Intro and questions about itinerary...first trip to WDW

[dalbrough]

Hi there!!

Wow what a great help this site has been for me......I am a stressed out over-worked desperately needing some quality family time holiday....

In a perfect world DH and I would have gone somewhere relaxing sitting on a beach drinking slushy drinks all week but decided since our oldest who is turning 18 years old next month will likely never want to go on holidays with us again we should do something family oriented!

I managed to take advantage of the pay for 4 get 3 free which brought us to going to WDW for the week of May 9th.

So it will be - Me, DH, Son (17) Son (12) Son (10) embarking on a fun filled family vacation at WDW.

We are staying in the family suite @ All star music.

I am hoping I can draw on all of your experience and knowledge planning a good trip for us.

Oldest son and myself cant do rides (Vertigo) and he is non too pleased about going with us- figured I would use Mom guilt to get him to come with us - he finally agreed on one condition that we go to Kennedy Space Center so that being said - I checked on line and noticed there was a scheduled launch on the 12th - I really don't want to deal with the crowds and decided we would go the day before- Son (10) really wants to swim in the ocean so we are going to go to Cocoa beach (Or that is the tentative plan) after Kennedy - that way both will be happy.

I have only picked on restaurant so far to make ADR and still have to figure out the rest - I really do not have a ton of time to research all the restaurants between working full time- taking care of my sick Mom and the family..... I am hoping that suggestions might be made where we can make ADR. Or - do you really think they are necessary for this week?

So far after hours of research this is my tentative itinerary - could you please look it over and give me your opinion?

I really really appreciate it.

Saturday May 9th

Flight arrives @ 2:30pm – get rental car @ airport – stop and get some groceries and head over to All Star Music, unpack

Dinner – T Rex?

Downtown Disney – Disney Quest –

Sunday May 10th
Morning – Epcot - lots and lots of walking
Evening - Magic Kingdom – closes @ midnight.

Monday May 11th –
Kennedy space center and Cocoa beach – shopping downtown Orlando – outlet malls


Tuesday May 12th
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood – closing show


Wednesday May 13th Animal kingdom open until 8pm
Typhoon Lagoon
Animal kingdom ?

Thursday May 14th
Magic Kingdom
Hollywood Studios

Friday May 15th
FREE TIME – Blizzard beach??
Epcot – open till midnight

Saturday May 16th – home day – check out – return rental car @ Airport – flight leaves @



Thanks so much
dalbrough

 

[kmjmom]

Welcome! I am sure you will find plenty of helpful information here. I have never rented a car and left WDW during my trips, so I cannot comment on your excursions. I like to use the park hours and my daughters special requests when planning. We've found it helpful to have at least one ADR per day if we have specific restaurants we want to be sure to visit. Our last whole family trip was when eldest son turned 17. He and younger brother 16enjoyed going to Downtown Disney at night to see movies while DH and I and DD watched fireworks at a park. Good luck planning! You have definitely come to the right place!

 

[Aliceacc]

HI and welcome!

Congratulate your older son; he's made an addition that will be incredible. You're going to LOVE the Kennedy Space Center!!! And it's an easy drive from Orlando; pretty much an hour due east.

And you and your son will both be glad to hear that many, probably most, of the rides and attractions at WDW aren't "thrill rides" that will effect your vertigo. Some of my favorite non-thrill rides include the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribean, Peter Pan's flight (check with someone on that one, since you do "fly" over London), Mickey's Philharmagic... there's lots there for you and your older son. And if he's a sciencey type of guy, he's going to love Epcot!!(This from a math teacher )

Some places your kids might enjoy for dinner: The Coral Reef in Epcot, 'Ohanas at the Polynesian (easy to reach by monorail from the MK), Sci Fi diner in DHS, Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary (again, easy to reach by monorail)-- there's a lot there. Have the boys look at the menus at www.allears.net and come up with suggestions. (sorry, there's the teacher in me again, always assigning homework!) And, yes, make ADRs. If you choose to, you can always cancel, but there's no harm in having some made.

And if, as I suspect, your kids have never seen the ocean, your younger son is a genius!! You can't be this close to the Atlantic and not see it!!

You're going to have a fabuous trip, I just know it!!