Is it worth doing 7 days

[gemma85]

Hey, my son starts reception this year and his school have a very strict no term times holiday. I'm not willing to take him out of school for a holiday so the only school holidays I can manage a 2-3 week holiday to florida would be summer holidays which would make it quite expensive. I'm tempted to go on other holidays but for 7-8 days, few people have said its not worth it with jet lag etc that you wouldn't have much of a holiday. Wondering what everyone else's opinion was? Thanks

 

[Elise79]

Hey, my son starts reception this year and his school have a very strict no term times holiday. I'm not willing to take him out of school for a holiday so the only school holidays I can manage a 2-3 week holiday to florida would be summer holidays which would make it quite expensive. I'm tempted to go on other holidays but for 7-8 days, few people have said its not worth it with jet lag etc that you wouldn't have much of a holiday. Wondering what everyone else's opinion was? Thanks

We have have same issue. However we already know DD copes ok with the shorter breaks as we did 7 nights in February.

We like to go a couple of times and we will just get as many nights as possible. We have 8 nights at Xmas and 8 nights at Easter. Planning 2 weeks over summer as well. We have Disney APs so there are no tickets to buy on the extra trips.

When doing shorter trips you will not see everything but we still enjoy them. Any time in Florida is better than none.

 

[Julia Ann]

I am faced with the same, my little girl starts reception this Sept. and although we are not able, financially, to go back until 2015 I will probably take her out for the week before the Oct half term holiday and yes her school also has a strict policy but there is no way we could afford the summer holidays....anyway, taking kids out of school in another subject...back to your question. I would rather go for 1 week then not at all. I think if planned properly and focus on what the children want to see and do you can make it worth it. also jetlag only affects coming home, so I wouldn't worry about that. happy planning

 

[bazzanoid]

Jet lag is a big issue, but it's mostly on the return - when you get out there it's just a matter of getting to bed as soon as possible and setting the alarm for a sensible time (like 9am) the following morning. Grab some breakfast, have an 'easy' first day (maybe a water park?) and an early-ish night. By the morning of the second day, you'll feel bright, refreshed AND you will have knocked one of your to-do's off the list

 

[Elise79]

Jet lag is a big issue, but it's mostly on the return - when you get out there it's just a matter of getting to bed as soon as possible and setting the alarm for a sensible time (like 9am) the following morning. Grab some breakfast, have an 'easy' first day (maybe a water park?) and an early-ish night. By the morning of the second day, you'll feel bright, refreshed AND you will have knocked one of your to-do's off the list

We have done a lot of shorter trips and there is no way we would spend out first day at a water park - its totally different with only a short time.

Bed on arrival is usual bed time and up early. We like to take advantage of the jet lag and get up and out early - either a early character breakfast or AM EMH. So much can be accomplished in those first few hours. Break in the afternoon for a rest then off for dinner and more fun!

The other thing - shorter trips are best when the weather is cooler as you can stay out all day without the heat wearing you out.

 

[gemma85]

Jet lag is a big issue, but it's mostly on the return - when you get out there it's just a matter of getting to bed as soon as possible and setting the alarm for a sensible time (like 9am) the following morning. Grab some breakfast, have an 'easy' first day (maybe a water park?) and an early-ish night. By the morning of the second day, you'll feel bright, refreshed AND you will have knocked one of your to-do's off the list

Yeah well our first visit to Florida was thinking of just keeping to disney. As he gets older and if we have more trips then probably Orlando and in villa to see more of Florida

 

[queendisney]

We have done a lot of shorter trips and there is no way we would spend out first day at a water park - its totally different with only a short time.

Bed on arrival is usual bed time and up early. We like to take advantage of the jet lag and get up and out early - either a early character breakfast or AM EMH. So much can be accomplished in those first few hours. Break in the afternoon for a rest then off for dinner and more fun!

The other thing - shorter trips are best when the weather is cooler as you can stay out all day without the heat wearing you out.

Yes... I think that if you are going for a shorter trip then you should just go for the kill..If you arrive early enough get to the fireworks at Epcot or MK or maybe catch Fantasmic at HS..You will sleep well that night and then wake up early and be able to catch an EMH....its gotta to be done on a short trip. Children cope extremely well with jet lag on the way back, much better then adults as they just seem tobe able to sleep anywhere..

If I had the chance for a shorter trip of 7/8 days I would def do it..of course its worth it... We did 10 ten days last year and got A LOT done..

 

[Fantasia Sam]

My DH and I have done a few 7 night trips (no kids) and we've found that actually doing something on arrival helps us to stay up until at least 10pm local time. We usually stick to Disney and maybe a little shopping... that said our first 7 nighter we did Sea World on one of the days and still managed to do the other 4 main Disney parks. We do skip a few of the attractions and just stick to our favourites but we still find it a relaxing holiday believe it or not.

We always arrive back in the UK landing on the Sunday morning and then again stay up as long as possible with a cat nap of no more than an hour if need be and then up raring to go for work the next morning at 6am!

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

We're another family that do shorter trips mainly due to DH's work rather than school holiday issues.

As PP have said we usually hit the ground running and depending on timings have dinner as soon as we get there and then head into EPCOT for Illuminations and a little walk round and then a wonder along The Boardwalk. Due to the jet lag we're usually up early the 2nd day so we use it to head to whichever park has EMH and make the most of it before heading back to the reports in the afternoon for some pool time and maybe a little nap.

Everyone has to go with the knowledge that you wont be able to do everything but you will be going back at some point and enjoy the trip for what it is. On our last trip in Aug 2010 Toy Story Mania was THE ride to do unfortunately on the days we went to DS either the wait time was just too long or the ride was broken so we never made it on. Needless to say it's high on our list to do on this trip.

 

[flortlebap]

Jet lag is a big issue, but it's mostly on the return - when you get out there it's just a matter of getting to bed as soon as possible and setting the alarm for a sensible time (like 9am) the following morning. Grab some breakfast, have an 'easy' first day (maybe a water park?) and an early-ish night. By the morning of the second day, you'll feel bright, refreshed AND you will have knocked one of your to-do's off the list

That's funny, I would do the absolute opposite!

I would stay up as late as you can the first night. I found myself wide awake from 2am the first three days of our trip, because that's 7am UK time and our house is usually up at half 6 for work/school. I made the mistake of going to bed early the first night and it threw me out of whack for days.

9am is 2pm UK time, so it's highly unlikely you'd need an alarm to wake you at that time

Your theory would work on the US to UK time difference, though.

 

[gemma85]

That's funny, I would do the absolute opposite!

I would stay up as late as you can the first night. I found myself wide awake from 2am the first three days of our trip, because that's 7am UK time and our house is usually up at half 6 for work/school. I made the mistake of going to bed early the first night and it threw me out of whack for days.

9am is 2pm UK time, so it's highly unlikely you'd need an alarm to wake you at that time

Your theory would work on the US to UK time difference, though.

Well I don't think I would worry about lack of sleep. I'm currently still recovering from 2.5 years lack of sleep due to my lovely son. Even now I automatically wake at 6am on weekends off

 

[tinks_1989]

We have been twice doing 7 nights and really enjoyed our selves! We only visited Disney managed to do everything we wanted to do!

 

[amacspad]

We just got back yesterday morning after 7 nights (2nd time done this) if it's that or nothing the answer is def YES!!!!
Fire any questions if you wish!
Debs xx

 

[2Tiggies]

Any time in Florida is better than none.

I agree. I'm another one facing a similar issue for next year - desperately want to go but budget with being tied to school hols makes a 7 or 10 day trip the only option at this stage and I haven't eliminated that as a possibility. We are fortunate in having done several really long trips so I think we could get by with working on priorities only and still have a great time

Well I don't think I would worry about lack of sleep. I'm currently still recovering from 2.5 years lack of sleep due to my lovely son. Even now I automatically wake at 6am on weekends off

Uh,don't even go there. My 10 year old is only just getting the picture about Sundays being sleep in days and she is one of those kids who has no problem staying up until the wee hours of the morning and then being up at 6

 

[Tony Toon]

We have been twice doing 7 nights and really enjoyed our selves! We only visited Disney managed to do everything we wanted to do!

Likewise. Been twice for 7 days, stuck to Disney only and managed to do everything we wanted to and had a ball but planned carefully before we went. As others have said, we get up early and hit the parks at opening time. perhaps spend an afternoon at a Water Park or go shopping. Back for fireworks in the evening. Still jet lagged when we get home though.

Mrs TT

 

[laura_<3]

I'm considering a last minute 7 day holiday next year as we'll be on a tight budget. As previous posters have said, 7 days is better than none

I don't suffer too bad from jet lag. On our first night we stayed up as late as we could and woke up around 7am the following morning and that was pretty much the routine for the full two weeks.Then when we got home we stayed up quite late.

 

[dixonsontour]

We did 7 nights with DD aged 6.

We often used to go for 7 nights before we had her for work reasons but it was her first shorter trip.

It was great and we would do it again no hesitation.

We landed home sunday morning and were home for 7.30am. She had a nap then went to her friends party in the afternoon!

She went straight back to school and all her activities and was fine.

We found it felt like a lot longer as we go to Florida alot so you hit the ground running so to speak.

I know some schools tag training days onto half terms so you may be able to go for just over a week.

 

[gemma85]

We did 7 nights with DD aged 6.

We often used to go for 7 nights before we had her for work reasons but it was her first shorter trip.

It was great and we would do it again no hesitation.

We landed home sunday morning and were home for 7.30am. She had a nap then went to her friends party in the afternoon!

She went straight back to school and all her activities and was fine.

We found it felt like a lot longer as we go to Florida alot so you hit the ground running so to speak.

I know some schools tag training days onto half terms so you may be able to go for just over a week.

Yeah I am waiting for my first trip to DLP in feb and I'm already pricing up holiday to Florida in 2014. Feb seems so long away so I can imagine what I will be like waiting for 2014 to arrive. Had my passport since 2004 and I've used it once. As its going to cost me £70 odd pounds to renew I hope to make good use out of it. With the 7 days holiday guess it will easy my son into the weather over there

 

[chocolateMinnie]

this year will be our 6th 7 day trip - we are also tied by school hours. DH and DD struggle with prickly heat so the peak of the summer is a no-go for us and anyway we like the food and wine festival and halloween stuff in October.

We did once get a three week over there and don't get me wrong this remains our ideal but you can get a lot done in a week at WDW.

 

[amacspad]

People think we are mad going for one week but when I think back we went to DLP for 2 nights by coach which took 16 hrs and so the first night was straight to bed as we didn't get there till 10.30pm so an 8,1/2 hour flight to Florida for 7 nights is well worth it!

Debs xx