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

[Bork]

I don't have a problem with open to close, but it does seem like a lot of time eating and taking transportation. We rarely need 3 meals at WDW. Usually light breakfast, sit down lunch to relax and a lighter dinner. Also, I am a commando guy and even I sometimes have trouble getting up early for rope drop 4 days in a row, so maybe be flexible.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

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.

I will definitely be getting Genie+ for MK. The only reason I have two that day is because I haven’t been to either and I really want to go!

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

I don't have a problem with open to close, but it does seem like a lot of time eating and taking transportation. We rarely need 3 meals at WDW. Usually light breakfast, sit down lunch to relax and a lighter dinner. Also, I am a commando guy and even I sometimes have trouble getting up early for rope drop 4 days in a row, so maybe be flexible.

I go to Disney for two reasons; rides and food! Lol. So dining is like, top priority for me every time. I also have a lot of dietary restrictions, and table service is usually the best at accommodating those, in my experience.

 

[_19disnA]

"Overwhelming" is subjective and depends on various factors already mentioned. Disney parks involve MILES of walking and doing 4 parks on consecutive days can be exhausting no matter your age/physical fitness level. If your party are all of the go-go-go type vs. having a more leisurely style of vacation also matters. For the first timers in your group you just have no idea what they might like at someplace they have never seen. If you always plan to do everything as one group, then likely they will have to follow your lead. Some may be more inclined to: 1) sleep in late, 2) spend time at the pool, 3) shop/walk around. Even at a park, what rides/shows appeal to some may not to others.

 

[RoseGold]

I'd eat in MK. That's too much time at mediocre restaurants that makes it so hard to plan for rides. Those restaurants suck up all the time, and there's only one day in MK, I don't want to spend it getting around the resorts and waiting in line at Trader Sam's when I've never been to MK. I'd rather skip Disney Springs and do all of that on arrival day, if you're dead set on Trader Sam's. Just book Skipper Canteen and hold your nose at a Cosmic Ray burger. I'm sure Steakhouse 71 is nice, but I didn't go to Disney and pay $100/pop for tickets to go to a steakhouse.

I'd swap Boathouse for Jaleo, that's just me.

If you aren't staying at Port Orleans, I wouldn't take a break to there. It's just a hotel, and that's expensive park time.

Park close, then breakfast before rope drop the next day is definitely a nope for me.

This is way too much dining in general. I know I couldn't eat this much. I've never done a sit down breakfast on a park day. What's wrong with grabbing a croissant at Paris in Epcot? Or a Sleepy Hollow bunch and then a Cosmic Ray's dinner burger.

 

[Miffy]

OP: Where are you staying? You didn't mention your resort, I don't think (I skimmed some of the replies) and I think that factors into your itinerary.

To me, it seems like there's a lot of coming and going, which can be exhausting, especially after walking 8 or 10 miles a day in the parks, not to mention a lot of standing in line.

If you and your group are all staying onsite, then at least people can come and go as they please. Or does everyone just want you to do all the planning and they'll just follow along?

I never plan for 3 meals a day--that's a lot of time either not going on rides, seeing shows, etc., and/or not relaxing and doing nothing, which is a necessity at WDW. I think 2 planned meals (maybe even that's too many) + snacks is the way to go. But that's just my opinion. You and your group may feel differently about this.

To answer your question--is this overwhelming for first-timers?--I think it depends on who they are, what their stamina's like, and whether or not they're going to like WDW. I mean, of course they'll love it, but maybe they won't?

And that's really pushing it to have a park on getaway day unless your plane departs in the evening. Or perhaps you're driving. DAK is my favorite park, so I'm prejudiced here. I would never save that until the last day.

Is there no way to make your trip even one day longer? A rest day there? RDing 4 days in a row is, even for a RD person like myself, a bit much.

Also, I see you're not park hopping. I'd want hoppers for this short trip, because if I've never been to WDW before, I'd want the opportunity to revisit a park I felt I didn't get enough of. But, of course, that's $$.

Just some thoughts.

 

[sponica]

A) where are you staying
B) when in February are you going? I'm assuming early in the month because you're describing it as off season

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

"Overwhelming" is subjective and depends on various factors already mentioned. Disney parks involve MILES of walking and doing 4 parks on consecutive days can be exhausting no matter your age/physical fitness level. If your party are all of the go-go-go type vs. having a more leisurely style of vacation also matters. For the first timers in your group you just have no idea what they might like at someplace they have never seen. If you always plan to do everything as one group, then likely they will have to follow your lead. Some may be more inclined to: 1) sleep in late, 2) spend time at the pool, 3) shop/walk around. Even at a park, what rides/shows appeal to some may not to others.

Totally fine with people doing what they want to do! I tend to operate pretty independently and love solo time. So if I wanna wake up early and they wanna sleep in, that’s cool! I just think they’ll be the type to be like “oh we should stick together”! So someone has to sacrifice what they want. Which seems silly when we can all do what we want to do. That’s the beauty of Disney.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

I'd eat in MK. That's too much time at mediocre restaurants that makes it so hard to plan for rides. Those restaurants suck up all the time, and there's only one day in MK, I don't want to spend it getting around the resorts and waiting in line at Trader Sam's when I've never been to MK. I'd rather skip Disney Springs and do all of that on arrival day, if you're dead set on Trader Sam's. Just book Skipper Canteen and hold your nose at a Cosmic Ray burger. I'm sure Steakhouse 71 is nice, but I didn't go to Disney and pay $100/pop for tickets to go to a steakhouse.

I'd swap Boathouse for Jaleo, that's just me.

If you aren't staying at Port Orleans, I wouldn't take a break to there. It's just a hotel, and that's expensive park time.

Park close, then breakfast before rope drop the next day is definitely a nope for me.

This is way too much dining in general. I know I couldn't eat this much. I've never done a sit down breakfast on a park day. What's wrong with grabbing a croissant at Paris in Epcot? Or a Sleepy Hollow bunch and then a Cosmic Ray's dinner burger.

I mentioned I do so much dining in a few replies. Dining is also my rest time. I do so much dining because it’s a chance for me to get off my feet, in air conditioning. If I didn’t do dining, I would have to take a nap mid-day and lose out on time that way.

I didn’t realize it’s so weird to eat 3 meals a day? I don’t like to starve myself. If other people eat two meals per day, good for them. We all have different priorities.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I mentioned I do so much dining in a few replies. Dining is also my rest time. I do so much dining because it’s a chance for me to get off my feet, in air conditioning. If I didn’t do dining, I would have to take a nap mid-day and lose out on time that way.

I didn’t realize it’s so weird to eat 3 meals a day? I don’t like to starve myself. If other people eat two meals per day, good for them. We all have different priorities.

You asked for people's opinions and then you've argued with everyone who offered an opinion that wasn't exactly what you wanted them to say.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

OP: Where are you staying? You didn't mention your resort, I don't think (I skimmed some of the replies) and I think that factors into your itinerary.

To me, it seems like there's a lot of coming and going, which can be exhausting, especially after walking 8 or 10 miles a day in the parks, not to mention a lot of standing in line.

If you and your group are all staying onsite, then at least people can come and go as they please. Or does everyone just want you to do all the planning and they'll just follow along?

I never plan for 3 meals a day--that's a lot of time either not going on rides, seeing shows, etc., and/or not relaxing and doing nothing, which is a necessity at WDW. I think 2 planned meals (maybe even that's too many) + snacks is the way to go. But that's just my opinion. You and your group may feel differently about this.

To answer your question--is this overwhelming for first-timers?--I think it depends on who they are, what their stamina's like, and whether or not they're going to like WDW. I mean, of course they'll love it, but maybe they won't?

And that's really pushing it to have a park on getaway day unless your plane departs in the evening. Or perhaps you're driving. DAK is my favorite park, so I'm prejudiced here. I would never save that until the last day.

Is there no way to make your trip even one day longer? A rest day there? RDing 4 days in a row is, even for a RD person like myself, a bit much.

Also, I see you're not park hopping. I'd want hoppers for this short trip, because if I've never been to WDW before, I'd want the opportunity to revisit a park I felt I didn't get enough of. But, of course, that's $$.

Just some thoughts.

There’s two reasons we can’t get park hoppers or an extra day: money and time off. We are all single people who don’t make *that* much, and we don’t get that much time off.

We’re staying at Pop this time around. If people don’t want to do all the things listed, they don’t have to. It’s not mandatory. We can all see and eat whatever we want to. But my group seems to want me to plan everything so I did.

 

[RoseGold]

I didn’t realize it’s so weird to eat 3 meals a day? I don’t like to starve myself. If other people eat two meals per day, good for them. We all have different priorities.

Sit down restaurants take time and have huge portions. There's other options here, like a pan au chocolate after you ride Remy in the morning. Or a Cheshire cat pastry. Or bring a granola bar. You don't have to "starve yourself" to not spend 2-3 hours of your park time with mediocre food.

I'm from a city with excellent food options, so I view Disney food in general pretty skeptically. I especially wouldn't spend park time on something like a decent steakhouse. For a group, I'd do something like plan a big dinner at Via Napoli and let people grab what they want during the day.

And park hoppers are incredibly expensive now. I don't see why you need them, if you actually use your park time.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

You asked for people's opinions and then you've argued with everyone who offered an opinion that wasn't exactly what you wanted them to say.

Lol okay man. It’s not that serious. People have their opinion and I responded back with why I’m doing things how I am. I’m not arguing, I’m not mad, I appreciate people’s insight. I don’t get why people always get so up in arms on here. Take a deep breath, in and out. I promise it’ll be okay.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

There’s two reasons we can’t get park hoppers or an extra day: money and time off. We are all single people who don’t make *that* much, and we don’t get that much time off.

We’re staying at Pop this time around. If people don’t want to do all the things listed, they don’t have to. It’s not mandatory. We can all see and eat whatever we want to. But my group seems to want me to plan everything so I did.

If you're staying at Pop, why the mid-day break at Port Orleans?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Lol okay man. It’s not that serious. People have their opinion and I responded back with why I’m doing things how I am. I’m not arguing, I’m not mad, I appreciate people’s insight. I don’t get why people always get so up in arms on here. Take a deep breath, in and out. I promise it’ll be okay.

What do you think @RoseGold, is she being needlessly argumentative, or is it a figment of my imagination?

 

[sponica]

Totally fine with people doing what they want to do! I tend to operate pretty independently and love solo time. So if I wanna wake up early and they wanna sleep in, that’s cool! I just think they’ll be the type to be like “oh we should stick together”! So someone has to sacrifice what they want. Which seems silly when we can all do what we want to do. That’s the beauty of Disney.

Whatever tack you take, set the parameters and expectations now. Seriously. Many a well intentioned trip have been disrupted by trying to make the trip be all things to all people.

But also, when in February are you going?

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

Sit down restaurants take time and have huge portions. There's other options here, like a pan au chocolate after you ride Remy in the morning. Or a Cheshire cat pastry. You don't have to "starve yourself" to not spend 2-3 hours of your park time with mediocre food.

I'm from a city with excellent food options, so I view Disney food in general pretty skeptically. I especially wouldn't spend park time on something like a decent steakhouse. For a group, I'd do something like plan a big dinner at Via Napoli and let people grab what they want during the day.

And park hoppers are incredibly expensive now. I don't see why you need them, if you actually use your park time

I agree, we’re not getting park hoppers.

I can’t eat a lot of the snacks because of my dietary issues. Both of those things listed would make me really sick. I have to usually speak to a chef to make something special for me. I don’t love doing it, but lots of quick service places don’t have the option. I would rather take the extra time, than end up in the hospital for eating something I can’t eat.

 

[ajollyholidaywithjo]

If you're staying at Pop, why the mid-day break at Port Orleans?

One of my friends loves beignets. I told her they have them, she wants to go.

 

[RoseGold]

If you want to visit resorts and go to Trader Sam's, I'd do that arrival day. Those things are cooler than Disney Springs, which is just a strip mall. I'm not sure why you'd pick Port Orleans though, I'd go AKL. It sounds like you have a car, so you could even go to Kidani and get the bread service mobile order.

 

[RoseGold]

I don’t love doing it, but lots of quick service places don’t have the option. I would rather take the extra time, than end up in the hospital for eating something I can’t eat.

Nobody is saying you should go to the hospital, that's ridiculous. You should bring a bar you can eat or order the parfait or whatever. Dragging everyone to that much table service isn't a good use of park time when you have so little, and it's the only chance they get. If you have to separate, then do that.