Help Please!!

[JealousTinkerbell]

Hello everyone, I am new to DIS and I have never been to WDW. I will be going April 6th-13th/05, I have been reading and planning for 2 months, (that is as far ahead as i was notified of the trip). It will be Myself (Crystal-19yo)& My boyfriend (Michael-20yo ) his mom Linda (34ish) and is Sister Jasmine (11yo-with the attitude and size of someone a little older 13ish? oh yea i would also like to mention that if this little brat doesn't get her way she will do her darndest to make life H.E. double hockeysticks for everyone) Now this is the problem. I have been left to plan a trip for 4 people by myself and I have never planned a trip before. We are arriving from Toronto, to OIA around 10:30am On the 6th and leaving early morning on the 13th. Linda wants to do a whole lot and wants it done her way mostly because she wants to be in control of something she is paying for, which makes sense, but see she is leaving 100% of the planning up to me. Now I will give you all the information I can on what she wants.

We are staying off site at Buena Vista Suites We have 7 day hopper passes(just in case).

She wants one day to shop outside Disney - I suggest the day we get there we head over to the outlet malls near the hotel which will allow us to get the shopping out of the way and allow us to acclimatize a bit as well at get an early night in since we will all be so tired. (gotta be at the aiportfor 5am meaning we leave at 3am meaning no sleep that night)

She wants one day at a beach, I say the day before we leave because it will be a whole day trip since it isnt too close by and it will let us wind down before we leave.

We also want to do BB, TL, MK, MGM, & DTD. - I was thinking of doing BB & MGM in one day because I don't see us spending a full day at BB. Also TL & DTD in one day for the same reason. then either 2 or 3 days at MK. If we do 2 days at MK then we would do 1 at AK.

none of us are interested in EPCOT, we are still not sure about AK.

Michael Jasmine and Linda are being (i hate to say) USELESS in helping me. None of us care about character meals.

I can't find anything about Parades or fireworks. So If anyone could give me information about when they are (are they seasonal, daily etc. and i was curious about Wishes?) I would appreciate it. Also how do I know what days to go where. I don't really want to do 2 MK days in a row or 2 waterpark days in a row.

I have so much information but I am just about the least organized person in the world and i am feeling overwhelmed.

If she wanted me to plan a trip to scotland No problem. at least i have been there, but WDW is a tough assignment for a newbie!

 

[tikkipoo]

My advice is go first get a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2005. They have wonderful trip planning ideas.

Second, I would only spend a half a day at AK...if you are crunched on time.

Third, Epcot has some pretty neat stuff, so I wouldn't just through it to the side. It's a pretty neat place.

For what it's worth

Have fun!

 

[JealousTinkerbell]

Where do i get the unofficial guide?

As for tossing EPCOT, If it were me i would go for maybe half day there but Linda says No go. so unfortunately its no go heck if it were me we'd be staying on site but again its all up to Linda in the long run!

thanks though

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

I agree on 1/2 a day for AK and DON't skip Epcot. There's so much there.

As previously said, get a good guide, read through that, and mostly, just have a good time!

 

[Disney Fool]

Let Linda stay at Magic Kingdom; you, however, grab boyfriend and hop on the monorail to Epcot and get Wowed!!!

 

[tikkipoo]

You can get the Unofficial Guide at any bookstore or from Amazon.com, Overstock.com, BarnesandNoble.com...It's everywhere. There are more books out there too, but that's one of my favorites. If you visit Allearsnet.com, they have some awsom info including menus at all the restaurants on the property. If you get a guide book, it will give you an idea of what there is to do at all of the Worlds. Poor Linda doesn't know what she's going to miss out on. But, that's life with in-laws

 

[AJKMOM]

Definitely recommend a guidebook. I agree that for your first trip to WDW, you should see EPCOT. You will have park hopper tickets. Maybe go to AK in the morning and hop to EPCOT for the evening fireworks. Some people who don't know much about WDW don't appreciate all there is to do there. Sounds like Linda won't read the book, maybe you can have her glance at it on the plane when she is a captive audience. It may give her a better idea that it isn't just the Magic Kingdom. Or, maybe she'll change her mind when she gets there.

Unforunately, it sounds like you will need to be careful here. Sometimes people who control the purse-strings think they control the world. Good luck, these Boards are littered with horror stories about vacations being ruined by people like Linda!

 

[JealousTinkerbell]

Thanks so much

 

[WEDWDW]

PLEASE,PLEASE go to Epcot!World Showcase is AWESOME!Future World is also great.The best show in all of the parks,in my opinion,IllumiNations-Reflections of Earth,is held nightly at Epcot.The monorail ride from MK to Epcot is so much fun-it goes inside of Epcot.There is SO much to see and do at WDW,especially on a first trip.I would skip the beach{unless you've never been to a beach and ocean before}and the shopping{unless you shop at DTD },but that's just my humble opinion.Not everyone "gets" WDW,but believe me,if you do,you will want to spend every minute you can there.HAVE A GREAT TRIP!

 

[highland3]

Crystal:

We are heading out soon for our first trip to WDW and Epcot is a must. The kids and I are excited about things like Mission: Space and some of the other rides and my DW is really excited about touring the world in one day.

My best advice is to spend a lot of time reaing these boards (I've been told I spend waaaayyy too much time here) and buy the guide. It's easy to find at Chapters.

 

[Worfthedog]

I also say grab your boyfriend and spend the day at EPCOT let the others do their shopping and beach things. Maybe if you suggest getting out of the way to the mother and daughter so they could have some time without you getting in their hair for a while and do a few mother & daughter things?

You will love EPCOT and a stroll around the world showcase and then Illuminations has to be one of the most romantic things to do at WDW!

RELAX!! Don't let the planning get on top of you. I always do, since I do ALL the planning on our trips anywhere-so maybe I am the last person that suggests relaxing but please try!

Check the official website for parade times etc or take a look around the sections here you should find everything you need.

...and try to get to AK too!

Paul.

 

[jckdisneybound]

Even if you don't want to spend a day at Epcot make an evening of it. Illuminations is a must! As for the beach, I'd do it mid trip, you may want you last to go back and do some things again.

 

[Princess Wannabe]

Wow! You've got your hands full, planning this...NO PRESSURE, huh?!
Step - by - Step Guide:
#1. Relax; take deep breaths. You WILL survive!
#2. Go to the library immediately and see what guidebooks they have on WDW. Browse thru; see which one(s) you like best, and then perhaps go BUY these at your local bookstore.
#3. Read the books; make notes to yourself about what sounds good.
#4. Make a list of what you HAVE to do; what you would LIKE to do if time; and what you can skip. And while we're on that - do NOT skip Epcot! It is by far my favorite park...and there's NOTHING more romantic than the World Showcase in the evening.
#4. Sketch out on paper a general itinerary of what you want to do for each day: what parks to visit, what restaurants to eat at, etc.
#5. Remind yourself (& Linda) that you will NOT be able to do & see everything in one trip - it's impossible.
#6. Once you have it sketched out, begin calling & getting PS's for your dining choices, if you desire. Some people like to live dangerously and don't like to make PS's; I like to know I have a snowball's chance of sitting down to eat once a day!
#7. Relax and have fun...
#8. Review the great information they have on this board, as well as www.allearsnet.com and www.touringplans.com.

Don't miss Epcot!! Compromise with Linda and see if she'll go for just 1/2 a day...and I guarantee, she'll want to come back!!!

 

[Sandyincanada]

yikes, do you really need to do a beach day and 2 water parks in 7 days?? I agree with you about shopping the first day, your going to be tired or even use it to veg at TL if you must do water for 3 days. DTD, you can pop over to anytime, I wouldn't actually plan a time. I would not miss out on Epcot and judging by your ages, you may find you want to spend more time at MGM where the bigger thrill rides are. These parks are HUGE, remember. I would definately only do half a day at AK or actually, I would skip it and do epcot. Epcot has mission space, Test track, Spaceship Earth (everyone has to ride in the "ball", lol) and World Showcase which is amazing.

 

[disneyaggie]

To: JealousTinkerbell . . . first of all, my condolences to you! What a task, but it seems like you are truly rising above it all. Congrats!

I agree with everyone -- don't miss EPCOT. And take more time at AK. As a matter of fact, if everyone seems to like animals, why not take a 3-hour tour of AK?

I also applaud the idea of letting you and your boyfriend take off, away from the others. Let them do what they want to do and enjoy the Mouse! Good luck!