My Plan, anyone want to look? (long)

[MouseEars4us]

Hi Everyone, thanks for taking a look! And a special thanks to everyone who's tips I borrowed!

The Cast and kids ages at time of trip; Me, DH, 2 DD's, 12 & one turning 16 on Friday in WDW, DS almost 4, DN & His DW, their 2 children, DD 10, DS 8.
The setting; ASM, arriving Sunday Nov.21st - leaving early Saturday, Nov.27th.

Basic thought: plan which park which day, visiting MK & MGM early in the week to avoid crowds later in the week, plan 1-2 nice meals per day. Loose plan for the afternoon, includes optional "down time", family may spilt up, 1 stays @ parks and other goes to Hotel for rest…meeting up later. All plans Subject to change and may be changed on the whim of a cranky child or rainy day! *note* all hours based on historical hrs.

Day 1/ Sunday:
Arrive in WDW abt. 4pm. Depending on "Tired factor" we may explore our hotel, gift shop, pool, arcade, etc… Or, shop DTD…Or, ride the monorail loops from beginning to end, incorporating a PS@Ohanas at the Polynesian into the tour, after dinner, go out to the beach to watch the fireworks!

Day2/ Monday:
Magic Kingdom, Park opens @ 9am.
8am PS @ CP with Pooh and Friends, Or, if lucky CRT…enjoy character meal and enter the park as it opens. Do Fantasyland 1st, and cover what else we can. Mondays tend to be MK busy day, but, we won’t return after Wed. because of crowds. Dinner (where?) in early evening, afternoon parade @ 3pm, evening parade @6pm, fireworks @7pm., closing @8pm. IF The Magical Fireworks Voyage is available, go with plan "B". B! Take a break in the late afternoon from MK! This will be Lauren’s B’day surprise (early)


Day 3/Tuesday:
MGM / EMH morning, park opens at 8:00 for resort guests.
Breakfast @ ASM EARLY , Be at MGM at opening, see our fav’s, 11:30am PS @ 50’s PTC. As it is EMH day, HOP out early to MK if we didn’t get enough, or to Epcot, see FW…4 Main Attractions, and Illuminations, try dinner in FW, Coral Reef(?), try for a table up by the tank or dinner @WS Mexico?


Day 4/ Wednesday:
Animal Kingdom ~park opens at 9am.
Light breakfast @ASM, be at opening (15 min early) for The Awakening, head for the Safari 1st and make way back to 11:30 PS Donald’s Breakfastosaurus, (not too thrilled having read the reviews but an early or late seating is suggested). Hop out early to MGM for the rest of the day. Snacks at MGM, suggestions~ Pizza Planet for the boys in the group, or shakes @ Sci-Fi. 3:30 Parade. PS@ Mama Melrose between 4:45-6pm. Never seen Fantasmic… Park Closes @8pm


Day 5/ Thursday-Thanksgiving:
AK~ Park opens @9am.
Breakfast @ASM See what we missed on Wednesday. Eat @ TH Counter Service or PS@ abt. 2pm. for RFC, leave when tired or if crowds get too heavy. Spend the afternoon at the hotel pool, arcade, or shopping@ DTD? Monorail to GF for Thanksgiving Dinner 6-7pm PS @ 1900 Park Fair. Is the MK open till midnight? If fireworks cruise wasn’t avail. possibly take Lauren to PI, Adventurers Club, etc…


Day6/ Friday- Lauren’s B’day
Epcot Day, 9am FW opens, 11am WS opens.
Breakfast@ ASM If we have not hopped to FW before now, do main attractions in FW…SpEarth, TT, UofE, & MS. 11am, get kids passport (or current version) and head to WS. Tour WS @ leisure, whatever we get done is OK… Must have Cheese Soup in Canada, Beaches & Cream for afternoon meal(?), out the back exit of Epcot, between UK and France. Abt. a 10 minute walk from there.

I'm pretty sure I know where we should be, but the restraunts always get me...also, can anyone suggest a nice finish to the week, keeping in mind it's crowded, and a Birthday?

Thanks Again!
Jenn

 

[laceemouse]

Hi Mouse...we will be there Sunday through Wednesday also!!! Then we are going to Clearwater Beach for a few days. Your plan looks good, all I can suggest is if you want more PSs do it now, I think it is going to be crowded. As far as a Grand Finale, I guess I would decide based on what the Birthday Girl likes best. The fireworks cruise sounds like a great surprise! We will be staying at BCV, our first DVC trip!!! Have a great time....Lacee

 

[MouseEars4us]

Hi Lacee!

I agree, I think it will be busy too! But, this will be our 4th trip, so we don't mind missing things, we know we'll be back!
My DD say's she would like a surprise for her B'day...that said, she has suggested Pleasure Island, I'm realy waiting to see if anything different comes available, hoping they will change the days or events for Grand Gatherings, or add E ride nights etc...

Maybe we'll se ya there!

 

[jcemom]

I think that looks great! Here are my suggestions/comments:

Day 1 - monorail, 'Ohana, and fireworks from the beach sound like a terrific start!

Day 2 - I haven't been to MK on a Monday but have heard that it is supposed to be a busy day, however, you know that and are planning to be there at opening, and I wouldn't want to start off with any other park! Have fun!

Day 3 - I haven't tried Coral Reef but it looks entertaining for the kids, we did enjoy Garden Grill if you'd like to dine with Mickey.

Day 4 - The latest seating for Donald's Breakfastosaurus is 10:30. We thought the character interaction was lacking, the food however was very good. Hot and fresh, and plenty of it! The Sci Fi, IMO, had excellent milkshakes, and the onion rings were great too! The kids would enjoy the atmosphere, ours did (almost as much as DH, LOL)

Day 5 - Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 6 - If you don't get Cindy's at the beginning of the week, you may want to consider the Princess Storybook breakfast in Norway. Illuminations should be a great ending to your week! Maybe you could try for an Illuminations cruise if the Magical Fireworks Voyage isn't available.

Wish I were going with you! This sounds like a great trip!

 

[MouseEars4us]

Hi Tracy

Thanks for looking!

We always seem to arrive on Mondays and can't seem to start anywhere else! We need our Mickey fix!

We haven't tried Coral Reef before or the Garden Grill. It might be a good time to throw in a character meal though...it's one of our fav. parts!

Will have to note Donalds 10:30 time. We are going on the request of my Great Nephew. He isn't fond of Pooh or the Princesses, too Girly! And we loved the Sci-Fi when we went several years ago! Very cute for the kids!

Princess breakfast in Norway has also had mixed reviews...I had it on and off our list so many times, I may end up putting it back! And Illuminations Cruise, why didn't I think of that!? I was realy hoping the wishes cruise would fall on her B'day, but totaly forgot abt. Illuminations!

hmmm, now you've got me thinking....
Thanks again Tracy!

 

[jcemom]

You're welcome, it's so much fun to plan isn't it?

Even though Donald's character interaction wasn't the best we experienced, I wouldn't mind going back. The kids enjoyed it anyway. It was at the request of my DS's who really wanted to meet Donald. (The photo in my signature is from Breakfastosaurus, by the way.)

I had read many bad reviews of Sci Fi, but we also loved it and will definitely go back!

 

[dcmbshafe]

Sounds like a great trip, you've obviously thought about it a lot!

Sunday - I wouldn't try to do a park on that day, but that is more of a personal preference. We always like to "resort hop", ride the monorail, etc. on the first day. We're going in May this year and have a PS at California Grill for the first night - we made it for about 45 minutes before Wishes to leave us (hopefully) enough time to request and get a window table. Ohana's and then watching Wishes from Poly beach is another good option.

Monday - If you can't get CRT for breakfast, maybe you could go there for dinner? Not the same, but it is still pretty neat. Alternatively, you could go out of the park to one of the monorail hotels or take a boat over to WL.

Tuesday - I think Coral Reef is better than it gets routinely reviewed...it definitely isn't good value, but the food is good and it is really cool to sit by the tank. Another option if you're at Epcot would be to get a snack in one of the countries and then try for a late PS at Rose & Crown and hope for an outside table where you could watch Illuminations.

Wednesday - I'm not sure whether you're saying you've never seen Fantasmic or whether you're saying you don't want to see it. If the former, you might consider doing the Fantasmic reserved seating deal in conjunction with your Mama Melrose PS.

Thanksgiving - Nothing to add.

Friday - I agree about the Illuminations cruise for the big finish!

Enjoy your trip, it will be great!!!!!

 

[MouseEars4us]

Tracy,
I think I'm a Planaholic! After I run this past the DIS boards, I'll show my family and see what they think, then I can relax for a few months till PS time. I'll admit, I'm addicted! You made me feel a bit better about Donalds though!

dcmbshafe,
Thanks for the ideas!
I love the Poly and hope to stay someday, but for now I'll live vicariously and just imagine I'm staying there by having dinner!

Dinner at CRT...another great idea that slipped my mind! I had thought of LTT and/or dinner at CP...but I wasn't sure if everyone would do 2 character meals in one day...I could change breakfast plan...

Glad to hear Coral Reef is OK, the kids love to watch the fish, DN's 2 kids have tanks, and mine like the Pet stores...

Don't know why we've never seen Fantasmic, just haven't. Thought I'd leave that open to discussion with our group...if everyone has the energy, we might stay...

As a final thought, would you like to trade countdown timers...I can't wait till mine is as close as yours! Thanks again!

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by MouseEars4us
As a final thought, would you like to trade countdown timers...I can't wait till mine is as close as yours! Thanks again!

*I* would be more than happy to trade with you, LOL

 

[MouseEars4us]

*I* would be more than happy to trade with you, LOL

Hmmm...I don't think so Tracey... I was kinda hoping to trade down, not UP! But, thanks for the offer! We try and go every 3 years, and we waited 4 years this time so our DS would be older...the wait is Killing Me!!

Thanks for the offer though and I'll keep you in mind
Jenn

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by MouseEars4us
Hmmm...I don't think so Tracey... I was kinda hoping to trade down, not UP! But, thanks for the offer! We try and go every 3 years, and we waited 4 years this time so our DS would be older...the wait is Killing Me!!

Thanks for the offer though and I'll keep you in mind
Jenn

I see you don't live far from me...maybe there's some extra room in your suitcase? I'll go on a diet now to make sure I fit!

I know what you mean about the waiting! We took our first family trip to WDW (DH and I had been before) last month. Now I'm planning to take DD next fall and don't know how I'll wait so long (and that's *only* a year and a half)! DH doesn't understand it, he keeps saying "but we just got back!" lol Of course, he's a homebody and I'd be happy to take a vacation every month. He thinks I'm nuts because I said I'd go back right now if I could, today even.

 

[4greatboys]

I think it looks pretty good I just wanted to say I wouldnt worry to much abour the restuarant reviews, they are so subjective. We like some others do not and havent liked some that that others did like, lol. You just never know til you give it a shot.
As for the Wishes cruises they are much easier to get than Illuminations, you should be able to snag one easily.