Yet ANOTHER question about taking breaks...

[susy]

We are just back and took our DS (age 6) 7 times previously.

Now that you have your itinerary posted, I'll make a few suggestions...

I am BIG believer in breaks, BUT since you are going in Feb (cold) with shorter park hours, here is how I would do it:

Wed- Mk -opening. Stay as long as your can and take a couple of breaks in the park- don't push it though call it a night when the kids are tired.

Thurs-Epcot- all day???? I would just use the same strategy here. Our son (we just got back) lasted just fine until around 2:30 (and we got there at 8 for EE). i wodul leave Illuminatiosn for another night.

Fri- rest . You'll need it. However, if you missed soemthign you really want to do (like the afternoon parade at MK)- go for it! See Wishes or iIlum this night or fantasmic.

Sat- Ak/ break -easy when you are at AKL- Mk

Sun- rest. again, utilize the day for somethign you missed or might mis later. A whole day of rest is soemtimes too much, especially if it's too cold to swim.


mon-MGM .break if you will be back for fantasmic or just go to the park later. You can get a lot done at this park in the off-season.

Tues- DQ/ cirque
Wed- Mk play it by ear. Youmay too tired to go back to MK. I would not let the kids in on your plans ahead of time. Boardwalk/Illum

Your plan sounds good. Just be very flexible!!!

 

[CALaurieA]

I haven't been to Orlando yet so I can't help in the itinerary (I'm working on my own). But I can relate to the overplanning. My family thinks I'm nuts also. You said

LOL I really need to learn to be more flexible. You would think with three kids I'd have figured that out by now.

I think it's BECAUSE you have kids that you overplan. I used to think it was because I'm a teacher - but as a mom or a teacher if you don't have a plan, things can get ugly fast . Have you ever been somewhere for the very first time and your DH looks at you and says "which way do we go now?" I want to say "Heck if I know, I've never been here either." But because I've over researched I can say "We go left, and down there we'll make a right."

I also never want to be in the postition I was a number of years ago - We were staying at a resort in Phoenix and when we were packing to check out I noticed that we could have had free cocktails at the swim up bar!! AAh! Don't want to miss something that important again
Don't worry, you'll have a great time.

 

[westjones]

I think it's BECAUSE you have kids that you overplan.

I think this is true for me too. Before kids, I 'planned' some, but was fine with just going with the flow. I knew DH and I would be fine doing just about anything on our vacations as long as we were together and getting to see a new place.

Now with kids I have to deal with:
--I'm tired
--I'm hungry
--I don't want to do that, we always do what (the other kid) wants to do!
--Can't we do this instead
--I'm BORED!

So by planning our days, my kids know that tomorrow we are going to MK or Epcot or whatever. We have PS plans at these places, so we have to be there for lunch at these times.....and they kids seem to go along fine with the plan.

If things are 'up in the air' then they argue over what to do.

DJ

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by westjones

If things are 'up in the air' then they argue over what to do.

That is SO true! I am getting so many great suggestions from everyone though that I am feeling better!

 

[bobcat]

As my kids have gotten older we don't take an afternoon break everyday but we still plan some down time even while we are in the parks. Some of the longer shows offer a great rest period, such as the American Adventure. A long afternoon lunch always seems to refresh us as well. If you want to rest but the kids still need to blow off steam Tom Sawyers island is good as is the imagination pavilions at Epcot. My favorite relaxing ride is the TTA.

 

[DisneyMom5]

jcemom - I could have written your post! This is exactly what I have been dealing with. My new plan is to go back for a break on our 2nd. day at Epcot (the first being the day we arrive, therefore a half day) and do some laundry/swim. Then, a few days later, sleep in, do some laundry, explore Fort Wilderness, before heading to MK. Sort of take our break first, if you know what I mean.
My dh says "whatever you say" now, but I am sure when we get there he will be like "lets just keep going!"