Help with planning/Itinerary

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

Hi, I really need some help. My husband and I are going to Disney World, first trip for both of us.. for our 5 year wedding anniversary. We've never been. We are booked at Pop Century for June 30th though July 6th. We do not have hoppers, we have planned out where we want to go each day.. an even made some ADR's. But, outside of that we are so lost and confused on how to make our itinerary and how to fit everything we want to do in the right order. We do not have children yet, and hopefully this will be our last vacation before we have them. We are really hoping the next time we go, it will be with a child.. but we wanted to do this before that happened.. alone.. it's gonna be basically a 2nd honeymoon cause we didn't have much of one the first time around. If anyone would be willing to help me, who has been there before and knows there way around.. and any tricks or tips. We know July 4th week is an extremely busy week.. so we really want to hav eour days as planned as possible... with some flexibility.. I have customized maps.. and we have listed everything we want to do. But there is just so much. Anyway, I would love any advice or help you could give us to make this trip as smooth as possible! Thank you so much!

Heather

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

also, is there a thread on here that has a Disney World packing check list??

 

[OhMari]

My best advice is be at the park when it opens. This means 15 minutes and be in line. We were there during Easter and we were told the week of the
4th of July is just as busy.

Take an afternoon break-nap, swim. Go back to the parks at nite.

Don't fret if you don't get to see everything you want. You said you will bring your kids next, so get like things in Fantasy Land done right away, before all the strollers come.

Break down Epcot for 2 days. It actually took us 3 days to do everything at Epcot.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

thanks! we have epcot planned for 2 days already... we figure one day for future world and one day to take our time at world showcase.. something we probably won't be able to do so easily once we have children. We actually are going for our anniversary and not for 4th of July.. so we are going to Animal Kingdom on the 4th.. which will probably be the least busy.. and we only plan on staying about half day there. we aren't really into things like that.. but we'd like to ride the rides.. so we are gonna go there and they are having early emh hours I believe that day... and most people will be at the other parks that day who are there for the 4th of July stuff. I've done a lot of research on that. Here is our plan.. I don't know if this would help you guys help us.. but here it is..

We are leaving Friday, June 29th at about 9pm and we are driving overnight... to get there. We are driving it straight.. We will get there probably sometime in the afternoon on the 30th.. we will check into our hotel.. but are not going to parks.. if we aren't completely gone from sitting in the car all night and day, we will probably go to DTD.. or visit some of the free things.

Sunday, July 1st... we are going to Magic Kingdom.. really magic kingdom had no good days that week.... so we just picked which would be best for us. We figure when we have children we will spend a lot more time there.. so we are doing that the first day and getting that out of the way.

Monday July 2nd.. we are going to Epcot, we are planning on going to Future World this morning... then if we get done with what we want to do, we are going to start World Showcase.. and since World Showcase is open 2 hours later.

Tuesday July 3rd...We are going to MGM... another one that we want to do a lot at, that we probably won't get to do once we have small children. Not sure if we should probably do two days here or not??

Wednesday July 4th, we are going to Animal Kingdom.. they do have Early EMH that day.. .. like I said before.. probably only half day.. ride the rides.. see a few things... then we are going to cocoa beach for the remainder of the day.

Thursday July 5th... we are going back to Epcot to finish World Showcase.. and probably do whatever we want to do at future world. We probably are gonna try to wrap this up at a descent time... so we can go do some relaxing stuff that day.

Friday, July 6th... we aren't real sure yet, I think this day, we will just have to decide which park we missed the most at or want to see the most again.. which will probably be between Epcot and MGM.. not real sure.. but then we are heading out... and driving a little ways.. then staying in a Hotel near the Beach.. I'm thinking in Savannah, GA... this is our actually anniversary day... and we just really want a completely relaxed night.... It's about 4 hours to Savannah from Disney. So we are gonna enjoy the evening.. sleep in a little bit.. then drive home the next day on the 7th. Any suggestions on a good place within 4 to 6 hours from Disney? Preferably near the beach somewhere? We don't want to spend a fortune... just a clean comfortable hotel would do.. and if there's something better we could take out the beach part.

Ok, well thanks for letting me give my spill here. I'm still looking for a good disney packing checklist if anyone has one.. or knows of one on here somewhere?

Thanks for all advice!!
Heather

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

we really aren't trying to do everything.. just the things that my husband and I sat down and went over... we went through everything and picked what we wanted to see and didn't want to see... and went over the things that we probably would do when we have children and thigns we wouldn't be able to do when we have children.. lol

We don't have hoppers... we are going to one park a day.. if we leave the park to go to the hotel.. can we go back to the park again? I know we can' tgo to a different park.. but is there a way they know? I really don't understand how it works.. we have our tickets.. but it's just one card for both of us.. and they say 6 days on them. I don't know.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[karibritt01]

The computer will keep track of which day you are in which park, as well as your dining credits (if you have DDP) and your spending (if you link your credit card to your room key.) If you leave a park for a break, you can get back in as long as the park isn't at capacity. If they do close a park, you will not be able to get back in, and you will not be able to go to another park without PH tix.

The only thing I can suggest is to have ADRs for every night if you have DDP. We were there last year just before July 4th, and we saw people turned away for the entire night by 5PM at TS restaurants. For the day you weren't sure which park you wanted... make several ADRs, and cancel the ones you don't want later.

As for EMH, take advantage of them! We liked the evening EMH, but I know many really like the AM ones. I know we were able to get more done during that time than the whole rest of the day. Use FP when possible, and go through the big ticket rides early on AM EMH days.

Make sure to take your time and enjoy your trip. Do the main things on your list, and don't worry about the other things so much. You will enjoy your vacation more if you don't feel you are rushing to get everything done.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

we've already made all of our ADR's.. on the last day.. we are just gonna do counter service.. because of the fact that we probably won't be there long enough for a full meal.

Thanks for your advice! I appreciate it! We don't have DDP. It wasn't economical for us.

We plan on just staying all day until we are ready to leave.. but the way we have it planned... we actually planned it around the busiest days... so we aren't worrying about the 4th of july stuff going on and we are going to the odd parks on the days that they have the big fireworks... and 4th of july stuff going on. If anything, we may go back to the hotel and swim or something.. then go back. I've heard the only time it really reaches capacity is on the 4th at Magic kingdom.. i'm sure it's possible other places.. but we aren't stressing about that. If it's close, we won't leave.

Thanks again!

 

[karibritt01]

Keep in mind they are having that Naturalization (I think that's what it's called) Ceremony in MK on the 4th, so it will be extra crowded. The other parks may be more crowded than usual because of the overflow. AK is a good choice for that day.