Can a vacation be TOO long?

[HLAuburn]

We are going on a 4 night DCL cruise followed by 4 nights at Disney World in September. We'll also be staying one night before our cruise, for a total of 9 nights. I know it may sound silly, but I'm a little worried we're going to be burned out! We don't have a commando plan for the parks, and one day we will do a water park. I'm hoping that the change of scenery from the cruise to the parks will help, too.

Any thoughts? I guess we could change our plans, but I'd just like some tips/advice on how not to get tired or Disney!

Thanks!

 

[pumpkin5156]

We're doing the same thing but in Nov 2008 with our then 2.5yo son. I honestly have thought the same thing! Several people on here reassured me, that the park days will be tiring and draining, but the cruise is so relaxing and so wonderful, that you feel great during that time. So maybe we'll both be a little crazy for 4 days at the parks, but then recover on the cruise.

I just noticed you're doing the cruise first and then the parks, but we are doing the opposite, and flying in a day early before our package starts. You might be a little tired for the parks, but whatever! It's only 9 days. Enjoy them! And don't go crazy through the parks. Rest when you need to. That is our plan. however, I do have somewhat of a guideline of what we want to see and do i the parks. We just know we cannot do everything!

GL

 

[Echo queen]

Last year we, me 2 ds's and dh flew in one day before our 7 night DCL cruise and then stayed at our timeshare resort in orlando for 7 days and did disney and univeral studions after the cruise. We were away from home for 15 nights. As the trip got closer I realized what I had did But it was great, one the most relaxing and longest trips we have done. It wasn't so depressing to leave the ship knowing that we had a whole new adventure directly ahead. I loved it, and will do it again. You all are going to have a ball.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Last September, we did 10 nights at the park.. it was nice. No rushing just doing what we wanted.

I hate to admit it but I was ready to come home after that trip because we were still all exhausted.

 

[Manda]

Being away that long is really hard on my son. Routine is really important in his little life. We usually stay 7 nights and by the last couple days, you can tell he's ready to come home. I think it's totally a personality thing though and different kids/people will react differently. He just really needs to be reunited with his stuff.

 

[poober25]

We went to last year for 2 weeks after Thanksgiving. We had bought APs the year before and they actually expired the day after we left Orlando. I think we only had one day where we didn't go to the parks at all. We could've stayed longer and not been burned out. I have NEVER gotten tired of Disney!!! At the time DS was 8 and DD was just barely 5. We would do it again in a hearbeat, but DH's boss said he can't be gone that long again at one time. So, we will continue doing our 8 day trips (2 weekends)

HTH!

 

[northriver]

We did nine nights. The packing was the only problem - packing and having so much stuff in the hotel room, luggage, stroller, carseat. My dad had as much luggage as me and my two kids (1 teen, 1 toddler in diapers) combined. I planned an afternoon for laundry!

 

[Chris]

We are going on a 4 night DCL cruise followed by 4 nights at Disney World in September. We'll also be staying one night before our cruise, for a total of 9 nights. I know it may sound silly, but I'm a little worried we're going to be burned out! We don't have a commando plan for the parks, and one day we will do a water park. I'm hoping that the change of scenery from the cruise to the parks will help, too.

Any thoughts? I guess we could change our plans, but I'd just like some tips/advice on how not to get tired or Disney!

Thanks!

if you were to ask me, I'd say NOOOO Although I am about to go on a nearly 3 week trip to Disney!! Laat year we were there for just over 2 weeks and it was great!! Around day 15 the kids started missing there friends..

 

[susykt4]

We did a 10 day Disney trip in February. We were only at the parks, not split with a cruise. While we all really enjoyed the trip and loved being able to take everything at a relaxed pace, it was too long of a trip for my family. I usually have a nasty bout of Post Disney Depression, but not this trip! I was ready to come home. I was "almost" sick of it. I won't do another parks only trip that's that long again.

BUT, I would definitely do a cruise/parks trip! That sounds awesome!

 

[daisyduck123]

Our trips are always 8 or 9 nights long....so no, that's not too long for us & we never have WDW burnout.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Nope. We are going to be spending 3 weeks in Florida in Jan. I can't wait! We'll have 10 day tickets, and I have Sea World APs, but will also go to Tarpon Springs, etc.

 

[disney6family]

Nope, we always try and go for at least two weeks, it is so much more relaxing than the one. If you feel you are getting burned out you can take a break and relax and not feel you are missing anything.
With the split between parks and cruise you will have two separate vacations and probably wish it wasn't over yet at the end

 

[nuzmom]

We love long vacations. It takes us several days to get into the true vacation mind set. You actually start to forget that you have to return home one day. Love it when it gets to that point.

We went 2 1/2 weeks last year, including a cruise. We like the 10 - 12 days for WDW and typically go with that.

Hints for not getting burned out? Well, relax!!! We enjoy finding the "extra" stuff at WDW. The benches that are out of the way and in a quiet area, the special sidewalk shows, people watch, and just slowing down and talking to CMs. We also take time and play mini golf or see a movie at DTD. We've even just borrowed movies from the community center and watched them.

Doing some laundry is a must on long vacations. Try to do just a few loads ever several days - that avoids having a "big laundry day". We also like to order delivery pizza (we actually pick up) and eat in.

The biggest thing about longer vacations is STOP and take time to ENJOY WDW. I think if you do just that you'll find that 9 days isn't enough!!!!

 

[TravelinGal]

Nope - we've always done a minimum of 7 nights (WDW only - no cruise)
Last year it was 10 nights - this year 15 nights! Not worried about things to do/becoming bored!

 

[bennythepug]

I am hoping we make it through our long trip with out burn-out! This year will be our longest ever trip 12 days usually it's 7-8 days. My hope is that with the extra days we will actually slow down and relax more

 

[zdesiree]

We are going this year for 2 weeks, we did the same in 2005 and at that time my husband was worried if it was too much time, and at the end we even missed a couple of things we wanted to see. This year we are doing the same time, but the only difference is that we are going to do the park hopper. So definitely 9 is not too long, in my case is too short.

 

[PA Princess]

We actually have a very similar trip as the OP planned for this September - 6 nights at WDW followed by a 4 night cruise. This will be a longer than normal trip for us...we usually do a week. I think it may be a bit rough at spots for our youngest child (she is 2), but I think the rest of us will really enjoy the extended trip (other kids are 6, 11, and 12).

 

[Brook1099]

We leave Nov3 and return on Nov 19 thats will a 1 day drive each way 14 days 7 on the outside ( Sea World And Discovery Cove) and just relax .Then 7 days of Magic(stay at the Beach Club) My kids 6 and 8 think its great especially when their friends are in school. We have done this for 3 years never got burn out yet. Cant wait for Nov.