I identify as a Disney adult. I won’t tell you how many times I’ve been to Disney, but let’s just say it’s more than the average once-in-a-while or yearly visitor. I’ve also done just about every kind of Disney trip combination I can think of. I’ve done the day trip up from Miami for one day, one park, or the multi-night park hopper experience. I’ve stayed both on and off-site, driven and parked at the parks or taken Disney transportation. I’ve enjoyed the good old days of the Disney Dining Plan, and sometimes I came with my own PB&J. Even then, in all these combinations, there’s one that has always eluded me until now.
Now, I won’t make you read all the way to the end to find out what I’m talking about. This isn’t one of those internet recipes with a thesis paper before the goods. On my next trip to Disney, which is in just under two weeks from posting this, the new strategy I’m going to try is to take a day off in the middle. That’s it. That’s the hoopla. Are you even a little bit curious as to why I would make such a bold adjustment to my usual trips? I’ll let you in on the secret: there are two main reasons driving this new plan. Firstly, it will be my first time at the parks with my toddler, and secondly, I’m lucky enough to be staying at the Polynesian Resort for the fantastic price of $0.00.
While my normal and most commonly taken trip to Disney has always been four days and four parks, on some occasions, I’ve even driven directly to the park on the first day to avoid paying an extra night at the hotel. Because let’s face it, Disney is expensive. Can it be less expensive? Sure, but personally, I like the perks of staying on-site. Value resorts are more than adequate, and moderate can be a nice treat if found at the right price. So, this time around, and with my toddler in tow, I will be trading in my 30k plus steps a day for a more relaxed and flexible approach. It won’t be about doing and seeing it all. I like to call this an exposure trip for the little one.
Anyone who has a small child and has even had the thought of taking them to Disney has read the horror stories of the tantrums and meltdowns at the Most Magical Place on Earth, myself included. It also seems to be that the 14 months to 20 months range are the most common culprits of these stories of dread at Disney, and we will be right in the sweet spot, 17 months. So in my logical but Disney-loving brain, I decided a day break in the middle, as to not overwhelm myself or the boss baby, a day break was needed. Also, a pool day at the Polynesian, I’ve been told, is second to none and as magical as a day in the park, but without the excessive sweating and marathon steps.
In all those trips to Disney, not once have I been in any of the pools, most of the time, never even seen the pool except if I passed by it accidentally on my way to the Mickey-shaped waffles. And while I know starting my mid-travel break at a hotel like the Polynesian might spoil our expectations of all future Disney trips, these are the cards we were dealt.
So, the question I leave you with for the comments: will a day off in the middle of our four-park holiday make all the difference, or am I a fool?