Okay, fellow disney lovers, after months of obsessive research and planning, I have an itinerary for our trip. We are staying off-site but close by on Hwy. 192. We are avoiding parks on their EMH days and arriving at least 30 minutes before opening each morning. I've tried to apply the tips I've read on this board, TGM, and the Unofficial Guide book/website. From these resources, I have actually developed a touring plan for each park that suits the needs and tastes of my family (no thrill rides, no motion simulators, no waiting in character lines, etc.). I didn't go into all of that below, however. 
The cast of characters includes me, my DH, and my DD8. We go to WDW every other year with extended family and this is our first trip with just the three of us. Although we love WDW, we usually wind up completed exhausted halfway through the trip. In fact, our trips usually resemble the Bataan Death March more than an actual vacation! We are determined to relax this time and go at a slower pace since it is just the three of us.
Please take a look and let me know if you have any thoughts or suggestions.
Fri., 5/19 - Arrive 4:00 p.m., Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, early to bed.
Sat., 5/20 - Arrive MK by 8:30, lunch 11:30 CP, depart MK around 1:00 p.m. Swim/rest until around 4:00, then tour EP, leave before Illuminations to avoid the "mass exodus".
Sun., 5/21 - Arrive AK by 8:30, depart around 3-4:00. Swim/rest/early to bed. However, if we finish at AK early, we might go back out to MGM for a while in the evening.
Mon., 5/22 - Arrive MK by 8:30, depart around 1:00. Swim/rest until around 1:00, then tour EP until 9:00. See Illuminations.
Tues., 5/23 - Arrive MGM by 8:30, lunch 11:30 at Sci-Fi (we've never been and DD wants to eat in the "cars"), depart around 3-4:00. Swim/rest/early to bed.
Wed., 5/24 - Arrive EP by 8:30, lunch at Akershus, depart around 1:00. Swim/rest until around 4:00, then tour MK until closing. See Spectro/Wishes.
Thurs., 5/25 - "Sleep in" morning, Sea World afternoon/early evening. Maybe dinner at O'hana or Boma.
Fri., 5/26 - Depart for home, 9:00 a.m.
I can't wait! Please let me know what you think!
The cast of characters includes me, my DH, and my DD8. We go to WDW every other year with extended family and this is our first trip with just the three of us. Although we love WDW, we usually wind up completed exhausted halfway through the trip. In fact, our trips usually resemble the Bataan Death March more than an actual vacation! We are determined to relax this time and go at a slower pace since it is just the three of us.
Please take a look and let me know if you have any thoughts or suggestions.
Fri., 5/19 - Arrive 4:00 p.m., Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, early to bed.
Sat., 5/20 - Arrive MK by 8:30, lunch 11:30 CP, depart MK around 1:00 p.m. Swim/rest until around 4:00, then tour EP, leave before Illuminations to avoid the "mass exodus".
Sun., 5/21 - Arrive AK by 8:30, depart around 3-4:00. Swim/rest/early to bed. However, if we finish at AK early, we might go back out to MGM for a while in the evening.
Mon., 5/22 - Arrive MK by 8:30, depart around 1:00. Swim/rest until around 1:00, then tour EP until 9:00. See Illuminations.
Tues., 5/23 - Arrive MGM by 8:30, lunch 11:30 at Sci-Fi (we've never been and DD wants to eat in the "cars"), depart around 3-4:00. Swim/rest/early to bed.
Wed., 5/24 - Arrive EP by 8:30, lunch at Akershus, depart around 1:00. Swim/rest until around 4:00, then tour MK until closing. See Spectro/Wishes.
Thurs., 5/25 - "Sleep in" morning, Sea World afternoon/early evening. Maybe dinner at O'hana or Boma.
Fri., 5/26 - Depart for home, 9:00 a.m.
I can't wait! Please let me know what you think!
However, I wanted to give you the heads up on our experience at CP. We had 11:30 ADRs for lunch and got there about 10 minutes early. Had to wait a little while and we were seated around 11:40. We were one of the very few in the place since they just opened for lunch. We got to see Piglet & Eyeore before even eating - basically right away. We ate and the food was in my opinion just OK, but I didn't think any food at Disney was great. We then got to see Tigger after coming back with our food, the kids did a parade with Piglet and had a blast. This was all before noon. We finished eating as it got busier and busier. We were done by 10 after noon but hadn't seen Pooh yet. We ended up waiting until 1:10 before we saw Pooh. It was nuts. I think we just got extremely unlucky on where we sat and the route he was taking. Plus, at 12:30 he was 3 tables away then had to leave for 15 minutes as the Parade went by since Pooh is in the parade they can't have him be seen twice - so he had to go "make honey" as our waitress told us. We weren't really mad, but just frustrated trying to keep a 4yr old and 2yr old occupied for that long. Luckly Piglet and Eyeore came back to visit. I probably won't go back, but like I said was probably just unlucky.
