The Impossible Question

[kellietony]

Late April/early May is a great time to visit too. Beautiful weather. Since it's after Easter break, the crowds are pretty low. The parks are open quite a few hours each day. (Wishes was at 10 pm when we were there, so MK was open til at least that time each night.) We met a lot of honeymooners on our last trip, and they were really enjoying themselves.

There are alot of sites and books for info. Unofficial Guide, Birmbaum, wdwinfo.com, Touringplans.com, allears.net, mousesavers.com, these boards (search keywords).

Congratulations and have a fantastic honeymoon.

 

[heatherandnick]

We went on our honeymoon and had such a wonderful time.

We were there for 10 days but we did a ton of stuff. We were on the DxDP which took up a lot of time. We also did Typhoon Lagoon, DisneyQuest, and DH golfed.

I think 5-7 days would be great, but, NO, you will not get through everything. We have been four years in a row and still have not done everything. That's why we keep going back!

DWorld is a great place for a honeymoon. The resorts are awesome, there are great romantic dining options, and you can be as active or relaxed as you want. Have fun!

 

[goofy4tink]

Weird, I attempted to reply but it looks like my response went into never never land.

First, thank you everyone so far.

Let me add a bit more info that may provide some context.

When we went to California last year over 5 days we did 3 days at the two DL parks, Universal, SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo and we felt we were able to do everything on our list. In fact, we did all the main attractions in DL/DCA 2-5 times each.

We are a couple that like to "do" more than "lounge" on vacation. We tend to be pretty high energy, our holidays are usually more about an experience than about holidaying, if that makes sense. So it's not unusual for us to go to bed at midnight and be up for a rope drop at 8am somewhere. It sounds like hell for most people, but it works for us. And we don't have kids, so it makes it a lot easier to go to go.

When I say "get through most of WDW" I don't mean be able to do every single attraction, see every item, enjoy every experience. While I really don't have any understanding of the scope of WDW, I do understand that's impossible. For me, what that means is being able to hit all the key attractions and enjoy the marquee shows.

If we move forward we absolutely will extensively reference a guidebook of some kind. We had used one for Disneyland (http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide-Disneyland-2010-Guides/dp/047046030X) and found it extremely helpful. We also used that online program which I can't recall the name of to help map our routes through each park. We didn't follow it meticulously (we found ourselves running far ahead) but it was a good guide. We would absolutely use similar tools should we decide to proceed.

Based on that...I think you'll be fine. 7 days would be perfect..that way you would be able to take your time on your arrival day, rather than trying to squeeze stuff in. Same thing for your departure day. You will have a full 5 days to do stuff.
If you are trying to just do the key attractions and shows, then you should be just fine.
I like the UnOfficial Guide..I really do. I just tend to find it cumbersome. I have several editions. I prefer the PassPorter..it just seems more usable and easy to read and find stuff. But, that's just me. Use whatever works for you.
But, those that are used to DL, are always amazed at the size and scope of WDW..it's huge!!! So, plan away..have fun planning.

 

[gingerfeathers]

We honeymooned in WDW. We actually did four nights at WDW, followed by a three night Disney cruise. In retrospect, we should have swapped them: A cruise followed by four nights at WDW. Between the wedding and WDW, by the time we got on the ship we just wanted to sleep! It would have been so much better to get on the ship, sleep/relax, and then be refreshed and ready to take on WDW.

With that said, we went back to WDW for our first and third anniversaries, and we're planning another trip for our fifth anniversary. If you like getting out and experiencing and just doing... I think it will be a great trip for you! Of course you won't see everything in a week or less. However, you'll be able to experience all four parks, possibly visit Downtown Disney, and have time for any other little things on your list that you want to do.

Plus, you're on the Disboards. When I was planning our honeymoon, this place was invaluable. I learned so much on these boards, and it helped my husband and I make the most of our trip (and all subsequent trips).

Congratulations on your wedding! I wish you both the best.

 

[ttintagel]

Is it possible for you to have a very busy, fun-filled week with as many activities as you can handle the entire time? Absolutely.

Is it possible to be able to say you've crossed off every possible activity at the resort on a checklist after only a week? No.

In my experience, unless you're one of those people who gets to go every year for an extended period in your life, every WDW vacation includes at least a portion of Dong Stuff You Didn't Get To Do Last Time.

 

[Herfnerd]

I honeymooned back in the early 90's - was there for 9 days and even back then we saw quite a bit but nowhere near everything

In 7 days, you should be able to see all that is worth seeing

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I would say it is impossible for anyone to experience all that WDW has to offer in 5-7 days. However, I would also say that 5-7 days is a good start for your first WDW vacation and that you'll have time to get to everything you missed when (not if) you return.

WDW is a great place for your honeymoon!

 

[SRUAlmn]

We are a couple that like to "do" more than "lounge" on vacation. We tend to be pretty high energy, our holidays are usually more about an experience than about holidaying, if that makes sense. So it's not unusual for us to go to bed at midnight and be up for a rope drop at 8am somewhere. It sounds like hell for most people, but it works for us. And we don't have kids, so it makes it a lot easier to go to go.

This is why I think you should definitely choose WDW. My husband and I were married in WDW at the wedding pavilion, and stayed 6 nights afterward for our honeymoon. We're the same way as you! My family always wants to take beach vacations and I get SO bored!! We are go-go-go type people and we love that we've been to WDW 10 times and still have things we haven't done, ridden, eaten, etc... We're also more "fun" than "mushy gushy romantic" type people, so running around theme parks is much more our "scene." I think it's a great, magical way to start your life together

 

[Planogirl]

You should be able to easily get through the headliners and major shows in the four themeparks in five days. The Unofficial Guide can be quite helpful but the main keys are to arrive before opening, hit headliners first and use fastpasses wisely.

Of course, this all changes if you want to add waterparks, Downtown Disney, mini-golf, Disney Quest and so on. If you commando tour the whole time then you can likely even add a few extras but that depends on you.

 

[flicx]

You should have no problem getting everything done in that amount of time. You should have time for a waterpark too! Just plan well and you can do it.

 

[serene56]

we have been 3 times at 7 days each have yet to see it all.

2 days in magic kingdom 2 for epcot and one each in studios and animal kingdom.


you are talking 5 days which gives you one park each day.


are you sure you want to take this undertaking of disney world right after a wedding?

i would think a more relaxed pace vacation will be what you need

 

[CrowleyFam]

I would definitely do it! My wife and I had our honeymoon at WDW 19 years ago next week! It was a fantastic time! We did all the parks and did Epcot and Magic Kingdom twice. We played a little golf as well.

You can definitely get all out of WDW in 7 days.

We stayed "On property" at Port Orleans for 7 nights and then Grand Floridian in one of their Honeymoon Suites for the last night. It was fantastic!

We also had dinnner at Cinderella's Royal Table (Called King Stephan's back then) and that is a do not miss in my opinion.

We met a lot of other newleyweds while there, especially from overseas.

Have a great time!

 

[larryz]

But what we're trying to gauge basically is if it's the trip for us. We have been to DL before (last year) and loved it.

My advice: make sure you both really really REALLY REALLY love it.

Twenty years later, you don't want to be the one (or the one who has to listen to someone) saying "I wish we had gone someplace romantic on our honeymoon."

Experience talking here...

 

[reiella]

Hello there,

I realize at the outset this is not a question with an answer that fits everyone.

My fiancee and I are considering going to Disney World for our honey moon. It would be a be a roughly 5-7 day trip (TBD).

But what we're trying to gauge basically is if it's the trip for us. We have been to DL before (last year) and loved it. We're both pretty active and like to get things done. So we did everything in both DL and DCA in three days (most of it numerous times). We're planners by nature and looked to maximize our time - lots of research, getting up early, etc.

We also live in Vancouver, so it's a very long way to Florida and considerably more expensive than going back to DL/DCA.

Could two people I've just described successfully get through most of WDW in 5-7 days or is it just not a possible feat?

Also, last time we went to DL/DCA it was late November/early December and the parks were relatively quiet (by, well, giant theme park standards). Is that also a generally slower period to WDW?

I appreciate any feedback anyone can provide given that this is something that's pretty much impossible to answer!

Being Sans Children, you are well set for managing a park a day. The question will probably be more about you want to do in addition to the Major Parks.

Time frame wise, late nov-early dec isn't too busy, you have a burst with Pop Warners, but that's not really impacting the parks just your ability to get discounts at Value and Moderates.

We did similar ourselves 2 years back for a 5year anniversary trip. 7 'days' [counting arriving at resort @ 5pm as 'Day 1', and leaving resort @ 11 as 'Day 7'], and got through most everything. We did skip Fantasmic due to timing more than lack of time [Dinner @ CRT since we wanted to see inside the castle ].

 

[blessedby3]

My DH and I honeymooned at WDW 25 years ago...of course there was only the MK and Epcot then. We had a great time!
I definately think that 7 days would be a great honeymoon trip for you and you would get a lot done. Make sure to get to the parks at rope drop and you will just walk onto the rides. Use fast pass as the day goes on for very short waits on the rides.
Check out www.easywdw.com for loads of information and a crowd calendar. The weeks before and after Thanksgiving and the first week of Dec are a great time for lower crowds

 

[mjmcnns]

This has been really helpful information. We won't make a decision for a few months, but wanted to get a base level of knowledge. We'll continue to do research. I think one thing we really want to wrap our heads around are what attractions do we get to experience that aren't available at DL, etc.

Thanks!

 

[merbobear]

In 7 days you won't be able to do everything, but you will be able to do a LOT. You won't run out of experiences to have in your time there, though. Depending on how big your list is, you might accomplish it all, or you might leave realizing that you didn't mark off every item on the list, but had a great time trying. Either way, I think it would be a fantastic honey moon, given your up & at 'em spirit. Congrats on your engagement!

 

[PJ]

My perspective is from about 6 trips to DL (incliuding 2 at DCA) and 30+ to WDW, about half of which were the late November/early December time you mentioned: we arrive Sunday after Thanksgiving for 7 nights.

My opinion is that this would definitely enough time during that time. If time gets short, you could always save those things that are the same at both places for last. Its been a few years since we last did DL/DCA, but here are some of my recollections:
What I remember as basically the same: Soarin', Splash Mountain (except I like the seating at MK is MUCH better - side by side instead of one behind the other), Thunder Mountain; Small World (except the entrance).

Dinosaur in AK is the same ride technology as DL's Indiana Jones, but the DL version is way cooler. Pirates is basically the same once you get into the "guts" of it, but the initial part is much better in DL where you float through the Blue Bayou first.

Basically, I think the time of year and number of days you mention would work great. Even after 20+ trips, we spent our 25th wedding anniversary at WDW and it was a very special place to do it. I can't imagine how special a honeymoon would be - especially with the added bonus of the holiday decorations.

Congrats, and hope your honeymon is wonderful no matter what you decide to do!

 

[godog7]

go for it - you can do it

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This has been really helpful information. We won't make a decision for a few months, but wanted to get a base level of knowledge. We'll continue to do research. I think one thing we really want to wrap our heads around are what attractions do we get to experience that aren't available at DL, etc.

Thanks!

Personally, one of the highlights of visiting a different Disney park for me, was seeing diffferent versions of some of the same rides.

Even with kids, we can usually be one the go quite a bit, provided weather and everyone's health cooperates. Weather is always a very key factor, that ususally gets overlooked on the DIS. You can't ever totally plan for weather, but you can avoid certain times of year, like June, January, February. If you go during a value season, like September, you get lower prices, probably lower crowds, but also much more limited hours and opportunities. the last time we went durign a value season, we really felt like the lmited park ours were a much bigger limitation than moderate crowds.

If you are someone who likes to be on the go, then you'll really appreciate late night park hours. We find even with kids, the parks after dark are the best. The lighting really changes the feel of so many attractions, esp in MK. For that reason you probably don't want to go Sept - Feb. between the parties, limited hours, rides in rehab and cold....