Critique my plans please!

[kticern]

Hi everyone!

We are planning our first family trip to WDW. DH and I have been but we have always just gone and never did any actual plans. Now that we have kids DS 4 (almost 5) and DS 2 (3 a month after return) I am doing a lot more planning and need as much advice as I can get! My FIL will also be joining us. Here are my plans so far. Any thoughts or advice will be greatly appreciated!

We are driving from New England. We plan to leave late evening 10/27) and drive through the night. We will stop for breakfast and drive the rest of the way to Jacksonville where we have family. We plan on staying the night (10/28) there and arriving a Disney around noon (10/29). We are staying at AOA in a cars suite although I hope I can switch to Nemo! This is the current itinerary.

10/29
Arrive and get settled at AOA
4pm dinner at Hollywood and Vine with VIP Fantasmic show passes.

10/30
Open MK at RD
9am breakfast at Crystal Palace
Day in the park
5pm dinner at Tonys Town square
MNSSHP that night

10/31
Counter breakfast somewhere?
AK for the day
5pm Mickey's backyard BBQ

11/1
9am Hollywood and vine breakfast
day in HS
Maybe MK at night for EMH

11/2
Counter breakfast somewhere?
day in AK
7pm Rainforest cafe at AK

11/3
9am Akershus breakfast
day in Epcot
7:45 Pirates and Pals Fireworks show

11/4
8am Cape May breakfast
maybe lazy pool day and a quick park trip in the afternoon?

11/5
10am Ohana breakfast
Day in MK
8pm ice cream at Beaches and Cream

11/6
10am Tusker House breakfast
Day in AK the go to MK
8pm Main street electrical Parade

11/7
10am Chef Mickey
Day at MK
7pm Liberty Tree Tavern (may need to try and make it earlier because of MVMCP
MVMCP that night

11/8
10am 1900 Park Fare
drive to Jacksonville stay overnight and drive home the next day

We will probable do quick serve lunches or dinners but planning 2 meals a day seems like a lot. I don't want to be committed to being somewhere every night.

Food isn't as important as the kids getting the character appearances. DH and FIL do not like to try many new things. We will take breaks during the day if we need to. DH and I hope to get away during evening EMH at night to have some fun in the park while FIL can go back to the room with the kids.

Is this too much??!!!? I want to make the most of free dining and give the kids some great character appearances. I vividly remember those from when I was a kid and hope they do the same.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Hi everyone!

We are planning our first family trip to WDW. DH and I have been but we have always just gone and never did any actual plans. Now that we have kids DS 4 (almost 5) and DS 2 (3 a month after return) I am doing a lot more planning and need as much advice as I can get! My FIL will also be joining us. Here are my plans so far. Any thoughts or advice will be greatly appreciated!

We are driving from New England. We plan to leave late evening 10/27) and drive through the night. We will stop for breakfast and drive the rest of the way to Jacksonville where we have family. We plan on staying the night (10/28) there and arriving a Disney around noon (10/29). We are staying at AOA in a cars suite although I hope I can switch to Nemo! This is the current itinerary.

10/29
Arrive and get settled at AOA
4pm dinner at Hollywood and Vine with VIP Fantasmic show passes. Will the show frighten your kids? The first time my kids saw it, my youngest-- who was 5-- was so terrified she had to be taken out.

10/30
Open MK at RD
9am breakfast at Crystal Palace
Day in the park
5pm dinner at Tonys Town square
MNSSHP that night

10/31
Counter breakfast somewhere?
AK for the day
5pm Mickey's backyard BBQ Will your older son miss celebrating Halloween? Or he young enough that the party last night wasn't actually on Halloween?

11/1
9am Hollywood and vine breakfast
day in HS
Maybe MK at night for EMH

11/2
Counter breakfast somewhere?
day in AK
7pm Rainforest cafe at AK

11/3
9am Akershus breakfastMy girls love this, but will your boys be as enthused over seeing all those princesses? Would dinner at the Coral Reef maybe be a better idea??
day in Epcot
7:45 Pirates and Pals Fireworks show

11/4
8am Cape May breakfast
maybe lazy pool day and a quick park trip in the afternoon?

11/5
10am Ohana breakfast
Day in MK
8pm ice cream at Beaches and Cream

11/6
10am Tusker House breakfast
Day in AK the go to MKWow, you're spending a LOT of time in AK. For my family it would be way too much, but I'm guessing you're confident that your kids will really enjoy it?? Are you sure you don't want a LOT more time at the MK??
8pm Main street electrical Parade

11/7
10am Chef Mickey
Day at MK
7pm Liberty Tree Tavern (may need to try and make it earlier because of MVMCP
MVMCP that night

11/8
10am 1900 Park Fare
drive to Jacksonville stay overnight and drive home the next day

We will probable do quick serve lunches or dinners but planning 2 meals a day seems like a lot. I don't want to be committed to being somewhere every night. Are you on the Deluxe Dining Plan? Two meals a day would be a lot for my family, and a lot of time sitting down instead of on rides.

Food isn't as important as the kids getting the character appearances. DH and FIL do not like to try many new things. We will take breaks during the day if we need to. DH and I hope to get away during evening EMH at night to have some fun in the park while FIL can go back to the room with the kids.

Is this too much??!!!? I want to make the most of free dining and give the kids some great character appearances. I vividly remember those from when I was a kid and hope they do the same.

Thanks for your help!!

Hope my input helps a bit!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Here is my problem with your plan.....You have some great character meals planned, but they are all at or shortly after rope drop when the park is least crowded. You will be eating away all the time when the lines are the shortest. We felt rushed to get get done eating, even with a 8am ADR , and these meals are expensive and should be enjoyed for the fun they are, and not rushed through to get done and head out to the park. It may not matter to you, but it's something to think about.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Here is my problem with your plan.....You have some great character meals planned, but they are all at or shortly after rope drop when the park is least crowded. You will be eating away all the time when the lines are the shortest. We felt rushed to get get done eating, even with a 8am ADR , and these meals are expensive and should be enjoyed for the fun they are, and not rushed through to get done and head out to the park. It may not matter to you, but it's something to think about.

My thoughts exactly!!!!!!!

I would move breakfast to 8am or earlier OR grab a snack at the food court and book an early lunch

You will be ruining the point of rope dropping by spending that hour eating! The first few hours are the best for lines.

Why so much time at AK?

 

[Elleshoodat]

My thoughts are the same as the others': With this plan, your mornings will be spent getting to and dining at breakfast ADRs rather than enjoying what is possibly the least crowded time of day in the parks.

If you're set on character dining, I recommend changing some to dinners.

 

[kticern]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts so far!

Ok So I changed the 31st to MK not AK. That gives us 4 full days in MK, 2in AK, 2 HS, 1 epcot and 1 lazy day. Does that sound better?

As far as Fantasmic goes, we have watched it on TV on YouTube and I think they will be Ok. Worst case we can leave but it's worth a try since they have been Ok with it on TV. I know in real life it may be different and we might not make it through.

For the breakfast times I was OK with the later times because my kids usually sleep till 7:30-8am. I really didn't want to wake them up to make a dining reservation on time. I thought this might add to the potential for crankiness. I figured if they were up early we could go for RD and be in the park for an hour then get breakfast. We are big breakfast eaters but tend to skip lunch. From what I have seen the crowd levels for the days we are going are low 3-4 out of 10. I was hopeful that we wouldn't have to wait too long for rides and plan on getting FP+ for the big ones.

Ok as far as Akershus goes I am totally torn. I have no idea if they will like the princesses or not. I just figured it was avaible and we would be in Epcot that day....maybe I will forgo that one for a dinner at T-Rex one night.

What about the 7pm Liberty Tree reservation on my MVMCP night? Do you guys think that is too late? Will we miss any party stuff?

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts so far! Ok So I changed the 31st to MK not AK. That gives us 4 full days in MK, 2in AK, 2 HS, 1 epcot and 1 lazy day. Does that sound better? As far as Fantasmic goes, we have watched it on TV on YouTube and I think they will be Ok. Worst case we can leave but it's worth a try since they have been Ok with it on TV. I know in real life it may be different and we might not make it through. For the breakfast times I was OK with the later times because my kids usually sleep till 7:30-8am. I really didn't want to wake them up to make a dining reservation on time. I thought this might add to the potential for crankiness. I figured if they were up early we could go for RD and be in the park for an hour then get breakfast. We are big breakfast eaters but tend to skip lunch. From what I have seen the crowd levels for the days we are going are low 3-4 out of 10. I was hopeful that we wouldn't have to wait too long for rides and plan on getting FP+ for the big ones. Ok as far as Akershus goes I am totally torn. I have no idea if they will like the princesses or not. I just figured it was avaible and we would be in Epcot that day....maybe I will forgo that one for a dinner at T-Rex one night. What about the 7pm Liberty Tree reservation on my MVMCP night? Do you guys think that is too late? Will we miss any party stuff?

Yes, I think 7 for dinner on a party night is too late. We plan for 4 or 5pm meals on party nights! personally I would do 3MK days and 2 Epcot days. Is there a reason you only want one day there? World showcase can easily eat up a day on its own and there are a ton of characters there too

 

[kticern]

Yes, I think 7 for dinner on a party night is too late. We plan for 4 or 5pm meals on party nights! personally I would do 3MK days and 2 Epcot days. Is there a reason you only want one day there? World showcase can easily eat up a day on its own and there are a ton of characters there too

Ok Thanks that is kinda what I was thinking as far as dinner goes. I will keep looking for an earlier time.

I didn't think the kids would have that much to do in Epcot so I figured one day would cover it.....bad plan?

 

[Aliceacc]

No such thing as a really "bad plan"-- what works for me may not work for you. Having an idea-- ANY idea-- of what you want to do automatically makes it a "good plan"

Your kids are going to love whatever you do.

My kids really enjoy Epcot, and always have. As you do the World Showcase, make sure they stop at the Kidcot Stations. (You can find a list of them on the Epcot Times Guide as you enter the park.) I know it sounds kind of silly to an adult, but at your first stop-- no matter which it is-- you pick up a cardboard picture of Duffy (Mickey Mouse's teddy bear) and color it. Then, as you go from stop to stop, you add to it. (Sorry, I'm a little fuzzy on the details. )

But my kids, in particular my youngest, REALLY loved those Kidcot stations.

As to how many days in which park is best, that will depend entirely on your family. So go with your gut, knowing you can hop from one park to the next, or even cancel your ADR and change your plans entirely.

Oh, and one more thing on Fantasmic: at one part, the water goes on fire. With young kids, I wouldn't sit too close to the front. We always choose to sit in the middle of the stadium.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts so far! Ok So I changed the 31st to MK not AK. That gives us 4 full days in MK, 2in AK, 2 HS, 1 epcot and 1 lazy day. Does that sound better?

As far as Fantasmic goes, we have watched it on TV on YouTube and I think they will be Ok. Worst case we can leave but it's worth a try since they have been Ok with it on TV. I know in real life it may be different and we might not make it through.

For the breakfast times I was OK with the later times because my kids usually sleep till 7:30-8am. I really didn't want to wake them up to make a dining reservation on time. I thought this might add to the potential for crankiness. I figured if they were up early we could go for RD and be in the park for an hour then get breakfast. We are big breakfast eaters but tend to skip lunch.

From what I have seen the crowd levels for the days we are going are low 3-4 out of 10. I was hopeful that we wouldn't have to wait too long for rides and plan on getting FP+ for the big ones.

Ok as far as Akershus goes I am totally torn. I have no idea if they will like the princesses or not. I just figured it was avaible and we would be in Epcot that day....maybe I will forgo that one for a dinner at T-Rex one night.

What about the 7pm Liberty Tree reservation on my MVMCP night? Do you guys think that is too late? Will we miss any party stuff?

It sounds like you've thought through most of your planning, so we're just here to offer some "best practices."

My family's favorite park is Epcot so we tend to spend more time there, but you know your family best. There's a lot to explore in addition to the obvious rides and shows; we could spend an entire day in World Showcase.

If you're going during a less crowded time, you should be able to accomplish all that you want to do.

I'd move your reservation on your party night for sure.

Have fun!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Ok Thanks that is kinda what I was thinking as far as dinner goes. I will keep looking for an earlier time.

I didn't think the kids would have that much to do in Epcot so I figured one day would cover it.....bad plan?

You definitely have done such great planning. I agree with the others about more time in EPCOT. It is now our kids favorite park. MK will always be magical but we all love EPCOT. We stay in the EPCOT area and go there almost every day for something. There are cute rides in Mexico and Norway. There are also so many characters and shows in the World Showcase. Plus there are so many kid rides - Nemo, Crush, Figment, etc. Also don't forget Innoventions. When our kids were little we could spend hours in there and it was nice for us to get out of the heat.

We love Akershus - even my son - the princesses tease him and he loves it. We eat there almost every trip.

One last critique:

11/3
9am Akershus breakfast
day in Epcot
7:45 Pirates and Pals Fireworks show I would switch these two night events if you can. Pirates and Pals Fireworks is in the CR near MK. and Beaches and Cream is right near EPCOT. It will save you a lot of traveling.


11/5
10am Ohana breakfast
Day in MK
8pm ice cream at Beaches and CreamSwitch with Pirates and Pals Fireworks

You have great plans and doing so many nice things. Enjoy your family time!

 

[kticern]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for the ideas and info.

So I will definitely take into consideration about Epcot and maybe having more time there. One of the biggest drawbacks for me is the crowds from F&W. We are not big foodies and don't drink wine lol. So not a ton of interest in that. Maybe we can do a 1/2 eve in Epcot if we like the full day there. Thats the nice thing about plans...they can change!

As for Pirates and Pals I thought I read that it was only Fri to Mon. Maybe I am wrong about that one. I can always switch it to be easier if it is done on the 5th.

Now to add another wrench into my plans lol.... Osborne Christmas Lights!!!! I wanna se them!!! We check out on the 8th. So we will still have a day of park time on our passes if we do our lazy day. do we pack everything in the car and stay just for the lights and then head out or do we stay at AOA one more night.....

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

As for Pirates and Pals I thought I read that it was only Fri to Mon. Maybe I am wrong about that one. I can always switch it to be easier if it is done on the 5th.

Now to add another wrench into my plans lol.... Osborne Christmas Lights!!!! I wanna se them!!! We check out on the 8th. So we will still have a day of park time on our passes if we do our lazy day. do we pack everything in the car and stay just for the lights and then head out or do we stay at AOA one more night.....

You are right the Pirates and Pals is not on Wed and Thursday nights. Too bad you can't switch the days - it would save so much traveling.

We usually leave the luggage with the front desk on the day we leave and hit the parks. One time we partially packed the car - but left electronics with the front desk.