How would you divide up this trip

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I am planning a trip to Orlando for DS7 and I the first week in August. Our plan is to fly down on Monday July 31 and start out at the Swan (Teacher's Discount) and then move over to the RPR, leaving on Sunday the 6th. My question is when to make that move.

We went to WDW last summer for the first time. DS loved it and has begged to go back. When I ask him what he'd like to repeat he says.

-- Space Mountain, Buzz, Stitch, and the Haunted Mansion

-- Eat Dinner at the California Grill and watch the fireworks

-- Swim at Stormalong Bay (we stayed at the BC last year -- it's not in the budget this year, but having a nice pool is important).

-- Have a meal with Mickey Mouse.

He's also like to go to the water parks (which we didn't do last year) and ride Test Track (which was broken when we went)

To be honest I'm not sure about Test Track -- if it's the only thing in Epcot he wants to ride it seems like an awful waste of a day's ticket, plus a night in a hotel.

I'd like to spend some time relaxing, eat some nice meals, and just enjoy spending the time with DS having fun.

We are something of a lazy family (also an honest one!) there's no way we are doing 7 commando days in the parks. 6 half days with a full day off in the middle is more our speed. With that in mind I have 3 itineraries -- let me know which one you like best.

5 days Swan/1 day RPR
Monday -- arrive, lunch at the Swan then afternoon/evening at TL
Tuesday -- A.M. EMH at M.K., latest possible character breakfast at Ohana's
Then spend the rest of the day at the pool
Wednesday -- Either Epcot or M.K. (choose after we see how much we didn't get to on Tuesday.
Thursday -- Do nothing day, dinner at the California Grill
Friday -- Breakfast at Cape May, Spend the Day at Blizzard Beach
Saturday -- Get up super early, move to RPR, spend the day at IOA, luau
Sunday -- Day at US , fly out in the evening.


4 days Swan/ 2 days RPR
Monday -- arrive, lunch at the Swan then afternoon/evening at TL
Tuesday -- A.M. EMH at M.K., latest possible character breakfast at Ohana's
Then Blizzard Beach
Wednesday -- Either Epcot or M.K. (choose after we see how much we didn't get to on Tuesday., dinner at California Grill
Thursday -- Breakfast at Cape May, then simply hang out at the Swan
Friday, get up kind of early, move to RPR, spend 1/2 day at IOA
Saturday -- IOA for 3/4 day Luau
Sunday -- US, fly out in evening

3 days Swan/ 3 days RPR
Monday -- arrive, lunch at the Swan then afternoon/evening at TL
Tuesday -- A.M. EMH at M.K., latest possible character breakfast at Ohana's
Then Blizzard Beach
Wednesday -- Either Epcot or M.K. (choose after we see how much we didn't get to on Tuesday., dinner at California Grill
Thursday -- Breakfast at Cape May, move over to the RPR, afternoon at IOA
Friday, US for 1/2 the day, enjoy the pool at RPR
Saturday -- IOA for 1/2 day, enjoy the pool at RPR Luau
Sunday -- US, fly out in evening

Which would you pick and why?

 

[Sylvester McBean]

either #2 or #3, but why are you combining a day at the MK with a day at Blizzard Beach? plus, are you renting a car?

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

The waterparks are a very high priority for us this trip. DS loves anything to do with water, and since this trip is just he and I I'm planning on indulging that. Also, we went last year for 8 nights/9 days with friends and spent 3 of those days in M.K. whereas we didn't do the waterparks at all, so our M.K. day will be a quick "greatest hits" review.

My logic for doing BB on the M.K. day is as follows:

1) I have heard that Monday and Tuesday afternoons are good times to be at the WP's because most people start their vacations at the major parks, so I want to take advantage of that.

2) I want to go to both waterparks early enough that if they are a huge hit we can fit in a 3rd day later on. On the other hand if we do BB on the day we're checking out and he loves it we won't have another option.

3) Tuesday is an EMH a.m. day at M.K., and I don't have a lot of patience with lines so I'm figuring by 10:00 we'll be ready to leave there -- we'll go for a character breakfast and then have the rest of the day to kill. If we don't get to everything we want to see I figure we can always go back the next day which should be quieter -- being a day after EMH.

4) I think that taking a day completly off in the middle will be nice and help us recoup our energy in preparation for IOA/US the last few days.

Does this all make sense or would you change it?