Help With Itinerary

[Elk Grove Chris]

So much planning for WDW compared to DL! We are planning a 10 day trip for second or third week in August of 2015.

Day we fly in will likely be an overnight flight from West Coast, arriving around 5 am first day. So this will either be a shortened park day or a rest day, not sure yet.

Looking at renting DVC points at AKL first part of trip then heading over to the Poly for second part of trip.

My DD and Mom are not exactly morning people, so that is why I am concentrating FP+ in the afternoons. DS, Wife and I can make RD every morning and will try to take advantage of that as much as possible. The other two may join us for RD some days.

1st day-
• Check-in/drop off luggage at AKL
• AK in morning
• Back to room for lunch/pool/rest
• MK for afternoon, FP+
• Boma for dinner

We may just spend half day at AK and use FP+, rest in room then dinner at Boma and skip MK first day.

2nd day
• Epcot for RD
• Back to room for lunch/pool/rest
• DHS for afternoon FP+
• Dinner at Sci-Fi Diner
3rd day
• Universal/Harry Potter (might need two days-not sure yet)
4th day
• MK for RD
• Be our Guest for Lunch
• Back to room for pool/rest
• MK afternoon for FP+
• Light dinner MK/AKL?
5th day
• Rest day
• Check out of AKL
• DTD-Lunch?
• Check in to Poly, tour resort, pool
• Ohana for Dinner-7:30
• Watch fireworks from beach
6th day
• DHS for RD
• Back to room for lunch/pool/rest
• Epcot for afternoon for FP+
• Biergarten for dinner
• Illuminations?
7th day
• MK for RD
• Back to room for lunch/pool/rest
• AK for afternoon FP+
• Epcot for dinner Rose & Crown
• Illuminations?
8th day
• Epcot for RD
• Le Cellier for lunch
• Back to room for pool/rest
• MK for afternoon FP+
• Light dinner/maybe dessert package for fireworks

9th day
• Wildcard RD, Wildcard FP+
• DHS for dinner Brown Derby/50’s Prime Time?
10th day
• Check out, head to airport

So hard to figure this all out without knowing which days to visit which parks. Does the Easy WDW show which days to visit which parks 6 months out? That may affect where we do dinner and all of the ADRs in general. Sensory overload!

Any critique or suggestions are most welcome. It seems like we are moving around quite a bit, we will have a rental car and I will be dropping them off as much as possible as I don't mind the extra walking/trams. but maybe it is a bit much. TIA.

 

[cosmicdaisy]

Hi! I do believe easywdw is already into September with 2014 calendars. Definitely check in to that.

Are you flying non-stop coming to Orlando? Just curious... Do yall sleep well in flight? I would, for me personally, have a very loose plan for arrival day... Which it sounds like you do.

I'm a big fan of RD myself although I've read recently it is making less of a difference. I think things are still just enough up in the air that for us visiting this summer, who knows ... And I feel there are still enough not-on-the-know summer visitors that RD will still he beneficial.

Have you started planning which rides for FP+ yet?

I've never been to DL much to the chagrin of my DD who wants to go so badly, but I can imagine it is amazingly different planning for each of them.

 

[hedberg1661]

I love most of your plans (take that for what it is worth).

However, I think there is a lot of travel planned throughout your day. Granted when you move to the poly this eases quite a bit.
Also, I am not a big fan of Ohana...the last two times I was there I thought the quality of the meats to be sub par. I would consider changing this ADR but as you know everyone is very opinionated on food.

Sounds like you have a great plan...enjoy!

 

[williamscm3]

It does sound like a lot of moving, and you will be sacrificing a lot of park time to do it. Have you thought about just eating dinner at the park your in that evening? For instance the day your doing AK in the am, then MK, then back for dinner at Boma-will really cut into your MK time that evening-what about just doing dinner in MK that night? After our last trip with lots of dining I'm planning on simplifying things this next go around by eating in whatever park we are in that day to maximize park time. Going back for mid day breaks are a great idea

 

[hops&dreams]

Be sure to keep your eye on park hours and show times too:
Park hours & parades:
http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_aug.pdf

Entertainment times:
http://wdwent.com/

Aug Crowd Calendar: (Josh's easywdw)
http://www.easywdw.com/category/calendar/08-august-2014-crowd-calendar/


Also: how old are your kids? you're going to leave MK until day 4? It's normally the first park we visit - it kinda just sets the mood for us.

You also do seem to do quite a bit of hopping, losing a lot of time on transportation from one park to another. Think about trying to spend a majority of one day at a park, and hitting highlights of another after dinner. Also keep in mind that August is sweltering, so you might be taking nap/pool breaks at the height of the day/heat.

My tips for you:
make a list of the top things you MUST do at each park.
plan at least one park day for each park you want to go to before going for a 2nd visit at a park.
choose 2nd visits to parks based on how long your "must do" lists are for each park. (prioritize)
if you have down time, relax and check out other resorts, and/or all the amenities of your own resort. Poly offers movies on the beach, Electrical water pageant every night. Not sure about Poly, but I know WL does a marshmallow roast each night too.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[glassslippergirl]

So much planning for WDW compared to DL! We are planning a 10 day trip for second or third week in August of 2015. Day we fly in will likely be an overnight flight from West Coast, arriving around 5 am first day. So this will either be a shortened park day or a rest day, not sure yet. Looking at renting DVC points at AKL first part of trip then heading over to the Poly for second part of trip. My DD and Mom are not exactly morning people, so that is why I am concentrating FP+ in the afternoons. DS, Wife and I can make RD every morning and will try to take advantage of that as much as possible. The other two may join us for RD some days. 1st day- • Check-in/drop off luggage at AKL • AK in morning • Back to room for lunch/pool/rest • MK for afternoon, FP+ • Boma for dinner We may just spend half day at AK and use FP+, rest in room then dinner at Boma and skip MK first day. 2nd day • Epcot for RD • Back to room for lunch/pool/rest • DHS for afternoon FP+ • Dinner at Sci-Fi Diner 3rd day • Universal/Harry Potter (might need two days-not sure yet) 4th day • MK for RD • Be our Guest for Lunch • Back to room for pool/rest • MK afternoon for FP+ • Light dinner MK/AKL? 5th day • Rest day • Check out of AKL • DTD-Lunch? • Check in to Poly, tour resort, pool • Ohana for Dinner-7:30 • Watch fireworks from beach 6th day • DHS for RD • Back to room for lunch/pool/rest • Epcot for afternoon for FP+ • Biergarten for dinner • Illuminations? 7th day • MK for RD • Back to room for lunch/pool/rest • AK for afternoon FP+ • Epcot for dinner Rose & Crown • Illuminations? 8th day • Epcot for RD • Le Cellier for lunch • Back to room for pool/rest • MK for afternoon FP+ • Light dinner/maybe dessert package for fireworks 9th day • Wildcard RD, Wildcard FP+ • DHS for dinner Brown Derby/50’s Prime Time? 10th day • Check out, head to airport So hard to figure this all out without knowing which days to visit which parks. Does the Easy WDW show which days to visit which parks 6 months out? That may affect where we do dinner and all of the ADRs in general. Sensory overload! Any critique or suggestions are most welcome. It seems like we are moving around quite a bit, we will have a rental car and I will be dropping them off as much as possible as I don't mind the extra walking/trams. but maybe it is a bit much. TIA.

It's a really detailed plan for 18 months out. I think you would do best to think of this as your vacation ideal, but you already know that your real plan will probably look a lot different. You will probably want to adapt it based on recommended parks and EMH for the different days. You really don't need to figure it all out now-- you can't even make ADRs for another year.

If you are going in. August, it will be hot, so you will probably appreciate the afternoons at the pool. Don't be married to the idea everyday, though. Travel does take some time, and you might find you want to stay in the park some afternoons (we've never been afternoon breakers).

I'm not always an advocate of park hopping because it does take time. However, if you are already taking time to go back to the hotel for your breaks, it doesn't really matter which park you return to in the evenings. Just remember that all FP+ must be in the same park each day.

You are doing the right thing by using your own car whenever possible. It takes a lot less time (except for using the monorail to MK from Poly). It's hard to drop guests off then park, though. So know that your whole party will probably be parking and taking the trams/ walking.

You seem to need to hop so much to do many meals in World Showcase. Many great places to eat, but Le Cellier and R and C are a bit overhyped. If that helps you to streamline...