Help with schedule for WDW first timer!

[MommyMissy]

Hi! I am so excited to be planning my first trip to the World for this September. I am a major planner so feel a little behind. I have been to Disneyland many times as I take my kids to Disney for their 7th birthday. This is my daughter's turn and it was actually cheaper to do WDW than DL this time. We are super excited but a little overwhelmed. On this trip will be me (34 year old Disney Freak), my daughter who will be 7 on the trip, and my sister (36 year old foodie). My daughter was only 2 1/2 on her last trip to DL and doesn't remember much. She is fairly scared to try "bigger" rides but I am hoping I can get her to try a few. We like to eat TS so you will see a lot of that in our plans. My sister is a food snob so I'm trying to appease her while giving me and my daughter options for our more average palates. We are staying at POR with free dining upgraded to deluxe. Here is what I have planned so far. I would be so appreciative if you would give me your thoughts.

Thursday September 21, 2017
Arrival day
Flight lands at 11:50 AM
Check In at POR
Head to Epcot, eat around the world, get in as many attractions as possible at world showcase
Dinner at Monsieur Paul 6:15 PM, see illuminations.


Friday September 22, 2017
Daughter's Birthday
EMH at Magic Kingdom

Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch 12:30 PM
OR
Be Our Guest Lunch - QSR 1:45 PM could only get ADR for 2 people any advice on adding an extra person

Leave after lunch spend the afternoon at resort pool

The BOATHOUSE Dinner 6:30 PM then shopping, exploring DS

Saturday September 23, 2017
EMH at Animal Kingdom
Tiffins Restaurant Lunch 11:45 AM considering changing to Yak & Yeti
Leave after lunch

Wanting to schedule BBB in DS not sure what time. Any thoughts on the princess parade they do for the girls? I think it is usually around 2, wondering if it is worth it? Otherwise we could schedule the makeover for later and she could swim at resort for a while. Or we head to Epcot earlier

Visit Future World attractions
Princess Storybook Dining Dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall 8:25 PM

Sunday September 24, 2017

EMH at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Minnie's Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine Lunch Fantasmic! 11:25 AM
Yachtsman Steakhouse Dinner 5:20 PM
Fantastic! 8:00 PM

Monday and Tuesday is where I need the most help. I know I want to allocate time at MK and AK, but not sure in what configuration. We would like to see HEA and ROL if playing.

Monday September 25, 2017
EMH Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Donald's Dining Safari Breakfast at Tusker House Restaurant 8:35 AM

Thinking of Spending at least a half day here but not sure. Considering of hopping to MK for the afternoon.

I have an ADR for California Grill at 5:05 PM so could view HEA from the contemporary later also considering adding a dessert party for this night. Only tomorrowland terrace available at the moment.


Tuesday September 26, 2017
Originally planned on starting the morning at Magic Kingdom Park but now questioning b/c it is mnsshp and we won't be going. So maybe this day would be better for AK
I currently have an ADR For The Plaza Restaurant 12:00 PM May change it, any recommendations?

Currently have 2 ADRs for California Grill Dinner one at 5:25 PM and one at 9:20 (plus the one for Monday night). I need to decide which one I want to keep. Which one will give me the best fireworks viewing/ least hassle? This is a party night so the fireworks show would be the Halloween version.
Maybe we hop to AK depending on nighttime offerings.

Wednesday September 27, 2017
Check Out Day
Only thing planned this day is 50's Prime Time Cafe Lunch 11:05 AM
Flight departs at 6:55 PM, approximately what time will we magical express pick us up?

Thank you so much for making it through this massive post!!

 

[sharonabe]

For your BoG lunch, just keep looking for an ADR for either 1 person or the 3 you need. Something will probably come up. As long as you're within 15-20 min of each other, you should be able to enter together, and since it is QS, you find your own seats and can sit together.

MK during the day on party days are actually really good...less crowded. You'll just want to be headed out of there around 3 or 4 to avoid the party goers who can get in at 4:00.

I would probably try to keep the CG reservation on the party night, so I could see Hallowishes. I would skip the dessert party. I don't really care for the Terrace view.

ME will pick you up around 4 pm, but you should be back at your resort by 3:30 as they will be pulling out at 4:00, and if you're not on it, you're on your own getting to the airport. They will NOT wait on you.

 

[randumb0]

I only noticed one day on your schedule for MK and it's only for a few hours. I would try to add more time for MK

 

[MommyMissy]

For your BoG lunch, just keep looking for an ADR for either 1 person or the 3 you need. Something will probably come up. As long as you're within 15-20 min of each other, you should be able to enter together, and since it is QS, you find your own seats and can sit together.

MK during the day on party days are actually really good...less crowded. You'll just want to be headed out of there around 3 or 4 to avoid the party goers who can get in at 4:00.

I would probably try to keep the CG reservation on the party night, so I could see Hallowishes. I would skip the dessert party. I don't really care for the Terrace view.

ME will pick you up around 4 pm, but you should be back at your resort by 3:30 as they will be pulling out at 4:00, and if you're not on it, you're on your own getting to the airport. They will NOT wait on you.

Thank you! That's what I was hoping to hear for BoG! So you would stick with MK on Tuesday, maybe miss HEA? That is what I have read about terrace view. Would you keep the early or late reservation? I am hoping for one about 8 but we will see.

I only noticed one day on your schedule for MK and it's only for a few hours. I would try to add more time for MK

Yes we definitely want more time there, trying to decide if Monday or Tuesday would be better for this

 

[DisTXMom]

My thoughts are: 1) not enough MK time/ they will have a lot to see for 7 year old 2) consider having some nighttime AK time so you can see Pandora lit up at night.

 

[MommyMissy]

My thoughts are: 1) not enough MK time/ they will have a lot to see for 7 year old 2) consider having some nighttime AK time so you can see Pandora lit up at night.

Thank you! This is what I am struggling with I have Monday and Tuesday for MK and AK, just not sure what configuration would be best.

 

[cet13]

I had good luck getting a reservation for one at BOG using Touring Plans' dining finder.

 

[DisTXMom]

We always have park hoppers, but hopping takes time. If we are taking a hotel break mid/day, we almost always hop to a different park. We may purchase the express transportation for hopping, since we will be there a busy week.

Historically, we never used our fast passes at AK, we just did standby on the things we wanted to see. This time around, we plan to visit AK multiple times to see Pandora with fast passes. This means we won't have FP's at EPCOT in the mornings, but will do our best at rope drop there a couple of days before hopping to AK. I think you just need to map what you want to accomplish for FP's and attractions/ shows/parades/meals and then fill in from there.

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you! That's what I was hoping to hear for BoG! So you would stick with MK on Tuesday, maybe miss HEA? That is what I have read about terrace view. Would you keep the early or late reservation? I am hoping for one about 8 but we will see.



Yes we definitely want more time there, trying to decide if Monday or Tuesday would be better for this

I would just watch HEA from inside the park on Monday night.

The MNSSHP fireworks will be at 10 pm, so the 9:20 would probably be less hassle, but there's also the chance you'll still be waiting for your table. Keep trying for that 8 pm ADR. You could keep the 5:20, forget about the Halloween fireworks, and go over to AK after dinner just to enjoy the nighttime activities at AK.

DD's birthday. Is she wanting to spend the time in the pool? That would be another day for some more MK time.

 

[KittyKitty]

My 1st thought is a lot of time spent changing parks. Unlike DL, they are miles away from each other, except Epcot and Studios. There is a service Disney started where you sign up inside the park to take a bus to another park inside the other park. There is a charge for it. More information here
https://www.disboards.com/threads/n...ay-or-29-week-schedule-page-1-post-1.3563694/

Other thought is your days are long. Using EMH means waking up at 6am, getting home at 9-10pm, seems like a long day. And sit down dinners take time. IMO I think you are packing in too much stuff for your 1st trip. September will be muggy hot with afternoon storms, vs hot in DL, so breaks at the resort will be welcomed.

Have a great time!

 

[10CJ]

I agree with PP. I think you have too many late nights followed by EMH mornings. I definitely think you should try to see Pandora at night.

Friday - I would use touringplans to look for an earlier BOG lunch. I think what you currently have is too close to dinner. I would be concerned about LTT being too much food with a Boathouse dinner planned.

Sat- not sure I would go back to DS just for BBB, especially since you were just there the day before

I have not been there for lunch, but we had an excellent dinner at Tiffins. I would try to work in a meal there. Yak and Yeti is also good but if you can only get one in I would go with Tiffins.

Sunday- I would be a little concerned your two meals are big meals so close together.

Monday - I would drop the TH 8:35 ADR. This seems like a complete waste of EMH time. I would consider making a ROL dining package for this day.

Tues- go to MK and enjoy the lower crowds. I would keep the later Cali ADR, but would keep searching for a slightly earlier time.

 

[CallieS]

My 1st thought is a lot of time spent changing parks. Unlike DL, they are miles away from each other, except Epcot and Studios. There is a service Disney started where you sign up inside the park to take a bus to another park inside the other park. There is a charge for it. More information here
https://www.disboards.com/threads/n...ay-or-29-week-schedule-page-1-post-1.3563694/

Other thought is your days are long. Using EMH means waking up at 6am, getting home at 9-10pm, seems like a long day. And sit down dinners take time. IMO I think you are packing in too much stuff for your 1st trip. September will be muggy hot with afternoon storms, vs hot in DL, so breaks at the resort will be welcomed.

Have a great time!

I agree with everything KittyKitty said. The amount of park hopping is what I noticed first. Almost everyday, you're going to two different parks, or leaving to go to a hotel restaurant. I think people underestimate the time it takes for transportation to and from places, as well as the time it takes for table service meals. Are you planning on using Disney transportation or rental car or Uber? There is also the service mentioned above. If you were only planning on the free Disney transportation, you could get very lucky and have your bus/boat/monorail show up exactly when you walk up to it. Or you could have bad luck and as you walk up, you see the vehicle pulling away. It's a toss up, and you'd have to build in enough time to prepare for the bad luck.

Also, on Sunday at DHS, if you plan on eating a lot at Minnie's lunch, you may not be hungry enough for Yachtsman.

 

[glassslippergirl]

With this plan, you will spend a lot of time eating and a lot of time traveling. If you do rework the plan, think about the day as three parts-- morning in the park, afternoon at the resort, evening in the park (or Disney Springs or a resort dinner, etc.). With hoppers, your mornings and evenings can be at different parks.

My first thought was that on your daughter's birthday, why leave MK to go to Disney Springs? I'd dedicate the entire day to MK (morning at MK, afternoon at resort, evening at MK). It's a lot more fun there for a kid than at Disney Springs having a fancy dinner. Just my thoughts. Maybe do the dessert party that night? How celebratory!

On Saturday, there is no way to comfortably do AK, BBB, and Epcot. Maybe this is the day to spend an evening at Disney Springs after a morning at some park (I would choose Future World-- get there at RD because a weekend during F&W gets crowded).

On Monday, I'd focus the day on AK so that you can see Pandora and RoL at night.

Then, on Tuesday, focus the day on MK (it will be less crowded because of MNSSHP). Stay until 3 or so. Rest for a bit at the hotel, then come for the late CA Grill ADR to see Hallowishes.

Honestly, after a full day at DHS earlier in your stay, I don;t think it's worth your final moments in the park. You will have very little left to do there if you used your time even close to efficiently on Sunday. I'd make an ADR in or near another park (maybe an early lunch in one of the Epcot countries). If you keep the 50 Prime Time ADR, hop to Epcot right after to do more there.

Enjoy!