Is this dining schedule possible and still enjoy parks?

[hopefan12]

We will be coming for the first time Dec 10-16, 2012. Husband 54, me 42, and 2 year old grandaughter. We will have our own car and staying at POP Century. She has always been good out to eat, but not sure with added excitement. She has also NOT been taking alot of naps lately. I have these ADR's booked along with our park for the day. We are excited about trying different rest., seeing different resorts, and just looking around each park. We want to ride some rides, but not our main focus. (may change when we see it-don't know). This is more of a scoping it out vacation for next year's vacation. Will we have enough time to still enjoy the parks? We have No hoppers or waterpark and more passes. Thank you for any help or advice you may have:

Mon MK park hours (9am-11pm includes EMH) arrive around noon 7:20p.m. Crystal Palace

Tues Ak park hours (9-5) flame tree bbq for lunch, 5:00p.m. Boma 7:00p.m.-midnight we have MVMCP at MK

Wed Epcot Park hours (9am-9:30p.m.) 8:25am Princess breakfast at Akershus, 2:30 T-Rex DTD, Coral Reef 8:15pm

Thurs HS park hours (9am-8pm) Cape May 8:00a.m., 12:20p.m. Mama Melrose's (w/fantasmic pkg), fantasmic 6:30p.m., and House of Blues DTD at 8:15p.m.

Fri MK park hours (9am-7pm) 7:35am Chef Mickeys, 12:35p.m. Liberty Tree Tavern, Cape May 6:40p.m. and walk around Boardwalk after and then hit Water Parade at one of MK resorts

Sat Epcot park hours (9am-9:30p.m.) 8:45a.m. Breakfast at Whispering Canyon, 3:15p.m. Harvest Garden Grill w/ Candlelight Pro. pkg. 6:45p.m. CP and Illumin.

Sun MK 9:20a.m. Ohana breakfast and few more hours at MK

 

[ses1230]

Wow that is a jam-packed schedule and, imo, too much for a two year old.

The thing that stands out most is a full day in AK-MVMCP-8:25 breakfast the next day. For my kids a hard ticket party night requires a long afternoon break or a day of relaxing before the party.

Also, with a 5pm dinner reservation not at MK the day of the party, you won't be getting to the park until 7 or later. Your party ticket alone will let you into MK at 4pm and if you want the special party photo ops, you should be in line before 7. On a party day we usually do TS for bfast or lunch, rest in the afternoon and get back to the park around 4. For us that is plenty of time for a CS dinner, do some rides and line up around 6.

Will the little one want to spend 60-90 minutes or longer in a restauarnt 3 times a day plus all the travel time? Sorry, it looks like you have some great choices though! Maybe thin it out a little?

 

[hopefan12]

Thanks so much ses1230 for your response. I had a gut feeling it was too much, but I am so excited and couldn't decide what to cut. I will scale back some. I didn't know anything about special party photo ops so thanks for telling me. Any suggestions on what you would definately keep?

 

[usd2bmd]

You said this is your first trip and a scoping out trip for the following vacation...but I am willing to bet that all that driving (from park to restaurant back to park) is going to get on eeryones nerves, Plus having never been there you will want to stay and soak up as much as possible. Plus your granddaughter (IMO) will be a hard sell to convince her to leave the park. I would try to focus on the parks this trip...if you are going back the next year you can explore more then. It just seems that you will be spending an awful lot of time in a restaurant when your granddaughter may just want to be out in the park. If you can I would maybe try to scale back all of the dining.

Just my opinion...Have a magical time.

 

[jlk806]

As a mom of a 3 year old that is definitely too much for a 2 year old. Too long of days, and too many restaurants some days.

Is your granddaughter an early riser? I wouldnt plan dinners late in the evening if so (other than just planning to eat a quick service meal), she is likely to get cranky especially if she didnt take a nap.

Are you on the dining plan? With a child that young, I would plan a few meals you know you want to do, and kind of play it by ear the rest of the way. We did the Deluxe plan for the first half of our trip last year and and ended up using many more credits on counter service than we had planned, because we realized our-just-turned-3 son wasnt going to sit through 2 lengthy table service meals in a day, and with him it ended up just being easier to just grab him something when he was hungry, which was rarely at the exact times of all of our ADRs. Even though we always visit during free dining, we have never had a hard time getting a same-day ADR if we needed to change our plans (though had to be flexible as to where we would eat and couldnt expect to get any of the most popular restaurants, though they do pop up from time to time). Take the meals you know you want that are the most popular and book in advance but be flexible.

 

[catne]

We will be coming for the first time Dec 10-16, 2012. Husband 54, me 42, and 2 year old grandaughter. We will have our own car and staying at POP Century. She has always been good out to eat, but not sure with added excitement. She has also NOT been taking alot of naps lately. I have these ADR's booked along with our park for the day. We are excited about trying different rest., seeing different resorts, and just looking around each park. We want to ride some rides, but not our main focus. (may change when we see it-don't know). This is more of a scoping it out vacation for next year's vacation. Will we have enough time to still enjoy the parks? We have No hoppers or waterpark and more passes. Thank you for any help or advice you may have:

Mon MK park hours (9am-11pm includes EMH) arrive around noon 7:20p.m. Crystal Palace This will work if that's not too late for your child to eat? And you probably will get seated later than your ADR time, they're usually backed up on seatings by 7:00 PM.

Tues Ak park hours (9-5) flame tree bbq for lunch, 5:00p.m. Boma 7:00p.m.-midnight we have MVMCP at MK Would skip the Boma buffet due to time constraints...by the time you finish, drive to the parking area of MK and get over on the ferry or monorail you would barely get to the park in time for the beginning of the party you paid big bucks for. I would just go to the MK, have a counter service meal there at MK for dinner (or go to The Plaza for a sit-down but not time-consuming meal.) You can get in the park anytime after 4:00 PM with your party tickets. If you eat in the MK at 5:00, then you'll have plenty of time to get where you want to be at the beginning of the party.

Wed Epcot Park hours (9am-9:30p.m.) 8:25am Princess breakfast at Akershus, 2:30 T-Rex DTD, Coral Reef 8:15pm NO WAY. Way too much time going back & forth. Skip T-Rex & DTD...way too time consuming in the middle of the day if you're going back to Epcot for the evening anyway. If you're not taking a break back at your hotel, just stay at Epcot and eat lunch somewhere there like World Showcase places...Biergarten is fun for little one...they can dance with the Oompah Band (or you could leave Epcot, and wander over to one of the Epcot hotels for lunch if you want a park break...you can leave via the International Gateway exit over between Britain & France...and you can come back in that way too.)

Thurs HS park hours (9am-8pm) Cape May 8:00a.m., 12:20p.m. Mama Melrose's (w/fantasmic pkg), fantasmic 6:30p.m., and House of Blues DTD at 8:15p.m. Again, way too much for one day.that's a very long day. You'll be going from like 6:30 AM on to make that schedule. And frankly, if you're eating a buffet breakfast at 8, you won't finish until about 9:00...you will not be hungry for a 3 course meal at Mama Melrose just 3 1/2 hours later. If you want to keep the Fantasmic Package, I'd skip the breakast buffet and just have a light breakfast at the hotel before going to the park. That would make the long day a bit shorter, too, since you wouldn't have to get up early to get over to Cape May. I'd say it's way too long of a day with a 2 yr. old...and House of Blues is a very loud place to take a tired 2 yr old to. I'd just go back to the hotel & swim or something after Fantasmic.

Fri MK park hours (9am-7pm) 7:35am Chef Mickeys, 12:35p.m. Liberty Tree Tavern, Cape May 6:40p.m. and walk around Boardwalk after and then hit Water Parade at one of MK resorts Again, way too much for one day. You'll be up at 6:30 to make that Chef Mickey's...then at MK all day. Then over to Epcot resorts for dinner, and then going to a MK resort for the water parade? That's a lot of driving, parking, driving, parking, etc. If you want to see the water parades, I'd get a dinner reservation at MK resort...The Wave at the Contemporary, Kona Cafe at Polyesian or Grand Floridian Cafe are all good places. And you'd already be there at a MK resort for the water parade.

Sat Epcot park hours (9am-9:30p.m.) 8:45a.m. Breakfast at Whispering Canyon, 3:15p.m. Harvest Garden Grill w/ Candlelight Pro. pkg. 6:45p.m. CP and Illumin. That schedule looks do-able.

Sun MK 9:20a.m. Ohana breakfast and few more hours at MK

The 'ohana breakfast is do-able, but you will be getting to the park a bit late in the morning to ride...there will be long lines on the kiddie rides by 11:00 on weekend day.



Frankly, even when we're a party of all adults we never schedule 3 reservations in one day...and not here, there, and everywhere. If we're doing 2 reservations, it would be one in a park we're at that day, and the other at our hotel or DTD in the evening when we're not going to a park. Or 2 in the same park/hotel area (like on a Magic Kingdom day, we'd do one reservation at Crystal Palace, and one at Polynesian Hotel, so we can take a boat or monorail to the POlynesian, and then back to MK for the fireworks.)

We have been there many, many times...and can tell you many people greatly underestimate how long it takes to get around Disney World...it's huge. And the parking lots are huge. It could take you an hour to get from your hotel room, to your car, drive to Transportation & Ticket center, get the tram to the monorail/ferry area, wait for one of those, get to the Magic Kingdom, go through bag check & the ticket turnstyles. Similar times going everywhere else. Downtown Disney in the evening can take you 20 minutes just to find a parking space! And the Disney bus transportation is no better, time-wise. Hope that helps.

 

[POOHsie]

We will be coming for the first time Dec 10-16, 2012. Husband 54, me 42, and 2 year old grandaughter. We will have our own car and staying at POP Century. She has always been good out to eat, but not sure with added excitement. She has also NOT been taking alot of naps lately. I have these ADR's booked along with our park for the day. We are excited about trying different rest., seeing different resorts, and just looking around each park. We want to ride some rides, but not our main focus. (may change when we see it-don't know). This is more of a scoping it out vacation for next year's vacation. Will we have enough time to still enjoy the parks? We have No hoppers or waterpark and more passes. Thank you for any help or advice you may have.

Central Florida is hot and humid, even in December. You'll be surprised how much the heat and humidity will affect you (negatively), since the WDW experience is mostly about walking around outdoors. Remembering back to when my DD was 2, too much restraint caused her to rebel. Like, she didn't want to walk any more, or she didn't want to sit anymore. Your DGD could erupt midway thru a park or midway thru a sit-down meal.

Mon MK (9am-11pm includes EMH) - Arrive around noon 7:20p.m. Crystal Palace
This sounds OK.

Tues AK (9-5) - Flame tree bbq for lunch, 5:00p.m. Boma 7:00p.m.-midnight we have MVMCP at MK
I would skip Boma. Go back to resort for rest/light meal. Then over to MK for MVMCP at 4pm. Eat at Plaza Restaurant (TS) or Columbia Harbor House (CS). Get in line for character meets/photos. Get to MVMCP early, leave early so DGD can get some rest for early Bkfst next day.

Wed Epcot (9am-9:30p.m.) - 8:25am Princess breakfast at Akershus, 2:30 T-Rex DTD, Coral Reef 8:15pm
You'll have DGD at Epcot from 8am to 9pm. And DTD in the middle of the day? No Way! Go back to Resort mid-day. Light lunch at Resort. Return to Epcot for Dinner.

Thurs HS (9am-8pm) - Cape May 8:00a.m., 12:20p.m. Mama Melrose's (w/fantasmic pkg), fantasmic 6:30p.m., and House of Blues DTD at 8:15p.m.
I would skip the breakfast. Get to DHS and eat something light. I would move your Friday Cape May dinner to this day, and cancel HOB. Take the boat from DHS to Beach Club. After Cape May, walk the Boardwalk, then home. DGD has early Bkfst next day.

Fri MK (9am-7pm) - 7:35am Chef Mickeys, 12:35p.m. Liberty Tree Tavern, Cape May 6:40p.m. and walk around Boardwalk after and then hit Water Parade at one of MK resorts.
Skip LTT for lunch. Pick a CS place. Return to Resort for rest. Bus to DTD and dinner at HOB. Or WPE or EoS are great places on the east side, no long hike to west side. There are boats at DTD to take you from east side to west side, so you could skip the long walk.

Sat Epcot (9am-9:30p.m.) - 8:45a.m. Breakfast at Whispering Canyon, 3:15p.m. Harvest Garden Grill w/ Candlelight Pro. pkg. 6:45p.m. CP and Illumin.
Move the breakfast to 10-ish. Let DGD relax/sleep in.

Sun MK - 9:20a.m. Ohana breakfast and few more hours at MK
Good conclusion to your trip.

I have it so you miss the Electric Water Parade. It's hokey, and since you're going next year, it'll wait. I wouldn't go out of the way to see it this trip.

 

[LilyWDW]

Other people have broken it down really well OP, but I did want to mention that I think you are trying to do way too much. Heck, I don't travel with kids and just reading that schedule made me want to curl up for a nap or two! I know that you want to do as much as you can, but it is better to miss a few things and be happy with your trip.

 

[patsal]

We will be coming for the first time Dec 10-16, 2012. Husband 54, me 42, and 2 year old grandaughter. We will have our own car and staying at POP Century. She has always been good out to eat, but not sure with added excitement. She has also NOT been taking alot of naps lately. I have these ADR's booked along with our park for the day. We are excited about trying different rest., seeing different resorts, and just looking around each park. We want to ride some rides, but not our main focus. (may change when we see it-don't know). This is more of a scoping it out vacation for next year's vacation. Will we have enough time to still enjoy the parks? We have No hoppers or waterpark and more passes. Thank you for any help or advice you may have:

Mon MK park hours (9am-11pm includes EMH) arrive around noon 7:20p.m. Crystal Palace

Tues Ak park hours (9-5) flame tree bbq for lunch, 5:00p.m. Boma 7:00p.m.-midnight we have MVMCP at MK

Wed Epcot Park hours (9am-9:30p.m.) 8:25am Princess breakfast at Akershus, 2:30 T-Rex DTD, Coral Reef 8:15pm

Thurs HS park hours (9am-8pm) Cape May 8:00a.m., 12:20p.m. Mama Melrose's (w/fantasmic pkg), fantasmic 6:30p.m., and House of Blues DTD at 8:15p.m.

Fri MK park hours (9am-7pm) 7:35am Chef Mickeys, 12:35p.m. Liberty Tree Tavern, Cape May 6:40p.m. and walk around Boardwalk after and then hit Water Parade at one of MK resorts

Sat Epcot park hours (9am-9:30p.m.) 8:45a.m. Breakfast at Whispering Canyon, 3:15p.m. Harvest Garden Grill w/ Candlelight Pro. pkg. 6:45p.m. CP and Illumin.

Sun MK 9:20a.m. Ohana breakfast and few more hours at MK

Monday seems fine

Tuesday skip Boma and see if you can make a reservation for MK for dinner around 4:30 pm You can get into the park with your party ticket at 4pm. If you get to AK early you can go back to your room and rest a bit before heading to the party.

Wednesday I would just plan on staying at Epcot. I would not leave mid day to drive to DTD park and eat then return to Epcot and do the same thing.

Thursday I would drop the House of Blues and just plan on staying at HS

Friday Way too much time spent on meals, again I would skip the Cape May Dinner and opt to stay at MK for the day then do a MK resort for dinner to watch the water parade. You will not get a meal at Cape May, hang time at Boardwalk and get settled to watch the water parade in that time frame especially if you have never been. Even with a car plan on your rides, parking, getting from parking lots to destination to be at least 30 to 40 minutes.

Saturday looks good
Sunday also looks fine

Be sure the stroller you are going to use with your GD reclines so she can take quick cat naps as needed. You have a very ambitious plan. Things are more spread out than your plans accomadate for so be prepared.

If you are using the dining plan I would drop deluxe and go with regular. Three sit down meals will require a minimum of 6 hours of your day between travel time, check in, wait, dining and final bill-- a bit more if travel after the meal is required to get you somewhere else.

 

[hopefan12]

Thank you everyone for all the great ideas. I always plan big for vacations and then by day 3, I don't want to get out of bed early or I am wanting to just nap in the afternoon. Thanks for reminding me my eyes are bigger than my energy level especially with having Gabi with us too.

 

[POOHsie]

Thank you everyone for all the great ideas. I always plan big for vacations and then by day 3, I don't want to get out of bed early or I am wanting to just nap in the afternoon. Thanks for reminding me my eyes are bigger than my energy level especially with having Gabi with us too.

You can't imagine the intensity of the Florida Sun. Your skin seems like meat sizzling in a fry pan. You sweat everywhere, not just the usual places.

You mentioned that you hadn't been to WDW before. If you know anything about NYC, you know you wouldn't traipse from north to south to east to west. It's just too vast. If I told you that WDW property is just about twice the size of Manhattan, would that be meaningful?

Hope you guys have a wonderful time. WDW is my favorite place on Planet Earth.

 

[vinotinto]

What is her normal bedtime? And when does she normally wake-up? I see some early mornings (7:30 am @ Chef Mickey's; 8:25 at Akershus, which means you need to be at Epcot's entrance around 8 am) and lots of late nights (MVMCP, water parade at MK, Illuminations, lots of ADRs after 8 pm). I see lots of moving from one place to the other. We always have a car, and I can tell you that even without waiting for the buses, there's a lot of time involved in walking to the parking lot, getting child into car seat, driving to the other park/resort/area, parking again, rinse and repeat.

I think most of the comments prior have been quite polite. I would scrap 75% of that schedule. I would choose one park per day, with one ADR per day. I would schedule the day so that if the 2-year old is a late sleeper in the AM to assume that will be the case on vacation or if she goes to bed early that she will go to bed at approximately that time on vacation. I would also assume that she will need a nap (which she may be able to take nicely in the stroller) even if she has been having difficulties with nap at home.

 

[Bonnie151]

I like POOHsie's plan but would skip the breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's not that special and only worth it if staying at WL. It's a long way to go for breakfast and then over to Epcot.

 

[Tinetine]

What I would reccomend is to leave the middle of the day open, that way if the baby is feeling sleepy or cranky, you can leave for a break at the hotel, and not feel that you have to rush to run to a reservation. So maybe a couple of breakfast reservations, pretty early so that by noon you can then choose to either eat in the park and then leave for a pool break and to get out of the sun , or to eat lunch at your hotel. you can then get back to the park after everyone is rested.
We went in June, and after 3 hours in the parks, even with the strollers, and daughters had had enough and were ready to go back to rest in our room.

 

[DJFan88]

Just adding in with everyone else. Way too much,too late, too much eating time. Listen to the others, they are wise. We are an active family of 4 with my kids, 12 and 9 and no way would I go that busy crazy.

Skipping Boma, great idea.
Skip T-Rex or Coral Reef. Either push T-Rex to later or move Coral Reef up earlier.
House of Blues too late and unnecessary. Day will be done before that. IMO Mama Melrose is too soon after Cape May.
Way too much and everything too far apart on the next day. CM looks great. Would push LTT a little later and go with the flow for the rest of the day. MK is great for 2 yr. olds. Maybe a nice cupcake on the way out at an earlier time and not worry about Boardwalk and Cape May. Grab a hot dog at Casey's if needed. Mk is super stimulating.

Have fun! Remember with kids it will never go as planned. They just can't go straight out. This place is super stimulating and they can get cranky/tired easy.