First off... Hello, everyone!
I'm new to the board and am very happy to have found you all and be able to join in for some much needed help.
Secondly, I apologize in advance for the information overload I'm about to go into. I hope that's okay.. you all know how much there is to do in the parks.
My husband and I have decided to book our first WDW trip. We're super excited, our 7 year old has been asking for a long time and now is the perfect time for us to finally do it. She is already 48 inches, so the rides shouldn't be an issue, and I'm hoping she's old enough that she'll remember going.
We're going for 9 days/8 nights, so the first and last days will be pretty much non-eventful except for dinner the first night and maybe some time in DD. So, that leaves me with 7 days and I cannot seem to figure out a way to make it all work. I've been laying the whole week out for hours now and I can't figure out the last few things. I thought maybe you all could help me out.
Now, I know my trip isn't til June and I shouldn't be obsessing quite this much already, but I knew how important it was to book restaurants and all right away, so I have done that and now I'm trying to work in everything else around them. I haven't been since I was 15, so I'm pretty much a first-timer and I can't remember things like how long it takes to transfer parks and whatnot.
So, what I have so far...
day 1
arrive at Caribbean Beach Resort
Rainforest Cafe in DD at 6:30
maybe hang out in DD for a bit
I would actually do T-Rex on this night. Save your RFC meal for the day you're at AK
day 2
HS @ 8am (EMH)
(sign up my daughter for the Jedi Training)
lunch at Pizza Planet
Pixar Parade @ 3pm
-head to MK at who knows what time-
Chef Mickey's @ 5pm
light parade @ 9pm
fireworks @ 10pm
grab lunch or a quick bite as you feel like it...don't over do with the preplanning.
day 3
Epcot @ 9am
lunch at Electric Umbrella
Fantasia Gardens mini golf sometime before 4pm
Coral Reef @ 5:25pm
It will take you about 20 mins to get to Fantasia Gardens and then another 20 mins to return to Epcot...plan accordingly. And it will take you about 60-90 mins to play the course..take your time, it's a great course.
day 4
Animal Kingdom @ 8am (EMH)
early lunch at Restaurantosauras
-head to DD at some point-
T-REX @ 3:30pm
-go to HS-
Fantasmic @ 9pm
This is where I would put a RainForest Cafe meal in. Better to eat there, right outside the entrance to AK, and then head directly to DHS when you're done.
day 5
Magic Kingdom
lunch @ Tortuga Tavern
Be Our Guest @ 4:30pm
Be sure to eat lunch early..otherwise you aren't going to be hungry for BoG.
day 6
Typhoon Lagoon @ 9am
lunch at Typhoon Tilly's
-go to the resort, dry off, change, head to MK-
The Crystal Palace @ 5:05pm
You will need to leave TL by 2:30ish in order to get back to your resort, change, and get to MK for a 5:05 ADR. You need to be at MK by 4:30 so you can be at CP podium by 4:50.
day 7
Magic Kingdom @ 8am (EMH)
lunch somewehre TBD
Dreams Come True Parade 3pm
Via Napoli @ 4:30pm
-monorail to Epcot-
IllumiNations @ 9pm
You will be cutting it close getting to ViaNapoli. The parade takes about 15-20 mins...which means you won't be leaving MK until 3:30ish, over to the TTC for 3:50ish, onto the Epcot monorail by 4, then at Epcot around 4:15. No way are you making the walk to ViaNapoli in time. You could take the bus to YC/BC, get off at BC and use the International Gateway into Epcot and then walk to Via Napoli. That would save you a bit of time. But, it may be better to just try to move your ADR time to later than 5.
day 8
Disney Quest @ 11:30am
Planet Hollywood @ 4:30pm
I like DQ, I really do. But I find I can't stay there for more than about 3-4 hrs, tops. I'm not sure a 7 y/o is going to want to be there for all that long. But, that's your call...just be prepared to stay a shorter period of time than you figured on.
day 9
breakfast at the resort
plane leaves at noon
I'm not sure if that is waaaay too much info for you all, but you guys are pros so maybe it won't be so bad.
So, my questions are..
My hubby wants to do the ESPN thing. For one.. I can't even seem to find where that is. I see the ESPN Club is on the Boardwalk, but can't tell where the complex is. Also, how long would that take for us to do? Keep in mind, I think he's going to be the only one interested, so I don't 'want' to be there long, but still want to see what there is to see, kwim? Would a few hours do it? I can't seem to find a way to rearrange the schedule in a way that allows for more than 3-4 hours to do it.
How long should I expect to be in DQ? I planned the first half of our last day, not sure if I should plan to go back after dinner or if we should be done by that point.
We will also need some resort time.. my daughter will want to take full advantage of the water slides and pool, at least a couple times.
My main issue is knowing we have to eat, but not liking how much time I'm imagining it will cut out of the day. Like when we go to Be Our Guest at 4:30.. I would think we wouldn't be walking out til at least 6:30? That doesn't leave much time to go anywhere else outside of MK. Or the night in HS where we want to see Fantasmic (says to be there 90 min early.. so 7:30).. won't be getting to HS anyway til after dinner at T-Rex at 3:30.. so 5:30-6ish? That's the only time I had set for HS except the first part of day two. I'm worried that won't be enough? Same with Epcot on day three and then what's left after Via Napoli on day seven.
*SIGH* I am very overwhelmed.
Any advice or insight would be MUCH appreciated.
Again, I apologize for the overload of information.