first in the park for the first three days...

[thisthingsgottawork]

The only reason we've not been first on any ride we chose is that we decided to obey the no running rule. Bummer.

So now it is day four... and my family is late for the early entry and is now talking about only going into the park for a couple of hours today. Wow. I want to understand but I'm kind of steaming inside. We only have three days left.

Ugh.

 

[QueenDoOver]

Wow! That is actually pretty good getting in first 3 days in a row! It is hard when traveling with other people that don't have your same agenda. I suggest that you try to get some extra time in by yourself, if they all want to leave the park early. Either that, or adjust your expectations and go with the flow. You will enjoy it more.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

If I were able, I'd totally let them go do their own thing while I spent a few extra hours in the park by myself even if it were just to people watch. To make it sound appealing to everyone to my DH, I'd probably tell them my plan for the afternoon would be to get on one ride and then go stake out a prime spot for Fantasmic! I wouldn't mind just sitting on a blanket or space defined by a few jackets, book in hand, but mostly just taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Disneyland. Tastes, too, if you pick up a snack to tide you over! Then your family will be all rested and come back to a prime seat where they can just relax and enjoy the show.

 

[ballarinamom]

Don;t let the runners ruin your time. Did you still get on the rides fairly quickly? Were they fun?
That's all that matters!!!

RELAX AND ENJOY!!!

 

[94bruin]

Dh & I used to get into arguments over this - he wanted to relax on vacations whereas I wanted to get up early and go! I think over the years, I've become more relaxed about it. It's just not worth it to get into it on vacations. I do have my limits, though. If it were up to him, we wouldn't get out of the hotel until lunchtime, lol!

I've learned to adjust my expectations - for my own sanity!

 

[bumbershoot]

3 days getting up early is hard! Have you had a time change working for you so far? If so, that advantage is running out. If not, well, it's hard to wake up early like that.

If I were you, I'd just happily and kindly go on into the parks. If they want to leave before you do, let them! If they feel that vacations are for family to be together, well....ultimately, it's more fun if everyone gets to have fun. If you're not having fun with their choices, where's the fun in that?

It took quite awhile to convince my little family that when I said "I'm going to go to the parks now, you guys sleep in" I really meant it, and wasn't being snarky or passive aggressive. Because when I was ready, it was good timing...waiting for them made me later than I wanted to be...so then I wasn't getting what I wanted, and they weren't getting what THEY wanted, and we just trudged in not having as much fun as we should have been having.

Hubby gets up so early for work, he wants to sleep in. DS wakes early if hubby is home, he either sleeps in or plays in the bedroom waiting for me to stop dozing if it's just me. At Disney, he wants to sleep in. I am normally a very sleepy person, but at Disney, many I'm just UP. and it is so much better now that they truly understand that if they want to sleep in, it's OK with me, as long as they don't mind me slipping out the door to hit the turnstiles before they open.


So even if you waited for them...if they want to go back to the hotel early, let them. This is your vacation too, and you deserve to have the fun you want (assuming of course the kids can be taken care of, etc etc, don't just leave 'em, LOL).

 

[avalon451]

Yeah, this is the perfect time to say, "Hey, let's go our own pace for today. I think I'll hit the parks by myself (or with one or two others who feel like you do) while you guys relax. We'll meet you at such and such a place for a meal or whatever."

3 days of getting there right at opening is great. If you want to continue getting there at opening the next couple of days, they should let you, and plan to meet you later. Or compromise by going with you, but agreeing to take a nice long relaxing break midday, when the crowds are heavy.

Enjoy the rest of your stay! I hope you are seeing and doing lots of fun stuff!

 

[VDT2010]

I'm not a morning person, and hate rushing.. but I have to say, the morning is the best time to do the parks. Just grab a cup of coffee on main street, and when the crowds hit really hard around 2pm, go back to the hotel for a nap! Come back around 5 or 6pm, you'll be refreshed. The sun will be lower in the sky, the lights start coming on, and people will be stopping for dinner, so less crowds.

 

[Brian Shepherd]

I'm not a morning person, and hate rushing.. but I have to say, the morning is the best time to do the parks. Just grab a cup of coffee on main street, and when the crowds hit really hard around 2pm, go back to the hotel for a nap! Come back around 5 or 6pm, you'll be refreshed. The sun will be lower in the sky, the lights start coming on, and people will be stopping for dinner, so less crowds.

This is the best technique I've found as well!

Couldn't agree more.

But I have three kids...if it was DW and myself, our strategy might change.