bare bones itinerary- just begun..your thoughts

[mudnuri]

DH, myself DDx2 (6 & 7) 1st disney trip ever....Arriving Sunday- mid afternoon- about 2pm...leaving Saturday after checkout...here's what I've come up with so far.

Sunday-Mini golf prior to check in- then Down Town Disney- Dinner there..

Monday- Magic Kingdom- Parade, Characters, Pins..general explore...late lunch at park...snack/light dinner off-site

Tuesday-Epcot- PS Storybook Princess Character Breakfast, Passports, Explore - Character Bus...Lunch at park- depending on time of Breakfast- may shoot for late breakfast, eat dinner off site

Wednesday-MGM- late lunch off site- head back to MGM for evening..

Thursday- Epcot- Late lunch off site- DTD then MK for fireworks

Friday-MK- Leave early afternoon- around 2ish...head out for lunch on the way to gator land...spend afternoon in gatorland...dinner offsite

Saturday- Head to the outlets after check out- then head back north


All of our "off site's" may be at our hotel- or on Int Drive....our plan is to NOT plan our park days- just venture through the parks, as we know there is no way we will be able to do everything or even 1/2 of everything...

I have checked the schedule for EE, and these days Im at the park are the days they are NOT happening...if we happen to stay onsite and can take advantage of this- we may swap the days to accomodate those.....

Any thoughts idea's etc.... I am now onto the researching the vouchers, where to get, where to use etc.. since we will be having lunch many times in the parks...We also will be using one for the character breakfast at Epcot.

toss your ideas at me..

Brandy

 

[susy]

Brandy, I grew up in FL and have been to WDW too many times to remember. I've been 7 times with my DH and DS (he's 6).

Here are my sugestions:

First of all, when are you going? I recommend the off-season, if it's okay for the girls to miss school.

Secondly, try to stay onsite if at all possible. It makes SUCH a difference!!!

Our general day goes liek this: arrive at the parks super early-go back to our hotle for a swim/rest and then back to the parks at night, showered, rested and refreshed. This makes a HUGE difference. People that hang out until 3 or 4 look like death when they leave! Epcot works really well with our son at night. He is more agreeable towards the slower paced attractions at that time.

we usually do one sit-down meal per day and a few character meals during the trip are a must.

You may have to rent a double stroller. It's just too much walking over that many days. The kids could get blisters or leg cramps.


good luck with the planning!!!!!

 

[mudnuri]

I think I have made the general outline- and what happens inside that outline is what happens....If the girls or DH prefer to stay at our hotel during the day and skip a park, that's okay.

I am NOT the type of person to go on vacation and end up running myself or anyone else ragged...Vacation to me is just that, vacation...should the girls end up sleeping late and we get to a park later than the original plan- thats okay...if they decide they want to stay at Epcot all day- and not go on to something else, again- thats okay...

My girls are not "into" character meals..they originally thought they would sit down and eat with you- personally etc... once I explained how it worked, they said naaahhhhh we can go get more autographs instead...

A stroller- hmmmm hadn't really thought about that, I've seen people discuss that on here, however I can't imagine my children sitting in a stroller...again, I think this is where the open plan comes into play...if they are getting tired, we will go back to the hotel...Though I do still have my double jogging stroller from when they were A LOT lighter...I could bring it, since we will have the truck....I guess it wouldn't hurt..I can tell you there is no way they would fit comfortably in an umbrella stroller!

I have weighed the pro's and cons of staying on/off site, and to us, it's just not making financial sense to stay on site...like I said- I've planned my days for NON-EE days- to help with a lesser crowd... the $$ to stay onsite, at a moderate, I can stay at a 2 bedroom suite/vista for that, plus have a kitchen, and the all important COFFEE in the room when I wake up!....

We will be in "the world" from April 18th-24...Easter is early this year- it's the 11th, so I'm hoping that the crowds disperss a bit before our arrival..I did notice that all the disney resorts- go back to regular season on the 18th- peak ends on the 17th so that must mean I'm right on the crowds...

Thanks for your ideas!!!

Brandy

 

[susy]

You may get the tail end of spring breakers, but most spring breaks happen at least by Easter, right?

That's a good attitude you have. Most people feel like they have to get their money's worth. forget it! It's Disney. Try as you may, you will NEVER get your money's worth I think you guys will have a blast.

If you prefer a condo or suite w/kitchen there are really nice places offsite. Have you checked on the Orlando resorts board?

I am just the opposite. I live in a 2 bedroom condo in FL, so when I go on vacation, I don't want to see a kitchen!

Enjoy your vacation!!!!!!!

 

[Memaw2Wm]

My only suggestion is to buy the "Disney World for Kids by Kids" book for your daughters to look over.

Let them decide what they'd like to see at the various parks ... otherwise you may end up just aimlessly wandering around.

I'm definitely not a "commando", but I do like to have a general idea of what we want to do in each park ... so I ask each person they want to do and then try and work their favorites in. But we've skipped attractions if they're too crowded and usually leave the park between 12-2PM for a swim break and come back later in the afternoon.

We've even hit MK at 5:00PM and gotten on quite a few rides before they close the park at 6:00PM (we go off-season).

If you're looking for a kitchen, I suggest staying in a cabin at Fort Wilderness. We enjoy having the kitchen for quick breakfasts and sandwiches (lunch/dinner).