how does my plan look??

[eglsmama]

Hi all, I'm brand new here and planning our first trip to WDW. I posted this on the Families board also b/c I wasn't sure where to put it...

Anyhow - I went to WDW twice as a kid but this will be DD (6 years) and DH's first trip. I apologize that this is long!

We'll be there Oct 15-21, flying in and staying at Art of A. Five park days. I'm considering hoppers since its our first trip and we might want to change things up once we're there, but I'm not sure yet.

DH won't be a fan of rope drop so I'm not going to push that most days. He's really only going for DD's sake, so I'm hoping to make this trip smooth so that he'll decide he doesn't hate it

I'd like your opinion on our plan as a whole and whether you think we're overbooked or anything. I feel like a break midday isn't a good use of our time (especially since MK closes at 7:00 several days due to MNSSHP). And while DD hasn't napped in years and is a good traveler, as a 6 year old she does have her limits.

ADR's have been booked so I'll probably not change park days. FP times listed are for times I hope to get when they open in Aug.

So this is what I'm thinking:

Wed Oct 15:
flight comes in around 6:30 PM. catch ME, get settled, go to bed

Thurs 16: HS
bfast - hotel
Toy Story Mania (FP 9:00)
Studio Backlot Tour
MuppetVision
Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground
Voyage of the Little Mermaid (FP 10:50 or 11:15)
Disney Jr Live (FP 11:20 or 12:10)
Lunch at Hollywood & Vine (ADR 12:45)
return to hotel to swim
dinner at hotel, DTD, boardwalk, Epcot

Fri 17: MK Day 1 - Adventureland and Frontierland
bfast - CRT (ADR 8:35)
Meet Tiana (may skip)
Pirates of Caribbean
Magic Carpets
Tom Sawyer Island
Splash Mtn (FP 11:15)
Country Bear Jamboree
Peter Pan's Flight (FP 12:15)
lunch - Columbia Harbor House (around 12:45)
Jungle Cruise (FP 1:15)
Swiss Family Tree House
Festival of Fantasy Parade
Meet Mickey or Minnie on our way out
hotel for swim, rest
dinner at hotel, DTD, boardwalk, Epcot

Sat 18: AK
bfast - Tusker House (ADR 9:30)
Finding Nemo (FP 11:00)
Boneyard
Festival of Lion King
Discovery Island trails
Kilimanjaro Safaris (FP 1:30)
Pangani Forest Trail
Flights of Wonder
lunch - Flame Tree BBQ (around 3:30)
Kali River Rapids (FP 3:30)
hotel for swim, rest
dinner at hotel, DTD, boardwalk, Epcot

Sunday 19: MK Day 2 - Fantasyland, Tomorrowland
bfast in room or while waiting for bus
rope drop
Under the Sea
Ariel's Grotto
meet Merida (if wait is 30 mins or less)
Dumbo
Barnstormer
Casey Jr Splash and/or Pete's silly side show (depending on time)
lunch - Be Our Guest (hoping for 11:00 FP)
Enchanted Tales w/ Belle (FP 12:00)
Prince Charming Carrousel
meet ugly stepsisters
7 Dwarfs MT (FP 1:00)
Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland People mover
Buzz Lightyear
Monsters' Inc
Meet Elsa and Anna (FP 3:00)
Dream Along w/ Mickey OR Mickey's Phil Harmagic
?? kill a little time or try to return briefly to hotel...
dinner - Ohana (ADR 7:00)
watch water parade from Poly beach (if construction allows)
watch Wishes from Poly beach or TTC
late bedtime

Mon 20: Epcot. short day (though I hate to miss out) due to big day before. Could also do MK at night for EMH if we're up for it

bfast - hotel
swim, pack up
snack or lunch - hotel
Soarin (FP 12:00)
Turtle Talk
The Seas w/ Nemo
Spaceship Earth (FP 1:00)
world showcase for lunch/snack, look around a little bit
return to hotel to swim/rest
MK for dinner and EMH OR Chip n Dale's Sing along for hotdogs and movie

Tues 21: pack up and catch ME at 10:30

So... any major errors or oversights? Please let me know what you think!

Someone on the Families board already pointed out that we could save the Hopper by not going back to MK the last night. So we may stay in Epcot longer and then do something fun for dinner (thinking about Chip N Dale's sing along). I'm torn between making the last night special and keeping it flexible.

Thanks!

 

[Malibustyle23]

I personally think you left out alot at DHS. I'd definitely skip Epcot that night and do Fantasmic that evening at DHS. Would your husband enjoy other shows there? Indiana Jones, Backlot Tour, Lights, Cars, Stunt Show? My DH enjoys the Great Movie Ride but the Alien scene can be overwhelming for little ones for a few seconds. I know you said he is going along for her but it is nice to include stuff that is "manly" entertainment as well. (Easy way to work on that return WDW trip!!! ) Check out the animation studio as well where you can draw a picture of a Disney character directed by a real animator. Great for all ages.

BTW I would not skip Tiana. I think she is highly underrated. She was the best interaction from a character our entire trip. Her and Price Naveen (sp?) stood and talked to each visitor for a long time. I wish that I would of just enjoyed the moment at the time but was caught up in the rush and was just hopin my DD5 would be done already. Big regret from our last trip.

 

[eglsmama]

Thank you malibustyle! I found it hard to juggle all of the show times at DHS and I know DD will want some pool time, but you're right, I should include some "manly" items!

And thanks for the head's up on Tiana

 

[sharonabe]

You said DH would not be okay with rope drop, but most of your FP and/or breakfast ADRs are right at opening or before. Is he going to be okay with those?

Your last EP day, I'd move the Spaceship Earth FP+ time to much later and hit it on your way out. It's at the very front of the park and that's a long walk back to WS.

 

[eglsmama]

sharonabe,

I guess I do want to get there relatively close to rope drop, but I don't want to be militant about it...so I'm thinking even with the early FP's, we have some wiggle room. Am I underestimating the time it takes to get through the gates and to the attractions?

And thanks for the head's up at Epcot. I think I'm going to rework that day.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I would make sure you are in the MK for MSEP and Wishes one night rather than just view the fireworks from afar.

Also, don't make PhilharMagic a throw-away time killer, make it a priority.

 

[eglsmama]

Good to know Buzzin, thank you!!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Except for your long MK/Ohana day, I would cut out the night stuff (dtd, epcot etc) and build in more pool and hotel downtime after the parks. Your days are running long to fit in swimming, rest and going back out to eat. I always find it impossible to get my kids back out after a long day starting early. Have fun planning

 

[eglsmama]

Ok, good advice arwen, thanks!

 

[PrincessWhite]

The only two things I saw was you said on Sunday October 19th you would be dining at Ohana and then might watch Wishes from the Poly beach, but that is a party night so MK won't have Wishes that night. I'm not sure if you would be able to see the firework show from the party that night from the beach, maybe someone else here knows that! You could take the monorail from the Poly to EP that night to allow you some more time there, but that would require you to purchase the park hopper.

My second recommendation is that you skip the sing along since traveling to Fort Wilderness will take up a good amount of time. I would either stay in EP for the night and eat in the world showcase or eat in MK for EMH.

Hope this helps! Have a great trip

 

[Frozen2014]

Sunday 19: MK Day 2 - Fantasyland, Tomorrowland
dinner - Ohana (ADR 7:00)

Us too...see you there

 

[eglsmama]

PrincessWhite, I was worried about the Hallowishes also, so I researched and according to everything I've read, you can see them just as you would Wishes.

I guess I'm just going to have to be flexible with our evening plans on the last night and see what we're in the mood for/have energy for! Going later to Epcot and staying later does probably make the most sense. I was trying to think of some "special" way to end the week but really I guess all of it is special

Frozen - too funny! Here's hoping for low crowds and great weather!

 

[serene56]

HSunday 19: MK Day 2 - Fantasyland, Tomorrowland
bfast in room or while waiting for bus
rope drop
Under the Sea
Ariel's Grotto
meet Merida (if wait is 30 mins or less)
Dumbo
Barnstormer!

MOve it around a little and get to Merida at rope drop. Send your DH and DD sprinting to get in her line-- make him a map to get him there ASAP.

I cant walk fast and did that-- Honey and GD was 3rd in line. By the time i got there there had to be about 50 people in that line. Merida comes out at 9:15 and we were complete and done before 9:30

any time after that will have a huge wait time.

 

[wareagle57]

I'm not a big show person, but in my limited experience I honestly don't think there is any advantage to using FP+ for them. Are there any shows that actually fill up and turn people away?

So my suggestion would be to change a few of those FP to something else. If you're trying to make DH want to come back, maybe use them for Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Roller Coaster, and Star Tours, and do child swap for them. Let him ride RnR while the two of you ride Toy Story perhaps? Or use that as a Rope Drop day. He would also love the Indy show and Lights Motors Action.

I know the trip is mostly for your DD, but she is going to have an amazing time regardless. The trick is making sure he thinks it was a good use of the time and money it costed.

If you absolutely aren't going to do rope drop, I would highly encourage you to at least close down the parks. Sleeping in, and never riding anything at the end of the days, and trying to do everything in late morning and the afternoon is what gives people a bad impression of Disney. All they remember is that it was hot and the lines were long. Luckily, in October the lines shouldn't be too bad though.

 

[illinidp]

That looks great. If your first FP is 9-10 you have until 10:15 to scan in, so that gives you a little wriggle room.

If it's warm, there are sometimes not a lot of animals active at 1:30, so you might consider moving the safari to the morning.

 

[jm106]

I suggest Star tours. I know a lot of girls who love it, and I would think it would be good for DH. Its often a walk on so I wouldnt skip it.

 

[Bertnie20]

My advice would be that seems like slot of stuff, and don't go into thinking you must get it done, I've seen family's breakdown with this. Besides your ressies/fp+ if you don't make or do something it's ok just have fun!

 

[eglsmama]

Ok, so I think what I'm taking away from all of this is add in a bit more for DH particularly at HS which is a light day anyway. And on other days, shift some times and/or remember not to stress about fitting it all in and leave adequate time at beginning or end of day to relax. I may see if I can manage to create one more late start day. I am penned in a little bit by my ADR's and the fact that our MK days are party days so the park closes early, but I'll see if I can be creative.

Thanks so much everyone!