Worried about burnout: 2 weeks at DL

[mom4princesses]

We are go from Dec. 6th through the 20th. Reading some of the threads I hear people talking about being ready to come home and not having a good time by about the 4th day. Any suggestions on how to prevent this from happening? We are a family of 7, Me, DH, and 5DD (11, 9, 8, 2, 10months). It will be the youngest DD's birthday the 12th when we are there so we plan to do something special that day but having nothing set as of today. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Are you planning on doing only DLR for the entire time? If so, I think you would get bored. I love Disneyland but I don't think I could do 2 weeks there, even with all the holiday decorations.

Will you have a vehicle? (Since you're coming from AZ are you driving?)I would check out other places if you do.

San Diego area-in order of my preference:
Sea World
Wild Animal Park
S.D. Zoo

Knott's Berry Farm.
Yes, it's not up to DLR standards but it's still a great place to spend the day. Since you are going to be in the area for 2 weeks I would go early on in your trip, on a weekday, since the crowds will really low before local schools go on break. And the fried chicken is not to be missed. Camp Snoopy is great for the smaller ones and Knott's has some really great coasters for the more adventurous.

Universal Studios Hollywood.
Fun for a day, the 2 youngest ones won't find much to do there.


HTH.

 

[BrerFox]

I would say just mix it up! If you are there for 2 weeks you have no need to be there from open to close every day. Try spending some time shopping in DTD, or just hanging around at the hotel pool if there is one. Try Goofy's kitchen or other Disney activities.

Maybe plan a day trip to Univeral, Sea World, or Legoland! You can also spend some time at DCA...Lots of fun to be had over there!

The main key is to try to keep everybody in good spirits. You are lucky to be there for two weeks! You will really be able to explore the whole park. No need to rush or only do your favourite rides. You can do all the rides a few times to keep it fresh, you can cruise the shops, do some tours, go see some shows, parades, etc. Because I will admit, even though DL is the funnest place on earth, 14 straight days there would be too much for most people.

Just enjoy yourself and mix it up a bit and I'm sure you'll all have a great time!

 

[davidsprincess]

Are you guys just going to DL?
Although we are not going for 2 weeks, we are going for over 6 days. We plan on just taking it easy, no rushing (as per DH who informed me "no commando") and we will take breaks. We do plan on being "away" from DL for a couple of days (on the weekend) and just relaxing by the pool, doing laundry and maybe even going to the beach.

I think that if you took it slowly, enjoyed yourself, people watched a little and did breaks at the hotel you would be fine. and due to the ages of your younger two this may be a good idea. Maybe even lounge around the pool at the hotel for a couple of days if it is not too cold out, or take a day trip here and there so as to break it up..........

Just a few suggestions. I hope that you have a great time.

 

[Sherry E]

That is a really good amount of time to get to ride everything you guys want to ride a few times over, see all the little details and nuances of DLR that make it special, and also enjoy your hotel. Unless I missed it, I don't think you mentioned which hotel you will be staying in, but make sure to break up the activites wisely and spend a good amount of each day back at the hotel. Don't feel like you have to squeeze everything into to a long chunk of time every day, because that is part of what burns people out - not taking a break and getting enough rest. If you go for long stretches of time in lines and waiting and crowds and heat (yes, even in December sometimes!), you will burn out quickly. So actually work a hotel break into the schedule every day. Maybe some days spend MORE time or ALL day at the hotel, and only have dinner in the park. Make one day a shopping only day, and no rides. Spend a lot of time in DTD. Go into the park for shorter increments. Also, make sure everything that everyone wants to do is done, because after all that time spent there, you don't want to feel like you missed anything at the end of the trip.

I find the most productive trip we had was when we were in the park for more days to be able to stretch everything out over time and not cram it all into just two days, and we also took long rest breaks at the hotel. Those are integral to not burning out as fast. If you feel like you are pushing yourself to stay alert and excited for 8 hours straight, you will burn out. You have to break up the time and strike a good balance between activities and down time out of the parks. And if worse comes to worse, you could always take a day away from DLR altogether and go see some sights in SoCal and then come back to DLR the next day.

 

[davidsprincess]

Looks like a few of us were all on the same wave length

Just go and have fun! I would also ask your older DD what they would like to do as well. Maybe even go to a Hockey game if that is your thing.

 

[mom4princesses]

Thanks for all the great info. We are staying a Dolphins Cove its a few blocks but we figured since we are staying so long not a big deal. We will be taking breaks in the afternoon for the baby's to nap well and probably the rest of us. Our room has a full kitchen so we will eat most of our meals there to save on money. The places we have decided on so far are The Blue Bayou and Goofies Kitchen. Then I called the hotel and they have activities daily for the kids, arts and crafts etc. Maybe we will just avoid the weekends and plan something else. Any ideas on something that wouldn't cost money to do. The beach sounds fun but it will be cold so don't know it that will work because I know my kids will want to swim and I don't need any sick kids.

 

[PigletGurl]

My family always stays around two weeks because we come from Puerto Rico.
It's awesome cuz u can do everything at your pace and dont have to rush at all!

 

[grumpy's fan]

You could always drive up to Big Bear and play in the snow areas (there should be snow by then) or visit a big Christmas Light display in the area. San Diego has a fun one San Diego Bay Parade of Lights December 14 & 21, 2008. There are some fun parks around and there is a really good children's museum near DL as well.

 

[mad hatter fan]

Hey, maybe we will see you! We arrive late on Dec 12th and leave on the 22nd. Our last 3 Disneyland trips have been in either Jan or Dec and we have gone to the beach on every one. We don't swim but just build sand castles and sometimes wade a bit. We like Laguna Beach especially for its tide pools. We are from Minnesota so we feel like we cannot get that close and not see that beautiful ocean, LOL!

My suggestion to you would be to plan on trying to get a lot done on a couple of your earlier days (not necessarily two in a row though) as it will get quite a bit busier toward the end of your trip. Then be much more relaxed the rest of the time.

 

[davidsprincess]

OOOOOOOO, maybe do a treasure hunt with stuff that you have bought from like a Dollar Store. You could keep it cheap and fun at the same time!

 

[funnygarcia]

Go to the beach... Huntington is nice, there is a nice pier with a restaurant at the end. Fun for the kiddos to watch people surf or fishing.
Bring a small kite (nylon type that folds up small with no sticks) to fly on the beach..less temptation to get in the ocean if they are occupied.

There is a science museum in Santa Anna, good for kids. My teenagers were bored by it.. but it would be perfect for younger children. They have a dinosaur outside that you can climb inside and see how it's digestion works. Lots of clue finding with a special pointer that you rent.. I'm not doing a good job describing it. If my boys were younger they would have loved it. http://www.discoverycube.org/

With a longer time span at DL, you will have the opportunity to watch the entertainment offerings. Taking time for Meet and Greets , stop and watch strolling musicians, etc.
Bring a sack lunch and hang out for awhile.. just people watching.

We've had some magical moments doing a "slow" day, you notice the little things more. No need to be frustrated with crowds or "we need to be at X by X time or the day is ruined" thinking, you have time.

Make sure to explore the grounds of the DL Hotel. Chck to see what time they feed the carp, the kiddos will LOVE helping out! Explore the waterfall paths. Play with the remote control boats. Walk inside from Goofy's to the main lobby and you will find some nice paintings, photos, and display cases.

On early cold mornings, take a seat at the outdoor fireplace of the Grand Californian Hotel with a cup of hot cocoa.

Drat, I know I shouldn't have looked on the DL board.. Now I miss it and want to go back boo hooo hoooo.

Many of my friends said I would tire of DL, we moved to the area last year.. visited many weekends and days off of school.
There is much to do and see .. much to sit back and watch.....




I never did tire of it.

Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Marciern22]

If you can get away to Long Beach which is still pretty close, you can go to the Queen Mary, my kids loved exploring it when they were young. The Aquarium is right there too. There is a whole shopping complex there too.
You can make a day trip by Metrolink train up to LA's Union Station. You can just walk across the street from there and you will be at Olvera Street. It's free and you feel like you are smack dab in the middle of a street in Tijuana. Walk one block away and you are at Phillipes for THEE Best Beef Dip sandwiches around. They are 100 yrs old this year.
If you hop on the Red Line from Union Station it will take you to Hollywood where you can walk on the Walk of Fame to read the stars or go to Ripley's Believe It Or Not or Mann's Chinese Theatre. Looking is Free.
If you have a car, it is a quick drive, less than an hour.
You could go to Santa Monica Pier. They just got a new HUGE Ferris wheel. You can even toodle thru Malibu.
Drive the coast if you can. Go to Mission Bay in San Diego or you can go tour the USS Midway aircraft carrier. You can also check out Hotel Del Coronado, the hotel that the Grand Floridian was designed after.
Send me a PM and I'll go tour with you!!! I can find you LOTS to keep you occupied but not spending a lot of money.
I LOVE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!!!!

 

[mariezp]

We have been to DL for 2 weeks on all our trips for the past 7 years and number 8 is coming up in November. Coming from Texas, we only make it to the park once a year so I try to get all the time I can to keep us tied over! I LOVE having so much time to do everything in the park leisurely and then do it all over again and again. We seldom make it to the park at opening, always take a mid day break and hardly ever make it until closing but luckily with the extra time you don't have to do the park in commando mode. With your little ones, that will certainly be nice.

Our first few trips, we did check out some of the other attractions in California. We drove north up the coast one year and then to the San Diego area another. We saw some interesting things but, honestly, we decided rather than hassling with the traffic we would be just as happy spending the extra days in the park. If you should decide to venture out, I would suggest doing it on the weekend to avoid the crowds at DL and the rush hour freeway traffic during the week.

As far as getting burned out, I guess it all depends really on just how much you love DL and how much you get bored with repetition. My family LOVES to go on the same rides over and over again or just take things easy and people watch. I love being on vacation so much and have come to appreciate every minute I have in the park. (It's kinda like Calgon take me away!) I don't burn out, but by the end of 2 weeks I am VERY tired and ready to be back in my own bed again.

I would go with some of the tips offered by the previous posters. They have some good ideas! Also, I might let the 3 older girls assist with the decision making each day which might be useful in identifying particular things that would help keep them satisfied.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Two weeks at JUST DLR is a loooong time. I think mixed in with some visits to other things in the area would make for a great vacation!

The SD Zoo is wonderful, as is the Wild Animal Park. There's LegoLand. Beaches. Knott's. The list goes forever.

But, yeah, I think 2 weeks would need some other things mixed in with Disney... and i LOVE Disney.

 

[wmp.dll]

I think 2 weeks of just Disney is too much. We spent 5 days in Disneyland like this:

Day One - Travel to Anaheim
Day Two - Disneyland
Day Three - Shopping
Day Four - Disneyland
Day Five - Shopping
Day Six - Disneyland
Day Seven - Universal Studios
Day Eight - Disneyland
Day Nine - Disneyland
Day Ten - Travel Home

That was more then enough Disney. I think if you did 14 days of Disney, thats way too much. Break it up by doing other stuff. Shopping, go to the beach, Hollywood Tour (hotel can probably set something up).

 

[bumbershoot]

Now see, I would LOVE to have the trip you're taking. Sure, maybe some of the days some of us would go back to the hotel, so see a movie, do a little something else, but I bet you a gazillion dollars that I, at least, would enter the parks every day.

I could do a "southern CA" trip and go see other things, but if I'm staying near DLR? I'm going to DLR.

When we go to WDW we're also planning a long trip, even though it's our first time. We'll have a couple different sets of family to spend time with, and that's going to be inside the parks, LOL. They'll just have to deal with it, even though they live in or near Orlando and have likely been there 18 bazillion times!

 

[Mugglemama]

You can just walk across the street from there and you will be at Olvera Street. It's free and you feel like you are smack dab in the middle of a street in Tijuana. Walk one block away and you are at Phillipes for THEE Best Beef Dip sandwiches around. They are 100 yrs old this year.

i LOOOVE phillipes!! i haven't been there in more than 10 years, but grew up going there a few times per year. olvera street is great, too. my family used to do them as a combo activity as well.

oh, and to the OP...we have 4 children, and on the trips where we stay at DLR for 5 days straight, it usually feels like enough. not that i would turn down a two week stay, mind you. lol.

before you decide on knott's berry farm, just keep in mind that there isn't much to do there for most of your children. the kids' rides are limited. we haven't been in 7 years because, even though i love knott's myself, it just always felt like a waste of money because we couldn't find enough to do for the whole day. the kids get through the rides they are tall enough for in a matter of a couple of hours.

now my mouth is watering for a phillipes french dip.....mmmmmmm, YUMMY! i love the sawdust on the floor and the extra long tables so everybody eats together.

 

[wmp.dll]

Now see, I would LOVE to have the trip you're taking. Sure, maybe some of the days some of us would go back to the hotel, so see a movie, do a little something else, but I bet you a gazillion dollars that I, at least, would enter the parks every day.

I could do a "southern CA" trip and go see other things, but if I'm staying near DLR? I'm going to DLR.

When we go to WDW we're also planning a long trip, even though it's our first time. We'll have a couple different sets of family to spend time with, and that's going to be inside the parks, LOL. They'll just have to deal with it, even though they live in or near Orlando and have likely been there 18 bazillion times!

I think Orlando is different in that there are 4 theme parks plus 2 water parks. Its so big that you can spend 10-14 days in the parks and not get bored. 10 days is like spending 2 days at each theme park with 2 days of just relaxing.

 

[Marciern22]

My parents took my kids on vacation with them for a week once and I had to stay home to work. On one of my days off, I went to DL. I took my scarf I was crocheting and a good book and sat on a bench around the Partners Statue and did my activities and people watched.
I had such a great time! You will be able to find plenty to do there for 2 weeks. Really. Cuz your girls are the perfect ages to find so much to do.
But if you do need to get away, that's what is so great about So Cal...everything is so close by!