Itinerary Suggestions Welcomed

[michygoomy]

Inspired by the 'other' itinerary thread, I've published mine to the web too if anyone is interested in looking at it. It's here: http://home.ma.rr.com/michshome/disney world iternary.htm.

The 'itinerary overview' page is the best one to look at. The daily pages haven't been really fleshed out completely yet, and won't be until I finalize the overview. The 'park schedule' page has the schedule for 8/13-8/20 if anyone wants to steal it.

Other items of note:
1.) We have very little interest in sitting in restaurants for sit-down meals during our trip, so we only have one PS for the entire week.
2.) Breakfasts will be in the room with stuff we bring or buy at our grocery store stop.
3.) We've been to the four theme parks in previous trips but never to TL and BB. Also, we're water park fiends at the ones near our home. That is why have a good concentration of those two parks.
4.) Since M:S opens 8/15, I have us avoiding it for the first couple of days to stay away from the die-hards lining up for it, though we defintely want to hit it during the trip.

Thanks for taking the time to look at it and I look forward to any criticism/suggestions. Thanks!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there... what are you doing with MK & the GF on Aug 18?

get breakfast 7:30 AM
leave hotel for MK 8:30 AM
arrive MK 9:00 AM
leave MK for Grand Floridian (boat) 9:00 AM
arrive Grand Floridian 9:15 AM
leave Grand Floridian for MK 10:00 AM
arrive MK 10:15 AM
leave MK for Grand Floridian (boat) 11:45 AM
leave Grand Floridian for MK 12:00 PM
arrive MK 12:15 PM
leave MK for hotel 12:15 PM
arrive hotel 12:45 PM
rest, relax lunch at hotel
leave hotel for MGM 3:30 PM
arrive MGM 4:00 PM
MGM parade 5:00 PM
line up for Fantasmic 7:30 PM dinner at MGM
Fantasmic 8:30 PM
leave MGM for hotel 10:00 PM
arrive hotel 10:30 PM

The itinerary looks good ~ have fun

>>^..^<<

 

[geffric]

Your itinerary is is very full.. and looks like you will have lots of fun... with a lot os running around to various places.

 

[michygoomy]

Oops! The 18th was supposed to be the Pirate cruise, but they're all booked up. Disappointing to DS--but simplified Mommy's itinerary!

So that day is much simpler now......but has yet to be updated.

 

[epcotfan]

get breakfast 7:00 AM
breakfast, finish packing 7:00 AM
leave hotel for Epcot 8:00 AM
arrive at Epcot 8:30 AM
leave Epcot for hotel 10:14 PM
leave hotel for airport 11:00 PM

flight 12:20



You might want to add some more time in getting to the airport. It can take a good 30-40 minutes depending on the traffic/road conditions. That is really cutting it close for check in and/or security checks. If there is any small delay you could be late for your flight.

 

[michygoomy]

OK, epcotfan. My new plan is to skip the parks entirely now on checkout day and just getting to the airport. I really wanted that last hurrah, but it doesn't sound feasible.

I *should've* booked a later flight--but I was just so happy with the fare I got and the direct flights!!! ($110)

Thanks for the tip!

 

[XStAnt]

If you;re not doing Epcot on 8/20 you may have difficulty riding M:S and TT at Epcot. Your other Epcot days are all in the afternoon. Lines will be VERY long for them and FPs will probably be long gone. You may wish to do Epcot in the am on 8/19 to give you a chance to get on those rides, and do TL in the pm.

Other than that your itinerary looks pretty good. You don't tell us who's going and the ages. I'd recommend squeezing in one of the shows (Cirque, HDD, Luau). They are fun. You may also want to consider one sit down dinner, perhaps at Epcot. I know you're not the sit-down meal type. But the restaurants are really good and it gives you a chance to rest a bit and try some different food. Since you've been to the parks before and have a lot of time in Epcot you should have time for one more sit down meal. It's just a suggestion.

I'm also curious as to how close you stick to your scheduled times. Please post when you return and let us know.

 

[michygoomy]

Thanks for the suggestions, XStAnt, you are correct--by eliminating Epcot on the day I fly out, I now eliminate an early day at Epcot. That would be a shame because that's my personal favorite.

So, now I'm bumping TL from Tuesday and doing an early day at Epcot.

Traveling with--DH, DS10 and DD7.

And yes, I too will be interested to see how well we stick to the plan and would be glad to share with the board the results! It will be quite interesting to see the before/after--even just to see if we get done as much as we want to.

 

[MzCohen]

I am glad someone suggested that you leave for the airport a little earlier. I unfortuantely missed my flight last week because my Friend had to do some last minute shopping at the resort and I didn't fill the rental car up with gas the night before so I was looking for a place to fill it up on flight day. Got to the airport 10 minutes late but actually 45 minutes before the plane was scheduled to leave. They were nice enough to put us on another flight to Chicago and then to Allentown. Oh well that was fine with me, I was in the mood for a Chicago dog. LOL

By the way...Where in Pa are you located? I am near Wilkes Barre.

 

[michygoomy]

Erie.

Sorry to hear about your mixed-up flights!

 

[XStAnt]

MichyGoomy,

Don't sweat it if you don't stick to the plan. If your family is having fun at one park and wants to stay, then you should stay a little longer. IMO, parents that drag their kids from ride to ride and park to park just to stay on schedule spoil the fun for their kids.

I'm all for planning and trying to do as much as possible. But if someone wants to ride Dumbo 3x and isn't interested in POC, you can't force them.

As long as you realize you probably won't do everything planned you should have a great vacation.

PS I hope you don't take this post in an offensive way. I don't mean to imply you are so rigid that you HAVE TO stick to the plan, or else.

 

[michygoomy]

No, I'm not offended at all. What I'm trying to do is have a good guideline and structure to start--which we can veer from depending on our interests and needs.

I guess my philosophy on this subject can be summed up with this quote:

"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." ... George S. Patton, General

i.e. the very act of planning to this detail is a great exercise--as long as we are not slaves to the plan once we get there. HOWEVER, a completely spontaneous trip will only lead to misery....at least in the depths of summer vacation.