Is my Disney Trip Itinerary good, and doable?

[Nancyg56]

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

These two alone can eat up a few hours. And lets not talk about the walking in that park. It is HUGE! I have traipsed from one end to another because I did not make a purchase right away. AK can mesmerize you just in the trails, the shows and music.

 

[Danny K]

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.

Common. I think you misunderstood me a little. I am notifying what touring plans says, but if its not accurate, then I need help from you, information you gave me about TP is good, and I appreciate that.

 

[Danny K]

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!!!!!

I do appreciate what you said in your previous plans. Thanks, I really do appreciate it, just I stated before I am not a native, and its hard for me to be very clear.

 

[Nancyg56]

Common. I think you misunderstood me a little. I am notifying what touring plans says, but if its not accurate, then I need help from you, information you gave me about TP is good, and I appreciate that.

Here is Steves website. http://www.wdwent.com/

This is a good resource for deciding if there are shows within the parks you want to catch. You can see that in every park there is entertainment and you may want to leave time to enjoy some of it.

I would also suggest that you download a WDW wait times ap if you can. While we were in WDW the wait times were pretty accurate for the one that I have. I will often check out the wait times now that I am home. This may help you when you look at TP and check to see how their times are against what is showing up on the AP. I don't know how accurate the ap's really are but they are fun when you are home.

I know you have not said that your family has any must do attractions but I would definitively make a list of some attractions and shows you do not want to miss. It is very easy to get sidetracked once you start touring and it would be a shame if you missed something you all really wanted to experience becasue you ran out of time.

Also, if you want TS meals each day, make sure you book them now. Disney has not offered free dining but if they do, look out below! Better to have them in place and then cancel if you decide you do not want to be tied down than to be frantically trying to make them. Then all your planning an sail right out the door. Even if the parks are slow if the dining plan of included for free folks will fill up the popular TS places.

And again, Disney is overwhelming. My family is not commmando so this is from our perspective. WDW is an immense magical World. I know that there are families that run from rope drop to park close and they thrive on that pace. I think that for your visit though, be careful that you don't get so wrapped up in your plan that you miss the wonderful things that Disney includes throughout their parks. WDW is way more than attractions included in them parks. It is an experience.

 

[Danny K]

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.



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.

THANKS A LOT for what you said. You really helped me a lot. Can you actually give me a prediction on how long I should be there before these following parades, shows, and fireworks:

The American Adventure

Lights Motors Action, Stunt Show

Fantasmic (Guessing 90 min)

Disney Junior Live on Stage

American Idol Experience

Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage

Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

 

[Danny K]

THANKS A LOT for what you said. You really helped me a lot. Can you actually give me a prediction on how long I should be there before these following parades, shows, and fireworks:

The American Adventure

Lights Motors Action, Stunt Show

Fantasmic (Guessing 90 min)

Disney Junior Live on Stage

American Idol Experience

Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage

Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

Nemo

Lion King

Main street electrical

Dream Come True Parade

Illuminations

Wishes

Pixar Pals Countdown

Jamin Jungle Parade

 

[Nancyg56]

THANKS A LOT for what you said. You really helped me a lot. Can you actually give me a prediction on how long I should be there before these following parades, shows, and fireworks:

The American Adventure

Lights Motors Action, Stunt Show

Fantasmic (Guessing 90 min)

Disney Junior Live on Stage

American Idol Experience

Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage

Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

Oh gosh, I am probably the last one who can give really good timing advice I will try though.

American Adventure has not had much of a wait and runs every 45 minutes. It is a 30 minute show so I would plan on getting there about 10 minutes early. It is a pretty large theater.

Beauty and the Beast has a lot of seating as well. It is an outdoor theater and unless your kids need to be close I usually get there 15 minutes early. (More if we are ready to sit down and there is nothing we can fit in before we would enter.

Fantasmic- give yourselves a good 90 minutes and allow enough time to walk there. It is a LOOOOOOOG walk, but worth it.

Lights motors action- again, a lot of seating so you don't need to get there too too early. My family typically arrives 20 to 30 minutes ahead but we do that with everything we do. It can be a hike to get to the theater, depending on where you are coming from. I don't think you will need to allow that much time if the park is not overcrowded.

Indiana Jones, we were in line about 25 minutes or so before the show started, I think.

I bet other folks who have a better sense of timing could provide better guides for you. We are a family of wanderers ,are easily sidetracked and tend to like to be early and wait rather than rush in at the last minute. The shows are a lot of fun and really add to the entire experience. One thing someone else mentioned but I cannot emphasize enough is that just about every attraction dumps you into a gift shop. Unless you are really really disciplined they can kill a lot of time .

I also want to reaffirm that no matter how much you check the maps out and try to factor the time it takes to get from one place to another, add some time. These parks are huge and sites like TP do have you hopping back and forth at times. The walk from the fantasmic exit to anywhere is a hike.

AK is gynormous so make sure you give yourself enough time to get from one side to the other without running, you will miss cool sights. It took a good 15 or 20 minutes for me to hike back to EE to pick up Yeti hats for my little friends, race back down the trail and then over to the queue for Nemo. And I was alone and on a mission to catch up with my family and even though I am familiar with the park still took a path that I ended up going out of my way.

Epcot is a big park as well. Visually beautiful but a lot of walking. FW and the WS are really two parks in one and are connected by pathways. As someone else pointed out, the pathways can be confusing. My family prefers the WS and we always spend a lot of time there. The Agent P scavenger hut thing is fun and we were sorry we did not plan enough time with that. My DD thought her DD would not want to do it but once she started we all got involved. We had an ADR we did not want to miss because it was linked to our Candlelight Processional package but it is something to think about for your kids. It takes a bit of time though .

 

[Nancyg56]

Nemo

Lion King

Main street electrical

Dream Come True Parade

Illuminations

Wishes

Pixar Pals Countdown

Jamin Jungle Parade

I have already confessed to being one of those folks who likes plenty of time but I'll give this a shot too.

Nemo and Lion King- at least 45 minutes early. These are popular shows and fill up.

We don't arrive too early for parades anymore, but if the parks are crowded, give yourself at least 15 minutes to get your spot. We used to be those folks who got there at least 30 minutes early and I don't regret that, we liked to have a nice spot for our little Peanut to see the parade. Parades were her favorite thing ever! We just sat on teh curb with a cold drink and an ice cream and watched the World go by while we waited. Don't miss Jamin Jungle Parade if you can help it, it is fun! Maybe 15 minutes for that one. Pixar Pals as well, if I remember correctly, that was enough time.

Wishes is nice from Main Street behind the Hub. I cannot really say how early because we would just hang out after Spectromagic. I did not see the Main Street Electric Parade on our last visit.

Illuminations is awesome. We used to stake out our spot early but I don't think you really need all that much time unless you have a particular place in mind. We usually give ourselves 15 minutes now, but have gotten a spot just as it was starting and still saw the show. I think this, like the parades, depends on how you like to view things. We are an "up close" family so we generally allow more time to "wait". If you don't mind standing behind people then scoot in ten minutes before it starts.

I would suggest that before you plan these things, think about how you like to view shows and parades. Really be honest with yourself so that people who have good timing can give you advice. It makes a difference because folks who like to make sure they have seats near the front and middle or those people who like a curb side spot for parades have to allow more time to just sit and wait than those people who don't mind the last row in a theater or standing on toes to see a parade. We miss attraction time but for us it is worth it. For others, it is a colossal time waster. But, if you try to have it both ways you may be disappointed.

The thing about WDW is that you cannot do and see it all in one trip. No matter how much you pack in there will be more, a lot more. That's is why people here want you to really think about the attractions and shows your family "must" do, the parades you really want to see and how you want to experience those things. That way you can personalize your touring plans so that you do not miss the important things for your family. If an up close spot for teh MK afternoon parade is important we need to allow the extra time. If Nemo and Lion King area must do's, you might have to rethink AK strategy.

 

[rharper1496]

THANKS A LOT for what you said. You really helped me a lot. Can you actually give me a prediction on how long I should be there before these following parades, shows, and fireworks:


Disney Junior Live on Stage

We were at Disney Jr about 15 minutes before showtime and that was plenty. In August you might need a bit more time. I will repeat with others have said though, for your family I would seriously consider skipping it. It's a puppet show that is aimed at toddlers and preschool children. It's a cute show but I have a feeling your boys are going to be bored out of their minds. The minimum 15 minutes you spend waiting and the 25 you spend getting seated/watching the show/leaving can be better spent elsewhere.

 

[TravelAgentJen]

Agree, I dont think u should waste time w/disney junior live;its for little kids. Note that watching all the parades, shows, stunt shows, stage shows and night time entertainment can easily w/ all the waiting take up 1/2 to 3/4 of a day. And I noticed u didn't meet any characters and stuff there's another 1/2 a day. So u really have to pick and choose becuase it's just a lot. For instance some parades we get to 10 mins before hand and wach from a couple rows of people back w/ our kids on our shoulders and some we stake out spots 30min before to get front row. And note, things like Wishes, to get prime spots like your talking about it's probably more like an hour and a half early at that time of year. Also, I've seen the Lion King show a bunch of times including August and we've never showed up more then 10 mins early BUT that's not to say that some, probably several shows a day do get filled up. We have just been lucky I guess.

 

[dansamy]

I'd like to make a suggestion to you. I know it's another expense for another planning tool, but RideMax is VERY helpful & highly accurate for their minute by minute plans. When you make a RideMax plan, set the walking speed to "slow". RideMax's normal speed is just about flat out running from line to line. Think marathon race walker. Normal families with children can't maintain that pace. Slow is still not slow by any means, but rather more like a brisk walk.

 

[Danny K]

I'd like to make a suggestion to you. I know it's another expense for another planning tool, but RideMax is VERY helpful & highly accurate for their minute by minute plans. When you make a RideMax plan, set the walking speed to "slow". RideMax's normal speed is just about flat out running from line to line. Think marathon race walker. Normal families with children can't maintain that pace. Slow is still not slow by any means, but rather more like a brisk walk.

Thanks, I though touring plans, was the only one, that did something like that, I will see if I can purchase ride max. Is it better than touring plans?

 

[dansamy]

Thanks, I though touring plans, was the only one, that did something like that, I will see if I can purchase ride max. Is it better than touring plans?

RideMax is very detailed, down to the minute. If you plug in your desired rides & shows & you're trying to do more than it's possible to do in the allotted time, it will tell you that. You can select which showing of a show or parade you want to see. You can include your meal breaks. (I plan 60 minutes for CS & 90 for TS.) RideMax won't let you make your touring plan until about 60 days in advance due to WDW entertainment schedules being rather fluid. I always start at the 2 month mark & make a rough plan. Then, the night before we leave I make more finalized plans. Sometimes, I make 2 plans for 2 different parks for a day. Now that I have a laptop, I take it with us. I can make a new plan at the resort of I find I need to. I have only ever used the installed Windows program, not the new (since I last bought anyway) Web based application that you can also access via smartphone/tablet with data connectivity. The program that you can install is VERY robust.

 

[Danny K]

RideMax is very detailed, down to the minute. If you plug in your desired rides & shows & you're trying to do more than it's possible to do in the allotted time, it will tell you that. You can select which showing of a show or parade you want to see. You can include your meal breaks. (I plan 60 minutes for CS & 90 for TS.) RideMax won't let you make your touring plan until about 60 days in advance due to WDW entertainment schedules being rather fluid. I always start at the 2 month mark & make a rough plan. Then, the night before we leave I make more finalized plans. Sometimes, I make 2 plans for 2 different parks for a day. Now that I have a laptop, I take it with us. I can make a new plan at the resort of I find I need to. I have only ever used the installed Windows program, not the new (since I last bought anyway) Web based application that you can also access via smartphone/tablet with data connectivity. The program that you can install is VERY robust.

Thats, exactly what I scheduled. CS for 60 min, and TS for 90 min.

 

[FigmentFan1975]

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

I just wanted to add that overall, I think your plan is doable. You will have to make some adjustments here and there, but with kids that age, you don't need breaks. We've been there in August, usually the second week, and the first year we went our kids were ages 6 and 4. (then we went 2 more years in a row, same week, after that)... We never went back to our hotel for breaks. Even with young kids, they were fine. We relaxed during meals, some shows and rides, and occasional snack breaks for ice cream or while waiting for a show or parade, etc. I could elaborate, but my point is that even with much younger kids, even in the heat, etc., we were fine and enjoyed a quick pace. We hit the parks at rope drop, usually for extra magic hour mornings, and stayed a few times until closing, with some days leaving earlier (after dinner) to relax at the resort. But still, all long days... Your kids are much older and I agree, if you think they can handle that pace, they should be fine. We made good use of fastpasses and usually we did ride some headliner attractions more than once if we wanted to. Soarin, at least twice, Test track, 2 or 3 times, Thunder Mountain, 2 times, Mission Space twice, Star Tours several times, etc. And I would say we saw almost all the other attractions in each park as well (a few we skipped if not interested). We usually spent 2 days at MK, EP, and 1 1/2 days at HS, and 1 day at AK. So, take some advice that you do need to keep your schedule flexible and there will be unexpected things, but overall, I think you have a doable plan. We are also at Disney to do the parks/rides, not to spend a lot of time relaxing...
Our kids's actually somewhat liked Stitch's Great Escape - they thought it was funny and we felt it was good to experience at least once per trip. It could be scary for young kids, but even at 6 and 4, our kids were entertained by it, its more like a show than a ride, but its in the dark and you sit with a ride harness on that is part of the effects during the show...
Soarin is in a congested building, so it does take a while, but if you head right there first thing, I would say we've rode it and be out of the building in 20-30 minutes easily, probably quicker than that. We grab a fastpass when we are done riding standby and then come back later.
Have a great time!!

 

[Kalea]

It's very, very hard to stick to a plan this detailed unless you have extensive personal experience with the location & activities.

My husband and I just got back from 10 days in Italy. We had never before been there. I had every day planned out--morning stuff, afternoon stuff, lunch plans, and dinner (reservations in most cases). Planning helped me organize activities in my head, but we ultimately did not stick to the plan 100%.

Things happen, right? Restaurants close. Buses get full. It rains.

For me, I got to the point where it was STRESSING me out to try and follow my plan all the way. By Day 3 of our trip, I started using the plan more as an outline.. or as an idea that we could follow or not.

So I think having a plan--even one as detailed as yours--is great. But once you're there, I hope you will adjust as needed without letting it get to you.

 

[tracey1302]

Take into account how long it may take you to go back and forth to rides to get these Fastpasses. You also may have to queue for BOG for lunch.

I also think you'll find your kids will tire out about 2/3 way through these plans.

Oh and don't bother with Maelstrom - it's rubbish

 

[goofyintoronto]

It's very, very hard to stick to a plan this detailed unless you have extensive personal experience with the location & activities.

My husband and I just got back from 10 days in Italy. We had never before been there. I had every day planned out--morning stuff, afternoon stuff, lunch plans, and dinner (reservations in most cases). Planning helped me organize activities in my head, but we ultimately did not stick to the plan 100%.

Things happen, right? Restaurants close. Buses get full. It rains.

For me, I got to the point where it was STRESSING me out to try and follow my plan all the way. By Day 3 of our trip, I started using the plan more as an outline.. or as an idea that we could follow or not.

So I think having a plan--even one as detailed as yours--is great. But once you're there, I hope you will adjust as needed without letting it get to you.

I agree. I honestly think your schedule is far too detailed. You'll suck the fun right out of the vacation. I tried to follow a schedule (our very first trip), but it didnt work out well because I noticed my son was getting more and more irritated. So I ditched the schedule. Best thing I ever did! We have so much more fun when we wing it.

Using it as a guideline will work. But there's no way you'd be able to fully follow the schedule because things happen...rain....bus delays...crowds...kids might be tired.

Also looking at the rides you listed and taking into account the age of your two boys, your kids might not even be up to doing some of the rides twice/get a fastpass, like Barnstormer.

 

[Danny K]

I just wanted to add that overall, I think your plan is doable. You will have to make some adjustments here and there, but with kids that age, you don't need breaks. We've been there in August, usually the second week, and the first year we went our kids were ages 6 and 4. (then we went 2 more years in a row, same week, after that)... We never went back to our hotel for breaks. Even with young kids, they were fine. We relaxed during meals, some shows and rides, and occasional snack breaks for ice cream or while waiting for a show or parade, etc. I could elaborate, but my point is that even with much younger kids, even in the heat, etc., we were fine and enjoyed a quick pace. We hit the parks at rope drop, usually for extra magic hour mornings, and stayed a few times until closing, with some days leaving earlier (after dinner) to relax at the resort. But still, all long days... Your kids are much older and I agree, if you think they can handle that pace, they should be fine. We made good use of fastpasses and usually we did ride some headliner attractions more than once if we wanted to. Soarin, at least twice, Test track, 2 or 3 times, Thunder Mountain, 2 times, Mission Space twice, Star Tours several times, etc. And I would say we saw almost all the other attractions in each park as well (a few we skipped if not interested). We usually spent 2 days at MK, EP, and 1 1/2 days at HS, and 1 day at AK. So, take some advice that you do need to keep your schedule flexible and there will be unexpected things, but overall, I think you have a doable plan. We are also at Disney to do the parks/rides, not to spend a lot of time relaxing...
Our kids's actually somewhat liked Stitch's Great Escape - they thought it was funny and we felt it was good to experience at least once per trip. It could be scary for young kids, but even at 6 and 4, our kids were entertained by it, its more like a show than a ride, but its in the dark and you sit with a ride harness on that is part of the effects during the show...
Soarin is in a congested building, so it does take a while, but if you head right there first thing, I would say we've rode it and be out of the building in 20-30 minutes easily, probably quicker than that. We grab a fastpass when we are done riding standby and then come back later.
Have a great time!!

Thanks, I have actually changed the plan a little, to avoid waits, and be there earlier for shows and parades but not that much. I think we will like stich's great escape to.

 

[ferret42]

Just came across this in my saved threads, wonder how it's working out...