First Time Trip - Go Big or Go Home

[Hopfather28]

So today marks 180 days from my first trip to WDW. DW and I have been planning this trip for quite some time. She's been before (20+ years ago) but DS 7, DD 3 and I have never been. My MIL will also be coming with us to share the Disney magic. When we first started talking about the trip we knew we wanted to go summer 2019 (not because of SWGE but thought it fit best with our family). Being in education and also coaching means the breaks in the winter were out and we had to go with a July visit.

Before we knew it, we were planning a 10 day, 9 night trip. When we started we had planned on a 7 day trip but looking at prices of rooms and everything we decided that renting points would give us more of what we wanted and in a better location on the monorail. Flash forward to this past August and we had made arrangements to stay in a Lake View Studio at the Poly and renting points from a fellow DISBoard member. We couldn't be happier with the decision and now know that because of the number of days we will be able to take the parks at a pace that won't send our kids into a tailspin from going non-stop everyday.

Since we were nervous about ADRs we took today off from work to tag team and get all of our "dream" reservations and really set our plans a bit more solidly. Amazingly, we were able to get all of our reservations quite easily this morning bright and early. I think the over-preparing we had done had us fearing over nothing as far as ADR difficulty. Now that this first major hurdle has been cleared, it's really real. DD is super stoked about CRT and BOG breakfasts and both kids are pumped for Storybook Dining at Artist Point and breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. The adults are looking forward to Brown Derby and Homecomin' on our Springs/Resort day. I can only hope that FP+ day goes just as well. It's sure not going to be a budget trip but what Disney trip is? One thing is for certain...it will be very memorable. Just in time to celebrate a slightly belated birthday for me and DD.

 

[rosegoldmonorail]

congrats on getting all your ADRs! if your daughter is into princesses, she will absolutely LOVE CRT

 

[Hopfather28]

So now we're on to FP+ planning. My kids are both tall for their age and also have a decent level of thrill seeker in them. We are doing 1.5 Days at AK (PM, Full), 1.5 days at HS (Full, EMH AM), 2 days at Epcot, and 3 days at MK with a day in their somewhere to go to Disney Springs or jump into a park for a must have meal/FP+. With the number of days I don't think it will be too hard to get the things that my children really "need" to ride. We're using Touring Plans to help us decide but I was wondering if there were any rides that you all feel are a good use of a fast pass even though perhaps Touring Plans wouldn't recommend it. Specifically, I'm wondering what if any rides have a queue that you just really want to avoid with children.

 

[rosegoldmonorail]

for the kids, i'd say try really hard to get fastpasses for slinky dog dash (especially if they like rollercoasters), peter pan's flight (the queue is fun, but wait times can get really really long), winnie the pooh, 7 dwarfs mine train, splash mountain, big thunder mountain, test track, soarin, frozen, and the safari

for you and your wife (idk if your kids will be tall enough for these rides) ToT, rock n' rollercoater, space mountain, expedition everest, and Flight of passage!!! flight of passage is a must do, but it's gonna be hard to get, so try and make it for your last couple of days so it'll be easier to get.

what month are you going? if you're going the last two weeks in august you probably won't need a fastpass for all of these rides. but if you're going in june/july fastpass will be your best friend