10 nights/9 days at Disney...how does this general plan look?!?

[tbre1982]

We have a 10 night/9 day trip booked just after Thanksgiving next year (11/29 - 12/8). We are a party of 2 parents, 2 able bodied/fit grandparents, and 2 kids 3+6 who are very much into meeting characters, love all rides, and love animals. We have been 3 times in the past 2 years and have found my kids max out at about 6-7 hours in the parks, so are generally planning to NOT get park hoppers and just do "half days" in the parks then relax at the resort the 1/2 of the days, without any day *fully* devoted to an off day. Also, the kids usually melt down post -10pm, so we are
Only planning two late days in parks (1 to see Fantasmic and 1 for Happily ever after) and won’t do MVMCP as I just can’t justify the cost if we leave at 930/10.

Here is the general park outline I have come up with. Would appreciate any input!

Days 1 - 5: Staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge:
Day 1: arrive mid day, relax/swim at resort. Mara dinner.
Day 2 (11/30); AK, right half of park. Expected to be very busy (10/10 on crowd calendars). FP EE, Nemo, Dinosaur. Lunch at Flametree. Check out Dinoland/boneyard. Back to resort early afternoon to swim
Day 3 (12/1): Epcot. GG PPO then soarin. FP test track, Mission Space, Nemo. Candlelight processional 5pm show with dining package somewere in world showcare.
Day 4 (12/2): HS. Rope drop TSMM/Aliens. FP Slinky, Tower Terror, Beauty Beast. Lunch H&V. Back to resort for smores at campfire/Jiko dinner
Day 5 (12/3): Sleep in/HS late. Boma breakfast, swim/explore resort. HS around 4pm -- dinner Hollywood Brown Derby, FP SDD, RnRc, Fantasmic
Day 6 (12/4): check out of AKL. Go to AK and explore Left side of park - FP FOP, brunch Tusker, FP Lion King / Safari. Maybe back to boneyard or try for 4th FP Kali Rapids/EE. Check into Bay Lake Towers. Dinner at Cali Grill.

Days 7-10: Bay Lake Towers
Day 7 (12/5): MK. PPO Crystal Palace. Rope drop frontierland/jungle cruise/pirates. FP BTMRR, Splash, Peter pan. Watch parade, then return to BLT for rest/pool
Day 8 (12/6) MK -- EMH day. EMH Buzz and much of fantasyland 2nc tier rides. BOG Breakfast mid morning. FP Enchanted Tales, SDMT, Space Mountain. Watch parade then return to resort. Artist point for character dinner.
Day 9 (12/7): sleep in, relax at resort/pool. 1900PF earliest dinner then MK for 3 FP 5pm-8pm, then dessert party and watch fireworks
Day 10 (12/8): sleep in. MK for a few hours 11-2 for repeat FP favorites, flight home at 5pm

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think it looks great. It's a nice balance of park time and resort time, taking advantage not only of your resorts' proximity to parks but also what each resort and resort areas have to offer. On day 9, on your relax day, you may want to consider boating over to Ft. W if you've never been there if your children are into horses at all - the WDW stables are located there and it's kind of fun to visit. Personally, I would need one more 1/2 day in EP to fully explore WS, but that may not interest your family.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Just one question- Can I please come with you????

Sounds absolutely amazing.

 

[Shellyred8]

Just one question- Can I please come with you????

Sounds absolutely amazing.

Me too!!! Me too!!!!


Last year we went with a 6yo boy and he absolutely LOVED the Bone Yard at AK. His parents practically had to drag him out of there both days we were at AK. So, if your kiddos like running around, you might want to allow for some extra time here.

Sounds like a fantastic trip! Have a great time!

 

[SG131]

Looks good. Just a couple comments. I totally get why you want to split animal kingdom into right and left side, however, if you guys can manage a little extra walking I would try to do a FP for Navi River on your first AK day so that you get to experience that as well as FOP. Plus you really don't need a FP for the nemo show anyway.

Also, just be prepared to possibly not get SDD on 60+3. I see that you have it planned a second time later in the trip as well so that's good. If you can't get slinky I would recommend TSMM because it's wait times are always longer than AS2. Also, personally on Day 5, instead of FP for Fantasmic which really isn't needed, I would do TOT again. I always try to do it at night once during my trip.

I love the idea of Garden Grill breakfast and you can actually get that restaurant as part of the candlelight processional and its one of the cheapest. People had more luck last year making a reservation at the 180 days and then calling to modify when CP packages were released. Just an FYI it is early in your trip so you may have difficulty getting a PPO breakfast that day, so have a backup plan. I unfortunately couldn't get it for my Dec trip last year cause I planned it too early in my trip. I also started my trip on a Wed though so that put me behind other people who already made reservations for the whole week, so you may have better luck than I did.

 

[GillianP1301]

I love it! It's very similar to how I plan our 10/11 day trips. We never do full park days, half days, sometimes part of a day, rest than an evening, etc... I find it makes for a very relaxed pace overall and something that you can have the luxury of doing when you have that many days.

The only thing I would do differently is mix the parks up more. I understand that you are most likely organizing it in that way to maximize your proximity to MK for the 2nd half of your trip, which is definitely convenient, I just think I would like to have a MK day in the first portion and maybe an EP in the 2nd portion.

Only other note is you may have difficulty getting a SDD FP on Day 4 in the morning (or at all). So I would just have a backup plan (maybe FP TSMM instead) just in case.