Any advice on my DL plan?

[Boiseboone]

Hi all,
I heard about the DISboards from my sister and I've been spending all my spare time reading the excellent advice and tips you all have posted. So thanks!

We're going to DL June 3-8 and staying at the GCH. I have a 5 yo and a 1 1/2 yo, so I'm planning on doing the parks in the morning, swimming and naptime at the hotel after lunch, and back to the parks in the evening. Also, my little guy has multiple food allergies, so we're doing mostly table-service restaurants on the advice of the DL chefs.

Would any of you mind giving a glance at my itinerary and making any suggestions that come to mind? I'd love the thoughts of the experts!

I'm so excited! I went to DL a couple of times as a kid (uh, 20 or so years ago) but this is the first visit for my husband and kiddos.


Sunday
9:45 a.m. Flight arrives, head to GCH
12:30 p.m. Lunch at Storyteller's Cafe
1:30 p.m. Skip the nap, we're going to DL!
4 p.m. Soundsations parade
5:30 p.m. Dinner at Blue Bayou

Monday
8 a.m. Princess makeover for the 5yo at BBBoutique
Noon - head to CA park
12:50 p.m. Princess lunch at Ariel's Grotto
2-4 nap, swim at hotel
6 p.m. Dinner at Celebration Roundup in DL
rides until bedtime, fireworks!

Tuesday
7:10 a.m. Minnie's Character Breakfast at Plaza Inn
Noon - Lunch at Cafe Orleans
2-4 p.m. nap, swim
5ish - Dinner at counter service in parks (need to make sure the burgers are allergen-free)
8 p.m. - Babysitter arrives at hotel
8:30 p.m. The grownups have anniversary dinner at Napa Rose, and then ride the big rides until parks close.

Wednesday
8 a.m. Chip and Dale's character breakfast at Storyteller's
Noonish - Lunch at Taste Pilot's Grill in CA
2-4 p.m. nap and swim
6:20 p.m. Dinner at Wine Country Trattoria (for priority seating for 9p.m. WOC)
9 p.m. WOC

Thursday
7:30 a.m. - Goofy's Kitchen character breakfast
Noonish - lunch at counter service site in CA
2-4 p.m. naps and swimming
6:30 p.m. Dinner at Steakhouse 55
8 p.m. Babysitter at hotel, grownups head back to the parks

Friday
9 a.m. - Breakfast at Rainforest Cafe in DD
10:30 a.m. - check out of hotel, have them store bags
11 a.m. - revisit favorite rides and attractions
noonish - lunch at counter service site
2-4 p.m. swim and lounge at hotel or more park time
4 p.m. - head to airport and fly back home


Things I missed? Did I overschedule? Underschedule? Thanks so much for any insight you can offer! These boards are awesome.

 

[SGMCO]

Hey, We'll be there the same week as you guys.
Your plans look great, you have a variety of different meals planned, with fun adventures.
I just notice that our family will be eating at Cafe' Orleans around the same time you are--we have ressies for Tues.June 5, 1:00pm.
If you see a Couple with a Teenage Son (16) that will be us.
I hope you a a wonderful trip.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

How fun! You will LOVE staying at GCH!!

A couple things jumped out at me......I know you said it would be best to eat at sit-down restaurants due to food allergies. If at all possible, I would ditch some of your morning breakfasts and plan instead to be at the turnstiles well before opening so that you can hit the grown running at rope drop. You will get more done in those first two hours of the day and really beat the crowds. Plus, you will be able to use that time to collect FPs as you go along so that you can use them later in the day. (You can use them after the stated return time on the FP)

Also, the day your DD is getting her makeover, it seems like a waste to do that and then head to the pool a few hours later, but that's just me.

Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[mmlover74]

@Boiseboone: I don't know if you saw my post regarding multiple allergies, but if you search you should find it. It might be on page 2 or 3. It gives the email address to one of the chefs and you can start talking to them about food and options. Unfortuantely, the menus at allears.net does not list the menu items being allergen free or which restaurants are best suited for your child's needs.

ITA with th PP regarding swimming after getting your DD all dolled up at the BBB. It will totally mess up hair and makeup.

 

[Boiseboone]

I just notice that our family will be eating at Cafe' Orleans around the same time you are--we have ressies for Tues.June 5, 1:00pm.
If you see a Couple with a Teenage Son (16) that will be us.

What fun! I'll keep an eye out for you. We'll be the ones with the really tall guy (hubby is 6'5"), hyper 5-year-old girl and very squirmy toddler.

If at all possible, I would ditch some of your morning breakfasts and plan instead to be at the turnstiles well before opening so that you can hit the grown running at rope drop. You will get more done in those first two hours of the day and really beat the crowds. Plus, you will be able to use that time to collect FPs as you go along so that you can use them later in the day. (You can use them after the stated return time on the FP)

I wondered about that! I tried to get the earliest breakfasts available, but maybe I should rethink this.
Does anyone know if there are fees for late cancellations? Could we see how the first character breakfast goes, and then cancel the others without charges?

ITA with th PP regarding swimming after getting your DD all dolled up at the BBB. It will totally mess up hair and makeup.

Yeah, good point. I think we'll just follow DD's lead here. If she wants to swim, fine. If not, one of us will take her back to the parks while the other one naps w/ the baby. DD is a glamour girl, so my guess is that she'd rather show off her fancy 'do at the parks.

Also, thanks for the allergy post tip - I'm off to search for it now!

 

[mmlover74]

There are no fees or cancellations on the priority seatings. If you don't show for one, it doesn't affect the other PS you have.

 

[kailuagirl]

I agree you should try to be in the parks at opening on some of the days. Especially those with MM. You'll be able to get alot done in the morning hours at the parks. And, not sure if it was just how I looked it over, but I didn't see that much time for rides, etc. Your kids are going to love everything!

We love the GCH! As for the pool, my DD4 loves spending time at the pool, but would rather be in the park. So you might have to take that into consideration and play that part by ear. Maybe when your little one naps, the another parent can have some alone park time to ride some of the "big" kid rides with your 5 year old or go find some characters. That might be fun and make her feel really special. Don't tell my husband, but last Nov. when we went, there was one evening he needed a sleep, so DD and I went off on our own, and we had a super fun time. It was great just her and I, I loved it! it was our own special time. There's alot of fun 40" plus rides at DCA that my daugher loves, and it would be so easy to just hop in and ride them from the GCH during nap time. Not sure if she'll be napping also? I don't know, just a suggestion

Have a wonderful time!!!

 

[mouseymommy]

The breakfast thing jumped out at me also. Is it possible to have a bit of breakfast in the hotel room some mornings? We find the mornings in the park to be nice and we get so much done when we are there right at opening.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

The breakfast thing jumped out at me also. Is it possible to have a bit of breakfast in the hotel room some mornings? We find the mornings in the park to be nice and we get so much done when we are there right at opening.

I was thinking the same thing about breakfast in the hotel room. Could save a lot of valuable ride time.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We enjoy Minnie's & Storytellers for brunch, ride rides and collect FPs and then go to the restaraunts for a late breakfast, around 10:30am - at Minnie's the few times we've done this the restaraunt was full of charactes but very few guests.

 

[motherhoodandmickey]

Despite allergies (is this your 1.5 year old?), I would probably opt for more counter service meals. I just know that my not-so-very-squirmy nearly 3 year old would not do well with a lot of table service meals in a row, especially if she also spends a fair amount of time in the stroller/on rides. Could you also pack/buy locally some foods that are safe for your child, so that you can be a bit more flexible with meals if necessary?

Also, I would probably skip swimming the day of checkout, since you won't have access to a room for post-swim showers, dry-offs and changes. But I'm a bit type A, so that may just be me overthinking it...

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I also wanted to come back to this to commend you for getting a sitter for your kids so that you and DH can enjoy some adult time. Yea for you!! This is YOUR vacation also, and I KNOW you are going to have an amazing time with just your DH. We've had childcare for our girls at DW a few times, and our time together for a meal and enjoying the magic at the parks at our own pace was truly spectacular! I highly recommend it.

Good for you!!

 

[monkey30]

YAY for you!! My only concern is if your flight gets delayed you may not make your lunch the first day! Heres hoping to no delays!

 

[Mama Who]

It all sounds terrible and you'll have a dreadful time. Save yourself some grief and just transfer all your stuff into my name and I'll throw myself on the sword to spare you.

Because I'm giving that way.

Color me jealous. It sounds like a great trip!

 

[Boiseboone]

You guys are the best - this is such great advice!
I think I'll move the character breakfasts closer to 10 or 10:30, and NOT tell my 5yo about any of them. That way she won't mind if we decide to skip one!
My kids are very early risers (the toddler was up and rearing to go at 4:45 this morning, ugh) so it shouldn't be any problem to get to the park entrances for rope-drop. I think I'll ship down some safe shelf-stable breakfast/snack items when I send our luggage to GCH.
I've changed my dining reservations around twice already. When I call today, they're probably going to recognize my number on caller ID

Carrie in AZ - thanks for sharing that you had a good experience w/ sitters at DL! I'm a reporter who covers crime and the courts, and that makes me a very very paranoid mommy! I've only found good things so far, though, thankfully. (Can you hear me knocking on wood?)

YAY for you!! My only concern is if your flight gets delayed you may not make your lunch the first day! Heres hoping to no delays!

I'll already be in LA for a business trip, so it's just the hubby and kiddos flying to meet me. They might miss lunch, but I sure won't!

It all sounds terrible and you'll have a dreadful time. Save yourself some grief and just transfer all your stuff into my name and I'll throw myself on the sword to spare you.

Gee, thanks, MamaWho! I'll get right on that.

 

[pixiewings71]

You know, I have the same advice about BBB and swimming.....when we did BBB my youngest DD left her hair up for 3 days and she would have left it longer but I wouldn't let her. LOL My older DD and I took ours down the first night, but my youngest loved the bun and left it in. It probably would have lasted 5 days if I'd let her leave it in......

Otherwise, looks great! Have a blast!!

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Carrie in AZ - thanks for sharing that you had a good experience w/ sitters at DL! I'm a reporter who covers crime and the courts, and that makes me a very very paranoid mommy! I've only found good things so far, though, thankfully. (Can you hear me knocking on wood?)

Our sitter and kids clubs were at Disney World, not DL. Just wanted to clarify.

 

[h2oophelia]

Boiseboone!!! I've got nothing to add, I was just excited to see you.

You're going to have a blast. I'm uber jealous. Bring me back something fabulous!!!

 

[seagodess]

I know you said you would rather do sit down meals, however sit down meals are usually larger and take longer. So you would be loosing a lot of park time plus have full tummies. Maybe its just my family, but during the summer when its warm, we dont eat much. Plus with rides, that could be a bad combo. JMO. Since you'll be going to your hotel room in the afternoon daily you may want to think about maybe getting something to make lunches or breakfast's there.

 

[Eeee-va]

Your plan looks like a lot of fun! I do agree with those who suggested less food overall. Even when it's not hot, I usually have just two meals a day (such as a late breakfast and then supper). If it IS hot, I'm not even hungry for much besides lunch! Now, of course, if you love sit-down meals you can maybe split plates to not get stuffed...though maybe your DH would need his own, judging from his height...?

You should be fine to cancel scheduled meals at any time, but I personally would overall plan to eat 2 meals/day--particularly if you're looking at a buffet or all-you-can-eat for one of those meals. I'd supplement the 2 meals, if needed, with a snack such as popcorn/a cookie/churros/etc., if there are any snacks you can have. (Or you can bring snacks from home to save money and time.)

Have a wonderful trip!