Trying to please everyone....? Planning nightmares, please help.

[mshanson3121]

I'm struggling so much planning. We're traveling with my in-laws, and while they are quite flexible, there are some things they want that I'm trying to work around. Then, I'm trying to just meet our own needs - we're traveling in summer so have to factor in the heat, the kids both have special needs, so trying to make sure we leave enough down time, and we want them in bed at a normal time as much as possible. Then there's the whole "want to experience as much as we can" mentality since this is our one and only trip, there are certain non-ride experiences that I want them to have. Then there's the matter of trying to fit in all the character M&Gs and rides that the kids want to do. I swear I'm going to be grey by the time this trip comes! So, I'm hoping I can share the problem areas and PLEASE get some input - because I'm getting really stressed out by this and I just want to be done with it all.

I'm making some edits thanks to the advice I've received. So anyone new reading, please feel free to give me your input based on the new info

***Removed #1 as MIL was able to get the tickets refunded for an extra side thing

***Removed #2 as we're doing Epcot - inlaws can go do their stuff. Though I'm wondering if it's best to do Epcot in two trips: say an evening for the WS and a morning for Future World. Or just try to get it done all in one shot, which would give us a full free day for R&R.

3. I'm wondering if we should skip the FoF parade, as we are doing Pirates & Pals fireworks cruise that night, so it would give us a bit more of a break before the cruise. Or, should we try a later arrival, say 12:00, so that we can see FoF and then just stay right through till the fireworks cruise? We would like plan on a one-hour break at some point for an early supper. ADR or maybe just spend an hour relaxing on Tom Sawyer's island, eating a packed lunch?

***Removed #4. We've dropped Pirates League

5. We had really hoped to see HDDR, just something fun. Our kids (8, 5) love music, corny humor, live shows, anything western. But if it's too much we're willing to drop it.

6. So basically... someone, please help me figure this out. We're staying off-site, 20 minutes driving time to MK. We really don't want to do mid-day breaks partially because of the driving, but also because the kids don't transition well and then also because we want them in bed at normal time as much as possible.

This is what I've tentatively come up with based off input received. Side note when I say "full day" for us that means maybe 9-4 or so.

Thursday: Animal Kingdom, full day, lunch time ADR at Tusker House
Friday: MK, either full day (9-3 if we skip parade) or go in the afternoon 12-8
Saturday: Epcot, evening (say 4-8) for the WS. Free day before this, as we're going to need recovery time during the day after the late night before.
Sunday: Sea World, full day
Monday: Epcot, morning (9-1) for Future World. Free afternoon. Hoop Dee Doo at 6:15
Tuesday: Discovery Cove, full day (though I imagine we'll leave around 2 or 3 since we're not doing the Dolphin Swim)
Wednesday: MK - not sure if we should do 9-12, go back to the house and then come back for our 5:00 BBB. Or if we should do a later arrival and maybe plan on being there around 1.
Thursday: HS, half day. I was thinking of going maybe 3-9, watching the first Fantasmic show. We're starting our drive home the next day, so they can sleep in the car. But we could also just do a 9-1, too.

So... thoughts? I do like how it basically alternates full days followed by a partial day.

 

[sweetnjmom]

There is no way you can completely please everyone... everyone has to compromise in a situation like this. But I do have some thoughts, with the assumption you don't have park hopper tickets.

1. Do the Monster Truck thing on one of the days you won't be in the parks. Let your FIL go to the Old Town thing with your MIL -- just them -- and let them visit her friends alone too. Maybe they can do that on the day you're at EPCOT, as you said your in-laws aren't interested. Just see if they will be able to coordinate dropping you off at the parks, guessing you'll only have 1 car.

2. See above.

3. I understand the FoF dilemma as I also have Pirates and Pals booked one night. I decided I will see how my son is doing. I would play it by ear. If your kids can make it until after the parade, then do it. We're also doing the fireworks cruise on our MK day. And since it's such a late night, have the next day be your non-park day when you do the monster truck thing. Back to FoF ... have it on the agenda for that day, but at the same point realize you may have to see it on your next MK day.

4. Stop the mommy guilt. Cancel the Pirate's League unless your child has specifically asked for it.

And maybe add an extra day to your tickets, nixing the full "free" day and going to a park for a few hours to see what you've missed -- like a parade at MK.

 

[Alesia]

First and foremost, don't try to spend all day, every day with your in-laws.

I would suggest just planning what works best for your family and then letting your in-laws do their own planning around that.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

"There is no way you can completely please everyone..."

And

"I would suggest just planning what works best for your family and then letting your in-laws do their own planning around that"

Are the best and only advise anyone can really give you.

 

[sweetnjmom]

-We want the kids in bed by 8:00 each night.

8:00 PM is my 5-1/2 year old's regular bedtime. I know you said your kids have special needs and I think staying as close to that is a good idea... but just a reminder to be somewhat flexible on vacation and that 8 PM may become 8:30 or 9 one night. But it's a decent goal. And since your kids won't see the MSEP, I'd definitely try to make the FoF Parade work. There is something magical about a Disney parade and that will be the only one they'll see.

FWIW, my son has ADHD and Anxiety and mild SPD (mostly outgrown). On our last trip he completely melted down on our Fantasmic! night (which was 6:30 PM that November) so we missed it, and we had a FP+. I learned a lot from that... you can't plan everything when you have children. And he was in bed by 8:30 most of our nights that trip -- though we did stay until the MSEP and left immediately after it ended. This trip we are NOT staying for Wishes in the parks and seeing them during our Pirates and Pals cruise will be our only night seeing them--because he LOVES Captain Hook and Peter Pan. We can't push him for a 10 PM fireworks show. It's not in the cards until he's older.

 

[memakwed]

Wile you say it's the one and only trip it may not be. Pack what you can in and don't worry about the rest, maybe there will be a next time. I would Get rid of Pirates league especially in the heat. Try doing the MIL /FIL stuff on the Epcot days since she doesn't care about that. Go do her stuff in the day then leave them when they go to visit friends or the old town stuff. Skip FOF and keep the cruise. That will make it easier for your DD to see Peter pan. Try to make an ADR for a character dinner to get pics and autographs without cutting into the day. Keep BBB. Make your down time either an early evening or late start morning so they're still in bed by 8.

 

[mshanson3121]

There is no way you can completely please everyone... everyone has to compromise in a situation like this. But I do have some thoughts, with the assumption you don't have park hopper tickets.

1. Do the Monster Truck thing on one of the days you won't be in the parks. Let your FIL go to the Old Town thing with your MIL -- just them -- and let them visit her friends alone too. Maybe they can do that on the day you're at EPCOT, as you said your in-laws aren't interested. Just see if they will be able to coordinate dropping you off at the parks, guessing you'll only have 1 car.

2. See above.

3. I understand the FoF dilemma as I also have Pirates and Pals booked one night. I decided I will see how my son is doing. I would play it by ear. If your kids can make it until after the parade, then do it. We're also doing the fireworks cruise on our MK day. And since it's such a late night, have the next day be your non-park day when you do the monster truck thing. Back to FoF ... have it on the agenda for that day, but at the same point realize you may have to see it on your next MK day.

4. Stop the mommy guilt. Cancel the Pirate's League unless your child has specifically asked for it.

And maybe add an extra day to your tickets, nixing the full "free" day and going to a park for a few hours to see what you've missed -- like a parade at MK.

What do you think if we did:

Thursday: Animal Kingdom, full day. Torn between going from 9-5 and having lunch at Tusker House, or sleeping in a bit (since we won't arrive till around 5 or 6 the night before after 3 days of driving) and going from say 12-7, and having supper at TH?
Friday: MK (spend the day, as you suggested just gauge their ability, with the Pirates & Pals cruise that night)
Saturday: Free. Could do the Swamp thingy at some point since it's only like 5 minutes, quite literally up the road from where we're staying. Have an earlier supper at the house then head into Epcot that evening for WS - and just as you suggested, MIL and FIL can go into Old Town.
Sunday: Sea World, full day
Monday: morning at Epcot (leaves a free afternoon/evening). This is the evening we had booked HDDR for at 6:15. <--- Thoughts on keeping/discarding this?
Tuesday: Discovery Cove, full day (that said I imagine we'll leave by 2 or 3)
Wednesday: MK - our original plan was to spend the morning, 9-12, then go back to the house and rest, then coming back for our 5:00 BBB etc... and stay for MSEP.
Thursday (MIL & FIL fly home this day, we don't leave till Friday): Hollywood Studios, late afternoon/evening. The kids really want to see Fantasmic, so thinking we could head in around 3:00, and do an ADR for supper?

 

[GWhitten98]

I totally agree with PP two pieces of advise, but as to more specifics...

If you have 7 available days I would suggest getting 7 day tickets so that you could spend less time each day and not necessary schedule one complete down day. I also agree that if the IL want a day/partial day to do things your family is not interested in then they should do them on there own(no guilt on your part). I have never done pirate league, but you are already doing BBB so I think you would be fine to drop it. I would keep the cruise, but might consider instead of leaving and coming back you just make it a later arrival day. Maybe let that the be morning your IL do there own. Also agree that there is SO much for kids at Epcot, again if they aren't interested let them go there own way.

 

[sweetnjmom]

What do you think if we did:

Thursday: Animal Kingdom, full day
Friday: MK (spend the day, as you suggested just gauge their ability, with the Pirates & Pals cruise that night)
Saturday: Free. Could do the Swamp thingy at some point since it's only like 5 minutes, quite literally up the road from where we're staying. Have an earlier supper at the house then head into Epcot that evening for WS - and just as you suggested, MIL and FIL can go into Old Town.
Sunday: Sea World, full day
Monday: morning at Epcot (leaves a free afternoon/evening). This is the evening we had booked HDDR for at 6:15. <--- Thoughts on keeping/discarding this?
Tuesday: Discovery Cove, full day (that said I imagine we'll leave by 2 or 3)
Wednesday: MK - our original plan was to spend the morning, 9-12, then go back to the house and rest, then coming back for our 5:00 BBB etc... and stay for MSEP.
Thursday (MIL & FIL fly home this day, we don't leave till Friday): Hollywood Studios, late afternoon/evening. The kids really want to see Fantasmic, so thinking we could head in around 3:00, and do an ADR for supper?

I like this plan. It seems lo leave free time for your kids to relax, swim, whatever...

I've never done HDDR but everyone I know who has, loved it. Unless you're going back to a park that night, I'd keep it.

 

[mshanson3121]

I totally agree with PP two pieces of advise, but as to more specifics...

If you have 7 available days I would suggest getting 7 day tickets so that you could spend less time each day and not necessary schedule one complete down day. I also agree that if the IL want a day/partial day to do things your family is not interested in then they should do them on there own(no guilt on your part). I have never done pirate league, but you are already doing BBB so I think you would be fine to drop it. I would keep the cruise, but might consider instead of leaving and coming back you just make it a later arrival day. Maybe let that the be morning your IL do there own. Also agree that there is SO much for kids at Epcot, again if they aren't interested let them go there own way.

Never thought of arriving later. Guess before we had the Pirates League booked at 9:05, so since we HAD to be there early. But maybe that would be better. We could come into the park around 1:00, and that way get to see the FoF, and we could have an early supper somewhere indoors, air-conditoned to help with the heat. Plus there's Tiki, Splash Mountain etc...

 

[PA Disneymania]

I would drop HDDR. We took our kids when they were 12 and 9 and they still talk about how "stupid" it was. Me, I rather enjoyed it, but listening to them complain wasn't worth it.

 

[mshanson3121]

Curious... on our last day with the 5:00 BBB and 6:50 CRT... Is it worth leave at 12 and coming back at 5? By the time we get back to our car and drive there it'll probably be 12:45 when we get back to the house. We'll need to leave by 4:00 (that may be a bit early but we'll want to allow lots of time). So is it worth trying to transition out of the park etc... for 3 hours? Or would we be better to just try a later arrival, say coming into the park around 1 or 2 and staying through?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

first of all remember that you are never going to be able to please everyone. So pick the things that are most important.

What does it entail for the parents in law to visit friends and go to a car show? Do all of you have to go along? Do you have just one car? Does your hotel have a shuttle to WDW or can you arrange to be dropped off? Can you just send them off to do what they want? Oh and tell them you would like to go to Epcot and they are welcome to do anthing they'd like to do and you will meet up with them later.

Everything else is giving me a headache just reading it. Pick one or two special booking events per day that you think your group would enjoy. Don't overplan. You will be miserable. and be careful with all the stuff that you will incur a penalty if you decide not to go at the last minute.

You won't be able to hit every character meet and greet so plan for some of the characters most important to the kids. Anything else would be a bonus.

 

[JessicaW1234]

I would definitely cancel the pirates league
Keep the Pirates & pals cruise as your only scheduled late nite
Let your mil go herself off site
Do AK 9-5 so you can come home for their bedtime that day ( a 7:00 dinner will turn into a 9pm bedtime or later)
FOF parade is really neat
Get rid of hddr
Maybe stay longer at Epcot since you would not have a late night Monday (maybe see world showcase the same day & get rid of your late nite at Epcot)

 

[KathyM2]

I feel your pain. I agonized over planning of a brief trip with my daughter. But someone brought up a good point and it has really stuck with me. It is this:

Your kids DON'T KNOW what they are missing if you don't do everything, as long as you don't tell them!!!

That was like my mantra when really trying to pare down my expectations of what can get done in a day. Everything just seems to take longer than you think it will, and if you plan too much, you will be exhausted and while you may accomplish a lot...people will be cranky and won't enjoy things as much. So take a deep breath. Pare down your list of "must do's" for each day and you will be fine.

I personally LOVE Epcot - and my kids do too. Much more than DHS - personally I'd cut that out if you have to pick one to NOT do...but maybe that's just me. Also - if your kids aren't good with transitions then I wouldn't bother with park hopping at all. What about trying to find a character meal with Peter Pan and some other favourites to avoid having to line up for those in the parks?

We did HDDR in March and loved it BTW and I also loved looking around the Fort...it is a nice relaxing place.

That's my 2 cents!

 

[Jennytoon]

Just a collection of random thoughts based on my personal experiences:

1) Whoever said to drop experiences like Pirates League unless your kids have specifically asked for them has a great point. That doesn't mean you should drop all of them, but you could book up every minute of every day with tours and BBB and Pirates League etc. if you wanted to. You obviously don't, but the point I'm trying to make is that especially since it will be your kids' first time, everything will be special and new and amazing and wonderful, and you don't have to book additional experiences on top of just being there for your kids to feel that. The last thing you want is for your kids to be watching Gaston for the first time with stars in their eyes and you're saying "Gotta go, we have something on the schedule."

1a) From a different perspective, I believe that in general first-timers cannot predict how their kids will react to the heat, the stimulation, the experience until they have actually gone. For this reason also, it's best not to overbook -- fewer inflexible plans makes fewer opportunities for plans to go off the rails.

2) Now that I've said that ... I would keep the Pirates & Pals cruise unless you are willing to give up on seeing the fireworks. I believe you are (correctly) approaching it like a character meal: it is something that you pay for to improve the experience of accomplishing something you were going to do anyway.

3) We have been mid-August and last two weeks of August, and my advice would be that if money is not a factor then get a ticket that covers every day you are there. Instead of planning non-park days, plan non-park afternoons and a couple of evenings off from the park. We get to the park early and leave by 1 not because of the crowds (OK, some because of the crowds), but because in the summer it's a great heat management strategy. If you decide that this idea sounds like it might work for you except that money is a factor, you can probably save enough to cover the cost of the extra days of tickets by eating a couple extra house lunches at front of break or house dinners at end of break instead of eating in the park.

3a) You may find (we do) that however hard you try to stick to a similar schedule to home, WDW is just too exciting. We have better luck getting the kids to take a quiet rest (and sometimes even a sleep with the heat) than we do getting them to go to bed at their normal time. We can put them in their beds ... but we can't make 'em sleep. This might not happen to you ... but it wouldn't hurt to be mentally prepared for the possibility. And if you are thinking of doing Pirates & Pals, MSEP, and Fantasmic, these are all late enough that trying a two-hump strategy might serve you better than trying to stick to normal bedtimes.

If you are looking for things to cut, assess travel and other overhead. BBB followed by CRT is nice and compact. HDDR has additional travel overhead that isn't getting leveraged by being in the park etc. -- a Tusker House ADR might serve you better. I'm not saying cut it (I've never been so I can't recommend), just consider that perspective.

And the MIL/FIL stuff ... the Swamp Monster thing is the only thing that affects the whole family, but it sounds like you are OK fitting that in. For the rest -- would you have been willing to take this trip without them? If so, then make your plans provide them with information, and let them make their plans. The only thing I would insist on is that if MIL wants you to be down 1 parent because DH is with FIL, then she has to be available at that time as a replacement. Obviously I think it will turn out they will spend the majority of time with you, but perhaps approaching the planning from the perspective that a having the outcome of a conflict be time apart which is not a crisis will help you to feel more copacetic about having to merge your plans and theirs.

 

[Rosebud123]

In all honesty, I think you have way too much "extra" stuff planned. A 7 day base ticket buys you more entertainment than you'll have time to experience in 7 days. I'd skip either Sea World or Discovery Cove, and just pick the one other "extra" thing that you want to do. I guess you can't get out of the truck thing since your MIL already bought the tickets.

Less is more, IMHO.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, for the two kids it's going to take around an hour probably

They won't be done one after the other; they'll be done at the same time almost certainly. But that doesn't mean it will be less than an hour; we waited in line to sign in, sat down, waited for at least 20 minutes before we were called. The three of us were made up at the same time, in different parts of the room, by different people. It took a good while. Then if they are still doing the pictures, you go back, you wait for the picture room, you have the pictures taken, etc. It'll likely be over an hour.

With a one time trip I wouldn't take the time to do this.

Do the Monster Truck thing on one of the days you won't be in the parks. Let your FIL go to the Old Town thing with your MIL -- just them -- and let them visit her friends alone too. Maybe they can do that on the day you're at EPCOT, as you said your in-laws aren't interested.

Yes.

I can't imagine driving 3 days (days????) to get to Florida to hit themeparks only to go to a monster truck thing, when monster truck stuff is all over. MIL isn't quite understanding the difference between her quick flight in and your long drive there and back.

Torn between going from 9-5 and having lunch at Tusker House, or sleeping in a bit (since we won't arrive till around 5 or 6 the night before after 3 days of driving) and going from say 12-7, and having supper at TH?

Dinner at TH isn't going to get the kids in bed at 8.

I assume you aren't going to be destroying yourselves by driving too long each day to get to FL? So hopefully you'll be somewhat rested? Get in 5 or 6pm, rest up, I say get up early and head to AK.

But staying offsite AND wanting to leave the parks for a break AND wanting to be home with kids in bed by 8....AND doing Seaworld AND Discovery Cove...that's an expensive, long, but really split up trip. I never plan to do anything just once (and won't do "once in a lifetime" experiences because that just depresses me) so unless those tickets are purchased OR it's something desperately wanted by the kids, I'd drop one or both of those and spend more time at Disney, honestly.

I feel you have both overscheduled the fancy stuff, while taking yourselves out and away from the parks quite a bit, and it might end up in serious frustration by the end of the trip.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have to disagree with skipping the break day. I have found that even when traveling with just adults we need a down day. Otherwise we get worn down.

I will suggest if it works for your family, trying to get to the parks earlier than noon. It will be hot, and the parks will be busy by then. Would it be possible to get to the parks close to opening time, and then taking a mid day break back at your resort, then going back? You will get to do the rides with a lot less waiting, and you will get to be relaxing at your resort during the worst of the heat.

 

[mshanson3121]

I feel your pain. I agonized over planning of a brief trip with my daughter. But someone brought up a good point and it has really stuck with me. It is this:

Your kids DON'T KNOW what they are missing if you don't do everything, as long as you don't tell them!!!

That was like my mantra when really trying to pare down my expectations of what can get done in a day. Everything just seems to take longer than you think it will, and if you plan too much, you will be exhausted and while you may accomplish a lot...people will be cranky and won't enjoy things as much. So take a deep breath. Pare down your list of "must do's" for each day and you will be fine.

I personally LOVE Epcot - and my kids do too. Much more than DHS - personally I'd cut that out if you have to pick one to NOT do...but maybe that's just me. Also - if your kids aren't good with transitions then I wouldn't bother with park hopping at all. What about trying to find a character meal with Peter Pan and some other favourites to avoid having to line up for those in the parks?

We did HDDR in March and loved it BTW and I also loved looking around the Fort...it is a nice relaxing place.

That's my 2 cents!

I would love to drop HS BUT.... I have a little girl who is a HUGE Frozen fan... so, for the sake of Frozen sing-a-long I'll go. Plus my son REALLY wants to see the Indiana Jones show, and there are a couple other things I know they'll like. They both want to see Fantasmic as well.