Would you go if only for a week?

[fitnessmouse]

Hello, not from the UK, but Netherlands, so approx same time difference.
We went in summer last year, but found out we really don't do well in the heat. Looking at other times of the year to go, but then the kids only have one week off from school and taking them out is not allowed.
Would you go that far if you only had one week? Is the jet-lag or time difference better or worse with such a short stay? It would be last week of February or third week of October. Christmas would be a no-no with the crowds and much more expensive flights.

 

[BudgieMama]

We did a week during our first visit, and it was fine. The jet lag is always bad on the return leg, and we didn't notice any significant difference between our one week or two week trips in that respect.

If I couldn't do two weeks (which is my preference) and it was one week or not going, I'd go for a week. Other people probably wouldn't, but we did NYC for a week, and it's only an extra hour each way to Orlando, so why should that be a deal breaker?

 

[Jon84]

2014 we did a week, was difficult to cram WDW and Uni really, end up travelling alot and not relaxing.

We did a week, then extended it to 10 nights while we were out there another time.

Next Year we have 8 Nights in October.

Having said all this, in between all of these there has been a 2 week trip booked too!


My In Laws stuggle with adjusting to US time, but personally, we don't feel it till we get home!

 

[BudgieMama]

I should add- when we did just a week we ONLY did WDW! (To be fair, we only did WDW for our two week trip too, but that was a choice rather than a necessity!)

 

[fitnessmouse]

We are DVC so don't have to cram everything in, we'll be back. With flight prices so expensive in high season, we probably could go twice for a week in low season

 

[timc17]

I'd only do it if the flights were ridiculously cheap and even then would just stick with WDW or US and not try and do both.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Heck yeah!!! I did a week last September, I flew out and met my American friends. We just did Disney parks and it was plenty of time to do everything as long as you're organised with booking fastpasses in advance.

 

[disneyholic family]

i would....
you have to control your expectations though..
you are not going to be able to do what you did in the longer time..
but if you go knowing that, it's fine..
and maybe you could steal an extra day or two from the kids school time?

you'll find that you can stay in the parks much longer when it's not so hot..

the first time we went in november, we were shocked that we'd managed to stay in the parks from opening until closing..
when we thought about it, we realized it was the weather...
that summer heat is very draining....

 

[peachiepie]

I would do a week and between February and October I would go with October.

 

[Tash87]

Sorry to disagree with everyone else but I personally wouldn't go for just one week.

 

[disneyholic family]

by the way, taking them out of school is never allowed?
is that written in stone? or is there wiggle room?
we once took our kids out for 3 weeks....it worked out to be 4 weeks - 3 weeks of them missing school, and one week december vacation..
so we were in the states from just before thanksgiving until christmas...
one of our best trips ever...
DD was 13 and DS was 11 at the time...
the schools weren't happy....i didn't care...
they're now 31 and 29, both successful, both happily married, one with two kids...
i don't think missing 3 weeks of school when they were kids had much of a negative impact...

 

[fitnessmouse]

by the way, taking them out of school is never allowed?
is that written in stone? or is there wiggle room?
we once took our kids out for 3 weeks....it worked out to be 4 weeks - 3 weeks of them missing school, and one week december vacation..
so we were in the states from just before thanksgiving until christmas...
one of our best trips ever...
DD was 13 and DS was 11 at the time...
the schools weren't happy....i didn't care...
they're now 31 and 29, both successful, both happily married, one with two kids...
i don't think missing 3 weeks of school when they were kids had much of a negative impact...

Nope. Not allowed. Only very special circumstances. We applied for 1.5 day extra two years ago, so we could go to Hawaii for 3 weeks instead of 2 for our anniversary (it fell between a school vacation and national holiday) and were denied.

 

[disneyholic family]

Nope. Not allowed. Only very special circumstances. We applied for 1.5 day extra two years ago, so we could go to Hawaii for 3 weeks instead of 2 for our anniversary (it fell between a school vacation and national holiday) and were denied.

yikes!! 1.5 days....they're insane...and all the way to hawaii which takes forever and day just to fly there.....
we actually took our kids out of school more than that trip, for family celebrations in the states..
but i was such a nutcase, i always took them out for the very minimum time - just to fly to the states, the day of the celebration, and fly back..
and that was when they kids were really really young....
thinking back, i should have taken them out longer...
family doesn't live forever....

 

[wifey]

When our DS was small we took him for a week for his first birthday in November and a couple of years later we went for a week in February. These were both trips before he started school so we didn't need to worry about his schooling being affected. He was teething that first trip so it wasn't the best experience , however the February trip he blossomed and kept people entertained dancing and singing in the lines just waiting for parks to open and talking to other kids and grandparents. Sure the trip is long but so worth while. We even had a week in DLP once but it was no match for WDW at the time. The weather was awful too cold to stay out for long... icy ground and fog spoiled the fireworks and back then in 2005 there wasn't as much to do. Go have fun and pack as much in as you can given your time there. A cool day in WDW still beats a horrible cold damp day in Europe. If you go anytime but the summer months you don't have to contend with the humidity. It's unpleasant coping with the heat and humidity together especially if you have sensitive skin like us.

 

[P800aul]

Hello, not from the UK, but Netherlands, so approx same time difference.
We went in summer last year, but found out we really don't do well in the heat. Looking at other times of the year to go, but then the kids only have one week off from school and taking them out is not allowed.
Would you go that far if you only had one week? Is the jet-lag or time difference better or worse with such a short stay? It would be last week of February or third week of October. Christmas would be a no-no with the crowds and much more expensive flights.

Hi

If it's the only time you can go then yes we would do a week, while less travel for US citizens they do three or four day trips. If we did I would look at staying at a Disney Hotel and not hiring a car, just doing Disney only. Four parks, two waterparks, four minI golf, good food etc etc the week would be pretty full

Regards

Paul

 

[Dimplenose]

We did a week in Oct 2014 but without the kids. It worked out really well as the clocks changed on different days in UK and US so we only had a 4 hour time difference to come home to, and with going back to work the day after we landed we were forced back into routine with very little jet lag.

We booked late and travelled indirect - no problems but it was just one more thing to try and fit into a short time. We stayed at ASMo.

We booked fast passes for our must dos and then just took anything else as fitted in with where we were and what had shorter lines. We did have tickets for MNSHP which was wonderful but we certainly didn't try and cram a 2 week holiday into one week.

To save money we just went to WDW and didn't have a car. Also, more to save time than anything else, we only ate counter service meals but we chose carefully so we got "real" food (including at GF and WL.) The Food and Wine festival was in full swing but I didn't like the crowds that drew or the smell of alcohol. But outside Epcot things were much quieter.

And we had so much more energy than in previous August trips.

 

[sam_rogers]

Dh and I are currently at a hotel at Gatwick ready to leave today for a week long trip. We've opted to stay at universal and spend our time at us /ioa and wet n wild and only visiting Disney for mnsshp. Personally I feel I need 2 weeks for Disney even though we've been a few times. We like visiting the water parks, doing a bit of mini golf and spending some time at downtown Disney and doing it all at a leisurely pace but like I say, that's personal preference and a lot of people will do Disney in a week.

 

[Pluto80]

We are both teachers, so to do Halloween we can only go during the one week October half term. We did it last year, and we're doing it again this year. It's totally worth it! That's with a 4 and 8 year old in tow as well

 

[Kristina]

I live in Sweden and I did a week a few years ago, solo even and it was great! I'd prefer October but if the heat is an issue then February is best.

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes have done it a few times. We had a week in May at cabana bay with dd age 10 and same Oct 2014 also at cabana bay. I'd stay onsite to maximise park time. The jet lag works in your favour on the way out - up early so lots done.