We just went with our 5 year old twins in November. It was absolutely amazing. They are still talking about it now. A great site for tips is www.allearsnet.com. We did the meal plan and that worked out great for us - except for the diet needed when we got back because there was just so much food! I would HIGHLY suggest going to at least 2 character brunches or dinners. I didn't think that my kids would get too into the autograph books but they did and it is much easier to have the characters come to you instead of waiting up to 90 minutes in line to see them.
One thing that both my kids loved (we have a boy and a girl) was the free shows that seem to pop up in the parks. There is a great one in front of Cinderella's castle that my daughter made us see 3 times. Also, the nighttime show at MGM is amazing. Get there early to get a seat. Also, the fireworks and illuminated parade at the Magic Kingdom were really enjoyed by my kids. They didn't get much out of the Epcot nighttime show. My kids usually go to bed at 7pm but we were up late every night but one when we were there. I had thought that we would go back and rest at the hotel but we only did that twice and it was more for my father than for the kids. They really seemed to be so excited by the Disney magic that they seldom got cranky or tired (if only I could capture that at home!)
The only time we used strollers was late at night. You will see that people abandon the strollers that they rent from Disney. We would grab one of those and use it to wheel the tired kids out of the park. Other than that they walked everywhere and never complained (once again really wish this would happen at home!)
Oh, another thing that I did was to buy some Disney stuff at the Disney store on sale and pick up some Disney stuff at thrift stores the months before the trip. Every night in the hotel room I would set out the gifts with a little note from Mickey or a princess, etc. that they would get in the morning when they woke up. This really seemed to help the "buy this for me" fuss that I was afraid would happen. Disney is a marketing machine (the MBA in me found it amazing but the mom in me was ready to scream!) Almost every ride ends in a perfectly themed gift shop! Since the kids had already gotten a gift in the morning (and it was a gift that cost much less since I got them on sale or used!) - they didn't ask for too much from the stores.
Disney
Disney: Tips
"I just took my 19 mo old to Disneyland last week with my three best friends from high school who all have kids, ages 11 weeks to 2 years. We had a fabulous time - really one of the best days of our vacation!
Some tips:
-there is a baby center that you can nurse at, change diapers, etc. and changing tables in all of the bathrooms
-we brought our own stroller. We had to fold it to get on the tram from parking to the park, and on rides, but we were able to leave it outside of others, like Small World, and come back to it. We took our backpack on rides, but others left stuff in their strollers. If you rent a stroller at DL/DW you can't fold it up. If your infant is really little, I would also bring a carrier.
-we brought snacks and water - it was allowed and made things cheaper/more familiar
-we purchased fruit from the fruit stands (I saw a few throughout the park - one in Fantastyland) and toddler meals at different restaurants. a toddler meal was mac and cheese (or chicken and rice at the other place), applesauce and 2% milk.
-I don't know if they have the submarines at DisneyWorld, but at Disneyland they are popular - at 9 am the wait was 90 min already. We avoided it. :O)
-If you are going with other adults on adult rides, like space mountain, you can get a switch pass, which allows someone to wait with the baby while you go on, and then they get to walk right on the ride after you exit - so no waiting twice in line (this does not work on rides like pirates with no rider restrictions)
-you have to be 12 mos to go on Autopia
We went on mostly kids rides - small world, dumbo, casey jr. My daugther was more comfortable with the rides outside in the sun than the ones inside (like mr. toad) that are darker. We didn't watch any parades or do any shows but they do have a Princess section now at DL. We arrived at 9 am (the park opened at 8) and stayed until around 8. My daughter napped in the stroller for about 1.5 hours, which I was pretty happy with. All of the other kids we were with napped too. We certainly stopped a lot, and didn't get to go on as many rides, but the lines weren't too bad, even in August, and we were able to go on a lot and have fun. We got a lot of "more!" after rides she liked. For those of you who have infants, one of my friends took her baby at 5 weeks, so it certainly can be done, though I'm not sure that I'd want to do that. :O)"
Disney: Tips
"Misc tips...
a.. Also, rent a stroller at the park. If you leave one park and go to another, they give you a coupon and you get one at the next park without paying. At the end of the day they give you a Disney buck
b.. Take lots of pictures...bring backup film
c.. I took a cooler and made good use of stroller rentals...great locker system ...
d.. Ask to sit in the front of the Monorail with the driver, kids love it! (worth it and less of a wait at odd times).
e.. Have your son wear good shoes. We had to buy better sneakers at the mall."
Disney: Tips
"Buy the Unofficial Guide to WDW before you leave and plan your days - which parks you'll go to on which days, where you'll eat at night, which fireworks whow you'll go see etc. (even if you like to live a little more spontaneously, do this, because it will make your life easier - you'll spend more time having fun and less time on line and waiting to eat)."
Disney: Tips
"Rides that are dark, even those meant for little ones, may be too scary--my kids screamed their way through winnie the pooh and the
Peter pan ride but loved the fast spinning rocket ride on top of tomorrowland.
Unless you get in the park and in line FIRST THING, or you HAVE to get a pic with your kid on Dumbo, the Dumbo ride is SOOO not worth the wait in line. There are a bunch just like it (actually even better, like the Alladin ride). where there is no wait in line, and the kid will
never know the difference.
The teacup is just as great as you remember--get in line for it early so you don't have to wait.
Wear a swimsuit, bring your own water bottles, and try to take naps and eat during peak hours (11-2)
Feel safe about leaving your stroller near rides unattended if you do not rent them there/bring your own."
Disney: Tips
"I've never heard of a meal plan, but the food is really expensive anywhere you go in the park. If you go to MGM MAKE SURE the minute you walk into the park you go straight down the main street to the restaurant reservations house. This is the only park that you have to make reservations at their restaraunts at the beginning of the day for lunch or you will be at a stand. The restaurants at MGM are really cool! My favorite's are the drive-n theater (you sit in fake cars and watch old black-n-white "monster" movies (they are not really scary, but to a 2.5 yo they might be)) or the "Prime-TIme Cafe???(It's set up like you are eating inthe kitchen of a house in the50's) The waiters are dressed like they are from the 50's and talk to you and treat you like you are home. The waiters and waitress tell on each other like they are siblings the "mom" waitress. It's a really fun experience"
Disney: Tips
"And if you really want to save money, pack lunches instead of buying them there. And, buy your toy at entry to the park and then refuse to buy anything else. I think the "gimmee's" can be rather rough there, because they are marketing their stuff as part of the experience."
Disney: Tips
"invest in a decent umbrella stroller--one that reclines a little bit, so you and your husband, and family can take turns riding the rides when naptime happens."