Itinerary Input Needed...please please please

[bumperlove]

Okay I have been working on our itinerary and I would like as much advice as I can get can get (we are going in July and I am nervous about crowds). I have tried to put as much detail as possible so I apologize if it is a bit long....

Mouseketeers: Me (30), DH (30-ish), DD (7 1/2), DS (5)
Notes: Staying at AKL - YEAH! Not taking advantage of EMH at all. Renting strollers for both kids. On DDP with Breakfast in the room. Using TGM and RideMax

Day 1: Tuesday, July 11th: Arrival
Arrive: Fly into Orlando at 10am - ME to AKL
Lunch: Mara
Dinner: Boma @ 5:00pm
Plan: Check-in, have lunch and stay around the pool and hang...maybe a nap if we need one. Then grab some dinner and hit MGM for basically a Fantasmic only night. -
MGM Attractions Plan: Fantasmic 9pm or 10:30pm- if time, Star Tours and Muppets 3D

Day 2: Wed, July 12th: Epcot and Magic Kingdom
Lunch : Sunshine Seasons
Dinner: Crystal Palace @4:50pm
Plan: Epcot in AM back to resort for a nap and then off to MK for the night - Not seeing Wishes this night.
EP Attractions Plan: Soarin', Test Track, Living with the Land, Journey Into Imagination and if time Spaceship Earth and Circle of Life
MK Attractions Plan: Buzz Lightyear (twice if possible), Peter Pan, TTA, Indy Speedway, Jungle Cruise, Mickey's Philharmagic, and if time Aladdin's Magic Carpet, SpectroMagic, and Pirates of Caribbean

Day 3: Thurs, July 13th : Late morning to MGM and DTD
Lunch: Sci-Fi Dine-In @ 11:40am
Dinner: Rainforest Café @ 7:00pm
Plan: Late morning in MGM and then mid day rest and heading to DTD in PM
MGM Attractions Plan: Backlot Tour, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Auto Stunt Show and if time Beauty and the Beast or Indy Stunt Show

Day 4: Fri, July 14th : AK and EP
Lunch: Tusker House
Dinner: San Angel Inn @ 5pm
Plan: AK in the morning back to the hotel for a rest and then off to Epcot for some fun and Illuminations.
AK Attractions Plan: Exhibition Everest, Kali River Adventure, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Wildlife Express (no Conservation Station though just the train ride there and back), Discovery Island Trails and, if possible with time and bravery, Dinosaur
EP Attractions Plan: Illuminations, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Maelstom, American Adventure, El Rio del Tiempo and if time Test Track...again

Day 5: Sat, July 15th : MK / MK
Lunch: Cosmic Rays
Dinner Ohana’s @ 5:15pm
Plan: MK during the day, back to the resort for a rest and then MK for the night and some Wishes!
MK Attractions Plan: Wishes! Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain (hopefully all three mountains will be ridden more than once), Buzz Lightyear, Pirates of Caribbean, Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, Mad Tea Party, Country Bear Jamboree, WDW Railroad, if time Cinderellabration, Tiki Room, Haunted Mansion, and Tom Saywer's Island

Day 6: Sun, July 16th : AK and MGM
Lunch: ????
Dinner: Mama Melrose – Fantasmic Dinner Pkg @ 5pm
Plan: AK during the day, back to the resort for a rest and then head to MGM for our last night at WDW.
AK Attractions Plan: Exhibition Everest, Kilmanjaro Safaris, Festival of Lion King,
Pangani Forest Exploration, the Boneyard and Primeval Whirl, and if time Pocahontas and her Forest Friends
MGM Attractions Plan: Indy Stunt Show, Star Tours, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Magic of Disney Animation, and Fantasmic - if time Honey I Shrunk the Kids Play Set

Day 7: Mon, July 17th: Departure
Brunch: Thinking about maybe doing Boma for Brunch but don't know if we have time to do maybe a character breakfast...any thoughts?
Plan: Need to Meet with Magical Express 2-3 Hours before our plane leaves at 2:30pm

All your help and comments are most appreciated! Thanks All!

 

[Deluzy]

Not sure if your plan in the mornings is to get to the parks before opening, but that is my biggest and best advice for touring during the crowded, warm peak season. You most definitely want to be at the parks at least 15 minutes prior to opening and stay until lunch time (I see that you do have naps scheduled from time to time). I would imagine that your kids will really enjoy a mid-day pool break just about every day.

 

[dizcrazee]

It looks like you've done your research and you have a good plan, in my opinion! I noticed that you categorized Spaceship Earth as an "if time" attraction...this is one of my very favorite attractions and I definitely recommend that you see it if at all possible! Your kids will love it too. Speaking of kids, are you going to do a baby swap for RnR Coaster? I'm not so sure about a five year old (or a 7 year old, either) on that ride.

Have great trip!

 

[bumperlove]

Not sure if your plan in the mornings is to get to the parks before opening, but that is my biggest and best advice for touring during the crowded, warm peak season.

Yes we are more certainly are planning on being at the parks prior to opening, especially since we are not going to be taking advantage of EMHs.

I do hope the afternoon breaks help to cool everyone off and keep the crankies away abit.

Thanks!

 

[bumperlove]

It looks like you've done your research and you have a good plan, in my opinion! ....Your kids will love it too. Speaking of kids, are you going to do a baby swap for RnR Coaster? I'm not so sure about a five year old (or a 7 year old, either) on that ride.

Whew...yeah I have done my homework....I think I am addicted to the research. LOL

We are not necessarily skipping Spaceship Earth...its one of my favs but the kids weren't all that thrilled with it, last year. My DH and I both love it, though. I am sure we will fit it in!!!

RnR is basically for me! I am addicted to it. Definitely will be parent swapping fot this...maybe DD7 will want to try but that will be up to her. She is a Space Mountain junkie though.

Thanks!!!

 

[bumperlove]

So if our plane leave at 2:30pm what time will we need to catch ME?

IF we are staying at AKL and have them take our luggage for ME, can we go to another resort for breakfast and get the ME from there??? I am thinking this is a no.

Trying to figure out what we can do the morning of departure? What are your thoughts?

Thanks!!!

 

[mikymouse]

You are going to love staying at AKL, it's beautiful. We also stayed at AKL with a 2:30PM flight and had our ME pickup time at Noon. We did fireworks and late night stuff the night before so we just slept in, bags picked up at 10AM and grab a Mara breakfast and ate by the pool and playground time before we had to catch the bus. If you have a more motivated family you could book a ADR for breakfast no later than 10AM or you could try the breakfast at Boma's which I heard is really great(I wish I would have done that!)
Have fun!

 

[bumperlove]

You are going to love staying at AKL, it's beautiful. We also stayed at AKL with a 2:30PM flight and had our ME pickup time at Noon. We did fireworks and late night stuff the night before so we just slept in, bags picked up at 10AM and grab a Mara breakfast and ate by the pool and playground time before we had to catch the bus. If you have a more motivated family you could book a ADR for breakfast no later than 10AM or you could try the breakfast at Boma's which I heard is really great(I wish I would have done that!)
Have fun!

Thanks!!
My DH and I went to AKL for our honeymoon in 2004 (wonderful children are my step kids). It is my absolute favorite resort!!!!!

I am so looking forward to sharing this with the children....they are going to absolutely LOVE it! They've only been to WDW once (last year) and we stayed in two rooms at POP. And ssshhhhh...they don't even know that we are going to WDW...ssshhhh

Yeah I think that we are probably going to stay around the resort and hang out before going. I don't want to be scampering that morning for the shuttle back. A relaxing pool morning sounds nice....

--Thanks again