Feedback on Dining Plans/Itinerary

[brandyleeann]

Hi everyone!

I have really appreciated all the advice and insights I have learned from reading these boards and am hoping you can give some feedback as my plans are coming together for our upcoming trip. I am including some itinerary information, as well as my dining plans, so that you can share any ideas you have about travel time and other logistical matters.

Saturday, December 30
- Arrive at MCO at 330 pm.
- Estimating 2 hours travel time due to international arrival, so hoping to be at AKL - Jambo House by 530 pm.
- Check-in, get settled in room.
- Sanaa supper at 705 pm.

Sunday, December 31
- Boma breakfast at 945 am.
- Pool and likely a snack/light lunch at the pool bar until about 200.
- Back to room to get showered etc and ready for evening.
- Leave resort at 300 pm and bus to MK, and then boat over to Ft Wildneress.
- Hoop de Doo Review at 400 pm.
- Boat ride back over to MK and hope to be there around 730 pm.
- Hoping to FastPass: Pirates of Caribbean, Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain. NOTE: I know Pirates and Speedway are not your typical FP rides, but I don't want to venture too far from Tomorrowland Terrace as I know it will be packed!
- NYE dessert party for 1040 pm.

Monday, January 1
- Check out of AKL and have them send our luggage to next resort, which is Beach Club.
- Leave resort by 1030 am and head to Hollywood Studios.
- Lunch at 50's Prime Time at 1140 am.
- Hoping to FastPass: Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, Tower of Terror, with a day of FP for Rock n' Roller Coaster.
- F! Dining Package at Minnie's Seasonal Dine at Hollywood and Vine at 455 pm.
- F!

Tuesday, January 2
- Breakfast at Tuskar House for at 840 am.
- Hoping to FastPass: Flights of Passage (like everyone else ha!), Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, with a day of FP for Dinosaur.
- Supper is planned at Tiffins for 600 pm, and if ever Rivers of Lights open up, I will be trying to score a ROL package at Tiffins.
- Rivers of Light

Wednesday, January 3
- Breakfast at Akershus for 825 am.
- Hoping to FastPass: Test Track, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth. We will also be planning to do Soarin right after breakfast and would like to do Turtle Talk with Crush and Living with the Land, and then mostly the pavilions in the afternoon.
- Supper is at Via Napoli for 435 pm.
- I am REALLY hoping to get Frozen Ever After dessert party, which is why you don't see FEA as one of my FastPasses, so above strategy will change if I need to.
- Illuminations

Thursday, January 4
- This is mostly a resort day so that we can enjoy the Beach Club pool.
- No breakfast planned, as we have an early lunch at Beaches and Cream at 1100 am.
- Supper is planned for Yachtsman at 520 pm.
- The plan is then to take the friendship boat to HS so that we can see the Star Wars show, assuming it is still happening.
- If we can, I would like to do another set of FastPasses, that would include Beauty and the Beast and Indiana Jones.

Friday, January 5
- Breakfast at Crystal Palace at 830 am.
- Hoping to FastPass: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Big Thunder Mountain Railway, Splash Mountain. I would like to get day of FP for Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion.
- I have an 1145 am for Tony's, only because I am keen to get the Festival of Fantasy package for the seating.
- Supper is at Be our Guest for 625 pm.
- Hoping to watch Happily Ever After fireworks.

Saturday, January 6
- Breakfast is at 815 am for Minnie's Beach Bash at Cape May Cafe.
- Leaving at around 945 for Port Canaveral for our 7-day Western Caribbean Cruise on the Disney Fantasy!!!

So, what are your thoughts? Anything I need to be concerned about from a timing perspective? If it is important, we are not planning on a dining plan at this point, and I know some of our decisions seem strange - like Tony's after a big breakfast, but I am planning as much as possible for dedicated space for each of the big shows we want to see (which is why we are keen on the NYE and FEA dessert parties, ROL, F!, etc...), but I have heard the food is awful so maybe that is a good decision .

Thanks so much for your thoughts and advice!

Brandy

 

[DeterminedOne]

Your travel times seem tight. For example -- hotel to MK to HDDR in an hour. It may take 20 minutes just to get a bus to MK. When using WDW transportation they recommend 90 minutes. I agree..

 

[brandyleeann]

Your travel times seem tight. For example -- hotel to MK to HDDR in an hour. It may take 20 minutes just to get a bus to MK. When using WDW transportation they recommend 90 minutes. I agree..

Thank so so much - wasn't sure how much time to budget. Our kids are still needing boosters and the Minnie vans are only at the Epcot area resorts, are there other options that would take less time?

 

[DeterminedOne]

Thank so so much - wasn't sure how much time to budget. Our kids are still needing boosters and the Minnie vans are only at the Epcot area resorts, are there other options that would take less time?

Taxi or Uber comes to mind, but I don't know how those work with boosters/car seats. There may be other options I am unaware of. Stay tuned as fellow Dis members will be a big help. You have great dining options lined up. Bet you're excited.

 

[brandyleeann]

Taxi or Uber comes to mind, but I don't know how those work with boosters/car seats. There may be other options I am unaware of. Stay tuned as fellow Dis members will be a big help. You have great dining options lined up. Bet you're excited.

I am SO excited!!! I just posted over in the Transportation boards so hopefully I'll get some thoughts there on the specific question of getting to HDDR. Of course, if we just need to line up for the bus at 230, we can do that too! I think I'll make our Boma breakfast earlier to give more time at the pool before we would need to head back to the room to get ready for a potentially earlier departure.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Keep your eyes open to see if Minnie Vans become available to more resorts. Even if they do, they may be in extremely high demand on Dec. 31. Traffic will be REALLY bad on Dec. 31. It has taken me 90 minutes to get from resort to resort using Disney transportation during off-season times. I would be at the AKL bus stop by 1:00 pm at the very latest if you are busing and boating to Ft. W. If you are early, there is a playground there, a cute gift shop, plus the WDW stables with all of the WDW horses. If your children are small enough they can take a pony ride. If you are at the AKL bus stop at 3 pm for a 4 pm HDDR show, you will definitely not make it in time.

I would consider pushing your 50's Prime Time reservation a little later so you can stay at AKL until 11 am if you want to. (or, though not guaranteed, even ask for possibly late check out for that day). It is very likely you won't be back at AKL until 1:30 - 2:00 am after being in MK for the midnight fireworks. I think, given your plans for Dec. 31, Jan. 1 looks very ambitious, IMHO, but only you know what your family's stamina level is.

 

[FelisLachesis]

One note about the 31st, be mindful of MK reaching some level of a park close that day. I love MK on New year's Eve, but it's packed! If it gets to level 3, you may want to think about changing your plans before the possibility of it hitting the dreaded 4, and getting yourself locked out. It hasn't happened recently, but it has happened in the past. Most of the Disney news sites will keep everyone informed as to where the park closure levels are during the day.

And we're all looking for the Frozen dessert party on the 3rd, we might see you there if they do it!

Also on New year's Eve, instead of The Speedway, what about Buzz Light year's Space Ranger Spin?