would this be silly?

[PKT531]

We are supposed to leave (by car) on Saturday and stay at the Poly for 7 nights.

We are thinking we might want to leave on Friday so that we'll have the entire day on Saturday and the kids (5,3 and 1 ) won't be so worn out.

There is availability at POP for Friday night for $149.

Is that a crazy idea? Should we just wait it out?

We were also tossing around the idea of driving half way on Friday which would be Savannah,GA and spending Friday night. Then we'd have 4 more hours to go on Saturday and the kids might handle 4 hours much better than 8 or 9.

Just wanting some opinions.

 

[unicorn1]

I don't think it's silly at all. I would consider leaving Friday without reservations. If everyone is riding relatively comfortably and you can make it all the way, head to Pop. If not, stay somewhere along the way. You're taking a small chance the POP fills up between now and your arrival, but at least you're there, and there are plenty of other places to stay.

 

[disneysuncat]

It's not silly at all. It gets you well-rested for the next day, giving you a "full" day the next day as well. Great idea!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would go for the extra night but not at the Pop, I would stay offsite somewhere much cheaper for the one night

 

[disneymom06]

NOt silly at all, but I agree that I would go without reservations just in case you want to stop early or off site.

 

[SleepingUgly]

With kids that young, would you consider driving through the night? We did that when our daughters were about 6 and 3. We left home @ 8 pm (dh had taken a quick nap that afternoon), and we got to WDW around 8 am on Saturday. The kids slept the entire way there. We putzed around that morning at DTD and then swam / checked out the resort that afternoon (while dh napped a bit), and then headed to MK after dinner. No crowds and the weather was so nice. We liked that arrangement so much we are doing the same thing this year (kids are now 9 and 6). It may work for your family. That is, if you and / or your husband can handle driving straight through the night. I wouldn't do it if I had to drive, but since dh can handle it, it works for us.

Linda

 

[PKT531]

Thanks for the replies.

Driving all night is not an option.....we tried that once and it was horrible. The kids didn't sleep at all and we were so tired.

We are going to go up early with no reservations and stay somewhere near Downtown Disney (hopefully) and just walk around there until its time to check into the Poly.

 

[Amy&Dan]

That is not silly, its brilliant! But I would still go with Pop. Your kids would love it.

 

[momatater]

We always fly in a day early, stay off site and check in to our resort by 8am on our first day. That way we have the entire day to enjoy the parks, ect.

This yr we are actually flying down earlier in the day so decided to add a night at CR before we check into the Poly.

I hope you enjoy your trip!!

 

[bellebud]

not silly at all! can't you check in early saturday morning at the poly, and use your tickets that day if you wanted to? Or just enjoy the resort? (the pool, beach, etc). Ride the monorail, check out other resorts on the loop if you don't go into MK. We we've switched resorts mid stay, dh always goes and checks in at the new resort around 7am, then comes back and gets the kids and I and he has our new room card, etc, and just has to call later in the day for the room number. just a thought.

 

[PKT531]

not silly at all! can't you check in early saturday morning at the poly, and use your tickets that day if you wanted to? Or just enjoy the resort? (the pool, beach, etc). Ride the monorail, check out other resorts on the loop if you don't go into MK. We we've switched resorts mid stay, dh always goes and checks in at the new resort around 7am, then comes back and gets the kids and I and he has our new room card, etc, and just has to call later in the day for the room number. just a thought.

Yes. We have an 8 day hopper so we'll go Saturday to Saturday to the parks. We plan to check into the Poly as soon as we can.

 

[asmit4]

I'd find a place just down the street from DW for 50-75 a night...something decent but not 149. Save your $$$. Then make the 5 minute drive to MK on Saturday and make it 'special'... I've heard of people finding rates in the 40 dollar range- but I'm not sure what season or if the places they refer to are 'dumps'...the place has to be clean and not stuck in the 70s/80s.

Spending 149 on pop seems not worth it to me for 1 night.

 

[michelleiada]

Not silly at all! Go for it! The parks are more crowded on Saturdays and you will have more patience if you are well rested the night before. We changed our flight to arrive earlier in the day on our last trip. We were suppose to arrive around midnight on a Thursday and changed to arrive by dinner time so we could have dinner and relax, explore the resort, and rest up for all of the park walking. I wish I lived close enough to drive in just a few ours. Go for it on Friday! Hope you have a great time!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Thanks for the replies.

Driving all night is not an option.....we tried that once and it was horrible. The kids didn't sleep at all and we were so tired.

We are going to go up early with no reservations and stay somewhere near Downtown Disney (hopefully) and just walk around there until its time to check into the Poly.

You won't even have to do that. You can check in at the Poly as early as 7 AM if you want. Your room won't be ready, most likely, but you can still leave your stuff with Bell Services, get your keys and tickets and be off to the park by rope drop!

My personal vote, however, would be to split the trip into 2 days, go a little more than halfway Friday night, stop for the night, get up and drive straight to the Poly. After about 6 hours of riding, my kids "hit the wall" so to speak and get very cranky.

Have a great trip!

 

[Lynn5700]

Go for it and have fun!!!!

 

[Minnie824]

Definitely its a good idea! We did exactly what you did the first year we drove down. We were staying at the Beach Club and for our first night, had driven straight thru, arriving around 10pm, so we didnt want to pay the BC prices for that night. We stayed at Pop, slept in, had breakfast, went to BC to check in then hit the parks.

 

[lunapnp]

A few years ago, we drove to DW with our two DD's...then ages 7 and 3. We left late one evening...around 6ish and drove a little over half way...which for us was Valdosta, GA. The next morning, we got up and were to DW by lunch. It worked out very well...especially for the kids who couldn't stand to be in the car that long. Well, when it was time to travel home, I didn't want to stop. (I'm that way when I know my vacation is over...it's time to be home! No "lolly-gagging" for me!) So, we drove all the way home in one day. I think it took about 14hrs...only because youngest DD realized very quickly that if she said she needed to potty, we would stop. Every 45 minutes (on the dot) she had to stop! I was ready to kill her! It's one of those things, though, that you hate to say no...because it could be the real thing...then what a mess the rest of the way home! My husband and I laugh about it now...but we sure couldn't then!

 

[Carlyzmom]

I would go for the extra night but not at the Pop, I would stay offsite somewhere much cheaper for the one night

I agree with this plan too. In fact we plan on driving until we get about 2 hours away. Then when we get up the next morning - we will only have a 2 hour drive and have the whole day ahead of us!

 

[FOV]

We are doing this and I highly recommend Pop. We booked our trip for later this summer and then we decided to leave one day earlier to have a day to hang out by the pool, go to Cirque etc... Our resort was booked so we booked CSR for one night.

When our kids were younger they *loved* Pop! All Star Movies is also fun with young kids.

 

[dad2t&e]

I don't think it's silly at all. I would consider leaving Friday without reservations. If everyone is riding relatively comfortably and you can make it all the way, head to Pop. If not, stay somewhere along the way. You're taking a small chance the POP fills up between now and your arrival, but at least you're there, and there are plenty of other places to stay.

I agree. When we travel we quit when we start to tire.