Question about Full Days

[2disneyboys]

OP I agree w/ you on the Park Hopers... not cost effective for us. Maybe when the kids are older that will be an option but for now, we spend that $ on other things instead.

Your kids will love the kidcot stations. When we last went w/ the kids (feb 07) we had my two DS" and my youger Step Sister & Brother (4 kids under 7) and they all actually enjoyed epcot and the kidcot stations more then MK... we had planned on 2 & 1/2 days @ MK and 2 days @ Epcot and ended up spending that extra 1/2 day @ Epcot by the kids choice! It's a fun relaxing activity to do. This year, we are also going to do the Kim Possible adventure with the boys... they are actually "looking" forward to being spies and going on a secret adventure.

Every family vacations differently. my MIL & FIL like to sleep in, nice (long) breakfast, and arrive at the parks around 11/12 and go from there. DH & I like to be up at the crack of dawn, do what we can (no midday breaks for) and if it's just too much, maybe end the day alittle early. You can also take breaks IN the parks.. Various shows, or even just a quiet bench people watching. We do this with the kids as a way of tricking them into resting. We play guessing games on where we think the people are from, or have they been before, or if they just got there or if its the end of their trips. The boys sit beside us, watching and guessing, and without realising it, taking a break. We use this on any fast paced vacation, not just WDW trips.

I also love the photo pass, but do have your own camera, as last time we went, there were area's that had plenty of photo pass photographers, and some (even some character greeting spots) that didn't any. have your own camera and let that supplement what the photographers take.

Something I've learned from these DIS boards is to have some informal plan, but not to be so wrapped up in the plan details that you miss the moments that occur around you at any given moment. Anything you miss (ride, attraction, etc) is just that many more excuses to go back (like anyone needs an excuse to go back to wdw!) ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

 

[missesdisney]

Full day off? We take time to eat and when we are done for the day we are done, which is rarely before 8-9pm. We do 11 day trips and are at parks every day all day. We generally head out around 8:30 after eating in our villa (DVC) and then are at the rope drop or right after. We park hop a lot - usually two parks in one day. We don't rush or follow a schedule but we keep moving forward as the Robinsons say!

Friends of ours were there same time as us last year and they asked what we did on 'non park days'. We said non park days are when we are at home!

Do what works for you and your family and be prepared to be flexible. We go in the fall when it's not as hot so we can do 9am - 9pm without the sun killing us.

 

[Tbelle1976]

We just did 8 nights with DD11 & DS7 and never took a day off from the parks. We were at park opening (or within 15 minutes of it) everyday and never returned to our room before 10p.m. We did take a few hours to let the kids swim one day, but it was even raining then and didn't feel like walking around the parks in the rain. Of course it's FL, so it only lasted for a couple hours then right back to the park!

We were very exhausted but had a great time!

 

[jenharring]

My kids are very active too. I have to say when ever we go on vacation my kids only like to go go go oh and did I say go. They are not ones for breaks. We are going in June and plan to take the afternoons for naps and swims at the pool. but me and dh have talked about it and it they are not up for that and one is crouchy then we will just stay in the park. We are going to kind of play it by ear as we do have one that will be 10mo old at the time, though he will take naps in the stroller and sling.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

In all my trips, we've only not taken a rest day 2x: Once was the first time I went and we frankly didn't know any better about how tired we'd really end up, and the second time was a trip during my Spring Break. Just didn't have the extra day to take off. Otherwise, we always schedule an "off day."

Our day off typically consists of sleeping somewhat late, and then going to an ADR or two, and some DTD shopping. This year, we'll be at Wilderness Lodge, and we're having lunch at 12pm at Whispering Canyon (basically sleep late, and then just walk downstairs for lunch), then going back to the room to rest some more, and then going to Tea at the Floridian at 4pm. Will do some light shopping in DTD afterwards and scrounge dinner up from somewhere.

I have to have a day off from the parks, both for the sake of my feet and my sanity. I try to time it so it's the 5th day if we're staying 8 full days, and the 4th day if we're staying 7 full days.

 

[disneymom2one]

And I would never go without a park hopper or an AP. It's so easy to go to a park in the morning, go back to the resort, and then go to a different park in the evening. Also, I think some parks are better suited for evenings. For example, we spend most evenings at Epcot - dinner in a great WS restaurant and then walking around the countries. I'm not a fan of DHS or AK for evenings. AK is a perfect morning park for me. Having the ability to hop means we plan more in terms of half days rather than whole days.

I never never recommend Park Hopper....there's so much to do in each park...I've never park-hopped....

The only reason I always schedule a "nothing" day is because we always stay at The Beach Club....and I feel it makes the extra expense for staying there worth it....for the fabulous pool. So we used to take a Pool Day then would head out to Pleasure Island...

(Yes with teens...they loved Adventurers Club) which will be VERY MUCH missed now they've shut it down.

 

[mommykds]

Our big trips are 10 days long & we just can't seem to take a break. We hit the parks at open & stay til closing. We have taken an few hours here & there to enjoy the pools but then everyone is antsy to get back into the parks. My kids are 13, 10, & 8 now but we have been like that since they were babies.

No sleeping at Disney!!!!!!!

 

[ChuckGA]

I would call ourselves "park commandos" but to me that means getting to a park at rope drop and going all day until we have had enough and then go back to the room and sleep. That doesn't mean we don't take long breaks in the parks while our kids sleep in the stroller or just sit on our duff.

Your plan seems fine to me and actually for us it would be slightly light because we have yet to do a water park and we always plan full days at the park(s) and that was always with small children. We might do 1/2 at one and 1/2 at another if that makes the most sense for that day due to dining arrangements. I strongly suggest you stick to your plan as you know your style and ignore advice to take breaks during the afternoon or that it is too much. Nothing ruins a trip more than using the wrong "touring style" for your family.

 

[Pixieflip]

There's people here that don't take even half a day off in a 10 day vacation. We never do. We are at one park at park opening and a park (maybe the one we opened, maybe we hopped) when it closes every day. We are just that way. I can sit on my tush at home. When I am at Disney I will be at a park. The closest we take to time off is to go to DTD for a few hours to shop or eat.

The only time we ever left the parks was when the kids were in that toddler stage where napping was just not working in the stroller. Honestly, when they are very little and even preschooler or older, they fall asleep when they get tired and we just find a park bench and sit with the stroller and rest a bit there. I'm with the PP, I can sit on my tush at home! Rest if you need to, but if they're still going and okay, why leave? And if you're there that long, you really can take things a bit slower. Killing it all in 4 days would be the end of me! I like the longer, slower, relaxed even in the crowds approach.

It takes so long to leave the park and return later, I'd always vote for just going home once, swimming in the evening. Then you can put their jammies on and bring some dessert to the room and get to bed at a decent hour.
When you're there that long, it is important to be rested, so you're wise to make a plan!

 

[Brer Shay]

Personally, taking a whole day off when there were so many fun things to do so nearby would stress me out!

I don't think I (or anyone in my family) has the ability to take a whole day off while we're there - talk about stress.

 

[Aristocath]

We have never scheduled a day off. We like to take advantage of park hoppers and take a break in the afternoon. My kids will burn the candle at both ends for 9 days straight and sleep the whole day after we leave Disney. They must get that from me!