New here - need advice

[Trep72]

Hello!

First, let me thank everyone in advance for any information you provide. This will be my first trip to WDW as an adult. I went with my parents in 1985 and now am taking my wife and 7 yr old daughter this December 8-12.

We are staying four nights and will be arriving around 11am on the 8th As of right now, I am planning only a 3-day ticket, with park hopper option, mainly for financial reasons. However, I am beginning to wonder whether or not adding that fourth day to the ticket, for when we arrive would be worth it or not. I'm pretty sure that my daughter will want to skip some of the faster, higher, scarier rides, so that's going to save some time.

I guess I'm looking for advice on an itinerary. My thoughts are this:

Arrive on the 8th, check out Downtown Disney that afternoon and then do some swimming in the heated pool(s) at the Pop Century hotel. (BTW, are they heated well enough to swim around the time we are going to be there??)

Then on the 9th, we'll check out Animal Kingdom in the morning and Disney-MGM in the evening. These are the two attractions I think she will want to see the least. (but what do I know, I'm just a parent)

Then on the 10th we'll do Epcot and the finish the trip up with the Magic Kingdom (save the best for last is what I've heard and read) on the 11th. I'm also wanting to do the character dining in the castle that morning. We'll then spend the 12th packing, relaxing and possibly swimming, before the flight home.

Sorry for the longwinded email. I just figured that if laid it all out, it would save on some questions later.

Thank you all again in advance!!!!

Trep72
Moore, OK

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Your plan looks good

The swimming depends on how you handle cooler temps. My kids went swimming at night this last December. The pool is fine, it's the air temp that's gonna hit you. As long as you have a good heavy wrap over your swimsuit or alotta towels to wrap up in you should be fine.

Make sure you call as soon as the phone lines open up at the 90 day mark for your PS at the Castle. That's the one character meal that literally goes like hot cakes.

HTH and

Welcome to the DISboards!

 

[Trep72]

Your plan looks good

The swimming depends on how you handle cooler temps. My kids went swimming at night this last December. The pool is fine, it's the air temp that's gonna hit you. As long as you have a good heavy wrap over your swimsuit or alotta towels to wrap up in you should be fine.

Make sure you call as soon as the phone lines open up at the 90 day mark for your PS at the Castle. That's the one character meal that literally goes like hot cakes.

HTH and

Welcome to the DISboards!

Yes, those were my thoughts on the pool as well, but I wasn't sure just how cool it got in Orlando. When I was a kid, we went towards the end of November and I remember it being fairly warm in the day time...warm enough to swim and not turn our bodies blue. Since were going in early December I kinda figured that the temp wouldn't be that bad.

Thanks again...

Trep72

 

[the kabuki]

The price difference between 3day/4day is around $8.00. For $24.00 you would be able to add another day , which I would recommend. We arrived in MCO at 10:30 am, were able to check in to POP at 1:00pm(got lucky) and went straight to the park that had EMH late night. Just too excited to be in disney and not go to a park!!

Don't dismiss AK & MGM. Both are terrific for a 7yr. old and can easily take up a day each.

 

[DVCLiz]

I'd agree with adding another day - we have never been able to resist heading for a park on the first day, even arriving in the early evening. It's just too tempting when you have been waiting a long time, and a pool and Downtown Disney, as nice as they can be, just don't begin to compare! I think you will want more time in the Magic Kingdom, and I agree theat Animal Kingdom and MGM, even without the Thrill rides, can easily take more than a half day, especially if you are trying to fit in shows like Festivasl of the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Voyage of the Little Mermaid - remmeber the show schedules might not match your plan!! Go for the extra park day!!!!

 

[macphrsn]

Have you looked in to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party? We flew down in the morning, spent the afternoon shopping at Downtown Disney and that evening we went to the party (just a taste of the Magic Kingdom), they limit the number of tickets the sell for each nights party.

Day 1- we went to AK, and in the evening we went to EPCOT, they are open later and have fireworks.

Day 2 - we parked at EPCOT and went to the MK on the monorail and late afternoon returned to EPCOT again for dinner, checking out the park and fireworks.

Day 3 - We went to MK and went to MGM in the evening. We spent some time at the Pop Century pool. In December MGM has the Osborne's christmas light display (a must, just amazing), they also have fireworks in the evening too!

Day 4 - We went to MGM in the morning and we went back to EPCOT in the early evening. (we spent more time at PC pool).

Day 5 - Parked at EPCOT again, rode the monorail over to MK, then returned to EPCOT when MK closed for the day.

Our last day I booked a cooking class for my 5 year old daughter at the Grand Flordian, she had a great time and we waited for her by laying out on the beach. Great way to end the trip, only three hours before we got on the plane home.

 

[Trep72]

I'd agree with adding another day - we have never been able to resist heading for a park on the first day, even arriving in the early evening. It's just too tempting when you have been waiting a long time, and a pool and Downtown Disney, as nice as they can be, just don't begin to compare! I think you will want more time in the Magic Kingdom, and I agree theat Animal Kingdom and MGM, even without the Thrill rides, can easily take more than a half day, especially if you are trying to fit in shows like Festivasl of the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Voyage of the Little Mermaid - remmeber the show schedules might not match your plan!! Go for the extra park day!!!!

Yeah, after thinking long and hard about it, I added another day to the ticket. We're all set! Made the reservations this morning!

Thanks for everyon's advice!

 

[Trep72]

Yeah, after thinking long and hard about it, I added another day to the ticket. We're all set! Made the reservations this morning!

Thanks for everyon's advice!

UPDATE:

We just got our Disney Vacation DVD in the mail and after watching it my wife informed me that we were staying 7 days! =) Now, being the loving husband that I am, how can I refuse? We looked at the budget and found that we could afford it. It'll be ramen noodles until December, but by golly we spending extra time in WDW!!!

 

[gurleym]

I think you made a great choice in staying the 7 days especially with the new magic your way tickets. we were going to get the 5 day passes but for another 6.00 a ticket we could upgrade to the 7 day great prices. so now we are staying 8 days. I still suggest find out which park opens 1 hour early and stays open 3 extra hours if you are still staying on property. you will find that it is not as crowded at this time for some of the more popular rides. Oh and make sure you do the fastpass it is a lifesaver for some of the popular rides especially in fantasyland where your daughter will definately want to hang out in.

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

UPDATE:

It'll be ramen noodles until December, but by golly we spending extra time in WDW!!!

Ramen noodles are good!!!!!!!!!!!!!