Trip decisions

[BelleOfTheBall76]

Looking for some suggestions...

We are planning a first time trip next June with our DD7 and DS4. We plan to arrive on a Friday, the flight I am looking at will get us to Orlando around 10:30-11 am. Should I get WDW park tix for us that day or just check-in at the resort and settle in, maybe spend the afternoon at the pool with kids? I didn't know if the kids would be wore out by the time we reached the resort and not feel like trekking around the parks that day. This will be their first flying experience, so we're not sure what to expect.

 

[TnTWalter]

Our first trip our oldest was 6 and middle 4 youngest almost 3.

You'll probably arrive to the resort around 1pm. I would plan on chilling at the pool, etc. And doing Chef Mickey's for dinner that night for a great character introduction. And you'll get key autographs out of the way!

Trish

 

[BelleOfTheBall76]

Thanks, Trish. Chef Mickey's will defintely be on our to-do list. I see your from Indy...I'm a hoosier girl too-Greencastle.


Shannon

 

[karibritt01]

How many days are on your ticket? If you do more than 5 days, it is only a few $ to add another day, slightly more if you have hoppers. If that is the case, I would go ahead and add the extra day. You can take it easy, and know that even if you are at the park a few hours, you got your monies worth. Maybe get in and get settled, go to the pool, then dinner at Chef Mickey's, ending with a few hours in MK. You could get there and do a few rides, then catch Spectromagic and Wishes before heading back to your resort. You can add days to your tickets at any time during your stay. You can always wait until you get there to see how your kids are holding up, and then decide if you want to go into a park. Personally... my kids would never be able to be that close to MK without going in that first night!

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

First off, Welcome to the DISboards
We just went to Disney for our first Family trip in May. Our boys were 4 1/2 and we got park tickets forall 8 days we were there. Like the pp said, its only a few more dollars to add days. Then you have the option to go to a park everyday. My boys were soooo excited to go to MK the first day we got there.

have a magical trip
Fran

 

[perkinsrose]

Looking for some suggestions...

We are planning a first time trip next June with our DD7 and DS4. We plan to arrive on a Friday, the flight I am looking at will get us to Orlando around 10:30-11 am. Should I get WDW park tix for us that day or just check-in at the resort and settle in, maybe spend the afternoon at the pool with kids? I didn't know if the kids would be wore out by the time we reached the resort and not feel like trekking around the parks that day. This will be their first flying experience, so we're not sure what to expect.

For the few dollars more to add a day, I would. You could still spend the afternoon at the pool and just hit fireworks or Fantasmic before bed.

We also always get tickets fore everyday in the world--we stay on-site and don't do Universal or Seaworld, etc.

 

[BelleOfTheBall76]

How many days are on your ticket? If you do more than 5 days, it is only a few $ to add another day, slightly more if you have hoppers. If that is the case, I would go ahead and add the extra day. You can take it easy, and know that even if you are at the park a few hours, you got your monies worth. Maybe get in and get settled, go to the pool, then dinner at Chef Mickey's, ending with a few hours in MK. You could get there and do a few rides, then catch Spectromagic and Wishes before heading back to your resort. You can add days to your tickets at any time during your stay. You can always wait until you get there to see how your kids are holding up, and then decide if you want to go into a park. Personally... my kids would never be able to be that close to MK without going in that first night!

Thanks for the info! Sounds like its not going to be a very big cost difference between one day. It makes since to add the extra day just in case my kids are anxious to get to one of the parks. Doing the Spectromagic later that night sounds like a very good idea. Everyone on this site is so helpful! I am a WDW novice...but hoping to turn that around.


Shannon

 

[BelleOfTheBall76]

First off, Welcome to the DISboards
We just went to Disney for our first Family trip in May. Our boys were 4 1/2 and we got park tickets forall 8 days we were there. Like the pp said, its only a few more dollars to add days. Then you have the option to go to a park everyday. My boys were soooo excited to go to MK the first day we got there.

have a magical trip
Fran

Thanks Fran! I love this site and don't know what I'd do without it. It never occurred to me that my kids might be dying to get to MK on our first day. DUH!

Shannon

 

[BelleOfTheBall76]

Ok, so what's everybody's opinion on park hopper passes? I didn't think we would need them if we were staying for a week, we would have plenty of time to eventually visit each park. Am I wrong in my thinking?

To hop or not to hop...?

 

[TnTWalter]

I still think kids are too young to do all that in one day and the first day...
JMHO of course though.

If you go to a park that day, I would NOT do a sit down dinner, then it would be do-able. I just think it would be hard to go to MK just for a few hours...on your FIRST time...kids want to do everything, you know.

Tell us some information...where are you staying? are you doing dining plan? Have YOU ever been there before?

We had our first trip in 2006. I 'feel' like I've been there MANY times. LOL.

Here's what we did our first day first trip [I had to look it up!]

I had planned on maybe going to a park, but everyone was tired from the travel. So we played at POP, then headed to DTD and Planet Hollywood and the lego station, etc. It was nice just roaming around. We have little kids [6,4,3] so trying to get fireworks in was not going to happen for us the first night.

We didn't even go to MK until the 3rd day! We spent Day 2 [first FULL day] at AK. It was a BLAST and we got LOTS of signatures with little to no lines.

DAY 3 started with breakfast at castle...great intro to MK. k:
__________

Our 2nd trip I thought since they were older and we were right at Poly MNSSHP would be GREAT on the first day...so we arrived and were checked in by 1ish and hung at POLY pool....dressed and went to MNSSHP......It was 'ok'....we skipped first parade to ride the rides and then were too tired to stay for 2nd parade...so I missed on the best thing of that event! DUH. I think if we had hung at POLY all day and gone to MNSSHP later in week it would have been much better!

Trish

 

[lkangell8201]

Our plane lands at 12:40, I figured by the time we do the airport thing, magical express, check-in, we'll probably be ready to relax a little! So we plan on doing some shopping in Downtown Disney. We have dinner reservations at Rainforest Cafe, then if we have any energy left, possibly swimming at the resort. My family is not a morning family and the next morning I am making everyone get up for opening ceremonies at MK...so I want everyone fresh and ready to do that! Since its our first trip no one really knows what their missing by not going to the parks on the first day. The last day however, our plane leaves at 3:20 and we did by park tickets for that day!

 

[LisaInNc]

I know that I personally can't wait to get into the parks. If the difference isn't a lot I would relax at the hotel explore it a bit and then maybe have dinner in the MK. Ride a few things. You will get a feel for it without it being an entire day.

 

[karibritt01]

We did base tickets our first trip with kids, and hoppers our second. We liked having the hoppers because we could go back and do the things we really liked, as well as avoid crowds. BUT... I do feel we probably really ENJOYED each park a little more if we were there the whole day. Staying the whole day, we had more time to see everything instead of hitting the highlights. Hopper is another thing you can add at any time during your trip. It will cost the same no matter when you add it... but if on day 3 you find yourself wanting it, then upgrade. I don't think I would do it now.

As for your first day, it really just depends on your kids. I think spending some time at the pool after traveling would be ideal. They will have restless energy, and be tired from sitting, so the water will refresh them a bit. Chef Mickey is lots of fun because the kids get up and dance during the meal, can watch the monorail come through the restaurant, and my kids personal favorite... watch the birds flying around on the ceiling! (I was terrified we would get pooped on!) If they are good to go after dinner, then upgrade your ticket and hit MK. If they are tired, you could do the monorail through Epcot and enjoy the sights. Ask to ride with the pilot!

 

[BelleOfTheBall76]

I still think kids are too young to do all that in one day and the first day...
JMHO of course though.

If you go to a park that day, I would NOT do a sit down dinner, then it would be do-able. I just think it would be hard to go to MK just for a few hours...on your FIRST time...kids want to do everything, you know.

Tell us some information...where are you staying? are you doing dining plan? Have YOU ever been there before?

We had our first trip in 2006. I 'feel' like I've been there MANY times. LOL.

Here's what we did our first day first trip [I had to look it up!]

I had planned on maybe going to a park, but everyone was tired from the travel. So we played at POP, then headed to DTD and Planet Hollywood and the lego station, etc. It was nice just roaming around. We have little kids [6,4,3] so trying to get fireworks in was not going to happen for us the first night.

We didn't even go to MK until the 3rd day! We spent Day 2 [first FULL day] at AK. It was a BLAST and we got LOTS of signatures with little to no lines.

DAY 3 started with breakfast at castle...great intro to MK. k:
__________

Our 2nd trip I thought since they were older and we were right at Poly MNSSHP would be GREAT on the first day...so we arrived and were checked in by 1ish and hung at POLY pool....dressed and went to MNSSHP......It was 'ok'....we skipped first parade to ride the rides and then were too tired to stay for 2nd parade...so I missed on the best thing of that event! DUH. I think if we had hung at POLY all day and gone to MNSSHP later in week it would have been much better!

Trish

It probably is best to just kind of go with the flow and see how everyone feels after the trip. I am a huge planner and I will probably drive my family nuts anyway with all the things we HAVE to do while at Disney. So, maybe I'll be kind and let them relax on our first day.

We plan to stay at CSR...not doing the dining plan. Went through all the menus the other day and I don't think it will save us much money. I'm a picky eater, don't do steak or seafood...my husband has always said I'm a "cheap date". My family did a Florida trip when I was 5, I remember the beach and Sea World, but I don't believe we went to WDW. So, this will be a first for all of us. The kids and I are super excited...DH is just basically, tell me what days I need to ask off for vacation. He's not a planner...just the banker!

Thanks again for all your great input!!


Shannon

 

[KelleyD]

i debated this issue to...My DS is only 18 months though...

But as already said, I wasnt going to do a park day the day of arrival, but for the price difference was so minimal i added it - just in case kind of thing.

Now park hopper I debated a little longer. And I did add it. It will probably be easier to drag my son around, but thoughts for you are...

Are you planning on napping in the room? Or spending all day at a park? Just because if you do plan on going back to the room - and you are leaving anyway it might be nice to have the option of the morning in one park and the afternoon in another...

When it came down to how much money we would save by not doing the hopper - it was one of those in the whole scheme of this trip and what it is costing why not have it for the convinence...

 

[karibritt01]

We stayed at CSR both trips, and LOVE it! We like the Ranchos 6A building, and request top floor. (It does have an elevator.) We find we can be at the main pool in 5 min, and the bus stop in 3 min, as it is just outside of the building. Ranchos section has always been extremely quiet, no matter what time of the day we were in the room. It is not close to the main building/food court, but that is not a priority for us. We fed the kids cereal in the room while we got ready, or took pop tarts while walking to the bus... worked great! We did have DDP, but both kids counted as kids then, and it was before they started butchering the plan. I doubt I would do it again anytime soon.

 

[bjscheel]

I've been thinking the same thing- now we will get to MCO at 11:30 am and we've never gotten there before supper time before. My plan is swimming or maybe the mini-golf or Downtown Disney. I guess that day if we decide we really want to go to a park we can do that and add an extra day while we are there, right?

As for park hoppers, if you are on the fence, people here have recommended just waiting till you're there. If you feel you need to hop, you can add the park hopper at guest services. If you don't, then you've saved the money. We never hop.

 

[poohguys]

I would say get the tickets for the your first day there.( you will be there early enough). Also get the park hoppers. You never know...one park may be too crowded or the park you chose for that day may be closing early for a special event, or you may decide you want to eat someplace that is not in the park you are in. I just think for the few extra $ a day it is worth it.

 

[perkinsrose]

I've been thinking the same thing- now we will get to MCO at 11:30 am and we've never gotten there before supper time before. My plan is swimming or maybe the mini-golf or Downtown Disney. I guess that day if we decide we really want to go to a park we can do that and add an extra day while we are there, right?

As for park hoppers, if you are on the fence, people here have recommended just waiting till you're there. If you feel you need to hop, you can add the park hopper at guest services. If you don't, then you've saved the money. We never hop.

I believe you can add hoppers once you get there. However, if you're going to add them --probably want to add them at the start of your trip. Cost to add Hopper to Magic Your Way tickets is $50 per person /one time fee, no matter how many park days you have.


If you are at parks for 7day ticket-hopper costs $50 (averaging out to be aprox $7 day) If you are at parks for a 4 day ticket-hopper still costs $50(or averaging out to be $12.50 a day). So if you add hoppers a few days into your trip, you are still paying same hopper price and will have lost a few days of opportunity to use them.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Ok, so what's everybody's opinion on park hopper passes? I didn't think we would need them if we were staying for a week, we would have plenty of time to eventually visit each park. Am I wrong in my thinking?

To hop or not to hop...?

We've been there twice and we didn't purchase hoppers. With the kids being younger, I don't think it is as easy as if you had older kids. Were going back in December and were are not buying park hoppers. But some other dis'ers do swear by it. Good luck