Newbie with 7 kids, going to DL in June

[tokmom]

I hope you all can give me some advice.
My dh and I will be driving down to DL the end of June. I wish we could go earlier, but the kids can't miss school. My husband isn't keen on this DL thing at all and the only way I got him to go was to make the trip to DL itself only 2 days. Is it possible to see much of it in that time frame? My kids aren't real ride crazy so I doubt they will want to do a lot of the rides more than once.
Their ages are 19, 17, 15, 11, 8, 4 and 2.
I thought of letting the older ones go together and meeting up with them later in the day, while dh and I took the younger ones on the more sedate rides. Neither one of us like hair raising rides. I'm fine with Dumbo and the tea cups.

I read the food sticky and that really helped me with food ideas.

Any other thoughts?

THANKS!

Kelly

 

[npealer]

you should be able to see a lot of the parks but 3 days would be better. Especially during summer. I would defianently let the older kids do their own thing. It could get real boring for them if they had to do all the same things as the younger ones. Have a great trip!

 

[MATTERHORN]

First of all, welcome!

Yes I would definitely let the older ones go for awhile, but also you will need them to take the 8 and 4 year olds on a few that they are tall enough for but the 2 year old is not! Most of the rides at DL are really tame, but I agree with the previous poster in that I think you should do atleast 3 days, especially since you are going during a busy time when school it out.

I assume you'll be doing other things because making that long drive for only 2days would be hard, atleast for me. After driving all that way, you might as well stay for 3 days if you can!

I hope your DH has a great time and will insist that you plan another trip as soon as you get home A girl can dream right?

Andrea

 

[abby]

It will go fine, make sure the older kids have cell phone so you can find them. You may find breaking into three groups works better, the older 3 on their own, two middle ones with an adult and two youngest with an adult, at least for some of the time. Enjoy....

 

[tokmom]

First of all, welcome!

Yes I would definitely let the older ones go for awhile, but also you will need them to take the 8 and 4 year olds on a few that they are tall enough for but the 2 year old is not! Most of the rides at DL are really tame, but I agree with the previous poster in that I think you should do atleast 3 days, especially since you are going during a busy time when school it out.

I assume you'll be doing other things because making that long drive for only 2days would be hard, atleast for me. After driving all that way, you might as well stay for 3 days if you can!

I hope your DH has a great time and will insist that you plan another trip as soon as you get home A girl can dream right?

Andrea

What rides are you talking about? Can you please tell me? My 4 yr old has some developmental issues, so I'm not sure she can tolerate any rides that go fast or make quick movements.

Yes, we are making it a busy trip to California. We are stopping in Oregon, San Francisco for a couple of days, doing Disneyland and then heading back up to see the Redwoods and finally back home. Dh is more excited about Alacatraz than Disneyland. Did I tell you he's anti crowd too?
So to get the man there for 2 lonnng days, is asking a lot.

You all gave me some excellent advice, thanks! I envy you your trips.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Well there probably are none then that the bigger kids could go on that she would be able to! There are a few like Big Thunder and Matterhorn that my 4 year old loves, but you will likely not have that problem! They are fast and jerky so probably not good for her to ride~


Andrea

 

[c&m]

Some slower rides that your 4-year-old may enjoy at DL may be:

1. Casey's train (just a train ride that goes up and down some hills)
2. Mr. Toad's (a slow, but jerky car ride)
3. Peter Pan (not good if your 4yo is afraid of heights, but goes slow)
4. Buzz Lightyear (slow ride that you can try to score points as you go along)
5. Storybook ride (slow boat ride that takes you around miniature storybook settings)
6. Jungle boat cruise (slow boat ride that takes you around a "Jungle" with the boat driver cracking corny jokes along the way)
7. Pirates of the Carribean (slow but dark)
8. Small World (slow boat ride with that song that will stay in your head forever)

There are other rides, but see how the 4yo takes to those tamer, slower rides first.

Your 4yo may also enjoy these shows in California Adventure: Aladdin and Disney's Playhouse.

 

[junglejoy]

Growing up my Dad hated Disneyland so he never went. My Mom took us and there were six of us. We split into older/younger groups. I was the youngest so I was always with Mom (fun!). I don't remember going before I was six (I did!), but my older siblings talk about their adventures.

My Dad would hang out at the hotel and read... It's sad because he missed some great family memories all because he hated crowds. So it's great your DH will go, but if he's going to be a party-pooper, maybe he shouldn't go for the whole time.

 

[PrincessSitka]

It is Disney not matter what you are going to have a wonderful time. And welcome to the forum

 

[tokmom]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

The ride list for my 4 yr old helps A LOT, now I know where to go and what to look for.

Yes, I applaud dh for finally taking the step into a huge amusement park. I owe the guy one.

I swear, I'm running out of ink printing all your wonderful ideas. I was actually thinking of skipping DL because the planning was overwhelming. Now I'm excited to go.

 

[Rapunsel]

FYI If you want to go to Alcatraz make reservations before hand. My extended family just went up there and were unbale to go because it was booked for 3 days solid.. It was the only must do that my cousins wanted to do and didn't get to..

It is my favorite part of going up there..

 

[Shakthi]

I will tell you about my personal experience. The first time we went to DL(DH, DD & I), we did two-day passes Dec 25th & 26th. It was incredibly packed but we had a nice time and believe me, we didn't do ANY rides because there was too much wait in ALL of them. We took pictures, tried some food and hang around, no stress. When DD got tired, we brought her over to the hotel to nap(I always feel sorry when I see those very little babies being dragged around all day) and came back later for the night parade, dinner and fireworks, if it didn't seem too much for her. I think if you are not worried about going on ALL the rides and seeing EVERYTHING under the sun during your visit as if the world is going to end tomorrow then, you will have a nice experience because it is Disney and it is magical just being there, enjoying the parks. Your older kids will be better on their own. The cell phones help a lot because you need to know their wherabouts. We always try to enjoy ourselves and NOT stress out. Go early if you can, take breaks if that's what you feel like, especially and if your husband is not fond of crowds. You should go easy, don't push too much and he will be willing to come back, I'm sure.

 

[tokmom]

Alacatraz: I have been studying San Fran. like it's the most important thing on earth, LOL. I know you have to make reservations ahead of time, but thanks for the reminder. I will do them as early as possible. If we didn't get reservations, I'm not sure I could get dh in the car, LOL.

DL: That's my motto. I do want to see as much as possible, but I refuse to let myself get stressed out. Saying that now and getting down there and seeing all there is to see, might be a different story.

Everyone here has helped me with ride ideas , so I have a pretty good idea on what rides to get on first....I think.

A question on early entry. I'm not sure we will be able to get one. Other than getting there a half hour early before gates open, will it make that much difference if we don't get one? It sounds good, but I can see a million other people standing right behind me,

 

[MATTERHORN]

It does help although it's not imperative! We have AP's so we never get one unless we stay onsite, and we still do just fine the first hour the park is open hitting atleast 10-12 rides in that time, some of them twice!

If you don't have it, don't stress! It is a nice perk, but you will still get alot done right away!

Andrea