How do we see everything in 7 days?

[sharonel]

I'm driving to Orlando (2 days) and will arrive at an off site villa at 3:00 pm on Sat. We'll spend the afternoon unpacking, relaxing & getting ready for the next day. I have a DH, DS's 14, 8, 7 and DD 12. Can you please tell me if this itinerary will work?

Itinery Draft for Nov 9 to 15

Sunday Nov 9 - AK first thing in am - stay till 4:00 parade is over, move to Epcot watch 9:00 pm illuminations fireworks

Mon Nov 10. - MGM , stars & cars 3:30, (7:00 pm Fantasmic)

Tues Nov 11 (Veterans Day) - MK, 3:00 pm parade, , Spectromagic 6:30 pm, Wishes 7:30pm

Wed. Nov 12 Universal Studios-

Thurs Nov 13 SeaWorld

Fri Nov 14 Universal Islands of Adventure

Saturday - Epcot , maybe Typoon Lagoon in PM, back to EP at night

Disney Quest and Typoon Lagoon - not sure when and how to fit these in - but I have tickets for them

 

[Tank]

Disneyquest might be a good choice for the day you arrive. Kids that age probably won't need a full evening of rest and they will LOVE DQ. You also might want to go to TL on Sat. morning, kids love the waterparks and might want to spend the whole day there. The only downside is if you only do Epcot in the evenings all the FP's will be gone for TT and MS.
If you have read any of my recent posts you will know that I am a big fan of FP. Get as many as you can early and save them for when the park is crowded.
Have a great trip.

 

[mickeysaver]

Originally posted by sharonel
How do we see everything in 7 days?

You can't see EVERYTHING in 7 days, but it looks like you have planned to run yourself ragged trying. lol

I know it's exciting to see the parks, but after a while even during the course of a week long vacation, people still need a break just to veg. I don't see that you have allowed for much of that. Don't forget that it's a vacation, not a marathon. Stop and smell the roses for goodness sakes!

I wish you a wonderful trip. Mickey

 

[hockey mom]

I agree to do DQ on the day you arrive. Also you could do TL in the morning and Epcot after on your final day to cut down on travelling time. One more suggestion is to do both Universal parks in the same day. It's a long day but it would free up one more.
I also agree that it is impossible to do Disney alone in 7 days let alone the other parks you want to visit so don't stress about what you can't do and enjoy what you can!
Have a great time.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

I too think you will burn out sooner than you think. I've learned one thing over our trips, no one will have fun when you're exhausted. I'm going with the "every-other day at the parks" plan. My itinerary is:

Fri- arrive, check in and maybe do typhoon lagoon if wheather permits.

Sat-MGM all day, maybe hit Epcot to close that park.

Sun-Univeral from 9-7, will be good and tired by then

Mon-late breakfast at Cape May, tea at GF, pool and generally being lazy.

Tues-Epcot all day

Wed-go to the beach, shop, pool and hopefully more laziness!!

Thurs-MK all day

Fri-late breakfast at Chef Mickey's, pool, waterparks, more nothing

Sat-AK all day, maybe hit MK for spectro.

Sun-liesurely breakfast, pack and go home

I'm tired just writing all this. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun, but I think you should add a few "do nothing" or "where ever the wind takes you" days. We don't have AP passes, so we're saving another 3 days from our 7 day passes for our next trip. I've noticed lots of people on these boards do some major park hopping daily. Sounds sooooo tiring. Have a great trip no matter what!!

 

[kilarney]

The simple truth is that you will not see everything in seven days. You can see all of the major things, but it is amazing how many little things there are.
We used to be theme park commandos to the extreme... and it was rewarding for us. Now that we have been a few times we take it easier, but we still don't like to "miss out" on things.
Even when we were commandos, though, we left a day or two as fallbacks for bad weather, etc. It took a lot of stress away to know that if we missed something we could always go back.
Good luck!

 

[disneysteve]

OMG! I'm tired just reading your post sharonel!

We have enough trouble trying to see everything we want to at Disney in 7 days. I can't even imagine trying to get to 3 other parks during that time.

My advice, for what its worth is to consider skipping one of the non-Disney parks. That will give you a free day to catch anything you missed at the Disney parks and/or do DisneyQuest and/or take some much needed down time.

Steve

 

[tar heel]

We're commandos, and I think your schedule has way too much for a week. After a couple days, you will find that everyone in the family needs to slow down. You cannot do everything at Disney alone in seven days.

I agree with Steve about skipping one of the other parks. I also suggest leaving open the possibility of taking an afternoon break at least a couple of days or even taking a day off. Also, consider doing some park hopping -- riding on the monorail from MK to Epcot or the boat from MGM to Epcot can serve as sort of a break.

Remember -- you don't have to see everything to have a good time. You also will probably find you like some things better than others. Our family, for example, can take or leave the afternoon parades and would never plan around them. We will, however, plan around a good meal or riding ToT over and over.

 

[sharonel]

Thanks for your suggestions. We'll try to do both Universal parks in one day - maybe if the crowds are light this will be possible. Disney Quest on the first day sounds good too - thanks. We only have one-day tickets: Do you find that the kids want to keep going back? Are Saturday afternoons/early eve busy?

I was getting a little stressed trying to fit it all in - and go to the right park on the right day for the least crowds - it will probably be our only trip to Disney for a number of years so we were trying to do as much as possible. We really want to see all the fireworks and with MK only showing them both on Tuesday night, it limits when we go to each park. It's hard to plan around set schedules.

Are we making a mistake going to MK on Vetran's Day? Should we go to another Disney Park and then back to MK for the fireworks?

 

[jann1033]

do you love amusement parks? is this your first time at WDW?

if it were me and my first time I would concentrate on WDW for this trip and hit Universal and Seaworld next time around..sorry do not remember your passes but we always want to go back to the parks for at least a short time( MGM) or another day or couple of evenings(epcot) and we've been there a number of times before . We go in the off season and so do what we want in aday but always want to redo something or other. busier times you may not be able to do everything you want in a day

the following is purely editorial comment...(lol) .....We haven't been to Islands of Adventure..there are a couple things we'd be interested in but not enough to spend the day there but we are not big "amusement park" type people..I kind of would hate to waste the time there..Universal is ok to me but nothing compared to disney.(my opinion only many probably disagree, but it's more like our local park, Cedar Point but a few more fancy things, nice but just a different atmosphere, can't realy explain it)

plus with younger kids especially I think you will need at least one day off to kind of recoup. we either go to dtd, pools, something different than walking walking walking . WDW is enough to handle in 7 days to really be able to enjoy it ( just My thoughts) and it is a busy vacation..I think you would enjoy it more if you do not spread yourself so thin.

 

[mcircle]

We are going to Disney Sunday for what is also going to be our 1st and probably only trip. I agree with ditching 1 Universal day. We are going to Universal, but we want to concentrate on WDW. I would also keep 1 flex day, on this day you can either hit what you missed at WDW or do Sea World. that way your hopes aren't totally set on going to Sea World, and if you get there it will be a bonus. Most people do schedule in a day off, but for some people this trip is "it". I am just afraid that I will not be happy to only go there once, then I can see BIG problems with the savings account. (LOL)
Disney here we come....

 

[pampam]

How do you see everything in 7 days? You don't.

 

[mtdevine615]

You can't see everything in 70 days never mind 7. That's why us fanatics keep going back.

Your itiinerary looks good. The only suggestion I would make is to not worry about missing something. Take a step back every once in a while and just take in the Disney magic.

Have a great time.

 

[SimbaNoodle]

It is impossible to see everything. I have been 20+ trips since the young age of 4 in 1972 and I have still not seen everything. Disney has added 6 Presidents to HOP since my first trip and I have still never been there. Don't know what i'm saving it for? I used to be one of those that would be at the parks 1 hour before they open and then get chased out 30 minutes after closing. Now, I sleep in and get to the parks and sit and smile at the people running from one spot to another.

Have a great time and take a break when you need to.

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by mcircle
We are going to Disney Sunday for what is also going to be our 1st and probably only trip.

yeah we all have heard that one before(lol) ! have fun

 

[cubsfan]

I used to be one of those that would be at the parks 1 hour before they open and then get chased out 30 minutes after closing. Now, I sleep in and get to the parks and sit and smile at the people running from one spot to another.

Amen, You and me both!

 

[helenm29]

I think your schedule is very good, just remember that you are there to HAVE FUN! do your best to see what you can but don't get upset if you run out of time or are too tired to hit everything.
I've been to Disneyworld 6 times and there is always something I haven't seen! HAVE A GREAT TIME! Helen

 

[avsfan]

I agree, I think your schedule is pretty good. As far as wearing yourselves out, you will have time during the day at each park when you are waiting for a parade, standing in line, sitting down eating, etc. so I wouldn't worry too much about it. I've always had the strategy you are there to see as much, and do as much as possible. You can rest when you get home. Enjoy your vacation doing what YOU want to do. When we go we spend every moment we can going from ride to ride, and park to park.

P.S. You CAN'T do Disney in 7 days

I like how you have planned your days around the parades and fireworks. Excellent. You may only have one chance at some of them. You can also park hop on occaison. Such as, going to Epcot after the other parks have closed to catch a couple rides and Illuminations.

I also would concentrate more on Disney and less on the other parks, if you want. They are more special, imo. You can easily spend 2 days at Mk, or 1-1/2 days at Epcot. AK can be 1/2-3/4 day, Studios can be a full day.

Maybe consider doing SeaWorld or Universal on a Sat, or Sun. They MAY be less crowded than Disney on a wk-end. Either way, I've always enjoyed Disney more and would prefer my time there during the week with less crowds.

DisneyQuest can be lots of fun, especially for the kids. In my experience it is best go there in the evening after the Parks have closed. No need to waste potential time at the parks at DQ. Besides, DQ can be better if there are at least an average number of people there. If you go to DQ when it is not busy you will find there are things to do there that require other people to play for it to be fun.

If you feel you need some time to rest, you can always consider sleeping in one day, or leaving the parks early and go out for a nice dinner somewhere to kinda un-wind. Or even hang out at the hotel pool.

 

[4greatboys]

Like everyone said you cant see everything in 7 days so pick the most important things your family wants to see and hit those first, then if you have time left you start hitting the other things. One good idea if you are going to try to do US/IOA in the same day is stay at a Universal hotel over night. It gets you FOTL express entrance to the rides so you wont be wasting any time in line. Your sch does look pretty busy but we go like that more often than not. We dont wake early but hit the parks about 10 and end up staying all day and we do normally hit a park everyday we are there. I try to slow down some but its hard, lol.

 

[RescueRanger]

Sharonel-
If I had to skip a park it would be Seaworld. Looking at your kids ages I think that they will really like US/IOA. You have to remember when you talk about non disney parks on some of these boards the Disney loyalists may try to sway you from trying them. Someone posted earlier that they had never been to IOA yet they gave you an opinion on it. You might also see about buying the Express Pass Plus at Universal. It gives you FOTL access once for each of the rides. Disneyworld is a wonderful place to visit and you really should try to schedule some downtime. Maybe you could buy a guidebook and sit down with the family and pick out which attractions are a must see. Then if you have extra time you could go back and catch some of the rest or even repeat some of you favorites. No matter what you do, keep a good attitude and have a great trip.