Slowing down the vacation

[MadHatter's Sister]

We have an annual pass, so slowing things down is no problem, but it still seems like my husband gets stressed out everytime we go. What are some things we can do in parks or outside the parks to make it not so stressful for him.
We have a 2 year old so kid friendly is a must.

 

[Klayfish]

What does he get stressed out about? That could make a difference in what you do to try to relieve it.

We stay off site, so we do a lot of things off property. Go to the movies (though honestly for that, we usually just go to DS), gift shops, Dunkin' Donuts, the community pool, take a nap.

 

[piglet1979]

My husband is the same way. We have started going to the parks at RD then leaving at about 11 or 12 and going back to the resort to swim and rest. We then go back around 5ish for dinner and then touring the park until close. Doing this you miss the highest crowds and the highest heat of the day. You can also go put putting at one of there courses as well.

 

[MadHatter's Sister]

Crowds, people who hit you with their strollers, or just stop right in front of you are the top stress makers for him.

 

[disneyvoice]

My husband doesn't necessarily get stressed out but he tends to get grumpy (pun intended) when he is tired at WDW. He doesn't like to stay at a resort late if we are going to be getting up really early in the morning. What I have found works best for all of us is to alternate days between the parks and water parks. We don't do most of the rides at the waterparks so we end up relaxing under a rented umbrella, doing the lazy river, or walking around the edge of the wave pools. We have even taken naps at the water parks. Spending a day at a water park in between the parks also gives us a chance to rest our legs and feet from all the walking we do on our WDW vacations. We will stay at a water park until 2:00 or 3:00 and then go back to our resort to shower and change, and then head to Disney Springs or Epcot for dinner.

In general we just make sure to pay attention to how we are feeling. If someone is feeling too tired to stick with the day's plan then we just scrap them and decide what we FEEL like doing. That might mean we go back to the resort to take a map, or that we don't want to race around park hopping but decide to stay at one park. It is very common for us to plan to watch the nightly show/fireworks but then decide we are too tired so we just go back to the resort.

I think some people get really stressed out when they think about how much money they have spent on their trip so they feel like if they don't do as much as they possibly can they are wasting money. But when you don't allow yourself to relax when you need it, chances are you are going to feel WORSE than you would have just thinking about wasting the time/money.

When my son was your child's age, he enjoyed wandering around the resort and playing at the resort playground, spending some time playing in the resort pool. You can just hang out at you resort which is more relaxing than the parks and your kiddo will love it! He also really like the shows and the rides that are specifically for little kids. If you get your FPs for those kinds of things it can make your park days a bit more relaxing.

 

[disneyvoice]

Crowds, people who hit you with their strollers, or just stop right in front of you are the top stress makers for him.

LOL!!! That drives my hubby a bit bonkers too but we have learned to just laugh away the strollers and people who stop directly in front of you by joking about how some people are completely oblivious to people around them. Kind of like "you have to laugh or you'll cry." As far as the crowds go when my DH starts to make comments about how crazy it is I know it's time to get us the heck out of there. That might be as simple as finding another area of the park that isn't as crowded or it might mean we leave the park and do something back at the resort. I'm sure you can tell when your hubby is starting to get stressed. The key at WDW is to find ways to escape the madness before he gets pushed over the edge.

 

[acwsmom]

DH and DS are the same way. They can only handle the crowds for so long. We've learned taking breaks in the middle of the day helps. DH doesn't complain that I force him to get up and moving early to beat the crowds since he knows, in return, I'll take us all back to the resort for a break after lunch. We usually return for the evening entertainment later on.

 

[T00dles]

Yup hubs and I both get like that around 11 am at MK during busy times. Best thing to do is schedule an 11am ts lunch or go back to the resort for lunch, nap and/or pool

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

It sounds like large crowds are the main problems for your DH, as the other two relate to that. I would also suggest taking afternoons off, and parades may be best to avoid. During afternoons off you can use resort time, pool time, go see a movie at DS, or plan a nice sit-down meal around 3-4, which can usually function as dinner and lunch. A character meal may be good for your family as they are more exciting for Kids than plain food is. Resort hopping is also fun!

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

I'm the same as your husband.

I can't handle crowds and the random stopping etc. Drives me crazy!

We handle my moodiness by doing a few different things.

-duck into an air conditioned theatre/show attraction ie. HOP, COP, Ellen
-find a quiet corner and just chill with a drink for a few minutes. We really like to hang out in The Land pavilion at a corner table in Sunshine Seasons.
-take a mid day break most days
-last trip my crazy kid put some glitter in a small tube and the first time I got grumpy she sprinkled me with Pixie Dust. Who can stay mad with your adult child throwing Pixie dust at you to brighten your mood - but, I guess for some that could go either way. You may be taking your life in your hands. Sprinkle Pixie Dust with care.
And before anyone makes a comment, no one else was afffected by her pixie dust. It was a very minimal amount and it only landed on me. It was more for show and to make me laugh. It worked.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I agree with the other PP's who recommend doing a half day at a park, having lunch and then going back to the resort. We typically then have dinner either at a resort or park and do a few more attractions. Except Illuminations, the only way I would do a nighttime show with DH is if we have FP+ or a dessert party scheduled. A nice way to avoid crowds is to do attractions while the nighttime shows are going on. BB has a nice kids' play area and you don't really get bumped into at the water parks. The sand play area in Dinoland is also a very, nice shaded spot to relax and let your child play.

 

[laracroft]

I'm the same as your husband.

I can't handle crowds and the random stopping etc. Drives me crazy!

We handle my moodiness by doing a few different things.

-duck into an air conditioned theatre/show attraction ie. HOP, COP, Ellen
-find a quiet corner and just chill with a drink for a few minutes. We really like to hang out in The Land pavilion at a corner table in Sunshine Seasons.
-take a mid day break most days
-last trip my crazy kid put some glitter in a small tube and the first time I got grumpy she sprinkled me with Pixie Dust. Who can stay mad with your adult child throwing Pixie dust at you to brighten your mood - but, I guess for some that could go either way. You may be taking your life in your hands. Sprinkle Pixie Dust with care.
And before anyone makes a comment, no one else was afffected by her pixie dust. It was a very minimal amount and it only landed on me. It was more for show and to make me laugh. It worked.

I think the pixie dust is an adorable thing to do, but you are right you have to be careful. I would never object to a little pixie dust.

 

[Klayfish]

Wow, that's tough. Crowds and the dumb things they can do are kinda hard to avoid at WDW. I'd be lying if I said that stuff never frustrated me, but to some degree I have to go in with the mentality that "it is what it is". I normally hate crowds...I honestly get grumpy if there are 2 other people in the gym when I am. But at WDW, for whatever reason, it just doesn't bother me all that much. I can't control it, and I love Disney, so I just don't sweat it. I don't pay a ton of attention to other guests who stop right in front of me, bump into me with a stroller (because I've done it to others by accident) or such, I just expect it to happen. Only time it's an issue is if they're being disrespectful to my family, I've had a few not-so-kind verbal exchanges, but those are rare.

Having said that, it's not just that easy, I know it. I agree with a ton of what disneyvoice said. If he's getting grumpy, scrap the rest of the plans and do something relaxing. Use waterparks as a nice break from the main parks (we do that a LOT). Get coffee somewhere and just sit, even in a park. We make very few plans ahead of time, except for FP+, so it's easy for us to change on the fly if any of us are tired, grumpy, hungry, sneezy or dopy.

 

[fla4fun]

I try to plan down time into my schedule at regular intervals by having a sleep in day, or resort day, and that helps. I also agree with finding a quiet corner of the park to just unwind for 15-20 minutes.

I will never understand why people just stop in the middle of the walkway, whether at Disney, or the grocery, or at work . . .if you need to stop, please step to the side .

 

[disnut8]

We have an annual pass, so slowing things down is no problem, but it still seems like my husband gets stressed out everytime we go. What are some things we can do in parks or outside the parks to make it not so stressful for him.
We have a 2 year old so kid friendly is a must.

Rafiki's Planet Watch and Flights of Wonder at Animal Kingdom. For the first one, no rush to get to the train, there will be another one and while people might rush out of the train once there, just hang back, let them go and then walk. Coming back is very nice and you can pet goats and furry pigs once there. For the later, just hang back once the crowd is watching the owl preshow (you can see and hear from across the walkway), then go in, head up the bleachers (most will fill in the seats towards the stage) and enjoy (right side is better).

The Studios - sit outside at the fountain before Muppets and go in at the last minute. Stand to the back and then enter the theatre.

Epcot - the Living Seas with Nemo. The line for the vehicles moves fast (except for in the morning) and then you are in your own clamshell and then out to visit things on your own. Any of the movies in World Showcase. Just sit until the last minute and then go in.

Magic Kingdom - ugh. Tom Sawyer's Island.

 

[eeyoresmom]

MK has a few other places that are low key...Carousel of Progress, the People Mover, Hall of President's when it's open, even the train.

 

[Sweet Pea Reed]

DH and I did a bit of a slow down on our trip in February. I'm 40, he's 43. We don't have kids.

This year, we did rope drop on our park days, and used FPs through early afternoon. With the FP for the must-do rides, we went where people weren't, ie., any rides or attractions were lines were minimal or none at all. Took afternoon breaks at the resort, and we stayed at Caribbean Beach, so we took afternoon walks or naps before heading back to the park in the evening.

On thing we did this year that we found very relaxing was lunch at the resorts on the Monorail. For instance, did lunch at Kona Cafe, toured the Poly, and then took a nice boat ride back to Magic Kingdom.

Tom Sawyer Island is also a great place to take a break, lots of little paths, shaded places to relax, etc.

 

[KC Mouse]

What to do?

 

[SaintsManiac]

When we all want to slow down we do chill out rides: Peoplemover, Carousel of Progress, Living with the Land. We get sweet treats or he'll grab a beer. Since we are going at such a busy time this year we planned sleep in and pool days for those crowd 10 days. I don't like feeling as though I have't relaxed at all when I get home.

 

[KC Mouse]

We have an annual pass, so slowing things down is no problem, but it still seems like my husband gets stressed out everytime we go. What are some things we can do in parks or outside the parks to make it not so stressful for him.
We have a 2 year old so kid friendly is a must.

We started staying at the deluxe resorts for the simple fact that they are so relaxing. Our last trip my wife and I spent most of our vacation lounging around our 2 bedroom villa. We took morning walks around the resort ending at The Artists Palette for breakfast. We casually strolled over to the fairy boat and enjoyed a cruise over to Disney Springs for shopping, lunch or dinner. The pools were perfect around midday when all the kids were off in the parks. One day, we were hit by a thunder storm so we cuddled in, ordered pizza delivery and watched Saving Mr Banks. It was the highlight of our vacation. Before we left we had a romantic dinner over at The Turf Club Bar and Grill patio. It was beautiful the lights of Disney Springs, the sound of the boats cursing by. We even caught a little bit of fire works before we headed back for bed. Honestly I think we might try another deluxe and skip the parks all together.