Itinerary help/advice needed!!

[emksmama]

I am trying to pin down our park days before making my ADR's on April 23, and need some advice. This is only our second trip as an adult, and our previous family trip in July 2012 was with my parents and sister, included hoppers, and no ADR's. We had one TS that trip, lunch at Yak and Yeti in AK, and really enjoyed it. We did Monday at MK, Tuesday at AK and MK, rest day Wednesday, Epcot on Thursday and MK on Friday til about 5pm.

This time around it's just the four of us: me, DH, and our two DD's who will be 10 & 11. They don't know we are going, and hopefully won't figure it out until Monday morning. We've started talking about taking a fall break trip to Gulf Shores or Myrtle Beach, but that's all they will know.

Here's my thoughts so far...we are driving from north central Indiana, planning to leave Sunday morning and drive to southern GA that day, leaving us about 4-6 hours to go on Monday.

Current plan:
Monday: Epcot, no ADR, just a QS meal
Tuesday: MK all day, including MNSSHP that night (costumes all day? leave MK mid afternoon to go back to Pop and change?), hoping for a BOG lunch FP
Wednesday: HS all day, lunch at 50s Prime Time, then would like to catch Fantasmic! that night
Thursday: Epcot all day, Akershus breakfast, QS & snacks later
Friday: MK until DH says we have to leave to hit the road, Chef Mickey's for breakfast?

But then I started thinking that maybe I should plan on HS on Monday since they have the PM EMH, and then that would fulfill our HS visit this trip. We are OK with skipping AK since we did it last time and didn't visit HS. So then I thought of this itinerary:
Monday: HS with 50s Prime Time ADR, Fantasmic!, EMH PM
Tuesday: Epcot until mid afternoon with Akershus breakfast, go back to Pop and change, then MK for MNSSHP
Wednesday: Epcot?
Thursday: MK all day
Friday: MK

MK is our favorite park, Epcot a close second. Last time we barely touched the World Showcase, and would love to spend more time exploring everything and catching more shows. I don't plan to take in much of the F&W because of the girls.

For our ADR's, there are several I'd love to do but until I figure out which park on which day, I feel like I can't decide on my ADR's.

Epcot: Akershus breakfast for sure, possibly Garden Grill (Chip n Dale for DH) for dinner?
I'd like to do two breakfast buffets...Akershus on our Epcot day, and then can't decide between Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace. Is CP good for dinner? That's also a possibility...do Chef Mickey's on Friday morning, and CP for dinner on Thursday.
HS: I definitely want to do 50s Primetime Cafe.

I also have read and heard good things about Whispering Canyon, but not sure if that's too similar to 50s PTC?

Right now we have the DDP and are staying at Pop...if FD comes out, I plan to move our resort to Coronado Springs to keep our DDP and because DH really wants to stay at CS. Our previous trip we stayed at Shades of Green with my parents.

GAH...I feel like I'm going crazy. DH is no help, he just said he wants to do MNSSHP and everything else he's OK with whatever I pick. HELP!!

 

[serene56]

me. I like a tuesday party night but I do not go to the parks. Any park that say until party time at 4pm. I use it for a sleep in. Resting relaxing and swimming
This will also allow a late night the day before at studios
I ike epcot the next day after party with a late arrival
which allows the late night of the party

 

[ameliahyde]

This seems like a very busy schedule. I agree with taking it easy during the day of the Halloween party. That way you won't have to worry about being tired for the party, and can enjoy a later night at HS the day before. Staying late at the party is great if the energy is there. We stayed late when we attended, and were able to trick of treat a ton and ride a bunch of rides without any waits.

As for Chef Mickeys v. Crystal palace, I really like them both but preference is CM. However, if you to possibly leave early that day and want to be in MK, then CP might be better. The character meets are very different, so you may want to take that into account, whether your kiddos would prefer to meet the pooh characters or the "fab five" at CM.

 

[harbin]

I would highly recommend you do Fantasmic dining package at HS. I guarantees you a great seat for Fantasmic without having to waste time being there an hour early. Unfortunately 50's isn't one of the restaurant options for this however.

 

[emksmama]

Thanks for the advice...we hadn't planned on a rest day this time, and have 5 day tickets already in our package, planning to be in the parks M-F. That was before we decided to do the party, but I still think I'd like to shoot for being in the parks all five days.

me. I like a tuesday party night but I do not go to the parks. Any park that say until party time at 4pm. I use it for a sleep in. Resting relaxing and swimming
This will also allow a late night the day before at studios
I ike epcot the next day after party with a late arrival
which allows the late night of the party

Hadn't thought of two late nights in a row (Monday at HS and Tuesday at the party)....might not equal a fun early ADR at Akershus on Wednesday. My younger DD loves her sleep, so I don't know that we'd be out til 11 or later. But I could shoot for a brunch ADR on Wednesday....

This seems like a very busy schedule. I agree with taking it easy during the day of the Halloween party. That way you won't have to worry about being tired for the party, and can enjoy a later night at HS the day before. Staying late at the party is great if the energy is there. We stayed late when we attended, and were able to trick of treat a ton and ride a bunch of rides without any waits.

As for Chef Mickeys v. Crystal palace, I really like them both but preference is CM. However, if you to possibly leave early that day and want to be in MK, then CP might be better. The character meets are very different, so you may want to take that into account, whether your kiddos would prefer to meet the pooh characters or the "fab five" at CM.

As long as they get to meet the princesses, they are OK. The Pooh meet n greet would be totally for ME. :lol: I love the idea of being in the park early on Friday, so I'm really hoping for a CP ADR.

I would highly recommend you do Fantasmic dining package at HS. I guarantees you a great seat for Fantasmic without having to waste time being there an hour early. Unfortunately 50's isn't one of the restaurant options for this however.

Is Fantasmic indoors? Since we skipped HS in 2012, I don't know much about it. We did get to see Wishes and IllumiNations that year. I think Mama Melrose is a dining option for F!, and that was also on my short list of 'would like to try' restaurants.

back to the drawing board. I'm on spring break this week and would love to have my plans set before going back to school on Monday!

 

[ameliahyde]

Perhaps you could go for an 8am ADR at CP. even if your kiddos are a little tired, it won't be so bad since you are heading back home that day and they can snooze in the car. I guess the question is if you and your hubby can keep up! Lol!