The ONE Thing

[lentnej]

O.K. Mousers, put your arms around these two questions.
I'm going all out, I want this to be THE vacation that everyone remembers. My boys are six and 11 and we're going in April (CS).
What is the ONE thing I can do so that my wife and I will LOVE our vacation?
What is the ONE thing I can do so my boys will LOVE it?
I'm not worried about having a good time or being glad we went. I just wonder how to make it extra special.
Thanks in advance.

 

[hansel1]

Those two questions are actually quite difficult to answer. You are bound to get numerous answers that vary from person to person.

If there is a Pirates and Princess party, your kids would love that.

Try Cinderella's Royal Table for dinner.

Anyway you go, your family will have a wonderful trip.

 

[The6Mousketeers]

Take a comfortable pace for your kids and take lots of pics.

It's Disney World, you WILL love it.

 

[dbarker]

Get plenty of rest. (The rest of the stuff will take care of itself.) Take breaks in the middle of the day. Have at least one non-park day. Have a couple of early nights and late mornings.

Your wife and kids (even you) will thank you for a relaxing, fun vacation. A tired diser is usually a grumpy diser. Get plenty of rest.

Take some time and explore your resort. Go visit some of the other resorts and explore them. Take breaks from the parks and get plenty of rest.

 

[homedad]

hate to say it but spend time relaxing at pool and get your sleep, the kids will enjoy parks way more....not the answer your looking for but our last trip we slowed it down some and whole family enjoyed it more, kids, wife, and grandparents....

 

[squirrlygirl]

Just went last month. Both boys would've loved more time at the pool and arcade, less time in restaurants (we had the DDP), and more spending money (too many choices!)

DH and I would've liked more sleep for the kids and to have known that a middle-of-the-day break did not work well. In the future we will do complete non-park days or in-the-park all days.

As for extra-special one thing, do a character meal at an odd time, like as early as possible so you're in the park before it opens, or as late as possible so you leave the park after it has closed. Not only is it amazing seeing things without the crowds, you'll get lots of attention from the not-so-busy characters!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

How about using one of the kids clubs - like Neverland - which I have heard is a great time for the kids - they can be there - and you and your wife can have a nice dinner date! Something for everyone!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

My kids had a blast at Chef Mickey's.
But I think the most important thing is not to go comando on them. As long as you are all together and happy the rest will fall into place.

 

[DisneyArk]

My sons are 7 and 9 and we just returned from WDW. Our family loves to tour commando style - start early and stay late.

We let the boys choose their favorite thing and let them do it over and over. DS9 likes to do the Fantastic Plastic Challenge at Innovations at EPCOT - it's a robot race (computer game).

If your boys are really silly and love to get extra attention, then you could do the Family Magic Tour. We did this when my sons were younger and they LOVED it! But DS9 would not do it now because he is easily embarrassed.

I agree that it's fun to enjoy the pool at the resort or go to a water park.

The one thing they talk about the most that Shocked us, is ordering dessert at every meal. My sons are not big eaters, so we were surprised at this. Their favorite is the chocolate moose (shaped like a moose) at Le Cellier.

 

[lentnej]

hate to say it but spend time relaxing at pool and get your sleep, the kids will enjoy parks way more....not the answer your looking for but our last trip we slowed it down some and whole family enjoyed it more, kids, wife, and grandparents....

Actually, that's EXACTLY the answer I'm looking for. Also, I like the idea of letting the boys do their favorite things over and over. Thank you all.

 

[Nancyg56]

I also agree that slowing down while touring, enjoying the resort and taking time to relax would make my family happy. We did this on our first trip and we had all ages, DH and myself, DD and her family, DGD and DS and his DW. We never accomplished what other families did but oh my goodness, we had a great time! Your family is going to love just being together in Disney.

 

[mikymouse]

How about using one of the kids clubs - like Neverland - which I have heard is a great time for the kids - they can be there - and you and your wife can have a nice dinner date! Something for everyone!

That is my suggestion also. My kids loved Simba's club house and my DH and I had a very nice date night with dinner at Boma's. DH said this was his favorite part and I like that the kids were right next door having a great time.

Our family did start early at park opening most days but this allowed us to cut out by lunch and enjoy lot of downtime in the afternoon and evening. We didn't see everything but we had a great time.

Can't wait to go back in 2008!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I am going to say it too...GO SLOW! DON"T RUSH. The trip is so much more fun (esp. for the kids) when you take your time and ride something they REALLY like 4 times in a row..just b/c. Or just spend a day playing in the cool themed pools and riding the monarail to "sight see " at the different hotels. Sneak a swim in at the Polynesian. (not sure if you are supposed to, but we did. We stayed on site, so i don't think it was a problem..but who knows..who cares..it was fun!) lol
And DH and I really just enjoyed snuggling together, while he watched sportscenter. We also enjoyed the tub a few times together. .. after we put our dd to bed of course. Or he would go down and raid the food court and we would snack together and watch a movie. It was those relaxing moments, where we just "let the magic happen" when we had the most fun.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

I think its the little things that make it memorable. We have so many memorable moments from this trip. One of our best evenings was when we slowed down and just enjoyed being in Disney. We had dinner at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club and then went to Beaches and Cream to experience The Kitchen Sink. We walked over the Dolphin, where we discovered a wonderful piano player in the hotel lobby. We sat with him for nearly 30 minutes listening to him play our requests. Then we walked through the Boardwalk. I don't think you can plan the magic, but it willl happen just by being in Disney.

 

[GoinToDisney]

What about a fireworks cruise? Sounds magical to me!

 

[Kimmumum]

What about a fireworks cruise? Sounds magical to me!

I have been to Disney MANY times and the Fireworks cruise is one of my all time favorite memories and my boys too (they were 5 and 9). It was truly magical and just plain cool to see fireworks from a viewpoint that not many people ever see.

The other thing I would recommend is....even when you know you are crabby and grumpy put on a happy face or the rest of the family will become crabby too.

No matter what you do in Disney you and your family will have a great time

 

[t-beri]

I am going to second more pool time. We live in FL. w/ NO end to swimming season (it's warm enough to swim this weekend!) and our 9 yo's most frequent request is to go back to the pool...he and his best friend even asked to go back to the Coronado Springs (that's where you're staying, right? ) pool while we were at MGM for Star Wars Weekends. What, I thought, could be better than a surprise trip to WDW w/ your best friend FOR STAR WARS WEEKENDS?!?!?!? Apparently the jaguar slide at the CSR pool Of course it's not funny when you've planned a fabulous trip and the kids wanna leave the park. So be flexible, go with the flow and check out the main pool!!!

We too are a go early stay late gang and while I am an uber planner and have a total park itinerary I find it best to use it as a game plan and make changes when necessary.
I'm all for sending the kids to one of the neverland camps and having some spa time for you and the wife. My husband and I try to get to the World once every year or 2 w/out the kids. It is a completely different experience and while you can't ditch them for a weekend you can certainly take the time to have an aromatherapy session or a message. Or go to dinner at the Poly (we love the Kona Cafe) and take in the MK fireworks from the beach (one of our family's favorite activities.) We also like to go to Chip and Dales campfire singalong at the Ft. Wilderness campground.

 

[lentnej]

What about a fireworks cruise? Sounds magical to me!

I checked on DWD's site and can only find this listed in the platnum package. Anyone know where I'd go to book a fireworks cruise?
Thanks, again.

 

[Camno's Mama]

Honestly, anyone that goes on these boards and spends the kind of time planning these trips that they do, makes their childrens' trips special. Just thinking about things ahead of time and finding out what's available is key. While you can do Disney without thinking much ahead of time, it is so much more wonderful when you know what's available and have some ideas in your head. Just look around, pick some things your boys would love, and they will remember it always. It's funny, but when I think back to going with my parents, it was the little things I remember. Sitting on a bench and eating ice cream, going out to dinner at different places than we had at home, the rides, sleeping in hotel rooms, and getting up early with my dad to read while everyone else slept. Just take the time to really be with them, and they'll remember those moments.

As for your wife...just take some of the responsibility off her shoulders! What woman doesn't love a vacation that actually feels relaxing instead of just taking her chaotic home on the road? Let her sleep in, read a book and spend time with her favorite men! Have a great trip!