Is my Disney Trip Itinerary good, and doable?

[Mickey Fliers]

Okay. I'll bite. My comments in red.

We are 2 adults, and 2 children (9 and 13 years), and going in beginning of august 2013.

Arrival: Tuesday

Check In by 12:00pm, get settled in room, at all star movies resort.
Be at Bus Stop by 2:00pm

1. Arrive in Hollywood Studios by 3:00pm
2. Grab a snack from Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream and Go to the bathroom.
3. Get a FASTASS for Star Tours
4. See the 4:00pm American Idol Express Show (Be there by 3:45pm)
5. Use FP to ride Star Tours
6. Get another FASTPASS for a second ride on Star Tours
7. Ride the Great Movie Ride
8. See the 5:30pm Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Show (Be there by 5:20pm) You will not be able to see the 4:00 American Idol, ride two more rides and still get to Indiana Jones by 5:20. AI will be at least 20 min. ST will probably take another 20. Plan on GMR having at least a 30 min wait. You would probably also need to be at IJ much earlier than 5:20 to make it into the 5:30 show.
9. Use FP to ride Star Tours again
10. Go over to sunset boulevard and have dinner at Catalina Eddie's
12. Get in line for 9:00pm Fantasmic Show between 7:30pm and 7:45pm
13. See Fantasmic Show (By the way is there something to do in fantasmic seating before the show starts, or how does it work? Also We want to sit in a place we will get the most wet. Does that place fill up faster or slower? and where is that place?
14. Head back to the room


Wednesday

Wake up by 6:00am, have breakfast in room, and be at bus stop by 7:30am

1. Arrive at Magic Kingdom Gates by 8:30am
2. Get in line and enter by 9:00am opening
3. Get a FASTPASS for Under the Sea-Journey of Little Mermaid
4. Ride Enchanted Tales with Belle This has already been addressed.
5. Ride Ariel's Grotto Don't know if your 9 and 13 year old boys are going to care about meeting Ariel. But who knows.
6. Ride Peter Pan's Flight Wait time will probably be at least 30 min.
7. Use FP to Ride Under the Sea-Journey of Little Mermaid
8. Get a FASTPASS for Dumbo
9. Meet Minnie and Daisy at Pete's Silly Slideshow
10. Ride Barnstormer
11. Ride Casey Jr Splash and Soak Station (What is in that place? and How do you get soaked?) You will get very wet!!
12. Use FP to Ride Dumbo
13. Get a FASTPASS for Barnstormer to Ride Again You probably don't need two Barnstormer rides with kids that age.
14. Have lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant
15. Use FP to Ride Barnstormer Again See above
14. Ride Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
15. Ride Mad Tea Party
16. Ride Prince Charming Carrousel
17. Get a FASTPASS for another ride on Peter Pan's Flight
18. Grab a Snack at Storybook Treats
19. Find a Spot on Main Street to Watch the Parade
20. Watch the 3:00pm Dream Come True Parade
21. See Mickey's Phillarmagic Show
22. See the 4:15pm Dream Along with Mickey Show at Cinderella's Castle (Be there by 4:05pm)
23. Ride It's a Small World
24. Use FP to Ride Peter Pan's Fight Again
25. Ride Haunted Mansion Will have a long wait
26. See the Hall of Presidents Show
27. Ride Liberty Square Riverboat
28. Ride Haunted Mansion Again Again, plan for some wait times
29. See Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
30. 8:30pm ADR at Cinderella's Royal Table (Be there by 8:20pm)
31. Head back to Hotel
You will be criss-crossing Fantasyland quite a bit. In addition, with kids that age, you may not need an entire day for Fantasyland. My kids are done with it in an hour and a half. My older boys tolerate most of the rides to please me and their little sister. They certainly don't ask to do them twice.

Thursday

Wake up by 8:15am, have breakfast in room, and be at bus stop by 9:45am

1. Arrive in Epcot by 10:45am
2. Explore Canada Pavilion for 10 min
3. See O Canada
4. Explore United Kingdom Pavilion for 10 min
5. Explore France Pavilion for 10 min
6. See Impressions de France
7. Have Lunch at Tangierine Cafe
8. Explore Morocco Pavilion for 10 min
9. Explore Japan Pavilion for 10 min
10. Exit through the international gateway, and find Disney's Beach Club Resort
11. Have a snack at Beaches & Cream To Go
12. Head back to Epcot through international gateway
13. See the 3:45pm American Adventure Show (Be there by 3:30pm) (Is this attraction indoors or outdoors?)
14. Explore The American Adventure Pavilion for 10 min
15. Explore Italy Pavilion for 10 min
16. Explore Germany Pavilion for 10 min
17. Get a FASTPASS for Maelstrom
18. Explore China Pavilion for 10 min
19. See Reflections of China Show
20. Explore Norway Pavilion for 10 min
21. Use FP to Ride Maelstrom (How long is Maelstrom, I hear on some websites its 5 min, and some websites 9 min)
22. See the spirit of norway show, on the way out from Maelstrom
23. Explore Mexico Pavilion for 10 min
24. Ride Gran Fiesta Tour
25. 7:15pm ADR at San Angel Inn (Be there by 7:05pm)
26. Find a Spot in Mexico Pavilion to See Illuminations at 8:45pm
27. Watch 9:00pm Illuminations
28. Head back to Hotel
You may want to give yourself more time to find a good spot for Illuminations. Most good viewing spots will be taken up by 8:45. No doubt. You may also find that you spend more time in each pavilion. Ten minutes goes by awfully fast. Your kids may want to do the Interactive Perry the Platypus game around the WS.

Friday

Wake up by 6:00am, have breakfast in room, and be at bus stop by 7:30am

1. Arrive at Hollywood Studios Gates by 8:30am
2. Get in line and enter by 9:00am opening
3. Ride Toy Story Mania
4. Get a FASTPASS for another ride on Toy Story Mania
5. Ride Rock N Roller Coaster
6. Ride Tower of Terror
7. Bathroom Break
8. Use FP to Ride Toy Story Mania Again
9. Get a FASTPASS for another ride on Tower of Terror
10. See 11:30am Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage (Be there by 11:15am) Get there earlier
11. Use FP to Ride Tower of Terror Again
12. Have Lunch at Rosie's All American Cafe
13. See Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
14. Grab a Snack from Hollywood Scoops
15. Get a FASTPASS for another Ride on Rock N Roller Coaster
16. At 2:45pm Find a Spot under Mickey's Scourer Hat to Watch the Parade
17. Watch 3:00pm Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade
18. Ride Studio Backlot Tour
19. Bathroom Break
20. See 4:30pm Light's Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show (Be there by 4:15pm)
21. See The Magic of Disney Animation You can easily lose a lot of time in here as there is some really fun stuff to do. Usually lots of characters and you may find your kids want to see them. Plus, the drawing class is a lot of fun and you get a free souvenir.
22. See 5:50pm Disney Junior Live on Stage (Be there by 5:35pm) This show is geared to pre-school aged children and your kids may not be interested. Plus, I don't think you will make this time anyway if you are trying to do LMA at 4:30 and do Animation.
23. See Voyage of the Little Mermaid
24. Use FP to Ride Rock N Roller Coaster Again
25. See the Muppet Vision
26. 7:45pm ADR at Sci Fi Dine In Theater (Be there by 7:40pm)

You are criss-crossing this park a ton. Rethink!

Saturday

Wake up by 6:00am, have breakfast in room, and be at bus stop by 7:30am

1. Arrive at Animal Kingdom Gates by 8:30am
2. Get in line and enter by 9:00am opening
3. Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
4. Stroll through Pangani Forest Exploration Trails for 40 min
5. Take the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch
6. RUN to Conservation Station ignoring any hidden mickeys or animals between there (See these things on the way back to the train)
7. Spend 80 min at Conservation Station, doing everything there. That's a lot of time here.
8. Spend 30 min at Affection Section petting the animals Again, that's a lot of time.
9. Spend 20 min touring Habitat Habitat, and any hidden mickey's on between the train and conservation station.
10. Take the Train back to Africa
11. 1:45pm ADR at Tusker House Restaurant (Be there 1:35pm)
12. Bathroom Break
13. At 3:30pm Find a Spot in Discovery Island to Watch the Parade
14. Watch the 3:45pm Mickey's Jamin Jungle Parade
15. See the 4:30pm Festival of the Lion King Show (Be there by 4:15pm) Be there earlier than that
16. Spend 30 min Touring Discovery Island Trails
17. See its Tough to Be a Bug
18. Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris Again The wait time will be quite long.
19. Spend 30 min at the Oasis Exhibits
20. Head back to Hotel, and Have dinner at the hotel's food court


Sunday

Wake up by 6:00am, have breakfast in room, and be at bus stop by 7:30am

1. Arrive at Animal Kingdom Gates by 8:30am
2. Get in line and enter by 9:00am opening
3. Get a FASTPASS for Expedition Everest
4. Ride Expedition Everest without FASTPASS
5. Go to Dinoland and Ride DINOSAUR
6. Ride DINOSAUR Again
7. Ride Primeval Whirl
8. Ride Primeval Whirl Again
9. Ride Tricera Top Spin
10. Use FP to Ride Expedition Everest Again
11. Bathroom Break
12. See 12:00pm Finding Nemo--The Musical (Be there by 11:00am) (Is this show 35 or 45 min)
13. Get a FASTPASS for Kali River Rapids
14. Have Lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue
15. Stroll through Maharajah Jungle Trek for 40 min
16. Use FP to Ride Kali River Rapids
17. Get a FASTPASS for Expedition Everest for a 3rd Ride
18. Grab a Snack from Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
19. Spend 30 min at the Boneyard
20. See the 4:30pm Flights of Wonder Show (Be there by 4:15pm)
21. Bathroom Break
22. Use FP to Ride Expedition Everest Again
23. Ride Kali River Rapids Again
24. 6:45pm ADR at Yak & Yeti Restaurant

At least you are staying on one side of the park.

Monday

Wake up by 6:00am, have breakfast in room, and be at bus stop by 7:30am

1. Arrive at Epcot Gates by 8:30am
2. Get in line and enter by 9:00am opening
3. Ride Soarin I don't know why, but this always takes longer than you think. Don't expect to be out of the Land pavilion before 10:00
4. Get a FASTPASS for Test Track
5. Ride Test Track without FASTPASS
6. Ride Ellen's Energy Adventure (35 or 45 min?)
7. Use FP to Ride Test Track Again Your turn around time here seems pretty quick. Return time could quite possibly be for 1:00 or later.
8. Get a FASTPASS for Mission Space Orange Team
9. Ride Mission Space Green Team
10. Spend 15 min in Mission Space Advanced Training Lab
11. Use FP to Ride Mission Space Orange Team
12. Get a FASTPASS for Soarin for another Ride They will probably be gone
13. Have Lunch at Sunshine Seasons Food Fair
Note: Most people go back to room and take a rest at this time because lines get very long, but we will spend this time in Innoventions.
14. Spend 2 hrs in Innoventions (1 hr in East and 1 hr in West)
15. Grab a Snack at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie
16. See Captain EO
17. Ride Journey into Imagination with Figment
18. Spend 5 min in Image Works (Is 5 min enough time?) yes
19. See Circle of Life
20. Ride Living with the Land Expect a wait
21. Use FP to Ride Soarin Again
22. See Turtle Talk with Crush (Is this a ride or a show?) Show that is on timed schedule. Check your times guide for times. You would also do Nemo first then Turtle talk
23. Ride the Seas with Nemo & Friends (Is this a ride or a show?) Cute little ride
24. Ride Spaceship Earth
25. 8:15pm ADR at Tutto Italia (Be there by 8:05pm)
26. Head back to Hotel

This is very, very aggressive and I don't think it will happen. You won't be able to take multiple rides on all the headliners. Even with a FP, Soarin always takes an hour.

Tuesday

Wake up by 6:00am, have breakfast in room, and be at bus stop by 7:30am

1. Arrive at Magic Kingdom Gates by 8:30am
2. Get in line and enter by 9:00am opening
3. Ride Space Mountain
4. FASTPASS Space Mountain for another Ride
5. Ride Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
6. Ride Astro Orbiter This is a slow loading ride. Plan for a little extra time.
7. Ride Tomorrowland Speedway
8. Ride Tomorrowland Transit Authority (What basically is this?) A great little jaunt around Tomorrowland.
9. Use FP to Ride Space Mountain Again
10. Ride Carrousel of Progress (What basically is this?) a show
11. Ride Stich's Great Escape (What basically is this?) Terrible
12. Ride Monsters Inc Laugh Floor (What basically is this?) An interactive Comedy show
13. Have Lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
14. Go to New Fantasyland
15. Take the Walt Disney World Railroad and get off at Frontierland Station (Is the railroad fun, and worth taking, or should We just walk?)
16. Get a FASTPASS for Splash Mountain
17. Spend 30 min touring Tom Sawyer Island
18. See Country Bear Jamboree Show
19. Grab a Snack from Sunshine Tree Terrace
Note: A Parade will be going on at this time so lines will fade out Don't count on it, plus the parade goes right through Frontierland. Expect large crowds.
20. Ride Big Thunder Mountain Expect at least a 45 min wait.
21. Use FP to Ride Splash Mountain
22. Get a FASTPASS for another Ride on Splash Mountain
23. Ride Jungle Cruise
24. Ride Pirates of the Caribbean
25. Ride Magic Carpets of Aladdin
26. See Swiss Family Treehouse
27. Ride Big Thunder Mountain Again The wait will be very long
28. Use FP to Ride Splash Mountain Again
29. 7:15pm ADR at Crystal Palace
30. at 8:45pm Find a Spot on Main Street to Watch the Parade You will need to be there much, much earlier
31. Watch the 9:00pm Main Street Electrical Parade
32. Bathroom Break
33. Find a Spot near the roundabout before Cinderella's Castle to Watch Wishes No. Find your spot for the parade immediately upon leaving Crystal Palace. Stay there for parade and Wishes. There won't be a spot in the roundabout in front of the castle.
34. Watch the 10:00pm Wishes
35. Head back to Hotel


Wednesday

Wake up by 8:00am, have breakfast in room, check out, and be at bus stop by 11:30am

1. Arrive in Downtown Disney Marketplace by 12:30pm
2. Explore Downtown Disney a little
3. 12:45pm ADR at Rainforest Cafe
4. Shop at the Downtown Disney Marketplace Shops
Note: Make Sure not to miss the Christmas Store, and the World of Disney Store.
5. Ride Marketplace Carrousel, and Marketplace Miniature Train These are preschool children rides.
6. Grab a Snack at Ghirardelli's Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
7. Go over to Downtown Disney West Side, and Explore the Shops there
8. Go to Downtown Disney Pleasure Island and Ride Characters in Flight (The Hot Air Balloon Ride) (How long is the balloon ride? 15min maybe?)
9. Head back to Hotel
10. Relax in the Lobby until 4:00pm
11. Head for Home

So Can you tell me if this disney itinerary is doable or not, and what you think I should change?

I think your plans are very aggressive. Things always take way longer than you think they will. It just does. I would probably cut out all the repeat visits to headliner attractions. Maybe pick one you would like to repeat.

 

[dansamy]

Okay. I'll bite. My comments in red.

I think your plans are very aggressive. Things always take way longer than you think they will. It just does. I would probably cut out all the repeat visits to headliner attractions. Maybe pick one you would like to repeat.

In addition, the beginning of August is still a VERY busy time of year. Lines are long, people are hot, there's a lot of "them" to try & go around or get past. If you try to keep this pace, you will literally be running from line to line & still fail at keeping your schedule. It's absolutely unrealistic. Especially for the crowd level for early August. I don't think OP has a concept of just how many people will be there.

 

[Peachkins]

Wow! This is a really detailed schedule for my taste- I personally could never do it. I will say that you may have to be somewhat flexible. Others have already touched on some issues. One I'll add is that you're assuming that you'll be able to use your fast passes within particular time frames, but this may not always happen. The amount of time between when you get your fast pass and when you can actually use them may vary greatly, and you may end up with too little or too much time in between.

I'm assuming you'll be okay with adding an extra bathroom break here and there if necessary. The kids will appreciate it.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Wow, you must have a very disciplined family if you can plan ahead of time when you are going to take bathroom breaks! This itinerary is way too detailed for me, when you are determining ahead of time exactly how many minutes you will spend at each attraction.

MK itinerary alone would drive me crazy....all "little kids" rides, with older children. What if they want to cool off by going on Splash Mountain, or walk by Pirates of the Caribbean and see it's only a 5 minute wait...how can you pass that up?

However, if you are actually an Egyptian visiting America, not simply an American living in Egypt, maybe it's in your culture to plan everything to a T?

Have you ever heard the expression "Stop and Smell the Roses?"....I'd suggest stopping and having a Dole Whip and just absorb the wonderful atmosphere and letting yourself relax and be flexible.

 

[scdak]

Please post after your trip and let everyone know if your detailed plan works , I and I am sure others would like to know what changes if any you have to make or if all goes as planned.

 

[Danny K]

Wow, you must have a very disciplined family if you can plan ahead of time when you are going to take bathroom breaks! This itinerary is way too detailed for me, when you are determining ahead of time exactly how many minutes you will spend at each attraction.

MK itinerary alone would drive me crazy....all "little kids" rides, with older children. What if they want to cool off by going on Splash Mountain, or walk by Pirates of the Caribbean and see it's only a 5 minute wait...how can you pass that up?

However, if you are actually an Egyptian visiting America, not simply an American living in Egypt, maybe it's in your culture to plan everything to a T?

Have you ever heard the expression "Stop and Smell the Roses?"....I'd suggest stopping and having a Dole Whip and just absorb the wonderful atmosphere and letting yourself relax and be flexible.

I am not egyptian. I just live in egypt. No there is no culture here to have everything to a T. Yes I have heard that expressions, but I don't like the menu at dole whip. I will go to sunshine tree terrace instead.

 

[Danny K]

Please post after your trip and let everyone know if your detailed plan works , I and I am sure others would like to know what changes if any you have to make or if all goes as planned.

Sure I will do that

 

[Danny K]

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.

CalicoSky I am using a crowd calendar from easywdw, and going on the most recommended days for each park.

 

[letsgoreds]

Depending on what is most important for your family at Epcot, I would do that first. For our family, rides first, touring countries if time permits. The countries are cute, but not a substitute for the real deal.

At Epcot, when you are exploring Innoventions, do Sum of all Thrills (research into this). The lines can get really long, so sometimes, people do this first. I suggest splitting your ride time at Epcot between your two days, and spending afternoons in the countries (split this up).

At Magic Kingdom, your kids might really enjoy Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, or at least picking up free card packs for your families. If they don't want to try to play the game, the cards/maps still make for nice, free souveneirs. Because My DS7 loves this game/cards so much, we are making sure to hop to MK each day to pick up more cards. Google it, youtube has some good summaries.

 

[Danny K]

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!

I have made ADR's for crystal palace, cinderella's royal table, rainforest cafe, and tusker house

I didn't do san angel inn, tutto italia, yak & yeti, and sci fi.

 

[Danny K]

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.

I stated on page two, that I will do enchanted tales with belle first, then fp journey of little mermaid, then peter pan, and then ariels grotto, then use fp.

 

[Danny K]

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!!!

again I used touring plans to plan it, and it says fastpass return times on TP

 

[Danny K]

Okay. I'll bite. My comments in red.



I think your plans are very aggressive. Things always take way longer than you think they will. It just does. I would probably cut out all the repeat visits to headliner attractions. Maybe pick one you would like to repeat.

I said above my plan at MK day 1 I changed it with the 4 first attractions.

touring plans said the haunted mansion will be around 18 min.

About illuminations I will watch it from the path in the middle of the lake. Is that possible?

I am actually not putting 10 min on each country. I am just averaging it out.

Touring plans said, that the great movie ride will be like 16 minute wait. Why would you get to indiana jones earlier than 10 min?

I don't think the wait in the end for kilimanjaro will be long, its like 50 min before park closing which is at 7pm.

Why be there earlier for lion king. I will get there as soon as the parade finishes.

SERIOUSLY soarin will take that long? I have never heard that before. Is this kind of a joke or what? in the morning first thing?

TP says FP for test track will be ready at that time.

Living with the Land says it will be 20 min.

BTMR Tp says the wait will be 35 min for both times. Its a green day crowd calendar.

and why the hate for stich's great escape?

magic of disney animation and lights motors, TP says I will make it.

If you think I should be at shows and parades earlier, please tell me what time you would expect to be there?

 

[dansamy]

I said above my plan at MK day 1 I changed it with the 4 first attractions.

touring plans said the haunted mansion will be around 18 min.

About illuminations I will watch it from the path in the middle of the lake. Is that possible?

I am actually not putting 10 min on each country. I am just averaging it out.

Touring plans said, that the great movie ride will be like 16 minute wait. Why would you get to indiana jones earlier than 10 min?

I don't think the wait in the end for kilimanjaro will be long, its like 50 min before park closing which is at 7pm.

Why be there earlier for lion king. I will get there as soon as the parade finishes.

SERIOUSLY soarin will take that long? I have never heard that before. Is this kind of a joke or what? in the morning first thing?

TP says FP for test track will be ready at that time.

Living with the Land says it will be 20 min.

BTMR Tp says the wait will be 35 min for both times. Its a green day crowd calendar.

and why the hate for stich's great escape?

magic of disney animation and lights motors, TP says I will make it.

If you think I should be at shows and parades earlier, please tell me what time you would expect to be there?

In early August? Before schools take back in? When it's hot, humid & crowded outside? And everyone is seeking respite from the heat? Shows will be full really early. Just because you're in the line doesn't mean that you'll get to see the next showing if the theater is full. When the theater fills up, any one left in the line outside is obviously free to wait for the next show or to decide to leave & come back later, rejoining the line at the end again & hoping you get a seat.

Just because Touring Plans says doesn't make it so. Touring plans and other tools are very useful & even quite accurate for their time estimates regarding waits, etc. Where they fail is accounting for your personal touring speed. My dd likes to pin trade. While touring plans or ride max estimates 5 minutes to walk from point a to point b, it might take us 7 because she is gonna trade along the way. Add in thicker crowds or a show dumping out 1500 people right into your path & it could be 10 minutes to walk that route. Now, you're 5 minutes behind your "schedule". What do you cut out or skip to get back on schedule?

The path to Soarin is convoluted at best. If you are at the front of the pack, know EXACTLY where you are going, catch the very first "flight", you might be able to get in, ride & back out in 30ish minutes. If anything goes "wrong" or you have any confusion about your path or there's enough ahead of you that you end up on the second flight, an hour is very possible.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I said above my plan at MK day 1 I changed it with the 4 first attractions.

touring plans said the haunted mansion will be around 18 min.

About illuminations I will watch it from the path in the middle of the lake. Is that possible?

I am actually not putting 10 min on each country. I am just averaging it out.

Touring plans said, that the great movie ride will be like 16 minute wait. Why would you get to indiana jones earlier than 10 min?

I don't think the wait in the end for kilimanjaro will be long, its like 50 min before park closing which is at 7pm.

Why be there earlier for lion king. I will get there as soon as the parade finishes.

SERIOUSLY soarin will take that long? I have never heard that before. Is this kind of a joke or what? in the morning first thing?

TP says FP for test track will be ready at that time.

Living with the Land says it will be 20 min.

BTMR Tp says the wait will be 35 min for both times. Its a green day crowd calendar.

and why the hate for stich's great escape?

magic of disney animation and lights motors, TP says I will make it.

If you think I should be at shows and parades earlier, please tell me what time you would expect to be there?

I think you are overestimating the exactness of Touring Plans and severely underestimating how long it actually takes to do things. Maybe if you were the only people in the park, you might be able to accomplish this feat, but you won't be...not by a long shot. Just because it is a "green day" or a recommended day by Josh, it still means that you are competing for space and ride times with tens of thousands of other people.

Not to pick apart your entire itinerary, but here is one example. You would like to do AI at 4:00, then ride ST with FP, get another FP, ride GMR then be at IJ by 5:20. Won't work.
1. AI is a 25 min. show. If the show begins at 4:00, you now how to leave that show with 500+ other people. Let's be liberal and say it takes you 5 min. to leave your seat, gather your stuff and people. You are now walking out of AI at 4:30.
2. A 5 min walk to ST has you entering the queue at 4:35. Let's imagine that you have perfect timing and walk right onto the ride. You are buckled in and ready to go by 4:40. Ride is 5 min. You are unbuckling, gathering and vacating the Starspeeder at 4:45.
3. Oh no...a trap!! ST dumps into the greatest gift shop for any Star Wars fan. Kids your age are going to want to check everything out.
4. Okay, you were ready for this and tell them "Let's go". Your kids have super powers to ignore all of the commercial goodness and then come right along. You are leaving the shop and headed to GMR at 4:50.
5. After a short 5 min. walk, you arrive at GMR at 4:55. Let's pretend it is not early evening in early August at the busiest theme park resort in the world...there's only a 10 min wait (Won't happen!). You are loading into your car by 5:05.
6. GMR is 18 min. long. You finish vanquishing the gangster and singing along to Follow the Yellow Brick Road and you are leaving the ride vehicle at 5:23. Still have to exit the building and you are just getting outside around 5:25.

As you can see, even with my horribly liberal time schedule, what you are trying to accomplish will be extremely difficult even under perfect circumstances. This is only one example from your itinerary. There are tons more.

Touring plans uses a very complicated algorithm. I get that. However, at the end of the day, all they are are predictions. Just because TP says what a FP return time will be 5 months from now, doesn't make it so. It's a guess. And guesses are frequently wrong.

If all you are planning to do at Animation is stick your head inside, then I guess you could make Playhouse Disney after LMA. But you wouldn't even get to Animation courtyard until at least 5:15. I would just skip PD and spend some time out of the heat at Animation.

Anyway, I hope I have given you some things to think about. Enjoy your time in the parks. Let your kids look at gift shops. Listen to the music being piped in all around. Stop and see a character. Pee more than once. Pick an order you would like to do things, get there early, and be flexible.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We go to WDW for 3-4 weeks at a time and never take breaks! They are a complete waste for us. It's much better for us to get into the parks from 11am and stay until close (even if that's 2am) Afternoon breaks are such a nightmare and (for us) a complete waste of time to trek all the way back to the hotel. If I wanted to rest and swim, I wouldn't be at WDW! But it's a personal preference.

 

[danceteachermom]

OP if you are going to refute everyone's opinions and advice, then why ask for it in the first place? If you seriously do not want help, why ask? If you want to follow TP rigid schedule then by all means do it. Many posters have taken the time to read through your long plan and tried to offer help and advice because you asked. But for almost every piece of advice you have said, you are going to do it your way because "TP says..."

I think everyone who has posted has taken the time to do so simply because they want you to have a great trip. I hope your plan works and that your trip is magnificent. I think all people are trying to do is point out that even the best laid plans.....even TP....can't predict everything.

You know your family best. Give it a try. Best of luck.

 

[TravelAgentJen]

OP if you are going to refute everyone's opinions and advice, then why ask for it in the first place? If you seriously do not want help, why ask? If you want to follow TP rigid schedule then by all means do it. Many posters have taken the time to read through your long plan and tried to offer help and advice because you asked. But for almost every piece of advice you have said, you are going to do it your way because "TP says..."

I think everyone who has posted has taken the time to do so simply because they want you to have a great trip. I hope your plan works and that your trip is magnificent. I think all people are trying to do is point out that even the best laid plans.....even TP....can't predict everything.

You know your family best. Give it a try. Best of luck.

I know! Really?? I just spent like 30-40 min trying to be nice and helpful with out being mean/direct/laughing like some of these responses are and still all I got was a one sentence argument....... Really??? Not even a thank you???? I thought too that you wanted help, is this doable??? If u wanted the computer response u should of stuck w/what you had and left the real life people alone!!!!!

 

[jennylyn_b]

People line up for the Lion King very early and if yin don't show up 45-30 minutes prior to the start of the show you can be turned away as they will be full. We have seen this happen many many times. You may get lucky but be prepared! Even the maps and CMs will tell you to get to Lion king and Nemo show that early. It's totally up to you though

 

[Nancyg56]

again I used touring plans to plan it, and it says fastpass return times on TP

I love TP/ They make mistakes. A lot. TP and every other planning tool is simply a guide. If you are relying on their wait time,s etc you may end up frustrated because your schedule is going to go to heck in a handbasket.

OP if you are going to refute everyone's opinions and advice, then why ask for it in the first place? If you seriously do not want help, why ask? If you want to follow TP rigid schedule then by all means do it. Many posters have taken the time to read through your long plan and tried to offer help and advice because you asked. But for almost every piece of advice you have said, you are going to do it your way because "TP says..."

I think everyone who has posted has taken the time to do so simply because they want you to have a great trip. I hope your plan works and that your trip is magnificent. I think all people are trying to do is point out that even the best laid plans.....even TP....can't predict everything.

You know your family best. Give it a try. Best of luck.

By the time I got to teh end I also was thinking this. OP- here's the deal. You are not planning some of the shows well. Indiana Jones, for instance....you need to get there early. Not like Lion King, early, but ten minutes will probably not cut the mustard. You can try and I hope it works, but

I also see the "parade" thinking from TP. Sounds good but I have never found that the wait times are so reduced that we can fly through.

Soarin first thing in the morning has a wait. It always has a wait. It takes time just to walk through the queue even with FP. It takes time. Later in the day the waits are longer. Soarin takes time no matter what time of day you are there.

Stitch is the worst attraction ever. It is the one attraction my entire family agrees that we will never experience again. EVER>

It is freakin hot in August so even if you are experienced with heat and humidity the rest of the crowd may not be so you need to be prepared for how they travel. Shows that are air conditioned will be a priority for a lot of folks.

I would also plan for free dining JIC. If that happens the food courts and the restaurants will be filled. Plan for a little more time eating than you think you need.

I think that part of what you are missing with your planning is that Disney is way more than a list of attractions to tick off your schedule. People are trying to tell you that even the most disciplined planners need to leave a cushion for those moments when the details and the extras call you. You may accomplish all you are setting out to do but there is no room for experiencing what is not listed, and that is a tragedy. If you spend all that time running from one place to another you are going to miss some of the most spectacular things Disney has to offer. For instance, in Epcot there are shows going on all day. Have you planned for them? Just about every Country has a series of shows to enjoy and they are marvelous. If your family wants to see them 10 minutes will not even get you started. Japan has Myuki, the candy lady. Kids love her. China has the acrobats and drummers. Holy Cow! Amazing! Candy has musicians, America has the fife and drum corps, it goes on and on.

You have not even touched on characters. Do your kids want to meet them?

Google Steve Soars and check out the shows in every park or you may be in for a World of changes once you see what you are missing in you haste to refute every person here who wants your family to have a great trip.