Some advice on Fantasmic dilemma?

[agoofylover]

Ok, I'm hoping that this time I can get some responses you guys!! We are arriving around 10:30 to OC airport and will arrive at DL no later than 12:30 (hopefully). My husband and I would like to do the Fantasmic dessert buffet to celebrate our upcoming anniversary. However, it's pretty spendy and so we were wanting to go alone. Grandpa and Grandma said that they would watch our Ds' if we wanted to go. However, is that too much to ask in your opinion for the following reasons: 1. it's our first day 2. it would be leaving our kids and my parents out. This is the only night for fantasmic when we are there and we only get to DL every few years. Our last trip was 2000. Does anyone have any other "cool" ideas for couples wanting to do something unique at the resort? Would you just splerge and try to get seats for all 6 of us? Your opinions please!!

Thanks,
agoofylover

 

[Tink33]

How old are your kids?

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Ok, I'm hoping that this time I can get some responses you guys!! We are arriving around 10:30 to OC airport and will arrive at DL no later than 12:30 (hopefully). My husband and I would like to do the Fantasmic dessert buffet to celebrate our upcoming anniversary. However, it's pretty spendy and so we were wanting to go alone. Grandpa and Grandma said that they would watch our Ds' if we wanted to go. However, is that too much to ask in your opinion for the following reasons: 1. it's our first day 2. it would be leaving our kids and my parents out. This is the only night for fantasmic when we are there and we only get to DL every few years. Our last trip was 2000. Does anyone have any other "cool" ideas for couples wanting to do something unique at the resort? Would you just splerge and try to get seats for all 6 of us? Your opinions please!!Thanks,agoofylover

No way, I think thats perfect...do it for yourselves...you can spoil your kids and grandparents the next day lol...go for it!

 

[Tink33]

Okay, I just did a search and see that your boys are 3 and 5. What about trying for the 10:30 pm Fantasmic seats. The boys will already be asleep at the hotel by that time and you can spend some Anniversary time alone.

 

[Dis Ohana]

Go to Fantasmic alone and have a wonderful anniversary.

 

[disneyfreak75]

I think that you should go for it. The grandparents are willing to watch your kids? That is great. Enjoy your anniversary!

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

I agree that you should go. At 3 and 5 your kids are so young they probably wouldn't appreciate the buffet anyway (and why pay that kind of money when they would probably eat a piece of cheese and a cracker). Your parents have offered to stay with them so they seem fine with not going. It's your anniversary, treat yourselves!

 

[agoofylover]

Thanks guys, but are you sure it wouldn't be too selfish? It looks like the park is only open to 10pm and so there would only be the 9pm show. Rather than staying at the park until 10p.m., Grandma and Grandpa would probably head back around the time we go to fantasmic. Like I mentioned earlier, we arrive that day and wouldn't reach the park until noonish. Would there be any fireworks to watch another evening during the week? DH thought this was a fun idea until he knew it could only be done the first night. Now he thinks it's trying to do to much the first day. What do you think?
agoofylover

 

[PapaLR]

Speaking from a grandparent view, I'm sure they are just excited to be with the grandkids at DL and won't mind at all babysitting. For our trip in September, the DW and I are going to babysit the grandkids while the DD and DSIL go out to dinner at the Blue Bayou - sure I would like to go to, but we enjoy time with the kids also, plus they need some "couple" time!

 

[stagemomx3]

What day are you arriving? If I've done my math correctly with your ticker I get September 6th? Looking at the calendar on the Disney site I see that Fantasmic is not shown that night it is only schedule for Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

If you are arriving on that Friday then I vote for the kids heading back to the hotel with Grandma and Grampa, and you and DH enjoying an anniversary treat! If the kids go to bed early than they will be much more pleasant for your first FULL day of vacation the next day.

What hotel are you staying at? Maybe you could arrange for a surprise to be waiting in the room for the kids when they head back that night?

 

[DQmom]

The grandparents and kids can still see Fantasia without doing the dessert. They just need to get there a little earlier and won't have your view. You could meet up afterward. Your kids will love it!

 

[agoofylover]

We arrive Sept. 10th and have a Southern Cal City pass. So, for now we have three days at DLR, but we might see about upgrading to 4 days. So, that means it will be Sun-Wed. We are staying at a good neighbor and so I planned on surprising my boys with little surprises on my own(from mickey and friends ofcourse ). See, that's what I forgot to mention. If we get to the hotel around 11:30 or so from the airport , chances are our room won't be ready...and that isn't too much of a problem, because we have a rental vehicle. However, we probably wouldn't come back until park closing....and it's the first night. Too much of a hassle? If the room is ready...then it wouldn't be as much of a dilemma. (Residence inn resort)
agoofylover

 

[stagemomx3]

If you don't want to seperate on the first night another idea is to make late dinner reservations for you and DH at the Blue Bayou one night. I've also heard that Napa Rose at GC is a great place for an anniversary meal.

 

[mom2dzb]

We went in May with my MIL. I wish she'd have offered to watch my kids (10,8, and 2) or even just the youngest. I ended up in the hotel every night while she, my husband and the older kids saw fantasmic once and the fireworks twice.

 

[agoofylover]

We went in May with my MIL. I wish she'd have offered to watch my kids (10,8, and 2) or even just the youngest. I ended up in the hotel every night while she, my husband and the older kids saw fantasmic once and the fireworks twice.

I am very lucky...the whole trip is pretty much about our 2 boys. They are the only grandkids on my side of the family. I know that my Dad and step-Mom are coming because the want to see the boys have fun...I already know that they said that we can have alone time, but I don't want to take advantage of that too much and I also want them to have their time too. My dad hasn't been to DL for about 23 years(when I was a grade schooler) and so, I want it to be fun for them too.
agoofylover

 

[Tink33]

I don't think you are being selfish. You could plan all kinds of fun things for the boys to do while you are celebrating your Anniversary. Here are a few ideas:

1. Swimming at the pool at night

2. A welcome present in the room (provided by you) that includes a few of their favorite toys/snacks/candy in a backpack or bag they can take to the parks. Grandma could get the surprise out of the car trunk and get to the room first while Grandpa distracts the boys. If the crickets are chirping they can go on a seach for Jiminy Cricket. They can search the parking lot for any of the characters from Cars.

3. If they stay in the park, it would be a good time for hitting a favorite ride.

If you feel guilty for not inviting your parents, plan a special meal for them for another day. Lunch at Blue Bayou or any other restaurant on property.

 

[agoofylover]

I don't think you are being selfish. You could plan all kinds of fun things for the boys to do while you are celebrating your Anniversary. Here are a few ideas:

1. Swimming at the pool at night

2. A welcome present in the room (provided by you) that includes a few of their favorite toys/snacks/candy in a backpack or bag they can take to the parks. Grandma could get the surprise out of the car trunk and get to the room first while Grandpa distracts the boys. If the crickets are chirping they can go on a seach for Jiminy Cricket. They can search the parking lot for any of the characters from Cars.

3. If they stay in the park, it would be a good time for hitting a favorite ride.

If you feel guilty for not inviting your parents, plan a special meal for them for another day. Lunch at Blue Bayou or any other restaurant on property.

Thanks Tink,

Those are some really great ideas!! I guess I just let my husband discourge me...but we've never done fantasmic...and we don't get much alone time. The backpacks are a great idea!! I had just thought about a special lunch for them too! Thanks

 

[Tink33]

Thanks Tink,

Those are some really great ideas!! I guess I just let my husband discourge me...but we've never done fantasmic...and we don't get much alone time. The backpacks are a great idea!! I had just thought about a special lunch for them too! Thanks

Could you surprise DH too? You book the seats by yourself and don't mention it to him again until it is time to check in. Of course the Grandparents will know, but the boys don't even need to know either. Everyone wins.

 

[agoofylover]

Yeh Tink, I thought about that too!! I think I will go for it, except he will probably see it on the visa bill. I was going to originally keep it a surprise, but made the choice to tell him to see if it sounded fun to him. I'm sure he will forget all about it. I've been left in charge by all to plan this trip...so, that's what I'll do.

agoofylover

 

[dondiego]

We took our children to the dessert buffet in June and it was absolutely magical for us all. That being said, they are 17 and 15. All children are different, of course, but I think ours enjoyed it and appreciated it much more now than they would have when they were younger. Even if the dessert buffet is no longer available in a few years, Disney will have something equally magical (and expensive) for you to share as a family when your children are a little older. Perhaps you can plan (and save) for a wonderful family special event when they are older, and enjoy this moment with your hubby.