Would you consider Downtown Disney as a possible all day adventure? My husband and son are going to Kennedy, and my daughter (11) and would I rather do something (ANYTHING) else. Would this be a good idea or should I get an extra day added to our park pass? Let me hear it all - the good and the bad!

Would you consider Downtown Disney as a possible all day adventure? My husband and son are going to Kennedy, and my daughter (11) and would I rather do something (ANYTHING) else. Would this be a good idea or should I get an extra day added to our park pass? Let me hear it all - the good and the bad!

Well how much do you like to shop? I know some who can do that all day, and also there are theaters. Hard to see it as a full day, maybe a 1/2 day if you really enjoy shopping.

However a mother/daughter day in the parks (and I've heard they have stores in the parks too lol) sounds like the way to go, let her choose which or maybe you can do epcot and mk. The monorail makes park hopping those 2 so easy. Taking world showcase (imho the most interesting shopping in disney) at a nice slow shopping pace is something you'll never get to do with 2 males tagging along!

You CAN make a day of things if you do other stuff besides DTD --- ESPECIALLY if you're going in December, do a tour of the deluxe hotels to see their decor. You can get to the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, and Polynesian from the MK easily, Boardwalk, Yacht, and Beach from the Studios via boat, and then from one of those parks take the Animal Kingdom Lodge bus to check that out.

Throw in tea at the Grand Floridian - and maybe the 'my first pedi' at the spa - and you've got a fairly full day without going into a park.

But that assumes that 'shopping' at DTD will take a few hours, which TOTALLY depends on your temperment.

One thing I've started doing (when I think about it) that could be fun for your daughter and cheap for you (and fun for you, too) - is to take pictures of really outrageous stuff that you'd 'buy for person X' if money were no object. Like the TShirt that screams that her friend Amy would love, but buying a TShirt for Amy is totally out of the budget question - take a picture of it! Grandma would LOVE that huge crystal castle figurine - take a picture of it.

This last trip, I even took a picture of an under $10 item that I'd buy for my 18 month old nephew, if it wasn't ridiculously expensive for what it was - it was a cute rubber duckie dressed up like a pirate. But for the price, he was not getting it! (He may not appreciate the picture, but his Mom will.) You don't even have to give the people the pictures, but if she has a core group of friends and you find something for all of them, it could make for a fun giggle fest at a slumber party.

Gee, Cathy! Now I want an extra day to go do all that stuff instead of squeezing things in here and there! Ok, next time, right? 'Cause there WILL be a next time after this trip! :)

one thing i've started doing (when i think about it) that could be fun for your daughter and cheap for you (and fun for you, too) - is to take pictures of really outrageous stuff that you'd 'buy for person x' if money were no object. Like the tshirt that screams that her friend amy would love, but buying a tshirt for amy is totally out of the budget question - take a picture of it! Grandma would love that huge crystal castle figurine - take a picture of it.

You are a genius! What a fabulous idea!