You’ve already mapped things out really thoughtfully, but honestly the biggest flaw in the plan is the drive. A 15–18 hour haul with a 7-year-old and a toddler is going to drain everyone before the trip even starts, and doing rope drop the next morning would feel brutal. Flying removes two wasted travel days and preserves everyone’s energy for the parks. Mears Connect is absolutely worth the cost in your situation—no car seats to haul, no stress, and predictable timing. Lynx isn’t realistic with kids, luggage, or vacation time, and rideshare becomes complicated the moment car seats enter the picture. POR is a great choice, especially for your dates, and your park lineup looks solid. If you need to free up budget to make flying feasible, I’d adjust the resort or drop a park day before I’d force the long drive. Your overall plan is good—you just need to protect your energy so the vacation actually feels like a vacation.
