Ideal WDW Length of Stay

[rocketriter]

I wouldn't move from resort to resort with young children. Consider staying at a monorail resort or Wilderness Lodge for easy access to the Magic Kingdom, which is where you kids will want to spend the most time. And take your time exploring other resorts. You have years ahead to visit them one by one!

 

[bom_noite]

We started going to the parks when my kid's were 4 and 6 - and they were just as happy jumping on the hotel bed and playing in the arcade. At that age, some of the things we used to do (and avoiding the parks were:

1) Character Breakfasts / Lunch outside the park. We always felt that if we had a character meal in the park we were losing park time. So, we scheduled if for our non-park days.
2) All of the DVC resorts have a recreation staff and they usually have one or multiple activities (unbirthday partys, Colering, etc.) each day.
3) We always tried to schedule at least one Pool Hoping day as both the kids loved to swim.
4) Buy a Hidden Mickey book - that alone will occupy allot of time - the kid's love it, and, you get to see some of the different resorts.
5) The boat rentals were also a yearly favorite.

 

[MouseOfCards]

This sounds like a great plan. I figure a good 10 days will allow plenty of relaxation and enjoyment of your DVC location. You will want to spend multiple days (2-3) at the Magic Kingdom with the young children, 3/4 of a day at Animal Kingdom, 1/2 day at EPCOT (depends if Soarin is working when you go could be a 3/4 day) and a 1/2 day at Hollywood Studios.

Your plan allows for 4-5 non-theme park days! That's what I call laid back!

 

[MouseOfCards]

1. We have never done a split stay. Our kids are both teens now, but when they were little, the thought of packing up all the "stuff" and moving it mid-vacation was just not appealing to me. We have also never rented a car. We have a car service pick us up and do a grocery stop.

2. We always did an 8 day park hopper, but probably could have gotten away with not doing that. I always want to keep my options open once I am on property.

Interesting. What car service (with pick up) options are there?

 

[MouseOfCards]

We started going to the parks when my kid's were 4 and 6 - and they were just as happy jumping on the hotel bed and playing in the arcade. At that age, some of the things we used to do (and avoiding the parks were:

1) Character Breakfasts / Lunch outside the park. We always felt that if we had a character meal in the park we were losing park time. So, we scheduled if for our non-park days.
2) All of the DVC resorts have a recreation staff and they usually have one or multiple activities (unbirthday partys, Colering, etc.) each day.
3) We always tried to schedule at least one Pool Hoping day as both the kids loved to swim.
4) Buy a Hidden Mickey book - that alone will occupy allot of time - the kid's love it, and, you get to see some of the different resorts.
5) The boat rentals were also a yearly favorite.

Thanks! By the way, what is a Hidden Mickey book?

 

[MouseOfCards]

kids and dinner: Definitely in the 3-8 age range, they were tired and restless from the day and wanted to eat ASAP and then veg in the room. They were fine for a sit down lunch, like Crystal Palace character meal, etc. Even as tweens, they preferred to come back to the room and eat spaghettios, etc. and relax after the parks. If we did a "fancy" dinner, like an early dinner at 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickeys, that was the "main event" for a resort-only day, and that worked fine.
also skip the park hopper--you can add it later for the same price, if you need it. I would rather do 6-8 short days on an 8 day trip. Even if some of those days are just going into the park for a few hours and doing 3 FP rides.
I like taking ME and the WDW buses and not bothering with car seats, etc. I drive all the time at home--not driving is part of the vacation for me.

Thanks!

 

[Minniesgal]

We like our trips to be 18 nights. We don't do long park days we like to go to the parks most days but only for 3 or 4 hours and the rest is resort time.

We tend to stay at 3 or 4 resorts and do 4 or 5 nights at each resort. We have never done more than 6 nights before moving resort.

 

[BLLB]

Interesting. What car service (with pick up) options are there?

We have always used Tiffany Town Cars.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Next year, we're hoping to go to WDW with our young kids (4 and under) for the first time, and hopefully will be DVC members by then. The plan is to try 2-3 different DVC resorts and visit all the parks, but make sure we have time to relax and enjoy the resorts.

What would be ideal length of stay? And how many days recommended in each park (just read that Hollywood Studios is least popular)?

Thanks for your insights!

I have three girls now 5.5, 3.95, 2.25. Our first trip was when the oldest was 2.75 and middle was 1.2. We stayed at POFQ for 9 days. Did a 9 day ticket and picked one park a day. We did stay at the resort one afternoon to use the pool and one morning to walk around. Spent AK night at now disney springs. Other than that we went to AK 1 day, HS 1 day, Epcot 2 days, and 5 days at MK. We tried to get to the parks when they opened and left when it closed or close to it. Left feeling like we still missed out on a lot. Next trip was at POFQ 4.5, 2.75, 13 mo and stayed 10 days. Did a 10 day ticket and again picked one park a day. This trip fast passes were available and that helped to get more in a day. Took advantage of all the early morning EMH. AK 1 day, HS 1 day, epcot 2 days, and 6 days at MK. arrival and departure days were at MK. Didn't stay at the resort this trip except to sleep. AK night was spent at disney springs. Spent all our time at the parks and at TS meals. Left feeling like we did everything at the parks we wanted. Then became DVC members and took a last minute (less than a month to plan) trip Dec 20-26, 2015. So for a 6 night stay we stayed 1 night at BW BW view, 1 night poly lake view, 1 night BLT MK view, 3 nights BLT lake view. Got 8 day park hopper tickets. We did go the parks everyday but with the hopper went to two parks some days and just one some days. Didn't use Early MH except one morning at MK. Used FP to ride our favorites and really only rode what we had fast passes for and then if we walked by something that had a wait of less than 20 min rode it. spent time at each resort walking around. Left wanting to come back but more relaxed than the last two trips. Only thing I planned this trip was the FP (if we made it great if not it was ok) and TS meals. All our trips so far have been at least one character table service meal a day. Somedays we did two. One thing we really did like with staying at BLT we would walk to MK and back and that was nice not having to break the stroller down. We would go over in the morning and then go back to the resort around 1. then around 6 go back out to a park. Knowing that we will be coming back at least every other year made it so we didn't feel like we had to ride every ride, see every show, and meet every character. We just took our time going through the parks and when the kids started not behave we left and went back to the resort. Where as in the first two trips with kids we just took a time out for a little bit and then went to the next ride/show. Next trip with kids we will be going 12 days and plan to do at least a park a day and then if the weather is nice go swimming some afternoons. Plan to make the next trip more relaxed plus I don't plan to move rooms so much. Its easier on DH to just stay in one room than it is to move so much with the kids. So for us going to the parks every day is a must even if we only go for a couple hours. Plus we also do character meals every day so that is also part of our entertainment. For us we go to Disney to be at the parks and spend some time just relaxing otherwise we could go somewhere that doesn't have the parks if we just want to go to the beach or relax with no parks.

Our ideal length of stay is at least 6 days and the more the better. We spend most of our time at MK just because the girls like the rides more. I'm sure when they get older they will like epcot more. Ak maybe 1 1/2 days but really 1 days it plenty for us right now. HS 1 day and then really can't see more than that.

You can visit other resorts without staying at them. I've seen where some have made a day out of checking out resorts.

We also use only disney transportation the entire trip from MCO to resort, parks, back to MCO. Haven't found we need a car yet.

ok sorry for such a long reply just figured I'd share what we have done with our three little ones to help you with your decision. good luck becoming a DVC member we love it and don't regret it one bit. Its worth every penny for us

 

[MouseOfCards]

I have three girls now 5.5, 3.95, 2.25. Our first trip was when the oldest was 2.75 and middle was 1.2. We stayed at POFQ for 9 days. Did a 9 day ticket and picked one park a day. We did stay at the resort one afternoon to use the pool and one morning to walk around. Spent AK night at now disney springs. Other than that we went to AK 1 day, HS 1 day, Epcot 2 days, and 5 days at MK. We tried to get to the parks when they opened and left when it closed or close to it. Left feeling like we still missed out on a lot. Next trip was at POFQ 4.5, 2.75, 13 mo and stayed 10 days. Did a 10 day ticket and again picked one park a day. This trip fast passes were available and that helped to get more in a day. Took advantage of all the early morning EMH. AK 1 day, HS 1 day, epcot 2 days, and 6 days at MK. arrival and departure days were at MK. Didn't stay at the resort this trip except to sleep. AK night was spent at disney springs. Spent all our time at the parks and at TS meals. Left feeling like we did everything at the parks we wanted. Then became DVC members and took a last minute (less than a month to plan) trip Dec 20-26, 2015. So for a 6 night stay we stayed 1 night at BW BW view, 1 night poly lake view, 1 night BLT MK view, 3 nights BLT lake view. Got 8 day park hopper tickets. We did go the parks everyday but with the hopper went to two parks some days and just one some days. Didn't use Early MH except one morning at MK. Used FP to ride our favorites and really only rode what we had fast passes for and then if we walked by something that had a wait of less than 20 min rode it. spent time at each resort walking around. Left wanting to come back but more relaxed than the last two trips. Only thing I planned this trip was the FP (if we made it great if not it was ok) and TS meals. All our trips so far have been at least one character table service meal a day. Somedays we did two. One thing we really did like with staying at BLT we would walk to MK and back and that was nice not having to break the stroller down. We would go over in the morning and then go back to the resort around 1. then around 6 go back out to a park. Knowing that we will be coming back at least every other year made it so we didn't feel like we had to ride every ride, see every show, and meet every character. We just took our time going through the parks and when the kids started not behave we left and went back to the resort. Where as in the first two trips with kids we just took a time out for a little bit and then went to the next ride/show. Next trip with kids we will be going 12 days and plan to do at least a park a day and then if the weather is nice go swimming some afternoons. Plan to make the next trip more relaxed plus I don't plan to move rooms so much. Its easier on DH to just stay in one room than it is to move so much with the kids. So for us going to the parks every day is a must even if we only go for a couple hours. Plus we also do character meals every day so that is also part of our entertainment. For us we go to Disney to be at the parks and spend some time just relaxing otherwise we could go somewhere that doesn't have the parks if we just want to go to the beach or relax with no parks.

Our ideal length of stay is at least 6 days and the more the better. We spend most of our time at MK just because the girls like the rides more. I'm sure when they get older they will like epcot more. Ak maybe 1 1/2 days but really 1 days it plenty for us right now. HS 1 day and then really can't see more than that.

You can visit other resorts without staying at them. I've seen where some have made a day out of checking out resorts.

We also use only disney transportation the entire trip from MCO to resort, parks, back to MCO. Haven't found we need a car yet.

ok sorry for such a long reply just figured I'd share what we have done with our three little ones to help you with your decision. good luck becoming a DVC member we love it and don't regret it one bit. Its worth every penny for us

Thanks for sharing! Regarding your trips:
1. How much time was it between trips?
2. On your 3rd trip, you started slowing down. Was this because you folks had seen everything already? Or did DVC membership make a huge difference?
3. How/when/why did you decide to join DVC?

 

[MouseOfCards]

We have always used Tiffany Town Cars.

How much is this service?

 

[MouseOfCards]

We like our trips to be 18 nights. We don't do long park days we like to go to the parks most days but only for 3 or 4 hours and the rest is resort time.

We tend to stay at 3 or 4 resorts and do 4 or 5 nights at each resort. We have never done more than 6 nights before moving resort.

Wow, that's a long stay! You don't get homesick at some point? By the way, how often do you go?

 

[Minniesgal]

Wow, that's a long stay! You don't get homesick at some point? By the way, how often do you go?

It depends, we go this year, we were last there in 2013, before that 2012 but before that 2006. Prefer to go infrequently for longer than more frequently for longer.

 

[BLLB]

How much is this service?

Around $130-170.. Round trip. Includes a grocery store stop. Depends how big your party is.

 

[MouseOfCards]

Around $130-170.. Round trip. Includes a grocery store stop. Depends how big your party is.

For this pick up service, do you do anything else besides grocery shop (like sightseeing)? And where do you shop for groceries?

 

[Nanajo1]

Doing a split stay of less than 3 nites is not worth it IMHO. The first nite you get a feel for the report,second and third nites you enjoy it. Fourth nite you pack up.Repeat. It depends on how adaptable your kids are. I think MK and AK will be the parks kids under 5 will enjoy the most. EPCOT for the kids might be a half of day. If any of them are into Star Wars then a half day at HS. We have 13 grandkids and have gone with infants, toddlers, preschoolers,tweens and high schoolers,some at the same time! Take time to enjoy.

 

[schoen]

I am really really really NOT a fan of the split stay. Is it possible? Yes. Is it a huge hassel? No. I just don't like having to pack twice and unpack twice. You also may have a time period where you do not have a room, which is also annoying. We have had magic band issues every time we have done a split stay, resulting in hours lost dealing with it. As a DVC member there is truly no rush to see all the resorts straight away.

I am also a fan of driving a car (rental or otherwise). I really like the autonomy of having my own car. I don't enjoy waiting for buses, or being squished next to strangers on the bus. I like to get into my comfortable and private car. We LOVE to resort hop, and eat at the various resort restaurants, and this is a real pain if you have to rely on Disney transportation. We also occasionally like to go offsite for dining.

 

[Pennyguy23]

Must be double digit stay. This year it was 12, 14 ,10 night stays. We fly so we feel like it is better money spent. That said we never go all day. We do lots of pool time, we rent a car so we can see family that lives in flordia...go to dinner off site. Just enjoy everything

 

[Hopefully]

For this pick up service, do you do anything else besides grocery shop (like sightseeing)? And where do you shop for groceries?

No. It is round trip transportation from MCO to your resort with a 30 minute grocery stop on the way to your resort. No sightseeing. When we did it we stopped at a Publix on the way to WDW.
WE stay for 5 -8 days 2 or 3 times a year. I do not enjoy split stays. They are a major hassle to me.
We use Disney transportation. It meets our needs. We do not want to drive on vacation. We get a grocery delivery from GardenGrocer.com. It is well worth it, especially with little ones.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Thanks for sharing! Regarding your trips:
1. How much time was it between trips?
2. On your 3rd trip, you started slowing down. Was this because you folks had seen everything already? Or did DVC membership make a huge difference?
3. How/when/why did you decide to join DVC?

trip 1 was end of april to beg of may 2013
trip 2 was end of jan to beg of feb 2015
trip 3 was dec 20-26 2015 (1st trip as DVC)

3rd trip slowed down since we knew we would be back at least every other year. We still haven't seen everything as things do change and this dec plan to check out all the countries stories. plus we havent gone during all the event times so theres still more to see
Yes having the DVC has changed our way of going to the parks. we don't mind going for a couple hours and leaving. plus transportation using the monorail and walking to the parks has made such a difference. it was such a pain to always fold the stroller and unload sleeping kids. now they can sleep in the stroller and not be disturbed which makes for a happier rested toddler and happier parents .
also got an annual pass this time and that is saving us since we went 7 days, and will go 12 days this dec. paid for itself