7 days and I Don't know what I am doing! Help

[catfish]

I am trying to pull this trip together. I bought the Unofficial Guide and it stresses planning is essential to an enjoyable trip, but I am struggling. Plus PS was so hard to get that meals have been affecting my planning. ( We got the meal plan) I thought 10/5-10/11 would be so slow - but I didn't even know about Columbus Day impact. We have two boys age 6 and 11 that don't go on major thrill rides. Please look at my plan, I have big holes in it still and I have questions woven in and also see if I have screwed up anywhere:

10/5 arrive to WL at 1:30, lunch at Whispering Canyon. Head over to MK and stay for EMH evening as long as the kids hold up. Counter restaurant for dinner.

10/6 Typhoon Lagoon (AK has late hours and MK closes early for MNSSHP) - what time should I leave WL to get to Typhoon Lagoon? Park opens at 10am Counter lunch , return by 4. Choice of 5:50 dinner at Trails end or 7:20 dinner at 1900 Park.? GO to Epcot for Illuminations if time allows.

10/7 AK has early hours - we are going to MGM. 11:55 lunch at Sci-Fi. Return to WL by 4. Rest - Counter meal at WL. take boat at 6:00 to MNSSHP. Is it bad to wait until 6pm to head over - I see others are going at 4?

10/8 MK has early hours - we are going to AK. Lunch at Rainforest Cafe at 1:15. No PLans for Late Afternoon/Evening. What should we do?

10/9 MGM has late hours. We are going to MK for 1/2 day. Lunch at Crystal Palace at 12:55. Head over to Epcot. 6:50 Dinner at Garden Grill. How long will lines be for attractions at Epcot afternoon and after dinner?

10/10 7:50 Ohana Breakfast. Park Plans ???

10/11 MGM< early entry day - Leave for Airport at 5:10 ...What to do during Day?

 

[anditoo72]

My only concern is that you are underestimating the time for meals and transportation. I would leave 11/2 hours for a table service meal- only because you may not get seated right away and it will take you about an hour for your meal to be over. It will take you at least an hour on Disney transportation to get anywhere!! unless you are taking the monorail directly.
Day 1 looks good
Day 2 I would leave at least 7:45 to get there about 15 min before the gates open. If you do go with the 7:20 reservation you may not make it to Epcot in time for Illuminations- it may be tight. I would go with the earlier reservation, JMHO
Day 3 to me its tight again getting back to WL for 4 wanting to eat and make it back to MK for 6.
Everything else looks okay, I wish I could answer your question about Epcot, I couldn't say. I am planning the same type of thing too in Jan so I hope it works out for you. You didn't schedule any time for Downtown Disney shopping, maybe you could do that before the airport on on the day you don't have anything planned in the afternoon. Make sure you leave time for the pool and swimming. Looks like you did well with your meal plan. Have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[stacy6552]

Ok, first of all you've planned plenty. Dont sweat it.


Im sure andi meant 9:45 to leave for TL, but I would be waiting for the bus by 9:30 at the latest. You coulde wait up to 20 minutes for the bus and want to be waiting at the rope, when it drops at 10. Tip: Don't stop at the first rope. Head to the left as far as you can go for the far rope. Our kids were 6 and 11 this past trip and we still liked the Kiddie area as base camp.

People generally go to MNSSHP at 4 because thats the earliest you can get in without the extra park entrence tix. 6pm is fine for your needs, IMHO.

Try to get breakfast as much before opening at Donalds Breakfastasaurus for your AK day. Gate crowds at opening can be a nightmare. If you can't get in early for breakfast, plan on arriving 30 minutes after opening at least.

The WS is more crowded in the afternoon and evening at Epcot, because most people start their day up front when FW opens and dont drift back to the WS until afternoon. Get fast passes for test track and Mission space as soon as you arrive because you will probably have a late return and the fast passes can run out early. I highly reccommend that you dont take the 6 year old on MS.

Leave the 10th open and head back to whichever park you feel you missed alot at. You may even find you want to do another water park day.

Our last day we always have breakfast at wispering canyon and then head over to Downtown disney for shopping.

 

[catfish]

If you get Breakfast at AK, does that get you past the crowds waiting to get in? May be a moot point as breakfast wasn't available when i Called - I plan to keep calling though in case certain places I had wanted open up.

I was going to avoid MS - but wondered about Maelstrom.

The UG book I have, advises arriving 40 minutes before parks open - do you think that will be necessary next week? What is the adavantage- just being at the front of the pack? I dread my kids getting impatient waiting for the rope to drop if we get there too early.

Have you stayed at WL before? I really wanted Poly or CR but couldn't get it...I hope not being on the monorail won't be a disapointment.

I didn't realize that Fast Passes run out - makes sense of course. If we come over after lunch - do you think we can get fast passes for Maelstrom or Soaring?

Thanks so much to both of you for your replies.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I could very well be wrong about this because we have never been to MNSSHP, but it seems like if you go at 6 PM you can't go in the gates until 7 PM. That's why people try to get there and get in around 4 PM. In previous years other DISers have said they entered at 4 PM with just their MNSSHP tickets. So you can go in any time between 4 PM - 6 PM. At 6 PM the park closes to guests without tickets, but it is my understanding that if you have a ticket and are not IN the park at 6 PM you have to stand in a line outside and wait until 7 PM to enter. Just wanted you to be aware so you don't arrive promptly at 6 PM and end up waiting at the gate for an hour.

Hopefully if I am wrong someone will say something!

 

[mckymama]

We have been to WDW 7 or 8 times, and have never planned anything. I never even thought to do it until I discovered these boards. We always have a great time! The fact that you have done as much research that you have, will make it a wonderful trip. If something doesn't work as planned, don't sweat it. Your kids are going to have a blast!!!

 

[kathmzh]

Don't worry, you've done a lot of planning and it will be great! My only advice is to be prepared for your kids to be more tired than they are at home -- I remember after our Typhoon Lagoon day, we had plans to do something else, but the kids were dead tired. All those steps and slides!! Just be ready with a plan B in case you don't get to things in the evenings. What jackskellingtonsgirl said about the MNNSHP opening sounds like it may be correct, so maybe you should prepare for that. Have a wonderful time!!

 

[catfish]

I was really kicking myself for leaving ADR to the last minute, but I am starting to relax after reading your posts. People on these boards seem so well prepared....just reading how people were making the most out of the dining plan was making my head spin. Hope I can remember at least some of the tips and I will take my guide book with me. Thinking about trying the grocery delivery since we are using DME. After teh replies to my post about DisneyQuest, I am thinking we should try that - but the alst two days I am sans dh. Will it be hard to keep up with 2 boys in DQ?
Thanks for the replies.

 

[mckymama]

It won't be any harder to keep up with your boys at DQ than it is at one of the parks. If they find something they love, and want to do it over and over, you may even get a chance to sit down while they do that. The configuration of the building is kind of weird and can get confusing, so I would have a meeting place picked out in case you get separated. I can't emphasize enough how much two boys, ages 6 and 10, will love that place. Someone suggested going there when it's not raining. That's a great idea!
Enjoy your trip.