Any Advice would be appreciated

[kboles]

Me, DH, DS/17, DD/15, and DS/3 will be going to WDW FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, 3/21-3/28, I know, I know, I picked one of the worst times to visit, this is the only time that was available (kids off school). I have hammered out a tentitive itinerary, but am now second guessing myself, (reading more and more recommendations), so needless to say I now have two itineraries! So here it is, tell me what you think, and please, please feel free to give suggestions, advice, etc. We will be arriving in Orlando, around 6 pm, on the 21st, so I did not really plan anything for that day, as I didn't know how we all would be feeling at that point, so suggestions for that would be great. Okay, so here's where I lost all my marbles, the first itinerary, I lined up the days to visit the parks according to which park would be staying open late, made PS arrangements, etc., so then I read that you should avoid the parks on the day that they have extra hours, and you should visit them the following day, cause the masses visited them the day before. So then I shifted my itinerary (#2) to visit each park the day after extra hours, have ps for these as well. Can you give me any advice on this. I had orginally thought that my teens would take advantage of the late hours, cause as we all know, teens have energy! Also, any suggestions for Easter Day? And last but not least, I am planning on purchasing the MYW tickets with the hopper/plus addons for 6 or 7 days ($5.00 difference between the two) the 7 day will give me 5 plus visits. Am I going to kill myself, am I shooting to high? My DH is really no help to me, with this. HELP!!

 

[JRawkSteady]

you're going for a week, first of all, so you have a lot of time. Are you staying on property? If you are, you can go to another park during the day and take advantage of the extra hours at the other park at night. Just rememebr to get a wristband before the other park closes. I don't think you're shooting too high, but you should be aware of long waits and a lot of loud college students around this time. I dunno if my suggestions were actually suggestions, but I think they should help a little bit.

 

[dcmbshafe]

I've definitely been where you are...I can only recommend taking a few deep breaths and trying to keep in mind that your party is going to love WDW even if there are a few bumps along the way.

First off, I think you are wise to avoid trying to do too much the first day. One thing we always like to do on our arrival day is to hop around the various resorts on the monorail route and end up at Chef Mickey's for dinner - there's just something about this that gets us in the spirit, and we try to get a good night's sleep the first night.

Regarding whether to EMH or not to, I'm afraid this is a matter of considerable disagreement among folks, plus with the program recently changing, it is really difficult to know for certain what to do. We stay off-site, so it is a no-brainer for us to avoid the EMH parks, but if we were staying on-site I think I'd like to check it out for myself - I guess I'm recommending that maybe you mix your schedule up at the beginning, see what you like better, then follow your preferred method for the remainder of your trip.

With respect to tickets, it is unclear whether you are planning on purchasing the no-expiration option or not. I can just tell you that, with 7 days at Disney, it will be very difficult for you to use all 7-days AND 5 "pluses". I would suggest that you break your itinerary down each day by morning, afternoon and evening and figure out where you think you'll be. This will also give you an idea of whether you really need to pay for the park hopper feature. Of course, if you just want maximum flexibility and price isn't an issue, perhaps the 7-day premium MYW that expires is the best option.

Good luck. Everything will turn out okay for you...it definitely will be crowded, but you're a step ahead of a lot of others by planning ahead.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

We are always one to do the EMH morning parks, as we are early risers anyways. We have very few problems with crowds, and the one time that we did, it was around noon, so we left and went to another park.

Can't wait to go back and try the EMH evening hours!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I agree...if you are staying onsite, do the EMH but leave the park once it gets crowded and go somewhere else. If you are staying offsite, do everything the day after EMH. I don't know how the new evening hours are going to affect traffic patterns, but I'm sure there will be plenty of posts about that in the coming weeks.

My only other advice...don't run yourselves ragged trying to do everything. It will be busy and you'll be disappointed if you set your sights too high. Have everyone do a "must do" list and focus on that stuff first...then if you have time get to the other things.

 

[kboles]

We are staying on site - POR. Thanks for the input - I still am very confused this is what I get for being a freak about planning

 

[loriandmatt]

kboles - first off - Welcome. Second - take a nice deep breath, relax and organize your thoughts. We can all help you here and are happy to do so.

Since you are staying onsite and IF (and this is a big if - 'cause most teens are not happy about rising early) your group is up to rising early - it would be very wise to take the advise given and hit those parks with early magic hours in the morning. You will be amazed how much stuff you can do with little wait times that early. When that park gets way too crowded you can park hop or enjoy some Resort or Downtown Disney time. (your teens may dig it there, especially Disney Quest, which i believe you can use your pluses on the new passes for.)

If you are not already farmiliar with FastPass - get farmiliar with it before you leave. it will be a great crowd management tool.

At such a busy time of year those PS's will come in handy, but don't be a slave to them. If you have dinner PS's at one place, but you would have to break you necks getting there, have a powwow about how important that meal in that restaurant is and decide if you should blow off your ressies or drop what you are doing and make your way there.

Another posters suggestion is golden - have each person give you an idea of their "must do/see" things. If you are having trouble managing the crowds you can scale down your "master plan" to your "just the stuff that is most important to us" plan. You won't feel as stressed, and everyone will still get to do a few of their highlights.

I am sorry that i can't make any suggestions for easter day itself. i have not been there over easter. If i were going to be there though, i would probably hit Epcot as it is such a large park that it absorbs crowds a bit better.

As far as arrival night plans - you are getting into orlando a bit late (6pm at airport - you will probably be at your resort around 7) but we like to do something uniquely dinsey to get us in the mood on our arrival night. We love the food and the corney atmosphere of the Hoop Dee Doo at Fort Wilderness. If not staying at the campground, we love to take a monorail to MK then a boat over to FW. That journey is just nirvana for us. (release the real world and embrace the perfect grace of VACATION - ahhhhhh) To each their own though. If that is your families speed, give it a try. If not, you might try going over to the Boardwalk for Dinner and the remainder of your evening. Lots of fun things to do there and you can catch a bit of Illuminations thru the trees. Always gets us pumped for visiting the next day.


Again - take your time - ask us specific questions and we will all do our best to give you specific answers. You'll have a great time and your family will be thankfull that you organized the Maddness that can be Walt Disney World for them.

- lori

 

[loriandmatt]

oh - by the way - don't feel bad about being a (as you said) freak about planning.
would you like to see my binder of all things related to planning a WDW vacation?!?!?!?! it is updated with fresh info for each of our trips and holds all the daily park hours, parade and fireworks times, each and every ressie, coupons for local attractions we would like to hit, directions to walmart and publix,......you are not alone at all on the planning freak thing. Most of us here have a touch of it.

- lori

 

[kboles]

Lori and everyone else that responded – thanks!
okay I took that deep breath – Whew!

Me and DH and DS/3 are early risers, so going into a park early would work for us (the teens are old enough to fend for themselves if need be) I think they would be game to get up as they are very excited about this trip. My reasoning of getting the tickets with the plus options was with them in mind, incase they wanted to go to Disney Quest, etc in the evenings. When Mom and Dad and done. : )

If the Fastpass works the same as it does in Disneyland, then I am familiar with it, that is if it hasn’t changed much in the last 5 years or so.

Good point about the PS, I don’t want to forget that being on vacation is about being flexible.

I love everyone’s suggestions regarding arrival night, I would love to get the kids into the mood right away. The monorail and the boat ride sound great! My family would adapt to anything at that point, except maybe the 3 year old, we will see how he fairs with the all day travel. Yikes – Maybe I should say we’ll see how I fair that day.

While I have your ears : ) When I made my hotel reservation back in Nov., the gal made me a “sandwich” reservation, so I actually have 3 reservations, so I didn’t have to pay as much for the “length of stay” tickets. However, those tickets are a thing of the past now, so do I mess with the reservations and try to get it back to one, and risk something happening, or just let it be and not worry about it anymore.

I am sure I will come up with some more specific questions, so thanks for letting me.

oh yeah, Lori, I have a binder! he he he

 

[POR05]

This is my first time replying on this board, but I loved your question as we are going the same time. (We are teachers so this is are only time off!) We are arriving around 3:00 on the 19th and are planning to kick everything off with Chef Mickeys. We went there before (this is our second time) and the kids loved it, although my kids are younger (8,4). Really got us in the Disney mood. If you ever go here, ask to sit right by the kitchen. You get to meet alot of the characters often as they enter and exit through the kitchen. (Who would have ever thought sitting by the kitchen would be the best seat in the house.)

I was thinking about avoiding the EMH parks (even though we are staying on site). My friend did this last year during Easter Week in April and said they didn't really have any problems with morning crowds...who knows?? Hoping that maybe these parks wouldn't be as crowded. I probably made too many PS's as week but wanted to build in some flexibility. Just like you I am trying Plan A and Plan B.

We bought a prince/princess add on with our package. Sounded good because our kids like Character Breakfasts and the special seating for some of the shows sounded good with little ones. (This is not too expensive for the older ones.) Love to hear what people think of these.

The one thing I learned the hard way last time is to double check the height requirement before trying a ride. My DS (3 at the time) really wanted to try Big Thunder Railroad and Test Track but was about 1/2 inch too short (39 1/2 inches) so he couldn't go on and was sad.

I've been keeping my "itineraries" on file cards which I hope to bring with me as they will fit in my back pocket. The best tip I received last time was to try to avoid bringing a bag with you if you can. If you don't have to stand in the bag check line the line at the entrance moves incredibly fast. (May not work if you need diapers Cameras around necks are okay in this line.

Based upon what I have been reading here, I also booked a Fantasmic dinner package. We really want to see show and I know that my four year old couldn't wait too long for a seat and wouldn't be able to stay up for the late show.

Any way. Thanks for posing the question. The people at this site are GREAT!

 

[kboles]

Well POR05-
I guess we will learn first hand about the EMH (Plan A vs. Plan B). I see that alot of people kick off their vacation by going to Chef Mickeys, maybe we will make it over there as well. Do you think my older kids will like it too? This board sure is great!

 

[benedicttw]

Sounds like you have put together great plans. Be sure that these are just plans not MUST DO. I would say to start with either one and be sure to relax and enjoy the show. Take your time and don't run from attraction to attraction to be sure you get it all in. Enjoy yourself and watch the fun your kids have. The best suggestion I can give since you are on site is to go early, go back to the hotel in the early afternoon for the younger ones and you to rest and hit it again in late afternoon. If you don't see everything in one park don't go back the next day. Let it go and make decision later in the week if you need to go back and see what you missed.

Most of all have fun and don't let the plan get in the way.

 

[POR05]

I've only been to Disney once so I certainly am no expert but I think anyone would like Chef Mickey's...the characters were just a lot of fun and changed the way they interacted based upon the age of the people at the table. I really loved the atmosphere. I can't really remember the food. I think it was okay...not great, but worth it just to get some great pics. with Mickey.

Good luck with your planning. We have 8 inches of snow today so I'm looking foward to the warm weather!!!!

 

[eeyore45]

We bought the Princess Plan add on, it was easily a break even since they give you the character meal vouchers, and $50 spending money, and trading pin/lanyard... We booked at Norway for the sit down Princess Aurora, we saw Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Mulan, Jasmine, and Belle. The food is served all you can eat family style, and dh and I loved it!!

I made PS for all the Animal Kingdom shows, really really loved Lion King, dd loves environmen, and she loved Pocohantas. It was hard to make it from Lion King to Pocohantas, but we ran, and made it. We went in August and not all the shows were familiar with the PS (in AK Flight of Wonder, it wasnt really necessary, but it was our first PS, and all the CM's called dd "Princess") We ran into a snag with our Beauty and the Beast PS, they gave us a PS for a show that didnt exist, the computers thought it was a PS for fantasmic, it all worked out, but double check!!

 

[WEDWDW]

First of all-WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS!There is absolutely nothing like your first trip to the Walt Disney World Resort!Prepare to be wowed and amazed.You will LOVE POR!It is GORGEOUS!Are you going to request Alligator Bayou or the Mansions.I love AB,but other people love the Mansions.You really can't go wrong with either section.Since you are arriving relatively late in the day,one suggestion I have is to take the boat that goes from POR to Downtown Disney.You can eat and shop there while the teens check out DQ.The boat ride is about twenty minutes long and would be a great way to relax and unwind from a long day of travel.Also,you won't have to lose time driving{if you have a car}or taking a bus to one of the parks.You can just walk from your room to the boat dock.Also,there is a really fun entertainer named Bob Jackson who plays piano in the River Roost at POR.It is "family-friendly"and you could catch some of his show when you return from DTD.So there is my two cents worth. WDW IS UNBELIEVEABLE!

 

[POR05]

Just a quick question on the Prince and Princess Add-On...when do you make the PS's for the shows? When you get to the park or before. This is unclear to me and this is pretty new to our family as well. Can't wait...it continues to snow....

 

[kboles]

You all have been so helpful - I appreciate all the advice that everyone has given - I know we will have a great time, I can't hardly wait. DH is about ready to kill me when I bring up one more "did you know, at DW, you can ...... oh well, I guess I'm hooked. I have to agree, that it is alot of fun just doing the planning. Hey POR05, I have been experiencing snow for days also, where do you live??? You don't happen to be in Northern NV??? Wouldn't that be a small world. ps I have had just about enough of the snow at this point. Talk to ya later.