What length trip would be ideal? -- Update page 2!

[jcemom]

I am looking at either September or October 2005, leaning towards October for MNSSHP. It will be only DD and I, and if we choose October she will be celebrating her third birthday at Disney. I am wondering how long to stay. I want to balance being able to see/do much of what we want, and making sure we get enough "down" time, without staying "too long." I don't want DD to get bored (is that even possible, lol). I also don't want to totally wear myself out. Would it be better to have fewer, more busy days? Or to have more days with more down time in between?

We will be flying in from Pittsburgh--a 2hour flight, non-stop, staying at POFQ, and using Disney transportation.

I haven't had a three year old in a long time, my boys are now 10 and 11, and I can't for the life of me figure out if longer would be better, or if "less is more" in this case!

TIA for any advice you can give me!

 

[Barbday62]

I voted for the 8 day option.

My husband and I have gone many times and we find every vacation thought we wish would be longer we are anxious to get home. I personally feel after that many days the expense gets to be a lot, the kids when we took them woudl get so tired and you eventually get sensory overload. I feel an adults only trip that I prefer to go 8-9 days too.

We are taking our kids and grandkids next August and We are taveling Saturday, park visits Monday through the next Saturday Noon and flying home in the evening that next Saturday. I think it will be plenty of time since we are toting a 5 month and 2 year old (almost 3). The longer the vacation dont forget to build in more down time.

Barb

PS I am flying from WA state so you can see we always want to get the most of every vacation. Airfare alone for August for the 7 if us will be $2000

 

[jcemom]

Okay...so far it's a tie...you guys aren't helping at all! LOL Anyone want to elaborate on WHY you chose the number of days you did? Any experiences to share?

Thanks, Barb. DH thinks 8 days is plenty also, I was the one leaning towards 10, but then I am the one who always tries to extend EVERY vacation. I'm always tacking a day onto the beginning or end, or usually both, lol. (drives DH crazy )

 

[jcemom]

The 10 day trip is now edging out the 8 day...doesn't anyone have any experiences that you can share with me???

And hey! Who voted "other" without telling me what the "other" is???

 

[BevS97]

I prefer a longer trip so you can take things slowly - you have to be prepared to buy an AP or an UMP to make it work.
What we do is go to Orlando for 2 weeks, and spend a part of nearly every day in a park, but that may be just a morning, or just an afternoon - we don't do long full days as we find that too exhausting. We also spend time in the pool, and time just relaxing. We find the longer trip is much more relaxing - I think if we only had a few days we would feel pressured to try and do everything in the short time we had and it would be too much

Bev

 

[jcemom]

That is exactly what I was thinking Bev! DH disagrees. I'm sure I'll get a wide range of opinions here, but that is what I'm looking for, thank you!

 

[djm99]

I voted other.

I voted other because in Disney I think 2 weeks - yes a full 14 days is perfect. I enjoy days in between to "chill out". No where to go, just take a drive and see some sights, do some shopping, go to a beach, or spend time in a spa somewhere. I find that doing "short" vacations (under 7 nights) I find myself needing time to recover from my vacation - and wishing I had more time in Orlando. I want to come home from my trip relaxed - not tired. And as far as cost goes. We are renting a "higher" end house this year (although I've found much higher) for a week and spending the second week in a "low" end hotel. Its affordable for me. My budget is near $3500 and was not stressful.

 

[kelscross]

If money or time off work were no option to me I'd do 10 days or more!!

But we go for 8 days and that was a good pace for us with two little girls (almost 3 years old.) We got to see almost everything we wanted and had time to lounge every day at the pool which is what they loved the most.

 

[jcemom]

Thank you! I probably should have given a bit more information...I will have an AP and can stay as long as two weeks.

 

[ontariodisneywoman]

I voted other also. I agree with djm99. Take 2 weeks. Make the most out of your time with your DD.
Do all the stuff that you wouldn't do with the boys. Go to princess breakfasts, go to the Tea Party at GF, go to storytime with Belle. Take it slow and take it easy. Go to the MNSSHP with her in her favourite costume and maybe a matching one for you? Have fun with her. You will never forget the time that you spend together. 8 days may be too rushed and 10 days will feel just as short.
There is plenty to do.
Sometimes I wish I had a DD to share the cute things around WDW with. My DS is all about the Rough Stuff- Villians, Peter Pan, Dinosaurs (although I must admit he loves Tigger which is pretty darn cute).

 

[jcemom]

Thank you! I doubt DH would agree to two weeks as much as I'd like to do that, but I think he will agree to the 10 days now that I've told him what all of you said! He even thinks the GF Princess Tea Party would be the perfect thing to do on DD's birthday!!! I can't wait!!! Her birthday will fall on a Saturday...if we do the Tea in the morning, what would make an equally perfect birthday evening for a little princess?

It's tough to make too many "solid" plans this far away, but it helps to be getting a good idea of exactly when we will be going anyway. I'd like to make my reservation soon so that I can start paying for it, lol. (I'm starting to think DD will be much more expensive than the boys! )

 

[LadyBears]

I say 10 days....

My looong story as to why:

That is what we are doing. Our DD will turn 5 during our trip. I figure there is sooo much to do & see that we could never see it all. I have been to the World before, but my DD & her father haven't. I am going to make sure that we make time to "stop & smell the roses". I am going to see WDW through the eyes of a 5 yr old with her. This is not a trip that happens every year for us (this will be our first trip in 6 years!!
The other thing, because the MK closes early when we are going (August into September) I don't know how much we will be able to see each day. If MK closed at 11pm then we may have a different story. Also, we are using only WDW transportation.

I rationalize using this as an example :
MK from 9a to 2p -1 1/2hrs for lunch = 3 1/2 hrs,
downtime (including travel time back to ASMo) 2p - 5p =3 hrs
travel time to Mk & eating dinner 5p-700p=2 hrs
projected park closing is 7 pm. (maybe if we are lucky 8pm)
-------------------------------------------------
bottom line - 3 or 4 hrs per day to do MK.
Most of the day is using the transportation & waiting in line to be sat & served food.

using the above scenerio, it will take a minimum of 3 days just for MK. Add in minimum of 2 days for Epcot + 1 day AK + 1 day MGM + 1 day Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach + 1 day DD + 1 day to redo the special things. This is 10 days right there! Good thing I was not planning to do SeaWorld or Universal Studios on this trip!

Granted, if we don't take downtime, we can do more. If we did more counter service instead of character meals & sit down dinners, we could also save time. I will see how my DD is acting. I would rather take downtime & have a happy child, then skip down time & do MK with a cranky whiny child. I am planning this particular trip on a 5 year old childs pace - not an adult pace.

I want to save time - not to do as much as we can, but to save these 10days as precious memories of our family.
I am expecting the worse & hoping for the best as far as timing.

 

[swilshire]

The logistics of travelling alone with a child that age would worry me a bit. I've always been fortunate enough to have another adult or older child along when I had one that age. Will you be using any child care while you're there?

I would worry how you'd ever be able to get a moment alone to shower or whatever without leaving the child unattended. I guess you can take her into a restroom stall with you when nature calls. It makes me a bit weary to think of never having a single moment that you could relax and not be the sole responsible person.

I'd be very tempted to bring along a favorite babysitter or another adult just to help out. I know you would lose some of the magic of being alone with your daughter, but two sets of eyes and hands are definitely better than one when you have a toddler. Is there a grandmother who would enjoy the trip? A three generation vacation might be something to remember.

I remember our oldest tried to leave our hotel room once while my husband and I were sleeping. She was probably a year or so older than yours. Fortunately, she couldn't reach the safety latch and woke us up trying to get the door open. You just never know what kids will do.

Sheila

 

[mattmommy]

October will be perfect. The crowds will be pretty thin and you can enjoy the rides. At 3 she can do most of WDW. We just went with our 3 year old in February and rented a car. We decided to take the disney transportation to the MK because it landed you right in front of the park. The transportation wasn't bad if you were going to and from a park, but if you wanted to park hop it took forever. And if you want to go to different resorts--well you're out of your mind before you get there. This time we left our stroller at home and just rented every day. It was a beautiful thing. Also, if you can get your hands on a clear plastic backpack, it will make your trip through security a lot easier. That hooey about going back to the room for a swim and returning? You waste HOURS doing that. In October the parks close early. We let our son nap and we were able to stroll through all the nicer shops that we wouldn't have been able to go in if he were awake. Good luck and have a great time. p.s. If you're flying let her run around the airport the whole time you're there--she'll konk out in her seat. Also take her shoes off so if she does kick, it won't be too bad.

 

[jcemom]

Wow! You guys are great!

LadyBears, that's pretty much my thinking on the 10 days. I'm sure she'll want plenty of MK time and we'll try to do MNSSHP also. We took breaks in February even with the shortened hours and even though we didn't get in as much park time, we came home feeling like we had a vacation and not totally worn out!

swilshire, my guess is that she'll probably shower with me, lol. (saves time, plus I know exactly where she is) I don't really have another adult to take. We don't use babysitters, my sister will be in grad school, my mom has arthritis and various other assorted illnesses (we tell her she's falling apart!), and mother-in-law basically provides daycare for my two neices and wouldn't be able to take the time away. I'd definitely be open to someone else going along if anyone comes to mind between now and then. We have discussed the possibility of DH joining us for a long weekend. I am a bit worried that she will simply tire me out by the half-way point. I'll have to do some brain-storming to see if I can think of anyone.

mattmommy, great idea about the clear backpack! I'll definitely be looking for one of those! For now, I'm thinking we'll be following the schedule we kept in February...8 or 9-12 or 1 in the parks, took a rest/nap break at the resort, then back to the park for dinner and fireworks, a show, something relaxing. With shortened hours it didn't give us a lot of park time, but I'm okay with that. If DH were with me we'd probably let her nap in the stroller, but since it will be just me I think I'd rather be at the resort where I can relax a bit myself, even if I just read a book or sit outside the room for awhile. Of course, I'm flexible, I could change my mind after we're there, even if only for a day or two to mix things up a bit!

 

[etwinchester]

I love Disney and would rather take a 2 week trip every 2-3 years than one week every year. There is just too much to see and do and I love to take days to enjoy by the pool.

I'm a stay-at-home mom so I'd take a 3 week trip if DH had that many days (he will in a couple of years). When I go back to work, I'll still be able to make up my own schedule, so I can go longer when he gets his 3 weeks vacation...

Life it too hectic, and on vacation I want some relaxing days, spent lounging around the pool sipping drinks, visiting other resorts, etc...

Our next trip we will be staying onsite and getting an AP so we can come and go to the parks as we please. You NEVER know what the weather will be like, so this way, we can take it one day at a time. No BIG plans, just whatever we're in the mood for.

My DD just told Daddy Friday, "Mommy and I are going to Disney for 2 weeks, if you only want to stay for a week, you'll be flying back alone...mommy said so." He thought it was funny and agreed to stay telling her that she can't have a vacation without him. Guess I better watch what I say....

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by etwinchester
My DD just told Daddy Friday, "Mommy and I are going to Disney for 2 weeks, if you only want to stay for a week, you'll be flying back alone...mommy said so."

Amazing the things they pick up...and repeat, lol!

 

[campingcorgi]

I want to live at Fort Wilderness for a year. Don't laugh, I've seen people who have done it! They even had their own mailbox in front of their rv. I was green with envy!!

 

[jcemom]

I did it! I just booked through Dreams Unlimited for October 8-17, 2005 -- 10 days at POFQ for DD and I! Maybe between now and then I can get someone to go along with us! Thanks to all of you for your help!