Is 12 days long enough for 1st trip with 4 and 9yr olds

[libbylast]

Hi

Feeling a bit low at mo. Was really excited that we were going disney for wheb xmas dec's were up - going on 12th nov till 27thnov taking my daughters and hubbys daughter. Told the kids on new years eve they were over the moon. Well step daughter came to us last night telling us we cant go for that long as its her mum's b day and she gotta be back.
Now is it me but a trip to disney or a mum's b day whats more important to the child.
Anyway is 12 days enought to do everything i want to do 3 character meals and bibbidi and mickeys xmas party but dont want the kids too nackered so they dont wanna get up in the mornings. Also not happy about having to pay amendment fees to make hols shorter.

Sorry for moan.

[wayneg]

You will work around any length of stay,
Don't know your home situation but I would probably have told her it could not have been changed, either go for dates booked or not at all, a bday is no reason to alter all your plans.
Good luck with your plans.

[libbylast]

Thanks i totally agree. Dont change plans but my hubby wants to keep peace so he told me gotta change it!

[JohnnySharp2]

12 days is plenty of time don't worry.

A lot of people go for just a week and try to cram everything in, you will be fine.

The only problems you will have is if you do Disney, Universal, Sea World and everything else there is on offer - you may have to be choosy.
Rest days are important with little one's.

[PudseyChancer]

Now is it me but a trip to disney or a mum's b day whats more important to the child

Don't wish to be horrible and can understand your frustration, but mums birthday would win every time. Is there a chance you could move your holiday start date back two days or is that not possible? If not, I'm sure that you'll have a great time whatever the length of the holiday is! :)

[Jakey Rowling]

12 days isn't enough, but neither is 15 to do everything to be honest.

Personally I'd have another go a sticking with the original dates and explaining to all what you're likely to have to miss.

If not then there's no reason to have the kids any more tired if you accept you can't do it all, make and stick to a sensible plan as best you can with enough time away from the parks to recharge.

[wayneg]

Don't wish to be horrible and can understand your frustration, but mums birthday would win every time. Is there a chance you could move your holiday start date back two days or is that not possible? If not, I'm sure that you'll have a great time whatever the length of the holiday is! :)

:confused3
Birthdays come around every year hopfully she will have around 70-80 of them. It is possibly a once in a lifetime holiday. Personally think its very selfish but we all have different family environments, my Mum would have been horrified to think I was changing a holiday for her birthday

[PudseyChancer]

:confused3
Birthdays come around every year hopfully she will have around 70-80 of them. It is possibly a once in a lifetime holiday. Personally think its very selfish but we all have different family environments, my Mum would have been horrified to think I was changing a holiday for her birthday

That's the beauty of these boards, we all have different opinions! I don't think it's selfish at all to want to spend a birthday with family, especially when it involves children at a young age. :)

[Shooby doo]

I'm assuming that it must be a very special B'day - 16,18,21,40 & that there is a big celebration! Personally I would have said the trips the trip,why should your 4 & 9 yr old lose out for what is probably just a "normal" B'day! I agree people do go for a week but I would also guess that they have been before so can pick & choose. In the end it comes down to simple maths ,for your age group I would say the must do's are: MK,Ep (although some young kids find this boring-use the funstops),MGM,AK,TL,SW (Shamu),AQ & US so that's 8 days out of your 12 not including arrival & departure. Sorry I just wouldn't drop to 12,just for the record I also think that her Mother is being a bit selfish to expect her to be there!
SD:thumbsup2

[Vickitav]

Did you clear the dates with her or her Mum before you booked it?

I think it's lovely that she doesn't want her Mum to be on her own on her birthday while you are all enjoying yourselves on holiday.

I don't think a couple of days will make much difference you'll still have a fantastic time and earn family Brownie points for being so flexible.

[juliebrooks35]

Mmmm, tricky situation indeed. I'm glad it's not me that has to make a decision like that so good luck with whatever option you choose.:idea:

Like a lot of poster's on these boards, I've been going to Florida for my holiday's for years and still haven't managed to do everything that I would like to so in my opinion there is just never enough time:rotfl:
I think that as long as you all decide what attractions are important to you and then schedule whatever time you have around this, making bookings for those essential character meals etc to ensure you don't miss out then you won't go far wrong.:)
Just make sure you keep some flexibility built in to your plans wherever possible and also take some time out to just relax.

[juliebrooks35]

Mmmm, tricky situation indeed. I'm glad it's not me that has to make a decision like that so good luck with whatever option you choose.:idea:

Like a lot of poster's on these boards, I've been going to Florida for my holiday's for years and still haven't managed to do everything that I would like to so in my opinion there is just never enough time:rotfl:
I think that as long as you all decide what attractions are important to you and then schedule whatever time you have around this, making bookings for those essential character meals etc to ensure you don't miss out then you won't go far wrong.:)
Just make sure you keep some flexibility built in to your plans wherever possible and also take some time out to just relax.

[juliebrooks35]

oops-posted twice

[wicket2005]

Sorry that you have had to change plans. If you have to amend I would try what some else has suggested and see if you can leave a couple of days earlier instead.

If not, just plan what you want to do each day and visit those parks early and on their quietest days.

We do manage to do everything we want in 14 days but have been several times before so tend to pick and choose the rides we want to go on. The first time we went we did every single ride for the experience. Every park has something for all ages but as your children are young I would concentrate on those parks that have the most for their age group eg Magic Kingdom and then follow on through with other parks. I would also have a chat with everyone and see if there is something in particular they really want to do over there and incorporate that in the plans.

[Dimplenose]

Anyway is 12 days enought to do everything i want to do


I'm sure 12 days is enough time for a really good holiday however only you know if it is enough time for everything you want to do. I think you could be at WDW for months and still not have seen/done everything that is on offer. So try looking at it from the other way round - "I've got 12 days what would I like to do with them?" There is always going to be something to do next time.

Have a good trip,

Libby

[fatdave42]

I have bean for about 2 months in total now to WDW, and I am still finding new thing to do, but having said that, our first holiday was one week and we loved it. Re the birthday problem, good luck with that. Do let us know how you get on.

[Fozzie Bear]

Our first trip to wdw was 12th-23rd Dec 03. I think we did everthing we wanted to do in the 1st 7 days at the World. Mainly because it was fairly quiet at the parks. The closer it got to Christmas the more crowded it got. We did not leave Disney property on that first trip, but i felt there was aleast 3 days left when we could have gone to universal and seaworld. If your short of time, leave seaworld until last, because it never seems to get to busy.
Christmas week is really busy and with long waits for everything.That 1st week, we went on test track 7 times in just over an hour the one day and we covered alot of ground.

oops! wrong month. thats Fozzie for u.

[wayneg]

I have bean for about 2 months in total now to WDW, and I am still finding new thing to do, but having said that, our first holiday was one week and we loved it. Re the birthday problem, good luck with that. Do let us know how you get on.

We total over 40 weeks and still do something different every time.:)