Hello, everyone! Carrie here, your “resident Disney expert” on Family Friendly Frugality! I join you here on Heather’s awesome blog to share my Disney planning tips, money saving ideas, and inside secrets to make your Disney World Vacation more magical!
Planning a Disney vacation can seem easy if you have a little princess in your family. But what about your pirates? I have two pirates of my own, and now at age 11, planning our trip to their enjoyment has become a bit more challenging. Do they still love going to Disney? Absolutely. They have grown up going there every year since they were 4. And as they have grown, so have their tastes in Disney park attractions.
So today, I’m going to talk to you as a momma of boys. My hope is that you will have some great tips for planning a great Walt Disney World Vacation for the boys in your family!
1. Stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach, Beach Club, or Wilderness Lodge resorts. If you have a little guy, he’ll love the Art of Animation Cars Themed suites. Caribbean Beach has fantastic pirate themed rooms. Pirate ship beds, pirate decor galore, and a great pool! Beach Club offers the best pool on property with a sand bottom pool and a fun lazy river. And Wilderness Lodge is a great choice as well. The woodsy atmosphere, and rooms with bunk beds, for sure give your boys something to enjoy!
2. Take some time to enjoy some character dining that isn’t princesses! Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort, Tusker House at Animal Kingdom Lodge, O’hana breakfast with Lilo and Stitch, and Garden Grill at EPCOT are some of my “must do” dining experiences when traveling with boys.
3. Enjoy a Pirate Adventure Cruise. Disney’s Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans Resorts, Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resorts offer the fun, swashbuckling adventure for your children. They go on a treasure hunt, have snacks, and enjoy a few hours away from mom and dad! Even if you aren’t staying at one of these resorts, you can still enjoy these adventures.
4. Disney’s Pirates League is a fun experience for everyone! Disney’s Pirate’s League is located in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park. Here, the boys {or anyone in the family} can enjoy a pirate makeover. Then, later in the day, they can take part in the pirate parade in Adventureland. This is a GREAT activity for the boys while the sister is at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
5. Make plenty of time to enjoy EPCOT. My boys love the Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure, as well as all the fun scientific interactions in the Innoventions East and West buildings. Sometimes they even have special exhibits. My boys made paper on one of our trips. It was very cool! Also, EPCOT is home to Test Track, an attraction the boys are sure to love. Even better, when you exit Test Track, you’re in a room filled with cool cars!
6. Disney’s Hollywood Studios holds a lot of fun for the boys. Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania, Indiana Jones EPIC Stunt Spectacular, and Lights, Motor, Action are on our “must do” for the boys. I think that Hollywood Studios is a great park, especially when planning a trip for the boys. They love the Jedi Training Academy, the Tower of Terror, and especially the Animation Academy.
7. Visit the shops at Downtown Disney. I know shopping isn’t always on the top of the list for boys. But, they’ll enjoy the LEGO store for sure! There are areas to sit and build, huge LEGO sculptures, as well as every LEGO set you could want! Another great shopping experience is Once Upon a Toy at Downtown Disney. Here they can make their own light sabers, and fill a bucket with Mr. Potato Head parts to add to their collection.
8. Magic Kingdom holds fun attractions for the boys! Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and the Tomorrowland Speedway are for sure something your boys would enjoy. My boys also enjoy the Astro Orbiter, the People Mover, as well as Big Thunder and Splash Mountains.
9. Go on a Pirate Adventure. The Pirate’s Adventure-Treasure of the Seven Seas, is a fun and FREE activity at Magic Kingdom. During this short, interactive treasure hunt, you scan your magic talisman at various locations to gain clues. You get FREE treasure maps {that make fun souvenirs}, and make your way around Adventureland to solve the hunt. You can do as many adventures as you want! This gives your kids a nice break from attractions, and is fun and free activity at Disney!
10. Are your boys into trains? If so, Disney is a GREAT place to enjoy some trains. Did you know that Walt Disney himself was very interested in trains? It’s evident all over Disney property. The Magic Kingdom Railroad takes you all around the perimeter of the Magic Kingdom. You can enjoy the Wildlife Express Train at Animal Kingdom, as well as the monorail between EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. Not to mention the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour that is available for families with children ages 10 and up.
As you can see, there are so many fun activities and attractions on Walt Disney Property for the boys in your family! Not just pirates, but trains, science, and adventures are waiting for them!
Are you looking for ways to save money on your next Disney vacation? Do you need planning tips, or are you overwhelmed with where to start? Then contact Carrie-a Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida, An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner-to get your trip planning underway. You can contact her at carrie@destinationsinflorida.com for the best deals on your next Orlando getaway. Mention Family Friendly Frugality and receive a free gift when booking your trip with her!
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