As every adventurer knows there is always something to learn. The key to planning a trip in this fashion is research! Our family had an even greater obstacle; to satisfy everyone's special needs. Liv is the pessimist and anti-the Disney idea from the get go. Chance has a hard time suspending disbelief and likes rip your brain out roller coasters. Serenity loves the land of make believe and is still scared of the dark. Both of them think patience is waiting for 3 minutes and get tired after walking across the street. And I, their enthusiastic leader: I invented the idea of the "VOMIT comet". I have endured so many motion sick vacations and sprawled out on the bench after thrill ride occasions I am phobic of twisty rides.
First thing's first! Have a plan of action. Get your tickets ahead of time. We got ours from AAA and they were not dated which worked out for us because it rained out 1st day down there. Say at a hotel that has a free breakfast buffet. Woo hoo stuff the kids until they beg for mercy and they won't pester you for at least an hour. Go light. There's no need for huge backpacks and what not. One reasonable travel pack fit our needs just fine and the kids (dressed lightly) tied light jackets around their waist for evening. In the pack I stuffed 1 water bottle, one cell phone/camera, our tickets and fastpasses, wallet and snacks! Yes snacks. Avoid buying food there as long as possible and stock up on crackers and granola bars.
When you get there all the monorail lines will get you to Magic Kingdom so just take the shorter line. Even if you end up on the resort line, if you stay on, the second stop is the Magic Kingdom. The main idea for the day is "do not be a sheep". Sheep will wait in longer lines. Have one person hold the bag and get it searched while everyone else can go through and meet on the other side. Once in, grab a map and schedule and go directly to the Disney train line. In the morning no one even thinks about riding it yet so there's no wait and you can skip all the craziness in Liberty Square. Take the little train ride to Frontier Land and hop off where you can grab your Fast Pass for either Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Railroad. If the lines are not long for one ride it and grab the FP for the other. Head to Fantasy Land and take advantage of all that fun until it's time to head back to Frontier Land. The Mickey's Philharmagic Show was really cool!
If the lines are shorter and you can't yet get another FP do the other Frontier Land amusements. If you can get a FP hoof it to Tomorrow Land and get a fast pass for Space Mountain or the Buzz Lightyear ride. If the time on those is close you can hang around there and visit the Laugh Factory and the people mover and such. If you get some crazy time like we did on Space Mountain head over to Adventure Land and prepare to wait. This is about the time when hoards of people start making it through the park. It's all fun. You just have to go with the flow and make the most of it. Remember if the tired kids start to get whiny; you have snacks! Once you have the key rides out of the way you can slow down a bit and meander making sure everyone gets a turn to choose their favorites. At one point we stood in line for 50 minutes so that Serenity could ride on the Race Track.
Take Advantage of the Fast Pass! They are free with you admission you just have to use your tickets at the ride kiosk. Honestly we lucked out and got through most lines with ease. I felt so bad when we got to basically cut in front of people waiting in 3 hour long lines looking miserable with cranky kids and we'd just scoot in. Think! Don't be a sheep!
Watch the Main Street Electrical Parade from Frontier Land, there is way less of a crowd.
If you choose to eat there, pick an off time to eat. If everyone settles to dinner at five or six, choose 3:30 or 4:00 At the point that everyone gets cranky it's time to take a break. Sit, eat and refuel! That way you can push it through to catch the great parades and awesome fireworks.
Refill your water bottle all day. Drinking fountain= free water. It kind of became a game for the kids to spot one.
Disney does have an App for the phone that keeps you up to date on wait times! Way helpful!
Go during the week. I hear for Magic Kingdom that Thursday and Friday's are best.
There's literally no wait for things like the President's Hall, Carousel of Progress and the Mark Twain Boat. Take advantage of it! It's nice to slip in away from the crowds for a bit. It helps keep the sanity. Liv and I thought how funny it was that we enjoyed what we used to categorize as the "old people" rides. Ahem, what's that say?
When you're waiting in line take advantage of having absolutely nothing to do but spend time together. We started games of truth or dare. Nothing like introducing yourself to strangers or singing at the top of you lungs a good Disney song. Be in the moment. If you're waiting in line for the Jungle Cruise give in to the idea of being an explorer and play it up. Ask your kids silly questions.
When you leave, wow it gets crazy!!! Hold on to each other!!! At one point I carried Ren on my shoulders for fear she was going to be crushed in a stampede. Again, take the "resort line" monorail. The second stop will get you back to the travel center before the "sheep" even get on the "travel center" monorail.
In the end it was CRAZY!!! But it was fun. Liv got her culture hearing foreign languages spoken. Chance got his thrill rides and eventually gave into the magic. Serenity conquered Space Mountain and got her day of fairy tales. I got a full day of experiences with my family. Though there were a few tears (don't ask), the kids left with smiles! We magically got to ride all but 2 rides ( it's okay I wasn't eager to puke anyway). We watched my beloved childhood parade and a spectacular show of fireworks, pixie dust included! We all came together and had a memorable day of family adventure.
