My skittish one will use it to light up the floor in the doom buggy. Doesn't bother anyone else, but it lets him be in a 'comfort zone'.

if you can, go to Cast Connection2 and pick up a couple of the mickey swords that are currently on sale. Couple of new batteries and BAM! you're the favorite for a heckuvalot cheaper than when the main street rave party comes out.

[mapo]

As some of you may know, I am a current WDW CM so normally I can answer 99.9% of my questions... HOWEVER:

I may be able to get away with back door-ing my family on the attraction I work at, I know that the kids will LOVE the Playhouse Disney show at DHS, catch all the parades we can, and hit the fab 5 in the meet and greet lines... but from there, I seem to be at a loss.

Yeah, and the back door tour will lead to another tour too many are taking these days ...."The Walk of Shame".

Is your job really worth such a fragrant violation of company policy?

MAPO

[ifoundnemo]

Yeah, and the back door tour will lead to another tour too many are taking these days ...."The Walk of Shame".

Is your job really worth such a fragrant violation of company policy?

MAPO

It's not a violation of company policy if you have a cast member on the clock escorting you and it's your attraction policy to backdoor re-ads and alternate entrances in sustained wait times if you do not have a Fastpass entrance.

If we are not in a sustained wait, of course I'll play by the rules and take them through the normal queue. I know the rules and 9.999 times out of 10, I play by them. In sustained waits, we've backdoored our own management with family, as well as other attraction cast with family.

[mapo]

It's not a violation of company policy if you have a cast member on the clock escorting you and it's your attraction policy to backdoor re-ads and alternate entrances in sustained wait times if you do not have a Fastpass entrance.

If we are not in a sustained wait, of course I'll play by the rules and take them through the normal queue. I know the rules and 9.999 times out of 10, I play by them. In sustained waits, we've backdoored our own management with family, as well as other attraction cast with family.

I am so very sorry to hear that. Seems that your management team has generated a culture of "but it is our attraction, we can by pass the queue cause we are special".

Let me try this a different way...

At EPCOT, we had a preview day for Cast....Then of course the preview for AP holders. The time/day of Cast preview had passed and the APs were previewing. Ok, got the picture?

Now, here come Cast members hassling the Nemo (that was the preview attraction) cast to ride the attraction. Of course they kept waving their little IDs and were very insistent.

So, we allowed the cast members to preview the attraction. And at the exit, park duty and security pulled them over..asked how they enjoyed the attraction while collecting their IDs. See, they just did their last act as a CM...they previewed the attraction, were escorted to Security for their suspension, and enjoyed the "Walk of Shame" out of the park.

These CMs were terminated for violation of company policy and placing on DNR...(Do not rehire).

Oh, you say, must have just been a handful of stupid CMs!?!?! Nope, more than a handful, more than a few dozen...a large number were let go.

Just a little story...hope you have a clearer picture.

MAPO

[Amphigorey]

I am so very sorry to hear that. Seems that your management team has generated a culture of "but it is our attraction, we can by pass the queue cause we are special".

Let me try this a different way...

At EPCOT, we had a preview day for Cast....Then of course the preview for AP holders. The time/day of Cast preview had passed and the APs were previewing. Ok, got the picture?

Now, here come Cast members hassling the Nemo (that was the preview attraction) cast to ride the attraction. Of course they kept waving their little IDs and were very insistent.

So, we allowed the cast members to preview the attraction. And at the exit, park duty and security pulled them over..asked how they enjoyed the attraction while collecting their IDs. See, they just did their last act as a CM...they previewed the attraction, were escorted to Security for their suspension, and enjoyed the "Walk of Shame" out of the park.

These CMs were terminated for violation of company policy and placing on DNR...(Do not rehire).

Oh, you say, must have just been a handful of stupid CMs!?!?! Nope, more than a handful, more than a few dozen...a large number were let go.

Just a little story...hope you have a clearer picture.

MAPO

Seems that they should have fired the ones who let them on the attraction, not the ones who tried to use their IDs to get on. Who was falling down on the job in that story?

[Shorty82]

Seems that they should have fired the ones who let them on the attraction, not the ones who tried to use their IDs to get on. Who was falling down on the job in that story?

It sounds to me they were very insistent and arguing. The cast let them ride to give Security and the park duty manager time to get there so they could be confronted and have their IDs confiscated.