gourmetgirl
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2008
- Messages
- 103
So.....I've been trying to put together a basic plan for our January 2009 trip. Nothing extremely detailed, just an outline with ADRs. I'll not start filling in the details until the hours are released and my package is booked but I thought I'd throw this out as it's a bit new to me.
Some quick background: I've been to Disney many, many times. I was on the college program in '89 so I'm VERY familiar with the parks. DH has been once. With me, in 2001. At that time, we went park commando since I felt there was so much he needed to see. This time, we're still seeing the parks but trying to take in some of the other entertainment as well.
We have two sons who will be 9 & 11 when we travel. The parks close early so I don't feel the need to take mid-afternoon breaks but I am going to try to have them in bed by 10:00 on MOST nights.
Here's what I've roughed out so far:
Saturday: We will be arriving by car around 3:00 p.m., staying at the Wilderness Lodge. On this afternoon, we will get settled and get acquainted with the resort. At 7:00 p.m., we'll head over to Fort Wilderness for Chip & Dale's Campfire and Movies. Then it's back to the resort and time for bed.
Sunday: Today we will relax a bit. Sleep as late as we choose and then head over to the Boardwalk for an early lunch (Spoodles), Surrey rental, etc. After that, it becomes kids choice. If they want to go back to the hotel and chill, fine. If they want to go into the MK, fine too. MK is usually busy on Sunday but we have time set aside later to really enjoy it. Today is just a bonus. Besides, the crowd calendar shows a 4 on this day, so I'm hoping it helps. Then at 5:00 p.m. - we have dinner reservations at Chef Mickeys. After eating dinner, we head to MK for the parade and Wishes. If EMH continues on the same schedule, we'll let the boys each choose something to ride before turning in for the night.
Monday: We hit EPCOT early and are there for the rope drop. We spend the day here having a counter-service lunch and then eating around the world showcase for dinner. We'll also take a mid afternoon break, to let the boys enjoy the "Kitchen Sink" at Beaches & Cream. The park closes after Illuminations so we'll head back for bed.
Tuesday: This is our MK day. We have a CS lunch at Columbia Harbor House. As of now, MK does not have a parade or Wishes on Tuesday (which is why we saw it on Sunday) so around 7:00, we catch the monorail to the Poly for dinner at O'hana. Then off to the resort.
Wednesday: MGM (as it will forever be known to me
We do the counter-service thing for lunch here and then for dinner, grab some sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich and take them in to the Fantasmic area. We've never seen Fantasmic and I'm VERY excited about this. If Fantasmic is still at 7:00 (as it was this past January), then we should be back at the resort by 9:00.
Thursday (and my/DHs Anniversary). This is a non-park/rest day. We have breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe and then head to Downtown Disney for some serious shopping. In the afternoon, we enjoy the resort and pool (if warm enough). At 5:00, we take the kids to the Neverland Club at the Poly and DH and I grab a yummy drink and head down to the beach to watch the sunset. Afterward, we catch the monorail to the Grand Floridian and have dinner at Narcoosies. We watch Wishes from our table and enjoy the Electric Water Pageant. Then we pick up the boys and head back to the Wilderness Lodge.
Friday: Today we're at AK. We have lunch at Flame Tree Bbq and at 6:00 p.m. - catch the transportation to AKL for dinner at Boma. Then back to the hotel.
Saturday: We have to leave today BUT we pack up and then it's kids choice until noon. We'll arrive at the park of their choice at rope drop and ride their last few choices one more time.
So there you have it. In 6 days we cover 4 parks, Boardwalk, Downtown Disney, 5 resorts and 1 campground.
And this is what I would call, laid back.
I'm certainly open to suggestions at this point. I can't make any ADRs until later this month (and maybe October!) so all is still fluid.
Thanks!
Some quick background: I've been to Disney many, many times. I was on the college program in '89 so I'm VERY familiar with the parks. DH has been once. With me, in 2001. At that time, we went park commando since I felt there was so much he needed to see. This time, we're still seeing the parks but trying to take in some of the other entertainment as well.
We have two sons who will be 9 & 11 when we travel. The parks close early so I don't feel the need to take mid-afternoon breaks but I am going to try to have them in bed by 10:00 on MOST nights.
Here's what I've roughed out so far:
Saturday: We will be arriving by car around 3:00 p.m., staying at the Wilderness Lodge. On this afternoon, we will get settled and get acquainted with the resort. At 7:00 p.m., we'll head over to Fort Wilderness for Chip & Dale's Campfire and Movies. Then it's back to the resort and time for bed.
Sunday: Today we will relax a bit. Sleep as late as we choose and then head over to the Boardwalk for an early lunch (Spoodles), Surrey rental, etc. After that, it becomes kids choice. If they want to go back to the hotel and chill, fine. If they want to go into the MK, fine too. MK is usually busy on Sunday but we have time set aside later to really enjoy it. Today is just a bonus. Besides, the crowd calendar shows a 4 on this day, so I'm hoping it helps. Then at 5:00 p.m. - we have dinner reservations at Chef Mickeys. After eating dinner, we head to MK for the parade and Wishes. If EMH continues on the same schedule, we'll let the boys each choose something to ride before turning in for the night.
Monday: We hit EPCOT early and are there for the rope drop. We spend the day here having a counter-service lunch and then eating around the world showcase for dinner. We'll also take a mid afternoon break, to let the boys enjoy the "Kitchen Sink" at Beaches & Cream. The park closes after Illuminations so we'll head back for bed.
Tuesday: This is our MK day. We have a CS lunch at Columbia Harbor House. As of now, MK does not have a parade or Wishes on Tuesday (which is why we saw it on Sunday) so around 7:00, we catch the monorail to the Poly for dinner at O'hana. Then off to the resort.
Wednesday: MGM (as it will forever be known to me
We do the counter-service thing for lunch here and then for dinner, grab some sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich and take them in to the Fantasmic area. We've never seen Fantasmic and I'm VERY excited about this. If Fantasmic is still at 7:00 (as it was this past January), then we should be back at the resort by 9:00.Thursday (and my/DHs Anniversary). This is a non-park/rest day. We have breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe and then head to Downtown Disney for some serious shopping. In the afternoon, we enjoy the resort and pool (if warm enough). At 5:00, we take the kids to the Neverland Club at the Poly and DH and I grab a yummy drink and head down to the beach to watch the sunset. Afterward, we catch the monorail to the Grand Floridian and have dinner at Narcoosies. We watch Wishes from our table and enjoy the Electric Water Pageant. Then we pick up the boys and head back to the Wilderness Lodge.
Friday: Today we're at AK. We have lunch at Flame Tree Bbq and at 6:00 p.m. - catch the transportation to AKL for dinner at Boma. Then back to the hotel.
Saturday: We have to leave today BUT we pack up and then it's kids choice until noon. We'll arrive at the park of their choice at rope drop and ride their last few choices one more time.
So there you have it. In 6 days we cover 4 parks, Boardwalk, Downtown Disney, 5 resorts and 1 campground.
And this is what I would call, laid back.
I'm certainly open to suggestions at this point. I can't make any ADRs until later this month (and maybe October!) so all is still fluid.
Thanks!
