HELP! DSis just said she is going 7/4/06 for first trip w/kids!

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Okay, I need everyone's help. My bubble headed sister (and yes I call her that to her face) just mentioned that she and her husband have decided to go to WDW arriving 7/3 and leaving 7/8. Her exact quote "Yeah, I know it will probably be crowded."
As I love my niece and nephew (6 and 2), I have decided to take the reins of her trip and plan it for her. She is definitely a fly by the seat of her pants type person and would probably only show up with hotel reservations and nothing else. Oh, and just to explain my sister - no hotel reservations yet!!
I now come to my fellow Dis'ers for advice and words of wisdom.
I have never been on July 4th or any other holiday for that matter. Here is what I am thinking so far.
1) get there when parks open
2) leave around 2 to go back to hotels - I'm thinking with the heat they will need the AC over the parade.
3) character meals instead of waiting in lines for them.
4) fastpasses for as many rides as possible - they will probably spend alot of time in Fantasyland.

Anything else? And any recommendations over what parks over another? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Purchase a subscription to TGM as a gift for her!

 

[Traveliz]

It is busy but I have been and would/will do it again.

NOT TO BE MISSED - the fireworks on 4th of July from MK - she doesn't need to be in MK - but those are awesome!

Also with kids that age if they only make it to a park early once - they NEED to do MK on an early entry morning for Fantasyland!

Liz

 

[mjmcca]

Considering the ages of her kids try for the new Playhouse Disney meal at MGM. Try to get her to make ressies for a room on property with the dinning plan. That way she will have her meals covered and a room and tickets

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Great ideas!! Keep 'em coming.
I bought a TGM for myself. I'd buy one for her but she would spend about 5 minutes with it and give up!! Her idea of vacation planning is going some place either with me or some place I have been. Its easier to have her anal retentive big sis plan her trip for her.

 

[MAGGIED]

Souds like my little sister...her first trip as an adult was a few years ago for her honeymoon (2nd marriage) - when she came back I asked her how she liked this and that and she said she had not seen any of the things I was mentioning. So in April 05 I planned a trip for 10 of us - ressies in the castle, boat for Illuminations, TGM touring plans, etc... Then I sent each member a little book before the trip and they all thought I was nuts...we don't need to plan they all said...well half way into our trip they all were happy as clams that we were able to do all these great things and see so much when others were being turned away and waiting in lines....she planned her own trip this past May and did SOME planning - didn't do as much but still had a great time.... what would our little sisters do without us????????????

I think you should check out Tourguide Mikes plans for which park which day - it really works....and then try for a ADR for each day...after that - they may have to plan some of it as they go as you don't know how they little guys will hold up in that heat... afternoon breaks are a must though GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[ImagineEar]

Two years ago my Brother in Law decided to do the same thing. They were palnning their first trip - a last minute, 3 day stay over the 4th of July. I cringed at the thought! He is not one to plan, or take advice well ( you see, he already knows everything ) - so against my nature I wished them luck and said a silent prayer on their behalf.

I was sure they would return with horror stories of how crowded it was - and how they could not get a decent meal because they made no Dining resies - and how the kids did nothing but complain because they waited in line for hours in all the parks. Well turns out that I was wrong, they did Epcot 1 day, MK 1 day and BB another day, all with no plan what so ever - and had (what they claim was) a great time. They stayed at the Contemporary, said the lines were not bad with the use of fastpass (the one bit of advice I did pass on) and were even able to eat at the California Grill, having had no ADRs.

So the moral of the story is " Don't over stress about a vacation that isn't yours" I guess maybe "bubble headed people" who don't reseach and plan like we do have a lower expectation from their vacation. If they don't know what is there to do, they won't be disappointed when they don't get to do it.
My relatives ended up having fun - their way, not mine. And while it was hard to accept that they did not need my expert advice that I have spent years accruing to have a good time, it was a valuable lesson learned .

 

[cleo]

Has she asked you to take over her vacation? If not, I really think you should let her do her own thing, regardless. It's her family and her trip.

If she has asked you to plan everything for her, I think a mid-day break and character meals are going to cut into their time quite a bit, especially since they only have 4 full days to work with. Figuring between 35-60 minutes queuing per attraction, she'd be better off with a touring plan and see how the children respond to the characters before planning character meals. If they don't like the characters, she's now stuck with either a meal they won't enjoy or a big hole in her day with no way of knowing what to do.

I'd give her suggestions for cool, quiet 'nap' spots in the parks, save a main character meal for the end of the trip (if the children like the characters they can go, if not, they have time to cancel), then let her know the best ways of touring the attractions they most want to see.

But I really do think butting in if she hasn't asked you to take over is out of line (you say YOU DECIDED you're taking over because you love your neice and nephew, not because you were asked, so I'm assuming.....). In the event she hasn't asked, how about you ask her if she would LIKE help?

 

[Bev J]

The first time we went to WDW was in 1989, we went with no plan for the parks and knew nothing about the parks. We had a wonderful time. We did not worry about a plan of attack and just took it all in, we were in awe of everything we saw.
Just let them go and have a good time without the worry of a plan. Make sure she understands how fastpass works and the need for ADR's. Give her a good guide book like a passporter so she at least knows the layout of the parks.
We have been at WDW over the 4th and it was HOT and busy. If they are staying onsite then a break in the afternoon to enjoy the pools would be great. But since this is her first time they will probably not want to leave the parks.
Of course they won't get to see and do everything, but they will probably plan better next trip!

Bev

 

[jlovesee]

I have been on the 4th of July weekend about 2 years ago and there were crowds but not to bad. I was hot, but as long as your ready for it it's also not to bad. Im from the midwest so Im also used to 100% humidity and 95 degree afternoons!

Definitly say yes to breaks. They are going to need those. Hitting the parks early take a break and then come back in the evening sounds good.

Someone mentioned MK for fireworks, Im sorry I have to disagree but EPCOT's fireworks for the 4th will blow your mind, its insane, best fireworks display I have ever seen ANYWHERE.

Jennifer

 

[CathrynRose]

NOT TO BE MISSED - the fireworks on 4th of July from MK - she doesn't need to be in MK - but those are awesome!

Liz

See, I disagree with this.

We were ALLLLL excited about seeing the MK fireworks when we moved to Florida in 2004. We made PS's at Ohanas - and staked out a beach spot early in the evening to watch the festivities (we even got the hammock! WOO!)

And then Light Parade went - with festive red, white & blue colors - cool. Then the fireworks...they didnt seem longer, or as spectacular as I would have hoped?? Infact they seemed shorter than normal... Earlier in the evening it lightning'd and thunder'd - maybe they made the display shorter?

Anyone there in 2004 for the 4th?

Now, dont get me wrong. We still had a great time - but the fireworks werent "more special"

 

[Lady SnowElla]

We were at WDW last July 4th. They do the same fireworks for July 3rd & 4th in MK. We did the fireworks July 3rd anticipating the crowds on July 4th. They were spectacular!! We then did the fireworks in Epcot on July 4th.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Thanks for everyone's wonderful advice.
They will probably end up skipping all the fireworks as the little guy still isn't too sure of the bangs.
And cleo to your point - yes, she actually called back and asked me to plan her entire vacation for her including the picking of the hotel, theme park ticket packages, etc.
I did buy TGM. Neither she nor her DH is a commando type person so more of a general guide for them is plenty (such as go to Fantasyland first). I'm not worried about the characters as Sesame Place is close by and the kids have been there with no problem.
But thanks again for your great ideas. I will note quiet nap spots for them as well as the baby centers.

 

[themudd4]

First things first...Before anyone plans anything you and your sister need to sit down, and make hotel/resort ressies. I would recommend the dinning plan, and agreeing with you caracter meals if they can get in. As soon as she makes her reservation I would sit down with her and help her (not do it for her) pick the meals assuming you know her likes and dislikes...then make those ADR's fast! I would not really make to much of planning their day. With young kids, they are going to need alot more breaks, and yes even naps back in the room...I agree with you again. But other than explaining fast passes and how GREAT they can be, I would not plan to much.
Extra things to do/discuss...
What to pack. Alot of people (myself included) pack everything they may need. Cuts down on the extra expenses once you get there.
If she has never been there make sure she knows what to expect. I think it is so funny when someone tells me there is nothing to do at WDW, or it is not as big as people make it out to be.
Have her come to the DIS Boards...she will learn alot just from looking around on here.

 

[Randy K]

See, I disagree with this.

We were ALLLLL excited about seeing the MK fireworks when we moved to Florida in 2004. We made PS's at Ohanas - and staked out a beach spot early in the evening to watch the festivities (we even got the hammock! WOO!)

And then Light Parade went - with festive red, white & blue colors - cool. Then the fireworks...they didnt seem longer, or as spectacular as I would have hoped?? Infact they seemed shorter than normal... Earlier in the evening it lightning'd and thunder'd - maybe they made the display shorter?

Anyone there in 2004 for the 4th?

Now, dont get me wrong. We still had a great time - but the fireworks werent "more special"

We saw the July 4th Fireworks in 2001 and were also dissapointed. Just seemed like regular Disneyland fireworks to us. We were expecting something longer and more spectacular. We didn't have a problem with the crowds because they are a cakewalk compared to Disneyland because there are so many parks in WDW the crowds are spread out.