Critique my Itinerary! 7 day Visit in October.

[kmdrago1783]

Hi all, my family and I are visiting WDW from October 17th-24th. Hubby and I have been a bunch of times. We have a four year old daughter (almost five) and an 11 month old. This will be my daughter's 2nd trip and my baby's first.

We are staying at the Polynesian and doing the Deluxe Dining Plan as a splurge. I know it's a lot of food but I love the idea of having everything taken care of beforehand (besides tips) We do enjoy taking a break from the parks with a table service meal.

Saturday 10/17 -- Land at airport at 11:50am, check in to hotel and head to Epcot. Grab quick counter service lunch (thinking Sunshine Seasons), utilize some FPs and then catch some rides in Future World. Older daughter is now 41". ADR at Chefs De France at 7:00pm. Catch Illuminations after dinner if we're up to it.

Sunday 10/18-- 9:20am ADR at Cinderella's Royal Table. Spend day in Magic Kingdom until about 2-3pm. Counter services at either MK or Poly for lunch and/or dinner.Head back to hotel for nap and then we have tickets for MNSSHP that evening. Hallowishes and Parade are a must. Daughter also has to meet Jack and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. Her favorite. Planning on going to stand in line for that one early.

Monday 10/19-- 9:05am ADR at Tusker House. Spend day at Animal Kingdom. Head back to hotel for nap around 2-3 and then head to Hoop De Doo around 6:15pm.

Tuesday-- 10/20-- ADR at Ohana at 9:15am. Spend day in Epcot riding rest of future world rides that we missed on Saturday and touring World Showcase. ADR at 7:15pm at Rose and Crown. Hoping for a Patio seat for Illuminations.

Wednesday-- 10/21 Sleep in, Hollywood Studios Day-- ADR at 11:00am at SciFi Theatre and ADR at Hollywood Brown Derby, the Fantasmic package, at 4:20 (latest we could get). Stay for Fantasmic.

Thursday-- 10/22-- Half day at a Water Park (weather permitting), Half Day at Disney Quest/Downtown Disney. ADR at Ohana at 6:55pm.

Friday-- 10/23 Get to Magic Kingdom for rope drop. Head back to hotel for nap around 3pm. ADR at Le Cellier at 7:05pm that evening.

Saturday-- 10/24 we depart . ADR at 1900 Park Fare at 9:45am before heading to airport.

 

[JZCubed]

I only see [1 ] Signature - you are wasting money with DxDP. You might, however, benefit from regular DDP.

Also, Room Service is included in DxDP, this may help the math if you are really wanting to use DxDP.

Have you looked at Crowd Calendar and Park suggestions at easywdw?

http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/10-october-2015-crowd-calendar/

 

[kmdrago1783]

I only see [1 ] Signature - you are wasting money with DxDP. You might, however, benefit from regular DDP.

Also, Room Service is included in DxDP, this may help the math if you are really wanting to use DxDP.

Have you looked at Crowd Calendar and Park suggestions at easywdw?

http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/10-october-2015-crowd-calendar/

Hi I have four two credit reservations:

Le Cellier
Hollywood Brown Derby
Cinderella's Royal Table
Hoop De Doo



We will probably order room service at least once.

 

[Mom2Kids2003]

The only thing I might try to change would be your ADR on arrival day to a bit earlier. Our kids are 12 and 7 and even on our last trip (this past Feb), they were wasted by 5 or 6 on arrival day just from getting up early from the flight, time change, etc. Just a thought!

 

[JZCubed]

But you have way more credits.

Unless you are using at least one 2-credits/day, you're really losing on the $$math.

You're nowhere close to $110/day in dining.

 

[ELSA711]

My only thoughts are on Sunday 10/18 leave earlier than 2/3pm to get ready for party. Party guests start arriving at 4pm. I'd leave around 12:30pm.

9:05 breakfast the day after MNSSHP would be tough on us too. We usually don't make it to park until 11am after party

 

[kmdrago1783]

Good point about breakfast. Can't reschedule Tusker House because ADRs are ridiculously limited at this point... even tried switching Monday and Thursday itineraries. Debating just ordering room service that morning instead. Hmmm...

 

[kmdrago1783]

The only thing I might try to change would be your ADR on arrival day to a bit earlier. Our kids are 12 and 7 and even on our last trip (this past Feb), they were wasted by 5 or 6 on arrival day just from getting up early from the flight, time change, etc. Just a thought!

Thanks! I will try. We are flying in from New Orleans so travel shouldn't be too taxing if I can't (only an hour and a half flight).

 

[ELSA711]

Good point about breakfast. Can't reschedule Tusker House because ADRs are ridiculously limited at this point... even tried switching Monday and Thursday itineraries. Debating just ordering room service that morning instead. Hmmm...

Tusker House is worth it IMO. My kids fav meal there.
With your little ones you may be okay, we typically cut out of party by 10pm after HalloWishes

 

[kmdrago1783]

But you have way more credits.

Unless you are using at least one 2-credits/day, you're really losing on the $$math.

You're nowhere close to $110/day in dining.

So do you think I should just change to regular dining and come out of pocket for the table service meals that arn't covered?

 

[kmdrago1783]

I have enough table service ADRs scheduled that I am using 15 credits on ADRs per person alone. That leaves us with 6 credits for the rest of the week to spread out among counter service and/or room service. My problem with the regular dining plan is that I don't think I will utilize all of the quick service credits. I wish they had a two table or counter service meals per day plan!

 

[Rosebud123]

I wouldn't like those morning ADR times because I would hate to miss out on those prime touring times! But many families place a bigger premium on dining over park touring, and that's just fine!

Have fun. I'm staying at the Poly next month for the first time and I cannot wait!!!

 

[JZCubed]

So do you think I should just change to regular dining and come out of pocket for the table service meals that arn't covered?

The math for regular DDP may work.

But given your current itinerary, the math certainly does to work for DxDP.

Even your 2-credit choices are prix fixe places at $70 (+/-). That means even on those days, you need to consume $40 of breakfast and Qwik Serve in addition to your existing ADR's.

DxDP can work $financially IF a family really eats 3-squares a day with 3-courses at every meal, plans to do so at Table Service & Signatures (or Characters), and likes all the most expensive options on the menu - 7 days in a row. With snacks too. Miss one meal or a few snacks, and Disney wins.

In addition to having a vacation of ADR's, not Park time, this is a huge amount of food that you're prepaying to enjoy. I get the notion of convenience, but why is prepaying for too much food more sensible than having options - particularly the option to skip a meal or dessert without saying, "But we paid for it."

If you have a buffet breakfast, do you really want much more than a bag of popcorn before your buffet dinner?

 

[Yahweh]

I wouldn't like those morning ADR times because I would hate to miss out on those prime touring times! But many families place a bigger premium on dining over park touring, and that's just fine!

This was my thought as well... Some of this may have to do with being on the deluxe dining plan. You have to spread out three meals instead of two a lot of times. But if it were possible, I'd move my breakfast an hour or more before the parks open, or two hours after.

 

[kmdrago1783]

I wouldn't like those morning ADR times because I would hate to miss out on those prime touring times! But many families place a bigger premium on dining over park touring, and that's just fine!

Have fun. I'm staying at the Poly next month for the first time and I cannot wait!!!

Last time we went we were at every park every morning for rope drop so we are taking a different approach this time since we will be there for a whole week. Good point though!

 

[Lynzer4]

Hi all, my family and I are visiting WDW from October 17th-24th. Hubby and I have been a bunch of times. We have a four year old daughter (almost five) and an 11 month old. This will be my daughter's 2nd trip and my baby's first.

We are staying at the Polynesian and doing the Deluxe Dining Plan as a splurge. I know it's a lot of food but I love the idea of having everything taken care of beforehand (besides tips) We do enjoy taking a break from the parks with a table service meal.

Saturday 10/17 -- Land at airport at 11:50am, check in to hotel and head to Epcot. Grab quick counter service lunch (thinking Sunshine Seasons), utilize some FPs and then catch some rides in Future World. Older daughter is now 41". ADR at Chefs De France at 7:00pm. Catch Illuminations after dinner if we're up to it.


Sunday 10/18-- 9:20am ADR at Cinderella's Royal Table. Spend day in Magic Kingdom until about 2-3pm. Counter services at either MK or Poly for lunch and/or dinner.Head back to hotel for nap and then we have tickets for MNSSHP that evening. Hallowishes and Parade are a must. Daughter also has to meet Jack and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas. Her favorite. Planning on going to stand in line for that one early.

You might plan to go back to the hotel by 1:30. You could make an ADR at Kona for a late lunch (2:30/3) then you are using some credits and already have eaten so you can get to the park around 4/5 so that you can get in line for jack by 6


Monday 10/19-- 9:05am ADR at Tusker House. Spend day at Animal Kingdom. Head back to hotel for nap around 2-3 and then head to Hoop De Doo around 6:15pm.

Tuesday-- 10/20-- ADR at Ohana at 9:15am. Spend day in Epcot riding rest of future world rides that we missed on Saturday and touring World Showcase. ADR at 7:15pm at Rose and Crown. Hoping for a Patio seat for Illuminations.

Wednesday-- 10/21 Sleep in, Hollywood Studios Day-- ADR at 11:00am at SciFi Theatre and ADR at Hollywood Brown Derby, the Fantasmic package, at 4:20 (latest we could get). Stay for Fantasmic.

I might make this later and skip the package. You can see see Fanyasmic with a FP or just standard wait. I just don't see being that hungry yet.


Thursday-- 10/22-- Half day at a Water Park (weather permitting), Half Day at Disney Quest/Downtown Disney. ADR at Ohana at 6:55pm.

I would do room service breakfast or plan a 9 am one as watermarks don't open until 10.

Friday-- 10/23 Get to Magic Kingdom for rope drop. Head back to hotel for nap around 3pm. ADR at Le Cellier at 7:05pm that evening.

Saturday-- 10/24 we depart . ADR at 1900 Park Fare at 9:45am before heading to airport.

 

[kmdrago1783]

Or should I just cancel the dining plan all together and pay out of pocket?

 

[kmdrago1783]

The math for regular DDP may work.

But given your current itinerary, the math certainly does to work for DxDP.

Even your 2-credit choices are prix fixe places at $70 (+/-). That means even on those days, you need to consume $40 of breakfast and Qwik Serve in addition to your existing ADR's.

DxDP can work $financially IF a family really eats 3-squares a day with 3-courses at every meal, plans to do so at Table Service & Signatures (or Characters), and likes all the most expensive options on the menu - 7 days in a row. With snacks too. Miss one meal or a few snacks, and Disney wins.

In addition to having a vacation of ADR's, not Park time, this is a huge amount of food that you're prepaying to enjoy. I get the notion of convenience, but why is prepaying for too much food more sensible than having options - particularly the option to skip a meal or dessert without saying, "But we paid for it."

If you have a buffet breakfast, do you really want much more than a bag of popcorn before your buffet dinner?

So I'm debating just canceling the dining plan all together. I am very happy with my ADR choices but I will probably feel pressure to order an appetizer and a dessert even if I don't really want it. Most days we only have two meals scheduled, usually a breakfast and a dinner so that we can spend the time in between in the parks. Thoughts???

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'd never do those all those breakfast ADRs either. I'd push them back later (or cancel) and actually do some touring, then late breakfast.

Your arrival day doesn't seem feasible to me. You land at noon, let's say 2 hours to get to your resort, then another hour at least to get settled in and off to Epcot. You're going to eat lunch at 3 pm? Even if everything goes to plan, it will be at least 2 hours from arrival until you step foot in a park. Won't the kids be starving by then? FWIW, Saturday arrivals in October are crazy hellish. Two years ago when we arrived October 19, we waited for over an hour just to board a bus. The line to check in at DME was stretched all the way down the terminal. It was crazy.

On the 18th, if you don't take a break until that late, it's going to be pretty difficult to get back in time to get a decent spot in line for Jack & Sally. I believe people started lining up around 5:00 last year.

On the 20th, you're going to Epcot on an early EMH but not taking advantage of EMH. It's going to be super crowded that day. I'd switch Epcot to a different day that doesn't have EMH. Epcot is also going to be packed the night of the 23rd, but as long as you don't expect to do any rides or hang out in the WS (which will be full of F&W partiers on a Friday evening) and are only going for the ADR, hopping there should be OK.

FWIW, our trip dates coincide with yours...we'll be in Orlando October 15-24. We're going to Universal the first few days, then transferring to Disney. We'll visit MK for a few hours in the afternoon of the 18th, doing Epcot the 19th, AK the 20th, HS the 21st (see you there! ) , and MK on the 22nd and 23rd. We'll close out the week with MNSSHP on the 23rd. I selected my park days based on easywdw.com's recommendations, as his advice has served us well on all of our prior trips (including 3 in October).

 

[DisneyBelle27]

On the 18th, if you don't take a break until that late, it's going to be pretty difficult to get back in time to get a decent spot in line for Jack & Sally. I believe people started lining up around 5:00 last year.

^^this. Not sure if you're aware of this, but even though the party technically starts at 7pm (this is when they kick non-party ticket holders out) they start letting party attendees in at 4pm.