Is my Disney Trip Itinerary good, and doable?

[Danny K]

Agree you need breaks each day, especially for it being such a long trip. Not sure if your doing openings at each park, but it might require you to get to the parks a little bit earlier. That way you can leave for 3/4 hours each afternoon. Your park activities sound fine.

I am getting there 30 min before park opening, so yes I will be there at rope drop, except for the second morning which I am only visiting world showcase which opens at 11:00am, so there is no point in getting up early, if I will only see world showcase that day.

 

[Danny K]

Currently Barnstormer and Dumbo are not connected to the Fastpass system so you can get FP for both of these while having another FP. That might help.

Thanks for this info, but I already knew that, and even though it isn't connected yet, it most likely will be soon, and I don't want to practice doing that with something that probably won't last much longer.

 

[Danny K]

Also, I wouldn't wait until the departure day to visit Downtown Disney. It's a great area with lots of food options and shopping and some unique experiences.

really? what else is there to do besides what I listed? I didn't want to do disney quest because its very similar to innoventions in epcot, and didn't want to do la nouba by cirque du soleil because it would be boring for my family, and I am too cheap for that.

 

[LisaTN]

Well about swimming and pool time, we live in egypt, and taking vacations at hotels with pools are very cheap here, so we probably wouldn't want to have pool time there. About breaks, We don't really need breaks, and don't get tired very easily, so we probably don't need breaks back at the hotel or anything. I actually have some breaks in the park, like innoventions, the boneyard, parades, fireworks, and meals are kind of breaks for us. But we really don't want to go back to the hotel in the middle of the day because that takes a lot of time getting back and going to the park again. In the countries in epcot, we don't want to shop or anything, just walk and see the interesting stuff in each country, and what it looks like. danceteachermom, can you tell me what rides will have long lines that I have scheduled? Most of them I have scheduled right at the beginning of the day I thought, but can you give me examples on what rides are long walk ons I have?

My family doesn't really take breaks either... our breaks are sitting down for meals or watching shows/ parades... it works for us

I think the plans look great, knowing that you might not get to everything... so highlight the must-dos and have a great time!!!!

 

[msmama]

I don't necessarily think you need breaks, but if I were you I would plan some wiggle room, at least. What if something breaks down? What if your kids are in the middle of a game when your hour is up at Innoventions? You certainly planned for YOU, but you didn't plan for any of the other things that could go wrong around you.

If something goes wrong at the beginning of the day (a ride breaks down or something) then would that throw your whole plan for a loop? What if one of the kids wants to stay in a country longer than 10 minutes?

If you are really going to be that specific then I would know where you could cut or rearrange things and make up time if necessary. Know your MUST dos versus your WANT to dos.

 

[WinterSux]

I think your plans are well researched and exciting! I also don't plan breaks at the hotel, even tho my DD is only 4. Frankly...she doesn't want to leave!!

I haven't been to WDW as many times as others here but what I found slowed things down for us when we go was lining up for pictures with characters. Your kids are older so they may not be as into this, for my DD4, the 30 min wait for Snow White at the Germany pavilion was worth it for her autograph and picture. Just a heads up...if pics with characters are not a big thing for you, this would not be a big deal.

 

[geraghty]

It's great to have a plan but be prepared to throw it out the window. I would also have a list of must do's just in case the itinerary gets out of whack. Rain is always a possiblity.

When does your plane land and how long is the flight? We tried to do Animal Kingdom on our first day and it was a nightmare. The lines were already long and we had underestimated the size of the park. Hollywood Studios is the same.

Be flexible and remember it's everyones vacation. I keep an itinerary and a list of must do's for our trips. I never show the itinerary to my family, just the list of must do's, that way if something goes wrong, only I know it. I agree this is doable and if it's a once in a lifetime trip, I understand why you want to see everything.

 

[Danny K]

It's great to have a plan but be prepared to throw it out the window. I would also have a list of must do's just in case the itinerary gets out of whack. Rain is always a possiblity.

When does your plane land and how long is the flight? We tried to do Animal Kingdom on our first day and it was a nightmare. The lines were already long and we had underestimated the size of the park. Hollywood Studios is the same.

Be flexible and remember it's everyones vacation. I keep an itinerary and a list of must do's for our trips. I never show the itinerary to my family, just the list of must do's, that way if something goes wrong, only I know it. I agree this is doable and if it's a once in a lifetime trip, I understand why you want to see everything.

I am not traveling by flight. Part of Our work is 45 min away from disney world, so I will by flying there first, and then taking a taxi to disney world at 9:00am, and then at the end taking a taxi back to work, then after like a week we will go back to egypt.

 

[Danny K]

Well if there is rain we have plans. Not all rides close down during rain and thunder, so say like if there is rain I can move an indoor activity in that time, and then come back to outdoor. We don't really have must do's and want to do's, everything is equal really. If a ride breaks down, we will move on to next steps, returning when the ride is okay. About characters, we have 3 character dining meals as you noticed: crystal palace dinner, cinderella's royal table dinner, and tusker house lunch. That basically is all the characters we want to see, except for rafiki, jimney cricket, and minnie which I have planned at pete's silly slideshow, and at conservation station. I will actually spend probably longer in some countries than others, just to average it out, 10 minutes per country. Like Germany and United Kingdom aren't as interesting, as mexico and italy for example. I have actually seen the world showcase before, just have not done any rides there or movies, just seen each country. This isn't necessarily a once in life time trip, but we go usually like every 8-12 years so, it is kind of a big gap, so I really want to see everything. At innoventions we will spend 1 hr at east, and 1 hr at west. At east we will do sum of all thrills, and if we see anything else, we like we will do it. At west we will do video game playground first, and the same if we see anything else we will do it. And also I am not very rushing in stuff. I mean I am estimating more time for some attractions then most people do such as, the treks, and trails in AK, Conservation Station, and Innoventions which I actually herd most people spend like 5 minutes touring innoventions. Please tell me if you have any other notices to the plan.

Nobody has told me yet, what is exactly Image Works in Imagination Pavilion, and how long should I plan for there?

 

[danceteachermom]

Well about swimming and pool time, we live in egypt, and taking vacations at hotels with pools are very cheap here, so we probably wouldn't want to have pool time there. About breaks, We don't really need breaks, and don't get tired very easily, so we probably don't need breaks back at the hotel or anything. I actually have some breaks in the park, like innoventions, the boneyard, parades, fireworks, and meals are kind of breaks for us. But we really don't want to go back to the hotel in the middle of the day because that takes a lot of time getting back and going to the park again. In the countries in epcot, we don't want to shop or anything, just walk and see the interesting stuff in each country, and what it looks like. danceteachermom, can you tell me what rides will have long lines that I have scheduled? Most of them I have scheduled right at the beginning of the day I thought, but can you give me examples on what rides are long walk ons I have?

I think Peter Pan can have longer lines quite quickly.....not sure how long Enchanted Tales with Belle is (it is a show/experience) and not a ride.....but after that and Ariel you may find Peter Pan over 40 minutes.

Winnie the Pooh can have long lines during busier times as well.

On your HS studio day it is quite possible that your TS fast pass return will interfere with the first Beauty and the Beast Show. You may not get the ride twice opportunities you are planning.

Depends what you consider long....

I am not real familiar with Animal Kingdom so I have no advice there.

You have done a lot of planning and research. I am sure you will be fine as long as you realize not everything can be predicted. Touring Plans is a good source. I followed their plans over a Fourth of July holiday week and was amazed at all we got done. If you are used to the heat you will be fine.

 

[RMulieri]

1) you are assuming your room will be ready when you arrive at 12pm...It might not be till 4pm
2) I would need some breaks in there or there would be a mutiny by my family

 

[Danny K]

I think Peter Pan can have longer lines quite quickly.....not sure how long Enchanted Tales with Belle is (it is a show/experience) and not a ride.....but after that and Ariel you may find Peter Pan over 40 minutes.

Winnie the Pooh can have long lines during busier times as well.

On your HS studio day it is quite possible that your TS fast pass return will interfere with the first Beauty and the Beast Show. You may not get the ride twice opportunities you are planning.

Depends what you consider long....

I am not real familiar with Animal Kingdom so I have no advice there.

You have done a lot of planning and research. I am sure you will be fine as long as you realize not everything can be predicted. Touring Plans is a good source. I followed their plans over a Fourth of July holiday week and was amazed at all we got done. If you are used to the heat you will be fine.

I consider over 35 min long. I found winnie the pooh on touring plans for 27 min, and wait for peter pan 20 min. I changed it that i will do belle first, then fp for little mermaid, and then peter pan, then ariels grotto, and then fp return to little mermaid, then continue as I wrote.

 

[Danny K]

1) you are assuming your room will be ready when you arrive at 12pm...It might not be till 4pm
2) I would need some breaks in there or there would be a mutiny by my family

I am expecting my room not to be ready, but I can get dining credits and park tickets, and relax in lobby before I get to the park.

 

[Danny K]

I think Peter Pan can have longer lines quite quickly.....not sure how long Enchanted Tales with Belle is (it is a show/experience) and not a ride.....but after that and Ariel you may find Peter Pan over 40 minutes.

Winnie the Pooh can have long lines during busier times as well.

On your HS studio day it is quite possible that your TS fast pass return will interfere with the first Beauty and the Beast Show. You may not get the ride twice opportunities you are planning.

Depends what you consider long....

I am not real familiar with Animal Kingdom so I have no advice there.

You have done a lot of planning and research. I am sure you will be fine as long as you realize not everything can be predicted. Touring Plans is a good source. I followed their plans over a Fourth of July holiday week and was amazed at all we got done. If you are used to the heat you will be fine.

I have also used easywdw crowd calendar, to plan days, and all the days are most recommended park for the day. I am avoiding extra magic hour days for all the parks.

 

[CalicoSky]

To me it, sounds exhausting. Disney may not be for relaxing (though it can be), but for me it shouldn't be work, either! But if it's what your family likes, go for it.

Some suggestions:
Your family--particularly your boys--may not be that enamored of some of the Fantasyland attractions (such as riding Barnstormer twice) and may prefer to ride Splash Mountain several times rather than Barnstormer or the Carousel once.

Some attractions are so full of detail or subtly change from one ride to the next that they're worth doing more than once. Haunted Mansion, for example is that sort of ride for me. Sometimes you don't know which attraction will captivate you until you've experienced it.

Touring plans are excellent resources to maximize your Disney time, but they're guesses based on past history and not necessarily predictive of what you, specifically, will experience. I went during a slow time--which August is not--and experienced wait times of 50-70 minutes for some of their headliner attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain. Fastpasses are great and absolutely do minimize lines, but even they aren't always walk-ons--think fast-moving line rather than a slow-moving one, but it's a line nevertheless.

Tour groups, special events, hurricane season , attraction rehabs...any of those can make a very precise touring plan start to unravel.

You mentioned that you don't have any "must dos"...I would encourage your family to identify at least a handful of attractions that appeal to you the most and those that appeal to you the least. That way if your schedule gets off track--and even if the crowds and weather are perfect that's likely--by either a long wait, a ride breakdown, or an opportunity to hop on an (unscheduled) attraction that has a 5-minute wait, you know what to sacrifice.

Any way you plan it, have a great time.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I am doing very last ,minute changes before I make ADR's for dining. Here is my itinerary for the whole trip, so please tell me if this plan is doable and a good plan? If you have any other recommendations, please tell me. I also have questions about certain attractions listed beside what I will do.

So you've haven't made ADRs yet? But this itinerary is down to the minute for everything, including your reservations, which you may or may not get for those times?

Honestly, I didn't read through everything I just thought "WOW- that's intense". I think it's great to plan and have a general idea of what rides you are going to hit up in what order and what shows parades, etc. you will see, but I think if you are expecting things to pan out the way you've set it out here, you will be disappointed.

You won't know what attractions your kids are going to love most, what parks, etc. They may want a down day to hang out at the resort and swim, etc. Weather could affect it, someone getting sick, etc.

I would build some flexibility into your plan.

For our trips our first four days are more structured as we do each park. After that there's some flexibility depending on what we all prefer to do again. Maybe you and one child prefer another park and might split up one day.

You mentioned avoiding EMH. Not sure if you are staying onsite, but if so I would consider EMH at MK in the evening. There's something magical about being at MK at night when everything is lit up and the park almost empty!

 

[Iamthequeen]

The American Experience is a show not a ride. I've never been to WDW in August,so I don't know what the crowds are like. I'm not sure if you will be able to get FPs for the times you might want them. Also you should make your AD asap.

 

[TravelAgentJen]

I am doing very last ,minute changes before I make ADR's for dining. Here is my itinerary for the whole trip, so please tell me if this plan is doable and a good plan? If you have any other recommendations, please tell me. I also have questions about certain attractions listed

Arrival: Tuesday

I think your first day looks good. Fantasmic fills up that time of year so I would get your dinner to go and eat it in your seats. I think the front center gets the wetest so you'll have to tell the cast members directing people to seats your intentions. And then plan on playing games on Ipad or something.

Noteisney is done best by savoring and enjoying every step. I might be tired on that long plane flight??? And you wake up early and go till late everyday??? FOR EIGHT DAYS??? Seems like a lot to me... I know your use to the heat but how about the crowds? It's hard to walk from point a to b in august crowds. Maybe you should plan at the very least one day smack in middle that you sleep in, don't go to any park and just do things like DTD, Golf,massage, Character Dining... And how r u going to eat in room if u flew from egpt, therefor no food brought with you? Do u mean food court in your room, or are u using a grocery service???

Ok, 2nd day:Enchanted tales w/Belle is like a live play w/u taking part w/ a little story/meet+greet so not a ride.Ariels Grotto is not a ride either rather a meet n' greet w/ariel and the line will probably be fairly long by this time. Then Peter pan after this;will have a long wait by then too and is also quite a walk from the new fantasyland area that you'll be in and then be going back to....There will probably be a longgggg line for lunch too. Haunted mansion will have a long long too both the times u plan on going so work that into your time management. FYI these should be loose outlines, b ready to drop something off the list or add and give your family the freedom to stop for break, soak in the atmosphere, etc,etc,etc

Thursday at epcot I would say give 15 min at least to see every shop and movie or boat ride that they have to offer and be ready to have a pausr for some live enterainment+a drink where ever they might pop up!
I guess your family is the very physically fit and highly motivated type becuase this kind of itenerary is not for the faint of hearted!FYI

Friday, i hope, I think u can do that. It's a very overly optimistic plan but I think it can be done with a very disciplined family.....

You will not need 80min at conservation station but it does eat up time to get there and get back... Make sure you watch the clock or your watch or whatever bc time flys when having fun and with these kinds of plans u might miss your mark. You will not need 1 hour between the discovery trails+oasis. It's more like a walking path with some but not much animals or signs along way with some photo op areas and really not an exhibit if you will.


Sunday: I;m not sure your age kids will PLAY that long in boneyard but maybe they do, I don't know. I think your 1st half is slighty overly optimistic. Wow your family sure is an adventorous bunch, u guys r doing all the things that make me dizzy and sick like several times! I love flame tree, flights of wonder, yak yeti, nemo,Anandapur Ice Cream Truck and everest! You guys will have a fun day!


Monday: I find 1/2 the things in FW to be very boring but it's best u try them all out for yourself since you are coming all this way. All your meals will be very yummy! Note-u definetly did your research bc most things I can tell r very well planned.

Ok, I'm even tired now, can I have a break?


Tuesday;again very optimistic planning, leave room for failure or spotanitiy. The railroad is enjoyable and a good way to get across the park definetley take it! Your family needs a break from there feet! Transit Authority is called the people mover, it's like riding a train in the sky except there's only one place to get off, the same place u got on, gives a cool breeze break in the sky w/a good view. Stitch+Monsters inc r both animated shows that u sit and watch, To me they r only slightly amusing/intresting. Note;i dont think the crowd really fades (at least impactfully) in august.



Wednesday-Marketplace Carrousel, and Marketplace Miniature Train these have a fee unlike being in the park. They r also small and I don't think your older kids will have any interest. There's also much better places to eat downtown for lunch. I think the ballon ride is around that time.

 

[rharper1496]

So you've haven't made ADRs yet? But this itinerary is down to the minute for everything, including your reservations, which you may or may not get for those times?

Agreed. Make your ADRs first and then plan around those. CRT, for example, fills up fast and the odds of you getting the exact day and time you want are slim unless you're booking them right at 180 days or you eat at strange times.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

I personally feel that if your expectation is what you have posted above, then you are setting yourself up for a disappointment. Especially considering that you are visiting when summer season is still somewhat at peak. Good luck!!!