Making myself crazy!! Someone check this out :)

[MainStMandy]

Ok so here's the story. I am a former CM, also a Disney Vacation Specialist. I have planned tons of vacations and done a million itineraries. But for some reason, this trip has me stumped. I think part of it is that my brother is planning on proposing to his gf...and the other part is I am bringing the guy that I am currently dating and let's just Disney is not usually his cup of tea. He is very excited about the trip, but his vacations usually consist of sleeping in and lounging. I have done this itinerary a million times but it still doesn't look right. What do you think??


Sunday 02/04- Brother and GF arrive noonish to check-in at BWV and head over to EPCOT. Myself and...welll I guess we'll call him dbf, will arrive later and meet up with brother at Alfredo's around 4:30. Stay for Illuminations.

Monday 02/05- EMH and Animal Kingdom. Stay as long as we want. Hit the hotel to clean up and dinner at Le Cellier.

Tuesday 02/06-MK all day. Dinner at O'hana and then back to MK for Spectro and Wishes. This is the only night Spectro is going on during our trip. This is also the night my brother will propose.

Wed 02/07- Free day! Dinner possibly at ESPN Club for DBF

Thur 02/08-Morning at EPCOT and head to MGM around 1ish, stay for Fantasmic

Fri 02/09- DTD at Rainforest (For brothers gf).

I hate that we end our trip at MGM and I don't want to wear everyone out with a full day at MK. I don't know why I am so stumped over this!!

I am used to going with my ex-husband and he would keep up with me. We would do parks every day, from open to close, so this is a very different kind of trip.

 

[EpcotMatt]

Personally I like ending our vacations at World Showcase. Besides being my favorite, it’s a calmer type day. Despite partaking in a few half yards throughout the day which may leave a tiny headache, it’s not the hectic, rush to all the rides, stand in long lines & get cranky type day. The rides in WC are relaxing with no lines. And it’s basically just a casual walk around the circle, popping into the shops & food stands.

 

[Karnak]

This plan might work well for y'all, but it sure wouldn't for me. The problem I have with it is the fact that you have only five and one-half days at WDW, with two of those days unplanned.

I would make more specific plans, relaxed pace, with no "comando-style" touring involved; and with meal reservations to match. But that's just me, and as I said before, it might work for y'all.

Enjoy.

 

[disnut8]

My only comment is your boyfriend likes to sleep in. An EMH might not work with him. Especially after staying for Illuminations the night before. Could you possible skip the early entry at Animal Kingdom and catch Illuminations after your dinner at LeCellier? You do have a free day and dinner at ESPN for your boyfriend to balance out the more hectic days. Make sure your boyfriend knows the itinerary beforehand and be ready to make adjustments as needed during the trip.

 

[BlindTyldak]

Could you move AK to the last day of your trip and eat at rainforest there? then you wouldn't be ending the trip at MGM, and you'd have a free day right off the bat for your DBF where your brother and his GF can have some time alone in the parks, and hey, maybe your BF would enjoy some quiet time at the hotel and you can go and take a solo wander to your favorite place for a couple of hours?

 

[MainStMandy]

Thanks guys. I really like the idea of spending the last day at Animal Kingdom and doing RF there. I am really trying not to go commando...That's why I only planned two days with nothing to do.

I really want to do open at MK, my brothers girlfriend has never been to Disney and I think she would really like this. Also, I want to make sure we are at Animal Kingdom open, and I thought EMH would be a perfect day to do this, but maybe not. Lemme re-work it and I'll be back

 

[MainStMandy]

Ok, here goes again...What do you think?


Sunday 02/04-EPCOT w/Illuminations. My brother and his gf will get there at like 1ish, and we will get there for dinner at 4:30.

Monday-Animal Kingdom with dinner at DTD (cap n' jacks maybe)

Tuesday- late morning at EPCOT(I would love to do open, but I am relaxing ) then dinner at O'hana and MK for spectro and wishes

Wed-OFF

Thur-MK open and MGM for fantasmic....

I wish I had more time at MK, but I think I would drive everyone nutso.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Well, two things about your new schedule.
1. I would eat at Wolfgang Puck Cafe at DTD, you might know better and like Capn Jacks, I can't really say for sure as we've never eaten there, but I've heard bunches of bad reviews and Wolfgang Puck Cafe is one of our favorites.

2. If you think you can get in Soarin', Mission Space and Test Track without long lines going later, or if you don't care if you forgo them because of long lines then you can "sleep in".

ALTHOUGH, actually, I really think at that time of the year you won't have much trouble with lines??? That would be another of my thoughts.

AND really, I think both your schedules look good. It looks "structured" and thought out, without too demanding. If it's her first time, you really want to make sure it's fun and relaxing, realizing the main thing is for you all to have a nice time so she'll want to come back for more, not swamped trying to do it all.

 

[Tigger714]

I think having Wednesday off is a good idea. If she is not expecting "the question" she will need some time to call friends & family.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The first time DH went to WDW, he wasn't prepared for the commano style. Lucky for him, we only had a few days. The second trip, he was in for shock, but when my two year old (at the time) niece outlasted him, he knew he was going to have to do better.

Over the years, he has expressed concerns over the pace of our trips, but then, whe we finally tried to go at a slow pace for him, he realized that he too had grown to love the rush of going commando.

If he had his way, he'd probably vacation somewhere where he could do nothing for a week, which would drive me crazy! I could stand a little lazy time, but vacations, in my mind, are for seeing things that you don't ordinarily get to see. DH has come to appreciate this.

What I'm trying to get at is that a.) your boyfriend might surprise you on vacation, and b.) If he knows that doing things on vacation is what makes you happy, then he might just break character and join in the fun. Family or group vacations aren't just about doing what you'd choose to do, but about spending time together.

Having said that, I thikn being flaexible is good. I think you are right to plan your trip on the light side, but also be prepared to be flexible if you're group decides to be more ambitious than what you've planned.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

Actually I love ending the trip with Fantasmic - I think it is magical and fun! It ties it all together.

Have a great time!

 

[Meredisney]

Sunday 02/04-EPCOT w/Illuminations. My brother and his gf will get there at like 1ish, and we will get there for dinner at 4:30.

Monday-Animal Kingdom with dinner at DTD (cap n' jacks maybe)

Tuesday- late morning at EPCOT(I would love to do open, but I am relaxing ) then dinner at O'hana and MK for spectro and wishes

Wed-OFF

Thur-MK open and MGM for fantasmic....

My opinion: Just because you asked......

I like your first day, Sunday. Seems very low key, considering you can walk right to EPCOT and just spend the day close to the resort.

The second day, Monday, sounds good. It is better to get to the Animal Kingdom early. You see a lot more on the Safari. My experience is that the Animal Kingdom is like 10% hotter than the rest of disney. It is also the park I like the least because I always run out of things to do. Why don't you plan a mid day swim at the pool before heading to DTD?
You could also do ESPN this night and just kind of hang at the hotel after your swim. You might be worn out after an early morning at DAK

Tuesday is kindof a mess. You have a late morning at EPCOT and then you go to Ohana's and see spectro magic. To me, why seperate your MK day and Spectro and Wishes??? That doesn't make much sense. I think it would be neat for your BF to see the Magic Kingdom by day, go over to Ohana's, and then head back over to MK at night to check out Wishes and Spectro.

Wednesday, you relax. Nothing wrong with that!!!!

Thursday, you can go back over to EPCOT and check out what you could not see on your first day. That way, it is like getting a full day in....just split between your first and last days. Then, you can grab Lunch at EPCOT and head right over to MGM. You can take the boat from the International Gateway right to the entrance of MGM Studios. That would be really relaxing. Then you can get in as much MGM thrills as you want in the afternoon. You could even book the Fantasmic Dinner package to get guaranteed seating for the show. That way, you can see more at MGM instead of spending two hours waiting in line to get into Fantasmic.

 

[MainStMandy]

My opinion: Just because you asked......

I like your first day, Sunday. Seems very low key, considering you can walk right to EPCOT and just spend the day close to the resort.

The second day, Monday, sounds good. It is better to get to the Animal Kingdom early. You see a lot more on the Safari. My experience is that the Animal Kingdom is like 10% hotter than the rest of disney. It is also the park I like the least because I always run out of things to do. Why don't you plan a mid day swim at the pool before heading to DTD?
You could also do ESPN this night and just kind of hang at the hotel after your swim. You might be worn out after an early morning at DAK

Tuesday is kindof a mess. You have a late morning at EPCOT and then you go to Ohana's and see spectro magic. To me, why seperate your MK day and Spectro and Wishes??? That doesn't make much sense. I think it would be neat for your BF to see the Magic Kingdom by day, go over to Ohana's, and then head back over to MK at night to check out Wishes and Spectro.

Wednesday, you relax. Nothing wrong with that!!!!

Thursday, you can go back over to EPCOT and check out what you could not see on your first day. That way, it is like getting a full day in....just split between your first and last days. Then, you can grab Lunch at EPCOT and head right over to MGM. You can take the boat from the International Gateway right to the entrance of MGM Studios. That would be really relaxing. Then you can get in as much MGM thrills as you want in the afternoon. You could even book the Fantasmic Dinner package to get guaranteed seating for the show. That way, you can see more at MGM instead of spending two hours waiting in line to get into Fantasmic.

This is so funny because I had it planned like this. I thought I would overwhelm everyone with a whole day at Magic Kingdom. I have the fantasmic dinner package booked too.

Thanks everyone for the advice and tips. If I was planning this for anyone else it wouldn't be a big deal. My ex-husband and I took some friends a few years ago and it was a disaster, so I am a little gun shy about going with friends again...especially those I haven't vacationed with. It sounds dumb, but I feel like in order to relax I need to have it all planned out Thanks again guys!