Help I'm overwhelmed! Itinerary???

[nurseypoo5]

My whole family are disney virgins...and that sad cuz my DD is 21 and my son is 10...argh.

This is a vacation of a life time, and not one i can see us duplicating (probably ever due to my DD's age) due to money etc.

I want this to be right. So I'm begging for help!

We are going 9/30 to 10/8 staying at POR on the free dining plan.

We plan on doing a MNSSHP ofcourse, but after that im dumbfounded.

Where do we eat? What days do we go to the parks? Do i rent a car? What are things we absolutely shouldnt miss? Things we should miss? Where do we eat? (i ask this twice because, well, its my favorite things to do ) Do i make reservations now? What about shows? What about dinner shows? What about cruises during the firworks??

I plan on doing Universal Studios, MGM, Epcot, Disney (twice, one with MNSSHP), AK...that is 6 things, so I have room for one more, or do we need a day of rest lol..... I'm in TX so we have a Sea World here. Can any of these go bye bye?

Anyone want to help a nurse out with her itinerary?? Seriously I just want to cry at everything im reading its just so overwhelming!

So Many thanks to all of you, this board has been awsome!

 

[Goobergal99]

lol, By, Disney I assume you mean the Magic Kingdom

Ok, we will actually be there around the same time and while I can't tell you to much about MNSSHP (b/c it will be our first time doing it) I can give you plenty of advice about Disney but first you have to have some kind of itinerary. Like for instance what parks do you want to visit on which days. This will help you in planning your dining reservations (BTW the free number is 1800-828-0228, use option 3 for dining)

Go to http://www.wdwinfo.com/#blue-dishome for park hours and extra magic hour information

go to www.allearsnet.com for menus, resort photos and the works.

 

[impulse]

Take a deep breath! Count up to 10!!!

Doing everything at once will be overwhelming! At least you know you want your food to be your number one priority!

Reservation is a must! I suggest exploring the Dining forum for more info on pricing and menu. But here are some DIS favourites if you like, everything counts as a table service and some even 2:

- Spoodles @ Boardwalk
- 50s Prime Time Cafe (The Pot roast!!!) @ MGM studios
- Chef de France @ World Showcase
- Concourse Steakhouse @ Contemporary
- Kona Cafe @ Polynesian
- Yachtsman Steakhouse @ Yacht Club
- Le Cellier @ World Showcase
- ESPN Club @ Boardwalk
- Coral Reef @ Epcot
- Jiko @ AKL
- Flying Fish @ Boardwalk
- California Grill @ Contemporary
- Citrico's @ Grand Floridian
- Narcoossee's @ Grand Floridian
- Artist Point @ Wilderness Lodge
- Whispering Canyon @ Wilderness Lodge

If you are going to visit all these other off property places, then I'd suggest you to rent a car, there's no transportation directly from Disney to these places, and it might just get pricy.

Explore around, try breaking down questions into different forum (food into dining, hotels into resorts), that way it's easier for other Dis memeber to help you out without getting disoriented ourselves! Good luck!

 

[Goobergal99]

I would suggest for your first night (time permitting) that you take the boat to DD and have dinner @ one of the resturaunts. My favorite choice is Wolfgang Puck (and it is included with free dining)

Then just stroll around and check the place out before heading back to your resort to relax

 

[Goobergal99]

If you have park hopper option on your MYW ticket. I would hit Epcot on your second day and try and check out the food and wine festival. Have Dinner in one of the countries (My suggestion would be Le Cellier or Alfredos)

Then that night, head to the MK for extra magic hour

 

[Goobergal99]

On the 2nd, chill out in the AM, then head to MGM and spend the day seeing the park. That night have dinner at Prime Time cafe and then see Fantasmic, after you can go back to the resort or stick around for EMH.

 

[Goobergal99]

I know you wanted to include a Universal day, I haven't been to Universal since I was pretty young so I can't tell you to much about it. But Tuesday would probably be your best bet, most likely lighter crowds

 

[Linzybrooke]

Get your kids involved in the planning. Get a couple of guidebooks; you can purchase them or you can check some out from the library. Give one to each of them and have them make a list of things that are must-do's for each of them, that way you all get to do what is most important to you. Each of you can also pick the table service restaurants for each night.

 

[Goobergal99]

For the 4th, I would try and check out one of the water parks and then have dinner at The Luau polynesian dinner show at the Poly. It's one of my favorite things to do at Disney.

 

[Goobergal99]

On Thurday head back to the Magic Kingdom, have dinner that night at the Liberty Tree Tavern (The Characters will be dressed up for Halloween) and then stay for MNSSHP.

 

[Goobergal99]

On Friday, head to the Animal Kingdom and then have dinner at Boma (at the Animal Kingdom Lodge) If you aren't in to trying new kinds of food, I would eat at the Rainforest cafe instead (but it's not included on the dining plan)

 

[Goobergal99]

Leave the 7th open and do whatever you want to do. Then catch dinner at the California grill or Ohana to see the Fireworks one more time from the MK. Or maybe head over to the Hoop D Doo and plan a fireworks cruise

 

[Goobergal99]

Hope my suggestions were helpful

 

[tmtg]

YOU MUST READ A GUIDE BOOK!!!!! I can not stress the importance of that. My personal favorite is the Unoffical Guide to Walt Disney world 2006. It costs about $20 and is worth every penny. It will be essential to have your trip of a lifetime (it is what I am using for mine - lol ) Aside from that, you will need the extra day as a rest day since it is overwhelming to visit parks every day of your trip.

GL, and READ A GUIDE!

 

[Kristina]

Make sure you understand how and use Fastpass to it's full advantage so that you don't have to waste valuable time waiting in standby lines when you can be off doing a different ride or shopping, or eating !

Get to the parks just before they open on most days, it really makes a huge difference in your overall experience, and you can see the opening shows!

Don't skip Ohana's at the Polynesian resort, it's a wonderful meal and go ahead and add to your order a virgin drink, because if you have the dining plan your soft drink at this resturant is included in your meal as well. Well at least last year it was , and they make a super yummy virgin Pina Colada!

Visit the resturant board here on the Dis, and look at the sticky thread with food photos from the Disney resturants to get an idea of what you would like to eat.

If your family likes breakfast, book a late morning one at Crystal Palace in the MK, and get to the park before opening. Enjoy a bunch of rides without any waiting and then go have a marvolous breakfast buffet with Winne the Pooh and his buddies. Take loads of pictures with the characters when they come up to your table, and don't worry if your not a kid because everyone is a kid again at WDW

Under no circumstances should you miss Fantasmic, Wishes or the Spectromagic parade. Get a times guide when you enter a park and see when these shows will be held. They are amazing, especially wishes !

If you guys do Universal Studio's, don't skip Jimmy Neutron Boy's ride, it was a fun surprise. But more importantly, don't skip IOA and Spiderman! Sit in front for Spiderman, and have a total blast ! You have not ridden anything like it before.

A big Mears tourbus will pick you up in front of your Resort, you just call the front desk and they will connect you, and you book a time for pick up. They will take you to Universal or Sea World for I believe 14 dollars roundtrip.

Have fun and get a second part time job, because chances are real good your coming back. No kidding, it's true !

 

[Quinn222]

Get yourself a good guidebook (I like the Unofficial Guide.) Read it. You may also want to get Tour Guide Mike (see link above.) Have everyone look through the attraction descriptions and make a list of what they want to do. You can see menus for all of the restaurants at www.allearsnet.com, that will help you decide what ADRs you want.

Make some plans as to where you will be on each day (TGM is very helpful for this part) and what you may want to do. If you're doing any evening events (Cirque, Illuminations, Fantasmic etc. the time of your ADRs need to reflect that. Leave plenty of time! An ADR is not a guaranteed seating time so you will have to plan in a bit of waiting time.

Be sure to allow for some rest time every day as well. I'm sure it all seems overwhelming but once you see some touring plans (UG and TGM are good for this) you'll see it's just a matter of deciding what you want to see and when.

 

[Hopefully]

Welcome to the DIS!
First of all you must understand that even on a trip of a lifetime you can NOT see and do it all at Disney in one trip. It is huge and diverse. Unless this is your mindset, you will be exhausted and disappointed. I would skip Universal on this trip and just focus on Disney.
Secondly, I agree with the others, get a guide book as soon as possible. I also think it is very important that each of your children list the 2 or 3 things in each park that they most want to do, that way you can insure you do the important things first.
September hours are posted on the official Disney web site already. If you click on calendar you can choose September. Then by clicking on the number of the day you will be there, you can pull up the daily schedule which will show you the parades and fireworks/Fantasmic schedule for each day you are there.
Are you early risers or late night folks. The hours and events and your touring style will help you figure out which day in which park. Going early is the best plan, but you can plan for your families style.
Once you have a broad idea of which park on which day, look at the restaurant menus on allearsnet.com and see where you would like to eat.
It is VERY important that you make your ADR's (Advanced Dining Reservations) as soon as you decide where you want to eat. The Dining Plan has made the restaurants very busy and if you wait too long you are going to be disappointed. Also consider the restauarants in the resorts near the theme park you are in on a given day. There are many great restaurants in the resorts.
I would echo making an ADR at 'OHana at the Polynesian. It is great, lots of fun, beautiful views and you will be able to see the beautiful Poly too. It is a short Monorail or boat ride from the MK
Know that a sitdown meal can take up to 1 1/2 hours start to finish, so factor that into your daily touring plans and schedule.
Relax, Planning is half the fun for most of us here on the DIS.

 

[kizmac]

I highly recommend you join Tour Guide Mike! His site is fantastic for planning which days to go to which park and he has excellent touring plans. Well worth the cost to join. Read all you can and do plan your meals as soon as possible. The ADR's are going to fill up quickly with free dining. You are going to love POR! It is a beautiful resort.

I'm so glad your family is getting to have their first Disney trip! With free dining it is going to be even more fantastic! Some great dining choices that we enjoyed last year were Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, Boma, Liberty Tree Tavern, 50's Prime Time, Crystal Palace. Make sure you do at least one Character Meal! You are never too old for a Character Meal! Chef Mickey's is fun and you get to check out the Contemporary Resort. Since you will be doing Universal....you may want to do a couple 2TS dinners somewhere since the days you do Universal you will not get to use any of your dinning credits unless you eat late enough after leaving US.

Universal is a great park but you really need at the minimum 2 full days to do Universal and Islands of Adventure. 3 days is really ideal. Is there anyway that since this trip to Disney is likely a once in a lifetime trip that maybe you could save Universal for a trip on it's own? They usually have fantastic deals on tickets and you could get multiple day tickets for the price of 2 days tickets sometimes. Maybe make it a vacation next year or the year after . If not, you can work it in, it will just mean less Disney time and if you never think you'll make it back to Disney as a family, I just hope you get to really enjoy it!

With Free dining the last year and this year, we have been skipping Universal all together. Since we are getting free meals at Disney I can't see doing US & IOA. I do miss going though....but I'll take free dining at Disney any day.
Will you be doing parks on your check in day and check out day? If you do, you should have plenty of time for Universal and Disney.

Anyhow....start by planning your days....starting from check in to check out. Write it all down. Tour Guide Mike will help you decide which is a good day for a certain park. Then just write your park down and pick a TS place to eat for that day and about what time you'd like to eat. Do that for each day and then after you have your park and meal for each day. Go back and do itineraries for each day. Like what time to arrive at the park and the rides and attractions that you will do in order. You can always vary from your plan....but it is best to at least have a plan. That way you don't go in blindly and forget things that you wanted to see or spend an enormous waste of time talking about what to do next. There are some things in Disney that because of the amount of time it takes to do them and it's lacking of .....I don't know...magic, fun, however you describe it. ...like Stitches Great Escape ...... anyhow, they are not wise choices for your trip. Tour Guide Mike will help you with those decisions as will reading here on the DIS! Good luck with your planning! I hope you have a magical trip!