How would you plan out your days?

[missmickey]

We will be in Disney Friday nov 3 - sun nov 12 with the first and last days being travel, no parks. We have 8 day park hoppers and we are staying at POR the first four nights and Poly the last five. We will be a party of 11 in three separate rooms (me, my dh, and 2 kids; my parents; and my sis, her dh, and their 3 kids) . Five kids ages 3,5 7,8 and 10.

I figure the second half should be MK and Epcot heavy and the first half hit AK and HS. But at the same time can't imagine waiting until Tuesday to take the kids to MK. We want to make a Cinderella's Royal Table reservation which I feel factors in because of our 180 day ADR marks due to the split stay. I feel like getting a ressie for 11 will be difficult. Other things we are interested in are Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic with Minnie, Be Our Guest dinner, Hoop Dee Doo Review, O'Hana dinner, pool time, other sit downs. Possibly MVMCP (still trying to decide if it's worth it when we have enough days already to spend in MK).

So how would you plan out your days? Looking at Touring plans and thinking about crowds and wanting to make the most of the monorail while staying at our dream (never thought it could happen) resort and wanting to spend the most time where the kids will have fun, and wanting to plan for down time which we didn't do last time ((sept 2015 in CS) has me completely confused.

Any advice, recommendations, plans are welcome. Where would you head each day?
Thanks!!'

 

[Nancyg56]

To be honest, I never worry about getting right to the MK. Tuesday is generally our first MK day, but that is a long stretch to ask the kids to wait. I would plan on Sunday as MK day. Get there for RD. I bet there wil be a party that night so the early part of the day may not be too crowded. I woudl try to book 'Ohana this night. YOu could head over that night after the park.

I know that you were planning your MK time more towards the end of the trip due to proximity, but I would also look at crowd planners and parties, you want to work around them.

Look at the days the parties were in 2016, and plan you MK days from there. Decide your CRT day, and your BOG day. I would plan one for the first half and the other for the second, andwhen you book ADR's, book each one of those first.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Another thing to be aware of is that the taping for the Disney Holiday Specials took place the 2nd week/weekend in November in 2015 and 2016.

There's no way to know when the taping will occur this year so keep watching the Boards as you get closer to your trip. Some guests like to watch the tapings and some avoid the areas where they're taking place.

 

[pixie08]

Well we usually do one two days at MK and we try to end and begin with it. That being said it doesn't always happen. I look at park hours and then make a loose what park I want to be in each day. Next I make dining reservations. At that point if I cannot get a reservation I want and it is available another day I will switch things around and go from there.

Down time and pool time is a must for kids. We usually wake up early, have breakfast and head right to the park. We may take advantage of EMH morning because it is less crowded but tend to skip EMH evenings both because our son is young and the parks are usually extra crowded on those days. SO I plan my park days based on that.

I would try for BOG first, followed by O'Hana then Hoop de Doo last. BOG is the hardest of your reservations to get. I don't see a huge issue with a party of 11 at any of those. I know we had a party of 18 at O'Hana and it was fine.

 

[kayteekt]

First of all, that sounds like a great trip and a great time of year to go! Beginning of nov *should* be low crowds and nice weather!
Also, your resort choices are great (we love the poly esp!)
I understand trying to plan for a group that big, we usually go with extended family...it is harder trying to get ADRs. I would def try to get the important ones at your 180 days. Only thing is you may have (2) 180 days. Since you have a split stay. I think that happened to me last oct, when we had a split stay.
So, I know what you mean about choosing park days based on your hotel location...i thought we would do that when we stayed at dolpin/akl...but it really ended up i went by crowd level suggestions. To us, that was more important than location. What we did do...that i felt like worked...in the morning we would get up and RD park "a" and then afternoon break at resort...then we would do our evening park/plans based on what we were close to. So when we were over at the dolphin, we did some dinners at EP and on the BW. Kidani...we did sanaa, AK at night with dinner there, etc...
You could also swap and do things nearby in the a.m then go elsewhere in the evening. Basically, just keeps down on travel time so you have more time to do fun things!
There's a lot to enjoy at the poly...and at POR as well (don't miss yeehaw bob). I would do DS when you'll be at POR.
I know what you're saying about your first MK day, I'm sure the kiddos won't want to wait 4 days. I believe someone else suggested Sunday. Solid suggestion. You get there on fri, I wouldn't go on a Saturday, possibly a party on Sunday (should be as long as the parties have started) so that would be a good day to do MK.

Also, when you're at the poly...if any nights have late EMH I would hop over there. Some of our best memories have been made between 9 and midnight at MK *Usually* the park thins out after Wishes and we just enjoy the atmosphere late at night.

The MVMCP will def begin at some point on your trip. For us, that was a one and done...didn't hold up to the Halloween party. But, it's so hard to not do when you're there, lol. That's a decision to hash out with your group.

Again, sounds like a great trip! I'm sure you will have a blast!

 

[Leelo]

My DH and I always start and end with MK. We always get park hopper tickets and usually spend our evenings at either MK or EP also.