Helpful Family Quirks

[taragl]

Can I share a little secret that makes my WDW trip planning loads easier? My DH and DS don't like fireworks! No running to Wishes, and we catch IlluminNations if we happen to be walking by. While others are jockeying for positions, we're riding attractions.

Does your family have any decidedly non-Disney quirks that actually end up making your trip planning more simple? Maybe a tomboy DD who shrugs at the thought of a CRT breakfast?

 

[disnut8]

We went two years ago with a six and a half year old girl and we never went to Magic Kingdom. For seven full days. She didn't care. She wanted Epcot, Epcot and more Epcot. Don't ask me why but that's what she loved. My husband and I haven't been to Magic Kingdom in years. So our "quirk" is avoidance of Magic Kingdom. Stone me now!

 

[mmmears]

Ours is to avoid all the parades. No-one in our family wants to watch them unless we're walking and they happen to drive on by us. Shorter lines for rides for us, and less crowds, too. This last trip, my daughter didn't want to stand in line to meet the characters, either. A big time saver, but maybe just an age thing. When she was little it was Epcot, Epcot, Epcot, too!

 

[AllyCatTapia]

Maybe a tomboy DD who shrugs at the thought of a CRT breakfast?



yeah we have one of these little girls but she's my only girl so she is actually just humoring me ...It's either that, or I'm going to have to have a new sister for her----- and no one wants that!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

My 11-yr-old DS is a hotel junkie. He LOVES to hang out at the resort, talk to the CM's, go to the Arcade, go in the pool. Anything. So when the babies have to go back to nap, he is all excited about hanging out at the hotel.

 

[yearbook50]

Back when I used to go with the family, no parades, no fireworks, early meals so we could go back to the parks when everyone else was eating.

 

[catbertdave99]

My DS15 and DS12 do not do parades or shows. Too busy doing rides and eating! Oh, and shopping at DTD! Then it's back to the resort pool! But no parades or shows!

Now fireworks, those are different -- they love those!

 

[disneynewbee]

My family is not into the big thrill rides so no worries about getting on TOT, Mission Space, or any of those big ones.

 

[Northstar]

My DD, soon to be 8, does not understand why anyone would go out of their way to see/find characters. At 5 years old she just rolled her eyes and said, "That's just a girl in a costume. So what?" So no $$ and time for character meals, no autographs, no waiting in line to see the princesses.

Last year we did Crystal Palace with Pooh and the gang...wanted something in MK for MVMCP, and hey, Mom wanted to see what the characters were all about! DD agreed beforehand (after the rolling-eyes thing) to take MY picture with Tigger, but she didn't want hers taken. So at CP she slinks under the table when the characters come near our table. Comes out to take my picture. Slides unobtrusively back under when Pooh comes around. Pooh thinks she's scared, goes away. I go to washroom. When I come back, DD and DH are giggling away, all smiles. Pooh came back and when she went under the table, HE ducked his head under the table on the other side! That got her. She erupted into giggles. Still talks about how Pooh followed her right under the table. But she still isn't interested in seeking out characters.

 

[DISUNC]

My 12 yr old dont like the Fireworks/parades either. And THINKS WDW pizza sent to your resort room is 4 star dining!!!!

 

[AJKMOM]

We also avoid parades. First one in many years was the special one during the Very Merry Christmas Party.

 

[powellrj]

we are another family that really doesn't enjoy parades. If one goes by, we will watch for a few minutes, but its not something we plan for anymore.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

We have a few quirks too. DD6 could careless about the Princesses. I made her go to CRT and she was very polite but I definately enjoyed it more than she did. She also doesn't understand why everyone says things like " Are you having a magical day Princess?". She is a much bigger fan of Buzz, Hecules, The incredibles etc. (wish they had that type of breakfast). Also, not to many thrill rides for us as well as parades. However, if there is a show it is a must do for us.

 

[MELSMICE]

Never been a huge parade family. Same as others - if we're walking by we may stop to check it out, but we don't fight for position on the curb for it.

My DD's would rather sleep late, go the pool all day & then head to the parks in the evenings.

 

[CathrynRose]

We all like the parades, big rides, and fireworks.... BUT...

We dont like the shows. Nope - not even the little film shows in Epcot...like China, and Canada...wherever they have them, we skip 'em.

 

[minkydog]

My DD, soon to be 8, does not understand why anyone would go out of their way to see/find characters. At 5 years old she just rolled her eyes and said, "That's just a girl in a costume. So what?" So no $$ and time for character meals, no autographs, no waiting in line to see the princesses.

My kids are just like this. Saves a lot of time

I guess our family quirk would be a product of our disabled family members. We have to go slow and take a lot of breaks to accomodate them. Therefore, we have learned to savor the experience, whether it's eating an ice cream cone while people-watching on Main Street or stretching out on the cool floor while listening to the Voices of Liberty at American Experience.

The last time we stayed at FW and after 3 days in the parks, my DD burst into tears and begged to just play in the pool. So we did--and we grilled some pork chops and rode around in a golf cart and took naps.

 

[NMAmy]

No parades for us, either. Although, we do make an exception for the Main Street Electrical Parade. But that's more of a nostalgia thing. We might make a trip back to DL just to see it again.

 

[java]

Ah last year.... we had a 2 year old that was afraid of characters- and the older 2 were not into them anymore and the baby... well no real interest in autographs lol. I never thought how much time we wasted waiting in line to see Mickey, or a princess, or Pluto... Taking that out of the equation made our trip so much more relaxed and line free. Too bad this year the 2 middle ones... the now 3 year old and my 8 year old... both want to do it.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

We are not big fans of parades either (with the exception of spectro). Last trip, the girls swore that WDW had a parade every 5 minutes, and would moan and groan and loudly proclaim "not another parade!!!" My kids don't like Dumbo. They find it boring, so that is a big time saver. No waiting in line forever at this very slow loading ride.

 

[TikiGoddess]

We actually like the value resorts and prefer staying there with small children. It's like a theme park all its own. That quirk saves us money and we figure why blow the cash there when all we do is bathe and sleep there. Also we don't spend a lot of time in the swimming pools. My inlaws have a pool and we can swim at home so we don't waste our time there. Our other quirk includes not taking afternoon breaks. Since we generally go during value season we alternate our early days and stay till about 8 or 9 each night. I also try to build in little breaks during the day. The minute our boys get out of the tub they fall asleep. And guess what...no meltdowns! It works great for us.