Need help planning itinerary

[sahm3]

[FONT=Century Gothic]We are planning our first family trip to WDW. We leave April 13th and I am trying to plan our days. We have 7 day hopper passes with 5 MPP visits(whatever that means) I know it means we can go to the water parks not sure what else. Anyway, I tried to get ressies for Hoopdeedoop and it is booked up that week unless we want to go at 9:30 at night (which with young kids, we don't). SO I guess one question I have is when is the best time to try for ressies (I am thinking maybe some people will cancel) and also how did you go about planning your days? I am feeling overwhelmed thinking about planning our days out. I wish someone would just do it for me! lol Not good at that sort of thing. So any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Nicole & Mike
Mikey
Caitlyn
&
Brooks
Disney Bound 4/13/06!![/FONT]

 

[brentalex]

First, you must understand it is going to be VERY crowded there. Many schools have spring break that week and the place will be packed. It may be hard to get dining at many places now. We are arriving on the 14th and made our dinner reservations a few months ago, if you are staying on site you could do it a few months out. So, for dining, I would quickly try to decide where you would like to eat, and keep trying for reservations. You are correct people do cancel.
As for the parks, they too will be crowded. Not sure if you are staying on site or not, and people have different opinions about the early hours EMH, and whether to go or not, but here is my advice. We stay on site and try to take advantage of the early openings as much as possible. We find that we can get a lot done, with smaller lines and then once the park starts to get crowded we can either stay and just go on things with short lines, while waiting for fastpass time on something else.
We also take advantage of park hopping and once the park we start out in fills up, we leave and go to another park and see what the crowds are like there. If it is too crowded, we may go to another one. In 2004 we did hit 3 parks in one day and had a ball doing it.
The MPP visits are good at the water parks, pleasure island and disney quest. the young kids may like disney quest, but probably the water parks will be the best bet.
So, just realize there will be crowds and be willing to move around. Also with little kids,be willing to leave the parks, go back to your hotel and take a swim. it is good for everyone.

 

[hawkeyesparks]

Here's the thing, You want to have a plan, but make sure you are flexible! There are many parks to explore, and you are going enough days to take a nice enjoyable pace and not rush.

Your kids will love all of it! But they will like MK the most if their like most kids,

If you read some books on this then you already know this but their are some great dining places all over that are great. The character meals are something you want to make the most of.

MK has the Liberty Tree that is really fun, and the Crystal Palace which is my families favorite. We always eat at CP for breakfast the first day we are there, and we do it early before the park opens. When you do that you will get in and have a chance to walk down Main Street USA with virtually no one around. I have several pictures of my family on the Main Street and we are the only ones on the street.

The other parks have their places to, and I'm sure others will comment on that.

Don't forget the restraunts in the hotels. Even if you aren't staying in them they are easy to get to and provide great dining. 1900 Park Fare is a great Character Meal at the Grand Floridian, and I really like Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge.

If you really want to have a dinner show, try Ohana's at the POLY.

With all of the parks it's easy to forget Downtown Disney. Don't. It has the best shopping in WDW. Also if you have young kids they will love the water spouts around there as well as the carousel.

My favorite shop there has to be the Christmas shop, they have so much it feels like Christmas even in April.

There is so much more to tell you but, I'm sure others will give you more to think about.

p.s. If you go to MGM, a great place to eat is the Sci-Fi Dine in theater.




86: off site
98: Cont
2000: Cont
02: Dolphin
04: WL
06: GF