Should i have a schedule?

[lovin'Mickey]

We are headed again this year, this time Port Orleans Riverside. I have a 7, 6 and 2 1/2 year old. I wanted a schedule as to where to go when ,,,,, but hubby disagrees he wants to wing it like we did last year. Any advice out there??

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

I say plan...plan, plan, plan til you can't plan any more!!!! My husband would like to "wing it" also (they can't help it, it's in their nature) but I just can't see going somewhere with as much to see and do as Diney World and not having a plan. You don't have to have every minute accounted for. Just like what park on which day, rides to hit (which one's to baby swap the 2 1/2 yr old on) and PS reservations. The rest will fall into place. HAVE FUN!!!

 

[nygrl]

i tried to schedule on our last trip for the first time and as usual once we got there we had no schedule... we just are not schedule type people.. we like to eat when we are hungry not when we have a ps lol.... we stayes cr concierge so it made it easy to get last minute ps which really helped but other nights we just grabbed a turkey leg at whatever park we were at which obviosly wasnt scheduled either... i feel once you get down there it is easier to say ok we will do this park one day and this park the next but if it changes no big deal..it is a vacation dont stress about scheduling too much

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I make a schedule as a fall-back plan. We use it only when we find ourselves wandering with no direction. Sadly, this happens all too often when we grow hot and tired.

 

[fantavet]

Having researched my trip to death already, the only suggestion I would have for traveling with little ones is use your hotel! You made a very smart choice staying on property. Kids will have energy in the morning, it will be cooler, hit your choice rides/attractions.

Then take the kids back to the hotel pool for a break in the afternoon. It may be hot and crowded at the parks and the whole family can recharge. If you can get them to nap, bonus!

Then head out again when the sun is not quite as hot. This type of plan could make your vacation that much better.

 

[lovethattink]

We wing it. Years ago, we use to plan everything. Then one time I left our written out plan in the room, so we winged it. Been doing it that way ever since.

 

[princesslulu]

I'm a planner. So I say plan ahead! The only thing that worries me is what time to make PS's for. There is no rhyme or reason with our eating schedules. Sometimes were hungry and sometimes were not. We always eat breakfast, but not always lunch and dinner.

 

[rt2dz]

We plan lightly. I make PS for the absolute musts (dinner show for example). We roughly outline where we think we might want to spend the day, but it usually changes when we are down there. Last trip DS was 3.5 and kept wanting to go back to AK, so we did. I will not go during spring break and avoid June, July, and August, so when we do go, we've never had a problem getting a last minute PS for within an hour of the time we desire.

 

[Ermadine]

Just because you wing it doesn't mean you can't come prepared. I took colored index cards and have been putting information on them for all the parks, right down to which days are the best to go and when to avoid them. That way we can wait to decide what we want to do, but we can make educated choices!

Things I included: Hours parks are open, when they have EMH, Times of parades and fireworks, Restaurants that we can eat at on the meal plan, what type of foods they have, Ride information and hints, locations of penny presses, and any misc information that I found important.

The only exception I made to this was to make a PS at Chef Mickeys, but the rest of the meals will be spur of the moment.

And yes, I am still driving my husband crazy!

10 more days and counting

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I am such a planner. I think it's part of the fun (for me anyway). I don't want my family to feel that we have to do this or that. I always know which parks we are going to on which day. The rest is written down or in my head. Then we just go with the flo. It is vacation afterall. Have fun.

 

[dixipixi]

I like to have a plan. My family does not. So we compromise. At least that's what I like to tell them!

I basically plan which park we're going to on what day and make one PS for each day. Once we're in the park, they pretty much follow my lead since I'm "the only one who knows what to do" That allows me to have some security with a basic plan and my family can feel like they have done what they wanted to. We usually see and do everything we want to on our trips. If we miss something...well that's another reason to go back!!
We also alternate busy touring days with easy rest days at a water park, the hotel pool, or just walking around DTD. That keeps us all from feeling like we have been under the pressure of a schedule the entire time.

My family...they're , but I still them!!!!

 

[SKELATOR THE PIRATE]

You have a small child and 2 young children. How tired are they going to be today or tomorrow? How hot will it be. Do they nap and when? My wife is a schedule commando. Our last trip she had everything planned. Worked for the first couple of days. Then something came along and derailed these intense plans. Simple things like park for the day and maybe a PS. Remember children might not eat well one meal because someones in a hurry and then they are hungry again well before your next planned meal. Just keep it simple and do not stress because you do not have a detailed plan and do not stress when things do not go according to your plan which they will not. Have Fun.

 

[EthansMom]

I'm another person who does light planning. I try to have a plan as to which parks we'll likely visit on which days. Then I make PS's for lunch and character meals. I also print out the park schedules and parade/show schedules.

I DO NOT have a schedule that lists which rides or which order or anything like that. And we may not make it to every single one of our PS's. But I do know that the Spectromagic Parade is only being offered on two days that we're at WDW and if we don't make it one of those two days, we don't get to see it during our vacation. I also know that we'll have the opportunity to eat at some restaurants we've missed in the past because we have reservations this trip.

On our last trip, we did no planning and I hated it. Basically, it's different strokes for different folks. Do what makes you feel most comfortable.

 

[TJA]

With kids in tow, just plan lightly. Do your research before you go, such as jotting down restaurants you simply must go to and making a few PS reservations. As someone above noted, you can't possibly know ahead of time when your kids are going to be tired or hungry.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

We've never really had a schedule but that's because we usually go offseason when itsa lot slower. This year we're going in june where is busier so we're going to try a schedle this time. If you're going off peak like november or december when its really slow you don't really need one due to smaller waiting lines. October and may aren't bad either. June through august you might wanna have some sort of plan. Have fun and don't stress. It's supposed to be a magical adventure. Remember that! Now get outta here and go have fun.

 

[DizChick05]

I'd say plan what day and to which park but not which attractions in order.
You could also make videos about each park like you saying "hi today we are going to the Magic Kingdom park" and describing some of the rides.
What ever you choose to do, have a great time!!!

 

[lovin'Mickey]

This was great advice guys Thank you sooo much. I have no idea but I never thought to let the kids share a meal. Does WDW charge a sharing fee if they share an adult meal? Even if they do it would still probably not be as much as 2 kids meals! Thanks again guys!!!!!!!