Is Disney REALLY a vacation?????

[mom22boys]

We just went on our first WDW family vacation: me, DH, DS 5, and DS 2. My favorite park visits were the ones we spent time leisurely walking through the parks, soaking up the atmosphere. One evening we went to MGM, just to see Playhouse Disney and eat dinner at Mama Melrose's. One evening we strolled around the World Showcase stopping to listen to the different live performances. And one morning we went to MGM to watch Beauty and the Beast, eat lunch at 50's Prime Time, and then play at "The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure." Those are definitely my favorite memories from our whole vacation. However, it was really hard to make myself slow down. First, I feel bad about missing some things. MY DS 5 would have really liked to have seen L,M,A and the Stars and Motor Cars Parade. But second, when you pay as much as you do to get into the parks at WDW I feel like I need to "get my moneys worth." It is definitely an interesting balance that each family has to try to reach for themselves.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

I was exhausted after our trip last month! It took me 2 weeks to get caught up on sleep, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I feel like you can rest when you're at home, but I don't want to waste a minute of Disney time, so we go wide open!!! We got up early, stayed out late and didn't stop the whole day. It was totally worth it!!! Luckily, this time we flew and didn't have to rest up the night before for a long drive home. It was almost 2 before I got in the bed the last night and ME picked us up at 7. Our whole group slept on the plane ride home and then had to go to work the next day. We had such a wonderful time though! I go to the beach to rest, I go to Disney to have fun!!

 

[lucincia]

Key is to let your kids lead you.

We lead DD7 and DD3 onto some rides on the first day and from there learned what they like. Then we ask them what they want to do. By the end of the week, DD7 has ridden Space Mountain and Big Thunder like 1,000,000 times (seemed that way) and DD3 did It's a Small World and the carousel like 1,000,000 times. Do small stuff along the way, little things that kids get big kick out of it, like pin trading. This way, it's not rushing from ride to ride. It's rushing from ride to ride, pause, wait let us trade, rush from ride to ride

 

[ReggieB]

I did write a huge vent about our last nonrelaxing, disaster riddled vacation to WDW/1st DCL, but I have counted to ten, taken a deep breath and decided to let it go, the only thing I shall say is...

Our last vacation was not relaxing in any way shape or form.

 

[DisFlan]

We gave up "trying to do it all" years ago. That's when we really started to enjoy our trips.

I often cringe when I see over-loaded "touring plans" and over-planned daily schedules mentioned. It's a great way to wear a lot of people out - past the point of enjoying just being at WDW. There's so much more to enjoy than jumping from ride to ride to show and squeezing in a quick meal or parade. Then repeating it the next day (and the next) in another park.

After a few trips (starting in 1977), we realized that there's an ART to enjoying WDW that actually has little to do with rides. There's a whole world in the World that not enough people take the time to notice and soak up. And it's the true "re-creational" part of our trips.

DisFlan

 

[mill4023]

Key is to let your kids lead you.

I agree, but I'd include the adults as well. You can plan all you want, but you HAVE to be flexible and pay attention to how everyone is feeling. If anyone in your group, kids or adults, is getting burned out, you have to take a break or you will end up miserable.

Our first trip to WDW was this past May. We had an absolute blast even though we were exhausted when we returned. On most of our past vacations, we've always been ready to come home at the end. But not WDW. Despite the fact that we were exhausted and had muliple incidents of illness(DD4, DS10, DW, and I were all sick at one point or another during our trip), none of us wanted to come home. We all agreed it was the best vacation we had ever taken.

 

[kawaba]

My family likes to take it easy, even at Disney World. We have been known to just grab a seat sometimes and watch all the "crazies" run around and try to get to everything.

 

[goodeats]

I think your first trip can be really hectic. I mean you don't know that you're going to hate the parades or that you really don't care for certain attractions. But the next time you go, you can say "I really don't *need* to see the Beauty and the Beast Show, I'll just ride TOT all day". We're just doing what we want to do, and no more, no less.

 

[kaabost]

I think that those of us who love WDW have learned to constantly ask themselves "what do I feel like doing?" instead of "what is next on the agenda." Don't get me wrong, with no other influences (trip companions) I am a commando by nature. I can tap into so much energy at WDW because I am so excited and happy....but, eventually (usually around the third day) I start to get lazier. At this point, I do what I WANT to do and what the companion(s) want to do. If we want to stop and relax with some drinks we do it.......until we FEEL like doing something else. When everyone has tons of energy (like when you first get there), go with it......be commandos..........but slow down as soon as you feel like it.

 

[mill4023]

I think that those of us who love WDW have learned to constantly ask themselves "what do I feel like doing?" instead of "what is next on the agenda." Don't get me wrong, with no other influences (trip companions) I am a commando by nature. I can tap into so much energy at WDW because I am so excited and happy....but, eventually (usually around the third day) I start to get lazier. At this point, I do what I WANT to do and what the companion(s) want to do. If we want to stop and relax with some drinks we do it.......until we FEEL like doing something else. When everyone has tons of energy (like when you first get there), go with it......be commandos..........but slow down as soon as you feel like it.

We found that our most enjoyable park days were the one's where we went commando for the first half of the day and made sure we hit all the big attractions, then relaxed more and did whatever we felt like for the rest of the day/evening. That way, we made sure we didn't miss the biggies like RnR and ToT, but we still got some non-planned time.

 

[Eeyore2003]

When Grace asked to keep riding Goofy's Barnstormer 6 times in a row since there was no one on line the commando in me was thinking, "but there's gonna be a line for the next ride" but the laid-back vacationer said, "Sure honey"

Yes, that's just what we did with my niece too. She road Big Thunder 3X in a row, Buzz 2, RNR and TOT 4 times each, Test Track 3X, KALI RIVER FIVE TIMES IN A ROW!!! She was MUCH happier with the "quantity times" of her favorite rides, than doing a whole bunch of different rides she didn't really care to do, and us saying, "No come on, we gotta get to the next one before the line starts!!!" And after all was said and done, one her favorite things was swimming in the pool!!! Fine with US!!!

 

[KimR]

I guess it depends on the person. I'm the type who loves to go, go, go non-stop. I get very antsy 'relaxing' by the pool for longer than 15 minutes or so and 'down time' makes me crazy. I do enjoy mini-breaks now and then, but that usually goes hand in hand with a drink and/or snack and then I'm ready to go again. However, that doesn't always mean rushing from place to place like a maniac trying to see and do everything; but I do like to keep busy even if it's just strolling through world showcase, browsing in shops, or watching the bunnies with the kids.

My DH is the exact opposite...he likes to rest, relax, nap, watch TV, maybe play a little bit of golf. My kids take after me for the most part; however if one or more of them starts to get tired or burnt out, then back to the resort they go with DH while I stay at the park with the others. It works out great for us because one of us is always ready to do the parks and the other is always ready for a break. With 3 kids we are always able to please them all and we've never had any problems with over-tired, over-stimulated kids. But then, we are constantly monitoring their energy levels and take mini-breaks throughout the day so I'm sure that helps. I always plan very full days but any of the kids are allowed to opt out of anything at any time (which they rarely do).

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Is Disney REALLY a vacation??????? YES!!!

Is it a relaxing vacation? It can be, depends on how you do it while you are there.

I enjoy the go-go of a WDW trip. If I wanted to relax, I wouldn't go to WDW.

We do take some breaks on our trips, but if it was up to me, I would be in the parks from open to close (until I fell over!) (DD chose that one)

 

[mill4023]

If I wanted to relax, I wouldn't go to WDW.

If I wanted to relax, I wouldn't take 4 kids on vacation.

 

[DrTomorrow]

It's all up to you.

Do you want to go Go GO from (before) sunrise to lights-out?

OR

Do you want to take a more leisurely approach, but possibly miss some shows/rides/parades?

IMHO, it all boils down to how much value you are trying to squeeze from your Disney expenditures. If you're the kind of person who can't sit still and feels that every minute spent NOT doing something is a wasted minute, then you're going to come back tired.

As an aside, this was one of the reasons we ended up buying into DVC. Since we KNOW that we'll be going back year after year (after year....), it is much easier to relax, have a cuppa on the balcony watching the sunrise and not be worried about missing anything this trip.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

I love this thread! Seriously we've never been and I am very much looking forward to it, but I also know that I have a cruise scheduled with just my girlfriends and me less than 2 weeks after returning from Disney so we will "go go go" and I'll relax later This time is all about the kids, and "go go go" is the definition of vacation for them.

 

[jann1033]

We found that our most enjoyable park days were the one's where we went commando for the first half of the day and made sure we hit all the big attractions, then relaxed more and did whatever we felt like for the rest of the day/evening. That way, we made sure we didn't miss the biggies like RnR and ToT, but we still got some non-planned time.

ITA as that is what we always do also and i think why we never need much "out of park time" each day ( plus the time of yr we go). we do plan every 4 or 5 th day out of park for DTD, visit resorts we aren't staying in or what ever( still havent' made it to even see the carribean but maybe someday ) but while we make an effort to ride the big stuff every morning when we are in park , the rest of the day is stress free.. if we miss a parade we miss it. the only think we plan is ts meals . of course it's different if you have never been there before, then it would be hard to be laid back about it.

" I get very antsy 'relaxing' by the pool for longer than 15 minutes or so and 'down time' makes me crazy. I do enjoy mini-breaks now and then, but that usually goes hand in hand with a drink and/or snack and then I'm ready to go again. "

this is me too! we went to Vero beach for 5 days pre WDW last trip and if i hadn't had a car to go places i would have gone nuts sitting on the beach. one day of that was enough.

 

[IvyandLace]

This is the reason that DH and I have so enjoyed going over the summer months the past two years (the last week of July through mid-August). The weather during the summer months in Orlando does not allow you to "go! go! go!" The daily afternoon rainstorms give us an "excuse" to take a break and enjoy the resort or just relax back in the room (air conditioning!), and the extended hours at night make us feel like we aren't missing out on much when we take those breaks during the afternoon. And because DH is a teacher and doesn't like taking vacations during the school year, we drive to Florida and are able to stay for an extended time (10-14 days). I've been spoiled with having a two-week vacation at WDW-don't know how I'll go back to quick weekend trips! Because of the weather and crowds, we enjoy getting up early to enjoy the parks in the coolness of the morning, and then we head back to the resort for some down-time around lunchtime. Also because we were AP holders, we spent alot of time at Typhoon Lagoon, floating around the lazy river. Even now, my DH will get a gleam in his eye when he thinks about summer days spent in a tube floating through the wonderful scenery of TL!

IVY

 

[DisFlan]

As an aside, this was one of the reasons we ended up buying into DVC. Since we KNOW that we'll be going back year after year (after year....), it is much easier to relax, have a cuppa on the balcony watching the sunrise and not be worried about missing anything this trip.

Ditto here! DVC fits us perfectly this way. We don't have to do anything - except what we feel like doing. Sitting on a cozy balcony at a gorgeous resort and watching ducks and boats and fireworks while drinking a favorite libation IS my cuppa. If we don't catch something this time around, we'll see it later - if we feel like it.

DisFlan

 

[Minerva]

I don't think kids or adults like being hearded from place to place but I think it's quite possible to go to WDW and not do that. With good planning you can avoid a lot of lines and with breaks from the parks you can stay rested up. I also so a lot of crying kids and crabby adults but that's not the fault of WDW and all it has to offer, that's the fault of parents pushing their kids and adults not having enough sense to take a break when they need one. The place is full of magic. It's sad when people rush around so fast they don't stop to enjoy it.