Help with November Itinerary...Yes, I know I'm being obsessive

[js]

I know it is very early but like most of you I love to plan, plan, plan, especially when it comes to our Disney trips
My mom (karensi) will be taking us to Disney November 27 (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) through Saturday, December 4, 2004. We have been many times and my mom was originally going to have us stay in the Contemporary but this time staying at my husband's friends timeshare that he is unable to use (he has built up too many weeks and can't use them all) for $200 FOR THE WEEK It's 2 minutes from Disney He heard we were going and gave us the week Just $200 for changing to the week we want Yikes, sorry for the ramble LOL
Anyway, of course I had to put together our "tentative" itineary and ask for you to please critique. We are not staying onsite so will not be using EE. My children will be 10 1/2 (dd) and 6 1/2 (ds). My sister, her dh their 9 month old ds will also be with us. They will use our plan below a lot more loosely since they have the infant.
Both my sister and I will rent cars at the airport. We will all get 5 day hopper passes (no pluses) Our favorite park (along with the kids) is Epcot. We usually go back to the hotel/condo for a nap since we have a car. If the kids (and/or us ) look like we need a nap, we'll go back, if not we will stay or park hop.

Saturday, November 27
Still crowded since this is the Saturday after Thanksgiving
We will arrive early on our flights. Stop before the condo and get some food/drinks, etc.Our tradition is to do Chef Mickey's for dinner so we can see all the characters and then ride the monorail a couple of times. Maybe we will go to DTD, depends on how the kids are feeling.

Sunday, November 28
Epcot
Living Seas for Dinner, counter lunch

Monday, November 29
MGM during day, hop over to Epcot for evening, counter or casual sit down for dinner. Want PS for MGM-lunch. What is the name of the restaurant where the waitresses are called "mama" and make sure you eat all your food? I think my son would love this.
We have been to Si-Fi Cafe many times and I think now is time for a change LOL

Tuesday, November 30
Try to get PS for Cindy's. Both my children (and my dh?? ) love it there.
MK for the day. Leave early, go back to condo, take nap.
Eat dinner at condo and back for MVMCP (If they have party that evening)

Wednesday, December 1
Break day. Sleep late (well we can. My sister has a 9 month old LOL) spend day at DTD/swim if it is not too cold. Dinner at Whispering Cannon at Wilderness Lodge

Thursday, December 2
Animal Kingdom. Go back to condo take nap and go out for HDDR

Friday, December 3
MK and then to Epcot. Dinner at O'Hana's for 5 pm or 6 pm before Epcot.

Saturday, December 4
Fly home

Any advise on above I would greatly appreciate! Thanks!!!

 

[4greatboys]

I think it sounds pretty good except for the Sat. Dec 4 part
The restuarant your thinking of is 50's Prime Time Cafe at MGM.

 

[js]

Thank you. Yes, I couldn't remember the name. Have you ever been there before? Does anyone have any other opinions?
Thank you all VERY much.

 

[disney4us2002]

I'm also planning a Christmas time trip (Dec 19-27) so I've been checking up on what happens in the World then. I can think of three things you might want to add, well four if you count checking out the resort decorations, lol.

1)The Candlelight Processional at Epcot usually starts right after Thanksgiving and since Epcot is your fave park, it might be appealing to your family (though maybe not sis w/baby).

2)Hopefully the Osbourne light display will return to MGM in 2004 so you may want to consider being in MGM at least til dark - it's supposed to be phenomenal.

3)Lastly, since you are going to already be at the Wilderness Lodge for dinner at Whispering Canyon, you might check out the sleigh rides from the WL. That was just done in 2003 so perhaps it will continue into 2004. Here is info from allears about it: "Holiday Sleigh Rides -- Enjoy a leisurely 30-minute carriage ride through the Walt Disney World backwoods from November 30 - December 30! . All rides depart from the Porte Cochere in front of the Wilderness Lodge and will return to the same location every half hour between 5:30pm and 10:00pm (December 24th hours are 3:00pm - 7:00pm). Cost is $30 (tax included) per carriage. Up to 3 adults and 2 children or 4 adults will fit in the carriage. To reserve call WDW-PLAY."

My only other comment is to watch for the Dec park hours because you may find you don't have much time (if any) at Epcot on Friday if you eat at 'Ohana at 6pm.

Looks like a fun week planned!

 

[js]

disney4us-thank you. I was thinking that too about O'Hana. But if I don't do it then, when do you think will be a good day to do it? Maybe I should just skip it? The two restaurants I really wanted to do this time were O'Hana and Whispering Cannon. Maybe I should just skip it unless you or anyone else has another option they think will work.Thank you too about the sleigh ride. I was just reading on the bus this morning about the sleigh ride (I print out the pages at work and then read them on the bus). That is a wonderful idea I didn't even think about it especially that it is in the same place!! I can make dinner ressies early since it is an "open" day and then do the sleigh ride. Do I have to book it beforehand or do you know from reading the boards, if I can just "show up" and wait. If I have to book it, I'll just get my dinner ressie and then try to estimate giving myself time at dinner since if it is too early for our scheduled sleigh ride time, we can take a look at WL. My mother would like to stay there on a future visit. Thanks for the tip.
Any other suggestions? This is why I love this board

 

[SandrainNC]

Hi js! We are going to be in Disney about the same time as you! We are going to get there on the 25th of November and stay until Dec. 4. We aren't planning to go to any Disney parks until Sunday though because of the crowds at that time and we are starting with Epcot on Sunday too! We have planned to go to Discovery Cove on the 26 since it can't get crowded and Sea World on Saturday. I know that is probably a bad day for Sea World from what I have read, but I would rather that be really crowded than any of the Disney parks since it is mostly shows. We are also planning to go to MGM on Monday. Tuesday we are doing MK or Animal K. And Wednesday whatever we didn't go to on Tuesday we will go that day. Thursday and Friday we haven't decided yet. Might just wait and see. I am waiting for the dates of the Very Merry Christmas Party to come out too and I may have to adjust our itinerary. We (unfortunately) are staying off Disney property in the Lake Buena Vista area to save some money. We haven't made any dining decisions yet. It is actually 11 of us going so this is taking some thought and agreeing on everyone's part. Sandra

 

[disney4us2002]

Well, two possibilities for 'Ohana: Rather than Chef Mickey's on arrival do 'Ohana and time it to watch Wishes from the restaurant. They pipe in the music and it is supposed to be gorgeous. That is what we are considering for 1st night - we usually do CM's as well. You could still take the monorail ride.

Or, eat at 'Ohana before the MVMCP since it is relatively easy to get to MK from the Poly anyway.

Just something to consider, lol. I have 3 separate itineraries for our Christmas trip; yes, I am obsessed with details!!

 

[js]

hhmm, I didn't think about doing O'Hana before the Party. I thought the party would be enough and thought I would let the kids nap as long as they can and just eat at the condo but could do O'Hana before the MVMCP. I don't want to do it the first night. It is a tradition for us to do Chef Mickey's and I do like to go there first since I find the kids don't "need" to see Mickey, Minnie, etc. at the parks right away if they see and spend some time with them on the first night.
Do you think I have any other convenient option than doing O'Hana before MVMCP or on Friday from MK to Epcot?
I would really like to get their this trip Also, does everything else look good? How come you have different itineraries? Is one for rain? Different rest days? Different MVMCP days? Help Should I do that too LOL

 

[karensi]

Itinerary sounds great js . Since I am lucky enough to be going with you,for those of you who don't know I am js's Mom, I am very interested in our plans. I also have never eaten at O'hanas and hope that maybe we can fit it in. Disney4us's idea of eating there before MVMCP sounded good to me,how about you? I would rather do that than do it on our first night as it has become almost a tradition to eat at CM on our first night with the monorail ride afterwards. I know that it is 9 months away but I am so looking forward to this vacation.

 

[karensi]

Hey js, looks as if we were posting at the same time and also had very similar ideas. Well I guess its true, like mother like daughter

 

[KLAIT]

Hey...we had almost the exact schedule as you this past Dec. We flew in the Sat after Thanksgiving and just hung around the resort and did Downtown Disney that day and we visited all the same parks on the same days you have planned...except on the last Friday and Sat we were at Universal.

This park schedule worked out great for us....taking the Wednesday after MVMCP as a relax day was the best thing we did!

Have a great trip!

 

[4greatboys]

js--I think O'hana is a good choice before MVMCP. We dont really make a very detailed itinerary for our trip. We basically pick what park we would like to hit on what day and if it rains we still keep our plans. Personally I dont really mind the rain, it send many back to their rooms so you dont have much of a wait which is great, lol.
I think once they give out the sch for MVMCP you can tweek your sch accordingly.