Letting my family sleep in as opposed to "Rise & Shine!!"

[Suedrews]

I have made up a schedule for the 8 days we will be in WDW in August....when we were there 2 years ago, I did it comando style & had very crabby people on my hands by the 3rd day....so this time I am planning a more relaxed vacation, a couple of days up early, a couple of days hanging out at the pool until after lunch....good idea or bad.....are we going to be sorry that we didn't get it all in early & heading back to the hotel in the crazy heat by mid afternoon?

 

[jaysue]

Nope, since you have 8 days, do a mix - it will keep people from getting too tired or burnt out or complaining too mcuh about having to stay on a schedule

Thanks
jaysue

 

[hookedup]

In my family: Bright & Early = GRUMPY

Well you can imagine how hard it is to do that adding in the 3 hour time change from CA to FL!

Talk about grumpy and tired! I learned the hard way last summer too - we now relax, sleep in and have a much slower pace. No character breakfast for us either - if we have to get up early it will be to go to the parks not to pay a lot to eat and be grumpy!!!

 

[disneychrista]

I think a mix would be good. We did this on our trip in December. We got up early the first half and then slept in (for the most part) the second half.

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

IMHO.....as you said....chill a little...relax...but not to much. we did the same thing you did the first time, "gungho". and in hind-site it seemed we never kicked back or relaxed. we went to USO after WDW and didnt enjoy it because we were beat!
also , after we got home, our memories were so "FUZZY" from go, go , go that
our brains didnt have the time to absorb it all. with this new fairytale plan, it seems like the perfect chance to catch up and take it a bit easy.

 

[Harambe]

Yes - plan to do a few EMH mornings and a few "sleep in's". You'll have a better time at Illuminations or Fantasmic, if you know you'll be sleeping late the next morning.

 

[Mel6197]

Well the early morning, late sleeping didint work out for us.. LOL
On the first day I set the wake up call for 830am...Well at 830 Mickey Called and You never saw me jump out of bed so fast to Hang up on Mickey. My kids were still PASSED OUT..Then on days that I wanted to sleep late, We were up at 7am.. I only got to hear Mickey 1 time, Either I hung up on him, or we already left for the parks LOL...
Enjoy have a great time... Im just going with the flow this time in Oct.

 

[MulanMom]

I think it's a great idea to mix it up like that. We have done the same in the past and it has worked out well. The biggest rule of thumb for our trips has been to be flexible and not slave ourselves to a schedule...even if it's a schedule to be out of the parks! There are certain core must-do's, CRT bfast PS, MK fireworks, but we've learned to pay attention to ourselves. there have been park days where after an hour or two, we've said it's just not working, and returned to the resort. We've also had scheduled rest days where we preferred to be in the parks.

Hopefully it will work out well for you and your family!

 

[April in Disney]

What we have found out that worked for us pretty good is if we are going to stay up late the next morning we are not going to be out by 7 am. I am up every morning by about 5 am no matter when I go to sleep but now I have finally found a resort that works for us. I get up make coffee and go and sit outside and watch the animals when my DH and DD are sleeping. We only go to 2 parks for EE. MK and Epcot.

 

[dmonroe]

I also think it's a good idea not to get up really early every day. We're planning on taking our time getting to the parks this year. MK is the only EMH we might take advantage of. We don't actually have any problem waking up early--4 yo gets up pretty early any way! We all get grumpy if we don't get to eat and dress at a leisurely pace. Especially the 4 yo! The more you rush him, the worse he gets. Soooooo, we decided it's just not worth it to us! We only have 5 park days this year, but this is ds 4th trip and he'll be back many more times!

Have a great trip!

 

[Ohanamom]

In our family, DS(8) and myself are the early risers on vacation-usually around 6-6:30 am. (while on the cruise we got up every morning around 6:30 to watch the sunrise-what a SPECTACULAR sight that was out on the open ocean) DH and DD like to sleep in. This is how I am on vacation because when I was little and went on vacation with my parents, my mother was the early riser. Guess it has been "passed on"...LOL

DH always complains that we are on the go so early that we never have any time to relax on vacation (ie: lounging by the pool).

This next time around DS and I will get up early as usual, go to the park for a few hours in the morning (take advantage of the EMH) then come back to the room to have breakfast with the rest of the family.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I find we wait less in line when we go early. If you don't mind waiting in line, sleeping in is fine. I hate to wait too long when I could be doing something else, even if it is taking a nap or going for a swim.

 

[RobinMarie]

Even the grumpy people usually agree it was worth getting to the parks early for maximum attraction potential. Still, I realize doing this for the entire vacation only leads to tired, resentful people. I still enjoy getting up early and having coffee. Whether I make coffee in the room and enjoy the balcony or get to know the resort by filling up a mug, I enjoy mornings as 'my time.'

I do find a late morning is needed every third day for most parties I've traveled with. Two days early park arrival, one day pool side or water park and repeat that pattern.

 

[doodle]

Mel6197, I keep laughing imagining you rushing to the phone to hang up on Mickey! Yes, sometimes our bodies cry "I have to have a break from all this fun and get some sleep!!"

We got back 5 days ago and for the first time, only did EE once. (In the past we have done it every day). I do think it helps to get a jump on the day so you won't be out in the heat but we got to the parks at 9:00, left around 1:00 or 2:00 and then went back later. Evenings are so much fun and we held up well because we didn't push ourselves to EE everyday.

You will have a wonderful time. Don't push so hard that you miss all the little moments - one for me was when my 9 year-old lead us all around Epcot with the map in his hand. He felt so important!
You will know when your crew is pooped - be sure to take a break and TALK about all that is happening. There is so much to discuss!! All the best!

 

[seashoreCM]

No alarm clocks. No wake up calls (unless you want to hear Mickey). No prodding the other sleepy family members.

In the park, no prodding of the little'uns to get them to move along. If one straggles, you should slow down and say nothing until he catches up. (You may prod them to indicate which way to go.)

Yes, if you rise early get into and out of the bathroom right away so it will be empty for the later risers when they get up.

Yes, if you rise early, get things ready including the coffee if you want to speed things up.

Yes, let some of the family members leave for the parks earlier than others if they wish. And those not wishing to return to the resort for a siesta can stay in the park depending on how hot they feel.

Yes, let it dawn on the late risers all by themselves that when they couldn't see and ride everything because they reported to the park late, they will get up earlier tomorrow all by themselves.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Some gift shops have two entrances. Be sure your rendezvous points are unambiguous.

 

[Kirby]

I think a lot depends on the park hours also. If you are going at a time of year that the parks are open late then by all means sleep in. But if not, then you might not see everything that you want to.

I think that mixing up your mornings are a good idea since you will be there 8 days. Just be flexible and in tune with your family.

 

[JennyDrake]

I may catch some flames for this one....
Having been at the tme of year you are goin, I think early is by far the best to beat the extreme (and I'm from The South) heat and humidity as well as the CROWDS.
You can always go back midday and sleep and swim.
But I would schedule an Eride night and sleep in, as well as scheduling another day or two to snooze, but the crowds will hit you hard.

Jenny

 

[bubbles]

Hi, keep in mind we go over spring/easter vacation when it is very crowded and my kids are much older teens, and we have been many, many times. We have found that sleeping in, doing pool time and going in the afternoon and evening keeps everyone happy. No one is overtired and grumpy. If we miss something. oh well... we'll do some other time. Also, some of us will do something that the others don t . early or not. this keeps everone fairly happy. good luck...remember this is vacation . it's suppose to be fun... not work

 

[Suedrews]

thanks for all your responses.....I am definately on the fence about this one, because i agree that getting into the parks early & out early afternoon is the smarter idea.....& someone mentioned letting the grumps see what getting into the parks later does for them in the heat.....maybe they will want to get up early for that reason.....whatever we choose to do, we'll be in disney!!!!! Who cares?!!

 

[markb]

We mix it up too.
I have a "weakest link" mentality. When one of the kids poops out... I'll take that one back to the room and let the dw and any one else who wants to "roll" go with it.
The key to a great WDW visit is rolling with the punches!