1st trip- Rest Day?

[3CindersMom]

Hi. Our family is going to WDW the first week of March. We only have 5 full days in Orlando. We wanted to see each park once, and possibly have a second day at MK. I'm wondering if it is wise for newbies to do 5 straight days, or do we need a relaxation day in between seeing the parks. Am I crazy thinking that I could take my family through the parks 5 straight days, from opening to closing each day? Another option would be to go to a park on the first day we get there. We arrive at 7am, so we logistically could go to a park that day, but I'm afraid we'll be to tired from flying all-evening.

I'm new to this board and I just want to thank everyone for all the great info in the threads!

 

[princess aurora]

We've been before and we traditionally are very excited on the first day so I would suggest the best is to go to MK. Take in what you can and go at an easy pace doing all the "big" or popular rides early in the morning. You can always got back to your hotel, rest up take a swim and go back for dinner and go through MK in the evening. We tend to like the hopper pass to take things "easy" but usually do one or more parks a day from morning till closing for 7 straight days with 2 little kids.

It's all in how you approach your plan. Pick one day where you sleep in then go to Downtown Disney then in the afternoon or evening go to another park. Use the magic hour entry and the new evening hours to your advantage. And we ALWAYS go back to do MK as our last park. You can not see it all so don't kill your self to do so. Make a plan of the must sees, the wanna sees, and the hopeful list. You'll have a MAGICAL time!

 

[cmonroe]

Welcome!

This is a long discussed debate on this board. Princess Aurora is right. What ever suits you best. Some people arrive and stay by the pool the first day. Personally, I am way too excited and have spent way too much money on the trip to stay by the pool. So we enter the parks immediately. You'll need to guage your choice on number of children, their energy levels, time of year (weather) ,etc. Whatever choice you make, it will be a learning experience for the next time!!

 

[beccasmom]

We tend to take it easy the first day only because by the time we check in it is usually at least noon or close to it. However, if the parks are open late, we do go (to the MK). We’ve experimented with departure times and prefer leaving Philly rather early and getting to WDW around 9:30 a.m.. Of course this means rising VERY early, but we sleep very well that first night! Depending on time, we will have a late breakfast or early lunch at Olivias’s or Earl’s.

I try to plan a day in between lots of activity so that if we are going to parks on three straight days, the fourth day will be a swimming/shopping/resting day (maybe to Disney Quest or Cirque in the evening). As the kids grow older, it is easier to convince them to do this because they really enjoy pool time and shopping now! And mom and dad need some recuperation! Gotta love Disney!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I'd plan to go to a park that day. Even if you need a nap, you could rest until noon or so, then go to a park, maybe one that's open late if you're staying onsite. We're doing the same thing this trip, but it's just going to be DH and I. If we don't go to a park, we'll go to a character meal, to mini golf, and maybe downtown Disney.

It's really whatever you want to do, but arriving that early, I'd definitely go to a park.

Steph

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

We usually go to Orlando for 8 days at a time. We spend 2 days at parks, then a day at the ocean or waterpark, and then 2 more park days, and then another waterpark day, and finally parks with whatever is left.

The waterpark/ocean days are great because we sleep in and get to bed early. I don't think we could hit the parks from 8:00am to 11:00pm without some recuperation time in between.

If I were you, I would go to the parks the day you arrive, but pick a park that closes early like AK. Then skip the parks on the middle day of your trip to go to TL or BB.

Another consideration some DISer's always like to debate is which parks newbies and kids should see first. Some people have had trouble with their kids at other parks once they've seen MK. Kids that go to Epcot after seeing MK sometimes are bored or disappointed that there is not as much targeted at the toddler crowd. I'm sure there are many differing opinions about this, but I would try to see EPCOT first, and then go to MK if I had little ones on their first trip.

 

[gabbygrennell]

Here is my opinion...lol!
We too are a family of 5. Our last fam trip (first trip to wdw as a fmly), the kiddos were 9, 5, 2. We had one week. ( we also had my bro, sis in law, niece plus my mom and dad for a major part of trip)

I was in commando mode! We did a park each day. But in all honesty, we needed two days at MK. We too had planned for an extra day to use for any parks we didnt get enough of, and by the time that day rolled around, all any of us could do was sit by the pool saying how we wished we had done this that and the other. We came home completely exhausted and needed a vacation from our vacation!

Many lessons learned from our first family trip! haha! memorable lessons at that! This trip, we are doing 2 weeks, and our schedule alternates so that we have a day in between each park, to relax! And, we have also scheduled our must do dinners, character meals etc.. on days that are relax days so that they do not interfere with a park day!

I also must admit that although I am a planaholic, I am fully prepared to be flexible this time around! Last time I felt like a freak out of control when things were not going as I had planned! Especially with little ones, you must be flexible! And by all means.... take a break in the afternoon if the kids are getting tired and whiny! They will only get worse!
hope this helps you out!
GAbby

 

[ptrbryant]

Each day, we go back to the resort to rest---take a nap, just put our feet up for a while, whatever. We usually don't go to the pool until we're done in the evening. On our 2nd trip, we went 6 days in a row, and we all felt like it had been a mistake---a day off to catch our breath would have been much better. I also know people who have gone commando-style on their first trip and their families say they never want to go back to WDW again--it was too exhausting! Just get a feel for what's right for your family!

Karla B.

 

[mketting]

We just got back, my kids are 5 and 7. After 2 full days in the parks we were definitely ready for a rest day. We slept in and then went to Downtown Disney and visited the other resorts. It made day 4 much more enjoyable!

 

[thotfulspot]

My best buddy and I have a tradition stretching back more than a decade now of WDW trips, just the two of us. On our first trip, we did 5 theme parks in 5 days, and we came home as exhausted as we had ever been in our lives. After that, we built in down time as part of the plan. I would never do more than two full theme park days in a row without a relaxing day afterwards.

Don't forget that the aim is to have a great time and make magical memories! There's nothing magical about that zombie state you get into from being on the go the entire time.

 

[Luv4Disney]

My boyfriend and I are going for 11 days and having a "rest day" which will consist of the Keys to the Kingdom tour and then the Grand Romantic Evening massage at the spa. Later that evening we'll do the HDDR. No running around to attractions.

 

[apagano]

By all means take a rest day! I did a 5-day stint back in '01. I did Full days at Epcot, Disney Studios, MK and Universal with 1/2 days at AK and TL thrown in for good measure. By the last day we were dragging ourselves through the park. In retrospect I would have scheduled a midweek day of rest.