So in the planning of this trip, we've gone over a number of different ways to approach it. We don't have flights booked yet, but have looked to see some typical flight times & figure we'll be Orlando before 11am. We debated about going right to one of the parks, or go straight to the resort & hope for early check-in, or go to DTD or go view some of the other resorts (which is important to us since we'll be there for the holidays). We thought about going to a park for part of the day we'll fly home (flight around 6pm), or DTD or resort viewing, etc. We've also looked at going 8 days & not going on the arrival or departure days. We've looked at doing each park 2 days, but then got lots of advice & opinions on that which made us rethink things again & again. We want to do the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party but was told it would be a waste of money.....but we still want to do it to see the parade & special fireworks. To park hop or not, etc. We want to make sure we allow time to see other resorts & their edible holiday displays, plus their trees & decorations.
So after weighing what we want, taking the opinions & advice of those who have been there & done that....we've come up with this itinerary:
Fri, Dec 7: Arrival Day
Pre check-in at Pop Century, go to DTD for lunch at Earl of Sandwich, look around DTD, back to Pop to check-into our rooms, go swim & explore the resort & dinner at Everything Pop.
Sat, Dec 8: Magic Kingdom
Start with breakfast at Chef Mickey's, go to MK, dinner at 1900 Park Fare, back to MK, try to see the Electrical Parade & Wishes.
Sun, Dec 9: Animal Kingdom
Breakfast at Tusker House, dinner at Flame Tree BBQ, try to see Festival of the Lion King, the Finding Nemo musical & the Jingle Jungle Parade.
Mon, Dec 10: Epcot
Breakfast at Akershus, Candlelight Processional Dining Package at Biergarten, try to see Illuminations.
Tue, Dec 11: Disney's Hollywood Studios
Start with breakfast at Everything Pop, dinner at 50's Prime Time Cafe, try to see Beauty & the Beast musical, Extreme Stunt Show, Indy Stunt Show & Osborne Family Lights.
Wed, Dec 12: Resort Day/Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Start with breakfast at Everything Pop, go explore the resorts with the edible displays & not to miss Christmas decorations (can skip the ones we have meals planned at), swim/rest, Head to MK for party (late afternoon entry), dinner at Cosmic Rays.
Thu, Dec 13: Epcot
Breakfast at Sunshine Seasons, dinner at Garden Grill, try to see things we missed the first day.
Fri, Dec 14: OPEN to pick which park to go back to.
Breakfast at Ohana, dinner at Boma.
Sat, Dec 15: Magic Kingdom
Breakfast at Crystal Palace, dinner at Peco's Bills, try to re-do favorites & catch anything we missed the first time.
Sun, Dec 16: Going Home Day
Breakfast at Park Fare, catch a quick service meal to take out to airport, check out of the Pop & head home.
We decided to not get hoppers. With the girls, we figured it would be easier on them not to bop around all over each day. We'll have 2 strollers plus their bags & all of the other stuff to load & unload. Plus it was just more money & we'd rather spend it on other things.
So 2.5 days at MK, 2 days at EP, 1 day at AK, 1 day at DHS & 1 day to go back to one of the 4 parks.
So please look this over & let me know how it looks.