How do plan 9yr olds day with MIL and mother

[imgoingtodisney]

I can see it happening already. I would like to take my son on the rides, MIL wants to take son to the shops. How do we find a good mix? I was planning on the rides in the morning, shopping in the afternoon when lines are bigger. I have feeling MIL wants to do things her way. She is paying for hoppers so there is the guilt factor but Im paying for the 6 nights at Wilderness Lodge. MILs first time staying on-site. We are already doing Hoop De Doo and Arabian Nights that were on MILs list of things to do. She thinks the parks are more important than dining. I want to book more PSs to see the characters. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TinkTink]

Explain to your MIL that the trip is for the 9 year old. He will want to see the characters at the meals - you gel a lot of one-on-one time here. He will want to go on the rides right away. She'll probably have to drag him into the shops!

Try to agree to let your son call the shots whenever possible. If he wants to go on rides, go on rides. If he wants to shop, shop. If he needs a nap, nap. Importantly, if he wants to eat, let him eat. There was a thread recently about how a hungry kid at WDW is not a good thing!

Oh, and have fun!

 

[skeezixspud]

... she'll be able to get a 9 yo boy into a shop when there is a ride in the offing! A game arcade, maybe.

I'd use FASTPASS religiously. I'm convinced that the reason Disney created it was to get more people to shop while they wait their turn on the rides. I think that it will be a good bargaining card for you in this situation. Get the fastpass first, then MIL can shop during the wait time if she likes. However, the trick to using FP is to stagger them; when the ride time is coming up, head to a different ride to get another FP, then turn around and go ride the ride you had the first FP for. The reason for this is that they limit how many FP's you can have at one time, but you can get another as soon as the time on the first comes up. The FP boarding time is a 30 minute span (or at least it was last fall), so there is plenty of time to do this. It means more walking back and forth across the parks, but I don't think your average 9 yo will care about that. It's no crime to split up occasionally, as long as you have an airtight meet-up plan, with a contingency backup rule.

Absolutely do the big rides as early in the am as you can! Use early entry if you can get your DS up in time, then leave that park and go to a different one (or to a lunch PS) by about 11:30. If you really like doing rides and MIL doesn't, maybe you and DS could do an e-night if one is available, while she takes it easy back at the hotel. Anyway, good luck, and lots of pixie dust; I have a feeling you will need it!

 

[padams]

Your MIL sound like my MIL-sending pixie dust your way. Anyway, I know there is a WDW guidebook written by kids for kids. I don't know the exact title but have seen it at Barnes & Noble bookstore. Maybe someone else will post the title. I suggest that you get this book for your son and let him plan what HE wants to do. I agree with the other posts that DS is NOT going to be interested in shopping, at least not for very long. My DS 5 is already not interested in shopping (unless it's the Pirates store in MK ). Good luck! Pamela

 

[launchpad]

Wait until your MIL walks around the parks a few times. She will be extremely grateful to have PS options. It is definitely worth planning for.