Critique a newbie's itinerary please!

[Castillo Mom]

Good morning! It's 4:19 a.m. out here on the West Coast and I'm too hyper to sleep, so I thought I'd do some DISing for a few minutes. I finally finished most of our itinerary and would like you WDW vets to give me a critique. I still have the last 2 days open and I'm not sure whether to leave them as is or plan those as well. My husband is not the planner that I am and is in fact irritated that I'm even doing an itinerary, so I'm trying to allow for a tiny bit of flexibility. I also decided not to do EMH every day because I think it may be pushing things a bit. I'm doing EMH for the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. I think it's safe to not do it for Epcot or MGM, but if your opinions differ, please let me know and why. If you have have suggestions, I'd sure welcome them. Here goes:

Friday 8/13/04: Arrive in Orlando at about 6:30 p.m. Take complimentary shuttle to Embassy Suites Orlando Airport. Have dinner nearby and hit the hay early.

Saturday 8/14/04: Get up early and have breakfast at the hotel. FL Tours limo to pick us up at 7:30 a.m. Arrive at the Beach Club, check in. Take a quick tour of the resort. Head to Epcot. Come back to the resort for swim/rest. 5:30 PS at Cape May Cafe for dinner. Back to Epcot to do Illuminations Cruise (secured reservations this morning which is what has me so hyper ).

Sunday 8/15/04: EMH at Magic Kingdom. 12:00 p.m. lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern. Return to resort for swim/rest. Not sure where we're having dinner. Evening can be spent at the Boardwalk or Downtown Disney, maybe PI for the adults.

Monday 8/16/04: MGM. Lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In. If we're tired and cranky we can go back to the resort to rest. Will go back to MGM for dinner at Hollywood and Vine/Fantasmic dinner pkg.

Tuesday 8/17/04: Blizzard Beach for as long as we can stand it, probably until around 2:00 or 3:00. Go back to resort to rest/change. Dinner at Planet Hollywood. I've left the evening somewhat open. We can go to PI if we didn't go on Sunday.

Wednesday 8/18/04: 9:30 a.m. breakfast at Chef Mickey. Disney Quest for most of the day. 5:30 p.m. dinner at 'Ohana, then Magic Kingdom again (hopefully E-ride night).

Thursday 8/19/04: Typhoon Lagoon for most of the day. Not sure where to have dinner. Epcot in the evening.

Friday 8/20/04: EMH at Animal Kingdom. 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. dinner at Boma. Evening at the Magic Kingdom for Spectro and Wishes (E-ride night if not done on Wednesday).

Saturday 8/21/04: Breakfast at Cape May Cafe. Any suggestions on what to do today?

Sunday 8/22/04: Our last full day! Need suggestions for today too.

Monday 8/23/04: Check out of the BC. Limo transfer at 7:30 a.m. to the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal. IOA. If I can tear the kids away from the park we can go back to the hotel for a swim or we can swim after IOA since the parks close earlier this time of year. Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe.

Tuesday 8/24/04: Universal Studios. Dinner at Pastamore'.

Wednesday 8/25/04: Hit both parks. Dinner at Margaritaville.

Thursday 8/26/04: Pick up rental from Alamo. Check out of HRH. Head to Miami for a 4 day stay.

Sunday 8/29/04: Time to go home! Return rental at MCO. Flight leaves at 7:10 p.m.

I forgot to mention that we'll have UPH passes, so we can come and go as we please. I had wanted to eat at Whispering Canyon, so maybe I can fit that in on the 21st or 22nd. If anyone has any other dining suggestions, feel free to fire away. Thanks!

 

[kilee]

Obviously w/o the park hours it's hard to finalize everything. So far it's looking great as well as flexible.

 

[zippehsmom]

Looks great! Congrats on getting your Illuminations cruise. It looks like you have built a lot flexibility into your schedule.

If you DH doesn't really like Itineraries on vacation at least leave the last day open so that you guys can just play it by ear. Especially since you have UPH's you might decide to redo all favorites at each park on that last day.

YOu will absolutely love FOTL at Universal. We went in Aug. 02 and was able to ride all major attractions at IOA all before noon. It was absolutely great. I like the idea of going to Miami for 4 days. I'll have to try and arrange that for our next big trip to WDW (hopefully I can sneak a small one in before our next big trip in '06)

Once again great plan, Looks like you guys are going to have a great trip.

zippehsmom

 

[dylansdad]

sounds great

can we come too?

 

[Disneyfreaknjw]

i think you should go to emh at mgm insted of ak or go to both other tha that it sounds great!!!!! have fun!!

 

[Tiziminchac]

Originally posted by Castillo Mom


Thursday 8/19/04: Typhoon Lagoon for most of the day. Not sure where to have dinner. Epcot in the evening.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned! My only suggestion would be to try and eat at a World Showcase restaurant on this night. Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco or Teppanyaki in Japan would be my recommendations. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Kaycee]

Your plans look great! I'm a big planner, but my DH isn't. I always have the first few days pretty well planned out but with a little flexibility, then I leave the last couple of park days open so that we can go back to favorites and DH won't feel too tied to a plan. This has worked very well for us every trip, and it looks like you have the same plan.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Originally posted by dylansdad
sounds great

can we come too?

You'll be there before we will! Hope to see a trip report from you when you get back...

Are there any other restaurants any of you would recommend at Epcot WS?

 

[4greatboys]

I think it looks great. I would like to suggest you use the grocery stop with FL Tours to pick up some snack items and maybe some water bottles. If you keep some ice on them at nice they should be cold in the am.
If it were me I would spread out the waterparks. You only have one day between BB and TL. Maybe do one on the Sat or Sun that you have open.
On 8/23 I think it would be easier to eat at Pastamore and hit HRC on the 24th when you will already be in US.
Just a couple of suggestions but itinerary really looks good.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

I hear great things about Le Cellier and Chefs de France. I'll be trying both for the first time on my trip. Beirgarten is good if you like German and Alfredo's is really good.

Being next to Epcot and having UPH's, I'd be spending more time eating in WS. Planet Hollywood is Planet Hollywood. If you're in DTD that sounds like a place to go, but I wouldn't go out of my way just to get there.

And it looks like you plan an entire day at AK from EMH to dinner. That may be too much. Some people swear the park takes days others are done with it in a few hours. Make sure you know which you are so you don't spend the better part of the day just searching for AC waiting for dinner time. If you decide you don't need the whole day I suggest going in the morning before the animals get hot and start hiding in the shade.

The last couple days you've left open. That sounds like a good way to leave it as long as you feel everything you have to do is already in your schedule. If you're tired of the parks you could always go golfing (miniature golf). There are also watercraft rentals, parasailing, horse back riding, and spa treatments. Don't forget about Hoop Dee Do and the luau as possibilities on those nights.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Dana, thanks for your suggestion to do HRC on the day we go to US, I'm going to follow your advice. As for the water parks, the only reason I'm doing both during the week is because I've heard that the locals go there on the weekend, so it's supposedly more crowded. I'm hearing that mid to late August isn't as bad crowd wise, but I'm not sure about the waterparks.

CharlesandCamilla, I'm trying to decide between dinner at Le Cellier and Teppanyaki. I need to take a look at their respective menus and then I'll decide. As for Hoop Dee Doo, I had actually made reservations for Tuesday but I'm still thinking about it. I was able to book a Specialty Cruise so I'm not sure budget will allow for both. If I have to choose between the two, I'm definitely going with the cruise.

Thank you all so much for your help and suggestions. You guys are great!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Wow, looks great, a true planner after my own planning heart I would just say to schedule some shopping time and also as the other poster said take advantage of some non park things like water mouse, horseback riding etc. Depends on how big your budget is. I would also say to definetely bring some snacks/munchies with you. The Beach Club really lacks any place to purchase things like that. Nothing like getting the munchies and staring at the overly priced mini bar in your room. We always bring snacks. See you have rest/swim time scheduled. That is great , but alot of times in the afternoon is when the storms come, so make sure you also have a back up rain plan. You might want to check out some of the other resorts too. When we stayed at the swan my ds still wanted to to the contemporary to play in the arcade. Its like a tradition I guess. I save that for rainy times heading out of the mk. or before chef mickey etc. I dont know if you are interested in sharing your illumination cruise, but if you are you can post it on the dis, but if its a special family time, everyone here understands that too. Sounds like you got everything under control so far. Dont forget the mister fan and lots of sunscreen etc. Its brutally hot in aug. I also make gatorade and koolaid in the room. I always pack a pitcher and big spoon in our luggage. Its a hassle at the bc to get your mug refilled. Too long of a walk in the heat especially after a long day in the park. I just let the ds get ice while I am mixing. Yes, I do that in my nice deluxe resort room. No one ever says anything to me Have a great trip.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Originally posted by luvmarypoppins
Wow, looks great, a true planner after my own planning heart I would just say to schedule some shopping time and also as the other poster said take advantage of some non park things like water mouse, horseback riding etc. Depends on how big your budget is. I would also say to definetely bring some snacks/munchies with you. The Beach Club really lacks any place to purchase things like that. Nothing like getting the munchies and staring at the overly priced mini bar in your room. We always bring snacks. See you have rest/swim time scheduled. That is great , but alot of times in the afternoon is when the storms come, so make sure you also have a back up rain plan. You might want to check out some of the other resorts too. When we stayed at the swan my ds still wanted to to the contemporary to play in the arcade. Its like a tradition I guess. I save that for rainy times heading out of the mk. or before chef mickey etc. I dont know if you are interested in sharing your illumination cruise, but if you are you can post it on the dis, but if its a special family time, everyone here understands that too. Sounds like you got everything under control so far. Dont forget the mister fan and lots of sunscreen etc. Its brutally hot in aug. I also make gatorade and koolaid in the room. I always pack a pitcher and big spoon in our luggage. Its a hassle at the bc to get your mug refilled. Too long of a walk in the heat especially after a long day in the park. I just let the ds get ice while I am mixing. Yes, I do that in my nice deluxe resort room. No one ever says anything to me Have a great trip.

Love the Koolaid idea! Actually, we drink Crystal Light, but hey, same concept. Oh, and I did plan on a grocery stop with FL Tours, I just forgot to write it in. The only thing is I hear they go to Publix but I'd rather go to Albertsons because I can fax my order the day before so that all I have to do is run in and pay. I think I'll call and ask if they can go there instead.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Oh my goodness, this is crazy. I can't believe that I've gotten up at 3:30 a.m. twice in a row, yesterday because I was trying to snag a Specialty Cruise and today for a PS at Liberty Tree Tavern. I'm not going to do this every day this week, just for the really popular restaurants which is most of the ones on my list! Ok, I'm going back to bed to TRY to go back to sleep. I'm too excited!!!