[Disneywife]

We just spent 2 days totally immersed in Disneyland and are now sitting here wondering how in the world we are going to do this for 5 days in like...a month...at Disneyworld.

Now, we go all the time, but a few hours here and a few hours there. Dh works for the Disneyland Resort and we live 20 minutes away. This time, we stayed on site at the Grand Californian and were there 1/2 day yesterday and all day today. And last night, my dd kept us up most of the night. Not up crying, just fiddling in bed...but of course if you're sharing a bed with her you're not sleeping. Dh and I both took turns sleeping with her and ds refused. Wake up call early this morning to get us to Goofy's Kitchen (after Ariel's Grotto last night) caused me to mistakenly hang up on not a wake-up call, but Goofy's birthday call. (We were celebrating both dh and ds' birthdays)

OMG. I have lost feeling in my feet and every bone and muscle in my body hurts. I also fell asleep sitting up in probably the loudest place in DCA this evening - next to the Maliboomer and right under California Screamin'. Dd was asleep in the stroller (first time since she was like, a newborn), and the boys were on Screamin'. That's when I knew I was totally wiped and that I am up you-know-where without a paddle for WDW.

We have 9 am breakfast plans, 1 8 am breakfast plan, evening plans every night, a kid who won't sleep in hotel rooms, and jetlag on top of it to look forward to...

We toured Greece for a month with a 3 year old 5 years ago without a problem... why is it so much harder with 2 kids?

WHAT have I gotten myself into?

[ARIEL]

oh Disneywife......I feel for you babe!!! However, this is not what I want to hear when I am doing my first transatlantic flight with what will be a 21 month old in January and what you have described is everything I have been panicking about since we booked the holiday!!!!!
Oh well, never mind....i still can't wait!

I hope the rest of you trip is cool and Im sending you a big hug for support!

A xxx

[Dana]

With 5 days there, you will be able to take a mid day break and maybe a nap if you feel the need. Your DD sounds like she suffers from strange bed syndrome like I do. I don't sleep half the time I am there, but by the third day, I pass out and sleep like the dead..lol It'll be ok. You guys are going to love it!

[MerlinMatt]

Sharon:

You're doing exactly what you should do. Keep your expectations low and the trip will be much better than you expect.

I think Dana's probably right, but I'd bet that the "crash" happens on Day 2.

You'll have a great time.

[GrumpyDad]

Make sure you bring comfort items for the bed; blankets, teddy bear, pillow, etc. As Dana pointed out the mid day rest helps, we also found a dip in the pool at some point seems to help the little ones sleep better. One other thing, try to take it easy, we made the mistake of trying to do EVERYTHING the first trip and it was less then perfect, since then we go with the expectations of having fun, but going with the flow of the day.

Good luck and enjoy.
-harry

[MissDisney]

Sharon... take a cheap umbrella stroller with you -- it will add a lot of convenience to your day and will make the little one more comfortable. And take a big hotel break in the middle of the day (spend it at the pool or strolling the grounds and lobby if a nap won't happen!). The parks are the most crowded then, anyway, and when you return at 2 or even 3, you will all feel refreshed and enthusiastic again.
For a break in the parks, try these:
MK -- take a keelboat over to Tom Sawyer Island. It is quiet, has lots of fun paths to take and caves to explore. Lots of calm places to sit.
MGM -- Enjoy the Indiana Jones show. You get to sit in he shade for quite a while as you watch a great show!
EC -- Spread a blanket out on any shady, grassy spot and have a picnic, or sit in the English garden in the GB pavilion and watch the Beatles band.
AK -- Walk the Pangani Exploration Trail. Very relaxing!

[Jen]

Sharon,

Sorry to hear about your DL trip. As a mother of 4 ~ I know where you're coming from.

My suggestion is this ~ take cues from your children. If they are tired and cranky by mid afternoon, take a break. Try to stick to some resemblence of their daily schedual ~ like eating at their normal times. Also, for a few weeks before the trip, try to get them "in shape" for the trip. How bout on the weekends before you go get your DD ready by getting her a special sleeping bag and camping out in her room on the floor. If she gets used to sleeping that way, bring the sleeping bag with you on your trip and let her camp out on the floor there. (JC Penny's catalog had these great fleese disney princess bags that inflate with the pump it comes with and then the hole thing rolls into a backpack.)

Also, try to work the bedtimes a little different as they trip approches. And, if you think it would make the trip more enjoyable, how bout canceling (ekk ~ I know) some of those real early or real late PSs.

I agree with the above, lower your expectations a bit. On past trips anywhere that I have taken the kids, I learned to just take it easy "ITS A VACATION" and as far as WDW goes, for me it's about them and I want to make sure they have the best time!

Good luck!

Jen

[tinkerbell]

remember too that they have Baby Centers in the parks and Kid Concierge (sp?) where you can take breaks. .. nothing wrong with Bench riding either in my opinion :)

[jodilt]

I must admit I am always more tired after 2 days at DL than I am a week at WDW! I think I feel the crush of trying to do it all in 2 days. You will have plenty of time to see the parks with 5 days at WDW. Take breaks, don't feel rushed. Enjoy your vacation. Since you have been to DL many times, maybe focus more on the things that are different at WDW, and make those your priority on your list of things to do.

[Disneywife]

We will actually only have 3 full days at WDW...one day is for travel, and one day we'll be at the Space Center...which, I'm sure, will be just as tiring. Then, that night, we'll be making the 4 hour drive to Tallahasee. At least there, we have nothing planned but hanging out at my brother's house.

Bench riding definitely seemed to be my thing yesterday. I did shop too (of course!) but by 3 pm...I was so done. And of course we had promised the kids that we'd stay for the fireworks and the snow on Main Street (9:25 pm). Those were a hard few hours...omg.

Miss Disney...I do have a Maclaren Volo which I use and will be taking with us...it's an umbrella stroller which fits bigger kids well (she's 4.5). She slept in it yesterday, which did help a bit.

We'll be there next Saturday, except this time...we'll be arriving at 7 pm and leaving at 10!!

[MrDisneyfan1]

and remember, coffee and pastries through EPCOT...keeps me going.

[Disneywife]

Originally Posted by tinkerbell

remember too that they have Baby Centers in the parks and Kid Concierge (sp?) where you can take breaks. .. nothing wrong with Bench riding either in my opinion :)

Wait...I'm familiar with the Baby Centers, but what's the Kid Concierge??

[ARIEL]

Originally Posted by MrDisneyfan1

and remember, coffee and pastries through EPCOT...keeps me going.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm feeling better already!!!!!