Help Me Plan "Please"

[Cubs Fan]

I booked a WWD package two weeks ago.
We will be at the parks by Noon June 4th and Leaving Mid afternoon June 10th. We have a three year boy and an eigth year old girl. Trying to plan each day at the parks. We are staying at All Star Movie Resort and have the Dinning plan with the park hopper option.
Any thoughts on what days would be best at the parks.

As you might guess this is our first trip to WWD.

 

[ougrad86]

The best way to plan is to get a guide book that shows all the attractions in all the parks. Sit down and decide what rides you want to go on, and build on that.
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is a huge book, but has crowd levels, best days for parks, and good descriptions of the rides. Birbaums is the official guide, so it is the company line. Passporter is also good. I used all three, planned with the best days and looking at the crowd levels.
Tour Guide Mike has gotten rave reviews, although I've never used it. Considering next time tho. His link is at the top of this page. Since you have a limited amount of time, his plans might be the best.
Plan quickly where you want to eat and make your ADR's, although the crowds probably won't be too heavy at that time, since most schools haven't let out. You have one TS a day with the dining plan, so you want to make sure you have a place to eat!

 

[my2boys1821]

I booked a WWD package two weeks ago.
We will be at the parks by Noon June 4th and Leaving Mid afternoon June 10th. We have a three year boy and an eigth year old girl. Trying to plan each day at the parks. We are staying at All Star Movie Resort and have the Dinning plan with the park hopper option.
Any thoughts on what days would be best at the parks.

As you might guess this is our first trip to WWD.

I suggest getting the Unofficial Guide to WDW. I also have the Passporter, and Tour Guide Mike. But I have been seriously planning since January.

Since you are on a time crunch, I would suggest getting the Unofficial Guide, it has great tips on what days to go according to crowd levels, gives details about each park, rides and restaurants. Its a great tool and you can even take it with you while your lounging at the pool if that is in your plans. The Passporter is great for keeping tickets, receipts, journaling your trip. But that doesn't have as much info as the UG.

 

[Terk-1]

I'd recommend getting the Birnbaum's guide to WDW for Kids, by Kids. Let the kids go through it and mark which attractions they want to do. Also, plan on utilizing the Extra Magic Hours (especially the am one at the MK). We did this in 2004 and did all of Fantasyland (twice) and parts of Future World (twice) before the park opened to the general public. This saved alot of time and we did not feel rushed. We did the AM EMH every chance we got and really got the most of the trip.

 

[jlovesee]

Buying the Unofficial guide is a great tip! Its my holy bible to Disney World.
I also have started using www.TouringPlans.com, to decide which parks on which days. Its done by the same people who do the unofficial guide and layed out in a nice and easy format.

Above all if this is your first trip make sure to get some down time in there, relax a little, play at the pool. Try to get the parks early (not necessarily right at opening but close) atleast on a few days, and then take a mid-day break. Again not every day, but some days.

Never go to a park that has Early Morning Hours, those are ALWAYS packed. The late evening hourse are better if you have the stamina.

Call Disney (407-WDW DINE) and make a few reservations, you are going I believe during a pretty busy time, its good to have atleast a few nice restaurants lined up.

Last, June is known for raining for an hour at 1PM or so on the dot. Dont leave when it rains! The crowds leave and you have much shorter lines, plus almost every ride will still continue to run.

Have fun! We will be there a few weeks after you!

Jennifer

 

[bjscheel]

allearsnet dot net has been helpful to me if you look at their theme parks attractions "At A Glance". It lists each attraction with a little description and it helped me decide what things we really wanted to see. I print each one out and mark them. Later I will map it out.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Welcome newbie! You're in for a great time. Before my first trip (since 1983) I got alot of my info on www.allearsnet.com I found it very helpful!

Quick piece of advice-bring water play clothes and shoes into the parks for the kids. It'll probably be hot in June and there are several places in most parks for the little ones to cool off. My DD6 loves to play in the water. She wears her bathing suit and swim shoes and I bring a towel along.

Also, we usually go to one park in the a.m., back to the hotel for a little swim (or nap) and then a different park at night. This works great for us.

Have a great time!

 

[LISAMWDW]

You didn't say but I'm assuming that you have park hopper for your entire stay. Here's a plan based on best park days:

Sun, June 4 - MK TS-Liberty Tree Tavern
Mon, June 5 - Epcot TS-Coral Reef
Tue, June 6 - MK/Epcot TS-Le Cellier
Wed, June 7 -AK til close/MK TS:Crystal Palace
Thr, June 8 - MGM TS-Sci Fi
Fri, June 9 - MK TS-Chef Mickey's at Contemp. Resort
Sat, June 10 - DTD for shopping/lunch TS-DTDlanet Hollywood

You'll need to make your ADR's asap! The restaurants fill up fast! Call 407-939-3463 for your reservations. You don't have to follow but hopefully it'll help you get started!
Go to www.allearsnet.com for menus. Enjoy your first visit!

 

[Cubs Fan]

Thanks for the help everybody. I will head to Barnes and Noble today and start "hopefully" booking my ADRs ASAP. I will report back anything I find on my trip when we get back!

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Keep in touch!! Also be sure to take into account extra magic hours and park opening and close times when planning your days!

 

[suevee]

Here are a few tips (in no particular order) I hope will help.

1. Make a list of the must do/see things. Are parades important to you? If so make sure you get there early. I would suggest seeing the MK parades in Fronteerland. The crowds don't seem as bad there.

2. I know a lot of people don't agree but take advantage of the Early Entrance to MK. I find that in the early morning it is easier to get on the rides in Fantasyland. We are usually there as soon as they open for EE. Then, I usually try to get a late breakfast/early lunch at CP and then leave the park for a rest at the resort then go to a different park in the evening. We never stay in a Early Entrance park past 1pm, if we don't eat at MK we leave closer to noon.

3. Plan down times everyday. The parks are open later so it is easier to take breaks in the afternoon.

4. Make a trip to Walmart on 192 if you can to stock up on water, juice, soda, and snacks.

5. Pack a plastic ziploc bag with ice and cheap washclothes. During the day as it heats up these are lifesavers on the back of the neck or to wipe off a child's face.

6. Get some maps of the park and familiarize yourself with the layout before you go. It saves so much time to have a general idea where the rides you want to go on are.

7. Prepare the night before for the next day.

8. Make lists during the next few weeks to help remember things. Go ahead and write out an itinerary. It's fun and helps put things into perspective.

9. Try not to rush, relax take a breathe and enjoy. If the plan of the day is not working then throw it away! Have fun, it is your vacation!!!