Need opinions on proposed itineraries--Nov. 11-14

[kverna]

I will be traveling to WDW with my DH, DD (5) and DS (4) for 3 days (Nov. 11, 12, 13). I have been trying to plan our itinerary to allow us to see the most in this limited time. (We will be in Florida for something else and I was able to squeeze in this trip at the end.) We will be driving to WDW on Tuesday, Nov. 11 early--the plan is to get there by opening time so that we can spend this day at one of the parks. (We will be driving from Bartow, Florida, which is about 45 minutes away from WDW). We are staying at the BWV.

Here are my proposed itineraries:

#1
Tuesday, Nov. 11 (Veteran's day)
9:00: Enter MK
10:20: PS at CRT
Enjoy rides until early afternoon.
Check into BWV (I know check-in time is not until 4 p.m., but I am hoping we can check in a little early.
5:00 p.m.: Hoop de doo
Possibly the movie/campfire/smores at Fort Wilderness.

Wednesday, Nov. 12
8:00 a.m.: PS at Breakfastasauras (sp?)
9:00: Enjoy rides
Late lunch/snack and break in room.
3:00 MGM
5:00 PS/Fantasmic dinner package at H&V
Fantasmic

Thursday, Nov. 13
8:00 EMH at MK
Enjoy rides at MK until early afternoon
Counterservice at MK or eat in room
Afternoon: Epcot--Future World
PS: at ??? in Epcot (any suggestions?)
Evening at Epcot World Showcase

Friday, Nov. 14
9:00 PS at 1900 Park Faire
10:30 Grand Adventures in Cooking (I can't remember the exact time--I think it is 10:30)
Head to Downtown Disney--our flight leaves at 4:30.


#2
Tuesday, Nov. 11
9:00 Arrive at AK
Late lunch at AK--any suggestions?
Check into BWV
5:00 Hoop de doo

Wednesday, Nov. 12
8:00 PS at CRT
9:00 Enjoy rides at MK
Late lunch at room
Head to MGM
5:00 PS at H&V (Fantasmic dinner package)
Fantasmic

Thursday, Nov. 13
Same as above

Friday, Nov. 14
Same as above


My dilemma arises over which park would be better to start with on Tuesday, Nov. 11--which is Veteran's day. I was not sure if MK would be packed on this day and so it would be better to go to AK. However, I thought it might be easier to fit AK/MGM (in #1) into one day on Wednesday instead of MK/MGM on Wednesday (in #2).

Any suggestions? I have PS already made for the options indicated above (obviously I will have to cancel some). My other dilemma is that the park hours are not yet out for Nov. I am assuming that the likelihood that there will be an E night in November is very slim??

Also, even though we are trying to hit all the parks, I realize we will not have near enough time to do everything. I am trying to hit the attractions that I think my kids will enjoy (and maybe my DH and I can sneak in a few rides such as Space Mountain--using the "baby swap".



Thanks for any suggestions!

I love these boards!

 

[Disneybelle66]

Hi, I think it sounds like a great plan.Remember,it doesn't always work out perfectly. As for a place to eat in Epcot,I'd wait till you gt there and walk around,then you will kinda get an idea....we love eating at places we can't normally eat at. Where we live there are alot of Asian places and Mexican so we don't eat those foods there. I personally love Canada and the UK. Have fun!!

 

[DrTomorrow]

I vote for #2; do AK first, then MK.

And please listen to Disneybelle66:

Remember,it doesn't always work out perfectly.

I understand the need for planning, but don't over-schedule; you can end up always thinking of where you need to be next, instead of enjoying the now.

Have a great trip!

 

[jordanyosh]

Fyi--You can pre check in even if they don't have your room. It is my understanding now you just call a number and they will have your room number and no need to return to the front desk.

 

[jcemom]

I would go with #2. I'm unsure of the crowds at MK on Veteran's Day, but being a holiday, I would avoid it just in case. Besides, an 8:00 CRT PS won't really take any time away from riding, or very little time. Whereas a 10:30 will take the entire 1-1 1/2 hours of your meal away from time you could be riding.

You may want to consider Garden Grill in Future World at Epcot, if you go with plan #2. That way your kids could still eat with Mickey. They are open for lunch and dinner.

Both plans look good to me, though. Either way, I'm sure you'll have fun! (It's Disney, after all!)

 

[kverna]

Thanks for your responses! I was leaning toward option #2, but needed some reassurance. I think I have become obsessed in planning for this three-day trip. I keep trying to figure out a way to make it longer! (My husband thinks I am nuts--the last two nights I have not been sleeping well for fear the alarm clock would not wake me up at 5:50 a.m. (central time) so that I could be prepared to make my PS at 6 a.m.) Oh well! At least I am having fun planning! Hopefully the real trip will be as much (hopefully more) fun!

Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by kverna
I keep trying to figure out a way to make it longer!

LOL! Don't we all?

 

[lentesta]

Not to muddy the waters or anything, but I think #1 is a better option, especially on Wednesday. The combination of AK/MGM is better than MK/MGM from a touring perspective - we've even got a new one-day plan with this combination in the new 2004 Unofficial Guide.

Second, with less than one day per park, I'm not sure (unless your family has expressed this desire) that I'd spend an entire day at the AK.

Finally, it's universally accepted that Epcot is best at night, so you're set there.

Hope this doesn't cause too much stress. You should have fun either way!

Sincerely,

Len

 

[kverna]

Not to muddy the waters or anything, but I think #1 is a better option, especially on Wednesday. The combination of AK/MGM is better than MK/MGM from a touring perspective - we've even got a new one-day plan with this combination in the new 2004 Unofficial Guide.

Lentesta--I guess this has been my concern all along and my original hesitation in not going with option #2.

I have had another thought--assuming that I can get a PS for CRT tomorrow morning (yet another sleepless night ), for 10:20-10:30 on Thursday, Nov. 13, we could cancel the PS for CRT on Tuesday, Nov. 11. This would alleviate the problem I missing out on some of the earlier morning ride hours on Tuesday. Thursday at MK is the EMH so we could get started in MK at 8 a.m. and would be ready for a break (i.e. food) for a late breakfast.

I think I am just muddying the waters here and adding more stress to my dilemma, especially now that I have to try to get CRT for a 3rd morning in a row! (-: (If any of you need a reservation for one of these days, let me know--I can give you a heads up before I cancel 2 of them!)

HELP!! I am beginning to feel ridiculous that I am so stressed about the whole itinerary thing! Maybe I should just throw away my 2003 Unofficial Guide, the Passporter, my subscription to TourGuideMike.com, and quit visiting these boards! See I told you I was obsessed!