Not enough time!! Help me see it all :)

[wallskm]

Check out easywdw.com for some great touring tips. His cheat sheets are wonderful and may help you make the most of your time, and hopefully avoid spending as much time in line

 

[Dis703]

Like others have said you won't. You simply can't in five days even if you didn't have as many people with you. I've been I think 8 times in my life with the majority of those trips for at least 7 or 8 days and still haven't seen everything.

Do your research and decide what your must dos are and prioritize them and just enjoy what you do get to see.

 

[Dis703]

I agree I'd skip the water park and DTD. Especially if you are staying at BC.

 

[Nahanni]

For the rest of your schedule, I would switch the Epcot and DHS days. You are going to be in DHS on a late EMH day - always a nightmare that time of year. IMO, DHS does not need the extra 2 hours, and you will lose those extra 2 hours in the crowds anyway.

Good luck!

DHS late EMH has Disney Junior dance party the younger ones may enjoy. YMMV.

I agree with dropping DTD, unless you're looking for a reason to spend $$$.

I'm mixed on waterpark because you have stormalong bay which will probably be enough for the younger ones. If your ticket options are not flexible (i.e. paid waterpark, can't add a park day), perhaps go on arrival day and have another full day for MK.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I would really try to keep the waterpark. My first family visit my kids were 11 and 13. We had only done DLR before then. They loved the waterparks so much we ended up not using one of our park tickets. They had done Blizzard Beach at the beginning of the week and wanted to go to Typhoon Lagoon instead. Our tickets were purchased from UT when they had a special bouns - 4 park days for the price of 5, plus WP Fun & more. We knew when we bought them they had more entrances than we needed but figured it would give us flexibility. Could we have used the 5th park day? Yes, but we would have exhausted ourselves.

In order to see the most you can possibly see in the parks, I would get there at rope drop and use a touring plan for each park. It saves so much time in line, tells you the most efficient order to see/ride attractions, and you don't spend time around a map trying to decide what to do on the fly. Easywdw has some free ones. I prefer the touring plans on the Touringplans.com website (a companion site to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World book). There is a small fee to join Touringplans.com. Mousesavers has a discount code. There is also a discount if you own the current version of The Unofficial Guide. I like the TP.com plans best because they have some special ones geared to families with mixed ages like yours.

Have a wonderful time on your trip!!!!

 

[mommymanda]

I agree I'd skip the water park and DTD. Especially if you are staying at BC.

DHS late EMH has Disney Junior dance party the younger ones may enjoy. YMMV.

I agree with dropping DTD, unless you're looking for a reason to spend $$$.

I'm mixed on waterpark because you have stormalong bay which will probably be enough for the younger ones. If your ticket options are not flexible (i.e. paid waterpark, can't add a park day), perhaps go on arrival day and have another full day for MK.

DTD is only on our list because T-Rex is a top choice for both my boys as a dinner. They all love rainforest café, and the boys are excited to see it as dinos. Maybe we'll just make it an early dinner than hang out at the hotel after instead of wondering the area.

 

[summermac]

We haven't been to DTD on either of our last two trips and I can't say I miss it. I paid a lot of money to enjoy the parks not spend more money.

Also, since you're staying at a deluxe, I'd skip the waterpark and enjoy the hotel instead. It will still be HOT in August so going back for a swim mid-day will be great, especially if your kids can handle late nights with a break. I'd encourage you to consider hoppers if this is the case - you can hit a park at RD (or morning EMH [which are fantastic!] if your family can get up early) and get your commando touring done trying to do all the things that are on your must do list, go back to your resort for a swim/refresher and then hit another park in the late afternoon/evening for shows, attractions that don't get crazy crowded, etc.

You will NOT see it all. It just won't happen in 5 days. But with a good plan that includes Rope Drop, you will be fine.

 

[mickeygirl78]

I highly recommend going to a waterpark, even if you combine it with a park day. My nephew likes blizzard beach as much as the magic kingdom!

 

[junkpix]

I caution you against trying to do too much upon arrival, although, I always like to make some use of the first day even if we go to park for 2 hours and do some fillers.

I would also suggest adding one more park day. For about $10 a head, I think it is worth it.

Also I am a big proponent of Park Hopping. I like to be go early, get it done, get out by 1 pm. Then relax at the resort for a while and return to either the same or any other park for a relaxing evening.

Being at Beach Club makes a quick trip into EPCOT a no-brainer. Plus with FP+, you can do some legit stuff as well. Imagine no buses, no crowded entry to MK (you are talking mid-day here). Just take a little stroll over to EPCOT. You can knock out a couple of headliners at EPCOT with ease. (But starting at MK is nice as well so I see your point there.)

My suggestions (in a perfect world):

Sat, Aug 23 – Beach Club/ECPOT - Arrive at Beach Club between noon – 2pm.
- Check-in although your room may not be ready.
- Eat a light lunch.
- Everyone to the pool to relax for an hour or two. Well, you and Dad can relax. The kids can unwind with the pools and slides. Storm-Along-Bay is great!
- 4pm - Change and head to EPCOT. Remember, you can have 1 FP+ for Tier1 and 2 FP+ for Tier II.
- Get FP+ for these 3 attractions:
Soarin' (Tier 1)
Turtle Talk (Tier 2)
Spaceship Earth (Tier 2).
- Use FP+ at Spaceship Earth first. (FP+ window of 4-5pm.) This is probably the only time I can say that it might be wise to go there upon arrival to EPCOT.
- Use FP+ for Turtle Talk with Crush. (FP+ window of 5-6pm)
- Dinner in the Land at Garden Grill, relax.
- Use FP+ at Soarin’. (FP+ window of 7-8pm)
- Get out by 8pm and go to bed.

So first day recap:
- You tried the resort pool – cool!
- You rode Soarin’, saw Turtle Talk and experienced Spaceship Earth.

On your first real day at EPCOT, you can do them again (or not).

Sun, Aug 24 – your first, full day - MK (9am - 2pm)
Hollywood Studios really is best here on Sunday, but who says Sunday is not a MK day?

Get there early and can still do a ton in the morning without FP+.
Use a couple FP+s later in the morning and use one after lunch, and stay until you can’t tolerate the crowds any longer, then get out.
Have an 4:30pm dinner and relax at the pool in the early evening. The kids will crash. Zzzzzzzz.

Mon, Aug 25 – EPCOT (9am - 1pm and 5pm – close)
Do what you did not accomplish on your arrival night. Or repeat them if you want.
Take a break in the middle to walk back to Beach Club and get out of the heat.
Dinner in EPCOT at LeCellier or if you want more theming and less quality, the more exotic San Angel Inn.
Watch Illuminations from as close to Beach Club as possible.

Tue, Aug 26 – Hollywood Studios (9am – 4pm) - TRex for dinner
This is second best day in your schedule to visit HS. It is also the longest that I recommend.

Get there early and make the most of it.
This is a good night for dinner at T-Rex. I would skip Fantasmic! because tomorrow is a big day at Magic Kingdom. If you stay for Fantasmic! The kids may not be in bed until 10pm.

Wed, Aug 27 – Magic Kingdom (9am – 1pm and 5pm – close)
Wednesday is the best day of the week here! Do it right.

Thu, Aug 28 – Animal Kingdom (9am – 2pm) plus Wishes from the Contemporary
Animal Kingdom is a fun relatively laid-back park. End your tour by getting soaked on Kali River Rapids (with FP+, of course).
Take a long break at the hotel.

Drive to the Contemporary and have a 7pm dinner at Chef Mickey’s. You might not get seated until 7:30, you are done by 8:30ish. Ride the resort monorail and get off at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian to explore the lobbies for a few minutes each.
Get back to the Contemporary by 9:30 and get a spot on the 4th floor balcony to watch Wishes at 10pm.

End on a high-note and finish the best vacation ever!

 

[mommymanda]

Thanks so much junkpix! I haven't booked any ADR's yet, so that helps me organize days. I haven't had enough time to fully look at all the charts. It does mean we skip a waterpark, but since the kids don't even know its an option it may work out. Late dinners wouldn't be an option, but either way your agenda is helpful.

Lol and I have to figure out how to use the FP+ before I can do anything with it.