Anyone with kids just "wing" it?

[princesspiglet]

The more planning I do, the more I think we should just wing it and go with the flow. Having a 4 year old who has 3 personalities makes it hard to plan. I am hating to have to decide what park we will be doing each day, where we want to eat, etc. My DH and I were discussing this last night and it is just stressing me out too much. I am thinking about cancelling all of our ADR's and just keeping the select few my DD really wants to do. Heck, we don't go to the world for the food, and I don't care if I have to eat CS everyday, my DD eats like a bird anyway. I just want to be able to get up and decide where we want to go and eat at spur of the moment times!! UUGGHH!

That's it, I have decided to quit planning and stressing and am just going to go with the flow and take it day by day.....anyone else want to join me or have you done the same and how did it go??

 

[Fabinva]

I'm reading a lot on these boards and taking notes but do not have a "master plan" or even a whole day planned for our Nov vacation, we'll be there for six days with son who is 6yr and daughter is 4yr old, I had made few ADR for the restaurants we do not want to miss and of course character breakfast\lunch but that's about it, all I know is that first park we go to is MK, after that we'll just go with the flow, good luck to you!

 

[PollyannaMom]

We don't completely "wing" it, as I am a big researcher, but DH hates to overplan a vacation, so we definitely don't go on a full schedule either. (We have even planned which park/which day by the weather after we got to Florida!)

I would say, as you mentioned, to keep the really important ADR's, and also to make a short list of the rides/shows/etc. that are most important to each of you. - That way you will have some direction when arriving at the parks, and won't get bogged down in the where-do-we-go-first? question.

A lot of fun at Disney comes up unexpectedly, so I'm sure you'll have a great time!

 

[alloyd1170]

We have a 4.5 yr old DS and a 14 mos old DD. It will be DD's first trip. In the past we have sort of winged it. I do set up ADRs for Chef Mickeys, and we decide what parks to do ahead of time. We drive and usually arrive around 12. We check in and if possible take our stuff to our room at CR. We then grab a quick bite at the cafe there, then take the bus to MGM. Since we have only half a day, with two small kids thats all we need at MGM. We catch some of the shows, do some rides, then head over to Fantasmic to stake out a seat. We get dinner from one of the vendors there, and then later grab a snack back at CR. If we dont get lunch at CR, then we wait until after the rush and have a good meal at Brown Derby.

The next day we head to MK, then do a day at Epcot and AK, and spend the last day at MK. Checkout day is Chef Mickeys for breakfast, and shopping at DTD. As for other dining options, heres what we do-we grab breakfast at CR cafe. Lunch we usually grab at the park, trying to get a decent one in so we can eat light at dinner and catch a parade/fireworks and then snack back at CR. Only once have we gone back to CR for a mid day nap/break. DS was able to sleep in his stroller so we would either take turns watching him while the other did a ride, or we had a relaxing lunch (after the rush of course) and fed him later.

Being that DD is so young, we shall see how we do this trip. Everything we do is based on the kids, so if they need a break, we take it. We get up a go when the kids are up, not when the alarm clock goes off. We arent waiting at the line drop to charge into the parks. We dont do commando style, but I do take some of the Unofficial Guides advice as to what areas in the parks to hit first, grab some fastpasses, etc. DS is just now big enough to ride some of the thrill rides, but Im not sure he will want too. Also, we are going at a time when it will hopefully not be too crowded so that will make things a lot easier. In my opinion, some advanced planning is needed. I would do more planning if going at a busy time of year to avoid long waits. Little kids just cant handle long lines and waits.

alison

 

[Manda]

When we went in December with our then 2 year old, I had one ADR for Crystal Palace made before we left. That's all I planned. If we felt like going to a TS restaurant for dinner that day, I'd call dining in the morning or during nap and make a reservation. We'd wake up in the morning and decide where we were going. Then, we'd wake up from nap and pick the next park. Worked out fine.

This time, we have the dining plan (free), so I've made an ADR for each day (probably end up cancelling some and making new ones once we're down there though). I don't have anything planned other than that. We usually go to one park in the morning and a different one in the afternoon. We'll just go where we feel like going.

 

[bama-mom]

We will be semi-winging it in December . We took dd in May of 05 when she was 22 months and it was great, we just had to adjust to her schedule and not do all the things we used to do. But we did a lot of things with her that we had not done before and that is what made it wonderful for us. (like meeting the characters, riding Dumbo, etc.) In December we will be traveling with dd (3) and ds who will be 7 months then. I assume we will have to alter our usual touring even more and we don't think twice about it.

We have a few important ADR's, but aren't going crazy. I am trying to decide now if we even need park hoppers. I think with 2 little ones we won't be park hopping at all, dh thinks otherwise. We have one day PH's left from last time, none for dd who was free at the time. I still have most of the days planned as far as what park what day, etc., but nothing that can't be changed. I think it is perfectly okay to wing it with little ones!!

 

[munchkinsmom]

DH and I have a three and five year old and to a certain degree we "wing" it, but with just a little bit of scheduling.

If we're first-timers at a park, we definitely do the research and usually decide which park to visit on what day and choose the two or three most important things to do. For the most part we just follow our noses and let the day evolve. If we end up riding the Winnie the Pooh ride five times that day, then so be it, LOL!

We do make an effort to schedule meal time, choosing an eatery close to wherever we are at that moment if we don't have a reservation somewhere and eating early to beat the crowds. We also try to schedule a brief "down" time in the afternoon, which could be a ride on the monorail or a short break sitting on a bench.

We've found that "going with the flow" is much more fun for us. We try not to "overplan", allowing some flexibility in the schedule. The kids end up happier and we are too.

 

[lovethattink]

I have a 2 year old and a 12 year old. We mostly wing it. If there is somewhere we want to eat dinner or lunch and I need an ADR we do that. Everything else is done whim.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

We will be semi-winging it in December . We took dd in May of 05 when she was 22 months and it was great, we just had to adjust to her schedule and not do all the things we used to do. But we did a lot of things with her that we had not done before and that is what made it wonderful for us. (like meeting the characters, riding Dumbo, etc.) In December we will be traveling with dd (3) and ds who will be 7 months then. I assume we will have to alter our usual touring even more and we don't think twice about it.

We have a few important ADR's, but aren't going crazy. I am trying to decide now if we even need park hoppers. I think with 2 little ones we won't be park hopping at all, dh thinks otherwise. We have one day PH's left from last time, none for dd who was free at the time. I still have most of the days planned as far as what park what day, etc., but nothing that can't be changed. I think it is perfectly okay to wing it with little ones!!

How funny- we were also there in May '05 and going again this December. We will also be taking our DD 7 months

When we go, we'll have which park on what day planned only because we are going w/o the parkhopper opt. Other than that I think we'll just wing it.

Oh yeah, we do have ADR's for Chef Mickey's on our first day for DS7 birthday, but we aren't going into the parks that day.

 

[kribit]

DH and I were always "wing it" and spontaneous travelers. I don't like being held to a schedule on my vacation, as I do this on a daily basis, and DH in his job. With that said, we now have children and need some sense of scheduling for them. We booked three things: 1) Chef Mickeys, 2) Pooh Breakfast, and 3) Little Einsteins Breakfast. I also purchased MNSSHP tickets, but we're also winging that. As for parades, fireworks, etc...we're not stressing over them. If we see them, we see them...if we don't we don't. DS only talks about Winnie the Pooh ride and DD wants to see June from Little Einsteins. I'm not sure they truly "get" the amount of things there.

Other than that we're taking it day by day. Our kids have never been and we don't want to overdo it. However, I can see where people overbook things because there is SOOOO much to do. Initially, I found myself wanting to preplan every day, but realized it just wasn't feasible for my family. I'm not dragging a tired cranky 4 yo to dinner with Cinderella because I paid for it. Not worth the stress.

Have a great time!!!

 

[pixiewytch]

I've always thought winging it is really the only way to do Disney with little ones. I don't want to plan too much of an itinerary so I won't be disappointed if DS doesn't go along with it and throws a tantrum at the most inconvenient time.

We are leaving tomorrow for four nights. I only made three ADR's for places I really wanted to eat at. The rest will be CS, food court, or some other go with the flow kind of plan.

I know i firmly believe that cramming too many scheduled events or activities into a little one's day can only result in disaster. Plus, if you don't plan so much you have less to be disappointed by if it doesn't work out according to plan.

 

[Jim5150]

We've gone for years and usually decide which park we're going to the day of. We do go in January so crowds are not a problem.

With little ones the only thing I would suggest planning would be the way I visit the park once in...

For example: When getting to Magic Kingdom go directly to Fantasyland and have a plan from there.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Other than basic plans (such as attending a park's EMH or a special planned dinner) we go during the off season and completely wing it.

You can even finds ways of making the "Wing It" fun in and of itself. More than once, we've left our resort room heading to the bus stop and still hadn't decided which park we were going to. Sometimes we'd just let Disney decide by seeing which bus would show up first. It can really make for a relaxing day in Disney if you go every once in a while with absolutely NO plans and just see what the day brings.

 

[lulugirl]

We always wing it! I have never once made a dinner reservation or had a schedule of any kind. We do go during the slow season, so that makes it easier to be flexible.
Fortunately our kids are very "go w/ the flow".
It works for us!

 

[murcor]

We are going for 12 days and have a total of 3 adr's. Honestly I cant imagine preplanning my entire vacation around where I am going to eat.

What if we decide to go to the MK twice instead of another park

What happens if it turns out hot and sunny and decide to use that as a pool day as opposed to the following day which is going to rain. This affects us as we go in January so we picks the warmest days for pool and the others for parks.

I do know we are going to Magic Kingdom on Jan 8th as that is our adr for CRT

I think "the no plan" with kids a a good idea...we follow what they want to do with a little input from the adults....its fun, it really is.

we dont have the dining plan and go in January when it is not busy.

Angela

 

[pezpam]

The first time I took DD, she was 5 and we completely winged it. That allowed us to eat when we were hungry, head back to the hotel when she was headed for bedtime, which was way early...... We had an absolutely wonderful time and have now been back several times.

Now, since we know more, I tend to not exactly plan, but I do have a better sense of what needs to happen if we want to do something specific and which things we actually do have to arrange ahead of time if we choose to do them. Staying flexible is still key, though. While I will plan ADRs if we have the Dining Plan, I can't predict 8 months out which rides DD will or won't go on or which ones she hated last time that she wants to do a million times this trip......

If you're not on the DP and making ADRs will stress you out, then by all means cancel them unless you just can't stand counter service. We've done CS-only trips, though, so it is possible to do without having a burger 3 times a day every day.

If you are on the DP or want to be, there are ways to handle it well with unschedule-able kids. The easiest is often to go with breakfast as your TS meal. Starting the day with the scheduled meal allows you to schedule it for a time that works for your family's wake-up time and eliminates the "OMG, we're at EPCOT and it's 4pm and we have a TS over at MGM at 4:30!!" panic - you finish breakfast and then head out for your unscheduled day of fun. The kids love the character breakfasts, so it may well be worth it just for the experience.

Anyway, I guess the upshot of what I'm saying is that it's entirely possible to have a magical time without planning every minute. A huge part of it is letting go of the "We have to see everything" mental picture and go to a "Wow, the kids are having fun. What a great trip!" attitude.

Enjoy!

 

[Kahana-ri]

We usually wing it since a 2.5 will call the shots for the day. For our next trip I only booked character breakfast and we do plan to take advantage of the extended magic hours.
Other than that we just go with the flow. When the little ones get older I will be more apt to plan shows and nice dinners. For someone that is full off a hotdog and is amused by the Disney Charter buses - at this point we'll just have to wait a bit.

 

[golden1]

I guess I have "planned to be flexible". I have most of our days planned and several ADRs made but we have worked in several half-days where we are just going to "wing it" especially towards the end of the trip. That way, if my kids like something and want to do it again, we can just go to that particular park that afternoon. I decided to get park hoppers and only a few ADRs because I want things to remain flexible in case the kids take a hankering to a certain park or attraction. I don't want to be the Disney Nazi!

 

[marsha123]

my three kids and i always wing it. it works out great for us.at times we have went to the busstop and just got on the first park bus that comes.we have annual passes so we take it very easy . you can always find somewhere to eat.

 

[mom_of_5]

The more planning I do, the more I think we should just wing it and go with the flow. Having a 4 year old who has 3 personalities makes it hard to plan. I am hating to have to decide what park we will be doing each day, where we want to eat, etc. My DH and I were discussing this last night and it is just stressing me out too much. I am thinking about cancelling all of our ADR's and just keeping the select few my DD really wants to do. Heck, we don't go to the world for the food, and I don't care if I have to eat CS everyday, my DD eats like a bird anyway. I just want to be able to get up and decide where we want to go and eat at spur of the moment times!! UUGGHH!

That's it, I have decided to quit planning and stressing and am just going to go with the flow and take it day by day.....anyone else want to join me or have you done the same and how did it go??

I stressed, planned, made ADR's cancelled ADR's made new ones, rearranged, threw it all away only to start up againg with the planning because everything I read said I needed to do it.
When we got to DW each day I would put our plan in my pocket and never looked at it again! We did what we wanted to and stayed as long as we wanted to depending on each of the kids. The little ones took suprise naps for us in the strollers which really helped as well.
As far as the ADR's go we did not keep most of them, our concierge cancelled them for us and made new ones each day.
I will say however if you are going during a busy time it might be worth it to have a loose plan in mind, ie: what are the most important things we do today. We either used FP or our Guest Assistance Card for long waits for our oldest who has austism and would not have made it 1 hour at the parks other wise.
Good luck.