Make us the perfect park itinerary

poonchkie

Earning My Ears
Joined
Feb 28, 2003
Messages
57
We will be visiting for 6 days in mid September. It will be mom, dad, 5 yr old daughter (44 inches tall) and 2 yr old son. Both kids are daredevils so they would probably go on everything they are allowed to. Our first day we arrive around noon so we are treating as a throw away day and not visiting any parks. We will purchase 4 day hoppers or hoppers plus (undecided) and will have essentially 5 days to use them. If this matters, the five days in question will be Thursday thru Monday.

I would prefer not to break up the group. However, we would probably do that once or twice as the situation calls for it. My son is still napping during the afternoon but sometimes he skips his nap so we can play that by ear. They both love the water so we expect to spend time at the hotel pool.

Some specifics- We are staying at the Dolphin and we will have a rental car. I know we could do without one, but this family definitely needs one.

We need your expert advice on what parks to visit, when to go to which ones, what time and what days, etc. Any advice would be appreciated, the info on these forums is excellent.
 
Well, I take crack at it. I can only tell you what I would do based on the info you give.

If my first full day was Thurs I would go to MK first. That's a given with young children. It's also an EE day and we take advantage of that. Fantasyland and all the grown up rides we want.

Then I'd got to MGM Friday probably as that's our second favorite park. I'd go there for the shows...Ariel, Belle, Playhouse and for the parents, RnR and ToT. Maybe do Fantasmic this night?

Then Epcot Saturday and then elsewhere later maybe do Fantasmic this night? Test Track, MS, Honey I Shrunk the Audience.

Then maybe MK again Sunday as it's EE again for what you didn't get to or want to do again.

Then AK maybe Monday? I'd only do the Safari and the Lion King show there. It's our least favorite park.

oh, but I think you said you have a 4 day hopper? Well, I'd spend less time at Epcot with 2 little ones so you can maybe park hop to get it all done and spend half a day at AK.

I'd schedule some Character meals and do the Fantasmic package.

You didn't say if this is your first trip??

Hope this helps!
 
I highly recommend getting the "Unofficial Guide to WDW". I would also recommend reading some trip reports from that time of year. I think you can do a seach for trip reports by month on mouseplanet.com. Just use the google search on the main website page and search for "september trip report".

If you have the time to read those, you should have a pretty good idea of what you can do and what days to do it. I also have trip reports from 2 September trips if you're interested in reading them. PM me and I can send them as attachments. They are word doc's.
 
First time for the kids, last time for me was the year MGM opened up. What about not going to MK the first day because the kids wont want to go anywhere else? I was considering starting at MGM, how would a 2 and 5 yr old like it (if they had nothing to compare it to?)


Also, we have a minivan reserved for the 6 days for a total of $247 including tax? Does that seem pretty good or can we get it much cheaper?
 

Originally posted by poonchkie
What about not going to MK the first day because the kids wont want to go anywhere else? I was considering starting at MGM, how would a 2 and 5 yr old like it (if they had nothing to compare it to?)

To each his own on that one. We always start our trip (especially the first time, except Saturdays) at MK! It's just a given. I've heard of others saving it because it's the best but that's not what we do. It's never been a problem for us. We usually start with MK and go back several times. It just doesn't seem like we're at Disney without seeing the Castle and Main Street first! Do what you feel is best. Your first day is an EE day though so that would also be a deciding factor for me.

MGM has the shows for little ones. Playhouse Disney, Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. The only other thing we do with little ones is Honey I Shunk the Kids playground, Muppet 3-D, the parade and Fantasmic. Is your older child ready for ToT?? If so, head there FIRST before it gets crowded. If the parents want to do RnR head there first!
 
Still undecided about the first day issue. Anybody know how to retrieve old trip reports? Trying to access Sep 03 reports and cant seem to be find anything earlier than 2004. Also, what do all the EE, EMH, etc. acronyms stand for? What are all the times involved?
 
Originally posted by poonchkie
Still undecided about the first day issue. Anybody know how to retrieve old trip reports? Trying to access Sep 03 reports and cant seem to be find anything earlier than 2004. Also, what do all the EE, EMH, etc. acronyms stand for? What are all the times involved?

I went in Sept 98. It was our first time ever. We only had 4 full days (Thurs - Sun) and then did the Disney cruise. We crammed in quite a bit into those 4 days with a 2 year old!! It was HOT and it rain about 5 to 15 minutes every afternoon. Crowds thined out when it rained. It was a great time to go as it wasn't very crowded at all. Most kids are back in school so parents don't take them out in Sept.

EE = Early entry for those who are staying onsite. You get into MK at 8:00a instead of regular opening time of 9:00a. EMH is the same thing. It's what they officially call it now "Early Magic Hour".

Here's the schedule for EMH or EE:

Sunday - Magic Kingdom
Monday - Disney's Animal Kingdom
Tuesday - Disney-MGM Studios
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - Magic Kingdom
Friday - Disney's Animal Kingdom
Saturday - Disney-MGM Studios

Have fun planning!!
 















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