Will 7 days be enough?

[ssatterly]

ok for a family of 4 who has never been before will 7 days be enough for all the parks and time to relax? We are a family with a 9 y/o boy a 6 y/o gilr me (28) and my mom (51)

Got any advice for newbies any MUST dos or see's?

 

[Lisa BC]

Hi!

There's lots of good advice to be had on these boards. I consider myself a "newbie" too, and I've reading these boards for more than a year.

First, do you know what time of year you'll be heading to the world? There's lots of seasonal activities no matter when you go....

I don't think you can ever see it all at WDW, unless you're there for an extended period of time. We'll be in the World for 7 days after Thanksgiving this year, and we aren't taking an entire "down" day, and we're not visiting any of the waterparks, and we still won't have time to see everything. As long as realize you can't see everything, seven days will be wonderful! You'll see lots, and make great memories. Just as an FYI, I picked up several guide books to help with planning, and I really like the "Unofficial Guide" when it comes to maximizing tour / time planning. Have fun!

 

[ciera321]

We're planning our 11th and 12th trips to WDW and we still haven't seen it all. I would never recommend less than 7 days for a first trip. With kiddos 6 and 9 threy are old enough to do the parks for most if not all day. I would do your homework and study the guide books to see what will really be of interest to you and your family. Don't try to do it all in one trip. We always take a break in the afternoon to enjoy the pool. Then we head for dinner and back to a park. You will see a lot in 7 days and with fast pass ever more. If you study this board and take the advice of all the experts like we have, you will surely have a magical time!!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Know what? DH and I only did 3 days in Disney and one day in Universal on our first trip in 98 and I would do it all over again if I had to. It's what we could afford, so it's what we did and it was one of the best trips we had.

Our second trip was 9 days and 8 nights and I was about pooped on our 7th day! Too much for me, but we are all different. I still enjoyed our trip immensely and if had it to do all over again, I would with one exception...I wouldn't have booked the package I did.

Our next trip is 7 days and 6 nights and that will just perfect, because we have 2 travel days, 4 days in the parks and one day in Downtown Disney. Just the way DH and I like it! I can't wait!!

 

[swilphil]

I think 7 days is perfect. You might want to build in either an afternoon break on some days or a day off from the parks on day 4 to relax. There will still be a few things you won't be able to do, but you will be able to do A LOT without rushing too much. It does make a difference what time of year you will be there. If you go when the parks aren't busy, the hours will be shorter but you will be able to get through the lines quicker. If you go in the summer, there will be more crowds and HEAT but longer park hours. If you think this will be your only trip for several years, definitely stay on site at either a monorail hotel or an Epcot area hotel (Swan/Dolphin has some good rates).

 

[ssatterly]

we plan on the 1st week of Aug or 1st week of sept... at plan on staying at the CR.

We are leaning towards the 1st week of Aug right now ....Any ideas.

If we travel the 1st week of Aug we will save like $400 cause my son will still be 9. And I would not have to take them out of school. So how busy are the parks the 1st week of Aug?

Or should I take them out of School and pay the extra $400 for him truning 10? How is the Temp and Crowds in Sept?

 

[landmark]

I usually plan my trips by how many days at each park. For example our first trip with the kids was five days at Disney (2 MK, 1 Epcot, 1 MGM, 1 AK) then one day at Seaworld. This was at the end of Sept and the weather was wonderful therefore we got to spend the entire day at the parks and actually saw alot though did not get to see everything. My 12 yr old just said to me the other day that she didn't think you could ever see everything on one trip. Our second trip back just this May was for 8 days/9 nights and we stayed completely on Disney property. This was (1 AK, 2 Epcot, 2 MGM, 3 MK) The kids got to pick whether we went to AK again and they chose MK for a third day. This was mid May and the weather was hotter therefore we didn't stay in the parks all day and would go for a few hours in the morning, return to the resort and swim in the pool, and venture back out in the evenings. The parks were open later and in Sept as well. I felt like we got to see more of the resort in May as we did spend more time there in the pool etc. This time we still didn't get to see everything though we saw more and had already picked out the favorites to hit and then added many extras that we had passed by the first time. For example our first trip we had skipped all the parades... this time they were a priority.

I think that for a first trip 7 days sounds perfect... I know you will have a great time!

 

[castleri]

If you don't want crowds go in September. You will however have shorter park hours. As other people have said do your homework and get Birnbaum's book or one of the others mentioned. What is the additional $400 for? A 7 day adult PHP is only $302 through Hotwire SAvings Club. If you are planning on the UPH you could ask them to delete the first or last day and use that day to do things that don't require a pass like DD, the petting zoo at FW or just visit some of the other resorts and ride the Disney transportation system. That would probably save the difference in the cost of his ticket. Read as many posts as you can find about passes and the best way to go with those. When you start adding all the components of a package together it is frequently more cost effective to buy the parts individually - ie. room only ressie using a discount code, php tickets since they never expire and with a first trip you are more apt to stay in a park to do everything there than bounce around to parks and water parks the same day. I just helped a co-worker figure out the difference between room only and room and UPH passes. She ended up buying 2 7 day PHP passes and getting a room only ressie using a code and saved $152 over the room and UPH option. She is stayng at POR. good luck and have a great time planning your trip - that's half the fun.

 

[Tigger Woods]

7 days is perfect. I would suggest you purchase 5 day Park Hoppers. (Any unused days don't expire.) You can spend your first 2 days doing 2 of the parks. Then take a day off to relax. Then 2 more days, 2 more parks. Another day to swim and shop at DD. On your last day, you can park hop to ride your favorites or try something new. There are some who like to spend weeks at a time doing Disney, but after a week, my family is pretty beat.

 

[sugermouse]

Don't set your expectations too high in terms of trying to see it all. We usually go for 9 to 10 days and are amazed at how much we usually miss. Keeps you coming back!

 

[Lisa BC]

ssatterly,

It will be HOT when you go in August... since you're from Kentucky, you'll be more acclimated to the heat than those of us in the Northeast. But, the 90 plus degree heat grinds on everyone. So if you plan to go in August, just plan on some afternoon breaks to get out of the heat. You'll be rewarded with some late evening hours and possibly e-ride nights for going in August.

But the folks are right, the crowds in September will be much less. You'll likely save on your hotel too. It'll be hot in September too... hopefully not has hot as August.

have fun planning

 

[MJames41]

I would suggest that you prioritize because you won't be able to see everything (it would take about a month or so). And remember, you are on vacation, so find the things you really want to do and enjoy them, no matter when you go.

Our favorite time is after Thanksgiving, little crowds, temperatures usually very nice (with some cold spells).

Enjoy when you go.

 

[mmausse]

7 DAYS IS NOT ENOUGH!

Heck, I was there for 35 days straight, and THAT wasn 't enough time and I'd already been there 35 times previously and 8 times since. Here's my advice:

Sell everything you have - cars, clothing, house, everything! Quit your jobs. Take ALL your money out of your checking accounts, savings accounts, Christmas clubs, kids piggy banks, don't forget to check those sofa cushions and under the car seats (check these BEFORE you sell the cars).

Pool all the money. Contact Disney - 407-WDW-INFO. And book as long as you can with what you've collected. THEN you will have definitely stayed there as long as you could.



Of course, whatever amount of time you have will be enough for your first visit. HAVE A GREAT TIME!

 

[disneyma2]

I think 7 days will be enough for your first trip. Our first trip was Sept 2003, we were there for 7 nights/8days , me, dh and dd who was almost 3 at the time. The parks were nice, not crowded at all, but it was hot! It was in the 90's everyday, which makes for a tiring day touring the parks. We took a break every afternoon, whether it was a nap or swimming, we made sure we did it.

We went back in Jan 2004, it was even LESS crowded, dh and dd rode Dumbo 5x in a row before they actually had to get off and get back on again. The weather was beautiful, 70's perfect for lots of walking!!! I'd say, if you are going to take the kids out of school, go for Jan, or 1-2 weeks in dec. That time is still value season, cheapest time to go, the parks are dead, and the weather is great. The avergae person can walk 16 miles a day at Disney World.

Besides these forums....I'm a big fan of mousesavers.com and also tourguidemike.com, for info on Disney World.

Well, anyway, what ever you choose, you will have a great time!!!
We're going back again in DEC and it can't get here fast enough!!! Enjoy your trip

 

[DONALD38]

The last two times we went for 7 days and it didn't seem to be enough. We wished each time we had stayed for a couple more.
Next time it will be 9 or 10 days for sure. There is just so much to do and see plus time to enjoy some time relaxing by the pool.