Split it up?

[ddleffers]

Hi - My family is traveling to WDW on August 7 (Whee). We have a 7 day with Park Hopper staying at BLT. My kids are 3 and 5. We did not get water park passes with our tickets because I didn't think the kids would be in to that. Well, they have spent the whole summer so far in local wading pools. So, now I am thinking of adding the Water Parks. However, this gives me an additional 7 admissions. When I think about how tired they are likely to get and the amount we are paying to stay at a relatively nice resort with a pool, near a beach, in Orlando (which does have other attractions) it makes me wonder if I should add the no expiry and only plan on visiting parks for 3-4 days and doing water parks and other stuff the other 3-4 and then saving the rest of the days for a week another time. The concern being that I would spend nearly 700 extra dollars for days I would never use. I would sincerely appreciate anyone's thoughts on this.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Personally I found that the resort pools - especially the delux/moderate/DVC that have the water slide were/are plenty for my kids. But then we aren't really a 'water park' kind of family - we are all happy with using the water slide/pool at the resort!!

 

[aristocat65]

I agree that your kids will be happy with your resort pool. Your kids are very young and will tire quite quickly in the heat. It is also your first visit and you will have enough to do with just the parks. Keep it simple and I'm sure your kids will enjoy downtime at your resort pool. When they are older and it's not your first trip, then it will be something new to try, but at 3 and 5 I wouldn't bother.
Have a great trip

 

[ddleffers]

I appreciate that input. I guess my bigger question is whether or not the no expiry might be worthwhile i.e do the kids really need to go to a park every day? Is there enough to do in the area to have a few down days? I agree wholeheartedly that they are young and will not have a lot of stamina for things which is why I wonder if dragging them to the parks every day is really what I want to do.

 

[braddillman]

My family (myself, DW, DD10, DD7, DS5) had no trouble spending all day at a water park. Over a 10-day period we did a whole day at BB, and 2 1/2 days at TL. Where we live there aren't water parks. In fact, our kids look back at loved the water parks as much as the other parks, and would not tolerate a return without them.

It all depends on how much your particular family would enjoy them. If you're like us, you'd go for the no expiry. Although, we just bought fewer days and avoided the cost of the no-expiry; we planned ahead to spend lots of time at the WPs.

 

[ddleffers]

Unfortunately, buying fewer days wasn't really an option. We are there on the Buy 4, get 3 deal. I am really appreciating the advice though! Keep it coming!

 

[aristocat65]

I hear what you're saying about maybe not wanting to go to the parks everyday. If I were you (but I'm not) I would want to go to a Disney park everyday. For us it is such a long trip to get there, that even when we've taken a "day off" to go to Universal we head to one of the parks for dinner. The beauty of having the hoppers you have is that you can go at your (and your kids') pace. If they are tired after 3 hours you can head back for a swim, nap etc. So I guess I'm saying that they don't "need" to go to a park everyday, but they might want to and you might plan a beach day and they want to go back and ride Small World or see Mickey. I wouldn't want to limit my options.

I also would never buy nonexpiring tickets because I just don't want to give them that much of my money up front. What if you lose them before the next trip? (You may think this can't happen, but I lost $600 worth of park hoppers for DL, and had to go and buy more. And I'm a neat organized person) The other thing is that we usually end up taking advantage of the deals that are only available as packages (Free dining etc) and require ticket purchase as part of the deal (sometimes only a 1 day basic, I know, but still).

If you wanted to try the water parks, you could always pay a one day admission and I believe it would be cheaper than adding it to non expiring tickets.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

We don't do the waterparks when we go to Disney. We do plenty of waterparks here and honestly I would rather spend the extra time at MK and I know DD would too and we always make sure to dedicate time to the resort pool, its a great place to unwind!

 

[Sue M]

Wait for the water parks until your children are older. I think you can go to the parks daily, it's a big place with plenty to do. I would suggest going to a park at opening, and stay until 2ish, then come back to your resort for a swim and rest break, then go back to a park for dinner and evening hours refreshed.
Usually I give:
2 days MK
2 days Epcot
1 day AK
1 day DHS

Have a great trip.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Sorry to tell you but even with the 4/3 you didn't have to take the 7 day ticket. You could have bought as little as a 1 day ticket. Since you have the 7 why not add the no expire option and save a few days for a future trip. If you do this make sure that you have entered a park at least once before you go to GR and add the option.

 

[ddleffers]

I hope I don't come across as an idiot for asking this but why would it benefit me to only get a one day pass? I am figuring on using 3-4 days and if I got a 4 day pass it got me 7 days. Is there some secret advantage that I am missing? I mean this quite seriously as I am new to the whole Disney thing.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I hope I don't come across as an idiot for asking this but why would it benefit me to only get a one day pass? I am figuring on using 3-4 days and if I got a 4 day pass it got me 7 days. Is there some secret advantage that I am missing? I mean this quite seriously as I am new to the whole Disney thing.

I didn't say there was an advantage to getting a 1 day ticket. I said you could have bought a minimum of a 1 day ticket. That is all that is required to get a package of any kind.

 

[calgarygary]

If you are not certain that you are going to return to WDW, then I would not buy the no expiry option. Rather, use the 7 days now but avoid long days. Your children and by default you, will get much more out of your trip if you do short days returning to your hotel for afternoon breaks and maybe returning to the parks later for fireworks/shows will keep your children from over tiring and will lend to a much more enjoyable trip.

 

[deanie]

Our family loves the water parks and we always go to both of them on every visit. But my kids are a lot older and we don't have water parks where I live. But with young kids like yours, I am sure they would have just as much fun at your hotel pool.

 

[katscradle]

I think with the ages of your children and the fact that you are going to be staying at a new DVC resort, that I would not purchase water park tickets this time. I would wait till they are a little older.

 

[dancin Disney style]

If you are not certain that you are going to return to WDW, then I would not buy the no expiry option. Rather, use the 7 days now but avoid long days. Your children and by default you, will get much more out of your trip if you do short days returning to your hotel for afternoon breaks and maybe returning to the parks later for fireworks/shows will keep your children from over tiring and will lend to a much more enjoyable trip.

That's a very good point.

 

[jsweeks@cogeco.ca]

I personally think save your money! If your kids were older it would be worth it, but at their age I think you should just swim in the pool at the hotel when you finish your busy days at the parks. We went in April and my daughter is 8 and was taken out at Typhoon Lagoon by the wave pool. It is very strong even for adults. Mind you my husband and 11 year old son LOVED it. Hope you have a great time what ever you decide.

 

[hockey mom]

See I would get the non- expire option with water parks and get rid of the hopper option.

My grandson loved the water park last trip and he was one. My kids would kill me if we did not go to the water parks and we have many water parks near us.

You would be putting out more money now but your next trip would be a walk in the park without the expense of tickets and most of us here would agree that once you go you will be planning your next trip on the way home

 

[iluveeyore]

We went in August and found it very hot and unbearable to be out in a water park all day with our friends who had young kids. They didn't want to wait in lines for slides, and they ended up only spending 1-2 hours at the water parks. It's more enjoyable for older kids who can go off on their own while you're nearby. Plus, if you're kids have never been to one, they won't know what they're missing! Even now with our kids being older, we enjoy our DVC pools with the slides and if we can only stand an hour in the heat at the pool, we're not out the money! Plus you can pool hop for a change of scenery - the kids will think you're visiting a different park!!
As far as how many days, keep what you have - you will love the ability to use Extra Magic hours in the mornings, and be back at your room by lunch to enjoy some rest and pool time so you can go back to the parks later in the days and enjoy extended summer hours.

 

[aristocat65]

Plus you can pool hop for a change of scenery - the kids will think you're visiting a different park!!

Just want to clarify: You can NOT pool hop. It sounds like the PP may be a DVC owner and may be subject to different rules, I don't know. As a resort/DVC guest you are only allowed to use your own pool.

I agree your kids will be happy enough at your resort pool.