Sorta Personal but...

[MaXXimus]

I just mentioned to my wife who has never been to WDW before that if we arrive in Orlando by 10:30 AM we may be able to make it to AK by 1:00 PM or so and have lunch and dinner there and she is already moaning about (oh we have to get transportation to the hotel and then we need to get checked into the rooms and then you want us to rush out to AK? We need to eat cause we are going to be hungry blah blah blah) and not listening to me explain that we are paying for the use of parks and all for each and every day and that it isnt like going to the shore where your just paying for your motel or hotel and then just paying for what ya want to do. WTH am I suppose to do?

 

[CoffeeJedi]

You can probably be at AK by 12:30. I take it you're doing DME? I think she'll be amazed at how smooth and efficient the whole process is. There really won't be any "rushing" involved. Even the hotel check-in is usually completely painless.

And tell her you guys can eat AT Animal Kingdom! Tell her how relaxing it will be to eat at the Flame Tree BBQ after a long morning of travel, sitting by the river, watching the world go by.

 

[tink rules]

You can relax... take a breath and enjoy the parks and your hotel and hey...your entire vacation!!!

You can't do it all in one trip... don't try.... and your feet will hurt even more if you do.

WDW is better seen at a less than whiplash pace anyway....

& stop and have a Dole Whip or a Big cookie or something ... hey a Mickey Bar and enjoy all that's around you.

Enjoy your time... life it too short to rush it all!!!!

 

[slappy magoo]

Bear in mind YOU might be tired on arrival. But that lack of interest does not bode well, imho

AK is less stressful because of the higher percentage of shows and walking-at-your-own-pace exhibits. Even if you just ejoy the animals and no rides, it's a god time, especially if the weather's nice. You could tell her you just want to explore, not necessarily wait on line to do anything. Just grab some lunch & look around. She may be more open to do stuff once she's there if there's no pressure.

Otherwise, if it means getting the vacation off on the right foot, consider giving in a bit. +nstead of hitting the ground running, have lunch at your hotel, explore the resort grounds, take a nap, canoodle if you're not traveling with kids, then go to Epcot. It's open later, great restaurants for dinner. Go to AK the next orn. Animals are more energetic mornings anyway.

 

[TimeTrip]

I just mentioned to my wife who has never been to WDW before that if we arrive in Orlando by 10:30 AM we may be able to make it to AK by 1:00 PM or so and have lunch and dinner there and she is already moaning about (oh we have to get transportation to the hotel and then we need to get checked into the rooms and then you want us to rush out to AK? We need to eat cause we are going to be hungry blah blah blah) and not listening to me explain that we are paying for the use of parks and all for each and every day and that it isnt like going to the shore where your just paying for your motel or hotel and then just paying for what ya want to do. WTH am I suppose to do?

Seems like that could be a pretty exhausting beginning of a day. Get up (much earlier than normal?), prep, go to airport, checkin, fly, land, get off the plane, walk to DME, ride DME to AK lodge, checkin, go to AK.... and then eat a real meal? That is if you're implying that "lunch at AK" will be a real lunch because you hadn't eaten a real meal since you took off.

There doesn't seem to be a real time to relax in a way that you most people (i think) would like after doing all that less than ideal travelling. I suppose the DME trip to the AKL could be relaxing since I'm guessing it will be a fairly long ride (30-40 minutes?).

 

[davidpw97]

You didn't say if its just the 2 of you or if there are other people involved or how long you plan to stay. If you're going to be there for a week then why not rest the first day and start fresh in the morning, no reason to see it all on day 1 if you're going to be there all week. If you are only there for a few days and you want to see as much as you can then I have a few suggestions.
1. If she prefers to rest and you would rather hit the ground running, I say let her get some rest and you go to the park on your own, scope the place out and she can meet you there later on when it might be a little less crowded. After a long trip together, some alone time might be what is needed. That way you both get what you want and hopefully the trip doesn't start out badly.
2. Relax for a few hours together and head to the park later in the evening, find out which park is open latest on that day and go there.
3. Skip going to a park the first day. Relax for a while and then maybe spend sometime just getting to know the area, explore the hotels, find a good restaurant, play some mini-golf, do some shopping at downtown Disney. She can still get a good feel of what the place is like but without all the craziness of a park.

 

[NJDVCMembers]

Maxx where are you from my guess would be Pennslyvannia/Greater Philadelphia or North Jersey? I'm I close?

 

[MaXXimus]

Maxx where are you from my guess would be Pennslyvannia/Greater Philadelphia or North Jersey? I'm I close?

I grew up in Delaware County PA, about 10 mins south of Philadelphia, then moved to South Jersey for 4 yrs and now live in my 1st real home here in Wilmington DE... how did ya guess PA/NJ? LOL

 

[MaXXimus]

Just so everyone knows, I will be arriving at Orlando AP on June 17th around 10:30 AM and we leave around noon on June 24th. Beings I have been to WDW a few times I already know that you need a lot of time to see everything you want to see and I am sure there are lots of new things as well as revamped things since my last trip 9 yrs ago, so I for sure want to hit the ground running. Not only for myself to see whatever I can but thought I was doing the right thing since the rest of my family who is going has never been outside of the Philadelphia/New Jersey area before. I of course will be with my wife as well as 2 daughters one who will be 19 by that time and my other who will be turning 17 the middle of the week we are there.

This trip was costly to say the least which I am sure you are all well aware of cost and if not for my father passing a few months ago and my mom wanting to send us all on this vacation with some of the insurance money, I may have never seen WDW again or at least anytime in the next 20 yrs if lucky. My wife has never flown because of being scared and the only trip she has taken was on a cruise called the Cruise to Nowhere which stays in the area of Philadelphia.

I have explained to her that going to WDW is nothing like going to the Jersey Shore where you rent a crappy motel room and do whatever ya want, whenever ya want because there really isnt ALL that much to do anyway other then beach, boardwalk, ride on a handful of junky rides or maybe go fishing or crabbing. Whereas WDW is such a vast area with a massive assortment of things to do and see, you really need to get out and start seeing some of this "Magic" asap... at least thats how I see it.

My wife is the type of person who if she makes a suggestion and then you make another suggestion ontop of that, she automatically thinks that you are dismissing what she had to say... though to repeat what I said above... she is going into this trip as if she is going someplace like the shore, which WDW is BY FAR nothing to compare to and all I have ben trying to do is explain to her that this isnt your typical trip to the beach type vacation.

 

[dixiegirl]

If she is worried about being so rushed why don't you make a resevation for her to go to one of the spa's in the "world", I know the one at saratoga is great and the floridian....I don't know.. We are like you and ,many others, if we paid for that day that we arrived we don't waste any time when we get there...we go .. go...go... hay , I'll rest when I get home!!!!!Plus we get ytoo excited , we want to see the magic kindom!!!!!! Sounds like your wife might be a tough one to convert, but it may be possible..lol Any how good Luck!!!



yahoooo 12 more days till our first MVMCP!!!!

 

[bordesley]

AK is much better early morning leave around 2pm in my experience. Don't forget the animal sleep when it is too hot.

I would do another park, or the pool and then maybe Pleasure Island.

 

[Nemo14]

Just so everyone knows, I will be arriving at Orlando AP on June 17th around 10:30 AM and we leave around noon on June 24th. Beings I have been to WDW a few times I already know that you need a lot of time to see everything you want to see and I am sure there are lots of new things as well as revamped things since my last trip 9 yrs ago, so I for sure want to hit the ground running. Not only for myself to see whatever I can but thought I was doing the right thing since the rest of my family who is going has never been outside of the Philadelphia/New Jersey area before. I of course will be with my wife as well as 2 daughters one who will be 19 by that time and my other who will be turning 17 the middle of the week we are there.

This trip was costly to say the least which I am sure you are all well aware of cost and if not for my father passing a few months ago and my mom wanting to send us all on this vacation with some of the insurance money, I may have never seen WDW again or at least anytime in the next 20 yrs if lucky. My wife has never flown because of being scared and the only trip she has taken was on a cruise called the Cruise to Nowhere which stays in the area of Philadelphia.

I have explained to her that going to WDW is nothing like going to the Jersey Shore where you rent a crappy motel room and do whatever ya want, whenever ya want because there really isnt ALL that much to do anyway other then beach, boardwalk, ride on a handful of junky rides or maybe go fishing or crabbing. Whereas WDW is such a vast area with a massive assortment of things to do and see, you really need to get out and start seeing some of this "Magic" asap... at least thats how I see it.

My wife is the type of person who if she makes a suggestion and then you make another suggestion ontop of that, she automatically thinks that you are dismissing what she had to say... though to repeat what I said above... she is going into this trip as if she is going someplace like the shore, which WDW is BY FAR nothing to compare to and all I have ben trying to do is explain to her that this isnt your typical trip to the beach type vacation.

I'm trying to look at this from your wife's point of view. Since your flight arrives at MCO at 10:30 in the morning, I'm guessing that it leaves Philly or whatever around 8 am, which means you'd need to be at the airport around 6am. She's scared of flying, so it will probably be a sleepless night for her the night before, coupled with the excitement of the trip, so she's probably going to be functioning on roughly 2 - 3 hours of sleep. She'll probably be eating a light breakfast, if anything at all, since her stomach will be in knots.

So you arrive at WL around 11:30 or so with a tired and hungry wife in an environment that she's totally unfamiliar with 90 plus degree heat. Trust me, hitting the parks at full speed ahead at that point is no way to start your vacation. My suggestion would be to plan, make that reserve, lunch at WL, then when you've had a little time to wind down, take the boat over to Magic Kingdom, take in the atmosphere there, grab FastPasses for either Splash or Big Thunder, ride PotC, JC or whatever, enjoy a DoleWhip,and stay for Wishes and SpectroMagic if everyone is up to it. She'll appreciate it all so much more then!

 

[kcnole]

If I were you I wouldn't make any plans for that first day if she feels that way. If you get there and you see things went smoothly maybe you can bring up an idea of going somewhere, but if she's exhausted let her rest. I learned that lesson on my last trip to WDW. I was like you, hadn't been in 14 years, wanted to see everything, and pushed my wife through the parks at a ridiculous pace. She got mad and it caused some arguments on our vacation.

So just go into this vacation at a leisurely pace. In my trips to theme parks since then I've found that I enjoy them much more if I just take it leisurely, letting my wife stop and shop in some of the shops I don't care about, stopping and peoplewatching, and not running from attraction to attraction. You won't see all that is WDW, but you won't see it all if you run through it anyhow. Remember this trip as more of a time to connect and have a great time with your family. Once you get into the parks she'll probably start to get into the mood (if she's not in the mood I wouldn't start with AK though, I'd probably go to MK which has the most tangible "magic" of any of the parks).

Just take it slow and have a good time. If you don't see everything it's ok, just really stop and appreciate the things that you are seeing.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Assuming you're staying at WDW for more than one day - why rush ??? What's wrong with an evening meal at AK (or do you have other plans ?)

Don't forget - planes get delayed (as do motor coaches) While it may be possible to get to AK by 1pm - don't bank on it :animwink:

 

[wishiwere@wdw]

I grew up in Delaware County PA, about 10 mins south of Philadelphia, then moved to South Jersey for 4 yrs and now live in my 1st real home here in Wilmington DE... how did ya guess PA/NJ? LOL

I immediately thought the same exact thing LOL. Your mentioning of "The Shore" was a dead giveaway. I grew up and still live in SJ and work in Philly. We all call it the shore!

Anyway, I guess a little back on topic, if you are doing ME from the airport, you and your wife really have nothing to worry about. Do the check-in and just wander off. Your luggage will be waiting for ya when you get back. Plus, there is a good chance your room won't even be ready yet anyway.

With that said, to a WDW beginner, I found out the hard way once before with my sister-in-law that going Disney Comando to squeeze every last ounce out of those passes is a baaaaaaaaaad idea. By the 2nd or 3rd day, we just started moving at a snails pace to let her soak it in and truly experience the magic of the parks. Being regular visitors ourselves, this was good for us because it made us put things back in perspective.

So, IMO, your idea is just fine and would likely work out really well. Just don't make it seemed rushed LOL

Have a good time to!!!

 

[CRO-Magnum]

As a seasoned traveller who also had to induct...

his wife into the Disney way of life here are my suggestions:
1. spoon feed things one step at a time. Don't overwhelm her by dumping a ten stage itinerary on her.
2. focus on getting to the hotel - use DME to expedite the process
3. the hotel will hold your bags until you're ready to check-in so do that later and instead grab a quick bite (plus the check-in lines are often shorter late in the evening)
4. suggest AK as a great place to walk - if not interested ask her if she'd like to check out the property and go ride the monorails
5. Epcot is a great alternative - walking, shopping, dining - good romantic atmosphere
6. hide the "plans" - lunch, dinner, etc. make things seem more spontaneous by leading her to places at about the right time.
7. when you want to try something new ask her to take a walk - less threatening when there's no idea of a destination in mind

Your attitude is the key. If you hide the objectivity and act calm she will follow suit but you can still meet your goals. Whatever you do DON'T PUSH - it will just detract from your enjoyment and hers.

Works for me - hopefully it will work for you.

 

[ZapperZ]

I would go with Nemo14's suggestion. Don't rush it when you arrive. Plan on having lunch at your resort. If you are staying at the Wilderness Lodge, I'd say after you unpack and rest a bit, maybe even go around and look at the resort. Then a nice slow boat ride to MK is a wonderful start for her to be introduced to WDW.

I'd say plan on going to MK late afternoon-early evening after she has rested and settled down a bit. You have the wonderful evening shows still to see and won't be too exhausted from your travel.

Zz.

 

[Nemo14]

The other thing that I would definitely recommend, since your daughters are teens, is sit down together and actively involve them in the planning. As a mom of 1 teen and one 21-year-old, I know that they don't like being told what to do when! They'll be having a Christmas break soon from school or whatever, have them take the time to read up on things, talk to their friends or whatever, and come up with some must-do's for each of them. And now with cell phones so popular, let them have some time by themselves to explore a few places that you and your wife might not be that interested in.

One more thing -(for now :lol: ) - look into the Segway tour at Epcot. My family did this last May, and had a blast! You can get a discount on it if you are a AAA member.

 

[campdisney]

Give and take a little bit with your wife on this. I speak as one who if afraid of flying. I clutched my husband's arm with white knuckles our entire two hour flight to Vegas this past April (my first time on a plane in 15 years). And I'm not a clingy person by nature -- I was plain old scared! By the time we got from the airport to the rent-a-car place to the hotel, I was completely exhausted and needed a nap!

AKL is a great place to stay and get mellow after the rough morning your wife will likely be going through. Take a nap, go do the buffet at Boma for a nice early dinner and then go take in the fireworks at Illuminations or Wishes for a nice introduction to Disney magic for her. A good nights sleep after a great show like that, and the next day you can hit the parks running!

 

[Nemo14]

Give and take a little bit with your wife on this. I speak as one who if afraid of flying. I clutched my husband's arm with white knuckles our entire two hour flight to Vegas this past April (my first time on a plane in 15 years). And I'm not a clingy person by nature -- I was plain old scared! By the time we got from the airport to the rent-a-car place to the hotel, I was completely exhausted and needed a nap!

AKL is a great place to stay and get mellow after the rough morning your wife will likely be going through. Take a nap, go do the buffet at Boma for a nice early dinner and then go take in the fireworks at Illuminations or Wishes for a nice introduction to Disney magic for her. A good nights sleep after a great show like that, and the next day you can hit the parks running!

I believe he is staying at WL not AKL.