I thought I had our trip all planned out in my mind...8 nights, 7 days, staying at an Epcot resort, 2.5 MK, 2 EP, 1 AK, 1 HS, no hoppers, one morning off to spend at the pool/resort, restaurants decided on for dinner ADRs.
But the more that I plan and research, the more I want to do! Mostly involving food!
I feel like we will get in all of the rides, shows and attractions that we want to see in each park. But there are other things that I just can't seem to fit in...
- a dinner show like Hoop Dee Doo
- campfire and movie night at a resort
- seeing Wishes from California Grill
- eating at a monorail resort and riding the monorail around
- a water park (unless we give up our resort morning...but I feel like that defeats the purpose of having a rest-morning after Wishes)
- miniature golf
- downtown disney
- many restaurants...too many choices, not enough meals
My mind KNOWS that we can't do it all and to just focus, make a decision and enjoy. But my heart WANTS to experience everything!
I've been to Disney more times than I can count. My parents never liked to fly (my sister and I eased them into it, eventually) and we used to drive everywhere. This meant that our furthest trip was to Disney. We did it almost ever 3-4 years and now that my sister and I can pay our own way, we go once a year - FOR CHRISTMAS.
Xmas is the most packed time of the year, so we go in with the mindset that we can't see and do everything. It's tough for you with a youngin'. Eventually when your daughter doesn't have to get to bed early it will be easier. It's easy for us - we're in our 20s and 30s. Sometimes we have to put my parents to sleep at the resort
... and my sister and I will do late-night EMH.
Here's the deal - you won't see and do EVERYTHING.. but with 8 nights, 7 days, you can come pretty close.
No hoppers is tough, but if you're not going during a very crowded time, you can get away with it. If it is crowded, hoppers serve as an "insurance policy" for us. If we head to Magic Kingdom and it's crazy crowded, we can "hop" over to EPCOT for the day. But it's not for everyone and honestly, like I said, if it's not supposed to be packed - you don't need em.
I'd start by making a list of your must-see and must-do attractions. Would you rather accomplish almost everything in Disney and miss one of your must-do attractions, or see all your must-do attractions and miss out on something you don't care about as much? Focus on the must-dos first, and then build out the rest of your plans.
For example - don't look at Magic Kingdom and say "how can we tackle all of Adventureland before lunch?" Look at Magic Kingdom and say "how can we accomplish Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain in one day. Okay, now how will we fill in the time in between?" You're going to MK for 2.5 days. I'd spend one day hitting the big rides. Arrive early in the morning - especially if there's morning EMH. Set up a FP+ for Thunder Mountain, 7DMT and Splash Mountain. When you arrive for morning EMH, head directly to Space Mountain. Fill in the rest of the day with rides according to wait time. Your second day at MK will be anything you didn't hit on the first day, as well as repeats. I'd make the last .5 day all about the parades and wishes. Head to MK for nighttime and see the parade and wishes. Stop at the confectionary for a cookie or grab a dole whip and enjoy your last view of the castle.
- seeing Wishes from California Grill
I know you said you'd like to see Cali Grill from Contemp. That's fine - I'd still recommend checking it out from Main Street. Cali is amazing, but nothing beats the view from Main Street!
- eating at a monorail resort and riding the monorail around
Cali Grill is in Contemporary - a monorail resort. If you'd like to go somewhere else, I'd say hitting up a quick service, such as Capt. Cook's. This will give you a chance to see the resort, eat there, and it won't take as long as a TS. You're staying at an EPCOT resort, so you're going to ride the monorail a lot on your way to and from MK.
- a water park (unless we give up our resort morning...but I feel like that defeats the purpose of having a rest-morning after Wishes)
We go during December, so we never have this problem. The water parks are cool, but I could do without them. Spend the morning relaxing at the resort's pool. Trust me - you'll need a morning off.
As for the rest...
Spend one day in EPCOT going on the rides and exploring a bit. Spend the second day eating around the world. This will give you a great chance to try some food! Your close proximity to the park allows you to leave in the afternoon and relax at the resort for a while. You could always leave between 2pm and 4pm and return around 5pm for dinner. Or eat dinner at the resort and then head back to EPCOT.
DHS, sadly, is a one-day park. Get your FP+ for Tower of Terror and RnR OR Toy Story. Whichever you choose between Toy Story and RnR, arrive at DHS for morning EMH or rope drop and head directly to the other. By lunch, you can easily accomplish the big three rides.
AK is also great, but can be done in one day. Arrive early. I'd make a FP+ for Expedition Everest, the Khali River Rapids and the Safari. Use the rest of the day to see the animals and explore and appreciate the park and its theming.