Hong long can your little kids last at the parks?

[horsegirl]

Our DKs are 6,5,4. We are wondering how fried they will be by the time we leave if we do parks (4 theme, 1 water) for 5 of the 6 days we are there. We will arrive at 11 amon sun 2/12-our flight leaves Maine at 5:30 am! We leave WDW fri 2/17 for the beach for a week before returning home. When we went 2 years ago, we went back to the resort for rest and only did the parks about 3 1/2 days. By the 4th day, we could not get them out of bed! We never stayed past 7, except the last night when we stayed to watch wishes. Our plan this year is to get to the parks early for EMH, leave by the time the crowds come, and go to a non-EMH park for the rest of the day, with possible breaks in the middle at our resort. Not sure if our kids will be able to do 5 days straight. We plan to spend our last day, day 6 afriday, at the resort swimming and hanging, as it is the start of pres weekend. Also, do you folks who travel by plane from reasonably far away, go to the park the first day? I am sort of a commando style girl, but try very hard to reign that in. I know I am going to want to go to a park that day, even though my brain tells me to stay a relax at the resort and just do downtown dis, or whispering canyon or something. How much staying power do your little DKs have?

 

[mommyintn]

I feel for you!! My boys are 6 & 3 and we will be heading down in March for trip #1. I would love to hear what everyone has to say. Since it's our 1st trip we are only doing 4 days (I had originally thought 3 until I found this board!). I've prepared my DH who hates to get up early that we will be going through the gate to the parking lot by 8:15am so we are there when the rope drops, but I do want to spend time at the parks at night because it's just a different feel (from Disneyland experience). But we're going to plan to leave by 12:30-1pm go back to the condo swim, nap (for 3 year old) and then back to the park for dinner, parades until close. I'm trying not to get crazy about getting the most out of it, and just have fun and enjoy. You're the veteran so I'm sure you could give me lots of tips!! BTW thanks for the tip on undercovertourist, appreciate it!

 

[horsegirl]

I feel for you!! My boys are 6 & 3 and we will be heading down in March for trip #1. I would love to hear what everyone has to say. Since it's our 1st trip we are only doing 4 days (I had originally thought 3 until I found this board!). I've prepared my DH who hates to get up early that we will be going through the gate to the parking lot by 8:15am so we are there when the rope drops, but I do want to spend time at the parks at night because it's just a different feel (from Disneyland experience). But we're going to plan to leave by 12:30-1pm go back to the condo swim, nap (for 3 year old) and then back to the park for dinner, parades until close. I'm trying not to get crazy about getting the most out of it, and just have fun and enjoy. You're the veteran so I'm sure you could give me lots of tips!! BTW thanks for the tip on undercovertourist, appreciate it!

You are welcome! I am not much of a veteran, because someone else always planned (and paid for!) my WDW trips! So last time was my first planning and silly me, I didn't know about these boards then and spent alot more on the trip! Of course, I had more free time then, since now I am addicted to this board and spend too much time on it, like right now! We definitely had to take a break last time we went and even though our kids never napped, they all stopped napping at on or before 2nd birthday, , the parks got so crowded at that time, and it was great to enjoy the pool and rest. Then we would go back out for the afternoon and evening. We will do that again, and I have to try hard not to do as you say, try to get everyhting in. Now if only I could go 2 times a year...... Good luck getting everyone to rise and shine, especially DH! And did you get your tix? I think tomorrow might be the last day for 2005 prices.

 

[mommyintn]

I did buy the tickets yesterday, Dh is impressed with all my research and all the great tips I've gotten although he's still not as excited to go as I am! I'm also working with 3 year old (birthday Feb. 1st) on Potty training and my goal is to have no diapers when we get to WDW! So we need lots of prayer

 

[steph73]

I think that the hotter it is, the harder it is - so since you're going in Feb, that should definitely help!

I went in June 2001 with a 6 yr old and 3 yr old. We took afternoon breaks every day and was there at opening (or EE) every day and left at park closing every day. We took a double stroller with us, and it was really a lifesaver for the 6 yr old at times. We did 4 days in WDW parks, 1 day at Sea World, 1 day swimming and relaxing at the resort, 1 day at Downtown Disney/the Boardwalk, and 1 day resort hopping (also did a character meal this day).

I think the key is afternoon breaks and strollers! I think I would personally make the relaxation day in the middle of the trip, although I understand your reasoning for wanting to do it on the last day. We spread out our non-park days and that worked really well. Our most park days in a row were 3 (AK, Sea World, Studios). I planned Studios as this day because it's least exhausting park, IMO. Lots of sitting at shows and in the A/C. I think this helped things a lot.

Overall, my kids did a lot better than I expected. The 6 yr old rode in the stroller a great deal in the evening, even took brief naps in it (which surprised me). The only day they were really spent was our full day at MK. We took a very short break that day, and it was very hot.

 

[mjh8955]

Our first trips our kids were about 3/6; 4/7; and 6/9. We took an umbrella stroller for our DD the first two trips (after reading these boards). It was the smartest thing we ever did. We actually bought a used one for a couple of bucks at a garage sale and left it down there when we were done with it. Those trips were at the very end of May, the beginning of August and the end of August. Your kids will last longer if they have opportunities to go into air conditioned attrractions every so often and make sure they drink alot. We didn't really need any big meals because of the heat. We rested our daughter in shady areas whenever possible, and there were a few times that our DS sat in the stroller and took a short rest in the shade too. One of the best tips I learned for getting a cool refreshing break was to ride the train around a few times. Our daughter zonked out and got a nice little catnap that way. The first trip my husband allowed me ONE DAY only, because he wasn't sold on the idea too much in the first place. We stayed off site but I did my homework and we really did make the most of the day without wearing ourselves out. We did MK, got in early with a Cinderella character breakfast, did all the stuff we could in Fantasyland right after the rope dropped, then did the things that we really wanted to do in the rest of the park, utilized fast passes, etc. We all had enough stamina to stay for the fireworks that night. The other trips were 5 days and we did not do both early morning and late night on the same days. And we always factored in a pool day as well.

 

[carone0318]

My kids have no problem lasting, without going back to our resort. When we go in Aug it will be ds's 5th trip and he will be 5 in Feb and will be dd's 7th trip and she will be 9. We always have had our own strollers and have preferred it that way. Dd has been out of the stroller for 2 trips now (she is small for 9, 47.5 in and 53 lbs) and ds still will ride in his when he wants to, plus where would I store all of my stuff without a stroller. We normally will hit a park around 9/9:30 and won't come back until 7/8pm sometimes later, sometimes earlier depending what we are doing. One thing that I did learn from our last trip is that the kids rather skip EMH and stay later in the parks, so for us no more early breakfast ressies. Since they can last to when the park closes, I will let them sleep to around 9 and then get the day started. Also we always travel in the summer when heat is at it's worst, but it is bareable. Each child is different, so you sort of have to play it by ear to see where your child fits into the swing of things.

 

[budbeerlady]

DD (5) did awesome! We had left at 5am for the airport the 1st morning, she slept a little on the plane due to dramamine I gave her. We went to MK once we arrived from 3-6pm. We had a 6:30 at 1900 Park Fare for Dinner and we were back at the room at 9:15 after a little bus mess. (Our bus from MK got away from the driver and crashed into the carribean beach bus, so we hadto wait for a new bus to come)

The other days we tried to get her to take a nap and then we were back at the room around 10 for the night.

 

[horsegirl]

Sounds like lots of your kiddos do well. Beerbudlady, great for your DD going so long on day one and even a sit down at Park fare, wow! She is adorable in her "Cindyware"! We sort of will have to play it by ear. I would love to do the BB the first day and then go to downtown dis in the evening. Then we could crash early and be bright eyed and bushy tailed the next am!

 

[Em&Bec'sMom]

Ahh, another commando, I've found a soul mate. I looked at Disney this way....we'd never been....don't know when we'll get back....we're gonna see as much as we can until we drop. And we did.
Trip was myself, DH, DD4, DD8, and my parents. Most nights, DD4 did not see fireworks. She made it to about 9:00 most nights, however, she did fall asleep at the dinner table at Rose & Crown one night. We found that a late nap on Granma's lap on a park bench was the only way for her to make it to the fireworks. We tried to get to the parks for 9am and usually stayed until 10-11pm. As the week wore on, we seemed to get later starts, but still stayed until midnight the last night for MVMCP!
We did a double stroller and I am convinced that it's the main reason that DD8 kept up with the adults (or should I say me).
We were all fried by the time we got home. We were there for 5 1/2 days and spent 2 1/2 in MK, 1 1/2 at Epcot, two 1/2 days at AK, and 1/2 day at MGM. I think it took us all at least a week to recover.

 

[ntengwall]

Well, this will be our first trip with our boys (3 1/2, 7 and 9) and we are getting in on Feb 4th (Sat) at 9am. We are planning to visit MK that afternoon--mostly because our big MK day isn't until Tues and I can't imagine making the boys (and myself) wait until then to go to MK. We know that it will probably be a little crowded, but we aren't going to try to tackle any rides--just walk around, eat dinner (ard at The Plaza at 6:30) and experience the Disney magic I think as long as you don't try to do too much or be too structured that first day, it will be fine!

 

[rbork]

Took our ds's 4 and 6. We were at MK for early opening at 7am and lasted until fireworks at 10pm! We did 8 days at DW, Seaworld and Typhoon lagoon in April time frame. We are the kind of peaple that are used to staying until close at an amusement park. Tell you the truth, we loved MGM near closing/ walked right on alot of stuff. In the end though, it wasn't the kid's that needed stamina - IT WAS ME "the mom". I was exausted by the time we returned home from vacation. It took a week just for ME to recover. lol.
Good Luck and do what's right for you!

 

[kfeuer]

Quite honestly, that itinerary sounds exhausting. We used to do more commando touring before the kids came along, but we've slowed things down considerably. We usually get there between 9-10 and stay until 2 or 3. Although my kids don't nap, we leave just to give everybody a break then often we return at night. We always take a day off from the parks mid-trip. It's good for everybody to just rest and relax. Our motto is to stay as long as everybody is having a good time. If the kids get whiny, or we're tired for whatever reason, we leave. It's not about trying to do or see everything on one trip since we've been before and know we'll always be back someday. I do sympathize with people for whom Disney is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, though, or who can only squeeze in a short trip. I understand why people feel the need for long park days in these circumstances, but we greatly prefer the laid-back approach and are fortunate that we live close enough to make it possible.

We never do a park on our first travel day. However, we do go to dinner in a Disney restaurant to get in the mood. It's a great night to do a character meal and check out a resort.