How Do You Do It?

[Disneykim]

Does everyone, who goes to WDW, get up early to be at the park first thing and stay till it closes and then do the same thing the next day and the rest of the days on the vacation? How do you do it? I'm thinking I need a vacation from my vacation when I get back.....

 

[Ted and Holly]

Does everyone, who goes to WDW, get up early to be at the park first thing and stay till it closes and then do the same thing the next day and the rest of the days on the vacation? How do you do it? I'm thinking I need a vacation from my vacation when I get back.....

When we did it for vacation, we'd get up early to be at a park when it opened. We would stay until 11 or 12 and then head back to the resort. We'd sit by the pool, have lunch and maybe take a nap. We'd then go back to a park at night. There, we'd have dinner and do more park things.

It is a good idea to take a break, in my opinion.

Ted

 

[Buzz's_girl]

We plan a few early days, and a few late days. We usually try to have a day or two where nothing is planned. I tend to be more of a commando in the parks, while DH wants to enjoy a relaxing vacation. We usually end up changing our plans around to accomodate tired children etc...but we always have a great time...and very rarely do I feel I need a vacation after our trip to WDW....although wanting to go back soon is another story!!!!

 

[kirbsam]

We very rarely hang out int he parks all day. We usually start first thing in the morning, go hard until 1 or so, and then back to the resort to relax, swim, nap whatever, and then back to the parks in the evening, disneyquest, or some other activity. I agree that going in the parks morning til night would leave me wanting a vacation when i get back.

 

[Disneykim]

I have a feeling that my husband wants to try and squeeze everything in.....which I know won't work out for the kids and me !! So I decided to have a few PS made at some resorts so that we can leave the park and take a much needed break!

Are there maps for each park at the hotels (CSR for example) where we can map out the "must hit" items the night before so we can hit them first thing? That way maybe we can relax knowing we already hit all the things we wanted to!

 

[MamaQuack]

We pretty much do what Buzz's Girl posted. Since it is just ds13 and me we try to talk ahead of time about the things in each park we really, really want to do. Then we decide on restaurants we like and wheterh we want to have lunch or dinner in them. Then we plan - and always, always keep it flexible - if we have an early a.m. then we don't usually have a late p.m. And when we visit in the heat of May or June we pretty much always go back for a swim or a cool shower and some sit down time in the AC. Its a plan that has worked for us over the past 9 years so we are sticking with it.

MamaQuack

 

[MinnieM21]

I get up early sometimes if I have a character breakfast PS and for the first couple of days. I don't have a plan when it comes to what rides to go on, I just do what I feel like doing and it works our fine. I do have a schedule of what parks to go to on which days and a schedule of priority seatings. We also a break in the middle of the day and sleep so we're not tired later in the day.

 

[caitycaity]

we don't usually get in early. oftentimes we don't end up leaving the room til 11.

 

[jlowejd5]

I never believed I'd do it, but an early afternoon nap is really the way to go. Combine smart touring with the EMHs, and we did MK in about four hours. Came back to the hotel (BC that time), ate a light lunch much cheaper and more relaxed than we could have done it in the park, slept for 60-90 minutes, CHANGED INTO FRESH SOCKS, and headed back out. It was amazing how fresh we were by the end of the day, when it seemed like everybody around us was just dragging.

 

[micksterlee]

On our first trip I think I almost killed my dw and dd trying to see evrything there was to see in just 7 days. I had waited 47 years to see WDW and didn t want to miss a thing! On our 2nd trip we slowed down and had a great time evryone was happier and of course when dw is happy dh may just get a chance to keep coming back.

 

[rhiansmom]

I have planned some days to be sleeping in days and those we stay until close (or as late as you can with a 5 year old) and then some days are early days. Every day has a rest time (even if she won't take a nap)

 

[jckdisneybound]

When we did it for vacation, we'd get up early to be at a park when it opened. We would stay until 11 or 12 and then head back to the resort. We'd sit by the pool, have lunch and maybe take a nap. We'd then go back to a park at night. There, we'd have dinner and do more park things.

It is a good idea to take a break, in my opinion.

Ted

To a T

 

[McDisney]

We've been twice (together), we get up early and go and don't return to the
hotel until we're ready to sleep. As far as touring, we've done it two ways so far - the first time we spent the day in one park (ate meals at that park),
the second we had some ps's at different resorts in the middle of the day and returned to the park of our choice after that. I felt that when we stayed in the one park it was much more relaxing than having to worry about being somewhere else at at certain time. Although it would be nice to take advantage of the EMH's at the different parks - we didn't do that. We scheduled it according to what night time show we wanted to see that night, so after our meals we went to that park (ex. went to mgm for Fantasmic! after dinner).

To each his own

Btw we have three children (6, 4, 4, at the time we went last)

 

[PamNC]

we're not commando tourers. Now, when we first started going about 11 years ago, we were more commando. Now, we take the time to relax and do other things besides visit the parks. I will say that on our first full day, we do get up early, have breakfast at the Kona Cafe, and hit the MK by park opening. We do not, however, stay all day. We take a mid-day break. In fact, we rarely if EVER stay in any park from opening to closing.

PamNC

 

[civileng68]

we don't usually get in early. oftentimes we don't end up leaving the room til 11.

If you dont like staying in the parks all day, but yet are like me and dislike having to walk back to the car and leave and then come back and walk back into the parks, which really do take time at MK, do what the guy above does. that's what we normally do, except this time, since we have a dog I will likely get up early while my wife sleeps in, get him to the park kennel and drop him off, come back and pick my wife up to go back to the parks (though I normally dont get too tired, but she does).

This will allow you to firstly: sleep in, meaning you get more rest, then you get into the parks around lunch time and eat, and then you have the ENTIRE rest of the day there and you feel fresh! Plus you enjoy more of the cooler parts of the day after the sun sets. You really do save energy and feel more refreshed and dont feel so rushed. I like to get up and do things, so while my wife sleeps in I will get up sometimes and browse the stores on West Irlo Bronson.

 

[G00fyDad]

When we go, DD and I, being the thrill ride freaks that we are, (except for ToT) are hitting the top thrill rides first (after breakfast at CBR) while DW and DS wait. Then we are hitting the smaller rides (for DS's sake ) and then we are going to shop a little. After that, we eat lunch and take DW and DS back to CBR for a nap while DD and I hit the parks again for a couple of hours. Go back and pick up DW and DS and go back to parks and shop, look around, eat dinner, and ride a few things until close. After close DD and I are going to which ever park is open for EMH for the evening while DW and DS go back to the room.

I know, too much information huh?

 

[bubba's mom]

who goes to WDW, get up early to be at the park first thing and stay till it closes? How do you do it?

I don't know it's humanly possible to "enjoy" your vacation and do this.....but, we only visit a park a year for only a day or two at a time....so, we are there open to close. I be sure to carry snacks and find a shady spot to sit and eat them. We often take breaks (even if only 10-15 minutes) and when we really need a break, we try to do something indoors that takes awhile (show or something).

 

[tikkipoo]

We went to WDW in Oct. 2003...my DH has been calling me "Sarg" ever since. I am trying very, very hard this time to plan late mornings. BUT IT IS SOOOO HARD TO DO!!!

 

[bishop1989]

We always need a vacation once we return from WDW but, we get every penny worth of fun. We hit the parks early and stay to close riding rides and enjoying the atmosphere. We occasionally return to room for quick nap or jump in the pool but, my daughter loves the rides.

 

[DisneyPirate]

Well moi family do the pool till about 1pm or 2pm...then the parks for a while till closing mostly.

Do you really think i would let the sun man (my dad) have all the fun

More time in the sun than in the parks not likely
But i must admit you're not as tired when you leave the parks at night