Any feedback on these plans?

[garywitt]

Copying and pasting my first draft of plans for our trip 10/21-10/26. Landing late 10/21 and heading to Port Canaveral 10/26 for a 4 night Bahamas cruise on the Dream! Would love to hear any feedback or strategies I could learn from?


Arrive 10-21 10:55pm
Rental car vs DME (probably rental car)
25-30 min drive, arrive 12:30am

Beach club villa 1 bedroom

Thursday 10/22
Wake up, Epcot bakery (opens 9am), pool/resort
Beaches and cream 1:10 pm
Halloween party 4p-12a
Make FP at MK after 3-4

Friday 10/23
Hollywood studios through lunch(9a-7p)
Make FP for HS 930-1230
Sci-fi cafe for lunch 1:25pm
Back to pool 2-5
Epcot in evening 6p (open till 10)
Illuminations 10p
Tokyo dining 8:30pm

Saturday 10/24
Animal kingdom in the morning(9a-6p)
Make FP at AK 10-1
Boma early dinner 5p
Explore Boardwalk, mini golf in evening or back to pool
Mini golf open until 11
Only night for wishes/electrical parade (9p, 10p)

Sunday 10/25
Magic kingdom AM(9a-7p)
Make FP 11-2
Be our guest lunch 12:15p
Pool break lunch
Epcot in evening, Le Celier 6:50p (open till 9)

Monday 10/26
Epcot before departure(breakfast) (opens 9)
Make FP early AM
Or sleep in, hit pool

Head to port canaveral, 65 minute drive
Turn in rental car, shuttle or taxi to terminal
Board cruise!
Check in starts 11am
Boarding 1p to 4p

 

[Chitownpeeps91]

What are the ages of the kids with you ? Doesn't seem like a lot of MK time.

 

[garywitt]

Ages are 13 and 9. I did struggle with that but felt that the Halloween party (4 to 12) and another 1/2 day would be enough. So tough because this is a shorter trip than normal for us, and kids love rock n roller and tower of terror as well as Everest, so can't skip HS or AK. Wife and I love Epcot and kids love test track so gotta build some time for that as well...

 

[sharonabe]

Illuminations at 10:00??? I didn't check the hours, but I've never seen Illuminations that late before. It's usually at 9:00 except during December when the Candlelight Processional pushes it back to 9:30.

 

[senadler]

If you are planning to stay at MNSSHP until 12 AM, you may want to make your FP+ a little later the next day in case you do not get up as early as planned.

 

[garywitt]

I know I was thrown by that too. I made my ADR initially based on a 9 time, but I confirmed twice on disneys website that it shows hours of world showcase until 10, and illuminations at 10. I thought it was weird too.

 

[Hootch]

Orlando rental car lots are notoriously bad. One trip with my family, we had reserved a challenger. They tried to give us a 12 passenger van. Another trip by myself they tried to give me a mini van instead of a compact car. (I was driving to the Tampa area also so it it was an issue.) At midnight I suspect you won't want to put up with too much.

 

[sharonabe]

I know I was thrown by that too. I made my ADR initially based on a 9 time, but I confirmed twice on disneys website that it shows hours of world showcase until 10, and illuminations at 10. I thought it was weird too.

You're right. It looks like there are several Fri and Sats in October that have 10:00 Illuminations.

 

[garywitt]

Thanks for the advice on rental cars. I haven't fully decided on that yet, but figured taking DME at 10:55 pm would be a hassle as well, we'd have to haul our own bags and possibly longer waits waiting for the bus to fill up. I wish we could land earlier but have to wait until kids are out of school to leave and fighting a 2 hour time change.

 

[ammag]

We are going after school ends for the day and getting in around 10:15 it stinks not being able to use the DME luggage service! We decided not to rent a car to save money. However both times we did rent a car I got GREATdeals thanks to the transportation board here and got an uograde to an DUv each time for free. Had a very positive experience with the car care center too. We arrived early in the day though so the night might be worse as another poster said.