Wwyd

[sbarisch]

My family - myself, DH, and DD (age 7) - be travelling to WDW in September. We're not noobies, as this will be our third trip in three years. But I need some advice from those that have experienced more .

Right now I have the Luau at the Poly booked for the night of our arrival, but now we're reconsidering and thinking about doing MNSCHP instead. Can anyone who has perhaps experienced one or the other share which they would prefer and why?

Thanks so much!!!!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

How early in the day are you arriving? One of my co-workers was just at WDW and did the luau on their arrival night. It ended up being a disaster! The kids were too tired and fussy, and one decided they didn't like the food. So they ended up walking out before it was over.

I honestly wouldn't do either unless you are arriving early and everyone will be well rested. Either option costs too much money to have to worry about missing out.

 

[sbarisch]

How early in the day are you arriving? One of my co-workers was just at WDW and did the luau on their arrival night. It ended up being a disaster! The kids were too tired and fussy, and one decided they didn't like the food. So they ended up walking out before it was over.

I honestly wouldn't do either unless you are arriving early and everyone will be well rested. Either option costs too much money to have to worry about missing out.

Our flight arrives in Orlando at 3:05 and our current ressie is for the late (8pm) luau. We wouldn't be doing MNSSHP the night of arrival but later in the week if we switch.

 

[kohlby]

That would not work at all for one of my kids, but she's not every child. One of my three desperately needs her sleep. For that reason, I don't push the later nights until near the end. None of my kids sleep in either. (Naps would never happen either - not even at 2 years old). So, an 8pm luau could set us up for problems from the start with her. That doesn't add in the stress of what happens if your flight is late either. We are doing MNSSHP this trip. It's the first time we think that she can handle staying up late, though she's 8. (I'm not nearly as worried about my 5 year old! And know my 11 year old will have no issues). We're doing it towards the end of our trip and on a day without a lot of other things planned.

Another option is to ask your daughter what she wants to do. If she helps choose it, then it's more likely to go well.

 

[Alesia]

There is no way that I would book something expensive and prepaid for arrival night - there are just way too many things that can go wrong.

On the other hand if you're okay with risking losing the money (and the disappointment,) why not ask your daughter what she'd rather do?

 

[happymommy]

At that age, my DD wouldn't make it! She would be too tired to have dinner at 8:00 PM at all, much less sit through a show. She'd want to maybe go to a park for a couple of hours and then relax. Not all kids are the same, but something like that would never work for our family.

Personally I would not book that for the first night. I've never taken my kids to the luau, but we lived in Hawaii for a few years, and my kids have been many times, so it wouldn't interest them. They don't even like many sit down meals at Disney; we tend to enjoy more counter service where they can eat quicker. Maybe once a trip we do a sit down meal, but that's it.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I have never done the Luau but I agree with the PPs. We never book anything like that for the first night. Too much money to lose if something delays you.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Agree with others. We have a 7 year old and by 8:00 on arrival day he has had enough! When we were there in January we did DTD on arrival night and he was really too tired to even truly enjoy that. This year we plan to do the party for his 8th birthday. We had skipped them before as we wanted to be sure he could stay awake and happy for the entire party to get our money's worth from it.

 

[sbarisch]

Thanks so much everyone!! I appreciate all the replies. I think I just wanted my own thoughts confirmed - cancelling the luau and buying MNSSHP tickets for later in the trip.

Thanks again!!

 

[Julylady]

Good decision! We have found it works best not to schedule anything on the day we arrive. Case in point. For our trip to Disneyland last month we were scheduled to arrive at 10:30am. We ended up landing at 9:30 PM. Thankfully we had nothing planned.

Our "go to" plan for the day of arrival is exploring the hotel and swimming. Works great for us.

 

[mm1971]

Thanks so much everyone!! I appreciate all the replies. I think I just wanted my own thoughts confirmed - cancelling the luau and buying MNSSHP tickets for later in the trip.

Thanks again!!

As with most, I think that was your best option. I would have said that having 8 hours in MK for the party was a better overall experience than a dinner. Have a fun trip.

 

[ktlm]

MNSSHP is a great party! I think you will be happy with your decision. DD was 7 on our first fall trip last year and she loved the party. It was so much fun, we wound up going twice. FYI- If your DH is costume resistant like mine- they have T-shirt "costumes" now. DH's last year was a Superman T-shirt that had a detachable small cape, worn with jeans and sneakers. The adults don't have to wear costumes, but a ton of people do, and it is so much fun to see what everyone is wearing and have grown ups running around in costume.