Having regrets about too short of a trip?

[lynzi2004]

Can someone help me out here. DH and our 2 kids (DD4, DS2) are planning a trip to WDW at the end of April. Coming in on a Friday and leaving Tuesday. Staying at Ft. Wilderness in a tent. We have 2 day tickets. Plan was to setup and enjoy resort on Friday, MK on Monday, Church, Disney Springs, Resort on Sunday, and back to MK on Monday. Leaving Tuesday morning. We have even toyed with the idea of adding park hoppers as there is a couple things at Epcot and DHS that we would also enjoy doing sometime in our 2 park days.

Our reasoning for the short trip, was that our kids were small (the youngest will be iffy on whether or not he will be tall enough for many of the coasters) and we knew an 8 day blowout in the parks would be way too much for them. Our DD just wants to see princess and buy a princess dress DS just wants to slide at the pool!

We are from Missouri and it will be a 14 hour drive. Are we wasting our time only coming down for such a short time? Ticket prices, etc only seem to be increasing. Plan was to come back in a couple years when the kids were big enough to do everything, no stroller, etc. Can someone with little ones give me any insight as to what the best length of time is with 2 little ones is? I know everyone's opinions will be different. I just don't want to get down there and be too overwhelmed!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We wouldn't do it. We live 18 hours away and our minimum trip length is 8 days. Too much work, and too high a cost/day for short trips for us.

 

[Mikie]

Well, I don't think any time at WDW is a waste! If you're stopping on your way down & back, that takes you to a full week of traveling, which is reasonable for little ones. I usually am gone from home 8 days, with day 1 & 8 being mostly air travel to/from MO. And we have traveled when each of our kids were those ages. I'd say our kids managed to power through our slightly longer trip, but if I were *really* going their pace (and not squeezing in all the things adults and older kids wanted to do) that length of trip with fun time at the resort would be perfect for them.

Like @BuckeyeBama , we make it longer because of the lower price per day and just to maximize how much WDW we see, but everyone is thoroughly exhausted (but happy!) at the end, and that's not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[Disneymom1126]

My first trip with my daughter was when she was 4 1/2. We flew in on a Thursday and left on Monday. We spent Friday at MK, Saturday at AK, and then Sunday at MK and did Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party that night. That was PLENTY to do with her at that age. I thought it was the perfect length of a trip for us at the time, taught me a lot about planning so we were really prepared for our 7-day trip we took two years later. There would be more for them to do, see, and enjoy when they are a little older and then you can take a longer trip. I did leave feeling like I was looking forward to being able to take a longer trip, but the short trip was still memorable and after how tired DD was after the three day trip at 4 1/2 I can't imagine what she might be like after a longer trip (though we probably would have taken more breaks/had more down time with a longer trip). If you feel like you want more time in the parks, maybe add one more day to your tickets and spend half a day at one of the other parks on Friday or Sunday.

 

[dachsie]

Since there is not a lot to do at DS for little ones, you might consider AK after church on Sunday. They may enjoy the animals and such

 

[VillainFavs]

To spend that much time driving, I wouldn't do it unless I was staying there much longer. If it was just driving for a few hours, totally worth it. To spend two whole days driving and then setting up and packing up a campsite for basically a long weekend, nope. Much as I love Disney, too much work for too little time.

 

[Nancyg56]

This would be too much work for me. I agree with the others that given the long drive to and from WDW the two days would not be worth the time and driving expense.

 

[Dis703]

That's a long drive for me to go for that short of a trip. But the upside is you are doing it on the cheap so it isn't like you are spending $1500 on airfare for just a few days. Personally, I'd want to go longer for a family trip. As for your kids managing a longer trip only you know your LOs, but FWIW we have never taken a family trip shorter than 8-10 park days (plus travel days) and started taking them at age 2 and they have never had any issues with the length of the trip. If anything I feel like longer trips we can take thing a little easier because we aren't rushing to squeeze everything in.

 

[smiths02]

We have preferred longer trips with little ones because sleeping schedules (naps, etc.) make it very hard to get much done in a day. However, with two days, I probably wouldn't do hoppers and just concentrate on MK.

 

[AngiTN]

I have nothing against short trips but no way would I drive that long/far for that short a trip. Too much effort for so little return.

Our first trip with DGD (she was 3) was 6 days and it was too short. I'd do minimum of 7 for a first trip. We've done shorter trips since then but those were just DH and I. For DGD's trips we do longer ones

 

[Dreamin192]

I have to agree with the others, personally I would not do that short of a trip with that long of travel time on either side. We did 6 nights last year with our kids and they were 3, 11 months, and 11 months. Our travel time consists of a 2.5 hour drive to the airport, then usually 6-7 hours flights/layover, so roughly 10 hours travel time. It was hectic sometimes but we had a good time. I personally wouldn't worry too much about strollers, lots of people have them. My only issue with strollers last trip was my three year old got sick all over herself while sitting in hers while we were in the Emporium in MK and people refused to move out of the way so I could exit the building to get her cleaned up. All that said, we are doing an 11 night trip this year, ours kids will be 5, 2, and 2. We are planning to take it slow, half days mostly. We are planning lots of times at the resort. Last year my three year old kept asking to play in the sand at our resort and I kept telling her we didn't have time then, and she never did get to play. So this year I am making it a point to schedule in time for things like sand play that I know my kids will want to do.

So to recap: personally I think that is too short for your travel time and you can make any amount of time work with kids if you take it slow and go at their pace

 

[lynzi2004]

Thank you all for your input! I'm going to have to talk it over with DH, he is Disney clueless. He thinks I am way over-planning, over-thinking, etc! His plan is basically to walk in and go wherever we want...I'm guessing he is going to be in for a big surprise! The length of the drive is long, but we never fly anywhere and routinely make 14 hr drives to see his sister in NC, almost always just drive overnight. That was DH's suggestion, but I totally nixed that! There is no way I could drive overnight and then do a full day in the parks with 2 kids!

I'm mostly concerned with just not having enough time in the parks, but mostly just concentrating on MK. DH's thoughts are just to skip what we don't have time for and come back again sometime. I'm thinking I can likely add a day or two on, hopefully some decent FP+ will still be available! Thanks!

 

[capegirl]

OP, as a super Disney fan myself, I can understand why you want to do this. I do think that in order to make your mini Disney vacation enjoyable, you will need a plan that will not exhaust your family. Better to accomplish less than to have stressed out parents, and over tired little ones. When booking FPs try to make them for either late morning, or for the second park should you decide to go with hoppers. Since the priority for your DD is meeting a princess I would probably FP a M&G. With only 2 park days, you will need to do RD. On your MK day, head straight to FL and do standby for attractions that that have a reasonable wait. After lunch head back to FW for naps. With such young children, and a 2 day ticket, I would probably avoid hoppers. Since you are planing to return to Disney when your children are older, I would just relax, and focus on enjoying what both parks have to offer.
We are veteran Disney road trippers, 1300 miles each way. Our road trip memories are just as important as our Disney memories. Wishing you a magical family vacation.

 

[mshanson3121]

Can someone help me out here. DH and our 2 kids (DD4, DS2) are planning a trip to WDW at the end of April. Coming in on a Friday and leaving Tuesday. Staying at Ft. Wilderness in a tent. We have 2 day tickets. Plan was to setup and enjoy resort on Friday, MK on Monday, Church, Disney Springs, Resort on Sunday, and back to MK on Monday. Leaving Tuesday morning. We have even toyed with the idea of adding park hoppers as there is a couple things at Epcot and DHS that we would also enjoy doing sometime in our 2 park days.

Our reasoning for the short trip, was that our kids were small (the youngest will be iffy on whether or not he will be tall enough for many of the coasters) and we knew an 8 day blowout in the parks would be way too much for them. Our DD just wants to see princess and buy a princess dress DS just wants to slide at the pool!

We are from Missouri and it will be a 14 hour drive. Are we wasting our time only coming down for such a short time? Ticket prices, etc only seem to be increasing. Plan was to come back in a couple years when the kids were big enough to do everything, no stroller, etc. Can someone with little ones give me any insight as to what the best length of time is with 2 little ones is? I know everyone's opinions will be different. I just don't want to get down there and be too overwhelmed!

Honestly? My opinion is yes, you're wasting your time. There is no way I would drive 14 hours (by the way you're going to be exhausted from your drive) to spend that large amount of money, for 2 days in the parks. And with children that little you certainly won't be spending a long time in the park, either - you'll need meals, breaks, bedtimes etc... Absolutely not. Tickets get cheaper the longer you stay. Wait until you can actually stay long enough to enjoy it. I would never do less than 4 days if I had to drive that far to get there.

 

[alliecat523]

On our first trip our DD was 3. We went for 4 days. It was plenty. My daughter really only cared about MK even though we went to the other parks. So I think focusing on MK would be your best bet. Since you're use to driving, I say why not? For me, I wouldn't drive that far for such a short stay. Flying? Yes. Driving....no.

The kids won't know what they are missing if you don't go to the other parks. There is so much to do in MK that you could be just fine with only tickets to that park.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Longer trips are more relaxing for me. I feel like I can spend a few hours at the park in the morning and relax at the pool/resort the rest of the time. We had 10 nights at Fort Wilderness last time we went and it was perfect. There was lots of down time and plenty of time to see the parks.

 

[luvmyguyz]

Honestly? My opinion is yes, you're wasting your time. There is no way I would drive 14 hours (by the way you're going to be exhausted from your drive) to spend that large amount of money, for 2 days in the parks. And with children that little you certainly won't be spending a long time in the park, either - you'll need meals, breaks, bedtimes etc... Absolutely not. Tickets get cheaper the longer you stay. Wait until you can actually stay long enough to enjoy it. I would never do less than 4 days if I had to drive that far to get there.

I agree - anything less than 4 days with that much travel time just wouldn't be worth it to me. Plus, with the kids being so young, you probably won't be able to spend full days at the parks. The cost for a two-day ticket is pretty high - the cost per day decreases as you add days.

However, you know your family best, and if you think this plan will work for you, then you should do it. That said, I definitely wouldn't pay extra for hoppers -traveling between parks will eat up even more of your time and just be so much more stressful.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm going to assume you are in southeast Missouri, because 14 hours seems a bit optimistic.

That's just too much time on the road for the payoff. I'd be waiting and saving to see if we could add a couple days at a later date.

 

[abnihon]

We just did a two night/one park day mini trip but it was because we were passing by Orlando between SC and South FL.
And I knew we would be back in 2017

Not sure I'd drive that far for so little time.
I had friends who drove from SC for a 2-3 park day trip but that's 7 hours away.

 

[mshanson3121]

Thank you all for your input! I'm going to have to talk it over with DH, he is Disney clueless. He thinks I am way over-planning, over-thinking, etc! His plan is basically to walk in and go wherever we want...I'm guessing he is going to be in for a big surprise! The length of the drive is long, but we never fly anywhere and routinely make 14 hr drives to see his sister in NC, almost always just drive overnight. That was DH's suggestion, but I totally nixed that! There is no way I could drive overnight and then do a full day in the parks with 2 kids!

I'm mostly concerned with just not having enough time in the parks, but mostly just concentrating on MK. DH's thoughts are just to skip what we don't have time for and come back again sometime. I'm thinking I can likely add a day or two on, hopefully some decent FP+ will still be available! Thanks!

I'm going to guess that when you drive to NC, you're not normally expecting your children to get up early the next day and put in a full day at the theme park. Disney is extremely overwhelming for little children. It's fun, don't get me wrong, and I'm sure your 4 year old will have a blast, but even happy fun, can be overwhelming and overstimulating to young children, and can leave them utterly exhausted in a way that a trip to visit auntie does not. If nothing else, and you really want to do it, at least skip the springs and spend that 3rd day in the parks, either at AK or MK.