Nine days and counting...HELP!!!

[MoTo Squad]

I'm so excited, I can't stand it!!!

Here is our cast of characters:

Me - Definate Disney Fan

DH - Not a big fan. Thinks Disney is just for the kids. Not overly excited about the trip. Will probably not get into it until about day number 3.

DS - 7 -- twin A of boy/girl set. Favorite Character - Tigger. Looking forward to Mission space.

DD - 7 -- twin B of boy/girl set. Favorite Character(s) - Tiana, Cinderella, Arial, Minnie. Will want to do everything and stay up all night.

The twins will turn 8 during the trip, so we really want to make it a special occasion. Last time we went to WDW was in 2003 when the twins turned 4 (our first trip). I love the way all the CMs made a big fuss over them when they saw their birthday buttons. They got cupcakes and cards at every meal as well. Love that! They even got a couple of free pins as a gift when we went to get some film developed. I'm hoping for something magical during this trip, too.

Transportation to Orlando: Road Trip -- Maryland to Florida (14 hours) The price I pay for upgrading the dining plan. Couldn't afford to do that and fly too, so I went for the food. The drive down will not be bad, I think (driving overnight. The kids will sleep most of the way), I'm not looking forward to the drive home though. Oh, well. At least we will be relaxed

Well, the hotel is booked ---aargh, the CBR with Pirate rooms. Although, I wish I would have read the review about the uncomfortable beds first, I think the kids will love it and DH and I will make the best of it. It still looks pretty cool and I am definately looking forward to some time "on the beach" at the resort. I did online check in at 12:01 last night

ADRs are made...we mixed some that we liked from the first trip and some new ones. This is going to be the best part for me and DH Love to eat good food.

Where I need help is with TOURING PLANS. I've heard that the crowd levels will be 9 or 10 during our stay (April 16 - 20), so I'm a little intimidated.

Here is our schedule:

Arrive to CBR: Saturday late morning. Hang out at the pool; check out the resort.

Dinner - Aloha Show at 5:15pm

Question 1? We could hang around the Poly -- go to the "beach" and watch the water electric light parade and fireworks, then head back to our hotel.

Or we could head back to the hotel after dinner for an early night...but I'm not sure if that would only make the kids more excited...and we would wind up staying up late at the hotel anyway.

What do you think?

Day 1: Sunday
8:30am Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. This is a new one for us, but the kids love Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland. The food looks good too.

Park: MK.

Question 2?: What do you think of getting up early for EMH (7:00am - 8:00am). Can we really spend an hour in the park and then get over to the Grand Floridian in time for our 8:30am breakfast? Is it even worth it to try? How many rides do you think we could knock out in the first hour?

Question 3?: Touring Plan -- if we do not do the EMH, what do you recommend we go to first. My first thought was to try to do Tomorrowland -- Buzz Lightyear, Laugh Floor, Space Mountain (FP). However, I heard that Tomorrowland gets filled up early in the morning. Should we try the Fantasyland first: Dumbo, Teacups, Winnie the Pooh (FP), etc?

Question 4?: With crowd levels at 9 or 10, is it better to have an ADR for lunch? We have an ADR at the Plaza. The thought is to do lunch then head back to the hotel, after the 3pm parade, for a swim break. However, if we are on the other side of the park, maybe it's better just to do CS wherever we are...unless lines take forever...I don't want to spend half our time in line for food.

Afternoon at CBR - pool/relax. Then head back to MK. We don't have a dinner ADR. Thought we would play that by ear...maybe eat at one of the hotels before going back into MK for the evening: light parade and fireworks.

Day 2: Epcot

Breakfast - C/S -- grab something from one of the yummy bakeries that have been reviewed on the boards.

Must Dos:
Mission Space
Kim Possible
Crush & Nemo
Test Track

Preliminary plan: Visit character spot, morning with Crush, Nemo, Soaring. Pick up FP for Mission Space and Test Track.

Question 5?: Can you pick up FP in the morning for an afternoon timeslot or do you have to take the next timeslot that is available?

Question 6?: Touring Plan -- looking at our "must do" list, what would you suggest we do first? In what order go to have the best chance of getting to everything?

Lunch: 1:30pm at Coral Reef

Afternoon: Kim Possible & World Showcase

Dinner: Biergarten....emphasis on the Bier

Evening - stay for Illuminations

Day 3: DS/DD 8TH BIRTHDAY -- MK

Breakfast - 7:15 Chef Mickey

Question 7?: Okay - so is 7:15am realistic after staying out past 10pm to see Illuminations. Do I really want grumpy kids on their birthday? On the other hand...it is Chef Mickey! One of the best breakfast meals at WDW -- and you get up close and personal with the furious 5. ...I'm sure they will forgive me for getting them up so early

However, we could skip breakfast and get in early for EMH and rope drop, then do a late breakfast in the park. What would you do?

Lunch - 3:30pm Crystal Palace. Okay, technically, I think CP has this as a dinner slot, but I think the food is the same.

Dinner - 8:30pm Tony's Italian.

I expect the kids will be exhausted after that full day. I'm not sure they will make it to parade/fireworks after that.

Day 4: AK

Breakfast - Donald's Safari Breakfast

Must Dos:

Safari
Dino Ride
Primival Whirl
Lion King Show

Lunch - Flame Tree BBQ

Dinner: Saana or Boma?

So, those are the plans. I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions for our trip.

Thanks!

I Eat, Therefor I ADR