Advice requested on 8 day trip

[HollieS]

I haven't been to Disney World in 15-20 years and my family always went over Easter or 4th of July. This year 10 of us are going the last week in August and I don't know if my "schedule" is realistic any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. We are spending 4 days in MK, 1 at AK, 1 at DHS, and 1 at Epcot (skipping world showcase this trip).

Travel Party: Grandma and Grandpa in their 60's, DH and I in our 30's, my brother and his girlfriend in their 20's, kids 9, 5, and twins 1 month shy of 2. As of right now everyone wants to stay together, all the adults have been to Disney so this trip is all about the kids.

staying at the Bay Tower 3 bedroom villa MK view

Day 1: Our plane arrives at 11am, we plan on eating a QS meal at the Contemporary and heading to MK. I want to FP+ FF Parade is that being too optimistic? We will spend the afternoon/evening in Fantasyland FP+ Dumbo at 5 and 7DMR at 7pm head back to the resort after the 7DMR. Besides our two FP+ rides I would like to knock out Small World, the Carousel, and Teacups.

Day 2: Crystal Palace breakfast, Jungle Cruise, Aladdin, SFTH, FP+ Pirates @ 10am ish, Tikiroom, FP+ Thunder Mt @11am, Tom Sawyer Island, Splash Mt @12. Head back to hotel for Lunch, nap, swim. Back in the late afternoon explore Main Street, eat dinner, Country Bears, Mickey's Philharmagic, and Under the seas. Leave park when kids are tired.

Day 3, 4, 5 DHS, AK, and Epcot

Day 6: EMH park opens at 8am. Explore Tomorrowland. FP+ Space Mt @9am, FP+ Enchanted Tales @10ish, FP+ Haunted Mansion @11am. Schedule BBB for DD at Noon. Go back to hotel for lunch, nap, swim. Take boat to Ft. Wilderness for Hoopty Revue for dinner. Go back to MK or hotel depending on tiredness level.

Day 7: Sleep In!! Breakfast at Chef Mickey's around 9am. Head to park to reride favorites and hopefully FP+ Elsa & Anna. Eat a late lunch and take a short nap at hotel. Back to MK for FP+ of Peter Pan, QS dinner and FP+ Electric Parade, watch Wishes, try to keep everyone up until the park closes riding rides at night.

I don't want to push anyone too fast and want to have room in the plan for random Disney magic. Trying to stick to one "land" at a time while still using FP+ for the most beneficial attractions.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It looks good!

Just one note...daily storms that happen in August. They come in during the afternoon and often have lightning, meaning that even wearing ponchos won't protect you.

We always go in August and we try to do as much as we can from RD on because the late afternoons can be unreliable. Usually you can get back out for Wishes, etc.

Staying in BLT will be awesome, and will definitely help you get back out to MK as soon as possible in the evenings. Just be flexible on the schedule after 2 pm or so.

We use Dark Sky, which is a weather app for iPhones. It costs a few dollars but it is invaluable in August when you are trying to strategize with the daily storms.

Happy planning

 

[HollieS]

If we stay in the MK when it rains, any suggestions of non-attraction places to chill and wait it out?

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I would think twice about BBB then going swimming so soon afterward. That really popped out at me. It's nice you can spend so much time there. Have fun!

 

[CalicoSky]

You should be okay for the parade. Only concern there is that a busy morning of flying and checking in is followed by a long afternoon of park activity. If your 1-year-old is good with that much go-go-go (or will snooze in the stroller with no problem), then go for it.

For Day 6, I suggest scheduling BBB differently if you can--DD might not be too keen on changing clothes and swimming or napping immediately after getting all dolled up.

 

[ArwenMarie]

If we stay in the MK when it rains, any suggestions of non-attraction places to chill and wait it out?

Any of the quick-service restaurants if you feel like eating.

Show-type attractions that would take up at least 15-20 min:
Hall of the Presidents
Carousel of Progress
Tiki Room
Country Bears Jamboree
Mickey's Philharmagic

Of course the Emporium store on Main Street can take a lot of time to browse as well.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would think twice about BBB then going swimming so soon afterward. That really popped out at me.

Absolutely. What's the point of doing BBB if you're just going to go "back to hotel for lunch, nap, swim." Napping and swimming will ruin it. I mean, sure, the hair and glitter and whatnot are temporary, but they don't have to be THAT temporary.

 

[HollieS]

BBB at noon is because while my DD5 says she wants to be dressed up as a princess she'll whine and hate it. She doesn't even like having her hair in a ponytail. Its more about the fun of having it done than keeping the look. I'm pretty confident I can touch up the hair and glitter after her nap if she is still in love with it.

I'm not confident I can fix a melting, itching tantrum having glitter princess in a crowded Disney park

 

[HollieS]

On average how many rides could a person accomplish between RD and 10:30?

 

[JennyDrake]

Overall, I think you have WAY too much planned w/o consideration of heat, afternoon showers and little kids. Rope drop is your new best friend and plan your FP for late morning/early afternoon. Take a LONG break every day to swim, nap, watch TV, then head back about 4 pm.

WITHOUT CHILDREN, I can usually ride at least 6 attractions between RD and 10:30.

 

[mggeary]

I haven't been to Disney World in 15-20 years and my family always went over Easter or 4th of July. This year 10 of us are going the last week in August and I don't know if my "schedule" is realistic any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. We are spending 4 days in MK, 1 at AK, 1 at DHS, and 1 at Epcot (skipping world showcase this trip).

Travel Party: Grandma and Grandpa in their 60's, DH and I in our 30's, my brother and his girlfriend in their 20's, kids 9, 5, and twins 1 month shy of 2. As of right now everyone wants to stay together, all the adults have been to Disney so this trip is all about the kids.

staying at the Bay Tower 3 bedroom villa MK view

Day 1: Our plane arrives at 11am, we plan on eating a QS meal at the Contemporary and heading to MK. I want to FP+ FF Parade is that being too optimistic? We will spend the afternoon/evening in Fantasyland FP+ Dumbo at 5 and 7DMR at 7pm head back to the resort after the 7DMR. Besides our two FP+ rides I would like to knock out Small World, the Carousel, and Teacups.

Day 2: Crystal Palace breakfast, Jungle Cruise, Aladdin, SFTH, FP+ Pirates @ 10am ish, Tikiroom, FP+ Thunder Mt @11am, Tom Sawyer Island, Splash Mt @12. Head back to hotel for Lunch, nap, swim. Back in the late afternoon explore Main Street, eat dinner, Country Bears, Mickey's Philharmagic, and Under the seas. Leave park when kids are tired.

Day 3, 4, 5 DHS, AK, and Epcot

Day 6: EMH park opens at 8am. Explore Tomorrowland. FP+ Space Mt @9am, FP+ Enchanted Tales @10ish, FP+ Haunted Mansion @11am. Schedule BBB for DD at Noon. Go back to hotel for lunch, nap, swim. Take boat to Ft. Wilderness for Hoopty Revue for dinner. Go back to MK or hotel depending on tiredness level.

Day 7: Sleep In!! Breakfast at Chef Mickey's around 9am. Head to park to reride favorites and hopefully FP+ Elsa & Anna. Eat a late lunch and take a short nap at hotel. Back to MK for FP+ of Peter Pan, QS dinner and FP+ Electric Parade, watch Wishes, try to keep everyone up until the park closes riding rides at night.

I don't want to push anyone too fast and want to have room in the plan for random Disney magic. Trying to stick to one "land" at a time while still using FP+ for the most beneficial attractions.

Plan looks good. Two quick bits of advice
1) Don't over do it on travel/arrival day. We've learned over recent years to enjoys some pool time/resort time rather than putting in too many hours at MK on arrival day.
2) Last week of Aug should be very low crowds, so close to school starting. Not sure those 9am and 10am FP are your best use of time. Would consider bumping FPs back to 10:30-3pm time frame if redoing isnt too much of a hassle.

 

[HollieS]

We can't check into the villas until 4, so that is why we're doing an MK day when we arrive. Hanging around the pool/ lobby area for 5 hours after being trapped on an airplane/bus with kids doesn't sound relaxing. I'd rather take my chances in the park even if all we accomplish is the 3 things we FP'ed. If everyone is really that tired we can ride the train around the park over and over again, lol.

With the FP+ times I was under the impression they had to be scheduled an hour apart? We're still 200+ days out so everything can be changed and moved, and most likely will have little tweaks depending on exactly what times are available for our dining res. I'd like to keep the evenings as unscheduled as possible and 12:30-3 on most days will be prime time napping/swimming.

Not the "best" use of FP+ but we're not trying to ride E-ticket rides multiple times. I can almost guarantee DD will want to ride the carrousel more than any other ride.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Where are you from? Having experience Disney in August this year, I'd say that you're going to seriously regret doing anything in the afternoons. I never knew that I could be as hot and sweaty instantly as we were this past August. Afternoons really were unbearable, and with both younger and older people in your group, I think you're going to need a lot of rest/pool time. For us, we did stuff in the mornings, left by noon, stayed in the pool all afternoon, then took a nap in the airconditioning, and headed back to the park as the sun was going down. The sun is brutal, and I can't imagine spending my first afternoon in it.

Even though checkin isn't technically until 4 p.m., it is possible that the room would be ready early. Even if it's not, the pool will definitely be welcome that time of year in the afternoon. I'd plan on arrival-lunch (Contempo Cafe in the Contemporary isn't a bad choice)-pool, and then head to MK after 6:00 and ride three FP+ rides. You can schedule FP+s in consecutive hours...so 5-6, 6-7, and 7-8.

ETA: Also, if your plane arrives at 11:00, the absolute earliest you'd make it to BLT is probably 12:30. So you're not going to have 5 hours of waiting around. You can check in when you arrive even if your room isn't ready.

 

[HollieS]

We're from Michigan, but spent all last summer with the kids in Houston. They handled the 100+ heat there like champs. We also never use A/C so while our highs are normally only in the 80's when that is your "norm" inside your house 10-15 degrees more isn't going to put them out of commission.

As for the other adults in the group, if the heat is too much we can easily split up and meet back at the hotel or at a restaurant.

I think I'll make a "rain day" plan to have in my bag of tricks too.