3 Week Dream Vacation(Schedule Update)

[EthanT.]

Well first of all I'd like to say I've learned alot from these forums about Disney, and I finally decided to join to discuss the vacation my family is taking next year.

I am 17 years old, from Southern California and have been to Disneyland many times in my life. Next year however my family and I are headed on a vacation to Florida and the Carribean to celebrate my parent's 20th Anniversary, and my graduation from high school. The trip will last nearly three weeks from June 12-July 2, 2009. And the trip will be broken down into three parts.

The first is a week long stay at the DisneyWorld Resort from June 13th-20th. We already have a room booked at the Grand Floridian. Our flight will leave on Friday June 12th although we aren't quite sure about time of the flight. But we are going to try to fly in the middle of the night so we can arrive early Saturday morning. Saturday is probably going to be a relaxing day, you know check in to our hotel, maybe have dinner in Downtown Disney and check out that area. One of the questions I have is what are the best day's to do the parks. We're probably going to do the Magic Kingdom first, but would it be more crowded than usual on a Sunday? Or would there be much difference in crowds by going on a different day?

The second part of our trip is a Cruise on the Disney Magic from June 20th-27th. We have been on a few cruises before with Princess, and Carnival, but from what we have heard they can't quite match Disney's quality. One of the things I was wondering is what activities there will be for me to do since that time next year I will be 18 and too old for the teen club.

The final part of our trip is going to be going to the other parks in the Orlando area. Our cruise get's back on Saturday June 27th, and we will be staying their until July 2nd. We wanted to know what order we should go to these parks in: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Seaworld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens. Also is there anything else interesting in the Orlando area we should check out?

I know it's nearly a year away, but I wanted to make this thread to post any updates I get on the trip, or if I need to ask questions.

PS- I'm not sure if this thread is in the right forum, so feel free to move it.

 

[magicaldisney]

Three weeks!!! Wow, I'm jealous. It's a year away, but the time will go by soooooo fast.

 

[minniecassie]

NO FAIR! 3 WEEKS!!!! im so jealous! I can talk though. Aged 9 ( 10 in 19 days) and ive already been 4 times to DIS USA, 2 to DIS paris and 1 to Las Vegas! Best of all, time off school! Dreading 2ndry school.o well.

 

[EthanT.]

Well our travel agent has booked a room for my family in the Grand Floridian. We have requested a Magic Kingdom view, and I had a couple of questions regarding the Disneyworld part of my trip.

I was still wondering what day's to do what parks, based on how crowded they are during the week. To break it down we will be at the Disneyworld Resort from June 13th-20th. So we arrive on Saturday the 13th, and leave for the cruise on Saturday the 20th. I am trying to make a schedule of where to go during the week.

Saturday: Arrive, check in to our hotel, relax, check out Downtown Disney, and maybe have dinner their.

Sunday: Magic Kingdom, maybe. Does it get too crowded on Sunday? If so what park do you think would be best to go to on a Sunday?

Monday: Epcot or Animal Kingdom. Which one would be likely to be less crowded on a Monday?

Tuesday: Hollywood Studios/one of the waterparks. Of the 4 theme parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios looks like it could be done in about half a day. I want to check out both waterparks, but which one should I do for a half day? Also which waterpark is closer to Hollywood Studios?

Wednesday: Either Epcot or Animal Kingdom, whichever we don't do on Monday.

Thursday and Friday: Redo our favorite parks.

Saturday: Depart for cruise.


That is just a schedule I'm trying to make, and is subject to change. Your responses would be greatly appreciated.


Also When will I be able to find out the schedule of the Extra Magic hours?

 

[Kaler131]

Can I come too???? LOL! Have fun! It sounds GREAT!! Congrats to you on your (upcoming) Graduation and your parents 20th Anniversary!!!

 

[jseargent]

I think I've read on here before that parks tend to be crowded on Sunday and that MK is most popular. Your vacation sounds wonderful! We are headed back for our second trip in October and I thought this time we'd make time for Universal ~ but after all my insane planning it's not going to happen. There is just too much we want to see and do in WDW for the short time we are there. Have FUN!

 

[jseargent]

BTW - I meant to add that I was able to find the EMH about May for my October trip.

 

[skyman8963]

congrats on a 3 week vacation and graduation.
have you looked at Tour guide mike's website yet very informative on when to go to each park and helps plan an itenerary for your day. I highly reccomend it. As for Magic Kingdom on a Sunday I would not reccomend it.

 

[EthanT.]

^Yeah I checked out that site, but it says you have to pay a fee upfront to view the information...

Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate it. I know this trip is nearly a year away, but I like to plan early.

 

[MamaMo]

Congrats to the family. I recommend going to touringplans.com You will
need to purchase the 2009 Unofficial Guide to WDW to get the crowd levels
in 2009. They will give you the parks to avoid on certain days and the best
parks to visit the dates you plan to attend.

Have fun!
DH
ME
DD
DD

 

[BeadyLady]

And don't limit yourself to one park per day, as you will probably have the Park Hopper pass, yes? MK is low attendance first thing in the morning, fills up around lunch time, so what if you MK on Sat a.m. - then swim in afternoon? Dinner at Epcot? AK doesn't take a whole day to go through, and the animals are more likely to be active early cooler mornings, you see the pattern here? Play in the mornings, take mid day breaks, then play into the night.

 

[Disneydonnam]

Congrats this sounds like it will be a wonderful time

 

[EthanT.]

Thanks for all the help everybody! Just a little over 9 months away!

My parents and I have been working on the schedule over the past week for our Disney Vacation and this is what we came up with so far. This is just an outline of the parks and meals.


Saturday
-Arrive
-Blizzard Beach
-Dinner: Narcoossees

Sunday
-Epcot
-Dinner: Yachtsman Steakhouse

Monday
-Animal Kingdom
-Dinner: Jiko-The Cooking Place

Tuesday
-Magic Kingdom
-Dinner: Tony's Town Square

Wednesday
-Hollywood Studios & Typhoon Lagoon
-Lunch: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
-Dinner: Raglan Road

Thursday
-Epcot
-Dinner: Coral Reef

Friday
-Magic Kingdom
-Dinner: Cinderella's Royal Table


Right now we've only decided on the dinner's and one lunch, but since we are on the DDP we still have room to fit in 9 more meals into 6 day's. We will be eating a majority of the breakfasts at the hotel.

So does this schedule look good? Is their anything we should edit/change.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Wow! Sounds like you will all have a great time!

Since this is looking like a Pre Trip Report I am going to move it to our Trip Reports Board. You can continue to post and update it over there.