How many of you go all day?

[NvrBnToWDW]

We'll make our first trip to the "World" the first week of May 2005. We plan on doing the EE days, since we're staying on-site. My sons will be almost 10 & 12 by then. So we're thinking of going all day and resting sometimes in the park as opposed to going back to our hotel in the middle of the day. Anyway if DH even sees a bed, I've lost him to the Sandman. I was wondering how many of you go all day and how your kids are with it. I mean older kids of course, cause I know the lil ones got to get their naps in.


Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Housewife's Life For Me!
"Good Kids Tell No Tales"

 

[shatzjsl]

That's a lot of stimulation for 10+ hours. And a lot of walking, a lot of heat, and a lot of crowds, etc. I highly recommend a break during the day. Maybe instead of going back to your resort or hotel you can do lunch at one of the other resorts or maybe a late breakfast a Chef Mickeys. We did a 10:50 breakfast last year and it broke the day up quite nicely.

Either way, you know your family better than anyone so if you think y'all can handle the whole day, do it and have a great time.

BTW...love your tribute to POC!

 

[DisneyMom5]

US!!
And we DO have little ones. They just sleep in their strollers. LOL
It can be done. We don't like wasting time going back and forth if we can avoid it. Well, one day we did three parks in one day, so that was a lot of time on the road, but we had fun!
I think planning on sticking it out gives you a lot slower pace, which is nice. I probably wouldn't do a nightime show (fireworks, fantasmic, etc.) combined with an EE, but judge your family. Have a great time!
[My handy hint: definately do AK EE. It is great!!! But, avoid MK like the plague on EE day. WAY too busy, even when its off season. MGM is good for rainy days, Epcot World showcase is awful in the rain. A lot of the fun stuff is outside there. That's all I can think of now. Where are you staying?]

 

[Disney Spaz]

We have gone with our DS's at varying ages from 6 & 7 to 14 & 15 and each time we have done the all day park, non stop fun, collapse at the end of the day type. Usually our DS's have done fine passing out only when we hit the seats in a bus. They can do it if they are active kids.

 

[georgina]

We've stayed all day, especially if the parks close early. A sit-down restaurant for lunch is a good way to rest without leaving the park.

 

[Kimickey]

We have stayed all day at the parks, but try and not do it everyday.
We take advantage of the Early Entry stay in the park until about noon, (by that time the park is usually way too crowded for us). We go back to our room, grab lunch (if we do not have a PS) swim, or do any recreational activity, sometimes take a nap (because it's so freaking hot in August) and then usually it rain and afterward that's when we hit the parks again or do our Dinner PS. After dinner we hit the parks until closing.

 

[ncbyrne]

We have never gone back to the resort midday. We go all day, but do take long breaks for sit down meals. We don't want to waste a single minute. Even when my DGDs were very young, we'd let them nap in the stroller (our own with recling seat) while we ate lunch.

 

[MINNIEBOWSER]

My DD is 5 and my DS is 12. I have taken them 3 times since my DD was a 1 yr. old. I have done each of my trips as an all day thing. We have never done EE days at any park and we stay till the fireworks are over. Our day is usually about breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and we usually get back to our resort any where from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.. My DD sleeps in the stroller if she gets tired. She is not a napper anyway, so this style works fine for us. I believe my son was 8, 10, 11, and he is 12 for our next trip (YEAH, it is almost here). He has never had a problem with this. By the end of the week, we are all a little tired. I think this is a personal choice though. You have to do what you think your kids can handle. HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[mketting]

All day is great. We are an actvie family so we didn't even consider leaving.

I recommend also doing a sitdown lunch. Even with boys I would rec. Cinderella's Royal Table if your at MK. It is centrally located and the food was good and great prices. My DD is 6 and she went all day no problem. We had snacks in the mid-morning as we walked between attractions,that I brought along and then did lunch at 1:00, it was perfect.

 

[Spartan]

My 4 yo just completed his 4th trip, and what we found that works best for us is that we go into the parks a bit later in the morning (let him sleep until he wants to get up), and then go from then usually until the end of the day. We never go in peak season, so the latest park that's open is usually Epcot. We have gone to DTD afterwards a few times, but we're more night owls than early-risers. We also never do more than 2 park days in a row without a rest day in between of pool time, resort-hopping, etc.

 

[John Dobbertin]

Your post says to skip MK on EE days -- even in off-season. Does your "off-season" include first three weeks of Dec & Jan-to-mid-Feb?

 

[NMAmy]

Well, we're in the minority but we always take a mid-day break and go back to the hotel. We wander around the resort or just hang out in the room and watch tv or read or nap--then go back to the parks for dinner and the nighttime shows. It really rejuvenates us.

Oh, and DD is 13--sometimes she'll be the one asking when we can go rest for a bit.

 

[Tigger's Mom]

We always do the all day thing. Our kids wouldn't have it any other way. We, the parents, are the ones who wear out. We try to catch some shows and space breaks so we can get a little rest.

We'd feel we were wasting valuable time on an expensive ticket if we left the parks.

I'd say go for it if everyone is healthy and can handle it without getting grumpy.

 

[bethbuchall]

We've never taken mid-day breaks either and stay at the park from opening to closing. We have gone three times with children. The first time my older two were 4 and 6. Then next time we had one turning 3 on the trip, 8, and 11. This last time the little guy was turning 5 on the trip and the older two were 10 and 13. All of our trips have been at the beginning of May. We eat counter service for lunch and most dinners (because we don't want to spend park time eating). It all depends on how everyone is feeling/acting and what your idea of and idea time at Disney World is. We are all happy with our way of seeing the World, but I admit that it isn't for everyone.

Beth

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've done it both ways, but we're always at the parks when they open.

I brought my 4yo last Feb and met my sister. We stayed for a week and went all day, every day. That was exhausting and would have been better if we would have taken a day off in the middle. We were there during slow season so the park hours were fairly short.

I've also gone with my DH and all my kids and stayed all day. That wasn't so wonderful because my family didn't want to be pushed into touring all day. What worked better when we're all there is to go early, take a swim break mid-day and then return in the late afternoon. Of course that doesn't work well when the parks close early.

Whatever you decide, be ready to change your plans if you need to.

It will be hot when you are there, so if you don't take a swim break (you could always sit by the pool with your kids while your DH naps) then make sure you have a sitdown meal every day (late lunch?) so you can rest and cool down.


T&B

 

[LvsTnk]

MK is great on EE days, we just skip to another park about noon. It is a great way to get those rides with unbelievable lines done. I would most definately recommend it!!

 

[CinderellaIam]

All day, open to close! But, you MUST take some sort of break. We make PS and do a nice sit down dinner and take our time, like 1-1/12 hour. It's a great break and gives you the stamina to keep going.

 

[jjfjr]

I guess my kids are real troopers. Last year while DD was 8 and DS was 5 we did EE at MK and then stayed for the MVMCP that night. 8:00 am to midnight without leaving the park - it was awesome and the kids stayed up the whole time.....

 

[chesirekate]

We're another family that stays all day. My DD-2 has never been much of a napper, she'd rather put in 12 hours at night then go all day, but if she gets tired she just conks out for a couple hours in the stroller. We bring her own stroller with reclining seat for just this reason. We find a quiet, shady place and a bench to relax for awhile and plan the rest of the day, then maybe do a little browsing at the shops until she wakes up.

 

[bubba's mom]

Sorry, too many replies to read.......

We go all day!! Get there for EE and stay until the park closes. We do sit and have "breaks" throughout the day and a sit down lunch/dinner. Oh, and by the way, DS is almost 6!! He loves it! My DH & DS wouldn't take a nap in the middle of the day....too excited! Want to see/do it all!!!!!