Will this be GOOD enough?

[PartyofSix]

I'd consider quick service meals and concentrate on park days to get your money's worth and more importantly the 10 year old would prob like a park over walking n shopping n walking some more at Disney springs. The older ones can do it on a nite if they so choose it over a park, but I'd say for a short visit..skip it.
Whatever you choose, have a wonderful visit making memories with your family!

My baby girl is happy go lucky. She enjoys wide open or chilling. I was the pool day at the resort before heading to supper and letting them all sleep in.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

If it were me, I'd do the character meal & Disney Springs on arrival night & choose a park for Wednesday.

 

[3Gsandme]

I had a three night stay planned. Two rooms. So I thought we could take the time to enjoy being on property some. I figured they'd be worn out after a full day. You maybe right though maybe we should think about off property. I was thinking they'd like the resort on property.

I think it's a lot of money. A family of six won't fit in a value room so you're talking at least $250-$300 a night in rooms. That's a thousand dollars. Adding in two resort meals (which idk if you're looking at quick or table service) and it's just a lot of money without a lot of return, IMO. If you're big ride people, I don't know if you'll be satisfied at the magic kingdom. The rides are lovely. Fun. Nostalgic. But not for thrill seekers.

You know your family and your budget. But leaving the park for resort meals will easy remove 3-4 hours (depending on where you eat and what) from your available park time and that's not a good value, in my book.

 

[PartyofSix]

I think it's a lot of money. A family of six won't fit in a value room so you're talking at least $250-$300 a night in rooms. That's a thousand dollars. Adding in two resort meals (which idk if you're looking at quick or table service) and it's just a lot of money without a lot of return, IMO. If you're big ride people, I don't know if you'll be satisfied at the magic kingdom. The rides are lovely. Fun. Nostalgic. But not for thrill seekers.

You know your family and your budget. But leaving the park for resort meals will easy remove 3-4 hours (depending on where you eat and what) from your available park time and that's not a good value, in my book.

Yes, I think we could do a value suite but we are not looking for value more relaxing fun. Yes we are hearty eaters looks like using the dining planner I would be 130 to the good. But all the input has led us to possibly leave Disney after two nights and stay 4 at universal. I think the kids just really want to see it the mk again since its been awhile but not really their speed.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I would do 2 full park days: MK and Epcot. I think Disney Springs, resort time and a water park visit would all be huge wastes of time on a 10 year old's super short first visit.

 

[HopperFan]

I had a three night stay planned. Two rooms. So I thought we could take the time to enjoy being on property some. I figured they'd be worn out after a full day. You maybe right though maybe we should think about off property. I was thinking they'd like the resort on property.

I was just there. Two nights, three full days (I was traveling from 1.5 hour away). We went non-stop, only slept at hotel, did an Early Morning Magic one day, closed down AK at 11 pm one day, dinner at CityWalk one day ........... two adults, one who is disabled. I think your gang will be having fun and able to do more.

Water park pick would be Blizzard Beach, best slides, my family finds TL lush, pretty but fairly boring.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

I am wondering about your 10yo, the one most in the "Disney magic" age range and the one person in your party who has never been. What does she like? Does she have favorite Disney characters? Does she want a BBB princess experience (which she could do at Disney Springs on your day of arrival) or a Pirate's League one? Would she like the musical shows? Parades? Meet & Greets?
I know you said you guys are all about the thrill rides, but the 10yo hasn't had a chance to decide if maybe she really enjoys being immersed in the worlds of all those Disney movies she has seen, too. I'd be fully prepared to ditch a teen and 20-somethings who need "a few hours" to primp before dinner so that the 10yo can have more park time. Even the older ones sound like they want WDW for a change of pace, not more of what you get at Universal.
Like everyone else, I say No Way to time spent at the resort or Disney Springs for shopping with only a couple of WDW days in your trip. Parks, parks, parks. If you want to chill or slow down the pace, watch parades, go do the "Frozen" sing-along, see "Beauty & the Beast" on stage, stroll through World Showcase at Epcot. Fast Passes can help you guys get on the thrill rides, but it wouldn't surprise me if some cool, dark time on, say, It's a Small World is really what heavy Universal goers actually need to cleanse the palate.

 

[crazylady]

Because you're asking the question on a Disney board, I think some of the answers are a bit skewed. I think you can get a ton done at MK in one day and have a blast.

I like the idea of a character meal on your arrival day. If I were planning your trip, I would keep the character meal on arrival day. Then I would prob do two park days if possible. But, I would make sure they include a break in them when you can enjoy the resort a little before heading back to the parks. Possibly you could do two nights at WDW and head to HRH late in the day on Day #3 and be ready for Universal on Day #4.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I would concentrate the couple of onsite days to the parks. Since you only have 2 or 3 days I'd skip the meals. With the exception of the 10 year old your kids are older so they may not be into Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. I'd definitely do Hollywpod studios and Epcot for the older ones. The 10 year old is going to enjoy the same rides as the older kids. We have done a couple of split stays because of the cost of being onsite and last time we did AoA and Bonnet Creek. AoA is a great size for your family and Bonnet Creek is right in the middle of things without the high cost. We had a water view and could see Wishes, illuminations and Star Wars fireworks from our balcony. I think you will have a wonderful time and the 10 year old will get a taste of the WDW magic. Keep checking for any specials that may come out for that time and do check out AoA. The week after Memorial Day I should think would be less busy than the week before.

 

[Doug M]

My girls need a few hours to dress for supper.

Woah, maybe I am out of touch, but why does it take 2 HOURS to get ready to eat a meal on vacation. Are they looking for dates? Seems a bit selfish to take up the rest of the family's valuable vacation time "getting ready" for 2 hours. As others have said, your schedule is likely lacking in actual park time and the high cost for 2 or 3 days of tickets is not being well used with excessive hotel time or eating (Or getting ready to).

 

[Mambo Junkie]

My baby girl is happy go lucky. She enjoys wide open or chilling. I was the pool day at the resort before heading to supper and letting them all sleep in.

Saturday while at Epcot I saw a little girl over at the water spouts jumping up and down in the water. I said to my husband that would probably be the highlight of her trip. She was having such a good time! Who cares about Nemo?

 

[Calee]

Yeah we were there for 5 straight park days, no dedicated resort day, and my kids are much younger. I would take an entire break day for such a short visit!

 

[TwoMisfits]

I had a three night stay planned. Two rooms. So I thought we could take the time to enjoy being on property some. I figured they'd be worn out after a full day. You maybe right though maybe we should think about off property. I was thinking they'd like the resort on property.

I'd definitely go off property (or even stay at Universal the whole time and drive over for the MK park day and character meal/Disney Springs)...

 

[KrazeeK120]

Woah, maybe I am out of touch, but why does it take 2 HOURS to get ready to eat a meal on vacation. Are they looking for dates? Seems a bit selfish to take up the rest of the family's valuable vacation time "getting ready" for 2 hours. As others have said, your schedule is likely lacking in actual park time and the high cost for 2 or 3 days of tickets is not being well used with excessive hotel time or eating (Or getting ready to).

I'm confused about this as well. It sounds like one of the girls is 10 and the other is quite small (OP keeps referring to her as her "baby girl"). What middle schooler and toddler/pre-schooler need 2 hours to get ready for dinner??

 

[Nancyg56]

I guess everybody is right, in an ideal world on a first trip, you would be there for 1-2 weeks and try to experience as much as you can. But, If what you're saying is you really do only have those couple of days to work with, I would at the very least swap your resort day with a park day. You don't have anybody particularly young or elderly in your group so I'm sure you'll all still be raring to go on your second day, and as nice as some of the resorts look, they just have pools, arcades, places to eat (and obviously lovely grounds). Not as much fun as doing another park.

Okay, no one said you need 2 weeks to enjoy Disney. We are saying that for the 10 YO, one day at the MK is a tease. We are also saying that there is a lot that the OP wants to do that sounds like a lot of money when paying Disney prices, yet not enjoying Disney parks and activities.

OP- I love Disney, but there is no way I would try to get adults to sleep in a value suite. I would bite the bullet, stay offsite or at Universal. Personally, if in order to satisfy such a diverse group that I needed to vacation on your plan, I would skip Disney and focus on Universal and go to Disney when I could spend a few days in the parks. I am not going to comment on the family dynamics other than to say that it seems the youngest who has never been, would be the focus in my world. I would plan for her, and the others, if they chose to hang in DS, or by the pool, or in front of a mirror would fend for themselves.

 

[PartyofSix]

Woah, maybe I am out of touch, but why does it take 2 HOURS to get ready to eat a meal on vacation. Are they looking for dates? Seems a bit selfish to take up the rest of the family's valuable vacation time "getting ready" for 2 hours. As others have said, your schedule is likely lacking in actual park time and the high cost for 2 or 3 days of tickets is not being well used with excessive hotel time or eating (Or getting ready to).

My girls are not selfish, I allow time for THREE grown children to bath, do their hair and clean up sharing ONE bathroom. It takes time to get ready and as a mom of 6 girls I know how long they are going to be. It is what it is. I was not wasting park tickets I was suggesting one day one park ticket being the magic kingdom. I know everyone vacations differently. For us we actually want to have a relaxing vacation not feel like someone beat are tails tired once we are home. I guess that's why we enjoy the beach vacations so much. I just did'nt want to KILL us with go, go , go.

 

[PartyofSix]

I'm confused about this as well. It sounds like one of the girls is 10 and the other is quite small (OP keeps referring to her as her "baby girl"). What middle schooler and toddler/pre-schooler need 2 hours to get ready for dinner??

My girls on this trip are 20 and 16. My "baby girl" is my 10 year old.

 

[PartyofSix]

Thank you all for your great advise and taking the time to help us roll this around. I think we are more leaning towards staying at universal the entire 6 nights and taking Cammy (baby girl) to MK for the day. If the others want to come they can OR we also tossed around the idea of just stealing her away for the week for a Cammy only trip to MK separate from this vacation. I understand a lot of ya'll travel a distance to enjoy WDW as a whole. We are only a 4 hour car ride away and we are a easy to please bunch so for us just being their and doing a little is a lot. I am so over the days of daylight to dark in a theme park. My oldest is 24 and i am slowing it down a bit. We like to take it all in just at a slower pace then most I guess.

 

[KrazeeK120]

My girls are not selfish, I allow time for THREE grown children to bath, do their hair and clean up sharing ONE bathroom. It takes time to get ready and as a mom of 6 girls I know how long they are going to be. It is what it is. I was not wasting park tickets I was suggesting one day one park ticket being the magic kingdom. I know everyone vacations differently. For us we actually want to have a relaxing vacation not feel like someone beat are tails tired once we are home. I guess that's why we enjoy the beach vacations so much. I just did'nt want to KILL us with go, go , go.

I'd advise splitting the family differently for "getting ready purposes" so that the 3 who take longest aren't all in 1 bathroom and you can't make more efficient use of your time. You can all sleep wherever you want, but you'd probably cut down on getting ready time significantly if you swap people around a little.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you all for your great advise and taking the time to help us roll this around. I think we are more leaning towards staying at universal the entire 6 nights and taking Cammy (baby girl) to MK for the day. If the others want to come they can OR we also tossed around the idea of just stealing her away for the week for a Cammy only trip to MK separate from this vacation. I understand a lot of ya'll travel a distance to enjoy WDW as a whole. We are only a 4 hour car ride away and we are a easy to please bunch so for us just being their and doing a little is a lot. I am so over the days of daylight to dark in a theme park. My oldest is 24 and i am slowing it down a bit. We like to take it all in just at a slower pace then most I guess.

This is what I would do. I also would not rule out any of the other parks for your child on your week trip.

We travel a distance, and I have never felt the need to RD to park close in order to get my money's worth, but I try to be realistic in regards to what is reasonable for my family members.