ANOTHER question from new compulsive planner...

[tink2020]

So I have always been VERY OCPD about everything.... but never Disney. Until I stumbled on these boards, and oh my.....

So now I have all these things I need to see and do and plan, even though I've been numerous times! Thanks a lot DISers!

The thing is, DH and I are bringing my mom, dad and 12yo sis this time, for what may be their only trip to the world. If you think this is a duplicate post, I swear it's not -- I just have ANOTHER question.

Right now, my mindset is to show them as much of "the World" as possible -- time scheduled to explore the resorts, ride the monorail loops as soon as we arrive, etc..... show them that it's more than just a few theme parks, you know?

But while discussing the idea of adding a MYW day in order to see Spectromagic (an entirely different thread), it occurred to me (thanks to hockeybabe) -- maybe, by trying to make it "perfect" and "as magical as possible" I'm going to steer them the wrong way?!

It turns out I could upgrade our tickets to 5 day passes for less than $200 more. We DO have time on days 1 and 5 to re-explore some stuff, spend more time in parks, etc. I don't know that those days are "necessary" as we are all willing to spend dawn till dusk in parks..... but maybe they would enjoy being in the parks more, and less of the rest of the world?

What would you think?! (yes, I know the obvious answer - ask them. I plan to, just wanted to hear your sides first.... my head is spinning too much to explain it all to them!)

 

[ncbyrne]

Planning a trip for 5 people, including Mom and Dad does require a lot of planning to make it go smoothly. What are the details of your trip. When are you going and for how many days? Where are you staying - will you have a car? I don't know the ages of your parents, but do take their stamina into account. If you think they are commando, as you probably are, then just tone it down a smidgeon to accomodate the few extra decades of their age, and you should be fine. I think the 12 year old will just be happy to be at WDW, and go with the flow. I'd recommend at LEAST 5 day park hoppers. DH and I like to spend at least 2 full days in Epcot, and one day in MK, AK and DS. Taking time to visit the deluxe resorts on the monorail, and stroll the Boardwalk in the evening would be fun too. There's just SOOO much to see and do. Since you can't possibly do it all, just pick the things you know you will enjoy. If the parks close early during your trip, perhaps La Nouba would be fun too.

 

[jann1033]

already posted this on your other thread( but i'd spend every min. in the parks i could..the resorts are nice but when we go in dec or Jan we go after dinner to tour the resort we ate at( eventually we've seen most of them).dtd is a option for after dinner also since if you take abus you go there from the dinner resrt to get to your home resort we go to dtd the night we get there. we drive so we are tired and usually don't "count" that as a real day since it is a travel day ( in other words we cheat). we ride the monorail when we eat in one of the monorail resort rest. also ( or the "this doesn't count" first night) sometimes it is too cool to swim but our kids would swim sometimes in early dec at night. the pools are heated so they were fine. i know some people love to hang around the pool bimo i can do that for lots cheaper any where and not miss the parks.also i love Ak so if i could go there I sure would as it's not a 1/2 day park to me(like it more than mgm for sure)

i don't know how old your parents are but we are in our early 50s and i have lousy health and we don't really have a problem going to the prks the whole time they are open. we do take a long sit down lunch and sit down to rest if we are tired but it's not like you are climbing everest or something.

what your family likes to do might be different but that is what we do

 

[tink2020]

Yeah, unfortunately time is NOT on our side. Our plan is (currently) as follows:

Wed: arrive, explore Pop, etc; ride monorail loops to get a 'feel for' the World;
dinner at Chef Mickey's
Thu: MGM
Fri: MK/MVMCP
Sat: Epcot
Sun: DTD, resorts, etc before heading for MCO at 5ish

That's all the time we have Between funds (DH and I, two grad students, paying on a VERY limited budget (for everyone)) and timing (DH has residency interviews the month of December so we had to keep his schedule as open as possible) this is the extent of what we have to work with.

We will have a car, so getting around is no problem. Parents stamina isn't a problem either, as they had me young (I'm still fairly young ) and they (especially daddy) have as much stamina as DH and I most of the time!

I guess my only real options seem to be: keep plan as is, enjoy time at the resorts, watching electrical water pageant, time in DTD, etc.... and only half the time in parks.....

... or go from 3 day passes to 4 or 5 day, which give us day 1 (which I really want to use to go to MK, assuming they have Spectromagic (pleeeeeease ) and Day 5 for parks (AK would be added on Day 5).... but then we have no time at the resorts or DTD really, which is some of my favorite stuff -- and the "stuff" that so many miss, when they leave thinking Disney is "a few cool parks.

And I thought about just waiting until the Spectro schedule is released, etc (and giving it some more thought) but I make ADRs a week from today and am not sure what time to get Chef Mickey's.

*sigh* I just want them to leave loving it..........

 

[kilee]

First, don't overwhelm them. I have taken 10 newbies on various trips in the last 3 years. The first few said we were trying to do too much. That they would of rather of slowed down a bit and really enjoyed 1/2 of the things rather than just get a taste of it all. After that, I slowed down the pace and my remaining newbies seemed to have better trips all in all. I would really find out if mom and dad want to see it all, or savor 1/2. Then I'd plan from there.

 

[tink2020]

First, don't overwhelm them. I have taken 10 newbies on various trips in the last 3 years. The first few said we were trying to do too much. That they would of rather of slowed down a bit and really enjoyed 1/2 of the things rather than just get a taste of it all. After that, I slowed down the pace and my remaining newbies seemed to have better trips all in all. I would really find out if mom and dad want to see it all, or savor 1/2. Then I'd plan from there.

This is what I have a feeling I could do, and so why I'm trying to weight it out now. It seems at first that adding a day at MK on Day 1 (to see the castle, see Spectro (hopefully) and just experience the magic right away) is an "extra thing" on their plate. But it's one thing, no concrete plans once we get in except the parade, etc....

Which may end up being A LOT less annoying than: "pool for x time and monorails at x time and resorts at x time and then dinner....", which is the plan that I THOUGHT would be "relaxing and checking it all out"

Does that seem right? I Kind of feel like adding BOTH days would be too much crammed in..... but maybe just seeing whatever resorts we eat at, "seeing" the ones we pass if we ride the monorail loops, etc..... and spending a few hours the first day experiencing MK (before commando-Jennifer kicks in on the "real" MK day later on) will be best?