Could you Dis vets help out a rookie w/her itinerary?

[Perrier]

Hi! I'm reading here all the time, so there's just no time to post! This will be the first trip to WDW for my family. I'm a planner by nature & always plan all our trips, but I'm finding that I almost want to not go b/c of the overwhelming info & reserving in advance for this & that & when to go here & when to go there! I get a headache just thinking about it. Irregardless, after months of indecision & confusion (& headaches) I think I've finally figured out an itinerary that will work for us. Going will be me, DH, DS6, DD6:

Day 1, Sat - Arrive in Orlando 1:40. Just wingin' it for the evening.
Day 2, Sun - MGM at opening until 5:00 parade, then pool/resort, then Downtown Disney
Day 3, Mon - AK (EMH) til whenever, pool/resort (if don't stay at AK til closing), MK Spectro & Wishes
Day 4, Tues - EP (EMH) til whenever in the afternoon, pool/resort
Day 5, Wed - pool/resort, EP early evening & Illuminations & EMH
Day 6, Thurs - MK (EMH) til whenever in the afternoon, pool/resort
Day 7, Fri - pool/resort, AK for 4:00 parade & EMH
Day 8 - leave too early to do anything at WDW

I don't have any ADRs yet, as I was waiting to make up my mind about what days we'll be where.

So, what do you Disney professional goers think of what I've planned? Please be gentle, I'm in a fragile state w/all this crazy planning!

Thanks a bunch!

 

[beattyfamily]

My first reaction to your plan is I'm surprised you are waiting 6 days till you head to MK. I also would try to fit in a bit more time at MK. It's a great park but takes a couple of days to see it all.

Also, I don't know if you know this or not but EMH evenings are VERY crowded. Mornings are much better.

It's great that you put lots of pool/rest time though.

It's also great that you are fitting in Spectro/Wishes.

If you have hoppers, I'd go back to MGM one night for the Fastasmic show; maybe Tues or Thurs?

For us we spend ALOT of time in MK, then MGM, then Epcot and lastly, AK. MK takes us at least 2 half days, usually more. We usually go to MGM a couple of times. Epcot takes a couple of days. AK can be a quick park; we can do it in half a day.

I prefer EMH mornings to evenings, especially at MK. You can get so much done in the first 3 hours. I also usually do EMH at MGM and Epcot.

Have fun planning and I hope I didn't confuse you more. I just wanted to give you my thoughts.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Okay.....I got to agree with beatyfamily. You should definitely fit more MK in for the beginning part of the trip with two six year olds who have never been to WDW before. I would definitely take advantage of the EMH for the MK mornings. You can get alot done in the first two hours.

 

[rigs32]

You should also consider popping over to MGM at the end of a day to see Fantasmic.

 

[jann1033]

not sure what month you are going but i 'd switch days 5 ( mk allday) and 6 but still go to mk for emh am then head to epcot for the afternoon and evening.

and if you aren't going during the blazing hot season it's a lot of pool time to me

if you are going in summer, i am guessing you have park hoppers? if so i'd definitely do an evening at Mk( wasn't sure it you were just going for wish/spectro)...it just seems different after dark.. also we like the ws especially at night. since your kids are little, if they'd nap some, i'd definitely see illuminations, fantasmic and wishes/spectro and do some evenings in the parks

 

[MEK]

I like your plans, but agree with the previous posters. There is nothing like going to MK early in your trip, especially with 6 year olds! I always plan MK early in my trip because seeing the castle puts that "lump" in my throat.

As far as trying to plan for all the EMH's - you may want to skip some. Depending on when you are going, the EMH park can be the most crowded. I went to one Morning EMH and got there at 8:15 and the park with sooooo crowded. I prefer to enter the park at 9am so I don't have to get my kids up so early. It gets harder and harder to wake kids up as the trip goes on, so do the morning EMH's early in your trip.

You see the most if you get to every park early. All the parks start getting crowded by 11 - 12pm. Take your pool break in the afternoon and go back to the park at night. This is especially true if it is HOT.

Have a great time!!!!!

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Max is my favorite cat!

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[miss missy]

couple quick things I am in a rush. Not sure how many tic you have, but I would go to MK the 1st night for sure! ALWAYS do that here and get our trip going, must must do that if you can! It is just sooo cool to walk up main street and know you are just starting your magical vacation!

Ok, also... make dining ressies that do not cost a fee 1st. dont be afraid of not getting your plans right, it takes a coupple trips to plan right but it NEVER makes a bad trip becuz you missed a detail.

My 1st trip, I only did 1 dining ressie, it was fine too. we were so winging the trip and just going with the flow, it is kinda hard to say what park we felt like on what day... we just went with what we felt and it was fine... so dont get all planning crazy. Oh and I am a BIG planner too... but with WDW, its about carefree fun!!!

Any ?'s PM me, I know I will think of more later

big tip lol I have is make the tip envelopes out at home and fill em with candy and the tip and seal... so nice to have them ready each day, makes it a breeze! gosh sorry gotta run for now.

 

[AnninIowa]

I personally think your Day 2 is a little long for two 6-year-olds - MGM doesn't have nearly enough to keep you guys there from opening till close, then back to pool, and THEN DTD. I'd say plan for an MGM morning, then relax at the pool in the afternoon and head to DTD for dinner and shopping. I'm a rookie, too - my first trip was last October. I was also overwhelmed with the planning and the reservations for everything - just know that you can't see it all so just focus on your "must do's" and let the rest just happen. Half your time is spent walking, on the Disney transporation or waiting in line...so you don't have as much "time" as you think!

 

[Perrier]

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate it. Some minor adjustments to my schedule & I think I'm good to good to go.

I've really learned alot on this board. Thanks everyone! Good gravy, how did we ever plan a vacation w/o the internet?

 

[mrzrich]

We could help you more if you gave us your dates and where you're staying.
Touring in July is very different from touring in September.

I agree that you'll need more time at MK with six year old on their first visit.

 

[sjcmi]

Hi, First of all RELAX, you are going to be on vacation not a conquest. If you go with a "we have to see everything" attitude you are going to end up exhausted and unhappy.

A couple of quick questions, when are you going? What kind of tickets do you have, and for how many days? Where are you staying?

I have been going to Disney World since '73. For the past 14 years about every other year. I research the parks alot. We have even been there for 10 days with ultimate park hopper tickets and still didn't do everything we intended, did we still have a blast?....you bet.

For being your first trip I think you are getting over-stressed. One thing that might help is pick a park for each day. We ALWAYS start at the Magic Kingdom, even if its just for the evening. The Magic Kingdom just puts you in the "Disney" frame of mind. If your tickets allow, consider going on your first day there and stay for Wishes. If you find that you are done with a park and still have the energy then you can go to either EPCOT or MGM Studios for the evening. If you are pooped out, go back to your room.

You also might want to consider going to at least one of the water parks, if you have to go to just one, make it Typhoon Lagoon.

Go ahead and e-mail me at sjcohoon@yahoo.com with more questions, and really just relax, no matter how much or how little planning you do now you will still have a great time.

 

[Perrier]

Hi!

OK. We're going Sept 9-16 (free dining!!). We have park hoppers. We're staying at CSR. My family is good w/just a framework of a schedule. Everyone else (in my family) is much more spontaneous that I am.

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm just aggravated that it takes so much to plan a Disney trip. I'm definitely not feelin' the magic...yet. I'll feel better once I get this itinerary planned. Then....I'm not going to think about this trip for a while. I'm also planning a trip in June (not Disney), which is already booked for just me & DH. So, my head is just spinning w/vacation info!

.......breathe......

 

[mrzrich]

I hate to put more pressure on you, but since you are going during free dining, you need to make some ADR's ASAP! It's a good idea to have one TS ADR per day, if you choose not to use it, that's okay (except for pre-paid)

Get your tentative itinerary done and then chose restaurants in those parks or in resorts convenient to that days plans..

Without ADR's during free dining you may find yourself wasting TS credits on CS.

By the way, you will feel the magic when you walk up to a restaurant and are escorted almost immediately to your table as others stand grumbling at the podium. Your DH will look at you and thank you for all the planning as his free steak arrives at the table

 

[Alexa19]

Perrier,

I agree with some of the other posters.... it's a vacation. I know you probably want to see and do everything, but it won't be possible. Take your time and enjoy yourself. Depending on how you and your family are feeling, your plans can always change. Just remember that everything can be flexible!!! Having the Parkhopper is great!!!

Going to the Early Morning Magic hours for Animal Kingdom is absolutely wonderful. If you can, the first thing to do is go on the Kilmajoro (can't spell it correctly) Safari first thing and get a fast pass for a second time (and maybe a third). We waited no more than 10 minutes at that time and it is a long ride where you get to see the animals. It really is the best ride there and for some reason, it seems like there are more animals out in the morning (I guess before it gets too hot).

I agree with the others and would probably spend more time at Magic Kingdom.

Absolutely do not stress about the dining. I know it is overwhelming on these boards, but you really can be flexible and reservations for dining are really easy to cancel. What I normally do is make reservations for 3-4 nights with some of the more difficult restaurants to get in to and if we end up not wanting to go there or if plans change, we cancel. Really, I would recommend that if you want to eat at places like Cinderellas Royal Table or Le Cellier, I would try and book in advance. With that being said, other people change their reservations all the time too so if you want to try and make a reservation the night before or the day of, you may luck out with some of the busier restaurants. There are loads of excellent places to eat and there may be days you are really tired and just want to kick back and eat at the resort. My last trip to Disney, I went in August with the free dining and ate everywhere we wanted to (some reservations booked in advance, some the day we were there, some nights we just walked in).

Enjoy yourself and have a wonderful vacation!