Flight Arrival Day w Dinner Show - Too Long?

[MNDisneyMommy]

I'm debating whether our arrival day plans are creating a recipe for kiddo meltdowns (kids will be 1 and a week shy of 4 when we go).

Our flight leaves at 8am, so figure it's an early wakeup morning (maybe an hour earlier than kids normally wakeup). It's a nonstop, so after the novelty wears off, we're hoping the kiddos sleep on the plane for a bit. We arrive at noon Orlando time.

Then of course, ME to the resort (AKL-Kidani), check in, get settled, etc. (We're only at AKL for two nights, then its over to BLT)

Then our plans were to go to Downtown Disney...shop, get ice cream, etc.

THEN go over to Ft Wilderness and see Hoop-De-Doo (have always wanted to see it) at 6 - which would be 5 our time. We're a group of 8 that night, with my family of 4, my brother and SIL, and my parents.

So we'll have help with the kids - but after the excitement of the first airplane ride, ME, new resort, etc... am I just being too optimistic that the kids will be awake and okay enough to enjoy the show at all? Or am I going to be dealing with child meltdowns and missing the show anyway? It's a lot of money for that.

Especially when the next morning we have an 8:15 Tusker House that I really want to do too?

Part of me says - enjoy Kidani that afternoon including the splash pad which I've heard is awesome, see animals and get settled, MAYBE do DTD if the kids seem up for it, but otherwise relax after a busy morning.

The other part says - what better way to get kids to sleep that first night in a new room after a packed day like that?

We made the reservation but when I think about that day...I think it's going to be a LOOOONG day. DH says we'll have help and the show is supposed to be great and it'll be done by 7 our time anyway, so why not?

I just don't know how much overload its going to be for the kids with the flight...Any insight/opinions much appreciated!

 

[Arden01]

Part of me says - enjoy Kidani that afternoon including the splash pad which I've heard is awesome, see animals and get settled, MAYBE do DTD if the kids seem up for it, but otherwise relax after a busy morning.

THIS^

On our first trip last year, we had 6am flights out of Newark. What I thought was a relaxing arrival day - pool, explore resort, 1/2 day in park (3-8pm MK) was not relaxing at all. My twin girls (age 9 then) were cranky and exhausted by 8pm and in retrospect it wasn't a good idea. We also had an AK RD the next day and it didn't go well. One of my girls said she was so tired and begged to leave AK early. This year, we are planning on pool time on our arrival day and DTD for an early dinner. We are also going to HDDR on our trip, but are planning to do it on our "off" day. I think the show is supposed to be two hours.

 

[ktlm]

Even as a toddler, my DD was always hyped up the first day at Disney and was going strong late no matter how early our flight was. Her first trip she was 2, so I'm not sure about a 1 year old. I would say keep Hoop De Do, but skip DTD. If your flight gets in at Noon, with ME, you are probably looking at not getting to AKL until about 1:30. It is about a 20 to 25 minute bus ride from AKL to DTD, so by the time you wait for the bus and get there, it really won't be that long before you have to go wait for the bus to go back to AKL to get ready for dinner and to get your Disney Transportation to Hoop De Do (since there is no straight route). I think all that bus and travel time, might wear the kids out before you get to Hoop De Do. The kids are probably going to be really impressed by AKL. I would spend that afternoon, looking at the animals, exploring the resort, and going for a swim or letting the kids rest up a little before Hoop De Doo. Your room may be ready when you get there, but it may not, so I would have everything you need for the pool in a carry on. We have never done Hoop De Doo, but from what I know about it, it sounds like a fabulous way to start off the trip for preschoolers. After that you can get them back to the room and to bed and ready to hit Tusker House the next morning. Have a fun trip!

One thing I will ask if whether your kids are morning people in general? I thought a pre-park opening Tusker House breakfast would be a great idea when DD was 2. DD is not at all by nature a morning person and we have the time change you do, which basically meant that 8:15 breakfast felt like a 7:15 breakfast and having to be at the bus stop at 7:15 at Wilderness Lodge to get there felt like 6:15 to her. It did not go well. You at least are at AKL, so it is a much shorter bus ride than from most of the other resorts and you wouldn't have to be at the bus stop quite as early. We discovered really quick that pre-park breakfasts were not for her. If your kids are morning people that shouldn't be an issue, but if they are NOT morning people even that one hour time change can make for a cranky toddler at a pre-park opening breakfast.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm debating whether our arrival day plans are creating a recipe for kiddo meltdowns (kids will be 1 and a week shy of 4 when we go).

Our flight leaves at 8am, so figure it's an early wakeup morning (maybe an hour earlier than kids normally wakeup). It's a nonstop, so after the novelty wears off, we're hoping the kiddos sleep on the plane for a bit. We arrive at noon Orlando time.

Then of course, ME to the resort (AKL-Kidani), check in, get settled, etc. (We're only at AKL for two nights, then its over to BLT)

Then our plans were to go to Downtown Disney...shop, get ice cream, etc.

THEN go over to Ft Wilderness and see Hoop-De-Doo (have always wanted to see it) at 6 - which would be 5 our time. We're a group of 8 that night, with my family of 4, my brother and SIL, and my parents.

So we'll have help with the kids - but after the excitement of the first airplane ride, ME, new resort, etc... am I just being too optimistic that the kids will be awake and okay enough to enjoy the show at all? Or am I going to be dealing with child meltdowns and missing the show anyway? It's a lot of money for that.

Especially when the next morning we have an 8:15 Tusker House that I really want to do too?

Part of me says - enjoy Kidani that afternoon including the splash pad which I've heard is awesome, see animals and get settled, MAYBE do DTD if the kids seem up for it, but otherwise relax after a busy morning.

The other part says - what better way to get kids to sleep that first night in a new room after a packed day like that?

We made the reservation but when I think about that day...I think it's going to be a LOOOONG day. DH says we'll have help and the show is supposed to be great and it'll be done by 7 our time anyway, so why not?

I just don't know how much overload its going to be for the kids with the flight...Any insight/opinions much appreciated!

I think I would skip the Downtown Disney and just hang out in the room (or just at the resort if the room isn't ready when you arrive) rather than adding an extra destination during the day.

 

[staceyrhood]

I agree with the above... I would skip DTD, especially with the construction getting there in the afternoon is a mess. Enjoy the resort then head to FW. Hoop de doo is awesome and if you arrive early there is a great playground and pony rides right there by the restaurant.

 

[kj2mom]

We did Hoop Dee Do on our travel day with my 4 year olds and it was a fabulous start to our trip. We walked out of the show and down to get the boat in perfect timing to see the water pageant and Wishes. It was magical! We did not do anything in between arrival and heading to Fort Wilderness besides check in and walk around our resort.

 

[Pesky]

I agree with pps -- either skip DTD or skip the show. I don't think I'd cram in both. Between the wear and tear of the plane flight (FYI mine didn't sleep on the plane -- 1YO probably can but I wouldn't bank on the 4YO just yet) and the stimulation of both DTD and the show -- well, I think that's a recipe for a meltdown. I think if you cut out something and have a little downtime built in somewhere (either in the time you would have gone to DTD or gone to the HDDR), you can hopefully avoid it.

 

[Happyjen27]

I would skip the Hoop Dee Doo (and it pains me to say that, because I LOVED it) and DTD (easy for me to stay, I've never bothered to go there). There are so many unknowns, and you don't want to start the vacation by potentially pushing them past the point of tiredness.

Staying at AKL does put you in a good position for your Tusker House ADR the next morning, but even so you'll have to get up at least by 7AM to make a 8:15, right? I like to offer at least as many hours of sleeping opportunity at Disney as they have at home, even if they don't take me up on it. So, I would plan on having them in bed at 7PM for a 7AM wake up.

I'd rather do less and start the trip off on a good, solid, rested foot than start off a little tired. But, that's our touring style, and it might not suit you at all.

 

[Thing 1]

I would just hang out at the resort for a couple reasons. Even though it is the early show, using WDW transport from the show back to your room takes some time.I would really try hard for an early bed time. An early ADR the next day is going to mean a VERY early morning for a time change. If you are only going to be at that beautiful resort for two day, spend some time enjoying it that evening and save that money for something else later in the week.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We have finally learned not to schedule a sit down dinner on arrival day. It never goes well. The whole trip will go better if you keep day 1 more low key. Even though my kids travel a lot, at most we'll do a buffet on arrival day, Dinner Show is too much in my experience.