Heading to Disney Orlando on 10/14...

[BradF79]

This is our first time going as a family, my wife went quite a bit when she was little, but I've never been and we are taking our two kids 6 (girl) and 3 (boy). We are worried about either having too many plans or not enough... Here's the schedule I have for us.... I'm thinking we have too many dining reservations. We are on the standard 1 table meal service/day plan.

The dining in green I think we should definitely keep, the red, we should cancel, the others I'm just not sure. I already know that this is going to blow out our meal plan and we are going to have to pay cash for some meals...

Is there any character dining we should try to get (at last minute) to swap for the 1900 Park Fare dinner (since my daughter is getting to see all the princesses at Akershus? I was thinking Hollywood & Vine breakfast, but wasn't sure (I know it's all going to be hard to get at this time, but I could still try...)

What about our fastpass+ selections, do they seem okay?

Thanks for any feedback or advice...

Bonus, should we consider the Halloween party one day?

 

[Kathryn777]

I wouldn't do the meal at downtown Disney. Or at least I would do it much later.

 

[hakepb]

I would try to get a Big Thunder FP+ (Unless DS3 doesn't need the height requirement) instead of Buzz. I like Buzz, but it's always been available as a 4th FP+ in busier times.

If you are looking for a budget OOP dinner option, you may want to look at the Plaza.
Or, if you are looking for fun, take a boat to Wilderness Lodge for the Whispering Canyon.

 

[msmama]

1. With your 2 morning breakfasts, you're missing prime park time. With your 1900 Park Faire breakfast I think you're cutting your FP time a little close too. If there's any sort of snafu, you'll miss Buzz (like someone else said, often available as a 4th FP so not the end of the world, but it would bother me).

2. With your evening meals at around 5, you're going to have to be heading out of the parks by 4. May be ok with you, just pointing that out (especially on the days you have breakfast ressies, too, you're going to be missing park time).

3. I'd do Cape May as a breakfast. The food is "meh" at best but it has characters - Donald, Goofy and Minnie when we were there last. You have lots of princesses, but no other characters.

I personally would't do more than 1 TS meal per day. I just think it's too much food for me, not to mention I don't think my son would be happy sitting for two longer meals per day when he could be out doing something else.

 

[fmfoley]

I think your FP+ are good choices. I would also skip doing the lunch at Downtown Disney on Hollywood Studios Day.

 

[hakepb]

I'm not against the T Rex idea, but I don't see it fitting in the schedule.
Half of the Springs (DTD was renamed) parking is gone (under construction). There is no parking lot within a 5 minute walk of T Rex.... I don't think it would be possible to go from DHS to Springs to DHS for the Little Mermaid FP+

 

[Disneyliscious]

Your AK day has both a breakfast after the park opens and a dinner before it closes. This is going to really cut into your time to enjoy that park. I would scrap both of those and do a Tusker House lunch (Donald Duck) for my 1 dining credit meal that day. Even if you aren't able to get a Tusker House ADR, I would still get rid of at least one of those ADRS (likely the breakfast at 9:25am). You're going to be 11am at least, getting to AK after breakfast and then have to leave around 5:00-5:30 to meet your dinner ADR. There is a LOT to do and see in AK and the kids will love it. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the park. Tusker House also has a breakfast but its doubtful you will find an opening this late in the game. Never hurts to check though!

Everyones preferences are different, but this is my advice based on your asking.

 

[Lucius Best]

This is our first time going as a family, my wife went quite a bit when she was little, but I've never been and we are taking our two kids 6 (girl) and 3 (boy). We are worried about either having too many plans or not enough... Here's the schedule I have for us.... I'm thinking we have too many dining reservations. We are on the standard 1 table meal service/day plan.

I agree, too many dining reservations. You don't say if you're staying onsite or offsite, if you have a car, but it doesn't make sense to leave HS to have lunch at DTD and then back to HS and then Ohana for early dinner, that's a lot of travel.

Also, the best time to visit the parks is the first hour they are open. Lines will be the shortest they will be all day. I would definitely never recommend that someone have a sit-down breakfast at a resort at 9-9:30am. You are missing the glorious least crowded time in the parks, you'll be strolling into the parks around 11am with tons of other people, and you might not be able to make your first FP+ return time.

The fastpasses look okay for the most part, and the days you have chosen to visit the parks should be fine. With young kids, I'm guessing you're not going to be out late. I would suggest plan to be at park before rope drop every day, have your three FPs booked before 1-2pm, then afternoon is open to stay in the parks or back to resort for pool/nap. I like the early dinners, but note there is no bus service between WDW resorts. It will save a lot of time getting to and from those resort dinners if you have a car.

As far as the party goes, that's up to you, I did it once and it was fun. But it is expensive and can be crowded and it sounds like the lines to meet characters are long. Note that MNSSHP guests can get into MK as early as 4pm. Theoretically, on mornings when MNSSHP is that night, MK is less crowded in the morning. And with 4 parties per week, on non-party days, MK can be more crowded at night.

 

[Mikie]

You do have more than 1 table service booked per day, so that means you have room to trim and there are definitely a couple I, personally, would trim.

Love Akershus and hope you will too - don't change it.
Have heard great things about 1900 Park Faire - keep the 4:20 dinner later in your week.

I would eliminate the TRex meal in the middle of your DHS park day (travel eats a lot of time) and instead choose counter service or try for an ADR inside the park. Or even in Epcot if you have park hopper tickets, as Epcot is closer.

I would eliminate both of your breakfast ADRs. Morning is PRIME time for getting shorter lines for rides and I think your schedule cuts it close between meal times and your first fastpasses. I wouldn't want you to be rushing your fine (and expensive) Disney meals to dash to a ride. In particular, I think the 10/18 breakfast plus transportation would likely make you rush the meal and/or miss the fastpass. If you like a later morning, slower start, big breakfast, go ahead and keep one, but you probably won't want to have an additional table service meal that same day.

Disney is HUGE. In order to keep my stress level and clock-watching lower, I like to allow 90 minutes for table service meals (up to 2 for character meals) and at least 45-60 minutes to get from a resort to a destination inside a park. These times allow for a short wait to get a table, possible delay getting a check, plenty of time to visit with each character, bathroom breaks, etc. You may find you've left more walk/travel time than necessary, but it's better than dashing to make appointments IMO.

Your fast passes look good to me. Hope you have a fantastic trip!!

 

[hakepb]

If you are morning people, I guess I'd agree those are poor breakfast choices.

If you are not morning people, then please enjoy your existing ADR, eat a proper breakfast and feel good during your visit to the most magical place on earth

 

[ariane37]

First, I can imagine all the excitement going on in your house!! I agree with all the pp's who said to cancel your T-Rex ADR. You'd be leaving HS almost as soon as you got there and I see no way you'd make your VoTLM FP - keep in mind there are no busses from parks to DTD so you'd have to go to a resort (you could go to an Epcot resort) take a bus from there to DTD and do the same coming back. And while I love PF breakfast I agree breakfasts cut in to prime park time. While there's a chance you'd make your Buzz FP after PF, I just don't see you making your Safari FP at AK after Captains Grille. You might want to just eat something in the room this morning or wait until you're in AK and grab something there, there's a bakery right by the safari with pastries, coffee, etc. Also a cart that has fruit if I'm remembering correctly.
Definitely keep Akershus! Just a note, use your Spaceship Earth FP right when it starts so you can head to Akershus right after. Since Akershus is in WS and Nemo, which you have a 12:45-1:45 FP for, is across the park in FW, you'll have to hustle back over there right after your meal. As long as you're seated on time I think you'll be fine, although if you want you can try making that FP a little later. Maybe after Soarin'.
I think that's all I saw that was worth mentioning lol. Enjoy your trip!

 

[ariane37]

Wait! Two more You asked about cancelling PF dinner since you'll be seeing princesses at Akershus. In all our trips we've never done PF dinner but are finally doing it next month, because I've heard some many awesome things about the stepsisters who meet at dinner. While you can also meet them in MK, their antics alone seem to be good reason to have dinner there.
Second, Tusker House in AK - we love it for all meals. While it's definitely not an easy reservation to get, especially this late in the game, it might be worth trying to get either breakfast there on your AK day, or even doing late lunch/dinner instead of Cape May Café if you aren't stuck on that. That will give you more park time that day. You could check out the menu for Yak & Yeti also, that's another TS in AK.
Regardless of what you change or don't change I'm sure you'll have a great time You can always change FP's on the fly and if you feel you have too many TS's you can cancel w/o penalty, as long as it's before 24 hours. Lots to be learned on first trips, and lots of fun to be had!

 

[JennyDrake]

Agree with PPers--you are going during a VERY busy time of your. With your current number of ADRs you are going to miss a lot of prime park time. I would cut back the ADRs to no more than one every other day. Take advantage of rope drop. It IS your best friend! Tour until lunch, then grab CS lunch in the park and head back to your room for a break TRUST ME on this one. Everyone will like everyone else a whole lot better with a midday break.

 

[got2sammies]

Cancel Trex.. If I am reading that right your ressie is at 11:30 but your Little Mermaid is 12:35-12:50.There is no way you are going to make that happen with travel time. Maybe see if you can change it to 10/20 since that is the day you leave? Depending in what time you leave as well....

 

[BradF79]

Thanks for all the feedback. We have cancelled T-REX and are cancelling both meals on AK day and trying to get a Tusker House reservation on that day.

I swapped Buzz for Big Thunder after measuring my son who is exactly 40" without shoes on...

For Kona Cafe, that's going to be my wife and I's date night dropping the kids at the children's activity center Lilo's Playhouse...

For those that asked, we are staying on park @ Port Orleans Riverside. We are not getting a rental car...

 

[Mikie]

Thanks for all the feedback. We have cancelled T-REX and are cancelling both meals on AK day and trying to get a Tusker House reservation on that day.

I swapped Buzz for Big Thunder after measuring my son who is exactly 40" without shoes on...

For Kona Cafe, that's going to be my wife and I's date night dropping the kids at the children's activity center Lilo's Playhouse...

For those that asked, we are staying on park @ Port Orleans Riverside. We are not getting a rental car...

Sounds like a wonderful date night, and I hope you enjoy the resort - I think it's really wonderful!

 

[BradF79]

Hey everyone, quick update. I was able to get a Hollywood & Vine ADR for 8am on our Hollywood Studios date (10/15/2015), but on researching, it seems like it's going to be an issue.

For one, it's not an extra magic hours day, so how will we get there on time from Port Orleans Riverside if the buses just start going 1 hour before park opens at 8am (and we don't have a rental). Second, I keep seeing posts that HS opens early a lot of time. I'm not too concerned about that as I already have a FP for TSM.

Any thoughts on this issue?

 

[cincystamper]

The buses 1 hour before park time is a myth. There will be buses running earlier (I think they start around 6:30 or so) so people can get to their pre-park opening reservations. So no worries on that one. Although, if you're still concerned when you get there, just talk to a concierge and they can help ease your mind.

If you already have a FP+ for TSM, then I wouldn't worry about it. That's really the biggest draw for early morning crowds, I think.

Have a great trip!

 

[TwoMisfits]

This is our first time going as a family, my wife went quite a bit when she was little, but I've never been and we are taking our two kids 6 (girl) and 3 (boy). We are worried about either having too many plans or not enough... Here's the schedule I have for us.... I'm thinking we have too many dining reservations. We are on the standard 1 table meal service/day plan.

The dining in green I think we should definitely keep, the red, we should cancel, the others I'm just not sure. I already know that this is going to blow out our meal plan and we are going to have to pay cash for some meals...

Is there any character dining we should try to get (at last minute) to swap for the 1900 Park Fare dinner (since my daughter is getting to see all the princesses at Akershus? I was thinking Hollywood & Vine breakfast, but wasn't sure (I know it's all going to be hard to get at this time, but I could still try...)

What about our fastpass+ selections, do they seem okay?

Thanks for any feedback or advice...

Bonus, should we consider the Halloween party one day?

I would move T-Rex to your arrival day dinner (so you can enjoy Disney Springs), I would swap Sanaa down to your AK day as the dinner (since that will be the easiest time for you to get there and do and to still have a full AK day), and I would cancel Cape May entirely. I would also cancel the Cpt Grille's breakfast on your AK day and just enjoy some AK counter service (it has some of the best CS in the Disney parks). I would also go to 1900 park fare only once - I'd probably skip whatever meal you like less, but I would definitely cut it on your BOG day and just decide on which meal you want on your other MK day. I think that gets you down to 7 TS and a much more enjoyable schedule.