Critique my plans...

[StayCool]

Ok, I want to start by saying this is our first trip and the kids will be 11 and 13. I only plan to have 4 day tickets because I'm hoping to use the military salute if it is renewed.

Dates: 9/28-10/6 at POR

Day 1: Flight arrives at 10a. Check in, lunch. Then MNSSHP at 4p-12a.

Day 2: Animal Kingdom 9a-5p with EMH. This is the one I am questioning...

Day 3: Magic Kingdom 9a-9p

Day 4: Hollywood Studios 9a-7:30p

Day 5: Epcot 9a-9p

Day 6: TOT 10 miler expo/DTD

Day 7: Resort day/water park/kid's race? TOT 10 miler and Bash 10p-3a

Day 8: DTD/resort day/water park - this is our last day.

Day 9: ME pickup around 6 am.

I think my biggest concern is loading all the park days in the beginning of the trip. The reason I am doing it is that between the TOT race and Columbus Day the crowd level increases throughout my trip so I would rather go on lower days. Since AK is only open until 5 I figured we could catch up on sleep then. Idk.

 

[wuzzy6]

If it were me, I would keep it exactly the same, EXCEPT that I would probably make Day 3 a half-day at the park (maybe something like 9-3?) and a half-day at the pool/resort. The logic for me is in the fact that I'd be at MK for 8 hours for MNSSHP on Day 1, and Day 3 is sort of in the middle of the hardcore park-going. I may not be the best person to give input, though, because I really like to relax and take it all in.

 

[StayCool]

I will definitely keep that in mind. Since it is our first visit I am trying to cram everything in. lol But I don't want everyone so tired that they are miserable and I know I am pushing with doing MNSSHP and *hopefully* rope drop the next morning...

 

[sharonabe]

How early is your flight? Are you planning on a nap before MNSSHP? My only concern would be getting up early for your flight + late night at MNSSHP = not getting up in time for that early morning EMH at AK. You're going to want to be at the bus stop waiting for an AK bus around 7:15 or so. Can your kids do it?

 

[StayCool]

How early is your flight? Are you planning on a nap before MNSSHP? My only concern would be getting up early for your flight + late night at MNSSHP = not getting up in time for that early morning EMH at AK. You're going to want to be at the bus stop waiting for an AK bus around 7:15 or so. Can your kids do it?

My flight is supposed to get to the airport at 10 am. I'm *hoping* for a nap. We will be renting a room near the airport but still getting up at 5 am or so. I would like to get up in time to make EMH but if we don't I think we will still have time to do everything. Crowds are supposed to be low. I'm kind of banking on the excitement of being on our first full day of vacation to get everyone up and moving. lol

 

[drummrsanonymous]

We've done morning EMH on our first full day the past couple of trips without much issue. Everyone is still kind of in their routines, so the earlier call time is a little easier. That said, I think closing down MK at MNSSHP the night before would be a little hard even for this Disney nut. But I think you can focus on the things that are unique to the party (parade(!), characters(!), and tick-or-treating (if you must)) and be ready to head back to the hotel at a halfway descent hour. If you need a break at Animal Kingdom, the Nemo show is about the best shot for an air-conditioned breather.

Ultimately, if it's what you want to do, go for it! Just listen to the kids and be ready to adapt if necessary. Make your plan work for you - you don't work for it.

And good luck with the race! We did it last year and had a blast. I think your resort day after the race is a wise move - we barely made it a few hours in Animal Kingdom the day after our race. After that we crashed at the hotel until MNSSHP that night.

 

[StayCool]

I just wish it worked out better for me to have a rest day in the middle but with all the race plans, it kind of takes over the end of the trip. lol As far as the race goes, I'm really hoping to survive it! I've never been a runner and my first race (5k) is April 6th! To say I'm nervous is an understatement!

 

[drummrsanonymous]

I just wish it worked out better for me to have a rest day in the middle but with all the race plans, it kind of takes over the end of the trip. lol

It looks like your day before and race day will be a pretty good rest. The expo is huge and overwhelming, but it shouldn't take most of your day. It might take longer if your planning on attending some of the sessions. There are lots of temptations to shop and spend way too much money.
If you're planning on stopping for the characters along the course (there weren't any out at the bash), check in with the official photographers. They had a pretty good pre-race discount last year.
In our plans last year, the race wasn't going to take over the end of our trip (we planned AK the next day), but it took them over anyway. I think your plan is good in that regard.

As far as the race goes, I'm really hoping to survive it! I've never been a runner and my first race (5k) is April 6th! To say I'm nervous is an understatement!

We were in your shoes last year - running our first races leading up to the big one. We did fine and in sure that you will too! Some things that I didn't realize going in...

The biggest shock to us was all the people gathered for the race start. I'm not sure how big of crowds you're used to, but it was an insane number of people to us. It probably took 45 minutes for the deer-in-headlights effect to wear off. You had the 10,000 some racers plus many brought friends and family. There's a public side and a runners' side to the pre-race festivities. All the fun stuff is on the public side, with water and the corrals on the runners' side. There are bathrooms on both sides - with long lines on the public side and manageable lines on the runners'.
The race staging will probably interfere with any pre-run habits you develop. You stage in your corrals in the back corner of the Studios lot then get walked down to the main parking gate - a process that seems to take forever.

Good luck and most of all, have fun! I always hear people talk about how everyone is really friendly at Disney, but there's a sense of family among runners. We all have something in common, and I'm sure you finish the race with a few more friends than you started with.

 

[StayCool]

It looks like your day before and race day will be a pretty good rest. The expo is huge and overwhelming, but it shouldn't take most of your day. It might take longer if your planning on attending some of the sessions. There are lots of temptations to shop and spend way too much money.
If you're planning on stopping for the characters along the course (there weren't any out at the bash), check in with the official photographers. They had a pretty good pre-race discount last year.
In our plans last year, the race wasn't going to take over the end of our trip (we planned AK the next day), but it took them over anyway. I think your plan is good in that regard.



We were in your shoes last year - running our first races leading up to the big one. We did fine and in sure that you will too! Some things that I didn't realize going in...

The biggest shock to us was all the people gathered for the race start. I'm not sure how big of crowds you're used to, but it was an insane number of people to us. It probably took 45 minutes for the deer-in-headlights effect to wear off. You had the 10,000 some racers plus many brought friends and family. There's a public side and a runners' side to the pre-race festivities. All the fun stuff is on the public side, with water and the corrals on the runners' side. There are bathrooms on both sides - with long lines on the public side and manageable lines on the runners'.
The race staging will probably interfere with any pre-run habits you develop. You stage in your corrals in the back corner of the Studios lot then get walked down to the main parking gate - a process that seems to take forever.

Good luck and most of all, have fun! I always hear people talk about how everyone is really friendly at Disney, but there's a sense of family among runners. We all have something in common, and I'm sure you finish the race with a few more friends than you started with.

I will probably need my husband to reign me in at the expo. I'm just going to get an I Did It shirt.... lol

As for the crowds, I have no idea what to expect. I'm hoping to get some experience over the summer with that, but I am definitely a little nervous...

 

[drummrsanonymous]

The race shirt that was included with registration was a very nice shirt, but it is an athletic shirt, so it may not fit in where you'd want to wear it. My wife liked the hair bands they had and got an "I did it" magnet for her car. The crowds are huge at the start, but things quickly thin out once you get into the race. You'll probably settle into a group running at a similar pace as you - these can be your best friends during the race.

If you come up with any questions about the race, I'll be glad to try to answer them.

 

[StayCool]

So my ADR day is tomorrow which means I'm playing with my final schedule of course!

Here is the original:
Day 1: Flight arrives at 10a. Check in, lunch. Then MNSSHP at 4p-12a.
Day 2: Animal Kingdom 9a-5p with EMH. This is the one I am questioning...
Day 3: Magic Kingdom 9a-9p
Day 4: Hollywood Studios 9a-7:30p
Day 5: Epcot 9a-9p
Day 6: TOT 10 miler expo/DTD
Day 7: Resort day/water park/kid's race? TOT 10 miler and Bash 10p-3a
Day 8: DTD/resort day/water park - this is our last day.
Day 9: ME pickup around 6 am.

And the one I have now:
Day 1: DTD or MNSSHP???
Day 2: Hollywood studios
Day 3: Magic Kingdom
Day 4: Resort/DTD/Water park
Day 5: Epcot
Day 6: Race expo/free day
Day 7: Animal Kingdom and TOT race and bash.
Day 8: free day - MNSSHP???

I can't decide if I should do the Halloween party the first day or last. If we do it the first night, we will not have any sleep and will have no clue where we are going because this will be our first trip to WDW. If I do it the last night, we will get to sleep in and go. Downside is that ME will be picking us up around 6 am for the flight home. Any suggestions?? I'm driving myself crazy.

 

[drummrsanonymous]

And the one I have now:
Day 1: DTD or MNSSHP???
Day 2: Hollywood studios
Day 3: Magic Kingdom
Day 4: Resort/DTD/Water park
Day 5: Epcot
Day 6: Race expo/free day
Day 7: Animal Kingdom and TOT race and bash.
Day 8: free day - MNSSHP???

I can't decide if I should do the Halloween party the first day or last. If we do it the first night, we will not have any sleep and will have no clue where we are going because this will be our first trip to WDW. If I do it the last night, we will get to sleep in and go. Downside is that ME will be picking us up around 6 am for the flight home. Any suggestions?? I'm driving myself crazy.

It sounds like you've pretty much made up your mind towards doing MNSSHP on Day 8. That's what I would do too, especially since it's your first trip. That way your first exposure to MK is more traditional, and the party will let you "stretch out" the end of your trip. If you pack up as much as possible before the party, the 6am pickup shouldn't be too bad.

There's always a little panic right around ADR time (at least for me). The good news is that ADRs aren't as critical for Oct-Nov. Outside of Royal Table and Be Our Guest dinner, you could probably get away with making/changing reservations pretty late. And if you do have to make a last minute change, you never know what you might discover. We discovered the Plaza Restaurant at MK on such a change, and it was one of our favorite meals.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[slickpoetry]

Dates: 9/28-10/6 at POR


I think my biggest concern is loading all the park days in the beginning of the trip. The reason I am doing it is that between the TOT race and Columbus Day the crowd level increases throughout my trip so I would rather go on lower days.

Columbus day is October 13. I wouldn't think it should affect any trip that ends October 6. The weekend before Columbus Day is busy (October 11 and 12) but I don't think it affects your dates.

 

[StayCool]

There's always a little panic right around ADR time (at least for me). The good news is that ADRs aren't as critical for Oct-Nov. Outside of Royal Table and Be Our Guest dinner, you could probably get away with making/changing reservations pretty late. And if you do have to make a last minute change, you never know what you might discover. We discovered the Plaza Restaurant at MK on such a change, and it was one of our favorite meals.

Yesterday was my ADR day so I was freaking out. lol I ended up moving Epcot to a day earlier and we are doing MNSSHP in the middle so the last day we can get whatever last minute things that we missed or even just enjoy the resort.

Columbus day is October 13. I wouldn't think it should affect any trip that ends October 6. The weekend before Columbus Day is busy (October 11 and 12) but I don't think it affects your dates.

What I meant is I scheduled my trip intentionally to miss Columbus Day and since the race is the weekend at the end of the trip it would effect it. But it's all good now. I have my dates set and my ADRs booked. Now I just have to figure out which FP to get. Thankfully I have some time! lol

 

[slickpoetry]

What I meant is I scheduled my trip intentionally to miss Columbus Day and since the race is the weekend at the end of the trip it would effect it. But it's all good now. I have my dates set and my ADRs booked. Now I just have to figure out which FP to get. Thankfully I have some time! lol

Ah I understand. Sorry for my confusion.

 

[Travelgrrl]

I am an advocate of going early early to EMH, touring for the morning with an early lunch at 10:30 or 11:00 (you will be famished by then, and no one else is starting to have lunch yet - they are lining up for the rides you already went on).

Then leave the parks at about 1:00, get to your hotel at 2:00, rest or swim until 5:00. Then head refreshed back to the parks for the PM. As you enter you will see flocks of parents who tried to run all day without a break leaving with their tired, crying kids. Your family will be ready to take on an entire evening of touring!

Whether your kids are toddlers, tweens or teens, this works amazingly well. You are being contrary by arriving early (no lines) eating early (no lines), having a rest, then fewer lines in the evening.

Even at my more 'advanced' age, I can't go all day and night, too. You'll enjoy the nights so much more with a few hours break.

 

[johde]

And the one I have now:
Day 1: DTD or MNSSHP???
Day 2: Hollywood studios
Day 3: Magic Kingdom
Day 4: Resort/DTD/Water park
Day 5: Epcot
Day 6: Race expo/free day
Day 7: Animal Kingdom and TOT race and bash.
Day 8: free day - MNSSHP???

I can't decide if I should do the Halloween party the first day or last. If we do it the first night, we will not have any sleep and will have no clue where we are going because this will be our first trip to WDW. If I do it the last night, we will get to sleep in and go. Downside is that ME will be picking us up around 6 am for the flight home. Any suggestions?? I'm driving myself crazy.

If it were me, I'd consider spring for both the WP&M and Park Hoppers and do the following Themepark Days

Day 2: AK and DHS
Day 3: MK
Day 5 EPCOT
Day 6 Seaworld (not on your list but active duty and 3 dependents get's free admission) It should also require minimal walking the day before the race.
Day 7 Water Park , TOT 10 miler & Bash
Day 8 Repeat Favorites/ Grab Missed Attractions at choice of parks.