How much can you realistically get done in a relaxed style day?

[duck524]

I haven't done a real Disney trip in decades (since I was a kid) and I am planning a trip for my family in early December. The only kid is a 4 year old who doesn't like thrill rides, but loves characters and shows. We are planning the trip around her. We had hoped for a somewhat relaxed style trip with about one day per park from open to dinner and an extra morning at Magic Kingdom, but I started playing with itineraries on touring plans and even without doing any coasters or drop rides and with doing EMM two mornings, it looks like each day will be jam packed and full of rushing from one thing to another to do even a portion of the things she wants to do. Is it possible to have a magical attraction-filled day at Disney without following a strict schedule? Because she is early to rise and early to bed, we can't take mid-day breaks at the hotel without giving up half of our park time.

I am sure we will have a good time, but I am not confident we will be able to do very many attractions and character meets. Should I only aim for 1 per hour to make sure we have plenty of time for distractions and ice cream and exploring? Any tips on how to make sure you maintain a relaxed approach while at the parks?

 

[itstrue56]

I haven't done a real Disney trip in decades (since I was a kid) and I am planning a trip for my family in early December. The only kid is a 4 year old who doesn't like thrill rides, but loves characters and shows. We are planning the trip around her. We had hoped for a somewhat relaxed style trip with about one day per park from open to dinner and an extra morning at Magic Kingdom, but I started playing with itineraries on touring plans and even without doing any coasters or drop rides and with doing EMM two mornings, it looks like each day will be jam packed and full of rushing from one thing to another to do even a portion of the things she wants to do. Is it possible to have a magical attraction-filled day at Disney without following a strict schedule? Because she is early to rise and early to bed, we can't take mid-day breaks at the hotel without giving up half of our park time.

I am sure we will have a good time, but I am not confident we will be able to do very many attractions and character meets. Should I only aim for 1 per hour to make sure we have plenty of time for distractions and ice cream and exploring? Any tips on how to make sure you maintain a relaxed approach while at the parks?

This is a tough question to answer as everyone's touring style is different and every kid is different, too.

I just took two kids for 7 days in June (ages 7 and 5) and we got a lot done while also trying to make sure we didn't rush too much. It can be a delicate balance.

Having said all of that, if the child is an early riser and you can get to the parks early each day (I'm talking at least 30 minutes before it opens), you can get into the park at rope drop and accomplish a lot in the early hours. My advice would be to try to schedule FP+ at like 10, 11 and 12 and try to get as much done early before you use the first FP. If you do this at Magic Kingdom, for example, you could easily have the 5 most popular attractions done by lunch time. If you rope drop SDMT and then go to Peter Pan, you could easily have both done by 10 am when your first Fast Pass begins (in this example, I'm talking a 9 am park opening).

 

[juuuliebeth]

I went with a 3 1/2 year old to Disneyland last year, and it definitely felt laid back while we got plenty of stuff done. Of course, Disneyland is a different animal without FP+ and the old fashioned paper fast passes. The important thing to remember is that unless you tell her, she won't know what she's missing. Jamie had no idea we never rode the Fantasyland dark rides because the lines were too long or missed the Frozen show because we didn't have enough time.

My best piece of advice is to promise very little. She knew we were having lunch with the princesses because we had a reservation. We told her there was a Ferris Wheel and a carousel. (Really, her only two questions and requests.) Otherwise, she was happy with whatever we found to do next. Flying elephant? Sure! Spinning teacup? Heck yeah! Boat ride through the jungle? Absolutely!

So as long as you cover her absolute must-dos, if she has any, you're good to go! No need to do every little thing.

 

[itstrue56]

I went with a 3 1/2 year old to Disneyland last year, and it definitely felt laid back while we got plenty of stuff done. Of course, Disneyland is a different animal without FP+ and the old fashioned paper fast passes. The important thing to remember is that unless you tell her, she won't know what she's missing. Jamie had no idea we never rode the Fantasyland dark rides because the lines were too long or missed the Frozen show because we didn't have enough time.

My best piece of advice is to promise very little. She knew we were having lunch with the princesses because we had a reservation. We told her there was a Ferris Wheel and a carousel. (Really, her only two questions and requests.) Otherwise, she was happy with whatever we found to do next. Flying elephant? Sure! Spinning teacup? Heck yeah! Boat ride through the jungle? Absolutely!

So as long as you cover her absolute must-dos, if she has any, you're good to go! No need to do every little thing.

What you don't get done on this trip are things you have to look forward to on the next one.

 

[siren0119]

My best piece of advice is to promise very little.

THIS. There is SO MUCH to do at a park on a given day, you can choose to have a very jam-packed day or just pick one or two ABSOLUTE must haves and let the rest of the day unfold. But in the end, they don't have any idea of everything that COULD happen at Disney, and what they don't know won't hurt them Maybe share one thing to get excited about, then just see where the rest of the day takes you.

 

[juuuliebeth]

But in the end, they don't have any idea of everything that COULD happen at Disney, and what they don't know won't hurt them

I want to share that my first trip was when I was 22 years old. I had no idea that Jungle Cruise or dole whip existed for several years because I was following along with another family. When I planned my first trip, I was like, "Where did these come from?" I still had a marvelous time on those trips being completely ignorant of what I missed. (I have since made up for lost time.)

 

[GeneralTso]

It's really easy to get caught up in the frenzy even when you plan a chill day. There's way too much to do in a day, yet there it is. You WANT to do it.
Four is such a fun age and since she is interested in character meet & greets, plan to spend time doing those. She will be dazzled. You'll get some rides in, and eat some of the fun food.
Just try not to get caught up in the wave and be confident that your plan will be fine. She's going to have a fantastic time regardless--it's DISNEY!!

 

[duck524]

It's really easy to get caught up in the frenzy even when you plan a chill day. There's way too much to do in a day, yet there it is. You WANT to do it.
Four is such a fun age and since she is interested in character meet & greets, plan to spend time doing those. She will be dazzled. You'll get some rides in, and eat some of the fun food.
Just try not to get caught up in the wave and be confident that your plan will be fine. She's going to have a fantastic time regardless--it's DISNEY!!

You are right; four is such a fun age. I think that is what makes it tempting to try and do as much as we can, because I know she would love it all so much. I need to remember she will love it regardless of how much we do.

 

[Babs1975]

I would follow a fairly strict plan for rope drop and the hour or so after, because it is worth it to do that, you will get so much done. But then maybe throw the TP plans out. Go at your own pace and decide what direction you want to go. Fantasyland will be awesome at that age. Then pick and choose. When my kids were that age, we were done by mid afternoon. They were tired and needed a break. And that was it. Back to the hotel for swimming, resting, other things.

 

[duck524]

I would follow a fairly strict plan for rope drop and the hour or so after, because it is worth it to do that, you will get so much done. But then maybe throw the TP plans out. Go at your own pace and decide what direction you want to go. Fantasyland will be awesome at that age. Then pick and choose. When my kids were that age, we were done by mid afternoon. They were tired and needed a break. And that was it. Back to the hotel for swimming, resting, other things.

This makes sense to me. I would honestly love to leave for the day by 3pm or so and spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing. But with needing to eat some sort of lunch everyday and having a character lunch scheduled one day (the single thing she is looking forward to most), that seems unrealistic. But that is why we are springing for both HS and MK EMM--so we can get as much as she wants done early without crowds and hopefully have more flexibility to go slow or leave early.

 

[Wild4Walt]

We decided to go low-key on our last trip. We are not rope drop people and my husband and I work opposite shifts so anything before 10a was kept to a minimum to avoid messing with his body clock too much.

That said, our 1st day we had breakfast at our resort ( Boma ) at 1055a. We didn't make it to the park until about 1230p. Park closed at 6p for MNSSHP ( which we had tickets to ). Before the 6p mark ( when we would have had to start making our way out of the park if we didn't have party tickets ) we were able to see everything in Adventureland, we skipped Frontierland as we didn't want to get wet on Splash and we didn't want to hit BTMRR, did all of Liberty Square, Peter Pan ( FP ), Small World and little Mermaid and in Tomorrowland we did TTA and Buzz twice. We also caught the parade.

 

[MissionMouse]

OP, in our experience we tried to manage the same duration of a day as we did at home for a four year old. Routine are somewhat important to follow, but with a Disney twist. We stayed close to one of the parks and were able to take midday breaks (i.e. nap or pool or both). We had park hopper tickets, so if we wanted we could go to an alternate park. We took advantage of various activities to create unique memories (i.e., character meals, Mad Hatter Party, MVMCP, Afternoon Tea, Epcot Children Activities, etc.). We found short little periodic breaks to be get a drink, an ice cream, cookie, etc. Nothing big, not too much, sometimes we shared and other times a special treat (i.e., Cinderella cookie). If your child is not happy, then most likely you will not. This doesn't translate to spoiling them, but realizing their needs and perspective by not driving a hardline schedule..."to get your monies worth." If we did something late night one night, like fireworks, we balanced it out by sleeping in the next day. If for whatever reason they seemed tired we adjusted our plans. Overall, you know your child best. You know the warning signs of impending melt down. So consider taking frequent "breaks." Realize you will not have a full adult day, but one based upon the innocence and imagination of your child. Another pointer is the pace of an adult walking to WDW can be too much for your child. We often rented a stroller to allow us to walk normally and provide them a place to take it easy and at times partake in a treat between rides.

 

[MelanieRI]

I haven't done a real Disney trip in decades (since I was a kid) and I am planning a trip for my family in early December. The only kid is a 4 year old who doesn't like thrill rides, but loves characters and shows. We are planning the trip around her. We had hoped for a somewhat relaxed style trip with about one day per park from open to dinner Is it possible to have a magical attraction-filled day at Disney without following a strict schedule? Because she is early to rise and early to bed, we can't take mid-day breaks at the hotel without giving up half of our park time. Any tips on how to make sure you maintain a relaxed approach while at the parks?

My daughter was 4 the first time we brought her to Disney, while a lot has changed since then, I think it's definitely do able to have a relaxed vacation. My first tip is a stroller. It's a lot of walking for a 4-year-old and even if they use a stroller no where else, Disney is a great place to use one. It's also a great place to hold everything! It's also the perfect spot for your child to catch a quick nap if not going back to the hotel even if they don't regularly nap anymore they may need a nap at Disney. If it wasn't December, I'd recommend always bringing a bathing suit or change of clothes, there are lot of fun water spots to cool off in and have a restful break. I would say over the years, the things you remember most aren't the rides, it's the quiet moments where you took a break and watched the crowds go by and enjoyed the atmosphere. Definitely don't feel like you need to get in every ride to have a magical vacation, the rides aren't exactly what makes it magical - it's the time you spend together enjoying each other.

 

[Klayfish]

Is it possible to have a magical attraction-filled day at Disney without following a strict schedule? Any tips on how to make sure you maintain a relaxed approach while at the parks?

Yes, it's absolutely possible to have a magical attraction filled day without following a strict schedule. A schedule is NOT a requirement, you can walk in with no firm plans. Basically consider yourself a first time visitor. Unless you're staying for 3 weeks, you're simply not going to get to see and do everything. So be at peace with that idea and don't even try. Take the time to thoroughly enjoy the things you do get to see and do. Study and learn the FP+ system, it'll be your friend and help you get to more attractions.

Tips on how to maintain a relaxed approach? Easy, just do it. Really. As I said above, you're simply not going to see and do everything. And that's perfectly fine. Be of the mindset that you're going to make the most of the things you do see and stop to "smell the roses". Soak up the atmosphere...stop for ice cream, stop if the parade is passing by, or there's a street performance.

People choose to plan endlessly, be rushed, be jam packed, etc... it's definitely not necessary if you don't want it to be. Have fun!!!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We always pack in as many attractions as we can in the morning hours when crowds aren’t as bad, and our energy and stamina (for all that walking) is at its peak. Then after lunch we slow down and just somewhat relax, enjoying the atmosphere and doing whatever extra FP rides we can get. It’s the best of both worlds for us. Just try to make sure you have FPs for her must-dos and enjoy your time.

 

[jaceraden]

If the child is 4, let her dictate the pace of the park days. Unless someone tells her there is x, y, z to do and we have to hurry - she will have a fantastic time. There really is no way to do everything. Rushing a 4 year old to do everything the adults think she will want to do is likely to cause stress and drama. At least this has been our experience. YMMV

 

[Jen Stauch]

First let me say how exciting for your little one !
She is going to be so excited !
I just returned from WDW less then 24 hours ago ... so sad ... here are a couple of thoughts for you EMM at Hollywood studios for you will be a waste of money IF she doesn't like rollercoasters or rides that whip you because it is only toy story land. Slinky dog has a couple of drops but also several hoop de doos that really get your belly and alien swirl really whips you around a lot and you have no control over it. Now she will probably like the midway mania and the meet and greet with woody and Jessie but I don't know it would be worth the extra hundreds. Midway mania is the easiest of the 3 to get fast passes for and the meet and greet lines are usually 20 minutes.
For the day you do your EMM at magic kingdom if your back in storybook circus when the park opens you will be able to ride Dumbo and meet the characters in their circus costumes before anyone else even makes it to that part of the park... then head towards the carousel and Mickeys Philharmagic and your done with fantasyland by 10am
Fast pass haunted mansion, enchanted tales with belle, and pirates ... you'll be golden !
I feel like Hollywood studios is a short day park unless your Star Wars fans... Beauty, Disney Jr show, Jr meet and greets,frozen sing along, mermaid, muppets DONE
Epcot and Ak I could spend all day and she might enjoy the wilderness club and kidcot stations.
The holiday story tellers are very entertaining for kids and teach them about holiday traditions from around the world.
There are not a lot of rides geared towards the young ones at these 2 parks so just fast pass the couple you want ... there is no need in my opinion to fast pass the shows because they each hold hundreds if not thousands of people and you should have no issues.
I think you will have an amazingly wonderful vacation and don't worry ... your little will have no idea if she missed something she is going to be seeing and doing so much !
A couple of things I might add would be if she has a favorite character maybe a character meal ... this also helps in the waiting in line if you can check a few autographs off your list
Your going to be there at an extra magical time and the castle is extra beautiful in the evening if you get a chance to leave and come back or can hold out one night to see it it is just breathe taking, usually Queen Elsa freezes it every evening but I forget what time
Also along with the holidays there is the Christmas tree trail at Disney Springs it even snows there !
Several of the resorts have gingerbread house displays and if memory serves me right they have at certain times where you can decorate your own to eat or save as an ornament.
Sorry this is so long but my final bit of advice is the biggest time waster is criss crossing the park ... it makes you tired and worn out and generally isn't woth it.

 

[nkereina]

IMO, you have to be ok with not doing everything if you want a relaxed day. Its one or the other.

DH and I went with my 6 year old niece and 4 year old nephew last year (along with 5 other adult first timers) and we took advantage of rope drop most mornings with mid-day breaks in the afternoon, and then back out at night for dinner and another hour or two of park time. The kids napped during the mid-day break and held up most of the night and crashed on the bus back to the hotel. We didn't catch the night time shows at the parks, but we did pretty much most of the rides. Saw a few shows and did a couple character meets. We made sure to book character meals for any must-do characters. We were happy with the amount of things we accomplished, but I did have a framework for a plan of attack and it worked out well. I made adjustments on the fly as needed, and didn't let it stress me out or worry. All worked well! Enjoy the trip!

 

[duck524]

OP, in our experience we tried to manage the same duration of a day as we did at home for a four year old. Routine are somewhat important to follow, but with a Disney twist. We stayed close to one of the parks and were able to take midday breaks (i.e. nap or pool or both). We had park hopper tickets, so if we wanted we could go to an alternate park. We took advantage of various activities to create unique memories (i.e., character meals, Mad Hatter Party, MVMCP, Afternoon Tea, Epcot Children Activities, etc.). We found short little periodic breaks to be get a drink, an ice cream, cookie, etc. Nothing big, not too much, sometimes we shared and other times a special treat (i.e., Cinderella cookie). If your child is not happy, then most likely you will not. This doesn't translate to spoiling them, but realizing their needs and perspective by not driving a hardline schedule..."to get your monies worth." If we did something late night one night, like fireworks, we balanced it out by sleeping in the next day. If for whatever reason they seemed tired we adjusted our plans. Overall, you know your child best. You know the warning signs of impending melt down. So consider taking frequent "breaks." Realize you will not have a full adult day, but one based upon the innocence and imagination of your child. Another pointer is the pace of an adult walking to WDW can be too much for your child. We often rented a stroller to allow us to walk normally and provide them a place to take it easy and at times partake in a treat between rides.

Excellent points. If she was a napper at all, I love the idea of split days and mid-day breaks. I know my husband would feel like it was more of a vacation if he had the ability to take naps since he is not a morning person. And we are traveling with west-coasters, so I know the mornings don't jive with them real well either, but I think we all agree that we can cope with tiredness better than the kiddo so we need to stick with her schedule. If she is cranky, we all will be cranky.

 

[duck524]

My daughter was 4 the first time we brought her to Disney, while a lot has changed since then, I think it's definitely do able to have a relaxed vacation. My first tip is a stroller. It's a lot of walking for a 4-year-old and even if they use a stroller no where else, Disney is a great place to use one. It's also a great place to hold everything! It's also the perfect spot for your child to catch a quick nap if not going back to the hotel even if they don't regularly nap anymore they may need a nap at Disney. If it wasn't December, I'd recommend always bringing a bathing suit or change of clothes, there are lot of fun water spots to cool off in and have a restful break. I would say over the years, the things you remember most aren't the rides, it's the quiet moments where you took a break and watched the crowds go by and enjoyed the atmosphere. Definitely don't feel like you need to get in every ride to have a magical vacation, the rides aren't exactly what makes it magical - it's the time you spend together enjoying each other.

I think you are right about the stroller. I wanted to avoid it if possible because she isn't a very active child and I make her walk at the zoo and local theme parks to encourage exercise, but I don't think she can handle walking Disney.