I'd love some thoughts on our August itinerary!

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Hi we're planning our first ever trip to WDW this August, and I'd love so feedback on our plans. We're doing a split stay. 3 nights with dining at POFQ, then 3 nights at the beach (Gulf coast) and then 2 nights without dining at AKL with a savannah view! The cast of characters is me (single mom, 30ish), my friend (gets super motion sick), her DD10 (sweet kid with lots of energy, wants to meet princesses and explore World Showcase) and my DD6 (another sweet kid with almost as much energy, loves everything water and playgrounds and wants to ride the thrill rides). Here's our plan:

Tuesday:

Arrive around noon, pick up luggage and rental car, and some fast food

Check in at POFQ

Go to MGM
4:20 FDP at Mama Melrose's
tour the park
9:00 Fantasmic! then back to POFQ to sleep

Wednesday

a.m. grab a quick breakfast in the room
MK for a.m. EMH
2:00 Afternoon Tea at the GF
friend and her daughter will stay at GF for "my first spa" package
DS and I will head back to POFQ for a swim, and rest
evening -- head back to MK for a few hours and then
8:30 dinner at California Grill and watch Wishes from their balcony

Thursday

a.m. grab quick breakfast at the resort
DS and I to Typhoon Lagoon, for opening, CS lunch
Friend and her DD to Epcot to explore WS, and Princess Storybook lunch
after lunch meet up at POFQ for pool and rest
evening -- Back to Epcot
Dinner at Marrakesh
evening EMH at FW

Friday
a.m. breakfast at POFQ and then allow each child to pick a park and visit it with their parent. One possibility for us is that we'll do Blizzard Beach, and the jump to MK in time for the afternoon parade. My friends may join us or do Epcot or MK again.
5:00 meet up at Chef Mickey's for dinner
Drive to the beach

Saturday, Sunday
all day at the beach

Monday,
a.m. beach, grab lunch en route back to Disney
midday, check into AKL, spend the afternoon enjoying the pool
6:00 Dinner at Jiko's
evening -- storytelling, animal watching, go to be early

Tuesday

Breakfast at AKL
be at AK at opening, CS lunch stay until the parade
swim
6:00 dinner at Boma
souvenir shopping at DTD

Wednesday
Breakfast at AKL, checkout
Have kids pick a park together (I'm guessing MK) -- get there at opening, stay until around noon. CS lunch
Drive to airport for 4:00 p.m. flights.

What do you think?

 

[Amirah95]

Looks good to me!

 

[Harambe]

I like it, too! You say your DD6 likes water parks, and you've got BB listed. Just to let you know, lots of older kids and teens like this park, but there is a great section for younger kids that your DD may like called Ski Patrol (near a bathroom to boot!).

See you there! Pixie dust that the hurricanes all stay out to sea!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I just reread my post and realized that I gave my DS a sex change! Just to clarify, my friend's child (the 10 year old) is in fact a girl, but my child should have been listed as DS6. I have no idea where my brain was when I typed that!

Thanks for the advice on the Ski patrol, we'll definitely try that.

One question I had was about not having a morning at Epcot. DS and my biggest priorities for Epcot are (in this order) Test track, Soarin', and Spaceship Earth (if we have to skip this one I'm OK with that). If we hit the FP machine for one of those as we come in the park around 4 and then another one a couple of hours later, will we be able to get tickets? Otherwise, how long will the lines be? I really don't want to wait in 3 lines, each 2 hours long.

Also, we are planning on skipping Illuminations. If we're up for Fantasmic, and Wishes two nights in a row, and up for opening every day I'd like to leave Epcot at 8 or 9 and get back for a slightly earlier night. Are we going to regreet this though? Another option would be to buy Park Hoppers and go to Illumniations the last night, but that makes it a $140 firework show.