Feedback on 10 day plan...

[REEREEG]

I am getting ready to make ADRs soon for our trip the end of April. I am hoping I can get some feedback on our plan. I have a lot of character dining because my daughter still believes they are real but probably won't by the next time we go. I'm also trying to plan a relaxing vacation but even being there for 10 nights, I keep thinking it's not enough time to do everything AND relax!

Will arrive in Orlando at about 3pm & spend the afternoon at the hotel (Swan).
Dinner @ Blue Zoo around 5:30pm

Sunday, we will spend the day at Magic Kingdom (it's my daughter's birthday).
Breakfast: earliest time Be Our Guest
I'd like a late lunch at cinderellas Royal table & then cake & ice cream in the evening but not sure when I'll be able to get CRT reservations for or if I could get a cake at the Plaza restaurant or if that would make sense given that they don't take reservations...

On Monday we will go to Epcot in the morning, spend the afternoon at the hotel and then go back to Epcot for dinner.
Breakfast: earliest Akershus reservation
Lunch: quick service at Epcot or the Fountain at hotel
Dinner: Rose & crown around 7:30

Tuesday
Breakfast: 8am Hollywood & Vine
Lunch: Hollywood brown derby lounge?
Dinner: tusker house ~7pm (dining package if they have one for ROL by springtime)

On Wednesday we will switch from the Swan to the Polynesian.
Breakfast: late breakfast at hotel
Afternoon: Tea at the Grand Floridian while my daughter goes to the Alice Tea Party

Thursday is pirate day My daughter will do the adventure cruise from GF from 9:30-11:30 and then go to magic kingdom for Pirates league & rides & the pirate game. Then have dinner at The Wave before the pirate & pals cruise at night.

Friday - probably animal kingdom all day (with a friend who will join us for the day & has never been to animal kingdom)
8am breakfast tusker house
3ish Tiffins

Saturday - Epcot afternoon & evening
Breakfast: late breakfast at kona cafe
Dinner: 4:30 @ spice road table
Illuminations dessert party

Sunday - magic kingdom in morning - swim & relax at hotel in afternoon & evening
Breakfast: earliest reservation at Crystal palace
Dinner: Ohana try for 7pm ish reservation

Monday - swim, relax, Disney springs? & Epcot in evening
Dinner: hacienda de sol 7:30?

We need to head to the airport on Tuesday at about 12:30. I'm thinking either PPO breakfast at Be our guest & then a few favorite rides or sleeping later and having breakfast at 10:30ish at 1900 park fare...

Thank you for any advice!!

 

[dancer_mom]

It looks really good. Just a couple of things I noticed.

I like the idea of CRT with the cake. I think if you are trying for a late lunch you should have success. The off peak times are easier to get.

You have Tusker House twice? Any reason why not doing Tusker House and ROL on the day your friend is joining you? You could then do PPO Tusker and Tiffins for ROL - if it's happening of course. Then on your DHS day you could do something in the evening there - are you guys not interested in Fantasmic or the fireworks?

For the last day I love the idea of one last breakfast and a few rides to finish the trip. You gave yourself a day off the night before so you could pack in the morning on Monday in order to make that happen. Since you will have already done BOG I think early breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and then head over to MK would be more fun as it would be different. Not sure if you have done Disney World before but I LOVE Park Fare for breakfast - it is one of my favorites.

Jealous of your 10 days!!! We are doing 7 days this year but it's our longest trip yet. Have fun!

 

[Accident]

I think your going to be in epcot more than you think that second day. it's going to be flower and garden gonig on and if you've never been, it's going to be gorgeous and the type of day you just want to stroll, try out some of the food and take in epcot like it once was when landscaping was a bigger deal than it is today.. I would push at least 1 of those adrs (probably dinner) to a later date to give you the time and room to just stroll around without being in a food coma and then trying to eat dinner after an afternoon at flower and garden.. Do the agent p game with your daughter, that'll help give a purpose for her to want to be there and just roam around with no agenda except where the game takes you.

otherwise it's just holy table services and park switching in that schedule with a lot of early morning and late nights with traveling to get to the next place to eat instead of enjoying the parks (in my mind).

 

[PlutosUnDr8d]

I think your going to be in epcot more than you think that second day. it's going to be flower and garden gonig on and if you've never been, it's going to be gorgeous and the type of day you just want to stroll, try out some of the food and take in epcot like it once was when landscaping was a bigger deal than it is today.. I would push at least 1 of those adrs (probably dinner) to a later date to give you the time and room to just stroll around without being in a food coma and then trying to eat dinner after an afternoon at flower and garden.. Do the agent p game with your daughter, that'll help give a purpose for her to want to be there and just roam around with no agenda except where the game takes you.

otherwise it's just holy table services and park switching in that schedule with a lot of early morning and late nights with traveling to get to the next place to eat instead of enjoying the parks (in my mind).

And, with Flower and Garden, there will be booths all around WS featuring snack items and drinks, typically using seasonal and fresh ingredients. It could even serve as lunch! Your plan sounds wonderful--what a great birthday celebration for your daughter! Have a magical trip!

 

[REEREEG]

It looks really good. Just a couple of things I noticed.

I like the idea of CRT with the cake. I think if you are trying for a late lunch you should have success. The off peak times are easier to get.

You have Tusker House twice? Any reason why not doing Tusker House and ROL on the day your friend is joining you? You could then do PPO Tusker and Tiffins for ROL - if it's happening of course. Then on your DHS day you could do something in the evening there - are you guys not interested in Fantasmic or the fireworks?

For the last day I love the idea of one last breakfast and a few rides to finish the trip. You gave yourself a day off the night before so you could pack in the morning on Monday in order to make that happen. Since you will have already done BOG I think early breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and then head over to MK would be more fun as it would be different. Not sure if you have done Disney World before but I LOVE Park Fare for breakfast - it is one of my favorites.

Jealous of your 10 days!!! We are doing 7 days this year but it's our longest trip yet. Have fun!

Thanks! I was thinking of ROL twice but it's probably crazy to go to Disney & not see Fantasmic.

I was there last 17 years ago so I don't remember much!

1900 Park fare does sound good. I think I will switch things up!

 

[REEREEG]

I think your going to be in epcot more than you think that second day. it's going to be flower and garden gonig on and if you've never been, it's going to be gorgeous and the type of day you just want to stroll, try out some of the food and take in epcot like it once was when landscaping was a bigger deal than it is today.. I would push at least 1 of those adrs (probably dinner) to a later date to give you the time and room to just stroll around without being in a food coma and then trying to eat dinner after an afternoon at flower and garden.. Do the agent p game with your daughter, that'll help give a purpose for her to want to be there and just roam around with no agenda except where the game takes you.

otherwise it's just holy table services and park switching in that schedule with a lot of early morning and late nights with traveling to get to the next place to eat instead of enjoying the parks (in my mind).

Okay - thanks! I was primarily picking Akershus in the morning to get on FEA before the line got too long & Rose & Crown for Illuminations viewing - neither was really for the food...

Hmm... If we will get a good view of illuminations with the dessert party, maybe having dinner in a good viewing location doesn't matter so much...

 

[Accident]

I was there last 17 years ago so I don't remember much!

AH! ok this changes everything when looking at the schedule because I thought you had visited closer.. A lot has changed in 17 years and there is a lot of stuff you have never seen. First, lines are longer and there is more people slowing you down getting anywhere. It's not going to be the pace you remember it. Also 2 of the parks are what I call hour long attractions. either the way the attraction itself is, or the wait to get on it is going to take an hour to do. Even though there is only 5-6 things you want to see it's 6 hours to see them. (HS and AK).

I think your grossly underestimating how much food and time your spending eating food. illuminations doesn't have a bad spot to watch, do you need to take an hour for more food just to stand with the same view as everyone else? I strongly suggest you make a chart of when your waking up, eating, traveling to eat and then getting back to the resort to sleep. use 90 minutes for table service in the same park. Use an hour for how long it takes to get from where you are to where you need to be (changing parks, going to and from resort, switching to springs).. don't forget how long it takes to get ready to get out the door with 1 bathroom in the morning. put in 90 minutes to get from the park back to the hotel if it's closing time and 60 if it's not. When your done I think you'll be shocked how little sleep your getting how long your awake with all the walking you do at disney (7-15 miles per day) and how little time in the park you actually have to do anything. This schedule in my mind is not fun or relaxing.. I woudl be revolting on day 2 that we have to eat again already because we're missing out on the parks and a main reason we came. food and desert parties can really add to a trip but they can also quickly take away from it if you go overboard.

Many people are just under the impression that you need a desert party or package to get a great seat, you have to get fastpass to ride the rides, you have to be there at rope drop to do most of the attractions, you can't miss any character meals, meal plan saves you money and there is enough time in the day to have 3 table services per day + switching parks... It's just disney marketing to get you to spend more money and need to stay longer. I 100% agree that with your schedule, you cannot do it in 10 days.. You really have 6 days of food and 4 days of attractions in your schedule (and some rest time that you need more of.).

now some days look amazing like what you have planned for your daughter when they are a little less crowded with food. it's the park time that your using to just eat all day where I think your going to regret it when you get home and start trying to replan middle of the trip.. We've all fallen into the meal plan is saving money trap and then we plan our trips around food because we want it to actually be worth what we spent for it. The reality is eventually we all wake up and start to want more time in the parks or the resorts (or head over to universal for a day or two) and all this food is not adding to the trip and just costing us more..

 

[REEREEG]

AH! ok this changes everything when looking at the schedule because I thought you had visited closer.. A lot has changed in 17 years and there is a lot of stuff you have never seen. First, lines are longer and there is more people slowing you down getting anywhere. It's not going to be the pace you remember it. Also 2 of the parks are what I call hour long attractions. either the way the attraction itself is, or the wait to get on it is going to take an hour to do. Even though there is only 5-6 things you want to see it's 6 hours to see them. (HS and AK).

I think your grossly underestimating how much food and time your spending eating food. illuminations doesn't have a bad spot to watch, do you need to take an hour for more food just to stand with the same view as everyone else? I strongly suggest you make a chart of when your waking up, eating, traveling to eat and then getting back to the resort to sleep. use 90 minutes for table service in the same park. Use an hour for how long it takes to get from where you are to where you need to be (changing parks, going to and from resort, switching to springs).. don't forget how long it takes to get ready to get out the door with 1 bathroom in the morning. put in 90 minutes to get from the park back to the hotel if it's closing time and 60 if it's not. When your done I think you'll be shocked how little sleep your getting how long your awake with all the walking you do at disney (7-15 miles per day) and how little time in the park you actually have to do anything. This schedule in my mind is not fun or relaxing.. I woudl be revolting on day 2 that we have to eat again already because we're missing out on the parks and a main reason we came. food and desert parties can really add to a trip but they can also quickly take away from it if you go overboard.

Many people are just under the impression that you need a desert party or package to get a great seat, you have to get fastpass to ride the rides, you have to be there at rope drop to do most of the attractions, you can't miss any character meals, meal plan saves you money and there is enough time in the day to have 3 table services per day + switching parks... It's just disney marketing to get you to spend more money and need to stay longer. I 100% agree that with your schedule, you cannot do it in 10 days.. You really have 6 days of food and 4 days of attractions in your schedule (and some rest time that you need more of.).

now some days look amazing like what you have planned for your daughter when they are a little less crowded with food. it's the park time that your using to just eat all day where I think your going to regret it when you get home and start trying to replan middle of the trip.. We've all fallen into the meal plan is saving money trap and then we plan our trips around food because we want it to actually be worth what we spent for it. The reality is eventually we all wake up and start to want more time in the parks or the resorts (or head over to universal for a day or two) and all this food is not adding to the trip and just costing us more..

This is tough - there is so much to do!!!

 

[hamilkm]

I think it looks like fun, but my only recommendation is maybe less pre park opening breakfast reservations. Those are truly exhausting because if you want to get there in time to get any park advantage you have to be lined up at 7:30 or before. This means leaving your resort as early as 6:30 (maybe 7 for MK when you are at the Poly). I would think about getting to the parks an hour later a day or 2 for actual rope drop, get a lot of touring done then do a late character breakfast/early character lunch at like 10:45 or 11. This will give you an extra hour of valuable sleep! Also with a young daughter you may want a little more MK time, but staying at the Poly you can always wing that.

 

[REEREEG]

Okay - I scratched the park hopping & cut a PPO breakfast & a couple other things...
Is this still too much?

First evening just relax at hotel & eat somewhere that doesn't need reservations

Sunday - MK all day
PPO Be Our Guest
late lunch at cinderellas Royal table & then cake & ice cream in the evening...

Monday - Epcot afternoon & evening
late breakfast at cape may on way to Epcot & then Rose & Crown around 7:30

Tuesday - HS morning & evening - afternoon at hotel
Breakfast: 8am Hollywood & Vine (if my daughter is still really into Jake & Sofia)
Dinner: Fantasmic dining package @ Hollywood brown derby lounge

Wednesday switch from Swan to the Polynesian.
Breakfast: late breakfast at hotel
Afternoon: Tea at the Grand Floridian while my daughter goes to the Alice Tea Party

Thursday - pirate adventure cruise from GF from 9:30-11:30 and then go to magic kingdom for Pirates league & rides & pirate game - maybe dinner at The Wave to get something healthy before the pirate & pals cruise at night.

Friday - animal kingdom all day
PPO breakfast tusker house & then Tiffins around 3pm

Saturday - Epcot afternoon & evening late breakfast at kona cafe
& Illuminations dessert party at night

Sunday - PPO Crystal palace & MK in morning - then spend afternoon at Polynesian pool & dinner around 7pm-ish at Ohana

Monday - leave Monday mostly open - maybe kona cafe at hotel or hacienda de San angel at Epcot

Tuesday - couple last rides at magic kingdom & then breakfast at 1900 Park fare

 

[hamilkm]

Okay - I scratched the park hopping & cut a PPO breakfast & a couple other things...
Is this still too much?

First evening just relax at hotel & eat somewhere that doesn't need reservations

Sunday - MK all day
PPO Be Our Guest
late lunch at cinderellas Royal table & then cake & ice cream in the evening...

Monday - Epcot afternoon & evening
late breakfast at cape may on way to Epcot & then Rose & Crown around 7:30

Tuesday - HS morning & evening - afternoon at hotel
Breakfast: 8am Hollywood & Vine (if my daughter is still really into Jake & Sofia)
Dinner: Fantasmic dining package @ Hollywood brown derby lounge

Wednesday switch from Swan to the Polynesian.
Breakfast: late breakfast at hotel
Afternoon: Tea at the Grand Floridian while my daughter goes to the Alice Tea Party

Thursday - pirate adventure cruise from GF from 9:30-11:30 and then go to magic kingdom for Pirates league & rides & pirate game - maybe dinner at The Wave to get something healthy before the pirate & pals cruise at night.

Friday - animal kingdom all day
PPO breakfast tusker house & then Tiffins around 3pm

Saturday - Epcot afternoon & evening late breakfast at kona cafe
& Illuminations dessert party at night

Sunday - PPO Crystal palace & MK in morning - then spend afternoon at Polynesian pool & dinner around 7pm-ish at Ohana

Monday - leave Monday mostly open - maybe kona cafe at hotel or hacienda de San angel at Epcot

Tuesday - couple last rides at magic kingdom & then breakfast at 1900 Park fare

It looks good. My only thing is doing PPO adrs after 2 late nights (pirates and pals, Illuminations) may be kind of rough. We did a PPO BOG the morning after doing fantasmic/Star Wars fireworks back in May. It was really rough and we were 2 young adults and a teenager. We were all back at the hotel napping by mid afternoon, lol!