Help me decide...

[cruise cruise cruise]

Our situation, we (me, dh, 4 and almost 6 y/o)will be arriving on a sunday (sunday after Easter Sunday). Our flight gets in to Long Beach at 10:30AM. We will need to leave our house arround 4:30 AM to get to the airport that morning for our flight. We are renting a car and will head directly to Hojo to check in. We are staying until the following Monday. We have plans for one day at Legoland and one non planned day (pool, DTD, beach, movies, what ever soots our fancy). Planning a minimum of 5 days at the parks.

So my question, would you go into the parks that first day(that would make 6 days at the parks)? I expecgt it to be busy, however I am willing to go in with an attitude of might not ride any rides but will just get the lay of the land.
Or would you swim and go to DTD and possibly Goofys for dinner/lunch and relax a bit?

The price difference is
6 day hopper through Disney- $179
5 day hopper through Ares- $164

difference for 4 people= $60

Oh and one more thing ( I will also ask this in a seperate thread) can I use my Disney Visa Rewards Points at restraunts (specifically Goofys, Airiels, Blue Buyou)

 

[Canyon girl]

If you have to leave your house at 430 am to get to the airport, I would vote for staying around HOJOs or DTD. I'm not sure how many time zones you may be crossing, but with the little ones, I would not push into the park that day! I would take it easy and hit the parks hard the next morning. Remember that overly tired little ones and crowds do not mix well together IMHO.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

No time zones crossed. Just coming from Seattle-- 2 1/2 hr flight.

 

[Canyon girl]

I think I would still take it easy. We sometimes cross a time zone. Other times not, but we almost always take it easy the first day.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Will you be able to stand being there and not going in?? I can not so I always plan on getting there so I can go that day!

 

[speatleysson]

hmm idk

 

[Corpsebride]

Will you be able to stand being there and not going in?? I can not so I always plan on getting there so I can go that day!

me too!! I would go in even if just for a few hours. Your kids may fall asleep in the strollers (you are getting strollers right? I would)after just a few hours from being up so early. Although, when I was 6 Disney Magic was like 25 cups of coffee for me. Couldnt sleep the night before, woke up at the crack of dawn and was fed and dressed before anyone else was up and didnt pass out until we were in the car on the way home (from San Diego). So If it were me and I were 6 , I would be petitioning to go in the park that second "are we there yet??"
and yes I LOVE these little emoticons!!!

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

We did a similar thing last year - arrived, settled in, browsed in DTD, etc. I don't think we will get away with it this year. Know why? MY KIDS!! Last year it was their first trip - they had no idea what lay behind those turnstiles at the gates! Now that they know, we will HAVE to go into CA and ride Mulholland Madness, then flip to DL and ride Buzz, no matter how long the lines are or how busy the park is!!

My two cents - give yourself the option. Get the 6 day hoppers - then, if you arrive and your kids are rarin' to go, you can just wander the parks, grab a few FP's and soak in the atmosphere. At the very least, you can buy yourself a Tigger Tail or a Dole Whip! If they are too tired and cranky, then just stay at the hotel and play. In hindsight, I wished we had purchased an extra day last year - a few extra hours at DL, even when it is busy, can be a golden experience for everyone!

 

[noga]

me too!! I would go in even if just for a few hours. Your kids may fall asleep in the strollers (you are getting strollers right? I would)after just a few hours from being up so early. Although, when I was 6 Disney Magic was like 25 cups of coffee for me. Couldnt sleep the night before, woke up at the crack of dawn and was fed and dressed before anyone else was up and didnt pass out until we were in the car on the way home (from San Diego). So If it were me and I were 6 , I would be petitioning to go in the park that second "are we there yet??"
and yes I LOVE these little emoticons!!!

This is the reason why DD doesn't know what we are going
She would be asking every 2 minutes if we were going yet, wouldn't sleep, etc. Also, last time we were there, she was almost 3, she didn't even take her afternoon naps and stayed up till 11pm (this is a child that was still taking 3 hour naps every day).

Since you get in at 10:30 I would take a little rest and then go in the park for a little bit and have some fun. But then again, I just don't think any of us could wait till the next day