Critique my plan...too commando or not enough??

[raspberrysharpei]

The "cast" will consist of myself, Dsis, Dniece (11), and Dnephew (4.5). We will be spending six days in and around the world, will be staying at the DTD DoubleTree with a rental car. This is what I have thus far......

Day 1: Early arrival, half day at SeaWorld, purchase groceries, ADR Chef Mickeys for dinner.
Day 2: AK. Plan to return to room for lunch. Dinner unknown.
Day 3: DC. Package includes, breakfast, snacks & lunch. Dinner unknown.
Day 4: MK. ADR breakfast at Crystal Palace. Return to room for lunch. Dinner unknown.
Day 5: MK. Plan to return to room for lunch. Dinner unknown.
Day 6: SeaWorld half day & depart for home.

As you can see my dinners are lacking attention. Is it safe to assume Counter Service locations or going to a family style restaurant (around the hotel & vicinity); can cover these "holes"?

Being the first family vacation, I'm hesitant to "over plan" activities, but want to be organized enough not to be caught with my pants down-so to speak.

I'm looking for any comments and perhaps some suggestions on counter service dining & family restaurants not needing ADRs.

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

Wondering why you're only goin to MK and AK...what about Epcot and MGM? You're really missing out. As far as your ADR's are concerned...I would make Dinner adr's if i were you.

 

[ryley26]

Where you are staying there are plenty of place to eat in the shopping plaza across the street from doubletree. I know ther is a friday's and other over in the plaza.Your also close to DTD and there are plenty of places to eat Earl of Sandwich,Rain forest Cafe, Wolfgang Puck, Planet Hollywood to name a few. Counter service in the park is plentiful depends on what you want. MK seem s where you'll be most plenty there. Columbia HArbour house has good sandwichs and i believe Chicken nuggets and hot dogs for kids. If you go to allears.net Deb list all the menu's and cost for the resturants in the parks and resorts.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I would definitely make ADR's for your dinners. Also, consider using CS for lunches. It will save the time of driving back to the room for lunch. Defintely take a look at All Ears Net for menus. It will help!

 

[raspberrysharpei]

Thanks for the replies. Part of the reason we choose the doubletree WAS the location. We had decided to focus on the quality of MK this trip instead of "pushing" to get into each park. Being on the tail end of the busy season and the hottest, with children their first time, it's seems more practical to have a more flexible schedule spending time to enjoy the magic instead of the "go, go, go" attitude.

Can you tell....this IS my first rodeo....

 

[MelanieC]

This is just me, but I wouldn't waste my time going back to the room for lunch. Your there for such a short time. Getting to the parking lot at MK is a BEAR (not as bad at AK), and would really eat a lot of your valuable park time. Not to mention the fun of eating around the magic. Eat counter service at the parks. AK has the BEST CS places in all of WDW to eat. There are some good ones in MK as well.

I would definately make some ADR's if you plan on eating at TS meals for dinners. It's so nice when your not scrambling to find dinner when your hungry and then finding that you can't get in anywhere (it does happen- I've seen it plenty of times).

Have a great trip!

 

[marconat]

Are you going back to the hotel for a break or is it to save money for lunch? But like MelanieC said... I would not waste time going back to the hotel... at worse, take a light luch into the park with you and make adr for the park that you'll be during the day. But you can really find good CS restaurants in the parks with good prices...

 

[jimmytammy]

Stay in the parks for lunch! It wont be commando style at all doing this. You will be spending way too much time traveling back and forth to your hotel. You can take breaks at lots of places in the parks. And definitely make ADRs. It is all a part of the magical experience IMO of WDW.

Most of all, Have Fun!

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Day 1 ---

What times does your flight get into Orlando? Are you checking in first & then going to SeaWorld? What time is your ADR for Chef Mickey's? This may be tight when you consider the amount of time to it takes to get luggage, get rental car, drive to hotel, check-in, unload luggage & drive back to SeaWorld --- it is probably 20 minute drive from door to door. It is doable, just want to be realistic about the time you'll have to do things once you are there since you plan to go to grocery & Chef Mickeys.

Day 2 ---
Make sure you are AK for opening. It will only be open 9-5 so it does make your touring time sensitive since some of the attractions are shows with specific viewing times. Taking a break back at hotel will also cut into some of that time, but if you get there first thing. Break in early afternoon. You should be able to return for a few hours. Dinner that night could be off site somewhere since it closes at 5 pm so no need for an ADR.

Or --- don't take the time to return to your hotel for lunch, but counter service (or pack) & then do your dinner in the room right after AK closes. Can still visit Downtown Disney after your dinner if you are up for it.

Day 3 --- Sounds like that is covered. Maybe set an ADR for sitdown or grab counter service for dinner (Wolfgang Puck Express for example) at Downtown Disney which is near your hotel. Time for souvenier shopping & walking around.

Day 4 -- Again, get there first thing. It will take more time to get out of MK & back to your resort due to parking at Ticket & Transporation Center & monorailing/ferryboating into MK. But parks is open until 10 pm so that works to your advantage. The drive to MK parking lot is going to be about 20 minutes or so from your resort -- FYI -- & then more time as needed to transfer to the park. Definitely plan on having counter service for dinner in the MK since you are already doing a table service for breakfast.

Day 5 ---
Repeat of Day 4. Plan a dinner ADR for sitdown at The Plaza restaurant. A great sitdown spot that is not too expensive either.

Day 6 ---
Again, sounds like you are covered.

Overall ---

HAVE FUN!!!

Good luck with your planning. Hope that helps a little in keeping with your plans to take a lunch break back at your hotel.

 

[raspberrysharpei]

Thanks for the input!!
I am concerned about not returning to the hotel for mid-day lunch, & rest breaks. I have read that it is a good idea to return during the hot part of the day (11-4) when it's most crowded. It appears that this is not "best practice"?

I know I can go for 12 hours, what about them?

 

[tinker&belle]

I don't know the ages of your children, but the days we are taking breaks we are leaving about 1:30-5:00. I'm a newbie though...I just thought this would be about afternoon FL thunderstorm time...not to mention the hottest part of the day.

 

[maryjl]

I have been to WDW several times with my children at various ages. I would definately take a break. In May (with a 5 yr. old) we went to the parks after a breakfast in room. Usually we would spend several hours and eat a CS lunch in the parks. CS meals can be somewhat hectic as the restaurants are very busy. We always took an afternoon break around 1400 or so. We are not nappers but we spent the afternoon swimming and just relaxing. Every evening we had a ADR and then followed at one of the parks. I believe the trick to having a great trip is to decide what is important for you to see and do and to NOT try to do EVERYTHING! We did not try to ride every ride and see every show but we did the things we wanted and had a wonderful trip! Also, you should definately do Epcot. It is our favorite!

 

[poppins06]

I would think some time in the swimming pool would be a good addition.

 

[punkin]

I think a lunch break from the MK is a good idea with kids that age, especially if MK is open late. However, AK almost invariably closes early and it makes no sense to go back after lunch. I would eat at AK and go back to the htel after the parade. It will still be a short day.

BTW (and totally off topic) how can you miss Epcot-that's my kids' favorite park.

 

[salmoneous]

If you are worried about being "too commando," I don't think the solution is to underplan. Planning is a good thing. Just be willing to break the plan. Having some place in mind to eat, knowing you'll just go somewhere else if you change your mind, seems to work better than having no idea where you are going to eat.

When you are unwilling to deviate from your plan, "I don't care if little Suzi is having the time of her life, we've got a schedule to keep! Pull her away so we can get to step #18b on the plan" that you are "too comando."

 

[raspberrysharpei]

All these angles I have not considered.... it really does help to hear how vet Disers have learned to manage precious time. This morning I did make a 1440 ADR at the Plaza in the MK for day 5. I think this will be a flexible time allowing us to rest during mid-day with the intent of not leaving the park. I still believe a mid-day departure from the parks, based on the activity load, has not been ruled out. I'd rather sacrifice a few hours of MK than deal with "burnt out" children.

Being our first adventure to the MK, I guess the key is to remain flexible and make decisions based on the activities & energy level of the family. To leave the park or not to leave the park.....having an ADR & being a "no-show" vs wandering & waiting for a meal, seems to bring a level of mental security to the over all plan.

I'd love to include Epcot, punkin, however, it did take the back seat to MK & I anticipate two days at MK to get the quality of the park. Being "flexible" if we discover we are satisfied with our first day of MK, I imagine we will adjust the plan to visit Epcot. Having said all that, should I research & attempt to make an ADR at Epcot, just in case???

I'm sure this all seems a bit silly, but I SURE DO appreciate the support & input I am receiving.

 

[dawnball]

Thanks for the input!!
I am concerned about not returning to the hotel for mid-day lunch, & rest breaks. I have read that it is a good idea to return during the hot part of the day (11-4) when it's most crowded. It appears that this is not "best practice"?

I know I can go for 12 hours, what about them?

I've been a few times with 1-3 year olds, and what we usually end up doing is getting to the parks for park opening, having lunch (or a substantial snack for the kiddos at least) around 11-11:30, riding 2 more rides and then heading out of the park. If the kids are at the melting point, one of those rides is the train or a main street vehicle. Sometimes one of those rides is the ferry or monorail, but unless they're really overtired, we don't usually count those as rides. That means we usually get to the car around 1, back to the condo around 1:30, have some quiet/nap/pool time, an early dinner around 4 and we're back into the parks as it starts to cool off for the evening.

We tried it lots of different ways, and that's what best for us. So yes - I would get out during the heat of the day, but I would plan lunch before you leave because it lets you squeeze another half hour or so out of the morning.