Help!! MIL wants more Flower and Garden time...need to tweak schedule!

[IvyandLace]

Just got off the phone with MIL and am a bit stumped. She and I will be going to WDW April 27th-May4th for a "bonding" trip and are staying at POFQ. Her last trip (October 2003) did not include much of Epcot, and since she is an avid gardner, she would like to spend the majority of her time in Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival.

Here is the plans that I've come up with so far (MIL is concerned that a few hours each day in Epcot is NOT going to be enough to see everything...seminars, etc.):

April 27th-Arrive, check in, nice dinner, etc.

April 28th-Magic Kingdom (Splash, POC, Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents...all things MIL has never done)
Lunch at Kona Cafe at 12:15pm
Rest from 1:30pm-3:30pm
To MGM by 4pm to catch Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid
Dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby ~6:30pm
Fantasmic at 8:30pm

April 29th-Epcot (MIL isn't an early riser so I'm hoping we'll be there by 10:30am or so)
Lunch at Le Cellier at 1:30pm
Rest from 3pm-6pm
To Magic Kingdom with dinner at Plaza Restaurant at 6:30pm
Spectro at 8:30pm, WISHES at 9:30pm

April 30th-Epcot (again...get there by 10:30am, hopefully)
Lunch at San Angel Inn at 1pm
To MK for afternoon parade (MIL has never seen it!) at 3pm
Free evening

May 1st-Free day (I had planned to go to TL since MIL LOVED it there last trip, but now she doesn't know if she wants to go)
Dinner at Boma at 5:30pm
Free evening

May 2nd-Grand Floridian spa?? (Maybe for a "thank you" for trip to MIL)
Afternoon tea at 2pm
To Epcot
Dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh at 7pm
IllumiNations at 9pm

May 3rd-free day (I'm assuming we'll spend this at Epcot, but no plans have been made)

May 4th-check out, shopping DTD prior to leaving


So what do you think?? I totally understand MIL's desire to spend her time at Epcot, but I am having a hard time planning for her to see Epcot's rides, World Showcase, attractions, etc. along with the unknown Flower and Garden stuff. Maybe I shouldn't worry about the rest periods, but I know that MIL gets overheated very easily and wanted her to have "down" time as needed.

Any suggestions to getting more quality time at Epcot??

Thanks so much!
IVY

 

[mommie2angels]

Make sure you check out the Flower and Garden schedule ahead of time. You can see who is speaking. Maybe there is a particular person your MIL would love to plan on seeing. Since some of the seminars are inside this could be part of the down time for you maybe. You would be sitting inside and could rest a bit. Maybe on the first day do a quick scan of the special F&G areas at Epcot to see exactly what she is interested on concentrating on. We could spend 4-5 whole days at the F&G show and not see it all. We just love it! Also don't forget the concerts each night. That could be another good rest time. Have fun!!!

 

[WDSearcher]

If the F&G Festival is what she's interested in, why not look at that schedule and plan for the things she wants to see and then, if there's time, do the rides and attractions. If the Festival is what she's truly interested in, then that's what should take focus on your Epcot days. If she really WANTS to see the rides and such, then getting them in might be difficult, but it sounds like you're more worried about getting her on the rides than she is. She'll see all of World Showcase anyway, as she walks around to see the various F&G exhibits and things, so I don't think you have to worry about scheduling time to see the countries. Just enjoy the Festival and when you get to any given country, if the lines aren't too long, just say, "Do you want to ride Maelstrom, as long as we're here in Norway?" or "The Canada movie starts in a few minutes ... let's get out of the sun and see it." There's no reason why all the time has to be totally scheduled. You have plenty of time scheduled at Epcot -- just enjoy it!

 

[ncbyrne]

On April 28 - since your m-i-l is not an early riser and will likely get to the park long after opening, will you have time to fit in "(Splash, POC, Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents...all things MIL has never done)" and still have "Lunch at Kona Cafe at 12:15pm"?
We are also going the first week in May specifically because of the Flower and Garden show. There's just sooo much to see and do for the festival - we just love it this time of year.

 

[IvyandLace]

Thanks to all who responded!! I so appreciate your words of wisdom and hints of encouragement! Yes, I do have a tendency to "schedule" too much and I know she is going to LOVE the Flower and Garden Festival so I have backed off my "expectations". I've decided to spend our first day in Epcot instead of MK which will allow us to get a good understanding of what is offered for seminars, etc.

Thanks again...I think it's finally coming together!

IVY

 

[marmar]

The only time we go to WDW is during the Flower & Garden show. I can't imagine Epcot without it. That being said, when we first went to WDW 11 years ago with our 10 year old, EPCOT was by far her favorite park. And still is.....
Consequently we stay at the Yacht or Beach Club most of the time.

Early morning is a good time to do Epcot. You might suggest an breakfast at one of the epcot resorts or Boardwalk, and then go in the International Gateway. Theoretically World Showcase is closed but you can take a leisurly stroll through UK & Canada on your way to the "open" part of Epcot. This lands you right at the rose gardens. Many of our best pictures of the Canada flower beds & the roses were taken this way.... before the crowds. There is almost never a wait or crowd to get in the International Gateway unlike the main entrance to EPCOT. I hate having to deal with the long trek just to get in past the entry plaza at EPCOT.

The International Gateway is a good shortcut when you are heading to the world showcase. Take the bus to Beach Club or Boardwalk Inn & take the short walk. (The gardenias should be in bloom) or the Boat from Boardwalk or MGM.

 

[C.Ann]

Aside from what HAS to be scheduled (so you can get seatings) I would just play it by ear.. If each of you is receptive to the others needs and desires, I'm sure it will all work out fine!

 

[Disney Debbie]

Although she's not normally an early riser - you don't think she could make an exception a few days? It's well worth it at WDW IMO - and I'm DEFINITELY NOT and early riser - normally! It's also so much cooler in the morning and you won't worry about taking too much time with a long rest in the afternoon if you have a full morning.

 

[TeresaNJ]

I've been reading over your schedule to see how you can tweak it. I'm glad you've decided to spend your first full day at Epcot. Will you still be going to MGM in the evening for Fantasmic? If so, then why not sleep in a little the next day, the 29th, and go to the MK a little earlier for the afternoon parade, then spend the rest of the evening there as planned? You can skip going to Epcot in the morning that day since you will have spent a good bit of time there the day before. Then when you go back to Epcot on the 30th, you won't have to leave early for the MK parade, as you will have already seen it, and you can spend more time at Epcot that day. I think May 1st sounds good for TL if your MIL still wants to go, and DH and I love Boma, plus it's so relaxing strolling around AKL. It's really cool there in the evening. The rest of your days sound good also. Mainly, try to go with the flow. The F&G Festival at Epcot is one of the highlights of our trip. Don't worry about seeing everything, or getting on all the rides. Decide what is really important, plan to do that, and the rest is just icing on the cake. Have a wonderful time!