one month to go and starting to panic

[dkbnyc]

We have one month left until our trip- i have yet to do any daily park plans and am starting to panic. Our first night is dec 3rd and are going to MVMCP at 4pm.
Do I need to have a touring plan for this night? or should we just wing it. Its our first time at disney, my girls are almost 5 and almost 2. We will also go to MK on dec 4th.

 

[KimFIGFern]

This is our 3rd trip to Disney. The first time we went in October, my sons were 5 and 4 and I was pregnant with our 3rd son. We didn't have a plan and just decided to go to the parks when we got there ... sleeping in, not having a plan. Well, I have to tell you ... it was a disaster! My husband is not fond of amusement parks and not having a good plan just through all of us for a loop. (I also have to tell you my sons got a fever of 103 the night we were leaving!)

So, my husband has vowed never to return. I waited until last year (sons then ages 15, 13 and 8) to return. We went with another family and subscribed to Tour Guide Mike. We followed his plan on which days to go to which parks ... and his plans for touring. His site is easy to navigate and use. We rode more rides and had more fun than anyone expected ... even the family we went with ... who has been to Disney at least 5 times.

We are going again in less than a month and I have already subscribed to Tour Guide Mike (trust me ... it is worth the money!). I hope you enjoy your trip ... and it goes much smoother than my first trip!

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Oh, I don't think it's all that bad This is our third trip, we arrive Dec 5th. Not knowing your kids ages, ours are DS6 and DS3.... we do very well without touring plans. Beginning of Dec is a relatively slow time, that was our first trip in 07. We have plans for which park which days... these are easier to figure out by knowing that some things aren't done daily this time of year or knowing when the EMH's are if you want to go then. Like Wishes and Spectromagic are only one day during our trip, Fantasmic only twice I think. This is where I started. Check what days what is going on, figure in your ADR's if you did that... we're doing QS plan this time, much easier to deal with, and see what days on UG might be busier/slower and see what you can do. I don't worry about "go here now, get fast passes here now" waits were not long for anything really. Toy Story Mania is the only worry I have. We went in Sept and that was the longest ride wait then too. We just follow what the kids wanted to do, relax and enjoy. Esp being your first trip take it all in, see the things you'd miss running from one place to another. My boys ride Buzz Lightyear 10 or more times in a row when we get there, we let them then move on to whatever is next nearby someone is wanting to see or do. I realize with bigger kids, bigger rides this may not work, but it really is the nicest way to go. We're never EXHAUSTED, I stay out very late with DS3, he may nap in the stroller some but we have a blast, see a lot and don't overdo it by taking our time.
Good Luck, don't stress over it and have a magical time!

 

[Disneychix]

I will be there on the 3rd too! I am not having a touring plan for the party. I think that MVMCP will be a great start to your first trip to WDW! I would suggest not having a touring plan exactly but know what you want to do and what time parades and shows are. Just don't go blindly or you'll get nothing done.

Have fun! Maybe I"ll see you there!

 

[DVCGeek]

I would suggest not having a touring plan exactly but know what you want to do and what time parades and shows are. Just don't go blindly or you'll get nothing done.

I agree with that. Make a hit list of a few of your top priorities (i.e. I definitely want to see haunted Mansion and Space Mountain + watch Wishes in MK) for each of the parks and try for those first, and do what looks fun around them. Anything more detailed than that tends to get frustrating since you never know what the lines will be like or what your mood will be at a given moment. Have fun! How long are you going to be there? Try and make your goals realistic for the number of day(s) you will be at each park and you will probably have a lot more fun than if you try and do EVERYTHING on this trip; if you do manage to see it all, treat that as a huge bonus! Also, be sure to include some rest time for the kids. I've read a number of reports where families with children have MUCH better times when they plan to head back to the hotel for a few hours break and nap (or pool weather permitting, etc.) instead of staying in a park all day.

Good luck and enjoy your VACATION!

 

[duffy]

Just use Tour Guide Mike. Go to the parks that he recommends each day. It's not free, though. Use the link at the top of the page.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

No worries. I will do an extremely generic touring plan for each park that only lists the top 3 things each of us wants to do the week before we leave. Sometimes I don't even bother.

As far as MVMCP touring plan, someone will post the map of the party after the very first party and you can look at that and decide what's most important for you to do and do those first. Anything else is a bonus.

Don't get too caught up with touring plans, ect. The most important thing is to relax and enjoy it with your girls. You'll do great.

 

[Millie12591]

Anyone that's been several times knows they can get away with not having a touring plan, of course this also depends on what time of the year they go, but for you I will suggest what other previous posters pp have said....Tour Guide Mike.
Although, I wouldn't go as far as saying he's easy to navigate upon first looking at his site...it's very overwhelming at first. Just follow his directions to the letter on how to navigate his site and before to long you'll be a pro, also he has a forum sort of like this you can go in on and talk with people if your getting overwhelmed and need some help.

The only thing I really use TGM for is what are the busiest days of the dates I'm going and then write down all the parks he suggests are OK for that day, then I go into the sample tours and write down verbatim what he tells me to do for touring that park.

I know all of this sounds like a lot but it really is step by step, so it's really not as overwhelming as it may sound. When you first get on his site (after purchasing the plan) there will be questions about you and your party that you will be going with...make sure to fill all that in and then the program will spit out information that pertains to your party, you won't get a personalized touring plan, but that's OK you'll get what you need as you go through the site.

If you have any problems with this site or feel like you made the wrong decision once you've bought it, just PM me and I will walk you through it as best as I can. But! Do me one favor....remember this is a vacation that is suppose to be fun, if your having fun your children will have fun, so don't stress yourself out and know that your going to be in WDW!!! It's The Happiest Place On Earth!

 

[dkbnyc]

I agree with that. Make a hit list of a few of your top priorities (i.e. I definitely want to see haunted Mansion and Space Mountain + watch Wishes in MK) for each of the parks and try for those first, and do what looks fun around them. Anything more detailed than that tends to get frustrating since you never know what the lines will be like or what your mood will be at a given moment. Have fun! How long are you going to be there? Try and make your goals realistic for the number of day(s) you will be at each park and you will probably have a lot more fun than if you try and do EVERYTHING on this trip; if you do manage to see it all, treat that as a huge bonus! Also, be sure to include some rest time for the kids. I've read a number of reports where families with children have MUCH better times when they plan to head back to the hotel for a few hours break and nap (or pool weather permitting, etc.) instead of staying in a park all day.

Good luck and enjoy your VACATION!

we will be there 2 1/2 days. we arrive late morning on 12/3- will do MVMCP that night. 12/4 will be MK and Sat 12/5 will be DHS. We leave late morning on 12/6
I know we wont be able to see much. kids dont know about the trip but i figure they will be more into rides than meeting characters or watching shows.

 

[Puget Peach]

We have one month left until our trip- i have yet to do any daily park plans and am starting to panic. Our first night is dec 3rd and are going to MVMCP at 4pm.
Do I need to have a touring plan for this night? or should we just wing it. Its our first time at disney, my girls are almost 5 and almost 2. We will also go to MK on dec 4th.

Touringplans.com has a plan for MVMCP and it's not very expensive to subscribe - I seem to remember it to be in the $10 range.

I'm not big on a specific touring plan, but I do use the cheat sheet available on touringplans.com. It is essentially a chart divided into time of day on one axis and attractions on the other, then coded as to when to ride, when to get a fast pass, or when to just forget about it until a different time. This has allowed me more freedom in my days. It's also easier for a "NonPlanner" to see how things flow in the parks, rather than having to adhere to a set sequence of activities. I find it very useful in making sure we do the high priority stuff, while "filling in" with attractions we might not otherwise try, but love once we do.

I certainly use their crowd planner. If I'm going to be in a park with and "8", I know in advance what I'm getting into!

 

[Goofy's Mom]

Having made many trips to the world, both with my children and now grandchild, I make my ADR's and thats the park we head to for the day or at least a major part of it. I agree with picking out whats important to you at each park and be sure to do that 1st. If you find your family feeling the stress, yes there is stress at WDW if you allow all the frustration, take a break. We allow 2 days for each park sometimes we use both days and some times the 2nd time at a park is just a sleep in day and go do a few things on that day. have fun it is a vacation We leave the 3rd of Dec and will use time sitting in airport to deceide what is important this trip to see

 

[yrdlyprincess]

That's nothing- wait till it's 7 days to go--and you aren't packed because you don't know if it's shorts or jeans...then you should panic! Just kidding-- I'm not in a panic--if I forget anything we are getting a car so I will just go off property to buy it

 

[DizzyLand15]

A few years ago we went that first weekend in December for the Christmas Parade taping. We made the mistake of packing only jeans. Orlando had rare snow flurries the previous week so we mistakenly thought it would be cool. The temperature hit the mid 80's that weekend. We nearly roasted! It's normally cool in the mornings and at night with temps in the 50's but it warms up to the 70's. Just keep checking the weather forecasts. And on a side note, I think the TV taping of this years Christmas Parade is on December 3, 4, and 5th in the Magic Kingdom. It can be very crowded in the front part of the park due to that. We will actually be there December 5-12 this year. Cant wait!

 

[marshmellow86]

You need to plan to see the parade during MVMCP. It is a Christmas parade and the only time they have that parade is at the party (with the possible exception of weekend of taping of the Christmas special). Your kids are at an age they will LOVE it. Kids that age tend to love all of the parades. There are 2 showings of the same parade that night. Catch whichever time you prefer.

 

[Janed]

I've always been a vacation planner. Better then a house cleaner or cook!
For each of our previous 5 trips I made my own touring plans after reading these boards and the Unofficial guide. Because we went at slow times, they worked out well.

Maybe I am getting old, or just more busy then before, and have just not been able to get into the planning for our trip in January. So, I subscribed to RideMax. For $20.00 I can design plans that fit our touring style. When I think of how much I will be spending on this trip, it's a drop in the ocean It has been fun playing with the program.

I also subscribed to the Unofficial Guide Site. They just went live with a beta version of wait times that you can get on you phone (if it has internet capability) Check out the website:

http://blog.touringplans.com/2009/11/18/android-palm-mobile-wait-times/

I'm not sure I am supposed to post that link. So if it is not allowed, just go to the touring plans website and then click on blogs and recent news. That will take you there as well.