Feedback on my plans, please!

[kangamama]

My date to make FP+ reservations is coming up, so I think it is time for me to ask for some feedback on my family's plans. A little background before reading the current version of our itinerary: there are seven of us ranging in age from 4 - 75. Four of us are coming from California, with a 3 hour time difference. We are repeat visitors to DisneyLAND, and have not been to WDW. Due to the jet lag (and general dislike of early mornings even in the best of conditions) we are not planning on rope drop, and would rather stay late (we will keep the kids on CA time as long as possible to make this work). We will be there Easter week. The schedule below was chosen based on the advice I got from the easy WDW site.

SAT 3/26
arrival at MCO, early evening, pick up rental car and check in at CBR. If anyone has energy, go to the pool

SUN 3/27
Easter Day
8 am Mother in Law to Easter mass at CR
10 am enter MK -- plan to focus on Fantasyland and Tomorrowland (people mover, YAY!)
Hoping for FP+ for Mine Train, Peter Pan, and Buzz Lightyear
4:15 ADR for CRT

MON 3/28
Animal Kingdom/Epcot
Morning: AK
FP+ for Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur, and Finding Nemo show
Single rider for Expedition Everest for those who want to ride (QUESTION: what is nearby for my kids to do with my MIL and FIL while the rest of us Single Rider EE?)
No ADRs for today
2:00 - 5:00 break
5:00 to Epcot, World Showcase -- snack dinner through World Showcase, check FP kiosks to see what (if anything) is available for that evening

TUES 3/29
Hollywood Studios
This is the one day that we will break our anti-ropedrop rule, and that will be for the sole purpose of getting my 8 year old a spot in the Jedi Training. Wish me luck in so many different ways...!
FP+ for Toy Story, Frozen Sing Along, and Star Tours
Single Rider fro RNRC
12:25 ADR for 50s Prime Time Diner
QUESTION: Do we need a FP for the Indy Stunt Show? I'd likely drop the Frozen Sing Along because we've done that at DLR if you guys think that it would make sense to grab that FP+ instead.
3:00 - 6:00 take a break
8:00 Illuminations cruise from the Yacht Club (AAAAAAA I Can't wait for this!!!! SO EXCITED!!!) (QUESTION -- where should we have dinner before this? I'm not really feeling the food court at CBR... I'd love your thoughts!)

WEDS 3/30
NO PARKS TODAY
9:30 am ADR at Ohana
go back to CBR and enjoy pool and other things that resort offers
4:30 start journey to FWC for HDDR (even though we have a car, we will be using public transit to get to FWC due to the location of the HDDR and the location of the parking. We are planning to see the horses, enjoy the playground, etc as well)
6:15 ADR for HDDR

THURS 3/31
Magic Kingdom
FP+ for Big Thunder, Jungle Cruise, Pirates
12:15 ADR for BOG (may drop this)
6:20 ADR for Crystal Palace
QUESTION: Given the crowd levels this week, would you recommend that we get a FP for Wishes? I'd drop something from this day and get the Wishes FP+ for this day if you all think that would be wise.

FRI 4/1
Epcot
FP+ for Mission Space, Spaceship Earth, and Turtle Talk
Single Rider for Test Track
12:45 ADR at Garden Grill (my kids are Chip and Dale obsessed)

SAT 4/2
Travel day
check out, head to Disney Springs
12:30 ADR at Raglan Road
After lunch, head to MCO

Whew, I'm exhausted reading this. Feedback appreciated, although please keep in mind, as I said above, we are not a rope drop family -- forcing my family to make rope drop will result in a miserable trip for us. We would rather miss out on some stuff, and be happy.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hsmamato2]

I notice you have a single rider plan for RONC.... you can do that, but be aware it's not an 'easy' single rider setup.... you will be waiting quite a while no matter what once crowds build....(vs. single rider for TT in Epcot, which is easy and fast due to the car setup) just be aware of that and you'll be fine... Unsure of the Indy fp+, that venue is so big, just get there early-ish and you should be fine(?)
for MK, you'll be entering at a BUSY time on a BUSY day. Fantasyland is going to be mobbed IMHO, so without a fp+ I wouldn't bother with that area of the park in the middle of the day....(can you go to MK while MIL is at Cr that a.m.?)
There are a lot of nice places to eat at the Boardwalk area for dinner before your cruise....
Personally I wouldn't do a fp+ for a fireworks show, I would locate a place to watch in the back or side of the park somewhere and hang out there to watch..saving fp for other things to shorten a couple of lines.(I prefer finding out of the way places to watch, different view but still a great show)

 

[kangamama]

I notice you have a single rider plan for RONC.... you can do that, but be aware it's not an 'easy' single rider setup.... you will be waiting quite a while no matter what once crowds build....(vs. single rider for TT in Epcot, which is easy and fast due to the car setup) just be aware of that and you'll be fine... Unsure of the Indy fp+, that venue is so big, just get there early-ish and you should be fine(?)
for MK, you'll be entering at a BUSY time on a BUSY day. Fantasyland is going to be mobbed IMHO, so without a fp+ I wouldn't bother with that area of the park in the middle of the day....(can you go to MK while MIL is at Cr that a.m.?)
There are a lot of nice places to eat at the Boardwalk area for dinner before your cruise....
Personally I wouldn't do a fp+ for a fireworks show, I would locate a place to watch in the back or side of the park somewhere and hang out there to watch..saving fp for other things to shorten a couple of lines.(I prefer finding out of the way places to watch, different view but still a great show)

aahh this is exactly the kind of response I was looking for, thank you!

yes -- MK is going to be a mob scene. I'm hoping that we can get our fast passes for 11, noon, and 1. I'm afraid that we won't be able to enter without my MIL. She and my FIL are footing the bill for most of the trip, as it is for their 50th anniversary, and this will be our first day in the park. I think we would all like to experience it together the first day.

We will skip the FP+ for the fireworks and for Indy. Is there a favorite spot that you would recommend for the fireworks viewing? I like to watch from odd spots at Disneyland myself, so this would be fine for us at WDW, too.

 

[hsmamato2]

as far as fireworks, there are so many places to view it.... I like out back behind th castle,or off to the side in one of the other lands,

 

[disneygolfer1985]

When we go, we usually watch Wishes from Fantasyland just behind the carousel. Most of the fireworks are behind the bathrooms next to Pinocchio's. It is also good because it allows for easy entrance to the back of the park after the fireworks.

 

[kangamama]

When we go, we usually watch Wishes from Fantasyland just behind the carousel. Most of the fireworks are behind the bathrooms next to Pinocchio's. It is also good because it allows for easy entrance to the back of the park after the fireworks.

So it sounds like it is set up similarly to what we are used to at Disneyland, where we usually watch from near the teacups, or small world.

Does anyone have ideas of where we can send the kids with their grandparents while we do the single rider attractions? Are there small-kid appropriate things right near those attractions?

 

[missangelalexis]

Single rider for Expedition Everest for those who want to ride (QUESTION: what is nearby for my kids to do with my MIL and FIL while the rest of us Single Rider EE?)

They can walk the Jungle Trek trail to see some fun animals or walk a little to DinoLand, there's a bunch of kid friendly rides there!

 

[kangamama]

They can walk the Jungle Trek trail to see some fun animals or walk a little to DinoLand, there's a bunch of kid friendly rides there!

oh that sounds perfect -- this is while we do Expedition Everest, right?

 

[missangelalexis]

oh that sounds perfect -- this is while we do Expedition Everest, right?

Yes!

 

[LaurenT]

Without reading through the whole thing ... If this is what easywdw says you should do ... Then this is what you should do.
I have complete confidence in Josh's advice.

 

[ariane37]

As far as where to eat before your Illuminations cruise, as a pp said there are lots of good options in the BW area. If you'd like a good signature (kids welcome) there's Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club. There's Cape May Café at the Beach Club, it's a (mainly) seafood buffet but they do have other non-seafood items. On the BW itself you have Trattoria Al Forno; also ESPN Club and.......why can't I remember the name lol??? The Brewing Company one. This and ESPN don't take ADR's via the Disney website but I think, and hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, you can make them for at least one of those places through either open table or by calling directly. You may find more info. on those on the Restaurants Forum here

 

[kangamama]

As far as where to eat before your Illuminations cruise, as a pp said there are lots of good options in the BW area. If you'd like a good signature (kids welcome) there's Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club. There's Cape May Café at the Beach Club, it's a (mainly) seafood buffet but they do have other non-seafood items. On the BW itself you have Trattoria Al Forno; also ESPN Club and.......why can't I remember the name lol??? The Brewing Company one. This and ESPN don't take ADR's via the Disney website but I think, and hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, you can make them for at least one of those places through either open table or by calling directly. You may find more info. on those on the Restaurants Forum here

I think we will be going QS that evening as we are already using our TS credits at lunch that day. Do any of you have a favorite QS on the boardwalk?

 

[hsmamato2]

I think Big River Grille you can walk in, possibly that sports themed place.... at the Dolphin they have Picabu which is cafeteria style (read cheap for Disney) food....or the Fountain.....if you are using credits I think you can use QS at the bakery for food items,right? I rarely use credits so I don't know....

 

[Paigesmom2013]

When I did single rider line at EE, my husband and kids got Mickey Ear ice cream bars. I was back while they were still eating, although that was in September.

 

[hsmamato2]

there are the gibbons nearby also, fun to watch! anywhere nearby ,there are things to watch,even just people watching( or enjoying the sound of the screams as the coaster comes out of the mountain)

 

[ariane37]

I think we will be going QS that evening as we are already using our TS credits at lunch that day. Do any of you have a favorite QS on the boardwalk?

I think Big River Grille you can walk in, possibly that sports themed place.... at the Dolphin they have Picabu which is cafeteria style (read cheap for Disney) food....or the Fountain.....if you are using credits I think you can use QS at the bakery for food items,right? I rarely use credits so I don't know....

The BW area isn't really known for good QS options, but those hsmamato2 mentioned-Picabu or Fountain-would work. And yes you can use QS and snack credits at the BW Bakery
Big River Grille (THAT'S the name I couldn't think of!) and ESPN Club take walk-ups but they would be a TS credit unless you paid OOP. There is also the chance of a long wait-especially at ESPN if any game is going on.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

The boardwalk bakery can have the QS credits used, so that is an option. Also, in regards to the AK, if you go to the ruins back by the walking trail, the monkeys there are a little more lively. We watched them for about 15 minutes over Christmas. I think they were playing tag.

 

[ariane37]

You know depending on time, you could have QS dinner in Epcot in WS and then walk to the BW via the IG entrance/exit. Especially if you picked France or UK for dinner as they're the closest lol, but other any other fairly close country as well. Just another option .

 

[kangamama]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

You know depending on time, you could have QS dinner in Epcot in WS and then walk to the BW via the IG entrance/exit. Especially if you picked France or UK for dinner as they're the closest lol, but other any other fairly close country as well. Just another option .

I have definitely considered this. It may depend, in the end, on how much time it is taking to get out the door following our afternoon break