If you were a first timer, would this itinerary seem overwhelming?

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

Going with some first timers, I’m the only seasoned veteran in the group so I’m planning. Lol. This is my itinerary so far.

Day 1: Arrival Day, Disney Springs Mid-day, Dinner at the Boathouse.

Day 2: Rope Drop Magic Kingdom, Breakfast at Sleepy Hollow, Lunch at Steakhouse 71, Mid-day Break, Dinner at Kona Cafe/Trader Sam’s, MK till Park Close.

(I don’t love MK quick service, so I usually visit the monorail hotels.)

Day 3: Rope Drop Hollywood Studios, Breakfast at Woody’s, Lunch at Hollywood Brown Derby, Dinner at Backlot/Oga’s Cantina, DHS till Park Close.

Day 4: Resort Breakfast, Rope Drop Epcot, Mid-day Break at Port Orleans, Epcot till Park Close.

Day 5: Departure Day, Rope Drop Animal Kingdom, Lunch at Satuli, Leave for Airport.

I tend to pack a lot into days, so I can get my money’s worth, and always do park open to close, with mid-day breaks/naps. I also try to do a few table service and quick service mixed in. Would this itinerary scare a first timer?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I personally prefer longer trips at a slower pace, but if you're only going for four nights that's pretty much exactly how I'd do it.

 

[Suz333]

I understand the reason for mid day breaks, but that seems like you’re missing a lot of park time for 1st timers. Transportation can be tiring, and open to close multiple days will probably be exhausting.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

I understand the reason for mid day breaks, but that seems like you’re missing a lot of park time for 1st timers. Transportation can be tiring, and open to close multiple days will probably be exhausting.

But if we don’t do open to close, we would miss park time in the morning and evening, especially when the park crowds are lower…

 

[RanDIZ]

I never do parks on arrival day. I’m with you on the MK dining selections. Always hit Sleepy Hollow, then do the rest outside of park for a break as well. I’d try and take a break out of HS if possible. EP day looks good too leaving the park for a break. Resort location helps too with leaving parks. Departure day for me though is waking up eating breakfast and leaving.

 

[nicksinger8]

Difficult to answer as every personality is so different and it does depend on the age. I could do it, my wife would absolutely hate it, my eldest could do it (just, but would struggle in the heat), but my youngest would hate it. The repeated staying to park close and then rope drop is tough, but again would depend on time of year - a full day until 11pm at MK followed by a rope drop in mid summer would test even me!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

But if we don’t do open to close, we would miss park time in the morning and evening, especially when the park crowds are lower…

If you're worried about missing park time, I think you have way too much dining scheduled on Magic Kingdom day.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

I never do parks on arrival day. I’m with you on the MK dining selections. Always hit Sleepy Hollow, then do the rest outside of park for a break as well. I’d try and take a break out of HS if possible. EP day looks good too leaving the park for a break. Resort location helps too with leaving parks. Departure day for me though is waking up eating breakfast and leaving.

We’ll have a mid-day break for HS too, I just forgot to add it!

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

Difficult to answer as every personality is so different and it does depend on the age. I could do it, my wife would absolutely hate it, my eldest could do it (just, but would struggle in the heat), but my youngest would hate it. The repeated staying to park close and then rope drop is tough, but again would depend on time of year - a full day until 11pm at MK followed by a rope drop in mid summer would test even me!

We are all in our 20s, and it’ll be nicer weather than insane summer heat (going in February). I imagine park hours will be shorter too since it’s technically “the off season”?

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

If you're worried about missing park time, I think you have way too much dining scheduled on Magic Kingdom day.

Magic Kingdom is my least favorite park. I would much prefer to go early, get a bunch of rides in, go explore resorts, and then come back in the evening to get more rides done.

 

[SLThomas318]

What is the make-up of the group? Young/old? Time of year and where are you planning on staying? Weather and travel time from resort/park always seem to change our touring plan. I think WDW is overwhelming the first time no matter what!

 

[magicalfoursome]

Sounds good! I am also a Disney veteran going with newbies in October. Also staying 4 nights. We are going to MK on arrival day in the early evening since we have extended hours and not going to a park on departure day. We are going to do a character breakfast on departure day. Hoping to pack as much as we can too without exhausting ourselves! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Magic Kingdom is my least favorite park. I would much prefer to go early, get a bunch of rides in, go explore resorts, and then come back in the evening to get more rides done.

Yeah this mindset to me would be a huge turnoff to me as a first-timer, which is how you framed the original question.

It connotes a frantic pace of pinging around from ride to ride without taking any time to relax and enjoy yourself. Why not "explore Advenutureland" instead of taking a two hour round-trip to "explore resorts"? I love exploring resorts... when I have 10 days, not 4.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

Yeah this mindset to me would be a huge turnoff to me as a first-timer, which is how you framed the original question.

It connotes a frantic pace of pinging around from ride to ride without taking any time to relax and enjoy yourself. Why not "explore Advenutureland" instead of taking a two hour round-trip to "explore resorts"? I love exploring resorts... when I have 10 days, not 4.

So I should preface that this was originally my solo trip, and this itinerary was already made before the others asked to join. They’re just along for the ride. I really wanna know if it’s overwhelming, which was my original question, not if it’s a turn off. I don’t think anything would be a turn off for them because they know absolutely nothing about Disney.

I also always have plenty of time to relax, and take things in, even with short trips. That’s never once been a problem for me.

 

[Suz333]

But if we don’t do open to close, we would miss park time in the morning and evening, especially when the park crowds are lower…

I understand, and will confess that I brought first timers to WDW and also did something similar. We were able to stay at Bay Lake, so we could walk to MK and drive to the other parks, and didn’t have to deal with Disney buses. We had kids ranging from 4 to 12 on those trips, and we broke mid-day for late lunch, swimming, and early dinner before heading back to parks. Our transportation took very little time, though, so our time away from the parks felt like a break. (And we were still exhausted by the end.)

Are you driving to the resort on your breaks? If not, maybe on your Epcot day get a reservation somewhere in the boardwalk area? It will be quieter than the parks, but a short boat ride away.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I would drop the breakfast dining and eat something before you leave in the morning and then have an early lunch or late breakfast (10:30-11:00 ish). This will give you another hour in the morning and you will be eating when it is less busy.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

I would drop the breakfast dining and eat something before you leave in the morning and then have an early lunch or late breakfast (10:30-11:00 ish). This will give you another hour in the morning and you will be eating when it is less busy.

Woody’s and Sleepy Hollow are my two favorite park breakfasts, and I always love taking other people as well. Also, I noticed that the resort isn’t always open for breakfast at the time I leave.

 

[nicksinger8]

We are all in our 20s, and it’ll be nicer weather than insane summer heat (going in February). I imagine park hours will be shorter too since it’s technically “the off season”?

February does change the equation. Obviously you have less heat and shorter hours so that works much better. Feb gives you the best chance with that itinerary - can't speak to the personality of your group, but hey if they are young first timers and you are only going for a few days, they may as well try and see as much as possible. If you are going too quickly someone can drop out and take a lie in.

 

[Disney World Dad]

It all depends on the personalities of each person. But as you say it was your trip that they are tagging along for and you're already trying to be cognizant that they probably won't want to get at the same pace as you normally would for this trip. Your plan seems reasonable with that in mind with the exception of maybe dropping the resort breakfast to have slightly more recovery time after closing down DHS.

If you intend to shut down each park, it's not just the close time, it's the time you spend there after close just taking in the last sights and sounds, then the wait for transportation, then walking to your rooms after getting dropped off so it could easily be a couple hours after park close until you step into your room. Just something to keep in mind for the rope drop to park close.

 

[jimmymc]

That looks like a great schedule for me. I also frequently do Animal Kingdom on my departure day, since there are only 3 must do attractions there.

The only comment is that two table service meals on your MK day is a lot, and you'll be pretty limited in park time. The monorail isn't as fast as it seems. But if you don't intend to go to the parks between lunch and dinner and will just be hanging out at the Contemporary and Poly, then I think it's fine, but I would consider getting Genie+ to do more in Magic Kingdom.