Need help planning

[jstbcuz94]

I am having problems knowing what to do when. I am going 8/2/04 through 8/12/04. It will be my DH, DD 11, DD 8 and I. My inlaws are also going, but they will come back home 8/09/04.

We are staying at PC from 8/2-8/9. We have one AP (so we could get the AP rate) THinking we might upgrade all passes to AP and do this as vacation next year. However, we wont know this til we get there. So right now we just have 7 day PHP tickets. So we might be able to utilize a day or so after inlaws leave. We need to have one day for SW and time for the ocean too.

Any suggestions on what to do which day would be appreciated.

8/2 Arrive at 11:40pm.....pick up rental car.......check in PC

8/3 Epcot
Ice Cream Social 3:10pm
Illuminations Cruise

8/4 Magic Kingdom?
E-ride night?

8/5 AK and ocean?

8/6 MGM and e-ride?

8/7 Sea World?

8/8 Go back and do whatever we missed out on or favorite park

8/9 Chef Mickey's Character Bkft 9:40am
Check out PC
Shop Downtown Disney
Take inlaws to airport 3pm

Most of this is not set in stone by any means. Like I said before, suggestions would greatly appreciated.

 

[RLewis]

I don't think you're going to want to do the AK and ocean in one day. If you really want to go to the ocean, do it on a off-day (maybe with Disney Quest).

With this many days, I would also suggest a day or 2 at Universal Studios.

I would also aim for the EE days instead of the E-ride nights (not sure how you're kids will last after 2 or 3 late nights).

It's difficult to offer you more detailed advice without knowing what you expect (is this you first time - 20th?). Do you want to hit everything when the inlaws are in town, or save some of the thrill rides for later?

 

[jstbcuz94]

It will be the kids and my first trip. DH went when he was a Sr in highschool with the band.

I dont intend on doing anything commando style. Tho I do have a list somewhere of the things I think will be fun to do in each park. I want some time to enjoy the parks, and take in the magic.

On the other hand, part of me wants to do and see what we can too. THo my inlaws will not be able to go at the same pace as us. He has narcolepsy and I can imagine what we will be dealing with.

The only reason I said the ocean the same day as AK was because everything I have read says that it is not an all day park.

Thanks for your suggestions, and if you need more info, let me know.

 

[RLewis]

For all first-timers, I always recommend go directly to MK first. This gives you the full in-your-face hit of what Disney is all about.

You can probably make late lunch/early dinner reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table for the full immersion. It'll be crowded by then, but you can still stroll around and see Carousel of Progress, Time Keeper, Transit Authority, and probably such classics as Hall of Presidents, Pirates, Tiki Birds, without much wait. You inloaws should injoy all of these.

Save the big rides (the Mountains) for an EE morning.

Next day (Tues) go to MGM in morning (EE). Hit the big rides, then go back to hotel around 1 or 2. About 5 head to Epcot for dinner (or have dinner on the Boardwalk - which where you'll pick up the Illuminations Cruise). (You an move your Ice Cream social to another day)

Wed - EPCOT (EE) in the morning if you want to ride TT and M:S. If not, you could do AK this day.

Thurs- MK EE. Plan a break in the afternoon (perhaps lunch at Poly).

Next AK (also EE) - with mini-golf, water park, Disney Quest, or back to hotel for rest.

The drive to the beach is about 1 1/2 hours one way. I woul dplan a whole day around it.

Have you thought about Universal while you're there?

 

[kilee]

I would definetly get rid of the ocean and any park on the same day. For first timers, you really will want all the time you can get. There is just sooo much to do and see!! Definetly plan some down time. We like to do full days at the parks. We do 2 in the parks then 1 down day. It works for us. My relatives went w/ us last fall. They went to the parks every day-- while we skipped 2 days. They said afterwards their biggest regret was not taking at least 1 full down day. They were just so overwhelmed by the end.

 

[XStAnt]

I also suggest doing EE in August. I'd also plan on an afternoon break with kids your age. Two reasons for this: First, the crowds are high an EE gives you a way to beat the crowds. Second, it is hot in August and taking a midday break is a good way to beat the heat. You can either go back to the same park or go to a different one in the late pm/evening. I now this probably messes up your entire itinerary--sorry!!

Also, definitely do not do AK and the beach in one day. I believe the beach is about 1 hour away from Disney. That means you'd have to leave AK by noon to get any beach time. That only leaves 3 hours for AK (4 hours if you do EE). Although AK is not an all day park, it does take longer than that, especially if you are not going commando and have never been. Plus, even leaving AK at noon you wouldn't get to the beach until around 2:00 pm (leaving time to exit AK and get to car, change clothes, get some food, drive to beach, park, etc). I don't know about you but I like a full day playing in the surf. Have I convinved you to not go to the beach on the AK day .

I like RLewis' plan for the first five days. But you should certainly adapt it to fit your pace--don't rush through everything. You have lots of time so throw in a day at a water park, a day for SW, and even 1-2 days for US/IOA (You may want to play this by ear and see how much you get done in the Disney parks before going here).

By the way, since AK is not a full day I like to plan a night time activity on this day. With kids your daughter's age I'd think about the luau, HDDR, or Cirque.

Good luck and have fun.