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10-17-2009, 01:21 PM
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#1 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 83
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1st time Disney trip in 22 days! Would love feedback on our itinerary!
We're leaving for Disney in 22 days! Our family of four, consisting of me (34), DH (35), DS#1 (turning 4 in WDW), and DS#2 (just turned 2), will be taking our first trip for seven nights to WDW!!!
 We are beyond excited since this is our first big family trip. First time staying in a hotel. Kids' first time on an airplane. Lots of firsts! I would love any feedback you could provide regarding our itinerary. We're going to be flexible with it, especially given the ages of our two boys, but we'd like to go in with a preliminary game plan, so to speak. We're staying in a one bedroom at VWL. We're not renting a car, so we'll be dependant on Disney transportation for the entirety of our trip. Our general idea is that we'll eat breakfast each morning in our room and/or on the way to the parks in the mornings. I'm most concerned, I guess, about the length of time it's going to take getting to/from our hotel, since we're pretty set on getting back to the hotel each afternoon for some down time. I really, really would love any and all feedback you could give us! Thanks in advance!  Sunday, 11/8: 3:45 pm: Flight arrives 6:45 pm: ADR Whispering Canyon Monday, 11/9: Park am: MK Lunch: Counter sevice or in room Rest/nap at hotel Park pm: MK 5:45 pm: ADR Crystal Palace 8:00 pm: Wishes Tuesday, 11/10: Park am: AK Lunch: Counter sevice or in room Rest/nap at hotel Park pm: EPCOT Dinner: Counter sevice dinner Flexible evening activity/rest Wednesday, 11/11 (DS#1's 4th birthday!!!): 7:45 am: ADR O'Hana's Park am: EPCOT Lunch: Snack at park or in room Rest/nap at hotel Park pm: MK 5:05 pm: ADR Chef Mickey's 7:00 pm: Spectromagic 8:00 pm: Wishes Thursday, 11/12: Park am: AK Lunch: Counter sevice or in room Rest/nap at hotel Park pm: EPCOT 7:45 pm: ADR Rose & Crown 9:00 pm: Illuminations Friday, 11/13: Park am: Hollywood Studios Lunch: Counter sevice or in room Rest/nap at hotel Park pm: Hollywood Studios Dinner: Counter Service Flexible evening activity/rest Saturday, 11/14: Park am: MK Lunch: Counter sevice or in room Rest/nap at hotel Park pm: MK 7:00 pm: ADR California Grill 8:00 pm: Wishes Sunday, 11/15: Counter service lunch/snack/breakfast 12:10 pm: Flight departs
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Taking our first family Disney trip this November to celebrate our oldest son's fourth birthday! Staying at VWL! Michele  Bob  Beau (3)  Conrad (2)  |
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10-17-2009, 01:35 PM
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#2 | |
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Mad About The Mouse!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Lexington, MA
Posts: 1,397
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Quote:
Looks like a great trip. The ADR's are great. Personally i would rethink all the split days and return trips to room. Traveling to and fro takes a lot of time and walking. that cuts down on park time and increases wear and tear. Personally we are fans of non-hopping as each park has more than enough to fill a day or more. Hopping means double the # and amount of time to check in and out of parks, walking in and out of parks, wait time for traveling to and fro parks. Going back to the room is the same scenario, even longer times. Our experience with DS4&5 with trying to go back to room is he fell asleep on way back to room and woke up when we arrived at hotel, just to be all wound up wanting to go back to the parks. Also, the few times mom and dad did get to nap, we had to wake up in an hour or so, feeling drugged out and truck it back to the park. Our last trip was our best trip schedule wise as it allowed flexibility, relaxation and still had lots of time each day in the parks. |
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10-17-2009, 01:42 PM
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#3 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Twinsburg, OH
Posts: 816
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I think your plans look good. We always make it to rope drop in the morning and then back to the room in the afternoon (especially when the kids were younger). It's nice to take a break - even if it is just for an hour or two and then head out to another park in the evening.
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 me  DH  DS8 DS52000 - Land & Sea 2006 - Wilderness Lodge 2008 - Port Orleans French Quarter February 7-12, 2010 Bay Lake Tower  |
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10-17-2009, 01:43 PM
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#4 |
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Mad About The Mouse!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Lexington, MA
Posts: 1,397
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also, ADR's take up time as well. I would figure 90min from check-in to check-out of a restaurant. They certainly don't rush the guest in the restaurants and even with ADR's their can be a 5-20min wait to be seated.
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10-17-2009, 02:05 PM
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#5 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,882
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I think your plans overall look fine, but you may want to reconsider some of the hopping once you are there. Some folks are hardcore breakers, others are not. If you are taking a break, then hitting a different park at night makes sense, esp if you'll gain emh hours in the process. It also depends on the weather. If it is cold, you may NEED to go back to yoru room to pick up some long pants and jackets. November can easily be like that - 70 in day,cool at night. So I don't think breaks are a necessarily a bad thing in any cooler months. Also, some kids need the quiet of a room to actually rest. But if the kids aren't napping, or the two year old falls asleep inthe stroller - that may be a fine time for mom and dad to take turns going on the e-rides (the big rides).
I like that you don't appear to have tried to overplan- i.e. planning your exact ride order, but have kept it to parks and one ADR per day. Remember also, if you are going back to your room mid day - you can pick up lunch at WL's quick service or do a quick service lunch inthe park. Eating in the park will gie more variety- esp Epcot, but eating from your room may well save money since' you'll havea kitchen - even though it's not as much fun. Have a great visit! |
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10-17-2009, 02:22 PM
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#6 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 83
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Thanks! What great advice!
We are definitely going to try to be flexible. DH used worked in WDW one semester during college (he drove the Jungle Cruise), and I've been there twice when I was in middle school. We are definitely not going to try to do everything...the itinerary is the "best case scenario," which we realize probably won't work some (maybe even most) of the time. We're definitely going to have to see what works best the first few days and reevaluate. I am a bit concerned about getting to and from our ADR's to the parks though. And what about the weather? I have no idea what we should pack for Orlando mid-November. I'm hoping our kiddos will be able to swim (the birthday boy, especially, wants to go down the water slide he saw on the DW vacation DVD for VWL).  I guess the clothing arrangements could be an entirely different thread though! You guys are great. Thanks for all of your feedback! 
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Taking our first family Disney trip this November to celebrate our oldest son's fourth birthday! Staying at VWL! Michele Bob Beau (3) Conrad (2) |
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10-17-2009, 02:29 PM
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#7 | |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 151
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We just returned 2 weeks ago from our first trip to WDW with children (DS6 & DD4...DD turned 4 two weeks before our trip). We did not use strollers so the longevity of our days might be different from yours....but here are my thoughts based on our recent experience.
DD4 takes naps at home, but she did fine not taking a single nap while we were at WDW. We kept bedtimes very close to normal time we do at home (9pm or so). She was fine w/out the stroller. DH carried her a bit, but overall she was a trooper. We visited Epcot and MK only. (Epcot one day, MK 3 days). MK was by far the favorite for our kids. I'm glad we had so much time there. We did not park hop, and we finished our touring days by 3pm - 4pm each day (we arrived at rope drop). After our park days, we had time to swim, rest, eat dinner, etc. at the resort. Worked great for us. We had our own car, and even with that, the park hopping would have been a lot on our kids (and us). If I could avoid park hopping with 4 & 2 year olds...I would. Eating b'fast in the room most days is a great idea. We found this much easier and allowed us to get to parks by rope drop. (Your O'Hanas b'fast is great timing to allow you to do that on that day, too.) Have a wonderful and magical trip! And Happy Birthday to your DS!  Quote:
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DH
 Me DS (6) DD (4)  1977, 1982, 1989, 1992 as a child/teen OKW June 2002 (with DVC friends and their children, before we had children of our own) Poly Sept 2009 (1st trip for and with our own children!)  |
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10-17-2009, 02:38 PM
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#8 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 88
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I'd be tempted to keep your Tuesday in AK all day. It's only open until 5. You don't have any ADRs. Go there in the morning, eat lunch at AK and stay until the kids are ready to leave - or until the park closes. Head back and get a good night's sleep so you're ready for a special birthday Wednesday!
Then, your Thursday could be an Epcot day. I don't know whether you're rope drop people or what time Illuminations is at that day, but with a later ADR for dinner, you could certainly take a break during the day and go back to Epcot for the evening. (Monorail back to MK and then boat to hotel might be quicker then bus?) (That way, maybe Wednesday morning, you could do your ADR and then be back at the hotel for special swimming time and rest time before heading to MK for the bday stuff! Plus, if memory serves, the afternoon parades are around 3pm. Your kids would probably get a kick out of the colorful floats at the AK parade and your schedule currently doesn't have you there in the afternoon.) I love your plan to start at MK and end at MK. That worked great for us with our DSs. Crystal Palace will certainly be a treat for your little ones! If there is boat service to the hotel from MK, I think returning for a nap on MK days won't be a big deal - you can even drive the stroller right on the boat and no need to fold it down or unload it!! I agree with previous poster about letting kids sleep in strollers in the parks if they can - it's a lot less stressful than getting back to the hotel, calming kids down, waking them up, etc. Have a fabulous trip!!! PS - if you want to ride the Dumbo Ride, I would suggest heading there FIRST thing after rope drop. We did that the first day at MK and rode it in minutes. Next time at MK, we didn't, and waited in line FOREVER because DS just "had" to ride it again. (DH got the Fast Pass for Pooh while I waited in line with boys for Dumbo the first day - it worked beautifully!) Last edited by 4luvofbearandmouse; 10-17-2009 at 02:48 PM. Reason: added PS |
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10-17-2009, 02:48 PM
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#9 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Mobile Alabama
Posts: 420
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Just a thought...if the kids are tired on Monday, you may want to skip Wishes that night since you are planning it two other nights - one of them with Spectro.
I agree with PP - be flexible...if the kids are tired, let them rest. Looks like you have planned plenty of rest time for them - tired kids are not happy kids On Friday, if you are staying at a hotel with a good CS restaurant, you may want to eat BEFORE heading back to DHS. The CS at DHS leave a lot to be desired. Sounds like you have done your homework - have a great time!
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me and DH
 - DS15  DD7 Last Trip... April 2009 Next trip...April 2010  |
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10-17-2009, 02:55 PM
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#10 |
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Re-Earning My Ears
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 38
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I am sitting on my back patio right now is lovely Sunny Orlando! It is in the low 70's with a FANTASTIC breeze outside!!!! Perfect park weather!! Tshirts and Jeans and Flip Flops!!! The Nortern blood of mine has thinned quite a bit in the past 8 years so I woulnd't rock shorts but I am guessing there are MANY people doing so!!!! Bring something long sleeved for the nights just to be on the safe side! But it has ben VERY VERY VERY hot the past month or so. It was 95+ last Tuesday when me and Hubster were clelebrating his Birthday at Epcot.... I wish I could say one way or the other but you might want to bring a mix of everything!!!
Your planning so far looks great! As a kid when we vacationed we always did early mornings in the park, split in the afternoons for swimming/rest and then headed back in at night. Worked great for us and was VERY necessary for the entire clan! I was the only kiddo for the first 8 or 9 trips and I think my Grandparents and Aunt needed the naps moore then I did  ! You will make it work!!! Some days it will work to let them nap in the stroller but some days you will be so happy for the whole family to just chillax at the pool or in the room for a few hours!!! Just let what happens.. happen!!!!
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Where would I be in life without all of my Disney Memories and Experiences? I am a Loud and Mouthy Mocha Aquarius
who loves living in Orlando! I am MADLY in love with my Frumpy White Guy Hubster and I cant wait to have little frumpy Mocha Babies with him! I am on twitter @RoraBorieAlice and I love my Blackberry 8900, my Husband and Disney!!!!  |
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10-17-2009, 03:04 PM
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#11 |
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May the Ears be with you
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Suwanee, Ga
Posts: 1,233
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The idea to stay at AK all day may work - there are two long shows, and Flights of Wonder is also fairly long. I do not think you need two mornings at AK, but you may want two mornings at DHS to ride Toy Story again. We always go to AK twice, so you will have to decide what your family wants to do again.
Friday has been a fantasmic show at DHS - so it will be busy early in the day. You may want to swap DHS to a different day if you do not plan on staying for Fantasmic. Check the guides to see the F! schedule. If you return to your hotel each day, then hopping does not cost you any additional time. If you decide to stay all day in a park, then I would not hop later in the day unless you want to get away from crowds. As some have stated, it may be more tiring to return to the hotel than to let your young ones crash in a movie or long attraction. All in all - you are well set and well prepared. ENJOY |
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10-17-2009, 03:15 PM
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#12 |
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If only I had a brain! :O/
Oh wow now i am even more excited for the odd nights 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,080
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I found with my children (2, almost 3) and 5 would have not done well with park hopping. there is a LOT of transportation time, people don't realize how much. We did not go back and rest once. we did leave the park earlier one day than we had anticipated (we left the studios earlier, like 4 i think) but that was because a rest was needed. my 2 year old would catch some zzzzzz's in her stroller (and it wasn't even a reclining one...in otherwords, they will nap if they need to regardless of whether in the park or in the room, in a reclining stroller or upright) and I would rather miss an attraction while sitting with dd sleeping than taking the min of hour there and back to/from park plus walking to hotel room, plus getting settled in, ...no thanks.
maybe consider less hopping, and more daytime park time. maybe start later in the day on a a day that you want the fireworks at night?
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 (ME!)   (DD age 5)   (DS age 8)   |
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10-17-2009, 03:40 PM
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#13 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,797
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Your planning seems solid, but...
Most common error by first timers: Not knowing what they are getting into. (You are obviously not in this boat.) Second most common error by first timers: overplanning and exhausting themselves.... Disney World is huge, the parks are huge, getting from inside a park back to your room at the hotel often takes an hour or more. I think you will have a hard time with your go-go-go schedule. It seems a little too much to me, especially with little kids. Not that I would suggest you change anything now, but figure out the things you really want to do, and if you have to skip out on some things...fine. For instance, I love Wishes, but three times in a trip is a little overkill. Consider some days just staying at the park a little later, and going back to your resort and relaxing in the evening. The first trip can be amazing, but it is also a learning experience. Don't get so wrapped up in staying on schedule that you miss having fun. (This is my rule #3 of Disney park touring - Always have a plan but BE FLEXIBLE. - In case you are wondering what rules #1 and #2 are, #1 is "Show up at Rope Drop", #2 is "Fastpass, Fastpass, Fastpass!")
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 1971 - 1982 Many childhood trips that I can hardly remember May 1997 - Off-site w/ DGF (now DW) saw it ALL in 7 days October 2000 - Off-site w/ DW - 1st AK October 14-20,2006 - First on-site (POFQ), first w/ DD3 and DMIL. September 22-29, 2007 with freinds @ POFQ! August 23-31, 2008. Just us 3...dining for free! December 12-20, 2009 - 40th Birthday trip - POP for 8 nights - Free Dining strikes again! MY TRIP REPORT! April, 2010 - Short surprise trip for DD! October, 2010...to check out MNSSHP! |
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10-17-2009, 03:46 PM
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#14 | |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philly 'burbs
Posts: 520
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Quote:
You don't say if you are taking your stroller with you, but I would not go without it a my DDs ages. Also, please take advantage of the Baby Care Centers in the parks for diaper changing, feeding, or just to step out of the crowd for a few minutes. Also, we have found grocery delivery to be helpful, especially for water and milk (although you can use snack credits if you have the DDP). $2.50 for a bottle of water makes me , lol!Have fun! You will have a magical time with your little ones!
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 1978 Contemporary 2006 Contemporary 2007 OKW 2008 SSR 2009 Grand Floridian |
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10-17-2009, 04:19 PM
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#15 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 254
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How exciting for you! My advice would be to slow down if you're not having fun. It looks like your trip is jam packed with parks. While we did that our first couple of trips, we now only do parks every other day. This gives us time to rest, re-group and enjoy the resort, Boardwalk area, Downtown Disney, etc. You may even consider skipping a few morning park trips to sleep in and relax, going to whatever park is open later that evening.
Epcot has a lot of great counter service restaurants (Mexico, Morroco, Sunshine Season's in the Land are a few of our favorites). And remember that even if you have an ADR, you can always call to cancel if you're having to kill yourselves to get there. Also, the Boardwalk area is our favorite downtime in all of the "world". There are several restaurants, bakery, shops, arcade and street entertainers walk around performing magic shows, etc. The beach club resort is a 5 minute walk and they have movies playing (huge inflatable screen) on the beach every night. The kids roast marshmallows, make smores (there is a charge for the smores kit) and you can watch the Epcot fireworks from the beach. It's a more laid back option if you are too tired to return to the parks in the evening. Have fun!
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