I am starting to feel a bit frustrated and overwhelmed. Maybe this trip wasn't a good idea. I just don't know if we'll get our money's worth out of it.
What do you consider your "money's worth?" A chance to see your child meet characters for the first time, have magic happen for her, and to spend time together as a family or being able to plan the perfect reservation/fastpass/trip? I think your expectations of a trip with a toddler are a bit high... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go, you should just adjust your expectations, and stop getting sucked into planning. It's a mistake I made on our first trip, and plays a big part of my advice here, and I don't even have a toddler! Here's what I think:
All right. . .here goes. . . .
May 11- 3:15 arrive at Orlando Airport travel to POFQ (our resort) using Magical Express.
5:10-6:10- Fast Pass- under the sea (We are pretty sure we will have to skip this one!)
6:10- Dinner at The Crystal Palace (Pooh is the first character our daughter new. . .and even now she wants to sing the pooh
song before going to bed. . .although the lyrics are always different?)
7:10-8:10- Fast Pass- Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
9:00- Main Street Electrical parade (Will likely try to watch near the Country Bears or Liberty square)
9:35-9:55 Fast Pass- Wishes nighttime spectacular
It would be a shame for her to miss this if your plane was late, or ME took a while... it takes me an average of 2 hours to get to and checked into the hotel. If you're taking a cab, this shouldn't be a problem, but that's cutting it close. I would just skip a character dinner and have QS that first night. Schedule a meal in the morning (cheaper) or after nap time. I think you have far too many table services with a toddler as it is, but I'll get into that later. You've got a 3 year old, and you've been traveling all day long... I wouldn't imagine making it to the parks at all would be a good idea, but that might just be me. I've learned to not anticipate doing anything on arrival or leaving day. Yes, I make fastpasses, and I would keep yours, but I wouldn't put anything on this day that you can't repeat on another day, such as the crystal palace.
All right. . .here goes. . . .
May 12- Due to late night for three year old hoping for a bit later of a start (My wife and I would do rope drop every morning if our daughter
allows)
9:40-10:40- Fast Pass- Animal kingdom- Meet the Characters
10:35- Tusker House Restaurant
12:05- Fast pass- Kilimanjaro Safari
2:30-2:50- Fast pass- Nemo the musical (Nemo is a must for Mama and I, bu if we can we will go earlier and ignore the fast pass)
TBD- Hollywood studios and Fantasmic for the evening
You have things planned for 40 minutes-1 hr/40 min after RD assuming it isn't EMH, how much of a later start are you expecting? If you do get to that first FP, and see that the lines are short (they should be.) Switch your fastpass to something else, perhaps FOTL? Or, do you or your wife want to do any more intense rides? You could have a fastpass for that, and do ride switch. I personally wouldn't be happy with the tusker house reservation that early and/or that late, it eats into no-wait-ride-time, but if you are really only going for the shows, it's fine. Is there any way you can move up Nemo? It'll take an hour to get back to your hotel room, and you said you wanted your daughter to take a nap starting 1-3... it definitely won't happen today.
All right. . .here goes. . . .
May 13- 10:00-11:00 am- Fast pass turtle talk with Crush
11:15 AM - 12:15- Fast pass Soaring
11:25 AM- Chef Mickeys (I am pretty sure we are going to release this one. . .just seems to complicate the day)
12:30-1:30 Fast pass- Character Spot
3:05- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
No Set plans for the evening
You won't make soaring if you do this, and two TS in one day? I would agree with you on that canceling thing.
May 14- 10:20 -11:20 Fast pass-Enchanted Tales with Belle
11:30-12:30- Fast pass Meet Cinderella and Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall (Cinderella is daughter's favorite....we've watched it 6 times n one weekend!)
12:50-1:50 Fast Pass meet Ariel (Again. . . likely to have to skip...did I mention I kind of hate fast passes)
1:30- Hollywood studios- Hollywood and vine Disney Jr Lunch
No set plans for Evening but will likely wish to see fireworks
She'll meet cinderella at Akershus, do you want to meet her twice? And you aren't
forced to use your FPs, it's just a suggestion, if you don't want it, don't use it! I'd suggest these for fps for MK, though: dumbo, A&E if you can get it, tinkerbelle if she likes that, Winny the pooh ride, peter pan, under the sea, etc. If you plan on doing ETwB that early, why don't you just ride it standby? You miss most of the house if you go through FP. Again with the napping thing, you have a reservation for 1:30, it'll take an hourish to eat, and an hourish back, you'll miss your nap window. I'd try for a CP reservation today, if you can, and skip the Jr lunch. Or 1900 park fare does the entire cinderella cast for dinner at night.
May 15- EMH- 8:00 To Magic Kingdom
9:50 AM - 10:50 AM- Fast pass- Meet Ariel- I know we have two will need to let one go!
11:00 AM- 1900 Park Faire (We finally got a break from Cinderella when our daughter discovered Mary Poppins!)
11:30-12:30- Peter Pan (Possibly another fast pass we need to skip)
1:20-2:20- Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
5:40 flight leaves Orlando
What about jungle cruise? Meeting mickey mouse? And ME makes you leave 3 hours before your flight, keep that in mind.
