First time WDW, any suggestions

[mom2mm]

Hi I am a newbie, been researching our trip for a couple of months on here, has been so helpful!

We have been going to Disneyland every year for 12 years (hubby was in the Navy, so we lived in CA, and daughters born there)
DD are 8 and 10, and this is our first trip to WDW. They are troopers and we usually open and close the parks, and take a couple of pool days. They still love meeting the characters, so we do have lots of character meals planned. We are doing the Dining Plan, mainly because we knew when we were there we would find a reason not to splurge at some TS restaurants.
Here is our plan, and suggestions are appreciated We get to make ADRs next week!
We have 9 day park hoppers, and are staying at AoA, Aug 5-13

Arrive Monday 9:30 am, pool day...dinner Hoop Dee Doo

Tuesday ...MK, dinner at BOG

Wednesday...Epcot first half of day, early dinner at Chef Mickeys, then whichever park we want, or back to Epcot for Illuminations*

Thursday...AK, breakfast at Tusker House, 2nd half of day at MK or HS for Fantasmic*

Friday...DHS, lunch at Sci Fi...2nd half of day at MK*

Saturday...pool day, dinner at Ohana

Sunday...MK , dinner at 1900 Park Fare

Monday...park hop to wherever we missed, lunch or breakfast at Crystal Palace

Tuesday...spend morning at the pool, or at a park, depart in evening.

*we may end up spending more time at AK, DHS, or Epcot...all we are used to is California Adv, which at most for us is 2 half days, so we are pretty flexible on these days.

Thanks!

 

[ghtx]

My first suggestion is to change the 9-day hoppers to 7-day hoppers, since it looks like you're only spending 7 days in theme parks! If you want to add on more days, you can easily do that at WDW (for just $10 per ticket per day plus tax!). But if you want to keep one of your days as a pool day with no theme parks (and it looks like you do), then there is no reason to pay for the extra theme park days.

 

[winthropf]

If you haven't made an ADR for BOG, do so now. You are within the 180+10. BOG fills up fast and almost immediately after the 180 day window opens.

 

[Herfnerd]

What ghtx said!

Also, the Unofficial Guide is a great resource.....

 

[mom2mm]

My first suggestion is to change the 9-day hoppers to 7-day hoppers, since it looks like you're only spending 7 days in theme parks! If you want to add on more days, you can easily do that at WDW (for just $10 per ticket per day plus tax!). But if you want to keep one of your days as a pool day with no theme parks (and it looks like you do), then there is no reason to pay for the extra theme park days.

Good suggestion, it was just not that much difference in price, and it did give us the opportunity to go for even a little while on our pool days...but I may change them, thank you!

 

[grimley1968]

First of all, welcome to Disboards!

I think you have a pretty good game plan as far as which parks to go to on different days, and having resort time built into it.

However, I would caution against making that many dining reservations. That's an awful lot of watch-looking you'll be doing when you're trying to have fun in a relaxed way. We usually go to Disney for about a week, and we feel like if we have more than 2 or 3 reservations the whole week that's too hurried. There are plenty of counter service places to eat where it's quicker, more convenient to a relaxed schedule, and much less expensive.

As far as EPCOT goes, I wouldn't consider this to be a 1/2 day park. I'd spend a full day there. It's a huge park and simply requires time to visit all that can be seen, especially if you wish to see any of the shows, etc. And, I'll be honest, I think the dining options in EPCOT are better than what you can find at Chef Mickey's. Leaving EPCOT mid-day to go eat at Chef Mickey's would take a ton of time away. If you're planning to end up there, why not stay there and get something really good in an area where you can then see Illuminations easily? You could go to Chef Mickey's on one of the pool days maybe.

Likewise, I'd not try to make DHS a 1/2 day park. Riding all the rides there takes some time, not because there's so many but because of the popularity of some of them. There's also some good shows here and sometimes require waiting to get to the next one. You already have 2 full days scheduled at MK anyway.

I've been to DL, and compared to WDW, another thing I'd add is to be prepared for a lot of walking! Have fun!

 

[mom2mm]

If you haven't made an ADR for BOG, do so now. You are within the 180+10. BOG fills up fast and almost immediately after the 180 day window opens.

Okay I guess I am confused about the 180+10, my 180 mark is Feb 5th, and I thought on that day I can make reservations for my entire trip?

 

[ghtx]

Okay I guess I am confused about the 180+10, my 180 mark is Feb 5th, and I thought on that day I can make reservations for my entire trip?

I calculate that your 180 day mark is Feb 6: http://pscalculator.net/pscalc.php

 

[pwdebbie]

I don't think I'd plan an entire day for the pool. A few hours at most. Why splash around in a pool when you can be IN the parks?

You definitely need more time in EP. You've got undesignated periods so I'm sure you will fill some of those with EP, AK, or DHS.

I would suggest that you study park maps so you have a perception of how the parks are each laid out. Knowing where you want to be is one thing, knowing how to get to where you want to be is a whole different thing!

 

[ghtx]

If you haven't made an ADR for BOG, do so now. You are within the 180+10. BOG fills up fast and almost immediately after the 180 day window opens.

I think this is wrong. It is 180 days before the first day of your trip that you can start making reservations, and then you can make reservations for up to 10 days of your trip. But you can't make reservations starting 190 days before your trip.

But maybe what the PP is saying is that some people are able to make ADRs for that date already, since for some people Aug 5th falls within their "180+10" range. But since you (OP) can't, there's nothing you can do about it.

 

[hookedonears]

Need a good pair of walking shoes. Plan as much as 9-10 miles of walking per day. Get up and going early. Typically, the more the atmosphere, or entertainment for kids a restaurant offers, the worse the food is. There are a few acceptions. The food at Character dining restaurants are usually pretty good. We mostly stick with counter service and signature table service restaurants.

 

[grimley1968]

I think this is wrong. It is 180 days before the first day of your trip that you can start making reservations, and then you can make reservations for up to 10 days of your trip. But you can't make reservations starting 190 days before your trip.

But maybe what the PP is saying is that some people are able to make ADRs for that date already, since for some people Aug 5th falls within their "180+10" range. But since you (OP) can't, there's nothing you can do about it.

This is the correct advice.

 

[mom2mm]

First of all, welcome to Disboards!

I think you have a pretty good game plan as far as which parks to go to on different days, and having resort time built into it.

However, I would caution against making that many dining reservations. That's an awful lot of watch-looking you'll be doing when you're trying to have fun in a relaxed way. We usually go to Disney for about a week, and we feel like if we have more than 2 or 3 reservations the whole week that's too hurried. There are plenty of counter service places to eat where it's quicker, more convenient to a relaxed schedule, and much less expensive.

As far as EPCOT goes, I wouldn't consider this to be a 1/2 day park. I'd spend a full day there. It's a huge park and simply requires time to visit all that can be seen, especially if you wish to see any of the shows, etc. And, I'll be honest, I think the dining options in EPCOT are better than what you can find at Chef Mickey's. Leaving EPCOT mid-day to go eat at Chef Mickey's would take a ton of time away. If you're planning to end up there, why not stay there and get something really good in an area where you can then see Illuminations easily? You could go to Chef Mickey's on one of the pool days maybe.

Likewise, I'd not try to make DHS a 1/2 day park. Riding all the rides there takes some time, not because there's so many but because of the popularity of some of them. There's also some good shows here and sometimes require waiting to get to the next one. You already have 2 full days scheduled at MK anyway.

I've been to DL, and compared to WDW, another thing I'd add is to be prepared for a lot of walking! Have fun!

Thank you so much for the advice, will be rethinking all the dining!
Looking forward to all the new park experiences...thanks again!

 

[cmh314]

Overall I think you've got a great plan going. I too would recommend adding some time in Epcot. Also, as far as your TS meals go, you aren't eating any in Epcot and I think the food choices in Epcot are terrific. Personally, I was underwhelmed by the experiences at Chef Mickey (Breakfast) and Crystal Palace (for lunch). I'd recommend skipping one or both of those and instead doing the Princess Character Breakfast at Akershus in Epcot and another TS meal in Epcot. Akershus has good food for breakfast and you'll have a lot of princesses come to your table. If you get an 8am reservation you can be finished with your meal before the park opens.

Your other TS restaurants are among my favorites, great choices.

You can always get the 7 day tickets and add extra days once you're there if you want to. So if you decide half a day at the pool is enough and want to visit a park for a little while you can just add it to your tickets that day. I like to visit the parks each day of our trip, even if only for a few hours some days.

 

[Isabel]

I agree with grimley1968's advice. You really need more than half a day for Epcot. If you want to eat and watch Illuminations, try the Rose and Crown Pub, but there are plenty of good places to eat in Epcot without a ressie. DH and I like to eat our way around the lagoon, lol. I also second the recommendation for the Unofficial Guide. It's a great resource.

 

[mom2mm]

Overall I think you've got a great plan going. I too would recommend adding some time in Epcot. Also, as far as your TS meals go, you aren't eating any in Epcot and I think the food choices in Epcot are terrific. Personally, I was underwhelmed by the experiences at Chef Mickey (Breakfast) and Crystal Palace (for lunch). I'd recommend skipping one or both of those and instead doing the Princess Character Breakfast at Akershus in Epcot and another TS meal in Epcot. Akershus has good food for breakfast and you'll have a lot of princesses come to your table. If you get an 8am reservation you can be finished with your meal before the park opens.

Your other TS restaurants are among my favorites, great choices.

You can always get the 7 day tickets and add extra days once you're there if you want to. So if you decide half a day at the pool is enough and want to visit a park for a little while you can just add it to your tickets that day. I like to visit the parks each day of our trip, even if only for a few hours some days.

I have heard great things about Akershus, I think I will work that in instead of Chef Mickeys...thank you!

 

[katt789]

-Good call on the park hopping, I find it does help a lot with getting stuff done, I usually head out of Epcot midday then come back later

-That being said, remember it takes a lot longer to park hop at WDW than DLR

-Don't skip attractions you've ridden over in DL, they are most likely different, and you may find you like one version better than the other

 

[mom2mm]

I agree with grimley1968's advice. You really need more than half a day for Epcot. If you want to eat and watch Illuminations, try the Rose and Crown Pub, but there are plenty of good places to eat in Epcot without a ressie. DH and I like to eat our way around the lagoon, lol. I also second the recommendation for the Unofficial Guide. It's a great resource.

Now I am really looking forward to the food at Epcot, glad to know we will have good options that wont require a ressie. I will look at Rose and Crown Pub...Thank you!

 

[mom2mm]

-Good call on the park hopping, I find it does help a lot with getting stuff done, I usually head out of Epcot midday then come back later

-That being said, remember it takes a lot longer to park hop at WDW than DLR

-Don't skip attractions you've ridden over in DL, they are most likely different, and you may find you like one version better than the other

Thank you!
One of the things my kids are looking forward to is comparing diffences in attractions at DL and WDW

 

[ktlm]

We love both DL and WDW. I do see a few potential issues with your plan, which may be based on a DL mentality. There are a lot of days that you plan to hop from one park to another. You may want to rethink that. Hopping is nothing like DL/CA where you can be out of one park and into the other in 5 minutes. Getting between parks at WDW can wind up taking an hour or more which can really eat up valuable in park time. It is best to stay in one park for the day when you can instead of hopping, although a hop here and there can be good. For example, AK closes early so we almost always hop somewhere else that day, or we plan a 1900 Park Fare dinner that day (that place can take up a big chunk of time -sometimes you can have quite a wait past your ADR time for a table. It is definitely fun though). Also 1/2 a day at Epcot isn't going to cut it. It is a 2 full day park for us. I would say you need at least 1 full day there. For example to walk from one end of World Showcase to the other end is approximately 1.2 miles, and that is just half the park! I will also say that when we go to DL, the one thing my DD (6) always complains that she misses is Epcot. If your girls are Phineas and Ferb fans they can spend the good part of an entire day doing Agent Perry missions in World Showcase. Epcot is one place that just feels entirely different from DL/CA (well except for Soarin!) You may find yourselves really wanting to explore what that park has to offer. Our park schedule is usually 2 days MK, 2 days Epcot, 1 day DHS (sometimes hop to MK or Epcot for the evening), 1 short day AK (sometimes hop to MK or Epcot for the evening. . We usually wind up spending parts of arrival and departure days at MK or Epcot too.


Being DL people, I wouldn't waste my time with dinner at Chef Mickeys- it's no Goofy's Kitchen or Minnie's breakfast. The food is not nearly as good as Goofy's Kitchen, it can be dirty in there, and you won't see nearly as many characters or the variety of characters you see at Goofy's or Minnies. Being used to the great character meals at DL/CA, I think you will be really disappointed. We think Goofy's and Minnies are better than any of the character meals at WDW. It doesn't look like you have any meals planned at Epcot. In our opinion, World Showcase at Epcot has a ton of great places to eat. Too many places to eat at Epcot, too little time in our opinion. You can get on allears.net in the dining section and it lists all the restaurants with menus and prices. We are big Biergarten fans, the food is good and the band and dance floor are fun. There are a bunch of great options around World Showcase.