38 days out....what do I need to do???

[hopetoseedisney]

I need help! Due to life circumstances, we didn't know until last week we were going for sure. Now, the plans have been finalized, I've got a list of restaurants we want to visit, bags are not packed, but I think I have everything that was on my list to purchase, and we picked up our AP vouchers last week. Our room is paid for, and I have a passporter which I have been reading whenever I take my dad for his chemo treatments. I'm feeling overwhelmed, and need someone to give me some tips or reminders of what I might have forgot or still need to do, or what to do to prepare for our trip. We are driving from KY - we plan to leave on the 15th of Sept around 5am, and drive until we are on the other side of Atlanta (hopefully) GA. Then, we are going to stay overnight, and drive the rest of the way early the next morning. Arriving on the 16th, and departing on the 24th. One question I'm stuck with - should I wait to buy groceries just before we arrive at our hotel, or should we go straight to our hotel and then go out for groceries? And, when we activate our AP, should we do it the day we arrive, or wait until our first day in the parks??? Last, can someone help me with this - I've got a tentative list of which parks for which days....but not sure if it will work out or if we'll be hitting peak days for the parks or what. Here's what I have -
Wednesday - Disney/MGM
Thursday - Animal Kingdom
Friday - Epcot
Saturday and Sunday - undecided - heard these are the most crowded days of the week, so we are thinking of taking these days off
Monday and Tuesday - Magic Kingdom (It was my understanding that most people spend the majority of their time at MK, and so I've saved it for last, and hopefully the least crowded days).
Plus, we have two half days - the day we arrive and the day we depart - should we try and hit the parks those days or do something else??? I don't want to be commandos!!! I like to have a plan, but I also like to spontaneous at times. Thanks.

 

[GRAYWIFE]

I will try to help with what I would do...

(1) grocery stop-I would do this on the way to your hotel. Save yourself time by not making a roundtrip back to the grocery store.

(2) activating AP-wait until you start going to the parks.

(3) Park days: I would go to AK on Sunday...I have heard it is not that crowded. I would not go to the MK on Monday, it is one of busy, busy days there. Try Epcot on Saturday..avoid MK. MGM on Monday would be good, too. Switch your MK days to Weds, Thursday or Friday.

(4) As far as the half days...since the 16th is a Tuesday, and not usually so busy at the MK, I would head over there after you check-in just to get that first MK rush to get your trip started. (and you could go ahead and activate that AP!!) Maybe have dinner there and just walk around.

(5) Just a tip...don't save MK for the last two days. Split them up. What if it rains for those two days? That happened to us last December. We saved MGM for last and it rained, rained, rained!!We were disappointed that we hadn't planned that better.

(6) On your last half day, try a Character Breakfast at your favorite park. Just walk around or ride your favorite ride one last time. It's a nice to leave on a happy note.

(7) Try to make your PS before you leave so you don't get shut out of the restaurants on your list.

Good Luck!! and don't stress!!!

 

[Danemom]

Since we drive, I like to get our groceries before we leave.

That way I know what I'll pay, I can get what I want, and I won't waste vacation time at the grocery. We only eat a small breakfast in the room most mornings so we don't really take a lot of perishables.

 

[perkinsclan]

My advise for the 2 half days you have is to go see the different hotels that Disney has. Are you staying on or off property? One of the fun things my kids and I did on our last trip was to visit the Boardwalk and the AKL. The kids especially loved seeing the animals there. I would also recommend watching the Electrial Water Pagent. We watched it from the beach of the Poly and we really enjoyed that. I believe it starts there at 9pm but I would check with the hotel to make sure. Also don't forget about Downtown Disney for some shopping. Have a great time!!!!

 

[snowglobe girl]

I'm in KY too - not sure where you are, so don't know if it would be longer for you or not, but DH and I take I-26 to I-95 down coastline instead of through Atlanta - but that may be too out of your way. I like it much better - doesn't seem to be as crowded as going through Atlanta and great scenery/stops along coastline.

I agree that MK on Monday is bad - it is an early entry day for resort guests. I wouldn't save it until last either because kids usually like it best and you'll want to go back. I would do it toward the first of the trip (maybe not first day) and then again toward the last. Epcot is usually less crowded (in my experiences anyway) on Sunday. If you arrive a day/evening before your AP tickets start, I would go to DTD the day before for shopping and to get into the mood. If you're not sure what parks your going to go to on certain days, you can make ps at the park as soon as you get there in the morning and still should be ok. Even in August, my DH and I haven't had ps and walked right in to restaurants at Epcot.

 

[snowglobe girl]

Forgot about the grocery thing...I always bring the groceries with us. You can count on the prices where you live - you can't in Orlando - seems like everything is double. We usually pile all our food in a large cooler (boxes of cereral, chips and all), then take a small cooler to put sandwich meat in for the trip there. After we arrive, unpack the cooler, fill up with ice-sandwich meat-drinks and then you can do the same for the trip home and it doesn't take up any extra space. We usually don't have a refrig in our room though and use the cooler all week.

 

[vhoffman]

I agree that it would be best to buy your groceries before the trip due to the high cost in the Orlando area, plus it cuts into your time driving around an unfamiliar area, but here's another point--the sooner you actually check into your room the better. Even though its guaranteed on a credit card, rooms are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. The later you get there, the less your chances of getting the location you want, number of beds, smoking vs non-smoking, upper/lower floor, etc. Your options are greater the sooner you check in. Or, check in first, then go buy groceries. Sometimes, if a party checks in very late, even though their reservation is guaranteed late arrival with a credit card, they assume you're a no-show and give your room to someone else. If there's no rooms to be had at that hotel, they're supposed to transfer you to another equivilant hotel at their expense and absorb any difference, provide transportation, etc. However, if you wanted a particular hotel for a certain reason--location, whatever, this can be a major dissappointment, and hassle. Get your room assignment first.

 

[vhoffman]

Also, consider buying Tour Guide Mike. I believe its www.tourguidemike.com. Its about $18. Its a tour planner that you use on your computer, not a book, and you can get it almost instantly. It has excellent suggestions about how to plan your trip, suggestions as to which days are best at which parks depending on time of year, how to "do" the parks for maximum enjoyment, etc. There is a lot of information to absorb, but he has a express planner section of sorts for people like you who are short on time. Well worth the money. Check Mousesavers.com for any discounts. Sometimes she has a coupon good for $3 off the planner. And relax--38 days is enough time to plan. I've planned trips to Europe in less time. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[vhoffman]

Also, check out Tour Guide Mike. I believe its www.tourguidemike.com. Its a planner for WDW that you use on your computer, not a book. Its about $18, but sometimes you can find coupons for $3 off at www.mousesavers.com. He gives a lot of information that you're looking for, such as which days are best for which parks, depending on time of year, how to 'do' the parks for maximum enjoyment, how to pack, what to bring, what to leave behind, etc. There's a lot of information, but he also has an express section for people like you who don't have a lot of time before their trip. Well worth the money. Makes you feel like you're in control and not forgetting anything essential.

 

[madge]

what part of Kentucky are you driving from? my advice would be to have a pretty good idea where you want to stay in GA...south of Atlanta is tough, there aren't a whole lot of choices....if it's a weekend, lots of travellers on I-75 have the same plan as you do...

 

[K9pal]

We are driving from the Louisville area this time, leaving 9/12, first time driving in years because we're visiting family along the way. We also drive I-75 and will stop just north of Atlanta. I researched hotels in the area we plan to stop so I'd have a good idea of inexpensive places. We always pick one with free continental breakfast so we can eat a quick breakfast, fill up our coffee mugs and get on the road. Some of them also have a frig in the room, so if I were you I'd take groceries with me. Even without a frig, you can change the ice in your cooler when you stop and you'll be fine. You'll be glad you don't have to mess with grocery shopping when you arrive. Anyway, I made a list of hotels, prices, what exits, etc. You'll find the hotel costs get lower the farther away from Atlanta you are.
Also, be aware of what time of day you'll hit Atlanta - rush hour starts early and you're going through on a weekday. I'd recommend taking the bypass and not try to drive straight through the city.