I'm afraid of my 1st day schedule- Help!

[mamahauldren]

This is our first trip (dh, dd 8 dd9 and me) in late aug.
I know this is a hot time to go but only time available for our schedule. I think having only 4 days, being a hot time of year, and our first trip is going to make this a really hard trip on our family.
I have been on this site for months planning and soaking in all the info. My dh thinks Ive lost my mind. We have never been on a vac that I have had to plan so much and I think he is a little scared of going because it sounds more like work than a vac to him. I guess I am having the same thoughts. I am very competivie by nature and feel like I am becoming insane. I wake up in the middle of the night with a question and I have been online or on the phone forever it seems about this trip.

We are only able to go for 4 days to WDW. The other days are Beach days or driving days. We have 4 day park hopper plus tickets. -

This is my plan: What do you think? Even though we are staying on property we are only going to do the EMH on MK. We have heard the crowds are so big this year that is better this way- We have heard both sides of the argument on this issue but we have already my ps for these days so I am just going to stick to it and not attempt to replan the trip. I just could not go thru that again!

Saturday 8/14- Arrive at Palm Coast Florida- The Harbor Club
No plans- Hang out at pool..
Sunday 8/15- Daytona Beach
Monday 8/16
We are driving into Orlando early this morning from Palm Coast.( about 1.5 hrs away) So we will be up early and driving. Will have to check in on property and then head to MGM. I guess since it is not a EMH for MGM then we dont have to check in and can just do it at break time...

Monday 8/16- Pre-checkin at All Star Movie...?? or checkin @break
MGM- at opening.
PS at Sci-Fi at 12:15 ( They sd they dont start lunch till noon- We would like to have an earlier time for lunch but this is where kids want to eat)
Break
MGM- Fantasmic Dinner Pkg H&V at 6pm

Tuesday 8/17
Animal Kingdom at opening.
Lunch- Counter Lunch
Break
Epcot afternoon-
PS at Garden Grill at 6:10 pm ( DD8 birthday)

Wednesday 8/18
MK at opening-
PS at CRT at 10:10 ( making this an early lunch)
Break
MK
( No dinner plans) ??? Maybe off site AT PH

Thursday
EMH MK
NO BREAK
Lunch - Counter Service- Cosmic Rays or Caseys
PS at Ohana at 8pm- We are thinking about canceling because this will be a long day without a break. This is our last day and we have to check out this day so we wont be able to rest at All Stars during the day.

My Questions/Concerns:
They changed the time of the motorcar parade at MGM to 3:30. I really liked the 5:30 time and hate they changed it to 3:30. That puts it in the middle of the hot afternoon- Really messing up Break schedules in my opinion. My DD's really want to see this parade. Since lunch time isnt until 12:15 and need to allow about an hour for meal, we would have to be back at park at least by 2:45 to get a decent seat for parade- Our break really isnt going to be long enough...and not worth it. But we do have a long night planned here in seeing Fantasmick at 8:30-
Do you think we should just cancel the 12:15 sci fi-- Just crab something quick- Head out of the park earlier- but still think it not enough time.

DH & I were thinking we could cancel Epcot on Tuesday afternoon and do the SCI FI & Parade then and catch Epcot on another trip or do SCI FI & the parade on Thursday afternoon- This is our last day at WDW so we would just leave after the parade at MGM.

He wants to do it on Thursday afternoon our last day and I would like to do it on Tuesday and skip Epcot ( I know we would love this park but we just dont seem to be able to give it the time it deserves...So lets may just give it our full attention next time) - But MK is really special and I want to allow 2 full days here...

Any help is greatly appreciated. Sometimes you guys come up with stuff that we never think of....

Thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I am sure some will come up with some specifics, but just want to add that you will be back, you can't see it all on your first, second, third, or twentieth trip, so take it slow, make those memories, they are priceless. You will love it, your first WDW. I will never forget mine. Enjoy, soak in the magic, don't fret if you miss something, there is SO much.

Enjoy.

Dan

 

[kilee]

Since DS was 9 we haven't had to work in as many breaks-- and have done many "whole" days w/o issue. You may be able to squeeze a few in here and there. Sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth to do all that traveling to the hotel and back everyday. Really depends on your kids though.

You could always cancel the Fantasmic Dinner Package. If you have a large lunch, you may not be ready for a large dinner so soon. This way you could head back to your hotel right after the motorcars parade then come back in time to get a seat for Fantasmic. This would allow you a few hrs back at the hotel around dinner time.

Unfortunately, w/ shorter amounts of time it comes to picking and choosing. But the things you miss always make the reason to go next time. Planning is key, but overplanning can be just a destructive. If the parade and Sci-Fi are really high on the must do list for the kids-- then I'd be sure to work them in.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Here is what I would do.

Get yourself some index cards. Sit down with your family and have everyone pick a couple of attractions that are must-dos.

Write these down on the index cards and put them in a pile for each park.

Each person should pick 2 must dos for each park. Some of them will likely overlap, but even if they did not, and each person picked 2 unique must dos for each park, that gets you 8 must dos in each park.

These will be your things you can not miss no matter what.

Hit those first using fast pass whenever possible. Then decide to go back for seconds or try out other things.

*****************************************

Fast pass is your friend. So is getting there at park opening.

You will save so much time on long line attractions by using fast pass and getting there early. It might sound kind of scary, but really, it works. Getting to Animal Kingdom early is a must. The animals will be much more active and you can get a fast pass for the safari, then explore a trail while you wait for your return time.

*****************************************

EPCOT is often open later than the other parks. Keep this in mind. When I was there in Feb, the World Showcase and the popular rides in Future World were all open till 9. I usually browse the WS shops during the evenings when other things are closed.
Also, do not wait in line for Spaceship Earth or Journey Into Imagination in the am. By mid afternoon the masses will have moved to the back of the park and the lines for Spaceship Earth AND Journey to Imagination will be slim to none.

We found the following strategy worked great twice when we were there in late Feb: we got to Epcot at park opening and grabbed FP's for Test Track, then we'd head over to Universe of Energy. By the time that was done, it was our return time. But before we returned, we'd get our next FP for Mission Space. Then by the time we were done with TT and all the stuff after it, it was time for MS.

Then we'd head to the WS for a bit, have lunch and then head back to Future World by mid afternoon while the crowds headed to the WS.

*************************************************


At Magic Kingdom, we found that there were no lines for the Jungle Cruise, the Tiki Room and Pirates later in the evening. The lines in Fantasyland were also much shorter. Save Adventureland and Fantasyland for the evening if possible. Tomorrowland and Frontierland seem to be the most crowded in the evening.

**********************************************************

I don't know if you can do any of these things, but we found them helpful. Also, I went to WDW in August a few years ago, and the heat was not that bad, nor were the crowds.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it will likely rain mid afternoon. If you can stick around during the rain, do so. Rain tends to clear out the crowds but it actually only lasts a short time.

MOST OF ALL…you are on vacation. You will be going back. Relax and have fun. I really think the index card thing works. You will have your priority attractions done and everything else will just fall into place.

I would try to at least see part of Epcot, even if you skip the Thrill rides and just go late and hit Spaceship Earth, The Living Seas and Journey into Imagination. Your DD's will love Figment!

~Sheri

PS. The Sci Fi is a blast. Your kids will love it.

 

[Selket]

I would never make it to the MGM opening (personally) because of the drive there and so forth - that seems very busy! When you check out on Thurs are you driving home or flying or ?

I highly recommend Tour Guide Mike (http://www.tourguidemike.com) You have to pay to access the website and the planning info but I think it will be well worth it for you. I love his site and used the plans last year with great success. He has many half day suggestions for the parks (such as "spend your morning here doing this then hope there in the evening and do that"). He also has great tips on seeing the parades, fireworks and so forth. There is info there you will not find on these boards generally.

I agree with others about the index card idea - you really will have to set some priorities and not worry about the rest! With the TGM site I've made myself some index cards with plans laid out - and some index cards with alternate ideas and lists of attractions that are easy to see anytime. (I have young children and one is diabetic so easy for us to get "off schedule"!). This works best for me.

Good luck!

 

[ellenmiele]

Will you plan on being in MK wed nite for Wishes? If so, why not plan on dinner in MK -- maybe try to get a later PS at LTT or TTS so then you can head back into MK after your break rather than dinnner off-site if you are (I hope) planning on going back for Wishes -