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02/09/2010
Sometimes the followups just write themselves
A belated but sincere thank you. All your comments a few weeks ago on my post about Charlie's incipient spiritual awakening were really helpful. I read them with great interest, making note of the points I found most useful, and waited, like a panther tensed to spring, for Charlie to ask.
He didn't. He threw over Ramona the Pest in favor of some Magic School Bus book or other — Frizzle's In UR Colon, Probin UR Sigmoid. And gradually I relaxed, perceiving that the threat had receded.
So it was with some alarm that I heard Charlie say, as I tucked him in a few nights ago, "I said a prayer today at rest time."
"Ohhhhhh?" I answered. My lips were saying Isn't that mildly interesting but my heart was saying OMG WTF. (My aorta insisted long ago that all its co-workers learn Morse code for just such an emergency.)
"I prayed," he said, inserting a dramatic pause, because when you're five there's no other kind, "that my life would get better."
And it had been kind of a rough evening for Charlie, I guess. I offered him some sympathy, some talk, and a hug. And then — oh, like you could resist, either — I caaaasually asked him, "What's a prayer?"
"It's something you say when you ask God to do things for you," he answered with confidence.
"Oh. Who's God?" I asked. Some of you expressed surprise that a kid could get to age five without acquiring some sort of familiarity with God and Jesus, but, because we keep Charlie strictly confined to his room when we're not out picketing churches or tripping popes or humping Stonehenge or whatever it is we atheists do of a Sunday morning, I honestly can't think of any real brushes with religion he's had during his short life. So I wondered what he thought.
"God is the one who's in charge of everything," he told me, again supremely assured.
"Ohhhhh," I said. (I was doing a lot of Ohhhing, because Jesus Christ, kid seemed a little strong for this particular situation.) Then I asked, of course, where he'd gotten his information. He told me he'd read about God and praying in Ramona the Brave. So, okay, religion: Apparently it's a theme that recurs throughout the Ramona oeuvre. I was surprised; I didn't remember any of that from my careful reading...which was, now that I think about it, thirty years ago. Fine. I admit it. The proof is right there. I have no idea what my kid is reading these days. Probably Rage of Angels. No, worse: Ayn Rand.
Anyway, we had a nice little talk about God — the one in charge of everything — and praying — asking him to smite your parents for making you set the table every...single...night. I got to trot out my "some people believe," and although I felt well prepared thanks in large part to the advice and perspective you all shared, he didn't care much about the particulars, didn't wonder about details, and didn't ask any questions about what Paul and I believe.
In fact, I'm not at all sure he grasped even the basics. Because as I was turning out the light and leaving the room, he said to me with expectant relish, "I sure hope God does what I command."
...
Now that you've kindly seen to the disposition of Charlie's everlasting soul, can you please throw me your best Disney World tips? I'll post about this at length later this week; because today's Tuesday, a day no strangers raise my children, I'll say in brief that we're going, and I'm intimidated — Beezus gay, what kind of vacation needs a system? — and I need all the help I can get.
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well done.
and no advice in Disney, but look forward to the info. Our big trip is in 2013. We're going whole hog and we need to save up.
Way to go with Charlie, I think that your response was great.
I've been to Disney, but my Mom took my oldest when she was about 7, she had a blast, and from what I understand they just did whatever they wanted, based on who was tired and what there was to do.
A preschool classmate of Screemie's has informed us that Disney World almost made her barf. She and her dad had to leave come area or another because of the overwhelming stench of FECES. Between that at Disney World, and finding pubes in my meatball sandwich at Disney Land back when I was pregnant, I will only be taking Screemie to Knotts Berry Farm and Six Flags. Say NO to Disney.
If you haven't already read this site from top to bottom, go now to allears.net
It's the best site related to WDW. Have a great trip.
Woo-hoo Disney here y'all come!
First off all, call now (if you have your travel dates) and book any and all character meals you'd like to attend. Please note, however, that character dining can only be booked 90 days in advance.
Wondering what character dining experiences to do? Absolutely do Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary for buffet breakfast--delicious food and the characters make it a point to stop by every kid for pics and autographs. You can also do lunch at Chef Mickey's if you can't get in for breakfast. There is also a good character breakfast (again, buffet) at the Beach Club--always a good plan B if Chef Mickey's is completely unavailable.
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian is nice too--alas, it is with Cinderella, the Evil Stepmother and Sisters and Prince Charming so it does appeal greatly to girls (not to go all sexist with my point). Still, it's a lot of fun and there were plenty of boys there when we've been. Also, the dinner buffet has some really good choices on it and, miracle of miracles, they taste good too.
Stay at a Disney resort if at all possible--great for getting extra bonus Magic hours at the parks and free bus transportation from park to park, Downtown Disney, the airport, etc. Some good ones are the Caribbean Beach Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort, and Old Key West Resort. You can get one or two bedroom suites at these that have all the comforts of home. FYI, Saratoga Springs is within walking distance of Downtown Disney, in case you want to stay near shopping/dining/entertainment/etc. The "lower budget" Disney resorts are nice too, such as the All-Star Movies resort and All-Star Sports.
And while not a part of Disney, I've heard great things about the Nickolodeon (sp?) hotel and its self-contained waterpark. Just in case you want to explore options outside of Disney property.
Bring your own stroller. Disney does have stroller rentals, but calling what they offer a 'stroller' is a disservice to real strollers everywhere. For one, it's a hard plastic shell, with no recline feature or anything like that. So, if Ben wants to sleep somewhere along the way, it might be uncomfortable and/or impossible, depending on what he's used to.
Also, I don't know when you're going, but most of March is Spring Break for some school or another so it's packed to the gills. March is also when it starts getting hot; after March, it gets sweltering. Know this and stay hydrated. Get out to the parks early in the day, break for lunch, head back to your room, swim/nap/etc., and then head back to the park after 4 or so. A Parkhopper option on your tickets is good to have as you can go from park to park all in the same day, in case you'd like to bounce around a little.
I've got lots of other little points in my head but I've gone on long enough already. Hit me up on email if you'd like more info :)
The best thing I did to plan for Disney was to get a subscription to TourGuideMike.com -- at the time I did it, it was $20, and it was so, so worth it. When we went, we had 4 kids, ages 8, 6, 4 with special needs, and 2, and thanks to TGM, we NEVER waited in lines, which was critical to our success and enjoyment.
The most important thing is to be at your chosen park before opening each day -- 5-10 minutes before opening is fine -- which will let you get through easily 5-7 rides with no lines in your first hour. Also, return to the hotel for daily naps by about 1 pm, return for the afternoon after 4ish, or even later.
Good luck! It's a LOT of fun, and it's not so hard to figure out "the system."
P.S. Although I love Dee dearly, I disagree with her on the stroller -- we did the double stroller rental, and we found several advantages to that, namely, we didn't care how much ice cream spilled on it, and there are times when it's easier to park the stroller, hop a train to the other side of the park, and pick up a new stroller when you arrive. BUT, we were traveling with our SN kid, who was at the time probably 60 pounds, so YMMV.
Ok, I don't know if you're into planning it out this much, but for Disney there are a lot of web sites (and books) that tell you which lines to wait in and what days to go in order to achieve minimum line wait time and maximum on-ride time. We followed these when we were in Disneyland last summer and it really did make a huge difference.
Here is what I remember from my research: Go on Tuesday or Wednesday, when park is least crowded. Get there an hour before park opens so that when it does open, you'll be at the front of the line and can do your first 10 rides in an hour or so (it will take the entire rest of the day to do 10 more). Grab fast passes whenever possible so that when you come back to the ride at your assigned time you can walk right on. Go on rides when other people are taking lunch or dinner breaks, or during a parade. There are also statistics on wait times for each ride, but I don't remember those specifics. Crowds at Disney tend to move counter-clockwise, so if you go clockwise, you'll encounter shorter lines (or is it vice versa?) Etc.
My advice on Disney, use a travel agent!! We used www.travelmagic.com They don't charge the prices were comparable to me doing it myself and best of all I just gave the restaurants and general times/days we would like to visit them and we got every single one!!
Buy the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and follow their touring plans. They will save you immense time in line and tell you exactly what to do to see what you want. I think the key to Disney success is to have a strategy and it's easier to follow their strategy. Plus the book makes entertaining reading for the obsessive-compulsive vacation planner in me.
We did Disney last year. I've only gone once before, about a decade ago. Back when I was much the poorer than now. The cost-cutting we did last time were also quality-cutting regarding our experience. This 2nd time, we stayed "on property" and it was CONVENIENT. We also got the perks like earlier or later hours at the parks (Magic Hours, they call them). Not only was our hotel convenient, but the way the lines were all so much shorter during the Magic Hours was awesome.
We did the Disney Dining Plan and that, too, was very convenient and gave us plenty (plenty!!) of food. You can use the plan in the hotel restaurants too, and even on the food they sell in the gift shop or market or whatever they call it.
So those are my two tips - stay on property, get the dining plan.
And pray to God for good weather. Have Charlie command some up for you.
For Disney, I'd recommend knowing which rides you want to go on in each "land" and also which ones let you do Fast Pass.
Example? I went to Disneyland yesterday and we were going to get a Fast Pass for Indiana Jones while we went on Haunted Mansion & Thunder Mountain.
Oh this is one I can actually answer! Get the Unofficial Guide To Disneyworld. Seriously, it will give you so much information and assistance (from which rides rock the toddler world and which don't to which way to travel through each area to maximize fun and minimize lines). Ooops, just noticed Gretchen already suggested this. She is right.
I second the suggestion to stay on site particularly as Ben is still small. Much easier to get on a train and travel back to hotel when its nap time or tantrum time. Contemporary or Polynesian if possible (right on the train as I recall), as is the Grand Floridian, if your budget works like that.
We found getting there first thing in the morning, getting our (meaning kids') fill of the site, and retreating for lunch, nap and swim somewhere worked really well. I think the unofficial guide recommended that.
Chef Mickey's is good for a character meal, although I would not rave about the food, it was fine. The restaurant at the top of the Contemporary was the best we found on site.
The beauty of Disney is that it is geared to families. Pint sized sinks in the public washrooms, doors that open automatically everywhere for your stroller, diaper change areas, you name it, they have thought of it. Every restaurant has 'kid friendly' something (even if its just a PB&J) for those times when they turn picky or tired or stubborn.
Have a great time. And know that the kids will love it (which makes it a fun time for you and when they are older, you can have a vacation just for you!
OMG. Beezus Gay.
We've taken the lowercase to Disney twice (when he was 2 1/2, and again this past December when he was 4... with plans to go again with my parents in April). I have more "tips" than can easily fit in one comment. I'll email if you'd like.
"I sure hope God does what I command."
Best. Tag line. EVER.
This is probably not going to be helpful to AT ALL because it is so out of date, but just in case - I went to Disney World and Disney Land during the same period in my life (around age 9-12), which was about 20 years ago. I liked Disney Land ok, but don't remember much except Pirates of the Caribbean. I thought Disney World was eh, probably b/c it was a carbon copy of Disney Land. Epcott Center, though - I thought it was the awesomest thing ever.
And that is the extent of my knowledge on Disney World.
"I sure hope God does what I command."
And if he doesn't, kid, there's your proof he doesn't exist.
My Disney tips: Never, ever go during spring break. A Disney resort on the Monorail line is more fun than a Disney resort with bus service. And follow your kid's lead sometimes. Maybe you think you ought to make it to X number of rides, or the rides you remember from your own childhood, but it your kid dawdles, dawdle with him and see what he sees. Oh, and don't let yourselves get famished and cranky.
Check out Bitter Twin Mama at http://bittertwinmomma.blogspot.com/
She's just back from Disney and has a whole set of posts up about that experience, sprinkled with advice. There was going to be another Disney-specific blog and if you e-mail her, maybe she'll tell you where it is.
(We haven't gone yet, but the things that stand out for me are FastPass and the Dining Plan, both good. Also something about a way of checking your bags so that they go right to your hotel, if you're staying at the park, which is the right thing to do, especially if you need to run back and forth for naps.)
Well, you know, if you want to see several thousand fundies freaking out in Disneyworld, I suggest going the first week of June.
I went to Disneyland for Gay Day a couple of years ago, and I swear, watching sheltered small town pearl clutchers gasp at the unimaginable sight of BOYS HOLDING HANDS! IN PUBLIC! was pretty awesome. Also, when we went on the Jungle Cruise ride, I was told that YES, this totally counted as my first gay cruise.
I highly recommend it.
Did Disneyland in 2007 when kids were 2 & 6. It was not nearly as bad as I feared. You've airplaned already with yours, so the worst part is familiar.
My advice: don't set your goals too high. They enjoyed just running around looking at everything, and would find one ride they loved and want to do that over & over.
Be warned that some of the "kid-friendly" rides scared the crap out of my 2-yr-old. Who thought a black-lit psychedelic Pooh acid trip for honey while chased by angry bees would be fun for toddlers to ride through?
My six year old loves collecting and trading the Disney pins. We got some great advice to buy some pins off eBay for 1 to 2 dollars each and start the collection with those because they can be traded for the more desirable characters. If Charlie is the collecting type.
Clearly you need to serve up more hellfire and brimstone. Perhaps there's a ride at Disney that will do it for you...?
I agree with Ginger - best site ever. I use it regularly. No one and I mean no one does customer service and makes kids feel great like Disney. I have an 8 yr old daughter and the three of us all LOVE Disney. Things to make note of - when are you going - will it be busy? If so make lots of advance dining reservations. (you can skip them if you change your mind but you know you will have them if you need them) Do you need to stay on site - or off? pros and cons to both.
When my daugher was 4 -5 or so we just went at her pace. Now that she is almost 9 it is a different trip with different high lights.
Really - go check allears.net.
We did WDW around this time last year and I have to say it was a great trip, they truly give you your monies worth.
I have the 2009 edition of the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide in handy pdf format and would be happy to send it along, if you're interested.
We booked a character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare with less than 90 days notice, so although they like 90 days notice, it's doable. As well, we saw people who just arrived and asked to eat there. They had to wait a bit, but they were accomodated.
If you want to have lots of photos of the trip, I highly recommend the Disney Photo Pass. There are photographers ALL through the park who will take your photos and then you can get them on CD after your trip. Here is my big tip, pre-order the CD prior to going, it's vastly cheaper than ordering it aftewards. http://www.disneyphotopass.com/
We stayed on the grounds and the shuttle bus system is fantastic and easy for getting around. If you take the monorail, stand right at the front and ask the driver if you can sit with him! There are seats in with the driver and he will give the kids co-captain cards and stickers.
I'm sure there's more, but that's probably enough for now. The whole place is spotless, the staff will bend over backwards to help you and you will have a great time!
For disney go with the meal plan. It will save you money. Our trip was sadly canceled due to RSV and we were going on the disney cruise to the bahamas... :*(
As for what the atheists and agnostics do on Sunday, in our house we go to baby swim class while people are at church. It's more fun for sure.
"humping Stonehenge"- heh.
I've been to Disney World 4 times, but they were all 18-27 years ago...before the internet and all the planning books and all that. We always had a blast, even though we always went in July. Always stayed on site, but at the campground because we had no money, but even that was really nice and having access to all the buses, boats and trams meant never having to take the car anywhere. Give yourself plenty of time to see everything you want, don't try to go to several parks on one day. I'm sure the boys will have fun no matter what!
I went to disney a couple times as a kid and once was within the last 5 years or so and here's my advice- Fast Pass. It's the most amazing thing ever. And my brother was kinda closeish to charlie's age and he loved pirates of the carribbean and that's all he wanted to ride.
mousesavers.com for discounts (obviously), and planning advice, I think.
If you're in a Disney hotel and can get in before everyone else, certainly take advantage of that. If not, stay *out* of the park that they get early entry in (it rotates) - it'll be overcrowded by the time you can get in. Return to the hotel to swim and nap in the afternoon - you're missing the most crowded and hottest part of the day, and you don't want to be in the parks anyway.
Have fun, and blog all about it! :)
I would totally recommend staying at Fort Wilderness, which is the campground. You can tent camp, RV, or stay in the cabins, but it is fabulous to have a place to get up and make breakfast, come back for lunch and a nap, and just have more space than a hotel room. You could have a fantastic vacation and never leave Fort Wilderness! And it is on the monorail, so easy in-and-out! Have a great time!
No Disney advice, but I thought you might get a chuckle out of knowing that just yesterday my growing up in an atheist home never taught to pray 6 year old daughter looked up at the ceiling in the middle of a board game and loudly and dramatically asked god to help her roll a two. Then a moment later she asked him to help me NOT roll the number I needed.
Thank you kindergarten, and yes, I believe it's time for a discussion on sportsmanship, among others.
My best Disney World tip is to take me with you because I am awesome at Disney.
Actually, I live near Disney and go all the time. Do you have specific questions? I know where all the good bathrooms are.
We had a great time in Disney a few months ago with our 5 year old and toddler. My recommendations (to be a bit redundant): #1 - Get the Unofficial Guide to Disney with Kids (this was invaluable not only for the touring plans but also for letting us know what was appropriate for each kid and helpign us to prepare for some of the scarier experiences (my son is fine with anything as long as he is warned!) AND #2 - On the stroller, we brought our own stroller for the little one so that he could recline/sleep comfortably and nap on the go and we rented the park stroller for our big guy. There is so, so much walking - miles and miles each day - and it is so hard for the little guys to keep up. He loved to just hop in the stroller and zoom around (and he even fell asleep in there one night), especially when we were running to catch a parade or make a reservation. This way we weren't dragging him all over the park and he always had a place to sit if he needed a snack break or to watch the parades.
#3 - If you go to MGM, go immediately to the Toy Story ride, get on and get a fast pass. It is such a fun ride and on the days we were there (which was really, really low season) the lines were outrageous by 10 am and the fastpasses were sold out by 12:30 PM (fortunately someone on teh bus over gave us the tip and we didn't miss out!)
#4 - Wilderness Lodge is a great resort on property
Have fun! You'll all love it!
Oh dear lord I had no idea Disney was so complicated. You all are making me not want to take my little girl--I would die with the stress of planning something that involved such minute detail. It's making me anxious just thinking about it. And then you throw cranky children into it. Oh no.
I went with my grandparents when I was eight and mostly I loved the hotel. Specifically the pool. It had lights in it. I don't remember a lot else. So using this logic, my little girl would have just as much fun going to a well-lit Y.
As for religion, your post prompted me to ask my little girl who Jesus is, just so see if those two weeks of Southern Baptist preschool taught her anything before she dropped out. She selected a doll and told me it as her name.
1. fast-passes apparently don't cost anything... you can get one every two hours from a machine at the ride entrances (or so they told me after we got back thinking they must be too expensive for us)
2. Monsters Inc Laugh Floor will make one or more of you pee
3. There is a restaurant in Downtown Disney called T-Rex, OH MY HEAD
4. Unless you're getting fast food, you're going to wait nearly an hour anywhere you eat "on campus" unless you go to a Guest Relations desk and make a reservation at least an hour ahead of time
5. For $15 you can buy a freshly harvested (right in front of you) pearl at the main store in the Japanese section of Epcot international pavillion
6. On the ride inside the huge ball at Epcot you get to see Teh WOZ in his garage with pizza boxes KEWL my 8 yr old wanted to go on this over and over again until we cried uncle
We just got back from Disney with out 1 and 4 y/o. The only thing I can add to what everyone else has said is to rent a stroller from here https://www.orlandostrollersrentals.com/Default.aspx
They deliver to your hotel and pick it up when you are done. The City Mini Double was a great, super easy folding stroller and both my kids used it A LOT. Really nice to have on your way back to the hotel after a long day in the park. Highly recommend it. Have fun!
1. Go off-peak. If you're booked during the summer, just kill yourself now and save some trouble.
2. You cannot eat at Epcot without reservations. Make reservations.
3. At Animal Kingdom, enter first thing in the morning and run to the show. You just saved hours of time in line.
4. Parkhopper is good. You can be flexible and switch if a given park is overrun.
5. Try some of the unadvertised thrills. E.g., drop a piece of trash and time how long it sits on the ground. Disney has policies about this and you will not believe how fast someone dashes over to grab it. For additional fun, let one of your children injure themselves in a way that involves copious blood (the face-plant split lip is a winner) and see if Disney hasn't mastered Star Trek-style transporter technology: there will be an ice pack on your kid's face before you can say, "Liability."
Sorry I can't offer any advice on Disney World, but I can't help but tell you... I adore your Charlie. What an awesome kid! It seems that you can always depend on him for head-scratching laughs. Head-scratching as in, "how the hell did a kid YOUR age come up with something like that?!?"
Yeah, Charlie and my LJ would be BFFs for sure.
That's so funny that you say, "a day no strangers raise my children". My two new Russian toddlers currently have seven hours of early intervention professionals coming to our house weekly. I feel like all I do is feed and bed them. I love Tuesdays, the day no strangers raise my children, as that is finally the day that I get to sit on the floor all day and have them fight over who can sit closest to me on my lap.
Haven't read the other comments, so forgive me if someone else has already pointed it out. Mousesavers.com was an excellent resource when we were planning our Disney trips. Good luck!
Haven't read the other comments, so forgive me if someone else has already pointed it out. Mousesavers.com was an excellent resource when we were planning our Disney trips. Good luck!
Funny that you raise the issues of God and Disney in the same post. I've told family members that we're raising our boys without benefit of religion, and I've also told family members that I'm never, ever going to take the boys to Disney World, and guess which gets the stronger response?
I highly recommend getting an Unofficial Guide to Disney World. You will be so glad you did! I tells you everything you need to know and somethings you didn't think to ask (Pillow ratings at hotels, anyone?) But it tells you about the rides and which ones are scary and which ones make folks sick the most...How to avoid the lines. Good stuff. Highly, highly recommend. And I really really recommend getting the meal plan. I know it seems like you would be able to do better without it, but it was soooo worth it.
Stay at a property on the monorail; that way
if the kids poop out midday it's easy to
go back to the hotel for a nap/break/stiff
drink and then return to the park later in
a more refreshed state of mind with less
whining from the kids...
Lived in Central Florida for 20 years and have done the Disney thing with my daughter many times. Fast Pass is a beautiful invention, definitely. But also keep in mind: you're not going to go on a lot of rides - the lines are far too long. Instead, just focus on enjoying your time! There are great areas of gardens, walks, and scenery/props that allow you to just create memories instead of standing in a queue for 30 to 90 minutes.
Relax, lower your expectations on how many rides you'll go on, bring water and wear sunscreen.
And don't be afraid to go find a shadey bench or head back to the hotel for some cool nap/relax/swim/unwind time. Kids get sweaty, cranky, and throw a lot of fits at "The Most Magical Place on Earth". Best to head them off at the pass!!
(ps - i completed the egg donation and the recipient got pregnant!!)
I only have one suggestion to add, especially for families with boys: Magic Kingdom -> TOM SAWYER'S ISLAND. For as scripted as everything else Disney seems to be, this is a wonderful place to run around, blow off steam, and let kids be kids. Caves, bridges, forts, tunnels, footpaths - the whole place is just great for exploring. I highly recommend it for kids who are tired of waiting in lines. I've recommended it to three other families, all of whom blew it off as lame and unnecessary, then finally stopped there shortly before leaving. Every one of them gave themselves dope-slaps and regretted not taking my advice sooner.
Have a great time!
here are some of best tips i got for disney that worked when taking my niece and nephew. they each went with me when they finished kindergarden 1 eat a big breakfast. 2 book dinner when you arrive at the park in the morning.3 graze for lunch grab a hot dog popcorn ect to eat while waiting in line. 4 before heading to disney go to the disney store and get disney dollars for your kids pick an amount that they can spend per day any way the like. i did this and it saved me from the stores at the end of every ride. yes every ride leaves you out in a store. 5 take a small note book when your child sees something they like write down what and where then go back before leaving the park for the one or two items they want if they are getting something that day. no lugging things through the park or waiting in line for gate pickup with tired whiney kids. plus they will have all day to decide what they really want instead of everything they see 6 buy charlie 2 or 3 disposable cameras for his own picture taking. my niece had a ball taking her own pictures and some where suprisingly better than mine or my mom's. last but not least with small kids my niece and nephew where 5 when i took them to disney stay at the pop century. the entire hotel is pop culture and has gaint toys everywhere. also games to play in the grass( our favorite was twiter) and 3 pools. most of all relax and have fun if the kids are tired go back and rest. i have seen too many parents that run their kids all day and no one ends up having fun with screaming crying cranky kids. email me if you want any more info
Just got back from our first trip to Disney yesterday, with our 3 year old.
Since you're going with Ben, there is something called "Rider swap" that is helpful. Basically, Charlie wants to go on a ride that Ben is too little for, so the whole family waits in line. You and Charlie go on the ride while Paul waits with Ben. Then you and Paul switch places, and Charlie and Ben get to ride.
Meal plan - get one. The food is only passable, but you will avoid the $14 pizza slice. And the counter service meals are HUGE in their portions, so the three of us always ate comfortably on 2 meals, which meant we always had a meal left over for later if we needed it.
We killed an entire morning in Tomorrowland, thanks to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which was awesome. Astro Orbitors are also very cool.
We had a great time. Have fun!!!
I spent a good portion of my adult life working at Disney World, and the best advice I can possibly give you is this:
DON'T OVER-PLAN!
The people who enjoy their vacations the least are the ones who have checklists and itineraries and breakfast/lunch/dinner reservations. No matter how long you spend, you'll never see it all. And if you expect to do so, you'll just leave disappointed.
I know from your tweets that you've been on at least some web boards. That's good research. Check out the Disneyworld.com website - if you're not surprising Charlie, sit with him and see what he's most interested in - pick a few things you really want to see, and leave the rest to chance.
(that said, if you want to eat at sit-down restaurants, you'll want to get that planned ahead of time)
I'm still in the area...email me if I can help! (it's the least I can do for someone who has brought me so much joy)