Advice on schedule, timing ADR's, first timer!

[smileymomof3]

Hello! This is my first post after reading threads for a few days. I just booked our first trip to Disney 12/10-12/16!!! I'm so excited We are a family of five (my husband and I and our 3 kids; DS 9, DD 7, and DS 4) and we are staying at POR with free dining.

I have put together our schedule using the crowd calendar and starting planning our ADR's. So far I have:

12/10: arrive, check-in, enjoy resort, and eat CS there...early to bed!

12/11:.HS: arrive at 8:30am, mama melroses lunch at 12:30 with fantasmic (6:30pm) dining package
Question: would an afternoon break make sense here or just stay and have CS dinner before fantasmic?

12/12: MK: chef mickeys breakfast 7:20am, arrive for park opening, crystal palace dinner at 4:45, electrical parade 7:00, wishes, 8pm
Question: is this day too long with the 7:20am breakfast? Or should we break in the afternoon?

12/13: Epcot: breakfast in room, arrive early and do rides /fast passes, break in afternoon at resort, back to Epcot for 6pm Coral Reef (DD's favorite thing in all the world is sea animals..I can't wait to take her here!!!) and a brief sampling of world showcase (??)

12/14: MK: cinderellas royal table 8:40am breakfast, spend day and then back to resort for early night (I considered going to Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner this night but not sure if it would be too much and we may need early night this day??) boat from MK to WL?

12/15: AK: Tusker House breakfast 8:20, spend day, early dinner? Where? Suggestions...rainforest cafe or boma? Is boma easy to get to from AK and do kids enjoy it? I would love to do a chef mickeys dinner this night and cancel my 7:20am on my first MK morning but it I can't get a reservation

12/16: headed home

Will my 9-year old son enjoy all the character meals? I'd love to take him to t-rex or sci-fi but I don't know if it fits anywhere : any advice on which restaurants not to miss, which can be saved for next trip?

Is it easiest to time the parks and adr's together so we aren't traveling all over? That was my goal anyway!

Thank you to anyone who can provide input, advice and suggestions!! It is VERY much appreciated!!

 

[IncredibleboysMom]

Why don't you go to Downtown Disney for the evening on 12/14 after a few hours at MK? You could return to POR for a rest, then take the boat to DTD and treat your son to T-Rex. There is also an awesome Lego store if your kids are into them. It is my 3 boys absolute fave!

 

[lmbcdb]

Hello! This is my first post after reading threads for a few days. I just booked our first trip to Disney 12/10-12/16!!! I'm so excited We are a family of five (my husband and I and our 3 kids; DS 9, DD 7, and DS 4) and we are staying at POR with free dining.

I have put together our schedule using the crowd calendar and starting planning our ADR's. So far I have:

12/10: arrive, check-in, enjoy resort, and eat CS there...early to bed!

What time are you arriving in Orlando? If you are flying, you might want to pack a carry-on with swimsuits. Yes, even in December. It was 75 degrees last December and my son swam every day. Came out with chattering teeth, but still swam. Sometimes it takes a while to get luggage through the Magical Express.

12/11:.HS: arrive at 8:30am, mama melroses lunch at 12:30 with fantasmic (6:30pm) dining package
Question: would an afternoon break make sense here or just stay and have CS dinner before fantasmic?

I would just stay, especially if you are using the buses. Mama Melrose is going to take you anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. You probably wouldn't get back to your room until 3:00, and then you'd have to turn around and leave at 4:30 or 5 to make your reservation.

12/12: MK: chef mickeys breakfast 7:20am, arrive for park opening, crystal palace dinner at 4:45, electrical parade 7:00, wishes, 8pm
Question: is this day too long with the 7:20am breakfast? Or should we break in the afternoon?

That is a very long day. But your kids are older, and if they are active, it shouldn't be too hard. If you stay, definitely attend some shows in the afternoon to relax: Philharmagic, Carousel of Progress, Country Bears are all good ones. ( I always get an awesome nap at CoP!)

12/13: Epcot: breakfast in room, arrive early and do rides /fast passes, break in afternoon at resort, back to Epcot for 6pm Coral Reef (DD's favorite thing in all the world is sea animals..I can't wait to take her here!!!) and a brief sampling of world showcase (??)

Did you want to go to WS after dinner? That might be hard on everyone after your long day the day before at MK. This might be a good day to go in later. WS opens at 11, and you will most likely still be able to get Fast Passes for bigger rides.

12/14: MK: cinderellas royal table 8:40am breakfast, spend day and then back to resort for early night (I considered going to Whispering Canyon Cafe for dinner this night but not sure if it would be too much and we may need early night this day??) boat from MK to WL?

The boat is fun but slow. Maybe take it to dinner, then take a cab back to the resort.

12/15: AK: Tusker House breakfast 8:20, spend day, early dinner? Where? Suggestions...rainforest cafe or boma? Is boma easy to get to from AK and do kids enjoy it? I would love to do a chef mickeys dinner this night and cancel my 7:20am on my first MK morning but it I can't get a reservation



12/16: headed home

Will my 9-year old son enjoy all the character meals?My DS9 LOVES all the character meals, even the princess ones! I'd love to take him to t-rex or sci-fi but I don't know if it fits anywhere : any advice on which restaurants not to miss, which can be saved for next trip?

Is it easiest to time the parks and adr's together so we aren't traveling all over? That was my goal anyway!

Thank you to anyone who can provide input, advice and suggestions!! It is VERY much appreciated!!

Sounds like you've got a great trip planned out. Just realize you may not get to see much of Epcot with only one day there. We usually spend one whole day in Future World and one whole day in World Showcase. So much to do in each one.

 

[smileymomof3]

Thank you both so much for your replies! I really appreciate it

I love the idea of DTD on evening of 12/14! I know the boat goes right from POR to DTD and I think the kids would love that! Or even on our last night, the 15th, which is also open. I'm definitely going to add that in. I just tried to get a reservation for T-Rex and couldn't but will keep trying...I think the kids would really think that was cool. That may be a better bet than going to WL for whispering canyon cafe.

I also hadn't thought about doing Epcot with a later start. It may be easier to start the day later and then just stay...rather than arriving early, leaving to rest, and then returning for 6pm dinner. I'm so glad I posted! Are the lines a lot harder to manage if we went to Epcot at say 11 instead of 9? Or if we use fast passes would we still make out ok?

Are chef mickeys and tusker house similar in characters, both buffets? I have them both now for breakfast but maybe I can drop one of them.

Again, thanks so much for your input! It helps so much!!

 

[lmbcdb]

I also hadn't thought about doing Epcot with a later start. It may be easier to start the day later and then just stay...rather than arriving early, leaving to rest, and then returning for 6pm dinner. I'm so glad I posted! Are the lines a lot harder to manage if we went to Epcot at say 11 instead of 9? Or if we use fast passes would we still make out ok?

Are chef mickeys and tusker house similar in characters, both buffets? I have them both now for breakfast but maybe I can drop one of them.

You will definitely need to use FPs if arriving at 11:00. Just make sure you get them as soon as you get there. It's a trade off for sleeping in and relaxing, but one that I think will be worth it.

Chef Mickey's and Tusker House have the same characters, but Tusker has MUCH better food. We've been to Chef Mickey's twice - once for breakast, once for dinner, and I was very disappointed both times.

 

[smileymomof3]

Ok thanks. I think I will drop the early chef mickeys breakfast and just do the tusker house then. It will end up making that first MK day a bit shorter, which I think will be better. Again, thanks very much for your advice!

 

[Mamakop]

You might want to try and call Trex instead of going through WDW. I called Trex directly and got my ADR. The number is 407-828-8739

 

[Three cats]

Ok thanks. I think I will drop the early chef mickeys breakfast and just do the tusker house then. It will end up making that first MK day a bit shorter, which I think will be better. Again, thanks very much for your advice!

I would keep checking online for dinner at Chef Mickey's on 12/15 if you are still wanting to go there. You have a very good chance of snagging a cancellation between now and December.

 

[smileymomof3]

Thanks for the # to T-Rex. I would never have thought to call directly!

Would you suggest DTD on Friday evening (after our second MK day) or Saturday (after our AK day)?

 

[Mamakop]

No problem

I think I would try to get Trex for Friday after MK and go to Boma on your AK day