Disney Challenge

[NWmom]

We have been issued a challenge and would love feedback in meeting the challenge. Challenge is to spend only 4 days total in the parks. To prove that you can do fun things outside the parks as well. Disney honor is at stake!!! plus some sibling rivalry, lol.

The challenge is to spend a max of 4 days in the actual parks. Mickey's Christmas Party is allowed and does not count as one of the days in the challenge (we will try to do that when we stay at BLT pre-cruise)

Here's the setup. DD has never been to WDW before so all is new to her. She has been to Disneyland once..

Not sure of holiday hours and openings. That could make a difference in when we go into the park. We also want to avoid the largest crowd days if possible.

Suggestions for where to eat Christmas day for a family dinner are welcome as well.

Before the cruise 7 days stay for the lower points at that time Dec 8-15
After 6 days because hubby's work is closed anyway. Dec 22-28.

We wanted to stay 2 night post cruise to re-enter the real world before flying home, but that makes it Christmas Eve, Christmas and then dd's birthday. We don't want to fly home then.

We plan to be in a park on her birthday so packing the next day and leaving the 28th. (My validation reasons, lol, since we are already there we want to stay where it is warm and not raining for the holidays.)

The current planning strategy includes pre-cruise home resorts of OKW and BLT. Using the 11 month window to book.

Precruise at OKW for 3 nights to use the rest of our 11 month window booking points.
Then booking the rest at BLT hoping to get a 1 bed for 4 nights.

Then the cruise Dec 15-22.

We will have 11 month window left at BLT for booking and will have a reservation there for this time, Dec 22 -28, but hope to switch it and try another resort that is Christmas feeling if that makes sense.

Which resort (assuming availability) would have the most activities available for a family with a 10 yr old girl. (Hopefully free low cost activities)

We know we will not do BWV as we have been there for Christmas before and it is not us.

Pools matter. (Water here is always cold it will feel warmer there in winter than it is here in summer)
Family activities matter.

Any ideas?
Thanks for your help
NW

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm soooooo confused about a 10yo going to WDW for the first time but being limited to only 4 days in the parks when there are 4 parks and it's difficult to see a couple of them in a single day - especially if it's busy. Seattle to WDW and limits over the holidays and her birthday?

BUT - for Christmas feel I'd be looking at VWL (going to be very hard and probably only via a waitlist filling) or AKV. BCV would be a close third.

 

[DVCconvert]

I'm soooooo confused about a 10yo going to WDW for the first time but being limited to only 4 days in the parks

I agree...I'm not sure I'd take that Challenge up on a 10 yr old child's first trip

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm soooooo confused about a 10yo going to WDW for the first time but being limited to only 4 days in the parks when there are 4 parks and it's difficult to see a couple of them in a single day - especially if it's busy. Seattle to WDW and limits over the holidays and her birthday?

BUT - for Christmas feel I'd be looking at VWL (going to be very hard and probably only via a waitlist filling) or AKV. BCV would be a close third.

I agree...I'm not sure I'd take that Challenge up on a 10 yr old child's first trip

Totally agree. Let her enjoy what WDW has to offer.

 

[NWmom]

It's not about us limiting her. She has been to Disneyland and California Adventures and completely explored it in 2008 so knows what she likes to do and what she wants to skip.

She has no clue how much more there is to see at WDW than DL. (I did leave off a trip to WDW at 15 months, but she was too little to remember it)

We did some looking into the different parks and her reaction really surprised me.

She doesn't even want to go into the parks, but is willing to co-operate to make her parents happy, lol. For four days, no more.

(The side bet is my sister who thinks she won't be happy being herself and doing what she would enjoy) Seems like she will most like Magic Kingdom and Epcot world showcase.

She is interested in Typhoon Lagoon. She would have loved Discovery Island River Country in its day! (I still have ticket stubs for Discovery Island in my scrapbook)

She hates anything that resembles a roller coaster so that eliminates the longer line rides quite a bit.

Honestly, I think we forgot to vacinate dd with the "I love all things Disney" shot.

She is into nature, "real" science, photography and swimming. She does know about hidden mickeys and wants to see how many she can find. She wants to play in the sand. Ride the monorail. Take the ferries and water launches.

Seems to be a case of "I went to Disneyland and had a perfect time. So perfect that doing it again could only be 'not right' because it would never be as good."

I feels so "pure" when she says it that we know she really means it. So we are going to try and do things her way, seeing the joy in the little things.

It's a case of us learning the simple joys from her.

 

[castleri]

AKV might be the place for your additional days. They have the animals and activities that it sounds like she would enjoy. How about mini golf? You might also spend some time walking around Fort Wilderness. Be sure to do the walking trail after the safari at AK as it sounds like she would love the gorillas and tigers.
It seems that each resort has its share of daily activities that she might enjoy. I think you may find that TL is closed for refurbishment while you are there but there is always BB. You could do some resort touring by going to DTD and taking the boats from there to POR, SSR and OKW. If you are staying at OKW or SSR you can walk to DTD or the other resort. Never know what you might see along the canal. The week before the cruise would be my choice as the crowd level is much less (have done Christmas week several times and love it but don't think it is good for those who are going for the first time due to long lines for rides even the ones that normally don't have lines and even at CS places). Have also had weather that week that required many layers of clothing and rain boots. You might look at some of the behind the scene tours that would be suitable for her age and see if there is one you could do as a family if it fits the budget. I would also encourage her photography interest to find things that aren't the usual way of seeing things at WDW with the idea of adding them to a scrapbook after the trip.
Hope you have a great trip and it sounds like it should be fun finding all those things to do that don't involve the parks.

 

[Mickey527]

For someone who is into nature like your daughter I would say either WL or Fort Wilderness. You can try to get something at WLV but if not use your points for a cabin at Fort Wilderness.
They have a great walking trail from WL to Fort Wilderness, or you can rent a bike.
My sons favorite thing to do was turn over rocks and see what was hiding under. We found so many anoles,worms and other weird bugs and stuff. And if it is cooler they are slow so you can pick them up. (bring lots of hand sanitizer). Heck, they are 35, 32 and 28 and they still look under rocks, but now they do it with my grandson who is also into bugs and creppy stuff.
Maybe you can make a book with her and collect leaves and stuff she finds on her nature walks or get her a camera so she can photograph the stuff she sees.
There are some great programs in the YES individual registration program. She might be interested in taking one or more of these either the "Wild by Nature" or "Making Waves with a Marine Career".
Way back when my sons were younger they had a program where they took the kids over to Discovery Island. My son is 32 now and still has the books and all the photographs from his class. It made that great an impression on him. Disney sure knows how to do things right.
I have never stayed at WDW for Christmas but I have read that Liberty Tree Tavern is the best for Christmas dinner with all the stuff like turkey, stuffing , cranberry sauce, etc... all that you would find at Grandmas.
If she is not really into the parks you can probably do them in less than 4 days. With her interest in nature AK will be the park that she spends the most time in so that will be the full day. DS might be a 1/2 day but I would suggest hoppers just in case she wants to go back to AK again. Maybe do AK for your first day, then MK, Epcot and AK again for the morning of the 4th day. Then DS for the last 1/2 day since they are open later and AK closes around 5 in the winter.
hope this helps a bit

 

[NWmom]

Thank you for your ideas. I've jotted them down.
Enough ideas for a few trips.

Even if we can't switch to aother resort, we can use transportation to head over to those mentioned. If so, we will check them out for a return trip.

Thanks again