must do's for a family that can only go every 4 years

[tia_michelle]

really spending lots of time on this board as we only get to go once every 4 years or so because of cost (this trip cost us almost $8,000 (but includes 4 days in san diego) and husband does not get much time off . I want to get the most of our vacation.

I know that all of you here have great advice

wondering if you could only go every 4 years what is a few must do's, sees or eats.

who's going-

me 37 ( been 2002, 2007) , dh 34 (been 4 + times), ds 8 (been once in 2007), ds 3 (never been) and sis-in-law 30 ( been lots)

( odd how the kids were born in the same years that we went to disney. )

moderate budget ( would like total of food to be no more that $100 a day not including breakfast for 2 adults, 2kids)

also I have in my excitement told the kids way to early and now having a hard time explaining that it is still so far away, any advice here?

thanks in advance
T

 

[Dizzy4DL]

also I have in my excitement told the kids way to early and now having a hard time explaining that it is still so far away, any advice here?
T

When are you going? And how many days in the park? Which hotel?

 

[tia_michelle]

will be in anahiem from the 21-28 jan 2011 have 6 day hoppers. Staying at Staybridge In garden grove ( it is a comfort thing for us, we have stayed there before and know how to get around from there)
<---- for my 3 year old sitting on my lap watching

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Well, I think the first thing you must do is create a countdown for the kids so they will stop bugging you. It will also help build excitement.

 

[quantumottle]

I have another idea that will not only help you plan your trip but will really keep the kids busy in the meantime. RideMax! Have you heard of it? I said last year I would quit talking about it, but I couldn't help but think of it as soon as I read that your kids were going crazy. I subscribed for my kids and they used it every day for months leading up to our visit. I have a confession, I subscribe to it all year long now, it so much fun to plan iteneraries, and I'm not even going to use them - I just have fun throwing them together and day dreaming.

 

[tia_michelle]

ride max - will check that out! thanks

 

[SplashMo]

You are going to have a blast!


Try to add something diffrent each day...

One Day Fantasy Land in the morning. The Other toon Town. For sure check out restaurants in advance and menus.

Really enjoy the Chracters. Dont Panic. You have plenty of time to do everything multiple times. Except the shows you need to see as soon in your week as possible. That will be the biggest challange.

Make Sure in DCA to see Crush / Mike and Sulley.

 

[Janell]

If your room has a freezer in it? If so and you can get some of those Uncrustable sandwiches. They are great for lunches or snacks in the park. They unfreeze as the morning goes on and are ready when you need them.

We like to split meals at Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. They have salads, pizza and pasta. They have one free refill with the soda you buy. (or at least they did last December)

We also like Hungary Bear in Critter Country. Their meals may or may not be spilt between people, but the food is really good. Plus its a nice place to sit. One night we were there just before 9:00pm,(when they close) got our food, and watched characters load on boats and rafts for Fantastic. It was a lot of fun.

We also got a cooler back pack from Target(for like $25-30) we pack it each day with sodas and water. That helps us cut down on the cost of drinks a lot.

 

[SplashMo]

I second the Pizza Port in tomorrowland. Great food. Within your budget and covered seating...

Also food has a wide appeal.

 

[tia_michelle]

sadly there is no ride max for mac

 

[Brady's Mom]

Since you're staying at Staybridge and will have a fridge why don't you pack some lunches for your family. We do this regularly and take sandwiches, chips, carrots/celery and apples. This way I make sure my family eats relatively healthy and have some "veggies" and don't care if they eat cheeseburgers or chicken nuggets for dinner every night. When we do food this way we get away with under $60 a day for our family of 5 (our oldest DS doesn't always go with us). And we don't feel bogged down with having eaten fried food or not enough veggies for a week.

We bring our lunch in in a portable cooler with some small ice packs. We also bring in water bottles and refill them. But, you could get some Capri Sun or some other juice thing to make lunch more fun.

 

[quantumottle]

sadly there is no ride max for mac

Sorry, I was not aware of that...

 

[ironpig70]

Also we only get to go every 4 years. We didn't have child care this summer so that freed up funds for this trip. Some things we plan to do and things we have done in the past to save money and maximimize fun.

1) Continental breakfast. No big into breakfst at such an early time so this "snack" helps to fend off hunger till brunch time.

2) pack snacks, lunch and water. Or eat back at the hotel. I figure if we cut out 2/3 of the meals thats a big savings.

3) Shopping is done the last day at Downtown Disney. Kids can "look" the whole trip and by the time we get to the last day there selection is narrowed down.

4) If kids are small like mine shop at the Dollar store prior to going. Went at Halloween and got a lot of glow sticks, glow rings, glow wands, etc. All very cheap. Also have a girl who wants to visit the Princesses and she was Snow White for Halloween so we will take that costume so she can dress up at that time.

5) Sharing. Lots of sharing. We may get a "dessert" or two and everybody shares. It's a way for us to get a wide variety of snacks and save money. Also helps the waistline.

6) Planning, planning and more planning. I read alot and know what shows, rides and stuff we wanna see and priortize it into 4 catergories 1-4 with #1 must do, #2 really wanna do, #3 wanna do, #4 if we have time. So as I plan using Ridemax or simply in my head I know what direction to head.

Lastly with 6 days in the parks you will have lots of time, come early, leave midday we the crowds get crazy and take a break then return and close the park.

 

[Ariel224]

Since you're staying at Staybridge and will have a fridge why don't you pack some lunches for your family. We do this regularly and take sandwiches, chips, carrots/celery and apples. This way I make sure my family eats relatively healthy and have some "veggies" and don't care if they eat cheeseburgers or chicken nuggets for dinner every night. When we do food this way we get away with under $60 a day for our family of 5 (our oldest DS doesn't always go with us). And we don't feel bogged down with having eaten fried food or not enough veggies for a week.

We bring our lunch in in a portable cooler with some small ice packs. We also bring in water bottles and refill them. But, you could get some Capri Sun or some other juice thing to make lunch more fun.

We pack lunches too. It saves time in addition to money. When you're hungry, you just get the food from your locker and eat....no deciding what to eat and waiting in lines for food. It frees up some of the food budget for snacks like churros or ice cream.

If you bring Capri Suns, freeze them ahead of time if you can. They then serve as the ice packs and eliminate some of the bulk. (Though I still will throw in one or two of the small ice packs if we have cold cuts on the sandwiches). They will be nicely thawed out about the time you need them. I find this also helps to prevent the kids from wanting to gulp them down too early "just because they're there".....oh, gee, they're still frozen!

You can even mix things up a bit by eating at one of the restaurants for lunch and saving the picnic for dinner.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

We picnic too but my favorite money saving tip (plus it cuts down on soft drinks and keeps us hydrated) Go and buy water bottles on straps carry them into the park empty. Bonus you won't end up with a bag full of heavy water bottles, the kids can carry their own. Just about every food vendor in disneyland will fill your bottles with ice water free.

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

One thing not to be missed, but often overlooked on here, are the distinctly Disney forms of in park entertainment. While everyone knows to hit the Haunted Mansion and Matterhorn and see the parades, to me there are other things that really give me the feeling of that Disney Magic. For example, the Dapper Dans on Main Street are a classic Disneyland performing group. Also, the Pirate Bootstrap Band in New Orlean's Square. The Flag Retreat ceremony should be seen once a trip, and my favorie thing of all is Billy Hill and the Hillbillies who perform in the Golden Horseshoe in Fronteirland.

These are the most classic forms of Disney- in park experiences, and the ones I look forward to the most on every visit. With 6 days, you should be able to take in one of two a day, and the kids will remember these things forever.