The best laid plans sometimes fizzle

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
The best laid plans sometimes fizzle
5
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 8:38am

Hi, we're leaving this Sat. 7/15 for our week-long WDW vacation -- me, DH, DS 9, DD 6, DS 2. And the grandparents. We are planning to hit the parks at opening each a.m., with some of the days being early EMH days. Staying offsite the first 3 nights, and at POR the last 4 nights. We have a few dinner ADRs, but preferred to leave some nights open for flexibility, even if that means we eat CS those nights.

I really value getting to the parks before they open, both from reading stuff here, and from past experiences. My worry is that my kids, who are not the best early risers, won't be able to get up early enough every day. We have a couple of "sleep in" mornings built into the schedule, but I'm worried about *all* the days.

So what would you do if your troops couldn't muster themselves as ready-to-go until 10 a.m. (or later) on a busy July morning? I want to have a backup plan in place; at that point, we'd avoid the early EMH park, but then what? Just pick another park and go, or is there a smarter way to salvage the day? (e.g. hang out somewhere else and then hit a park at mid-afternoon). Your suggestions appreciated!

I'm also a little worried about my MIL, who will not admit that her knees are getting bad. I think she will bravely soldier along w/ us and end up w/ stiff, sore legs by day 3, and not be able to take any more walking. Any strategies for her?

Thanks! Getting excited, but seeing my kids sleep in every day this week is making me nervous! I will start getting them up earlier this week (and to bed earlier). Hopefully, once they're there, they'll get tired early after full days!

Chris

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 11:00am

You must be hugely excited Chris, leaving so soon!!!

I would recommend renting an ECV (electric wheelchair/scooter) for MIL if she'll let you at all, or else maybe arrive at opening and take a rest break in the afternoon so she will have some time to recover. There is a ton of walking, hopefully she'll realize this quickly and let you guys help her a little, or at least let you know when she is having a problem.

As far as not arriving at opening, I'm not an expert on that. We only arrived after opening one time on our trip, and that day was terrible. It was a Saturday in September, NOT an EMH day at the park we went to. The lines to get through security and the turnstiles were horrendus. It took about 1/2 hour or so to even get in the park, and once we did, we stayed about an hour and left. The lines were awful for everything we thought about doing. Not a pretty picture. I have read that midafternoon to early evening is when the parks are usually most crowded; we're usually napping at the resort so I can't swear to that. We have a different sleeping problem--my kids take 3-4 hour naps everyday and can't function well without them!

I would say if you do arrive later in the day, maybe pick 1 or 2 must do, "big" attractions, i.e., Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Rock 'N Roller Coaster, etc., and get fast passes when you can to get those done. Other than that, just plan on doing the less popular things, and what you can get done will be all the better. If you get to MK late, for example, the line for Dumbo will probably be at least 45 minutes or so; that's a long line for a 90-second ride. You will just have to decide together what is worth it to wait for and what isn't. I have read that fast passes for the most popular things (Space, Splash, Expedition Everest, RnRC, etc) are usually either way late return times or gone completely by midday or early afternoon during busy times. Be prepared for that. Maybe 1 or 2 days of having to wait forever or not getting to do the best things will convince them to get up early? I don't know. It is pretty hard to drag yourself out of a nice comfy bed on vacation, the times you associate with sleeping in. Trust me, I know! Maybe if you get a really late start, go to MGM and see the shows? They start at specific times, so the lines really don't make much difference. Or, the World Showcase doesn't open until 11 am, so if you're heading to Epcot and it's late, try to get a fast pass for Soarin' and then go to the World Showcase for the afternoon? My other thought is to try for bigger attractions during the afternoon parade times and traditional dinner times.

Be flexible, as always at WDW, because you never know what will happen! Maybe if you have a few backup things to do in mind, it would help?

Hope this helps somewhat, but do remember, a crowded day at Disney is better than a good day at work!!!! Post a report for us when you come home!

~Steph




Edited 7/9/2006 11:03 am ET by bigbabyblues
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
Sun, 07-09-2006 - 11:40am

Woohoo!! You must be getting SO excited!!

THere are Eletric scooter thingies that you can rent for your MIL, hopefully, she will not be too proud to not use it!

My Girl friend just got back with her kids 9 and 5 and spent the first morning at the hotel by the pool, etc, then MADE them take a nap, claiming that it was after dinner time (It was around 2 LOL!) They slept almost 3 hours (THey were NOT nappers to start out with!) then "Let them" have ice cream for "breakfast" and hit the park with the evening EMH. THey were able to stay until midnight most nights! She then set up the wake up calls in the morning, and started their day at the early EMH. Had CS lunch in the park, then returned to the resort for a quick swim then "Bed time" again. THe rest of the vacation they would sleep 3-5 hours at the nap!! Then they could switch to the park with evening EMH.

I think what helped them was drining a day and a half, so it messed up the sleep schedules anyway LOL! During the nap time, she and her hubby would take a nap, too, then take turns having "alone" time either at the resort or catching a ride or two in the park! When the kids finally awoke from the nap, one parent would radio the other to caome back, and by the time they arrived, everyone was ready to head out again. SOmetimes the "Alone" parent would bring back food to the room, other times, they would then hit either the food court or a restaurant, then be good for a few more hours!

I'm not sure how this would work for your family (Or even mine for that matter!) but I am willing to try it! LOL! She also didn't have any ADRs for sit down restaurants and did mostly in room food and CS meals. THey would be in bed around 1 AM, sleep until 6 AM, hit the EMH park until close to noon, then sleep again from around 1 PM until 5 PM Then hit the parks again until midnight! THe kids would get a bit more sleep since they would almost always fall asleep on the bus, and during a "Quiet" show or ride, too.

I know my almost 6YO likes having her 12 hours nights, so I am not holding out too much hope for this plan, but if htere is the smallest possibility it can work, we will try it!

Just rememeber to be flexible and enjoy!!

~Elena (7 weeks til we go!)

~Elena Princess Of Everyday Adventures! event.png
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Mon, 07-10-2006 - 12:22am

Thanks, Steph and Elena, for your replies. Some very good food for thought, and I'm glad I asked. Elena, I cracked up reading about your friend's vacation. She really made that schedule work! Sounds like they took great advantage of their time at Disney, and the kids are giving their parents credit for a two week vacation, since they had so many "nights".

We are definitely getting excited, now we just need to make it through this week...whooooeeeee!

Chris

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-10-2006 - 4:32pm
Our group was a 6 & 9 yr old, dh & I. We did a 9 day at WDW. We are not early risers so by the time we got up and ready and ate breakfast was usually anywhere around 9:00-11:00. We did stay until closing and switched parks when they had the extended opening days on the certain parks for the day.
Only once my dh & youngest woke up early for AK opening to do the safari ride again. In the morning is when the animals are more active compared to the hot afternoon. Maybe you can split your group up for those that want to start early and meet up later. Have the early risers fitch the fastpasses. Let us know how everything goes.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 07-10-2006 - 5:20pm

Just a note...If by fetching the fast passes, you mean that those that get to the park early can get fast passes for everyone else who will catch up later, that won't entirely work. To get a fast pass, you have to use a ticket that was already used to enter that park that day, so they'd only be able to get fast passes for the number of guests that are there at that time and not be able to get more until the time stated on the FP. However, it could work if, let's say, 3 people went early and 3 more people are meeting them later. Those first 3 people can each get a FP and then get in the standby line, then the other 3 would have FP to use later, but not the whole party.

Just wanted to mention that in case anyone plans to just get FPs for their entire party for later so that they don't get their hopes up that this will work.

Alysha




Edited 7/10/2006 5:27 pm ET by alygator