This Grandma loves spoiling grandchildren. I think it is my duty at this point in my life. I get the most pleasure in providing pleasure to my grandchildren. The middle grandson, now age 8, is a Lego fanatic. Yes, of course, he is a genius at Legos, and can put together those sets made for ages 12 and up by himself (okay, mostly by himself). His one desire was to go to Legoland. This Grandma first went on www.tripadvisor.com. I find that Tripadvisor is the best and first source of real travel information one can rely on. The reviews about Legoland were very mixed. This Grandma did not care. If this grandson wanted Legoland, he was going to get Legoland.
The youngest grandson had been dragged to Disney’s Magic Kingdom as a baby and toddler, and now, being age 4, it was his turn to be wowed. And wowed he was. Grandparents’ joy of watching the wonder on the face of the grandchild makes the exorbitant cost worth the admission to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. We happened to pass the bottom of the castle just when one of the many daily shows was to start. His smile lit up as the Disney and Prince and Princess characters appeared, and when they said to dream, he closed his eyes, and opened them to the giant puff of smoke with pure joy on his beautiful little face. From beginning to end, Disney’s Magic Kingdom is a heaven for our grandchildren.
This Grandma has done several previous posts on tips on all the Disney World parks, how to navigate them and the best tips for the best time. Take a look at the posts by putting Disney in the blank in “search this site.” Yes, you can do Magic Kingdom in one day, not waiting on the long lines for some rides using the new fast pass system. However, still the best way to do Magic Kingdom in one day with the grandchildren going on their favorite rides again and again is by spending even more money and hiring a private guide. This Grandma has given you the name and telephone number of the guide we use in a previous post, and a friend called a guide she was able to get last minute just by going on the internet while already at Magic Kingdom. The parents of her grandchildren had not wanted her to get a guide, but after an hour wait on the first ride, succumbed, and she called and a guide met them in an hour. They loved having the guide. The guides are not the Disney park guides which costs are outrageous. These are private Disney guides that are outrageous, but less outrageous. They used to be able to get you in to see the characters immediately and prime seating for the parades, but can no longer do that. They are worth the money with grandchildren who want to go again and again on a single ride, as grandchildren of all ages are apt to do at Disney World. Otherwise, you need two days in Magic Kingdom and if you add up hotel and meals, etc., and tired family, the guides become “worth” their cost for the infrequent times we venture to the Magic Kingdom and want our grandchildren to get their hearts’ desire in one day.
Every time, in the past, at Disney Word, we start with early breakfast at Chef Mickey’s. It is the only really edible meal and the best bargain for a character meal, when you do breakfast. This way, the main Disney characters are out of the way before you enter the park. This time breakfast was sold out completely, until two days before.
TIP: Because a credit card is charged if one does not cancel a Disney dining reservation at least 24 hours in advance, you may find a dining reservation 24-48 hours in advance that was unavailable before then.
Use electronics to get the best out of Disney now that they have provided electronic access for ease for us.
TIP: Sign up on My Disney Experience on the website. Everything can then link, tickets and reservations and dining reservations.
TIP: Get the free mobile app to monitor what is going on at the park and your reservations.
TIP: Get a Magic Band for everyone in the family. It can be used for two years and with young grandchildren, we go to Disney at least twice in that time. It is given free if you stay on Disney property and you must pay for it if you stay anywhere else. It is programmed ahead of the visit, and you do not have to worry about losing a card and replacing a card (as we did). Also, it is used as a room key (if staying at a Disney property), admission, charge card, and more. Check out:
Going back to meals, the family decided to go to the Crystal Palace for lunch and branch out this Magic Kingdom trip because we heard that they met special food needs. Yes, it was Disney expensive for lunch, so rationalize by making this expansive buffet a late lunch (for a seated break) and the main meal of the day. The carving stations were wonderful with flank steak and ham, and the rest was mediocre, but passable and plentiful. There was vanilla and chocolate self serve, but only colored sprinkles for topping. The characters were from Winnie the Pooh and friendly and playful, just as you would expect, and spending much time at each table, meaning a 90 minute stay to see all according to the waiter, but it really was less than that. Fortunately, they did a parade for the children, so the children could march around the room with the characters and get more time with them. Disney magic is in service and, boy, was there service. The youngest grandchild refused to eat anything on the substantial buffet, so the staff went to a hot dog stand outside of the restaurant and brought back two hot dogs! The chef cooked a special meal for one of the party with specific allergies. This service was above and beyond and distinguishes Disney from anywhere else. Everything in the Magic Kingdom is perfect for the grandchildren.
Then, there is Legoland. One of the reviews on Tripadvisor said it all. There is no reason for Legoland or to go to Legoland. Tips on the park emphasize to go to the bathroom at the entrance before you enter the park and we now know why that is so important. When we needed a bathroom in the park the closest was in a restaurant that had one stall for each sex and a line five desperate children long. The rides are carnival like, very short, and the lines are artificially long. Where Magic Kingdom has service and much help, Legoland seemed short-handed everywhere. Rides were not completely utilized with little staffing. Where ten children could ride a ride, the attendant would not fill up all the slots. Tips on the park emphasize going to the back of the park first, to Flying School, Driving School and Boating School. Yes, they were empty, but again, waiting was necessary because, for example, not all available boats were utilized. The rides are fair in all, not worth even the less than one hour drive from the Disney Park area. If you must go, then go to Coastersaurus first, as the lines after opening are the longest. Interestingly, the youngest grandchild “qualified” to go on some rides that were not necessarily appropriate for him and, as some of the Tripadvisor reviews said, there is insufficient description of the rides to know this in advance.
Tips for Legoland said to sign the eight year old up at Imagination Zone as soon as you enter the park to assure a spot at “educational” classes. When we got there and saw what the classes were for, we were underwhelmed, as any Lego fanatic eight year old would know how to do much of this already. The problem is that this is a Lego play area and the grandchildren wanted to stay to play with Legos. One does not want to pay the large entry fee for grandchildren to play with Legos at Legoland, even though one review said this was a way to avoid a long line wait on rides for children (so one adult could wait on line and another adult could bring the children later when close to boarding a ride). It is hard to get the children to leave a half made Lego project.
Miniland is the best part of the park. The eight year old was very impressed. He liked the park. So did the four year old. But, they LOVED the Magic Kingdom. Everyone left early. If there is not enough to keep a family with a four year old and an eight year old in Legoland for the day for the price of admission, there is nothing for children older to keep interested. It is overpriced considering what you get for the admission price, looks tired and worn, like a tired and worn carnival. We think we now know why their open hours are limited, so one does not realize one does not need all the hours it is open.
Which brings us to the inedible and expensive Legoland “food” to review. One cannot eat at Legoland. The tips said to stop at the Publix supermarket across the street first and bring food in to the park. There is also a Subway next to the Publix, and a Perkins and other fast food nearby. You will starve if you do not heed these tips as you cannot eat the horrible food served in the park. The four year old refused to eat the hot dog so we got chicken fingers, which he refused after one bite too. This Grandma tasted the chicken fingers and could not swallow even one bite.
Lastly, and this completes the Legoland saga. The grandchildren, of course, get a gift leaving the parks. Their parents took them to the Lego Store at Legoland. The reviews on Tripadvisor say the store on property has terrible inventory. The parents of the grandchildren said there was nothing to buy. They left there and went to the Lego Store at Downtown Disney which they said was stocked so much better. Even Legos are better at Disney!
So leave Legos for the wonderful sets you can buy and do at home and continue to love Legos. If you go to Legoland, you will literally have a bad taste in your mouth.
Disney magic is Disney magic. The Magic Kingdom is such for our grandchildren with
Joy,
Mema
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