Can you share your Itinirary that your planning?

[lisaross]

I just want to see if i'm planning not enough or too much, so i'll start: This is our 1st family trip - its for my husbands 40th bday! We have two boys 4 & 6.

We'll be staying 8 nights - at CBR w/ Dining plan 7 day hopper passes (probably not using the hoppers unless last minute)

Sunday - arrival just changed flight and will now be arriving in Orlando airport about 11:45am - so thinking of DTD for Dnr at Wolf gang pucks? will this get us in the Disney spirit you think??

Monday- Epcot arrive for opening stay in FW do Soarin - Test trac and others lunch at 1:00pm Garden Grill then finish up in FW and go back to hotel for swim dnr bed.

Tuesday - MK arrive for opening - have lunch resrvations for Plaza and Dnr at CP - we'll see how the day goes if we're too hot and tied well skip out b4 dnr.

Wed- MGM - planning to arrive late morning so we can sleep in a bit and want to stay to see Fantasmic show. Eating at Sci-Fi thinking about a 1:00pm lunch and eat dnr while waiting for fantasmic how to start if we can hold out that late.

Thurs - was originally planning an off day - but i'm thinking maybe go to MK in the late afternoon for a few hours - maybe eat at CP if we don't make it on tuesday night.

Friday - AK for the day with dnr at Boma

Saturday - Chef Mickey at 5:30pm and planning to stay at MK for fireworks - If we don't hit MK on Thursday probably hit MK in the late morning if not probably late afternoon.

Sunday - Probably sleep in swim a bit eat lunch at hotel and head to Epcot in the late afternnon for Dnr at Coral Reef 6pm and walk around WS and stay for fireworks

Monday - pool till its time to hit the airport..............


I know everyone says take a break from the heat - but thats not our style -but we're flexible -

lisa

August family vacation

lisa

 

[winjos]

Wow-- that's jammed packed!

I have two little ones (5 & 2) and I've found out two things from our trips:

1) when we go back to the resort during the day from a park, we usually don't end up going back. (I'd say maybe 10% of time we end up back at the parks)

2) After one day at the park, we need one day off (at the resort pool or a water park).

Epcot is a FULL day that is exhausting! The park is large and there is a lot of walking!!

Animal Kingdom (although the biggest park area-wise), can be a light day. There are shows, rides, activities, etc. that give you a little break.

MK is a full day too.

MGM is a lighter day. There are shows and activities that give you a break.

Don't underestimate the power of standing in lines. Being on your fee all day can do a number on you!

IMHO, a lot of screaming kids at the parks are a result of families trying to cram everything into their trip and not scheduling enough down time.

My kids have been to WDW & DL often, so they are good about being on the go. However, they still need their down time (as do I ).

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[MyZoeJane]

I don't think it looks too packed at all! You are very wise to go in early and leave in the afternoon by dinner time (or after, if you have ADR's in the park).

A tip: Go directly to the farthest rides in the parks FIRST thing in the morning. Other people will start at the beginning and work their way around. You can avoid crowds and get in a lot of rides before the lines start!

Have fun!

 

[Minnie824]

I was trying to do a screen print of my schedule for you, but it didn't work...so, I'll just type it out. We're going in Nov with our DDs then aged 5 and 2.5. My schedule is similar to last years, when they were 4 and 1.5, slightly modified based on what we actually did. We were there for park openings, had lunch, back to resort to swim or nap, then out for dinner and night. We all needed the rest in the afternoon, and had no problem getting motivated to go out again later. They made it til about 9pm comfortably, 9:30, getting restless, one night out til 10pm, grumpy. Here's what we have for this year.

Day 1 - Arrive noonish
Dinner - Ohana, monorail to MK, do some rides

Day 2 - AK at opening, Tusker House lunch, back to rest around noon
4pm, leave for MK
Dinner Tonys Town Square, rides, Spectro, Wishes

Day 3 - Downtown Disney, Earl of Sandwich/McD's for DDs for lunch
back to rest around noon
4pm leave for Epcot, dinner Biergarten, stay for Illuminations

Day 4 - 8am Chef mickeys, then MK. Cosmic Rays lunch, back to rest
3pm leave for MGM...dinner (not sure yet) Osbourne lights, Fantasmic
MAYBE head over to MVMCP at 8:30 for an hour or so if kids are up to it

Day 5 - 9am Epcot. Lunch (not sure yet) back to rest around noon
4pm leave for MK, dinner at Crystal palace. Rides at MK

Day 6 - Cinderella breakfast 8am (hopefully). Lunch at the Plaza then back to rest.
Dinner at 5pm at Kona Cafe, then MK for MVMCP

Thats the extent of our schedule. It worked really well for us last time, as I said some minor adjustments. I didnt list all the specific rides, as well see whatever we can. Last year, we actually did everything on our list of to-do's and more with time to spare. Good luck planning! Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[beattyfamily]

Just some of my random thoughts based on my opinion, preference and experience.

I have two girls 6 and 9 now.

I do not plan off days...I LOVE Disney too much. I may take it easier on one or two days (getting up late or finishing the day early) but I don't skip the parks altogether.

We love doing the EMH in the mornings especially at MK. I love to leave by 12:00p and rest then head to a different park in the evening (thus the Hoppers).

I avoid MK on Saturdays...unless its the only night to catch Spectro/Wishes.

On my first day, I couldn't get to WDW early in the day and NOT do a park!!! MK is usually our first park if possible as it IS Disney to us.

I do not schedule a sit down lunch and dinner in the same day; it's just too much food too close together and too much time away from the parks. But we have done a breakfast and dinner in the same day.

I LOVE having the hoppers and couldn't live without them.

We LOVE Fantasmic and always plan it for one night on our trip (another good reason to have hoppers sometimes)

AK can be done in half a day so we usually end up hopping on an AK day. We only go for the Safari, Lion King Show and now EE.

We've done MGM in one day staying till Fantasmic but its very tiring. We usually do early entry and get the big rides done, go and rest and do a different park at night...then schedule Fantasmic a different night (after having done a different park in the AM).

MK takes at least 2 days to see the most popular rides/attractions. We visit Mk at least 3 times usually starting our trip with it and ending our trip wtih it and once in the middle. My kids LOVE MK.

Epcot also takes a couple of days to do. I like doing early entry there for the big rides and then take a break and do a different park at night or just rest that night; then we go back to Epcot another day for World Showcase. Epcot is a tiring park too!

Have fun planning!!!

 

[lisaross]

I was thinking of hitting MK on our 1st evening BUT its an Evening magic hours night and i'm afriad it will be soooooooooo crowded.. So i figure i'm just going to unpack let the kids enjoy the park and pool and just stay at CBR for dnr.

AS for AK, i'm planning on getting there at opening - my kids love animals i have dnr reservations at Boma for 6:00pm do you think its too late - meaning will i be done with AK way b4?? we are not going on EE but thought the 4pm parade would be nice for the kids??????????

 

[clownchk]

We are travelling in August with myself, DH and our 3 kids, DD 5 1/2, DD will be 4 next month and DS will be 1 next month. Here is our Plan:

Arrive Sunday around 11:30 AM at MCO , stash bags and head for MGM. 3:40 PSR at 50's Prime time (Will buy kids' meal, and use our "Free dining" for us)
Take it easy and hopefully make it to Fantasmic, no biggy if we just need to go and crash (MK has evening EMH)

Monday (AK has early EMH)
8:10 AM CP breakfast.
Haircut for the boy on mainstreet. Hit Adventureland, then toontown then have a couple snacks before heading back to resort for swimming/ down time. head back to MK (Evening EMH at MGM) for Share a dream come true Parade (3PM) Dinner at Cosmic Rays and take it easy until Spectromagic at 9PM then Wishes at 10.

Tuesday (EPCOT has Early EMH)
Animal Kindgom for "lazy day" Early lunch at Flame Tree.
Hopfully make it to 4 PM (If we need to head back to the resort, this is OK, TOO!) Jungle Parade then go directly to Chef Mickey's for 6:10 ADR.

No Evening EMH may go to Fantasmic if didn't get to see it on Sunday and if we are not too tired, or head to Epcot if we saw Fantasmic already.

Wednesday (no Early EMH)
SLEEP IN! LOL!
head to Epcot 11:30 ADR at Le Cellier. See and DO until we tire, then resort time for a bit before coming back to see Illuminations.
(AK open late)

Thursday (MK early EMH, so may do that then head out to DTD)
Epcot for a bit, then head to DTD around noonish. Lunch at Puck's express. PLay at Lego land and let the girls shop a bit then 3:10 ressy's for Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique for both girls before heading to 5:40 ADR's at Park Fare.

Back to MK for Spectro and Wishes again if we want. No evening EMH

Friday, (no early EMH)
CHeck out, stow carry ons at front desk.
9AM ADR at Cape May. Head for whatever we decide we have to do again before we leave.

Leave about 3:30 for flight home at 7. *sigh*

Saturday SLeep for as long as we need to, head to grocery store for staples to last us until I can do a "real" shop, do laundry. Sunday Church then to "the river" (We belong to a water ski show team and usually spend our entire weekends here) for a lazy Sunday.

Monday back to reality for DH and I

~Elena

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Cast: me, DH, DD15, my friend, her DD8

Saturday
morn - n/a
after – arrive 3:15pm at MCO
eve - possibly, Epcot, Flower & Garden Festival, IllumiNations (9:00)

Sunday
morn – Disney Studios, Star Wars Weekend
after - Disney Studios, Star Wars Parade (11:00), 50's PrimeTime (1:30),
eve - Magic Kingdom (EMH), Spectromagic (9:00), Wishes (10:00)

Monday
morn - free
after - Animal Kingdom, Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade (4:00), Rainforest Cafe (5:00)
eve - Animal Kingdom (EMH)

Tuesday
morn - Chef Mickey's (10:00)
after - Sea World
eve - Sea World

Wednesday
morn - Cape May Cafe (8:30), Epcot
after - Disney Studios, Stars & Motorcars Parade (5:30)
eve - Disney Studios (EMH), Fantasmic (9:00)

Thursday
morn - possibly Magic Kingdom (EMH)
after - Epcot, Teppanyaki (3:30)
eve - Epcot (EMH), IllumiNations (9:00)

Friday
morn - possibly Disney Studios (EMH)
after - Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace (2:10), Share a Dream Come True Parade (3:00)
eve - Magic Kingdom (EMH), Spectromagic (9:00), Wishes (10:00)

Saturday
morn - possibly Animal Kingdom (EMH)
after - depart MCO from 4:50pm
eve - n/a

Breaks are planned on another daily itinerary I have in business card form, along with ADR confirmation numbers.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Great tips everyone!!!

 

[ChristusG]

We leave on the 21st of this month and here's what I have planned so far:

Sunday: arrive in the afternoon, check into the POP, explore the hotel, ressies for Chef Mickey's at 8:30. I want to leave a bit early (it's a surprise for DH and DD(2) and either take the bus or park at the transportation and ticket center and then take the monorail over to the Contemporary for the character dinner.

Monday: Universal and Islands of Adventure since we have free tickets.

Tuesday: Free day. We will go hotel hopping and do different fun things at the different Disney resorts. That night we will meet family for dinner.

Wednesday: MGM Studios. Stay all day, even for extra magic hours at night.

Thursday: Sea World since we have free tickets. We wont stay there all day, so we will go to DTD that evening. Probably do a Mickey D's dinner that night.

Friday: Check out of the hotel. DH thinks we are heading home, but I have other plans LOL!! I have another hotel booked for two more nights....I couldnt get the POP for those next two nights. That day we will just hang out, swim, whatever.

Saturday: MK all day long.

Sunday: check out and head home

 

[mugsy]

Our trip later this month, for me, my wife & 5 year old son:

Day 1 (Sat): Arrive MCO 2:30pm. Check into HGVC Int'l drive, swim, relax. Dinner: WC; possible journey to MK to do a few rides & see fireworks (depends on stamina of son).

Day 2 (Sun): AK at opening. Ride Safari, EE, Triceratops Spin, playtime in the Boneyard. On our previous trips to DW, we found that playtime helped our son acclimate to the excitement of being at DW. Dinner: Planet Hollywood (we have coupons), wander DT Disney.

Day 3 (Mon): EPCOT. Ride Soarin', TT, see Turtletalk, ride Journey to Imagination. Lunch at Biergarten, wander worlds, do Kidscot activities. Dinner: Chefs de France, see Illuminations.

Day 4 (Tues): Off day -- no parks. Possible Blizzard Beach day; otherwise, hang out at pool and shop. Evening: drop off son at GF Mouseketeer club, go to our 10th Ann. dinner at V&A.

Day 5 (Wed): MK day. Do Fantasyland rides, Buzz & Cars in Futureworld, Toontown, Adventureland rides, Splash mountain. Dinner at CP; see fireworks and parades.

Day 6 (Thurs): MGM day. Ride RnR (me), Movie Ride, Star Tours, Muppet 3D, maybe Indy, maybe TT; see Beauty and the Beast show, Playhouse Dis, Mermaid, WWTBAM; allow for time at the HISTK playground (a must). Dinner: Brown Derby Fantasmic package.

Day 6 & Day 7 morning are open days for repeats at parks (MK, Epcot). Leave MCO at 5:30 pm.

These are guidelines, not goals. We will probably leave one or two parks early for a break. Planning is great, but you shouldn't be a slave to it.

 

[lisaross]

at one of the Deluxe hotels for a mini-camp so my DH and i can do a dnr alone?

anyone have info on this?? my kids are 4 & 6??? thanx..........

lisa

 

[gottalovethem]

Hi. You certainly want to play it by ear and allow some free time. Park hopping can be tough with the buses and the walking.

Check out the trip reports to get some more ideas. I went recently with three munchkins - 4 and under and you can visit the trip report (I'm almost done with it) http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1104505

Have fun, take lots of pictures and enjoy yourselves!

 

[belle&beast]

We went in January with DD4 and DS turned 2 on our trip. My parents and sister also joined us, but took days to go to the ocean and relaxed at their condo. Here is our itinerary from the trip:
Sat: arrive at POR at 5:00PM. Grab a snack at POR and head to MK for Spectromagic and Wishes
Sun: Epcot- Spent time in Future World then to ADR for PSL at 1:30 and spent rest of the time in WS. Shared a dinner at the CS in Mexico. We ended up going back to POR before Illuminations- it was very crowded and we could not find a place to sit with our kids.
Mon: MGM- Playhouse Disney first thing! Found Buzz and Woody just in time for our ADR at Mama Melrose at 1:00. Played in the playground, met Jojo and Goliath and rode a few rides. Then we grabbed burgers at CS to watch Fantasmic.
Tues: MK-Spent the day doing all the kid stuff!!! ADR for CP at 6:30
Wed: DD had princess tea at GF with me, DS and DH went to check out DVC. Met in Epcot for Soarin' and headed to MK for parade and more rides. ADR at CRT at 6:00
Thurs: AK- lunch at a CS and headed back to my parent's condo for pizza for dinner.
Fri: DS's 2nd birthday! MK- ADR at CP for 9:30, went to Epcot to purchase photopass CD (now I have read that it can be purchased at Toontown) and to finally see Turtle Talk with Crush and back to MK for shopping ADR at 7:00 at CM.

When I look back this looks crazy! But we really had a good time and keep in mind that the parks close early, so our kids were in bed at a decent time every night. We also had the dining plan which was wonderful and forced me to plan ahead.

 

[eeyoregon]

You mean we're supposed to have an itinerary??

Guess I'm more the spontaneous type. Just got back from my 6th visit to the parks and had a blast, as usual. Of course my kids are older and we have been multiple times so we don't hvae to plan quite as much - we know what we like and skip the rest.

Have to say that I am a BIG fan of the extra late magic hours!! We closed down Magic Kingdom Sunday night and were able to ride dozens of rides over and over in just 3 hours!! Plus we were officially the last guests to ride Pirates of the Caribbean before it closed for renovation at 1:00 AM!

Happy planning

 

[mollyseven]

I notice alot of people go to 2 parks in one day...is there a reason for this?
We have 7 day parkhopper etc passes but with my anal thinking I have planned for us to do 1 park per day. and don't know why we would hop unless the kids are bored and wanna go back to another one they liked better....even on days when we break in the afternoon for a swim/rest at the resort I have planned to go back to the resort we started the day off at.
I have booked ADR's at the park I plan on starting at...is this wrong?
Sunday - arrive mco 915am Pop by 11ish check in drop off stuff and head to mgm for star wars stuff....420adr Mamma Melrose for early dinner...we will have been up since before 4am. early night
Monday- planned epcot with 630 adr at coral reef. I was thinking we would go 1st thing and possibly break for 2 hours back to resort and be back at epcot for dinner and finish with illuminations.
Tuesday - Mk...same thing start early break and ADR 650 CRT. stay for spectro and wishes.
Wednesday - Off site have a car rental booked for the day to take the kids to cocoa beach and orlando site seeing.
Thursday- planned Epcot again ..get a late start today and have Le cellier booked for 130pmlunch (couldn't get dinner) and probably just stay the rest of the day...maybe not stay for fireworks tonight and go back to resort for a swim before bed
Friday- Big MGM Star Wars day!!! Have ADR for Hollywood/Vine Fantasmic pkg at 620pm.
Saturday- Thought we'd do MK again but maybe we should be going to DTD this day???? Have ADR for Chef Mickey's at 520pm
Sunday- flight home is at 6pm so we'll have ME about 3pm and I thought we'd do DTD this day but maybe should switch to MK??

Am I wrong to think this way??? We;ve never been so I don't really have any idea what Im doing....
Opinions on the choice of sat/sun MK and DTD....which order.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Family of four, two daughters 9 and 15, MYW w/plus options and dining plan. May 31-June 7th.

May 31st- Travel day. Arrive 3pm. Downtown Disney. Disney Quest and Earl of Sandwich for dinner.

June 1-
Magic Kingdom 8-2
Epcot 3-1am (or whenever we decide to end the day)

Lunch- Cosmic Rays Dinner- LeCellier


June 2-
MGM 8-2
Pool time 2:30-4:30
Magic Kingdom 5pm-1am (or again, whenever we call it a day)

Lunch-Sci Fi Dinner- Crystal Palace


June 3-
Animal Kingdom 8-3:30
Pool time- 4:00-5:30
Downtown Disney-Disney Quest

Breakfast- Donalds Breakfasauras Lunch- Tusker House Dinner- Planet Hollywood


June 4-
Epcot 8-5
MGM- 8-10

Lunch- Teppanyaki Dinner- Cape May Buffet


June 5- Sea World


June 6-
Pool day, laundry, pick up rental car
Epcot 4:30-10:00

Dinner- Rose and Crown

We will then head up to Wilmington, NC for a few days. When we get back to Disney, we'll have two more full days..but those are not planned and will be spent doing water parks, favorite parks, maybe another Sea World day...whichever the girls want.

 

[JuneDisney]

Hey Lisaross, I'm a first timer too, going with DH and 2 DS (4 and7).
We will be at CBR in June for a 5 night trip. Here's my itinerary:

June 9: Arrive at MCO at 11:18am. Plan to head straight to Epcot after check in. Dinner at 7pm at Restaurant Marrakesh, Illuminations at 9, after head back to resort.

June 10: Birthday Breakfast for Ds-7 at chef Mickey's at 10am then head to MK till we are worn out. Counter service dinner.

June 11: Be at AK for opening. Stay till 1pm. Head back to resort, swim,nap.
Dinner at Wolfgang Pucks Cafe at 7:30. Either shop before or after depending on nap time.

June 12: MGM day. May or may not go for EMH in the morning. Head back around 12:30. Lunch at resort, swim, nap. Head back to MGM around 4:30, dinner at H & V fantasmic package. Fantasmic at 9pm.

June 13: Pirate Cruise for boys at 9:15 at CBR. Relax, relax, relax....
After boys get back swim, etc..... Head to MK for the rest of the night and catch Spectromagic and Wishes.

June 14: Go home

 

[homemaker]

Day 1 check into FW cabins, goto store and just relax after long 2 day drive
Day 2 maybe MK for ds 1st haircut or see doodlebops at MGM. Dinner at Hoop Dee Doo
Day 3 AK for the day- no PS plans today
Day 4 MK breakfast at CRT and dinner at CP. Do 1st haircut if we didn't do it on day 2.
Day 5 Epcot breakfast at Boatwrights(love it) and dinner at Teppanyaki dining rm.
Day 6 Pirate cruise at GF and later MGM for Mickey mouse magic show and dinner at 50's prime time
Day 7 MK breakfast CM's and dinner at LTT
Day 8 waterpark not sure which one yet
Day 9 MGM breakfast with playhouse disney at H&V and dinner Fantasmic dinner package also at H&V. Have to see the WIGGLES!
Day 10 breakfast at WC and then where ever the boys want to go
Day 11 check out maybe do alittle shopping

Well that's the plan, I think we've got it covered.

 

[JuneDisney]

"MGM for Mickey mouse magic show"

what's this?? Where is it at, at MGM?