Opinions On Itinerary, Please. (long)

[FayeW]

Although we have been to Orlando once before, the only WDW park we did that time was MK, so we are pretty much disney newbies. I have researched and planned until I thought my head would explode.Care to critique?

Day One:
We arrive at 3:45 for a 2 night stay at Sheraton Safari, and 7 nights at Bryan's Spanish Cove. First night we plan to check in, maybe have a quick swim so the kids can enjoy the water slide, and head to DQ for a couple of hours. Probably grab something for supper at DQ or Downtown Disney.

Day Two: (Friday)
Blizzard Beach until 3-4, then to MGM. BB was not originally planned, but now we have an extra day, and it will close for rehab 2 days after we arrive.Have not made any ADR's for MGM; will grab something enroute or from counterservice. Hoping to slide into Fantasmic without benefit of the FDP, but will have another opportunity to see it later in the week.

Day Three: (Saturday)
Friends arriving to join us. Will meet them at BSC @Noon, and then proceed to MK. We have an ADR for dessert at CRT at 4:25 to celebrate our daughter's birthday. Hoping to stay long enough for Spectro & Wishes, but friends have a ridiculously early flight Sat. a.m, and may be too tired to stay that late. We have a free evening later in the week that we can come back if they miss it. I know Sat is not usually recommended for MK, but with MNSSHP schedule, it is one of the only days it is open late while we are there.

Day Four: (Sunday)
Typoon Lagoon, and then Epcot for the evening.

Day Five: (Monday)
MGM (Because evening EMH was the day before, so Monday should be a good touring day).

Day Six: (Tuesday)
Islands of Adventure until 5. DQ for the evening.

Day Seven: (Wednesday)
Universal Studios until 4:30. Dinner at WCC. Nothing planned after that,but could go to a park for the evening to catch something we missed.

Day Eight: (Thursday)
US/IOA til 4:00. MK for MNSSHP!

Day Nine: ( Friday)
Epcot for full day. Lunch at Marrakesh, Dinner will be CS.

Day 10: (Saturday)
Last Day. Son's birthday. AK for full day. Airport by 6:30pm for 7:50 pm departure.

With the exception of AK, we will be able to visit each Disney park twice. I know that MNSSHP will allow us to get in most rides and attractions we may miss by going on the busier Saturday. How does it sound?

 

[ainmama2001]

How old are your kids? That's a biggie. If your kids are preschoolers, you may want to try and schedule more time at MK. My DD4 didn't really enjoy the other parks like she did MK. Try and hit some character meals so you can eat AND meet the characters without spending that time waiting on line when you could be touring the park.

 

[DeirdreTours]

Since you asked for opinions, I am going to give you mine: You have way too much going on! Trying to cram WDW and both Universal parks into one vacation is a mistake, you will not really get to explore anything fully. Also, I think you will be utterly exhausted by the end of day 2. If your children are under 10, they will probably be cranky and unbearable by the end of the first full day.
Advice: Cut back-- you don't have to do everything in Orlando in one trip. For example, a full day at Blizzard Beach followed by a whirlwind tour of MGM is a lot. Maybe just dinner and one or two rides at MGM and then return for a half day later in the week?

Disclaimer: With three kids and husband who want to do everything, I may have different experience than yours.

 

[FayeW]

We have a 9 yr old son and an 11 yr old daughter, as do the friends that will join us. Our kids spent a full day at MK, and a second visit for MVMCP last time we went 2 yrs ago. That trip we also did SW, IOA & US. This trip was mainly to concentrate on the Disney parks, but US/IOA are absolutely must do for us as well. They really enjoyed MK LEAST of all parks we did last time. I expect that BB will be a shorter day, since it doesn't open until 10 anyway. I expect we will be able to get to MGM by 4 or so, and I think it closes at 7:30 so it will be a relatively short visit, more to acquaint ourselves with the park, and hopefully see Fantasmic. We ARE going back to MGM on Monday, for the full day. Same with the Epcot visit after TL:we have a full day scheduled for Epcot the following Friday, again the day after the evening EMH, which is what has been recommended to minimize wait times. Maybe I am mistaken, but I view the waterpark days as more of a "relax day", than a park day, so although we do have alot planned, they will be our 'down time".

Since we have 4 day tickets to US/IOA, we planned to utilize 3 of them. However, at this time of the year, going mid-week, we should be able to do both parks in one day easily, and could give up one of the 3 days we have planned to either relax, or go see a favourite disney park another time.