Getting worried about my plans...can you take a gander?...long!

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Hi all, I have made my ADRs and have planned out our trip...probably too much planning for some of you! But, I'm worried now that with the added crowds the week we are going (Feb. 18-26) that maybe I've done us in...can you take a minute to take a look and give me your opinion? My main concern is that I am not taking advantage of EMHs for the first time and I am nervous that perhaps I should re-work the days/schedule...or just let it be and go with the flow? YIKES! I just want to be there already!!

Sat 2/18
Arrive MCO at 2:30 pm
Take ME to BC...check in...
Go to AK for evening (they close at 7)

Sun 2/19
Be at Epcot opening at 9
Lunch Coral Reef at 12
Pool in afternoon
Dinner at Teppanyaki at 6:30
Illuminations at 9

Mon 2/20
Breakfast at CP in MK at 8:05
MK opens at 9
Lunch Liberty Tree Tavern at 12:30
Pool in afternoon
Hoop-de-doo at 7:15

Tue 2/21
MGM opening at 9
Lunch Sci-Fi at 11:30
Pool afternoon
Dinner at Cape May at 5:40
Downtown Disney after dinner

Wed 2/22
Ohana's Breakfast at 7:30 am
MK open at 9
Lunch CRT at 2:30
Cirque de Soleil at 6:00
Dinner Raglan Road 8:00 pm

Thurs 2/23
Breakfast Spoodles 8:00 am
Epcot open at 9
Lunch Chefs de France 12;30
Dinner San Angel Inn 6:30

Fri 2/24
MGM open at 9
Pool in afternoon (hoping to get lunch at Beaches 'n Cream)
Fantasmic dinner pkg at Hollywood & Vine at 5:00
Fantasmic at 7

Sat 2/25
No plans except a surprise Wishes cruise that evening

Sun 2/26
Leave to go home

 

[PrncesKMW]

You are SO smart NOT to take advantage of EMH's! Everyone else has the great idea to take advantage of them too, so you really don't do yourself any favors. If you want to see an updated calendar of best days and crowd levels, touringplans-dot-com has an updated schedule - just click on the link and scroll down. Have fun - lucky you to be only a month away!

 

[Magic Man]

Looks like you have it covered. I would caution you about planning the whole trip around your next ADR. You can spend your vacation worried about getting to the next thing on the checklist. Almost happened to us last year til we decided to just slow down and enjoy the scenery.

Looks like a great plan though. Have a wonderful time!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Looks great to me! Although I don't know how much time I'd be spending in the pool, I'm from the south,lol! As far as planning too much time around ADR's, if you have the dining plan they're a must. I can't tell you how many people we saw being turned away during a "slow" week in early Dec. We even overheard someone say "Why do they sell this dining plan if you can't ever use it?". It says on the dining plan page itself that ADR's are STRONGLY recommended.

 

[Otter49]

Couple of comments:

You'll arrive MCO at 2:30, then ME to BC. By the time you get to hotel, check in, get a bus to AK - you'll see next to nothing at this terrific park, even if it is open until 7.

Yes, plenty of people knock AK, and you may have solid reasons for spending so little time here, but I think you'll be missing a lot.

Dinner - San Angel Inn. We've finally given up on this place as hopeless. The meals, for us mind you, range from fair to awful. I'd love to see it improve, and maybe someone can say otherwise, but I don't think it's improved lately.

 

[SammieG]

The only thing I would say is that you are doing a LOT of eating! (Dont get me wrong, we love to eat on vacation!) - but we could never do a breakfast out, then lunch at 12.30 and then dinner at 5.30 or 6...
that would do me in.

We do breakfast, snack around 3pm.. counter service dinner 7ish..
If you think you can manage all the food, then otherwise it looks great!

 

[kitchenfairy]

I agree with the above poster. That is way to much eating for me. Now if your doing the dining plan then I guess you are forced to have all those meals,but it seems like you will be running from ressie to ressie all day long without much time left to enjoy anything else. Just my thoughts.

 

[Densgirl]

I too think you will be hard pressed arriving at MCO at 2:30 to see any of AK even if it is open til 7. I agree with other posters that you need to have ADR's if you are on the dining plan. We saw many people being turned away. You do look heavy on Table Service restaurants on the 23 though. Spoodles at 8 then Chefs de France at 12 then San Angel at 6. That is a lot of food from those three choices. The portions at Disney table service restaurants are huge.

The only other thing I would do is a full day at AK but I really enjoy this park. I love Dinosaur, Killimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids, Primeval Whirl, ITTBAB and walking the trails so I need at least a whole day here. Have fun.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Thank you everyone for the reassurance and advice. We are not on the dining plan, but have been among those turned away for meals before...would rather have the ADRs and politely cancel if need be than to be caught with two hungry children and one food-impatient DH and no idea where the next meal will be. Even if we do keep all the table service meals, rest assured that we usually share entrees and will not be having appetizer, meal, and dessert each time.
AK has always been our least favorite park...we have always said we need to give it more of a chance, though...perhaps that Saturday that we have nothing planned will be an AK day...a day to just go with fresh eyes and give it a whole-hearted chance.
The pool plans are tentative...hoping for at least one or two days where it is warm enought to enjoy SAB. "Pool" time will probably end up nap/rest/relax in the room time, but we are hoping to get some relaxation in each day. This isn't our first trip, so we have seen most...just don't want to get caught in the crowds and see nothing!
Thanks again, everyone!! Keep any other advice coming!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I have heard from some of these boards that if you go to a TS restaurant w/children they now have to order a kids meal (and I'm not talking about buffets) b/c too many people were ordering 2 adult meals and then sharing. I originally had the same idea as you about just sharing the meals. Can anyone confirm this rumour? It would be a pain to show up at a TS with children who were not that hungry and be forced to use up some of their credits.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

ADisneyQueen, that might be true if you are using the Dining Plan...I never have and am not using the Dining Plan on our upcoming trip. I have, however, never had a problem sharing any entree, appetizer, or dessert with either my DH or my DDs when paying for the meal OOP. Perhaps someone who has used the dining plan recently can answer your question about sharing and pooling credits.