How does this itinerary look? Any suggestions?

[bangzoom6877]

We're going to WDW July 13th through 18th, with a 5-day ticket (no park hopper or water parks). Staying at POP. Driving down from NYC, but we will actually be coming from Boca Raton where we are visiting relatives before heading to Disney. Our 2 kids will be with us, who will be 3 and a half and 1 when we go. We are driving everywhere (not using buses) and will have a double stroller with us. Here are our plans so far:

Sun.: arrive @ POP around 11AM; pick up tickets; head to MK for lunch, some attractions, etc.; ADR at LTT for 5 PM, then head back to POP for early night.

Mon.: Epcot (no EMH that morning); after lunch head back to POP at around 1:30 for naptime; ADR at Biergarten at 6:15, then back to room for bedtime.

Tue.: DIsney Studios; ADR for Hollywood & Vine breakfast 8 AM (no EMH that morning); back to room around 1 or 1:30 for a break; ADR for dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the GF @ 6PM, then back to room.

Wed.: AK (morning EMH); back to room in the afternoon for a break; ADR at Boma @ 6PM for dinner.

Thu: MK (morning EMH); back to room in the afternoon for a break; ADR at Crystal Palace for dinner 6PM; SpectroMagic Parade; back to room.

Fri.: 7 AM ADR at Chef Mickey's for breakfast; then we leave and head back up north.

I know there are a lot of breaks and maybe not too many hours at each park, but the kids are little and I don't want them to have to do too much, especially in the heat. I know that whatever we end up doing at each park we will all have a wonderful time. Anything we miss this time we can do on future trips. This will not be our only trip to WDW, it will be the first of many, so plenty of years to enjoy everything. I just want to be realistic and go at my children's pace so they enjoy themselves.

So how do these plans look? Anything we should change? I think resting in the air-conditioned room is important for the kids and for us! Thanks!

-Bonnie

 

[TinaLala]

I'm good with the naps and breaks you're taking, but I think you're missing some amazing night shows! I mean why else take the naps if not to stay up late at night!? Each of those nights you will be at the park until at least 8pm and you're heading back to the room with out seeing Wishes or Fantasmic or Illuminations - Why? My kids loved those shows from age 2 up. If you are making them take a nap be prepared for them to want to stay up late at night.

Just be aware that everytime you go back to your room you are probably going to miss the midday parade and the one at the Studios is worth seeing.

Plus be prepared for little ones to fall asleep before you get back to the room - then what are you going to do? You might not be able to want to go back to the room each day depending on how everyone feels.

Just keep it in mind.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

It is true that you will miss the afternoon parades but keep in mind that it will be HOT HOT HOT. There is no where I'd rather be in that hot july sun than in the room resting or at the pool. Watch the parade on youtube at home before you leave as a way to get the kids excited to go.

We go in August and never see any of the parks in the afternoon. Well, once we stayed too late at AK and watched the parade. It was so hot and we were so tired that it wasn't worth it.

The heat really takes it out of you. You have to pick and choose what your family will enjoy most and can handle during the heat. Also a rested family will hopefully be a little less cranky and able to handle any experience outside their normal comfort zone that Disney throws your way better.

I would worry about the early ADR on the last day. That is really early. I know my family couldn't do it. We did Chef mickey's our last day too but for 9:45 am. We hopped into MK for a last ride first.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Looks good. Be prepared for a larger crowd on Thurday at MK. That is typically their "busy" day.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I think your schedule looks good for little ones. However, I would add Wishes after SpectroMagic. They are really fantastic and kids love fireworks, especially over the castle.

Your 7 AM ADR may be a bit early, but I do understand you wanting to leave and head home. I would think you would need to leave POP by 6:40.

I will admit to never having driven to a park, but I am not sure why you do not want to use Disney transportation. I love it. My DH has getting the double stroller on and off buses down to a tee. I would at least check into it for MK because you will still have to ride a boat or monorail after driving.

Have fun!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm not worried about the early ADR on the final morning. I know my kids, and they will be fine with it. They are both very happy every morning before 6 AM when we normally wake them up to take them to grandma's house before we go to work (we both work early in the day). They are used to being up early. I know, not right after a Disney Park but they will not be going to bed late either.

I am not worried about the kids falling asleep on the way back to the room because we will be driving. Actually I am expecting them to fall asleep in the car since that is what they usually do, plus add in the July heat and after doing the attractions, they will be exhausted. But no worries about having to carry a hot and cranky child on the bus and then to the room, that is why we are driving to the parks.

I am also not worried about missing an afternoon parade. There are plenty of years of Disney vacations ahead of us. The mid-afternoon is the hottest point of the day and I think it is the best time to be in air conditioning in the room to relax. As I mentioned above, whatever we miss now it is fine because no matter exactly what we end up doing, we will be having fun the whole time. So I am not stressing about what if I miss a certain attraction or parade. And I am not keeping my kids up that late to see the fireworks. Don't they start at like 9PM? I would like my kids to be in bed by that time, which is still somewhat later than what they are used to.

The only other thing we have considered in the middle of the afternoon is, if the kids fall asleep in the double stroller, maybe while we are at either the Studios or Epcot we could walk over to the boardwalk and shop and just look around, maybe have a drink or something. Then head back to the theme park maybe, or just go back to the room at that point. It's an idea we are throwing around, but that one we can play by ear.

Anyway, as I said, our goal is to have a wonderful time and I know we will do that even though we will miss some things.

So, out of curiosity, how come Thursday is the busy MK day? We are doing morning EMH that day so hopefully that will help and we can see a couple of things before the park officially opens. That's the plan anyway, and we hope we can do that. How about getting there later in the morning on the first day which is a Sunday (the day we arrive)? That day we will be spending the whole afternoon at the park and an early dinner ADR at 5 for LTT. So we will probably get to see the parade that day actually, in the afternoon. Or maybe we will skip the parade and go to some attractions since they might be less crowded. We will see. I don't how much my kids will enjoy the afternoon parade just yet, they might like the rides better.

Thanks again,
Bonnie