Help me plan a too see it all!

[momofoneplustwins]

Ok, maybe we cannot see it all. We are sceduled to arrive at POR on Mon. the 26th of May. We check out on the 30th (Fri.). We have a 3 day park hopper with a water park option. Our kids will not want to do the scary stuff and one won't even want to be in crowds . I've heard it's possible to do MGM and AK in one day. I'm just too confused with all the different shows/times/etc... I'm appealing to the great wisdom on this board to direct me in my planning. I know there are certain parks that are busier certain days, etc... Also some folks avoid the parks with Early Entry. We are driving and I'm also wondering if it will be faster to use our car to get to the parks. Just a bunch of confusion here! We leave in a week so I have to hurry and get it together.

 

[allshookup]

IMHO it is virtually impossible to see and do it all unless you spend a couple of days at each park or at least one full day at animal kingdom. Between sitting and waiting for a parade or show or stopping to eat, time just flies. I would go for the rides or attractions that you really want to see and then go back for others if you have time. I just don't think it ends up being fun if you are racing around trying to fit everything in. You will end up exausted and having missed out on a lot of small magical moments. However, I would recommend trying for early entry days (or whatever they are called now) because you can fit a lot in before the crowds really build. Not that I know anything about that because we are NOT morning people, but many people swear by it. Make sure you get a time schedule as you enter the park so you can work around shows/ parades you must see.

If you really want to follow a schedule....Birnbaum's guide gives you a full day and half day schedule for each park. ex: full day at MK with small children: head directly to fantasyland ride dumbo, peter pan, carrousel, and winnie the pooh. Next head to toontown fair to meet the characters....it goes on and on for each park. I am sure there are other guides that might also help you.

I also am not sure about using your car to save time since we always use the disney transportation, which runs fairly regularly. It is just less stressful for us since we are not dealing with lines of cars waiting to get into the parking lot, waiting for trams, etc. It may not be a time saver, but maybe someone else may be able to offer more insight into the time factor?

Hope you have lots of fun no matter what you decide!

 

[bobcat]

First you need to decide what you want to see and do. You won't be able to do it all in three days. Get a good guide book or check one out of the library. I recomend the Unofficial Guide and Passporter. Once you decide what you have to do then you can make a plan.

It sounds like you have kids so I would suggest doing early entry at MK. You can get an amazing amount done in that time, especially fantasyland. I would also check park times and hop between parks if one closes early. Here's park hours for your stay. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hour.../2003&EndDate=05/30/2003&submit2=Submit+Query For example AK closes earlier than all the other parks, 6pm, so you can use the morning at AK then hop to MGM or EPCOT for the evening.

It can be faster to get everywhere with your car except MK. The car park at MK is across the lagoon and you will still have to take the ferry or the monorail to get to the park entrance while the busses drop you off right at the entrance.

 

[momofoneplustwins]

I have two guide books. One's the WDW with kids and the others the Official birnbaums (for the pictures). I think what I need to do is make a list of all the must see's for all the parks and then prioritize them. We're considering eating at Chef Mickeys. Do we absolutely have to call ahead? When we were there in 93 we called a special number for dinner reservations that day from our room. I think I'm going to have to get out those books, get some paper and a pen...start planning on paper! I've been obsessed reading these boards!

 

[Planogirl]

My thoughts:

Get to a park before it opens each day. This will save you a lot of time. And do make that list of priorities. From that you can figure out the really popular attractions and make it a point to go to those first. And use FastPass wisely for the others. You should go ahead and allow a full day for the Magic Kingdom. Then you can allocate the other two days as your interests allow. Be sure to allow for rest time even though your visit is short because trying to run around exhausted is definitely not any fun. And build in at least one character meal. As for parades and fireworks shows, they are superb but will take some time. The easiest one to see is Illuminations while Spectromagic is difficult in my opinion. I would use the Fantasmic dinner plan to help you save time if you want to see Fantasmic. Also note closing times. The Magic Kingdom often closes early which can give you time to go over to Epcot to enjoy World Showcase if you have the energy.

Most of all, good luck!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says..............................You won't see it all, not even close.
EE or not hit fantasyland at MK at rope drop. You can do them all in less than an hour.
Limit parades, and fireworks. Lining up 45 to 60 minutes before a parade burns a lot of minutes that you don't have. I'd do Illuminations at EPCOT.
AK is a half day park if you miss all the shows and show up early, but ya gotta see Lion King. MGM is not a half day park.
FP as much as you can, eat on the run, don't sleep and you'll see quite a bit!
I'd use some of this time, to not do it all, but to know what you'll do on the next trip, nothing like being there to know whats up for the second trip. And there will be a second trip!

 

[CdnMom2]

We went on our first trip Dec. 28 to Jan 10/03, used our 7-Day PH's fully. Park hours went from 8am to 10pm or midnight some days. We exhausted our kids, barely stopped to eat & still did not see some of our "top" priorities.

Do map out some family, personal faves BEFORE you go. Remember these are yours & your kids faves. Doesn't have to be the TOP ride everyone says is best there (but do keep a sense of adventure when you plan to try new things!). Fave characters, fave countries, foods to try that YOU want to do. I really recommend the Birnbaum for Kids book (great souvie after too) and the Unofficial Guide -- it really helped us understand how to stay ahead of the packs.

Yes, yes, yes GO EARLY. Take advantage of EE/EMH. And be there for the beginning of that EE. We noticed a difference in crowds in the latter 1/2 of the hour. We got a lot more done & out of way (or should I say "enjoyed") just in that first 1/2 hour.

Do learn about FastPass & use it. Send 1 parent off to get the FP's while other takes kids into line-up or in direction of heavy line rides. Read your FP expiry times for when you can get your next one -- it changes. Stock kids own waistpacks with snacks, etc., carry around drinks. Munch when you're waiting for parades as well.

Oh and I meant "map" out. So much time was saved once we learned the maps, including where the FPs were, where the parade directions were (especially if you were trying to avoid them that day!). Do it before you go.

Big time consumers were any park-hopping we did time was really eaten up with the transportation & package checks. And trying to fit in all the shows, parades, fireworks was a logistical nightmare I wish we had been better prepared for ahead of time so we weren't always trying to rush from here to there and dragging family members past stuff they wanted to see and we never got back to... I'd really recommend checking the other sites for show times before you go, prioritizing the shows you want to try (they're really not ALL that great for everyone) -- you CAN't do it all, and save any park-hopping for going to Epcot after the others close.

Sorry this is so long. I read & was told over & over that you can't do it all before we went. It truly can't be emphasized enough to prepare for that. Pick your priorities as a family, map them before you go & be sure to do them. There are some biggies we missed in our rushing about to get the MOST done. People are amazed at all we did do. These "misses" is what this ultra-planner Mom misses the most when we talk about our trip, look at photos, etc. Have to go back so we can relax a bit!!! LOL!

No matter what though you will still be in the most magical place with your family. Even when things go wrong (illnesses, falls, tantrums, cameras that won't work, whatever) remind yourselves of that -- you ARE there & together and everywhere you look is magic no matter what you manage to see or do.

 

[CdnMom2]

WARN the kids before you go & prepare yourselves. A shop at end of EVERY ride, the coolest souvenirs, EVERYWHERE, and line-ups forming magically for every character that showed up. We warned the kids ahead of time that our trip was not about this. And guess what we had lots of character photos & autographs. If we happened upon a short line-up or as often did happen NONE we did it. We passed & waved at others. We were sure to look at the characters times on the daily pages for some top faves (Buzz, Woody, & Jessie for our 5 year old female Toy Story nut) and were there at the beginning of the day. Done. Happy. Pointed out, looked, and waved happily as passed from then on. Many, many stores looked so cool. But we were not there for that and when we did stop to look in some while some held spots at parade or some rested it was a treat not an expected.

GREAT souvies from Belz Outlet for everyone. We did get some planned ahead souvies from Mousegears our first night because we had the CP 15% off -- autograph books & special pen they shared, pressed penny album...
Oh and that Once Upon a Toy at Dtn Disney was like a theme park of its own for us. Great time there (after other parks closed) great photo ops & love our Potato Head pieces still.

 

[Leigha]

The Unofficial Guide, which may be available at your library like it is mine, has a roadmap already planned for you! Cross off what's too scary for your kids and go, go, go! You may not be able to see everything but you can get a lot done in that amount of time. Budget your time in each park and go down your list of things to do. With all of the information available on the internet now, you'll be able to plan quite well! I wouldn't miss the afternoon parade at the MK or the night with fireworks, if it's available during your time schedule. Don't miss Illuminations at Epcot and really try to see Fantasmic, which is much easier with the plan. If we don't have a lot of time, we take advantage of the fact that a lot of people do line up early for the parade leaving the rides less crowded. You can get close enough to the parade to see with no problem. If you get lucky, you can slip into a spot that has previously been blocked off for traffic that opens up at the last second. Make your plan so that you have 1/2 a day at the end of the trip so that you can all decide what your favorite park was where you think you really missed out. Read all of the time-saving tips from this board and try and use them. Don't forget the kid swap in case you want to ride something one of your younger children don't you and your spouse won't have to wait in line twice. If you're arriving a day early, try and have supper that night at Chef Mickey's. It will get you in the mood and free up your time later! Good luck and have a great time!!

 

[tjkraz]

Looks like you have some great advice here already. Everyone is right...you won't even come CLOSE to "seeing it all" in three days. Go through the Birnbaum's book with your children and have them pick one or two things at each park that they really want to do. Make sure that THEY understand from the beginning that you can't do everything.

Plan a few surprises for your kids as well--like a Character Meal or something else that you may pick up in your reading.

You didn't say what ages your children are, but please don't forget that just because you are "on vacation", don't expect your children to immediately adjust to changes in their schedules. If you have young ones that need a nap during the day, you'd better include nap time in your schedule. If they are used to being in bed by 9pm, make sure you have them back to the room accordingly.

As adults, we can handle variations to our daily routine, but many children can't make those adjustments. If you expect too much of the kids, it the temper tantrums and frayed nerves will disrupt the trip for everyone.

Good luck, and remember it is a VACATION, not an endurance test.

 

[alansh]

Just to repeat what everyone else said: you won't be able to see everything, and you'll kill yourself if you try.

The point is to enjoy what you see, not worry about what you're missing.