Critique my itinerary - long

[disobsessed]

Okay - here is the preliminary version. I welcome any constructive criticism. Note that I am working off old hours, and may have to adjust as the new hours for September come out. We are staying at AKL concierge from Sept 19-26 and then HRH for 27 & 28th. FTP w/ UPH. Here's the plan:

Friday: Arrive MCO 11:30 - rent car and drive to AKL. Go to MGM, PS at Sci-Fi (DS 4 and DD 9 fav!)

Sat: AM - AK w/ sunrise safari; PS at Chef Mickey's and to MK for FTS and SPectro.

Sun: AM - MK; PS at Teppanaki for 3:30; EPCOT for awhile, and then Kid club for kids/PI for DH & I.

Mon: AM - BB/TL; break; PS Prime time 6:00; MGM Fantasmic

Tues: Open AM; EPCOT PM; PS Mexico 6:45; Illuminations

Wed: EPCOT EMH; afternoon open

Thurs: AM- MGM; break; PM - MK; PS Boma/AKL storytelling

Fri: To HRH; UA/IOA ; maybe return to EPCOT for dinner?

Sat: UA/IOA - Citywalk for dinner.

Sun: home.

ANy thoughts, suggestions?

 

[JKMastalski]

Everything sounds great! Don't forget to take a rest and swim for the kids sakes!
Also, when you are at Citywalk, we always eat at Margaritaville and have a blast!! Love the atmosphere and the food and music.

 

[stacy6552]

ok if i were going to make changes, heres what i'd do:

On sunday Id' stay at the MK all day. have dinner at the liberty tree tavern. its one of our favorites.

ON wednesday, have a late breakfast at cape may or spoodles. then do teh WS when they open at 11. Make your PS for teppanaki for about 2:30. you should have enough time to have lapped the WS before the crowds hit. after lunch do the front of Epcot when the crowds start moving back to the WS.

skip dinner at San Angel Inn. Horrible service, I cant understand how they get awy with it at WDW.

Move your thursday stuff to Tuesday if you can. That leaves thursday open for you to go back to whatever youve missed. Open days are good at the end rather than the beginning or middle so you can ga back to whereever you need to, which you wont know until youve been places.

 

[drogerstn]

Whats FTP

I wouldn't consider going to EPCOT for dinner if staying at HRH. Even if it won't cost you to get in EPCOT, IOA/USF can be a long day and there are plenty of nice places to eat at CityWalk, IOA/USF, HRH, & PBH.

Make sure you check in to HRH early before going to IOA/USF so that you can use Express Ride Access. Even if the room is ready, you should be able to check in and get your keys for Express Ride Access.

 

[disobsessed]

The EPCOT on Friday is not a must do - just something I was thinking. I had heard that the restaurants at UA were not all that great, and of course EPCOT's are - so I thought if we had time we might dirve back over for one last trip (with the Ulimate Park Hopper, we have access through Friday night). However, it is equally as possible that we'll skip it and swim instead.

I will definately check in first.

Thanks for the suggestions on the move of the MK/EPCOT - that's a possibility I hadn't considered!

Thursday kind of is a re-do day - although I am sure we'll end up at MGM and MK (have to do Space Mtn and RNRC!)

Thanks for all the suggestions - keep 'um comin'!

 

[drogerstn]

Oh yeah, you check out on Friday so you still have EPCOT entry on UPH.

Now I can't think of anything to comment on except I agree about being prepared for changes towards the end of your stay depending on what you missed out on or want to repeat based on your initial visits to the parks.

If you haven't already, you should sign up to become a LoewsFirst Member to take advantage of a few free benefits.

 

[jjohns]

Thursday is EMH at MK. Typically, the EMH park gets pretty busy by noon... the other parks tend to be less busy. So, to get your MK fun in with minimal crowds I suggest getting up early and being there for the early opening. Then hop over to MGM.

I have been told that Saturday night at MK when that's the only Spectro of the week is very busy. So, you may need to plan on getting into the park early to find a good spot for that parade. I am going to have the same problem when I go in October .

Remember that Sunday is also EMH at MK. You didn't mark it on your plan, but I am assuming you are planning on going early (although, late night on Sat with Spectro and FITS). If not, everyone always tells me to stay away from the EMH park. Maybe Sun AM is 'off' or sleep in, and Tues AM is MK (Tues and Wed are usually light at MK - Sat/Mon are the worst).

 

[Rodrigo]

Spectromagic Parade is not in the schedule for Sat Sept 20th in disneyworld.com
Hope this is a mistake.

 

[Paris]

I had heard that the restaurants at UA were not all that great, and of course EPCOT's are

Universal restaurants not great? I think you'll find that that fast food choices are equal if not better than Disney's but while Disney may have a much wider variety of sitdown restaurants (especially EPCOT), did you hear bad things from someone who ate at a Universal sit-down?

At IOA, Mythos is amazing. It is definitely one of the best in-park restaurants anywhere. Confisco's Grill is more hit-and-miss, but nice and casual. At USF you have two sit-down restaurants. Lombard's Landing is a wharf-style seafood place and Finnegan's is well, Irish family pub-style. They are both definitely adequate -- though certainly no Mythos next door.

But even if those choices don't suit you why drive all the way to EPCOT when you can eat at Emeril's or Margaritaville (or Nascar Cafe or Pastamore or Motown Cafe) in Citywalk? NBA City, much to my surprise, had AMAZING food too (and, of course, you have Hard Rock Cafe in the middle of it all).

Not to take you away from EPCOT, but if you're staying at HRH you also have The Palm -- or, head out to Portofino for Mama Della's for a great family style Italian meal.

My point is that you're staying at HRH to get the perks of Front of the Line access, right? Then stay there and enjoy it to the end. There are PLENTY of quality dining choices available.

 

[TimeforMe]

I agree with the other posters about not venturing back to Epcot for dinner. I, too, have heard great things about Mama Della's or if you looking for something more upscale, Tchoup Chop at RPR is supposed to be wonderful. There are plenty of good dining choices at Universal. Have fun!