Resort hopping with grandma/grandpa

[Disneybiginner]

we are going to Orlando in October for a family reunion trip. We have 2 daughters age 5 and 3. So far we have planned go to SeaWorld on Sun Oct 14, Epcot on Monday Oct 15th for F&W, Tue October 16th for MNSSHP, so we have the rest of the week open. We are staying at a DS resort. Now we are thinking maybe do some resort hopping with grandparents on the days the older cousins hit Universal. Here is my plan, please tell me if it’s doable with seniors.

Day 1, Animal Kingdom Lodge, check out both resorts, participate activities, see animals, lunch/dinner at Sanna.

Day 2, AoA in the morning, mainly check out the huge icons, take drawing class around 11, back to DS for lunch, after lunch take the boat to POR, check out the resort.

Day 3, Ft. Wilderness, fishing, horse ride, lunch at trail end. Chip N Dale sing along later.

The order of the days doesn’t matter, really depends on if we can get the meal reservations. If not, we can just eat at counter service.

Thank you so much for any input!

PS, where can I find the most updated activities schedule of each resort?

 

[kaytieeldr]

The order of the days doesn’t matter, really depends on if we can get the meal reservations. If not, we can just eat at counter service.

October 2019, or October two weeks from today? You might be able to get ADRs the day before or day of. If next year, you have more than six months before you can even try.

Define seniors? How is their mobility? No reason it's not doable, but you know your party best.

 

[GAN]

Looks like they’re talking this year based on the dates. No guarantee for reservations this close, which could get old for the grandparents. Maybe if you plan early/late lunches that might work....

 

[Nancyg56]

I am a grandparent, and by day three I would be cringing. Please do not get me wrong, I would walk through fire for my DGD, but you are talking three days looking at resorts, when I would rather take my DGD shopping, swimming, maybe another day in the parks. If you are asking if seniors could keep up, yes. If you are asking if they would want to, well no.

To give you perspective, my 65 YO DH and I spent the day at the Big E with my neighbors and her two girls. DH took the older one on every thrill ride there, after having walked the entire fair, and Mom just about was crawling out of there by 7:30 in the evening. We were ready to go til the fair closed.

 

[jerseygal]

Not grandparents yet, but I could envision maybe one day looking at resorts with some pool time scheduled for the grands sometime during the day. DH and I are very active and walk a lot, so maybe I am speaking from a different perspective and would not want to take 3 days just looking at resorts. If you are taking the kids, ages 3 and 5 to Disney, are you able to go to another park which the kids and grandparents may love? How about Animal KIngdom, think the kids and grandparents would both love that one, Kilmanjaro Safari ride to see all the animals would be great for all. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Nancyg56]

Not grandparents yet, but I could envision maybe one day looking at resorts with some pool time scheduled for the grands sometime during the day. DH and I are very active and walk a lot, so maybe I am speaking from a different perspective and would not want to take 3 days just looking at resorts. If you are taking the kids, ages 3 and 5 to Disney, are you able to go to another park which the kids and grandparents may love? How about Animal KIngdom, think the kids and grandparents would both love that one, Kilmanjaro Safari ride to see all the animals would be great for all. Enjoy your trip!

My favorite memories include walking the trails in DAK with my DGD, and exploring the MK with her.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Once you find a schedule of activities (even if it isn't current), check the location of the activities at the resort. Many times, the fun activities are in the pool area. You probably don't want to take the kids to a pool they can't swim in.

 

[SharonZ]

JMO, but there's no way that I would spend three full days touring other resorts. You are at Disney, enjoy the parks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

we are going to Orlando in October for a family reunion trip. We have 2 daughters age 5 and 3. So far we have planned go to SeaWorld on Sun Oct 14, Epcot on Monday Oct 15th for F&W, Tue October 16th for MNSSHP, so we have the rest of the week open. We are staying at a DS resort. Now we are thinking maybe do some resort hopping with grandparents on the days the older cousins hit Universal. Here is my plan, please tell me if it’s doable with seniors.

Day 1, Animal Kingdom Lodge, check out both resorts, participate activities, see animals, lunch/dinner at Sanna.

Day 2, AoA in the morning, mainly check out the huge icons, take drawing class around 11, back to DS for lunch, after lunch take the boat to POR, check out the resort.

Day 3, Ft. Wilderness, fishing, horse ride, lunch at trail end. Chip N Dale sing along later.

The order of the days doesn’t matter, really depends on if we can get the meal reservations. If not, we can just eat at counter service.

Thank you so much for any input!

PS, where can I find the most updated activities schedule of each resort?

If you are talking about riding the ponies at FW, only your daughters could do that, but not the adults. If you are talking about riding the horses at FW, your daughters are not old enough. You have to be at least 9 or 10. Fishing and lunch would last about two hours at a max with two little ones. Checking out POR after lunch at Disney Springs would take about one hour including the boat ride. A visit to both Jambo House and Kidani Village, plus participating in activities and dinner or lunch might use up three or four hours. Your girls are going to get bored really quickly.

Add a day or two to your tickets and enjoy the parks a few more days.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I don't think there will be much for you to do at POR. The surrey bikes I guess? Or fishing (but you'll be doing that at Fort Wilderness the next day.)

If the grandparents really want to see more resorts, I might suggest Grand Floridian instead, especially because it will be later in the day so they will have the piano player/orchestra performing. There's also the boat rentals, which might be fun.

But in general, I agree with the previous few posters that this might be too much "resort touring" and get boring quickly.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Also, I noticed you want to have lunch at Trails End, but you should know that they actually have a breakfast/brunch that ends at noon, and then dinner begins at 4:30. Both are buffet style.

 

[Disneybiginner]

Looks like they’re talking this year based on the dates. No guarantee for reservations this close, which could get old for the grandparents. Maybe if you plan early/late lunches that might work....

Thank you. Yes, we are flexible to do an off time meal if we do go to The resort.

 

[Disneybiginner]

I am a grandparent, and by day three I would be cringing. Please do not get me wrong, I would walk through fire for my DGD, but you are talking three days looking at resorts, when I would rather take my DGD shopping, swimming, maybe another day in the parks. If you are asking if seniors could keep up, yes. If you are asking if they would want to, well no.

To give you perspective, my 65 YO DH and I spent the day at the Big E with my neighbors and her two girls. DH took the older one on every thrill ride there, after having walked the entire fair, and Mom just about was crawling out of there by 7:30 in the evening. We were ready to go til the fair closed.

Thank you for your input. We are not going to do it 3 days in a row, will do it in a 5 days stretch.

 

[Disneybiginner]

Not grandparents yet, but I could envision maybe one day looking at resorts with some pool time scheduled for the grands sometime during the day. DH and I are very active and walk a lot, so maybe I am speaking from a different perspective and would not want to take 3 days just looking at resorts. If you are taking the kids, ages 3 and 5 to Disney, are you able to go to another park which the kids and grandparents may love? How about Animal KIngdom, think the kids and grandparents would both love that one, Kilmanjaro Safari ride to see all the animals would be great for all. Enjoy your trip!

Our plan is spend the morning at our resort, and explore the Disney resort in the afternoon. We think our kids might give grandparents more attention if we explore the resort instead the park. We can take them back to the park anytime later, but they get less and less time to spend with grandparents.

 

[Disneybiginner]

My favorite memories include walking the trails in DAK with my DGD, and exploring the MK with her.

We will go to MK and Epcot with grandparents! Yeah!

 

[Disneybiginner]

Once you find a schedule of activities (even if it isn't current), check the location of the activities at the resort. Many times, the fun activities are in the pool area. You probably don't want to take the kids to a pool they can't swim in.

Thank you so much! Haven’t thought about it! Now we can cut back a few things, so neither our kids nor grandparents will be tired by doing so much!

 

[Disneybiginner]

JMO, but there's no way that I would spend three full days touring other resorts. You are at Disney, enjoy the parks.

Thank you for the reply. We just took the girls to WDW this past January. This is an unplanned trip for us. We are going to MK and Epcot as a whole big family, we want our kids spend time with grandparents, if we go to parks for more days, my kids will run wild, and totally forget grandparents are with them! LOL!

 

[jerseygal]

We will go to MK and Epcot with grandparents! Yeah!

Imo, there really might not be a lot for kids that age at Epcot. I think Animal Kingdom or HS, Toy Story Land would be more appealing.

 

[Disneybiginner]

If you are talking about riding the ponies at FW, only your daughters could do that, but not the adults. If you are talking about riding the horses at FW, your daughters are not old enough. You have to be at least 9 or 10. Fishing and lunch would last about two hours at a max with two little ones. Checking out POR after lunch at Disney Springs would take about one hour including the boat ride. A visit to both Jambo House and Kidani Village, plus participating in activities and dinner or lunch might use up three or four hours. Your girls are going to get bored really quickly.

Add a day or two to your tickets and enjoy the parks a few more days.

Thank you for the time frame information. Sounds like very relaxing. It’s just what we are looking for. We took a WDW Park trip in this past Jan. My girls absolutely loved it. But this trip is for family reunion, we have more family members that we want to spend time with but not able to go to the park.

 

[Disneybiginner]

I don't think there will be much for you to do at POR. The surrey bikes I guess? Or fishing (but you'll be doing that at Fort Wilderness the next day.)

If the grandparents really want to see more resorts, I might suggest Grand Floridian instead, especially because it will be later in the day so they will have the piano player/orchestra performing. There's also the boat rentals, which might be fun.

But in general, I agree with the previous few posters that this might be too much "resort touring" and get boring quickly.

Thank you for the suggestion. Originally, grandparents wanted to check out Yahaa bob at POR, but we found out he is on vacation that week! So we might go to GF, the girls can also see Cinderella there!