Disney until we drop! Our bi-coastal Disney adventure - July 2017 PTR (update 1/29, WoC question)

[FrancoFun]

We don't know the most about Disney, we're not the most seasoned park-goers, but we're going to give it a go!
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Who's going on the trip?

DW (right) and I (left)

DW and I have been married for 13 years (14 by trip time). This is a pic of she and I in Las Vegas for her 40th birthday. We live in the greater Toronto area, Canada, but are originally from Quebec (me) and Texas (DW). I am a middle school teacher, and she is a library manager.

DS10

He is in 5th grade in a program for gifted students. He's also a competitive Irish dancer, and we travel through Canada and the US for dance competitions throughout the year. He also loves Star Wars, Baymax and eating.
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Favourite parks: Epcot, with Magic Kingdom a close second
Favourite rides: Big Thunder Mountain (me), Tower of Terror (DW), Expedition Everest (DS10)

DW and I are relative newbies to Disney parks. We visited DLR once, spending 3 days in the parks in 2012. Then in 2014 we spent 4 days in WDW. For both of those trips, we stayed offsite. This year, we decided to try something new. We will be kicking off our trip with about a week in Los Angeles with friends, hitting DLR for 1 day, possibly two. We will then be driving from LA to Gallup, NM to visit friends. From there, we will be heading to Dallas to visit my in-laws. The trip with end with a flight to Orlando and 7 days in Orlando, with a stay at POR from July 16-22!

Please follow along and please feel free to comment and help out as I plan our trip!

 

[FrancoFun]

Reserved for planning notes and links!

1. Preliminary trip itinerary
2. WDW parks and ADR ideas
3. Our booked ADRs, and a driving dilemma. Ideas?

 

[FrancoFun]

So here is how I think our trip will likely work out, timing wise:

July 1 - Fly to CA
July 2-6 in CA (with 1-2 of those days at DLR, but I'm thinking we should avoid July 4)
July 7-10 in NM
July 11-15 in TX
July 16-22 at POR!!

 

[FrancoFun]

Our WDW Plans, or at least how I am hoping things will work out.

July 16 - Flying into Orlando, check in at POR.
July 17 - DHS, maybe with Star Wars dessert party?
July 18 - AK. Boma breakfast and Yak & Yeti supper.
July 19 - Epcot. TeppanEdo supper.
July 20 - MK, maybe with Wishes dessert party?
July 21 - Epcot. Garden Grill breakfast. Raglan Road later supper.
July 22 - Fly back to Toronto.

Which quick-service places should we hit at DHS? There isn't a sit-down that's really calling to me, so I think we'd prefer to do QS at that park, sharing meals and snacks. For MK, I think we will likely have lunch at Pecos Bills and have some corn dog nuggets at Casey's Corner.

 

[FrancoFun]

Well, today was my ADR day! I hopped on at 6:00am and got all of the things we wanted in terms of TS for the trip. Here's our list:

July 16 - Supper at 'Ohana
July 17 - No reservations. This is our day at DHS. We will likely do QS in Disney Springs for supper.
July 18 - AK. Boma breakfast and Yak & Yeti supper.
July 19 - Epcot. TeppanEdo for an early supper.
July 20 - MK. No TS reservation. Wishes dessert party.
July 21 - Epcot. Garden Grill breakfast. Raglan Road supper.
July 22 - Fly back to Toronto.

So, here is our latest dilemma:
We are starting our trip on July 1st in CA, flying down from Toronto that day. We will be doing one day at DLR (likely July 5th) and then doing some legs of driving through the states (see post 3) But, should we drive from Dallas to Orlando, or fly?? Flying might be more convenient? If we drive, then we would have a car with us in Orlando. Thoughts? I know we can park for free at the resort and and the parks since we are staying onsite. Can we also park at other resorts (like for breakfast at Boma?)

 

[FrancoFun]

So I believe that we have decided that our one day at DLR will be July 5th.

DW is pretty sure she does not want to do any dining reservations, and just do QS that day. It will likely be a rope-drop to close day for us, as plans are looking like we will spend only one day at the parks.

We have seen fireworks at Disneyland before, but have not seen World of Colour. Currently debating whether we should use a Fast Pass for it on that day.