getting out the door to the parks early - let's share tips

[scubamouse]

we love our sleep and we love to get to the parks early. what does everyone else do to get the family out the door quickly at WDW?

we have coffee in the room (doing VWL)
we do breakfast on the trip to the parks - breakfast bars
we bathe the kids at night and let them sleep in the clothes they'll wear the next day
i'll do minimal makeup and do a pony tail and i'm out the door.

what things haven't we thought of?

 

[DVCLiz]

I always pack our backpack the night before - I have the valet parking slip (and the tip money) out, and I've been through my wallet and made sure we have tickets and money, as well as any ADRs we've made written down so we can remember where we're eating!!! It wastes a lot of time in the morning to have to scurry around getting stuff like that together.

 

[scubamouse]

I always pack our backpack the night before - I have the valet parking slip (and the tip money) out, and I've been through my wallet and made sure we have tickets and money, as well as any ADRs we've made written down so we can remember where we're eating!!! It wastes a lot of time in the morning to have to scurry around getting stuff like that together.

opps - forgot - that's all on DH's to do list. we do all that the night before as well. SO much easier than in the morning!

 

[missypie]

I bought one of those large pop-up cubes and that was our "park basket." All fanny packs, mouse ears, ponchos, etc. went in the basket when we returned from the parks, to be retreived the next morning.

(If you use your ponchos, be sure to dry them!!!)

Before we went to bed we unloaded and repacked the fanny packs with a few snacks, the next days' touring plans, etc.

Can't say we followed this tip, but DON'T TURN ON THE TV. When the TV is on, kids and husbands have a tendency to be hypnotized by it, even when DISNEYWORLD is outside the door!

 

[maxiesmom]

Can't say we followed this tip, but DON'T TURN ON THE TV. When the TV is on, kids and husbands have a tendency to be hypnotized by it, even when DISNEYWORLD is outside the door!

That is soo true! I still remember about 6 years ago we were staying off-site and made the mistake of turning on the tv. We all sat spellbound by "to catch a thief." Then we were like "what the heck are we doing?" Just don't do it!!!

 

[ellyn2000]

The TV tip is a good one. I don't know why I never thought of that.

 

[mmeb144]

This is Momma's trip. If you don't get out that door, right now, and I mean RIGHT NOW, body parts will be flying! LOL

Well, if nothing else, I guilt them into hurrying up to get out the door. Mickey says that he's glad I'm here. I want to see Mickey because he's obviously been waiting for me to show up.

Marie

 

[tjmouse]

Well, when my ex-dh came with us, I would tell him every night that we needed to be out the door by 7:45. That way, I knew we would be out by 8:00 or 8:15 at the latest! He is always at least 15 minutes late anywhere, anytime.

This time I don't have to worry about it! I already warned my sister, when I say go, we go, with or without her!! I can't help it!!

The funniest time was the first morning of our first trip. I was up at 6:00 am, showered, dressed and ready to go. I sat on the bed for an hour waiting to wake up my dh and dd. Just sat there! I think I was in some kind of Disney-Daze or something!

 

[astarr]

doh! why haven't I thought of using the "death glare"...........usually, I'm on the receiving end of the death glare because I'm making DH and DD get up so early.

Not turning on the tv is a great idea. DH and DD always get hypnotized. I think next time I'll have to unplug it the night before and tell them there must be something wrong with it

 

[dmslush]

We get everything ready the night before. Also, we try to do a EARLY character breakfast in each park. The family is much more eager to get out of bed if they are going to eat with the gang!

 

[GEM]

Well, I'm sure you'll all think I'm horrible, but I change the clock in our room. DH has never worn a watch and never has a clue what time it is. Some time during our first night there, I wake up and set the clock an hour ahead. So, when the Mickey phone call comes at what is really 6:30am, DH thinks it's 7:30am and he doesn't grumble nearly as much. I know you are all thinking that there's no way I could really pull this off, but I assure it has worked on many trips. DH really is just totally clueless and has no concept of time. I'm the planner and he just goes where I say when I say. He likes it that way. So, this trick really does work for me!

 

[tmt martins]

After the 2nd or 3rd day of me leaving them (luv nextel ) they get the point and get up.I egt up at 6:30 no matter what and they DW & DD could sleep all day if I let them .
I try to get them up but it's their vacation as well and if they want to sleep in thats fine I just go and get on the rides they don't enjoy .That way when they get to the park I meet them at the entrance and we just go.We've been enough and know we will be going again so the camando style in not really needed anymore .I make a list of must dos and make sure we hit all of them.

 

[pooh2001]

We do a Mickey wake up call (or what ever character it may be that day) around 6:30 am. Parents up and shower - open curtains and turn on lights by 7 am. Kids get dressed by 7:15 am. Grab gear & water bottles and walk out the door by 7:30 am.

Our family can survive on a breakfast bar or small snack till a 9 or 10 am breakfast.

If we are having a lazy AM - then wake up call at 7:30 am, breakfast in room at 8 am, be at the resort pool by 9 am - swim the morning away, eat lunch at the resort and go to EPCOT or what ever park has late evening hours in the afternoon.

We plan a lazy AM after a late night PM the day before.
This way we get sunny pool time in without crowds and we do not come home
feeling like we never went on vacation.

 

[seashoreCM]

Skip the shower.

Getting to the parks early is always hampered by what the late advice columnist Ann Landers referred to "the battle of the bathroom which is an all American sport".

Skip the breakfast. Grab something to eat in the park.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[mhingher]

I always pack my mickey bag the night before, and lay out what I'm going to wear. Breakfast is usually on the go, or a quick bowl of cereal in the room.

 

[photonut]

all great advice everyone!

I will share mine

I love to sleep in...I am a night hawk so while everyone else is sound asleep I am usually planning our next day or reading.

So... My DH and kids get up early (between 6 and 7am) and head somewhere in the hotel for breakfast. They then return to the room and wake me while they get the park items together (I shower at night so I can just get up,dress and do the pony tail) and I grab a cup of coffee on the run. We are always out of the room by 8am.

It sounds crazy that I never join my family for breakfast but if I don't get that extra hour of sleep I will just not make it through the day.


I love the idea about changing the clocks...now that would totally work on me if my husband did it.

 

[Leota]

After the 2nd or 3rd day of me leaving them (luv nextel ) they get the point and get up.I egt up at 6:30 no matter what and they DW & DD could sleep all day if I let them .
I try to get them up but it's their vacation as well and if they want to sleep in thats fine I just go and get on the rides they don't enjoy .That way when they get to the park I meet them at the entrance and we just go.We've been enough and know we will be going again so the camando style in not really needed anymore .I make a list of must dos and make sure we hit all of them.

Sounds kind of like us at this point. We have a few days where we're all up & ready to go early. Then other days my 17yo son & DH just really need to chill. If I don't need a chill morning, I just leave without them & meet up with them later.

On the TV note - One day in April this year, I left without the guys & we were planning to meet at AK. Well, around noon, I haven't heard from them yet. So I call & what are they doing? Watching Jerry Springer & Maury Povich! We don't watch that at home - but, they turned the TV on & it sucked 'em right in.
So I agree, if you have children or men you want to get moving, don't let them turn on the TV. It has cosmic brain eating powers, inducing lethargy & glazed expressions of complete mental bankruptcy.

 

[pennyplanner]

I wish they would REMOVE all tvs from WDW rooms! What an incredible waste of time when so much fun and excitement is right outside your door.

I can't help it. I nag, cajole and generally get on everyone's nerves a little.

--penny

 

[always quiet]

Normally, we all shower the night before. In the morning, DH and I get up first, wash up in the bathroom, then while we are getting coffee, I wake the kids up...one at a time. It's easier than getting them all up together, then listen to 2 of them griping while the first is in the bathroom! I will normally wake the girls first as they need 'longer' to get ready than DS.

I make sure everyone has their clothes out (and all in one place!!) before they go to bed. If anything is wrinkled, I spray it down with Downy wrinkle releaser then.

Backpack/fanny pack is all ready, with snacks packed.

Only 2 weeks and 3 days til we leave!!!

 

[disneyaggie]

I usually bring bagels and juice boxes with me from home. I get up and, while I am dressing, polish of a bagel and some juice. I also usually have my outfit pretty much picked out. I usually wear my hair in a ponytail and very little make- up (a touch of blush, eye shadow, mascara and lipstick).

Once I get back to the hotel room that night, I pack my fanny pack for the next day. Works for me. Oh, I already miss WDW. Ahhh.