Feeling overwhelmed.

[iLoveMickey87]

I feel like this Disney trip planning has consumed my life, I'm so excited ..Everything is now booked just need to make sure I don't forget anything.

 

[Yoshiandi]

You want to go in September of this year and haven't booked yet?!?!? I wonder if there is anything left on site. You should look into a Disney Travel agent to help you get everything done quickly.

 

[MandiC]

Welcome to Disney vacation planning I felt like any spare moment I had was spent researching and planning during the two months leading up to our trip.
For me, a lot of it was because I had never been to Disney I think. What kind of things are you worried about now? I feel like I could plan a little easier now but talk to me again this time next year

I was so thankful once we got there though. We took a boat to DTD one night with a frazzled mom who had planned NOTHING, no reservations, no FP, no best park days and she seemed so stressed. She first commented asking about my kids' lanyards/pins (that I got before the trip for so much less than I would have paid at Disney) and then she started talking about how she didn't realize you had to make dinner reservations so far in advance and then she noticed our Magic Bands were different colors and she hadn't realized she could do that and then she started talking about how hard it was to get good FP reservations....I really felt bad for her and at the same time was so thankful I had put all those hours of planning in

 

[iLoveMickey87]

I have a little princess notebook that has everything from park hours, parades, conformations, reservations to our park touring plans. I've been busy, finding where all the characters will be so I don't miss any. I must get Belle and Duffy, I've never been to Epcot and then I found out that, that's where Duffy is so I must take a first time trip there. This is the first visit where I've researched so much, and made ADR. I can't wait.

 

[airam2014]

I have a little princess notebook that has everything from park hours, parades, conformations, reservations to our park touring plans. I've been busy, finding where all the characters will be so I don't miss any. I must get Belle and Duffy, I've never been to Epcot and then I found out that, that's where Duffy is so I must take a first time trip there. This is the first visit where I've researched so much, and made ADR. I can't wait.

You sound like me. I have a similar notebook.

 

[MandiC]

I *loved* Epcot, definitely a must-do park for me for every trip I will ever take. I can see how planning Epcot for the first time could take lots of planning, you can see a lot of characters and shows there, the whole World Showcase plus all the good food! Seriously, some of the best food in Disney is in Epcot. And IllumiNations is AWESOME!

 

[iLoveMickey87]

I always thought that my son wouldn't be interested but I'll honestly never know unless I go ahead and find out. What are your top choices at EPCOT??

 

[Aliceacc]

The reality is that you'll get a LOT of mileage out of whatever planning you do. Even if you don't book a single FP+ or ADR, simply knowing the ins and outs of the parks will pay off, big time.

Know that it's impossible to actually see and do anything, no matter how much you research or how long you stay. Once you accept that, it's very freeing. So you decide on your priorities, and decide to enjoy all the rest.

I always feel so very sad for those people who just show up at noon, having no idea of what they want to do or see, or the best way to accomplish it. Just a little bit of knowledge goes so far. Even if they would just read a Parks Guide, it would help a lot. And hour or two online, or a $12 guidebook would make a world of difference.

Just make sure that you're open to the possibility of changing those touring plans if there's something you or your son want to do more than what's next on the list.

Have a fabulous time!!

 

[PennockFive]

Where can I find out where all the different characters are?

 

[MandiC]

For a 6 year old boy? Does he like Finding Nemo? My daughters love The Seas building, it has a huge aquarium and Turtle Talk with Crush is neat for them and the Nemo ride is fun. If he likes race cars he will LOVE Test Track. My girls loved Maelstrom as well as Soarin. Innoventions on the side of the park with Test Track has a ride simulator that even my daughter who doesn't care for big roller coasters liked.
Also, there is a game throughout the park. I am blanking on the name of it, I didn't realize it was there so we just didn't have time for it but there are stations throughout the park and they give your child a cell phone and a 'mission', I believe they are to go find something, take a picture and bring it back. Lots of fun for them. We also made Passport books for our kids before we went (you can find free printables on the Creative DISigners board on this forum), the ones I chose had how to say some basic phrases in each of the languages of the countries and some basic facts about those countries. It really opened up conversation between my kids and the castmembers in each country (who are usually from that country!), it was also one of their favorite parks to pin trade in because of all the contact they had with CMs there. We really loved the singing group in 'America' and there are little shows going on in most countries throughout the day (drumming, mime, ect), you can find the times in the Times Guide you should grab as you walk in in the morning. I do believe the resorts might have these too if you want to ask when you get there, I believe the times change each week. Those are really just the things I loved off the top of my head, I know there is so much more I am not thinking of right now. We spent 2 days in Epcot.

As for characters, I don't remember exacts, we saw Snow White in Germany, Belle in her 'peasant' dress I believe we were in France, Duffy the bear as you walk into the World Showcase, Aladdin and Jasmin together in Morocco, I have heard Mulan is there in China, Mary Poppins in the UK. When we were there Anna and Elsa were in Norway but now they are not. The characters and their meet and greet times are also in the Times Guide.