I have yet to enjoy WDW. I am planning a spring trip for my (then to be 5 1/2 y.o.), my husband, and me.
This past weekend, we had our second trip to Sesame Place in Langhorne PA.
I tried to notice certain aspects of our trip and see how it might compare to WDW advice I've read here. I want to share some observations and hope that those who've been both places will comment or respond. Since I've had some experience now at Sesame Place but not been to WDW, I hope this exercise will help me assimilate what I've learned on these boards about WDW. I 'd like to have a good idea about what to expect as I plan this wonderful trip.
I really do have a sense that I'm getting some helpful ideas on these boards
First, I can appreciate the advice to take a mid-day rest. We went from 9 to 5 on one day and 10-7 on the other. My daughter was so tired after the first day that she selected more passive features like shows, having rejected them last year and the previous day. I can see with early entry at WDW, that we'll go about 4 hours, then take a major break before having a modest evening's entertainment.
We were staying at a friend's house in the burbs of Philly and she didn't go to bed until 9 - 9:30 pm. I think we'll try to keep our evenings to shorter activities and have plenty of time to unwind each night instead in WDW.
I've read about the ways to stretch money on meals. I wish I remembered it prior to ordering lunch the second day. My daughter ate 1/4 of a pizza. I couldn't finish my salad. I think my husband and I could have split a sandwich and each had sides. My husband could have polished off the rest of that pizza, then. We just ordered more than we could eat and wasted food and money. Then, I remembered suggestions here to share meals and have sides. I think this will work for us. We had too big a lunch on the second day because it was followed by an all you can eat character meal. I can see how a family usually needs at least one big meal a day, as some have suggested here, but not too many big meals. Who can eat all that food?
As far as meeting characters goes, my daughter was less impressed this year at 4 1/2 than she was at 3 1/2. I think she's liable to enjoy the characters at WDW, but I think there's already an understanding that these are not living, one and only characters, but actors dressed as characters. She loved having dinner with them, but it was not the same as last year.
The stroller was something I was quite aware of. She really did use it; especially on the second day. I think we'll have to bring one. I know there are some at the parks, but we will be able to stroll to our Epcot hotel from Epcot or MGM. It'll be worth it to have it with us.
At Sesame Place, there are a lot of water rides. At most WDW parks, there are not water slides and the like, right? I mean, there are two water parks, but MK, AK, Epcot, and MGM do not have water slides and rides. I don't think we'll need water shoes except at the water parks, right? My guess is worn shoes will do.
It was important for my husband and I to have at least one thing each day that we wanted to do. That was hard for my daughter, but I think we had better institute that policy or at WDW, we'll start resenting catering to her so much during the trip. It is for her, but along the way, we want to explore a little, too. Similarly, I am quite sure we will need a nightout.
I am glad we will take a day to rest and not visit parks because we were so exhausted after two days at Sesame Place. My daughter cried for an hour in the car on our way home from sheer exhaustion.
I tried to compare the space at Sesame Place to WDW. I am not too spatially oriented, but I suspect that Sesame Place is about as big as AK. I was glad for the boards as a resource because I have been able already to plan and select activities and sites rather than arbitrarily visit the parks.
On our first day, there was an overcast sky with chances of showers. The park was thinner than the year before. I can appreciate how people mention that the plus of rainy days is having the parks to yourself, if you can brave the storms.
We got to the gate at opening time the first day. I noticed how easy it was to get on a couple of popular water slide rides. Less than a 10 minute wait. I could appreciate how the early entry might enable those who plan to see a significant amount of the parks that might otherwise be burdensome to venture. I remembered reading how, despite the fact that the pros and people here advise the early entry, still most do not follow that advise. I know some people just like to sleep late. Still, it was remarkable to watch the crowds grow and grow. We will definitely to the early entries at the park at WDW.
Well, what do any of you have to say?
KIS
This past weekend, we had our second trip to Sesame Place in Langhorne PA.
I tried to notice certain aspects of our trip and see how it might compare to WDW advice I've read here. I want to share some observations and hope that those who've been both places will comment or respond. Since I've had some experience now at Sesame Place but not been to WDW, I hope this exercise will help me assimilate what I've learned on these boards about WDW. I 'd like to have a good idea about what to expect as I plan this wonderful trip.
I really do have a sense that I'm getting some helpful ideas on these boards
First, I can appreciate the advice to take a mid-day rest. We went from 9 to 5 on one day and 10-7 on the other. My daughter was so tired after the first day that she selected more passive features like shows, having rejected them last year and the previous day. I can see with early entry at WDW, that we'll go about 4 hours, then take a major break before having a modest evening's entertainment.
We were staying at a friend's house in the burbs of Philly and she didn't go to bed until 9 - 9:30 pm. I think we'll try to keep our evenings to shorter activities and have plenty of time to unwind each night instead in WDW.
I've read about the ways to stretch money on meals. I wish I remembered it prior to ordering lunch the second day. My daughter ate 1/4 of a pizza. I couldn't finish my salad. I think my husband and I could have split a sandwich and each had sides. My husband could have polished off the rest of that pizza, then. We just ordered more than we could eat and wasted food and money. Then, I remembered suggestions here to share meals and have sides. I think this will work for us. We had too big a lunch on the second day because it was followed by an all you can eat character meal. I can see how a family usually needs at least one big meal a day, as some have suggested here, but not too many big meals. Who can eat all that food?
As far as meeting characters goes, my daughter was less impressed this year at 4 1/2 than she was at 3 1/2. I think she's liable to enjoy the characters at WDW, but I think there's already an understanding that these are not living, one and only characters, but actors dressed as characters. She loved having dinner with them, but it was not the same as last year.
The stroller was something I was quite aware of. She really did use it; especially on the second day. I think we'll have to bring one. I know there are some at the parks, but we will be able to stroll to our Epcot hotel from Epcot or MGM. It'll be worth it to have it with us.
At Sesame Place, there are a lot of water rides. At most WDW parks, there are not water slides and the like, right? I mean, there are two water parks, but MK, AK, Epcot, and MGM do not have water slides and rides. I don't think we'll need water shoes except at the water parks, right? My guess is worn shoes will do.
It was important for my husband and I to have at least one thing each day that we wanted to do. That was hard for my daughter, but I think we had better institute that policy or at WDW, we'll start resenting catering to her so much during the trip. It is for her, but along the way, we want to explore a little, too. Similarly, I am quite sure we will need a nightout.
I am glad we will take a day to rest and not visit parks because we were so exhausted after two days at Sesame Place. My daughter cried for an hour in the car on our way home from sheer exhaustion.
I tried to compare the space at Sesame Place to WDW. I am not too spatially oriented, but I suspect that Sesame Place is about as big as AK. I was glad for the boards as a resource because I have been able already to plan and select activities and sites rather than arbitrarily visit the parks.
On our first day, there was an overcast sky with chances of showers. The park was thinner than the year before. I can appreciate how people mention that the plus of rainy days is having the parks to yourself, if you can brave the storms.
We got to the gate at opening time the first day. I noticed how easy it was to get on a couple of popular water slide rides. Less than a 10 minute wait. I could appreciate how the early entry might enable those who plan to see a significant amount of the parks that might otherwise be burdensome to venture. I remembered reading how, despite the fact that the pros and people here advise the early entry, still most do not follow that advise. I know some people just like to sleep late. Still, it was remarkable to watch the crowds grow and grow. We will definitely to the early entries at the park at WDW.
Well, what do any of you have to say?
KIS
What a waste of money. 
