3 Perfect(?) Days at Disney???

[ecook]

Family (kids ages 8 and 6) are going to Disneyworld next month. I need some input regarding what to do and see. Here is our tentative itinerary. We are getting the dining plan so the 3 meals at the theme parks are set.

We are arriving late at night and taking Magical Express to our room at All Star Sport Resort.

Day 1
AM: Animal Kingdom
(I heard the Flame Tree for an early lunch is good)
A break back at the hotel around 2pm.
PM: "Dinner" at the Coral Reef at 4pm, enjoy Epcot (suggestions?) and go back to the hotel after IllumiNations.

Day 2: Blizzard Beach in the morning - is 3 hours enough? Hopefully a break back at the hotel.
"Dinner" at 350pm at Mama Melrose at Hollywood Studios - then enjoy the attractions (suggestions?) and stay for the 830pm Fantasmic show or head over to Magic Kingdom to see Wishes at 10pm (only night it is showing)?

Day 3 - All day at Magic Kingdom. What's the best? My son loves Swiss family Robinson so we will definitely check out the tree house. Lunch at 1pm at the Crystal Palace. Try to survive until the 3pm Dreams Come True Parade.

I'm thinking a big breakfast and then the early dinners. I'll pack lots of granola bars and water bottles.

How long does it take to get from the resort to a park? Or vice versa? Or from one park to another?

Can we take Magical Express back to the airport to pick up our rental car for the remainder of our trip at the beach?

Any other tips?

thanks!

 

[maxiesmom]

I would like some more info. Has your family been to Disney World before? What dates are you going to be in Disney?

Give yourselves about an hour to get around the World. Expecially in the afternoon, when busses come less frequently. If you just miss the bus to where you want to go, you typically face a wait of 20 minutes or more before the next one shows up.

And I don't think your idea for Magical Express to the airport will work. They base your pick-up time on the time your flight leaves. Do you have your rental car booked already? There is an on-site car rental desk at the Swan and Dolphin resort. That might be a better choice.

 

[dspads]

Do you really want to do BB since you are staying such a short time? Have you been before? Do you have any 'must-do's' in mind? What do your kids like?

I think Spectro is a must-do (over Wishes, if you have to choose). A lot at HS are shows or characters based on a schedule so by getting there late you may miss out.

 

[Rylee]

Family (kids ages 8 and 6) are going to Disneyworld next month. I need some input regarding what to do and see. Here is our tentative itinerary. We are getting the dining plan so the 3 meals at the theme parks are set.

We are arriving late at night and taking Magical Express to our room at All Star Sport Resort.

Day 1
AM: Animal Kingdom
(I heard the Flame Tree for an early lunch is good)
A break back at the hotel around 2pm.
PM: "Dinner" at the Coral Reef at 4pm, enjoy Epcot (suggestions?) and go back to the hotel after IllumiNations.

Day 2: Blizzard Beach in the morning - is 3 hours enough? Hopefully a break back at the hotel.
"Dinner" at 350pm at Mama Melrose at Hollywood Studios - then enjoy the attractions (suggestions?) and stay for the 830pm Fantasmic show or head over to Magic Kingdom to see Wishes at 10pm (only night it is showing)?

Day 3 - All day at Magic Kingdom. What's the best? My son loves Swiss family Robinson so we will definitely check out the tree house. Lunch at 1pm at the Crystal Palace. Try to survive until the 3pm Dreams Come True Parade.

I'm thinking a big breakfast and then the early dinners. I'll pack lots of granola bars and water bottles.

How long does it take to get from the resort to a park? Or vice versa? Or from one park to another?

Can we take Magical Express back to the airport to pick up our rental car for the remainder of our trip at the beach?

Any other tips?

thanks!

Hi,

A few thoughts...

You didn't mention if this is your first visit to WDW. If so, since you only have 3 days, at 6 & 8 years of age, the kids might be able to handle the parks without afternoon breaks, giving you more time to see and do the attractions... especially if you take in the "shows" in the afternoons, and your table service meals will serve as a nice break from the parks, too. Also, with a beach vacation planned after leaving WDW, you'll have plenty of time to relax.

Plan to arrive at the parks early. Be sure to use fastpasses when possible.
Obviously, your "must-see-and-do" list will depend on what your kids like... rollercoasters, shows, etc., but here are some of the most popular attractions - (Try to hit these attraction first thing in the morning and then RELAX and discover the magic at you own pace.)

At Animal Kingdom -
Kilimanjaro Safari
Expedition Everest (Roller Coaster)
Dinosaur
Kali River Rapids
It's Tough to be a Bug (3D Movie)
The Lion King (show)
Finding Nemo the Musical (show)

Epcot -
Soarin'
Test Track
Mission Space
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (3D Movie)
The World Showcase. (To get your kids involved and make it interesting, buy the kids passport.)

Hollywood Studios - (Grab a schedule for show times.)
Tower of Terror
Rock 'N' Rollercoaster
Beauty and the Beast (Broadway style show)
Lights, Motor, Action Extreme Stunt show
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular (Show)
Star Tours
Great Movie Ride
Fantasmic
There is also a playground, the... "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" movie set adventure.

Magic Kingdom -
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Rollercoaster)
Haunted Mansion
Small World
Mickey's PhilharMagic (3D)
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (Interactive show)
Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin
Space Mountain (Rollercoaster)
Pirates of the Caribbean
Wishes

Unless your kids have their hearts set on it, I would probably skip Blizzard Beach, or perhaps you can make a trip to BB, your afternoon break.

I think they will allow you to ride ME back to the airport, but you'll need to ask and explain your situation. If more convenient, arrange to pick up your car within Disney property.

Have a magical trip.

 

[ecook]

Thak you - Excellent advice!

This is our first time with kids - one short and rainy day for me at Epcot at least 15 years ago after a 3 day cruise on the Big Red boat!

Dates are April 22-25.

We have 3 day park hopper with water parks. We also booked the dining option and have booked my 3 table service meals - not easy this close in!

So according to your advice:

Wed: Epcot all day? AK in the morning?
Thurs: Hollywood all day? BB in the morning (we don't have waterparks where we live)
Fri: MK all day

I was thinking of we broke it up into 2 parks a day with a break from 1-3pm it would be a bit more energizing...for the parents.

I know we would not see it all but would 4 hours be enough for AK, Epcot, BB and Hollywood? The we would spend our last day at MK - until around 4 so that would be about 6 hours.

I found out I can pick the Hertz car up at the Hertz outlet near Disney and they will come and pick us up. I'm getting a good rate I think...$92 total (incl all taxes and fees) for 3 days.

 

[Rylee]

If you plan to be at the parks when they open, (morning hours are typically when you can see and do the most before long lines form) I think your schedule will work.

I enjoy taking breaks back at the resorts in the afternoons, my husband is just the opposite, preferring to stay in the parks from open to close. We usually follow the kid's lead. You'll know more once you are actually at the parks... crowds, heat, kid's moods, etc.

I think it is important to have a plan... take a look at the the attractions and try to decide what your family will enjoy. Study the park maps and have idea of where things are located. Always grab a fastpass as soon as the ticket stub time allows you to do so. Work a few of the other attractions in the area and then return at the fastpass time. At the afternoon parks, grab a fastpass as soon as you enter the parks. (Even grab one before your dinner reservation.) If there is something your older child might enjoy but it may be too intense for your younger child, consider spliting up for that attraction and taking the younger child on something else in the area... DH and 8y/o ride Space Mountain, you and 6y/o ride Buzz or the drive the cars, etc. (Although, our youngest, 5 & 6 on our last two trips, rode everything except Space Mountain and Rock 'N' Rollercoaster.) Always pick a place to meet.

And, most importantly... don't be afraid to toss out all the plans and go with the flow!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

4 hours is enough for the MK. 4 hours may be enough for DHS if you just ride the rides and don't take in the shows. 4 hours is definately not enough for Ecpot. 6 hours is definately not enough for MK!!! It takes us two FULL days to complete MK (and I'm talking 10 hours each day!)

My suggestion is to ask your kids what they would prefer. This will really help make your decision easier. I would definately skip the water parks and spend more time at the parks...especially if you are doing a beach vacation afterward. In 3 days, you won't be able to accomplish a ton at WDW so your best bet is to talk to the kids and ask what they prefer. Factor in that everytime you switch locations, it could take up to an hour to get to your next location.

 

[ecook]

Rylee!

My new life mantra:

And, most importantly... don't be afraid to toss out all the plans and go with the flow.

My husband will be so happy...

Thank you for the great advice- I'm going to print this out and take it with me...especially the go with the flow part!

Thank you, thank you!
Erinn

PS - Does you signature mean that you have triplets and twins?

 

[Rylee]

PS - Does you signature mean that you have triplets and twins?

No, although my husband's mother is a twin.

We had our first when I was 20 and the youngest when I was 40, making the children 20 years apart, almost to the day. The oldest is 26 and the youngest is 6, and they have never really lived together... she was in her second year at college when he was born. Since all the children are spaced 4-5 years apart, this is our 22nd straight year of having children in our school district... and we have many years to go. We have dealt with diapers, the tooth fairy, driver's permit, and college transcripts, all in the same week!

Our lives are full, sometimes a little crazy, but definitely blessed.

When schedules allow... work, college, and school, a Disney vacation is a great way for our family to reconnect.