musicmantrs
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2012
- Messages
- 133
Good Day everyone! I've been a long time consumer of this group but seldom a poster. I wanted to put out a pre-trip report this time because I've never traveled to WDW with a child and want to get feedback on the plan overall. A little background on me, I'm a software consultant and travel regularly for work so we try to make the most of our breaks and travel on points I earn from work (sadly Disney doesn't fall into these points categories). My son has traveled a lot (3 different countries) already just never to DL or WDW. The messaging for the entire crew on this trip is we will be taking cues from our son and not trying to throw too much of the adult's must-haves into the plan.
Our Group:
I'm Russell and have been a Disney fan since our first family trip to Disneyland in 1991 (me pictured with my Dad):
My DW - met in 2010 my senior year of College (first Disney trips in 2012 together) - we got engaged in November 2012 at MK!:
The Disney crew for this trip (DW, ME, my Sister, my Father):
+ My Son!
Our Stay:
5 Nights from late September to early October at the Contemporary with Theme Park View (5 people in 1 room - woohoo!). I have a few reward nights for Marriott and am grabbing a nights at Swan sprinkled into the trip for afternoon naps and then someone to stay over there if they want to take advantage of Food and Wine.
Our Extras:
Stroller from a local stroller rental company
9/29 - MNSSHP and Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party
Free TS Dining Plan
Memory Maker
Custom Matching Disney Themed T-Shirts (I learned how to make them for this trip!) - pictures after this weekend's projects are complete
Any other pixie dust that lines up with our plans
Planned Dining:
Tusker Lunch Noon - 9/29
BOG Lunch 11:50 - 9/30
Narcooses Dinner 5:45 - 9/30
Akershus Dinner 6:25 - 10/1
CP Breakfast 8:05 - 10/2
Our Park Plan:
Day 1 - Saturday Sept 28 (arriving late 9/27)
RD Epcot - ease into it from our central time zone with the latest opening park. Hoping to FastPass FEA, RD Soarin, and let my sister and dad ride TT at their leisure. Hoping for the Character spot replacement(s) to be eligible for a Tier 2 FP, if not we can wait in line. From there, we will just do whatever DS wants to until Lunch and then either grab snacks from around the world (Food and Wine kiosks!) or grab lunch somewhere that looks good.
After an afternoon nap at the Swan, we will make our way to AK and take in any shows/rides (Safari 20 times? - DS LOVES zoos and animals) that time allows - no expectation of FOP. Definitely do the Trek and take the train to the renewed animal area. Grab dinner at the park (QS and/or snacks) and go back whenever DS is ready to call it a day (a few adults may make there way back to Epcot to finish out the night).
Day 2 - Sunday Sept 29
RD AK - a few plans to be dictated by FP availability. If we can get an early FOP - sure (not holding my breath). More likely, RD FOP and then FP Kilimanjaro and Everest. The goal for this day will be to do all 3 rides at least once through RD, FP, and refresh FP. Lunch at Tusker at Noon
Afternoon nap back at Contemporary and then the magical Main Street moment happens with a walk to MK! We are doing the party so we'll let the boy sleep as late as he wants to and then head over in our Toy Story costumes (DS dressing up in Buzz costume, we all have TS t-shirts as other characters). Trick or treating, any rides that look appealing, and Terrace Dessert party
Day 3 - Monday Sept 30
All Day for MK - FP 7DMT, Pan, and Splash (if possible) and then ad hoc FP and rides as available. Lunch at BOG, afternoon nap (in stroller or room), and 6:25 dinner at Narcooses. Take in fireworks either from GF or our room.
Day 4 - Tuesday Oct 1
Early DHS (RD or not is being debated). FP SDD and RD TSMM - avoid SGE. Our goal for DHS will be SDD, Saucers, TSMM, and RNR (stretch goal for sister and dad is TOT). QS Lunch (maybe Woody's lunchbox or if too crowded elsewhere). That afternoon, another nap at the Swan and then on to Epcot. Hit the rides everyone likes and dinner at Akershus. Call it a night whenever with a few adults getting to partake in Food and Wine.
Day 5 - Wednesday Oct 2
Departure day comes too soon. Flight at 4 so Crystal Palace breakfast and spend the morning at MK hitting the highlights with any FP we get at our 60 day mark (Space, Tales with Bell, BTMRR currently planned).
The Future
My wife and I recently had a second (and final) son that won't be on the trip but we have committed to a blow out trip in 2022 (when youngest is 3 and oldest is 6) where everyone is invited so this trip is basically a test run for a 3 year old at WDW. On this future trip the inlaws, my mom, maybe my Aunt, BIL, and our son's 3 cousins will all go.
Thanks for reading and please give us any tips/tricks/feedback on the plan.
Our Group:
I'm Russell and have been a Disney fan since our first family trip to Disneyland in 1991 (me pictured with my Dad):
My DW - met in 2010 my senior year of College (first Disney trips in 2012 together) - we got engaged in November 2012 at MK!:
The Disney crew for this trip (DW, ME, my Sister, my Father):
+ My Son!
Our Stay:
5 Nights from late September to early October at the Contemporary with Theme Park View (5 people in 1 room - woohoo!). I have a few reward nights for Marriott and am grabbing a nights at Swan sprinkled into the trip for afternoon naps and then someone to stay over there if they want to take advantage of Food and Wine.
Our Extras:
Stroller from a local stroller rental company
9/29 - MNSSHP and Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party
Free TS Dining Plan
Memory Maker
Custom Matching Disney Themed T-Shirts (I learned how to make them for this trip!) - pictures after this weekend's projects are complete
Any other pixie dust that lines up with our plans
Planned Dining:
Tusker Lunch Noon - 9/29
BOG Lunch 11:50 - 9/30
Narcooses Dinner 5:45 - 9/30
Akershus Dinner 6:25 - 10/1
CP Breakfast 8:05 - 10/2
Our Park Plan:
Day 1 - Saturday Sept 28 (arriving late 9/27)
RD Epcot - ease into it from our central time zone with the latest opening park. Hoping to FastPass FEA, RD Soarin, and let my sister and dad ride TT at their leisure. Hoping for the Character spot replacement(s) to be eligible for a Tier 2 FP, if not we can wait in line. From there, we will just do whatever DS wants to until Lunch and then either grab snacks from around the world (Food and Wine kiosks!) or grab lunch somewhere that looks good.
After an afternoon nap at the Swan, we will make our way to AK and take in any shows/rides (Safari 20 times? - DS LOVES zoos and animals) that time allows - no expectation of FOP. Definitely do the Trek and take the train to the renewed animal area. Grab dinner at the park (QS and/or snacks) and go back whenever DS is ready to call it a day (a few adults may make there way back to Epcot to finish out the night).
Day 2 - Sunday Sept 29
RD AK - a few plans to be dictated by FP availability. If we can get an early FOP - sure (not holding my breath). More likely, RD FOP and then FP Kilimanjaro and Everest. The goal for this day will be to do all 3 rides at least once through RD, FP, and refresh FP. Lunch at Tusker at Noon
Afternoon nap back at Contemporary and then the magical Main Street moment happens with a walk to MK! We are doing the party so we'll let the boy sleep as late as he wants to and then head over in our Toy Story costumes (DS dressing up in Buzz costume, we all have TS t-shirts as other characters). Trick or treating, any rides that look appealing, and Terrace Dessert party
Day 3 - Monday Sept 30
All Day for MK - FP 7DMT, Pan, and Splash (if possible) and then ad hoc FP and rides as available. Lunch at BOG, afternoon nap (in stroller or room), and 6:25 dinner at Narcooses. Take in fireworks either from GF or our room.
Day 4 - Tuesday Oct 1
Early DHS (RD or not is being debated). FP SDD and RD TSMM - avoid SGE. Our goal for DHS will be SDD, Saucers, TSMM, and RNR (stretch goal for sister and dad is TOT). QS Lunch (maybe Woody's lunchbox or if too crowded elsewhere). That afternoon, another nap at the Swan and then on to Epcot. Hit the rides everyone likes and dinner at Akershus. Call it a night whenever with a few adults getting to partake in Food and Wine.
Day 5 - Wednesday Oct 2
Departure day comes too soon. Flight at 4 so Crystal Palace breakfast and spend the morning at MK hitting the highlights with any FP we get at our 60 day mark (Space, Tales with Bell, BTMRR currently planned).
The Future
My wife and I recently had a second (and final) son that won't be on the trip but we have committed to a blow out trip in 2022 (when youngest is 3 and oldest is 6) where everyone is invited so this trip is basically a test run for a 3 year old at WDW. On this future trip the inlaws, my mom, maybe my Aunt, BIL, and our son's 3 cousins will all go.
Thanks for reading and please give us any tips/tricks/feedback on the plan.
