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[DisneyMom2000000]

So, half the fun for me is simply planning a Disney trip...

A bit about us: the two of us, our daughters (1&3), and my parents (in their 50's)

The adults have been to Disney many times but many is definitely not enough. There are still things we haven't done, and Disney has taken on a whole new form with bringing small children. We love it. We have weekday annual passes. We travel to Disney by car.

This trip is during the 2nd week of December (10-17).

Saturday: Arrive in Orlando. We have Chef Mickey's reservations around 1 but not sure if we will keep those because I stumbled on Cape May breakfast reservations (Sunday) and people seem to like the food at Cape May more.. and food is important to us. Check in at condo rental at Windsor Hills (hopefully early, will confirm before trip). Head down to Disney's Boardwalk. None of us have been before! Explore the area. Have dinner at Trattoria al Forno -- is this kid friendly? Head back to condo.

Sunday: Cape May Cafe breakfast reservations at 9:30 -- if we skip Chef Mickey's Saturday. Head to Disney Springs. Meet Santa Claus. Do some shopping. Other ideas???

Monday: Epcot. Go to Epcot and exchange certificates for new annual passes for the grandparents (What's the earlier we can do this?!?!). PPO ADR at Akershus at 8:10. Eat, go straight to new Frozen ride -- because I doubt we will get Fast Passes for it. Meet Anna & Elsa. Head over to Test Track so the adults who want to ride it can. We are planning to Fast Pass Soarin. Not sure what else to Fast Pass because last time we came with the little kids Fast Passes seemed kind of pointless. Suggestions welcome?! The 3 year old will most likely not ride Soarin' even though she may be over 40", I think the height will scare her.

Tuesday: Magic Kingdom at Rope Drop. This will be day 1 of 2 at MK. Thinking about spending the whole day in Fantasyland. No ADRs this day. We'll make Fast Passes for attractions in Fantasyland, probably for mid-day since we will get there early in the morning. If we don't get 7 Dwarfs Mine Train FP then we will head straight for it because non of us have ridden it. I don't know that the 3 year old will go on it, she's tall enough now but the Brainstormer scared her when she was 2.5. We will probably stay at the parks till 3 or so.

Wednesday: Hollywood Studios. No ADRs. Thinking it will be a short day. Will Fast Pass Toy Story I believe, and the adults who want to ride Rockin' Roller Coaster will go to it first. Adults will also Fast Pass Tower of Terror. Suggestions for 3rd Fast Pass? We didn't really seem to need them for the Disney Junior and Frozen shows last time we came.

Thursday: Day 2 of MK. Hit the other parts of the park. We have lunch BOG ADR at 11:00. Super excited about that. Still have to decide on FP.

Friday: Animal Kingdom! Probably will use FP for adults for Dinosaur & Everest.. not sure about 3rd FP. Maybe Nemo or Lion king? Suggestions? We have ADR for Yak and Yeti lunch.

***I know we don't use FP a lot for the rides for the toddlers, but it doesn't seem like they are really necessary for many of the little kid attractions, with the exception of Pooh and Peter Pan in Fantasyland. Thoughts? We have never done rider swap so may use that some. Not sure.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

***Also, we have never traveled to Disney with more adults than kids before. So, we are excited to be able to do more grown up attractions and also maybe take turns heading out at night. Each of our Disney days with the kids will end around 3... so adults have the options of going back to the parks at bedtime to eat or see fireworks. Our kids just can't stay up late enough for that yet. Ideas for adults at night time would be great.

 

[sharonabe]

I'm going to echo your own advice to cancel Chef Mickey and do Cape May instead. I think the character interaction is better at Cape May, but the biggest reason is you have CM on your arrival day. YOUR plan is to get there by 1:00, but you never know what might happen on the road, so even if driving from nearby, I would be more comfortable with a next day ADR.

As for your FP quandry, if you think you won't use that 2nd or 3rd one, make it for something really early. Once the time for that FP comes and you've used the one(s) you really need, you can make another FP reservation for the Tier 1 attractions if they are available. Does that make sense?

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

We love Cape May, great characters AND the crepes with mascarpone cheese are amazing! Made fresh to order. Yum and yum!
Less hectic than CM (not liking CM much these days!)

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

I'm going to echo your own advice to cancel Chef Mickey and do Cape May instead. I think the character interaction is better at Cape May, but the biggest reason is you have CM on your arrival day. YOUR plan is to get there by 1:00, but you never know what might happen on the road, so even if driving from nearby, I would be more comfortable with a next day ADR.

As for your FP quandry, if you think you won't use that 2nd or 3rd one, make it for something really early. Once the time for that FP comes and you've used the one(s) you really need, you can make another FP reservation for the Tier 1 attractions if they are available. Does that make sense?

That makes total sense!! Thanks for the FP advice. Somehow I did forget about safaris for AK so I have to add that to my plan!!

 

[scrapquitler]

You can take care of the annual pass activation for the grandparents at either Disney Springs while you are there on Sunday, or walk over to the Epcot International Gateway from the Boardwalk while you are there on Saturday. Then you won't be wasting park time on Monday taking care of it.

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

You can take care of the annual pass activation for the grandparents at either Disney Springs while you are there on Sunday, or walk over to the Epcot International Gateway from the Boardwalk while you are there on Saturday. Then you won't be wasting park time on Monday taking care of it.

One of the grandparents will not be with us Sunday because he wants to go visit a family member but they will both be with us Saturday, so that makes most sense. What is the Epcot International Gateway???

 

[scrapquitler]

One of the grandparents will not be with us Sunday because he wants to go visit a family member but they will both be with us Saturday, so that makes most sense. What is the Epcot International Gateway???

It's the alternate entrance to Epcot that is close to the Boardwalk Resort. When you enter Epcot from there, you end up right over by Canada and UK in the World Showcase instead of all the way at the front of the park. It's only a few minutes walk from the Boardwalk area, on the side over by the ESPN restaurant.

 

[Princess_Kirky]

You could use a 3rd FP at Epcot for the M&G, same with AK and even for one at MK... Meeting meeting the characters can be a blast!

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

You could use a 3rd FP at Epcot for the M&G, same with AK and even for one at MK... Meeting meeting the characters can be a blast!

Thats a good idea!

We just felt like a lot of the FastPasses were kind of a waste on my 3 year old