Our first trip.. how does it look?

[hmd3]

We are taking our first trip with our 8,7,6 and almost 4 year old.
We have a dining plan and I've made our ADR's. We are staying on property (duh) We DO NOT have park hoppers.
How does this look.. I'm a total rookie... no past experience, last time I was there was 12 years ago.

Magic Kingdom Hours:9:00am-11:00pm
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Be Our Guest
12:05-1:05- Aladdin Magic carpets Adventureland
Snack- Dole Whip, nut cart Adventureland
1:50-2:50- Buzz Lightyear Tomorrowland
3:25-4:25 Ariel Under the Sea Fantasyland
Pizza Dinner in our room


Animal Kingdom Hours 9:00am-8:00pm
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Yak and Yeti
Snack- Dino Bites
10:00-11:00 Kilimanjaro Safari
2:00-3:00 Expedition Everest
3:00-4:00 Dinosaur
7:35PM Table Service 1900 park fare Grand Floridian


Epcot Hours 9:00am- 9:00pm
8:00amTable service Akershus (princess)
1:55-2:55- Captain EO
3:00-4:00 Nemo
4:00-5:00 Soarin (Mickey Golf Ball)
Snack- Boulangerie Patisserie France
5:25 PM Dinner Table service Garden Grill
9:00 IlliumNations


Hollywood Studios Hours:9:00am-7:00pm
Quick Service lunch Back lot Express or Fairfax fare
Snack
11:10-12:10- Toy Story Mania
1:55-2:55 – Tower of Terror
3:00-4:00 - Great Movie Ride
7:40PM Table service Chef Mickey’s Contemporary


Magic Kingdom Hours: 9:00am-10:00pm
8:10am Breakfast Table Service Crystal Palace
Snack
1:50-2:50 Peter Pans Flight Fantasyland
3:35-4:35-stories with belle Fantasyland
4:35-5:35 Tomorrow Land Speedway Tomorrowland
Quick service Dinner Columbia Harbor House Liberty Square
8:00PM Wishes Fireworks


Magic Kingdom 8:00am-10:00pm
9:50-10:50 Space Mountain Tomorrowland
Lunch Quick Service Cosmic Rays Starlight café Tomorrowland
12:50-1:50 Dumbo FantasyLand
Snack Frontierland Pretzel Cart
4:45-4:45 Thunder Mountain- Frontierland
Dinner Quick Service pecos bill Frontierland


Animal Kingdom 9:00am-8:00PM
10:10 Table Service Tusker house 10:10am
12:20-1:20 expedition Everest
1:20-2:20 Kilimanjaro Safari
2:20-3:20 Primeval whirl
Animal Kingdom outfits

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If possible, I would do Killimanjaro Safari first thing in the morning. If you have an FP+ for the afternoon, keep it. But, go ahead and do standby and go for a ride early in the day

 

[Spunky946]

Looks good, except that you don't need a fast pass plus for the magic carpet ride. If you don't have jungle cruise another day, I'd do that.

Also soarin is not on the ball, that's space ship earth. Soarin is in the land building. Keep they and do nemo and spaceship earth.

 

[Happyjen27]

You're kind of all over the park on your Magic Kingdom days. I would recommend picking 1 or 2 "lands" and sticking in them each day. Take a look at the map, and then locate all of your rides in that general area. I did 3 days of MK my last trip, and we did Fantasyland all in one day, with the addition of Tomorrowland Speedway because that was a favorite. Then the next day we did Tomorrowland and some favorites from Fantasyland. The third day we did Adventureland and Frontierland. You'll tour far more efficiently if you plan your touring clearing all one land and then another day moving to the next.

We are taking our first trip with our 8,7,6 and almost 4 year old.
We have a dining plan and I've made our ADR's. We are staying on property (duh) We DO NOT have park hoppers.
How does this look.. I'm a total rookie... no past experience, last time I was there was 12 years ago.

Magic Kingdom Hours:9:00am-11:00pm
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Be Our Guest
12:05-1:05- Aladdin Magic carpets Adventureland (Someone said you don't need this, I think you do! It's very slow loading, and the FP+ is amazing here. It was so obvious we saved a lot of time that another family asked how we were able to skip the line and I had to explain about FP+)
Snack- Dole Whip, nut cart Adventureland
1:50-2:50- Buzz Lightyear Tomorrowland
3:25-4:25 Ariel Under the Sea Fantasyland
Pizza Dinner in our room




Animal Kingdom Hours 9:00am-8:00pm
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Yak and Yeti
Snack- Dino Bites
10:00-11:00 Kilimanjaro Safari
2:00-3:00 Expedition Everest
3:00-4:00 Dinosaur
7:35PM Table Service 1900 park fare Grand Floridian

Be careful of these "turn and burn" days. A 7:35 seating at the G-Flo would mean, roughly, a bedtime of 9:30PM. Then you'll have to get up, roughly at 6:30 to make your 8AM ADR tomorrow morning. That's no more than 9 hours of sleep, my kids would need more, yours may not.


Epcot Hours 9:00am- 9:00pm
8:00amTable service Akershus (princess)
1:55-2:55- Captain EO
3:00-4:00 Nemo
4:00-5:00 Soarin (Mickey Golf Ball)
Snack- Boulangerie Patisserie France
5:25 PM Dinner Table service Garden Grill
9:00 IlliumNations

There is no way I could go from 8AM to 10PM at Epcot. Seriously, it's a long, long, long day. I wouldn't even make it to dinnertime. Are you taking a break mid-day? Everyone is different, but I would be hesitant to make and ADR that would cost you $10pp to cancel when everyone is tired.


Hollywood Studios Hours:9:00am-7:00pm
Quick Service lunch Back lot Express or Fairfax fare
Snack
11:10-12:10- Toy Story Mania
1:55-2:55 – Tower of Terror
3:00-4:00 - Great Movie Ride
7:40PM Table service Chef Mickey’s Contemporary

Same comment here about the timing of your dinner and then early breakfast the next day. Unsure of where you're staying and how your transporting, but a 7:40 dinner could mean a pretty late night unless you're staying on a monorail resort or driving your own car to a non-monorail resort.


Magic Kingdom Hours: 9:00am-10:00pm
8:10am Breakfast Table Service Crystal Palace
Snack
1:50-2:50 Peter Pans Flight Fantasyland
3:35-4:35-stories with belle Fantasyland
4:35-5:35 Tomorrow Land Speedway Tomorrowland
Quick service Dinner Columbia Harbor House Liberty Square
8:00PM Wishes Fireworks


Magic Kingdom 8:00am-10:00pm
9:50-10:50 Space Mountain Tomorrowland
Lunch Quick Service Cosmic Rays Starlight café Tomorrowland
12:50-1:50 Dumbo FantasyLand
Snack Frontierland Pretzel Cart
4:45-4:45 Thunder Mountain- Frontierland
Dinner Quick Service pecos bill Frontierland


Animal Kingdom 9:00am-8:00PM
10:10 Table Service Tusker house 10:10am
12:20-1:20 expedition Everest
1:20-2:20 Kilimanjaro Safari
2:20-3:20 Primeval whirl
Animal Kingdom outfits

Some people have families and kids that can go for it and be all day in the parks. I do not. I have kids that need breaks after about 4-5 hours in a park, and kids that would rather not go to late night dinners. They love restaurants, but, if I'm sitting in a restaurant with my littles at 8:30PM and they haven't had a nap after touring all day, I can't expect great behavior from them. You know your kids and family best, and they might be better at this hectic pace than mine are. Many families tour aggressively like this and have a great time. I'm more of a chill person, so that's how I tour. Rather enjoy every minute of the vacation and see less, then to see a lot, and set my kids up for failure because they aren't getting the 11 hours of sleep a night that they're used to. We don't stay on schedule necessarily on vacation, but, I always give their little bodies the opportunity to get 11 hours of sleep a night, even if they wake up early the next morning on their own, they had the chance to sleep.

 

[sazzlynn]

We are taking our first trip with our 8,7,6 and almost 4 year old.
We have a dining plan and I've made our ADR's. We are staying on property (duh) We DO NOT have park hoppers.
How does this look.. I'm a total rookie... no past experience, last time I was there was 12 years ago.

Magic Kingdom Hours:9:00am-11:00pm
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Be Our Guest
12:05-1:05- Aladdin Magic carpets Adventureland
Snack- Dole Whip, nut cart Adventureland
1:50-2:50- Buzz Lightyear Tomorrowland
3:25-4:25 Ariel Under the Sea Fantasyland
Pizza Dinner in our room


Animal Kingdom Hours 9:00am-8:00pm
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Yak and Yeti
Snack- Dino Bites
10:00-11:00 Kilimanjaro Safari
2:00-3:00 Expedition Everest
3:00-4:00 Dinosaur
7:35PM Table Service 1900 park fare Grand Floridian


Epcot Hours 9:00am- 9:00pm
8:00amTable service Akershus (princess)
1:55-2:55- Captain EO
3:00-4:00 Nemo
4:00-5:00 Soarin (Mickey Golf Ball)
Snack- Boulangerie Patisserie France
5:25 PM Dinner Table service Garden Grill
9:00 IlliumNations


Hollywood Studios Hours:9:00am-7:00pm
Quick Service lunch Back lot Express or Fairfax fare
Snack
11:10-12:10- Toy Story Mania
1:55-2:55 – Tower of Terror
3:00-4:00 - Great Movie Ride
7:40PM Table service Chef Mickey’s Contemporary


Magic Kingdom Hours: 9:00am-10:00pm
8:10am Breakfast Table Service Crystal Palace
Snack
1:50-2:50 Peter Pans Flight Fantasyland
3:35-4:35-stories with belle Fantasyland
4:35-5:35 Tomorrow Land Speedway Tomorrowland
Quick service Dinner Columbia Harbor House Liberty Square
8:00PM Wishes Fireworks


Magic Kingdom 8:00am-10:00pm
9:50-10:50 Space Mountain Tomorrowland
Lunch Quick Service Cosmic Rays Starlight café Tomorrowland
12:50-1:50 Dumbo FantasyLand
Snack Frontierland Pretzel Cart
4:45-4:45 Thunder Mountain- Frontierland
Dinner Quick Service pecos bill Frontierland


Animal Kingdom 9:00am-8:00PM
10:10 Table Service Tusker house 10:10am
12:20-1:20 expedition Everest
1:20-2:20 Kilimanjaro Safari
2:20-3:20 Primeval whirl
Animal Kingdom outfits

You did a pretty good job. I'm assuming that you'll be there at rope drop and then using you're PF+ rides later when the crowds pick up.
I'll do my comments by the parks so hopefully it makes sense.
Magic Kingdom:
I second the the previous poster about being all over the park in MK on the first day. The Ariel ride is right next to "Be Our Guest" and Aladdin is all the way over in adventure Land (about 10 minute walk with a family) and then Buzz is back across the park again in Tomorrow land. For my family, we also like to focus on completely the Lands in MK b/c I always found it hard to get my kids to walk past other attractions that they haven't done. There are several slow loaders (Adventure Land = Aladdin, Tomorrow Land = Astro Orbiter & Speedway, & Fantasy Land = Peter Pan & Pooh) so the lines for those back up so either plan to do those 1st or get FP+. Also, your kids are a bit older so I'd think about letting them do the mountains on the 1st day. These are my kids favorites so we do them multiple times each trip, at rope drop, and them move on to FP+ stuff.

If you haven't already, go order your FREE customize maps here and take a look at the locations for all the rides:
http://customizedmaps.disney.go.com/home.aspx

Animal Kingdom:
You first day looks great, but you're second day has some serious walking for your FP+ rides. The safari is right by Tusker houes, so I'd try and do those together. Everest is about a 10 minute walk from Tusker house and then back to Tusker house area for the safari and then back past Everest plus another 5 minutes for Primeval whirl. Not sure when you're planning to get there each day but I find more animals are out moving around for the safari early morning vs. afternoon.

EPCOT:
This park is huge to walk for kids, my loved it, but it wore them out. We've never made it from park opening to IlliumNations (my oldest are only 6 so a little younger than yours) but I mention that b/c, it doesn't look like you're planning a break based on your FP+ times. I'd suggest going straight to test track after your breakfast? It's the only other ride (besides Soarin) that will have long waits and they are at least on the same side of the park, still a 5-10 minute walk. EO, Soarin, and Nemo are all on the same side and relatively close to each other so it's fine to group those. I'd also keep Soarin & Garden grill together b/c they are in the same building. Someone already mentioned that Soarin is in the Land building, not the Golf Ball (Space ship Earth). Space Ship Earth is still worth doing, as are the innovations buildings, but they are typically not long wait attractions. My kids love the "Feed the Pig" game and it's in the A/C.

Hollywood Studios:
If your interested in doing TSM more than once (without an hour+ wait) , then you will seriously have to be there at rope drop and go straight there. Are any of your kids Star Wars fans, if so Jedi training is good, but has it's own strategy to get the kids signed up, so look into it if you're interested. Also, if any of your kids still like the Disney junior stuff, then this show would be a good one to use FP+ on instead of The Great Movie Ride (you won't need it for this ride, period). Disney junior is close to TSM if that helps with planning logistics, and the FP+ people are seated in the center. Also, maybe the animator class if your have any artists. =) If you need a snack in HS, the Butterfinger cupcake at Starring Rolls is AMAZING.

General:
How tall is your almost 4 yr old? If you haven't already, look into and use rider swap. Also, be aware of Disney's rule that an child under 7, must ride with someone at least 14 when splitting up for rides.
Please, don't take the length of my comments as an insult to your planning effort, I'm just wordy. I hope you guys have a great trip!

 

[hmd3]

Thanks Everyone for the boat loads of great information! It is great to have all of your expertise! I am definitely looking into moving some things around!
Thanks bunches!

 

[amym2]

As the others have said, WDW requires a ton of walking and it tires people out very quickly (adults included). I have very energetic kids, but if we followed your schedule, by day 3 we'd be done. I'd absolutely plan in some mid-day breaks or a couple of days where you hit the parks then head to the resort late afternoon and relax in the evening. Are you planning to use your resort pool?

I'd say you're okay to stick with what you have but just be aware that you may need to forego some of those fp+ if you need a break instead. Chances are you will love WDW so much you will return in the future!

 

[hmd3]

I updated my fast passes and tried to regroup, I'd love feedback if this is any better.


Magic Kingdom (Minnie/Mickey)
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Be Our Guest
1:50-2:50- Buzz Lightyear
2:50-3:50 Tomorrow land speedway
4:00-5:00 Space Mountain

Animal Kingdom
Lunch Quick Service Meal at Yak and Yeti
10:00-11:00 Kilimanjaro Safari
2:00-3:00 Expedition Everest
3:00-4:00 Dinosaur
7:35PM Table Service 1900 park fare Grand Floridian

Epcot
8:00am Table service Akershus (princess)
1:55-2:55- Captain EO
3:00-4:00 Nemo
4:00-5:00 Soarin
5:25 PM Dinner Table service Garden Grill


Hollywood Studios
Quick Service lunch Back lot Express or Fairfax fare
11:10-12:10- Toy Story Mania
1:55-2:55 – Tower of Terror
3:00-4:00 - Great Movie Ride
7:40PM Table service Chef Mickey’s Contemporary

Magic Kingdom
8:10am Breakfast Table Service Crystal Palace
1:50-2:50 Peter Pans Flight Fantasyland
3:35-4:35-stories with belle Fantasyland
4:35-5:35 Under the Sea Fantasyland
Quick service Dinner Columbia Harbor House Liberty Square
8:00PM Wishes Fireworks

Magic Kingdom
9:50-10:50 Haunted Mansion Liberty Square
Lunch Quick Service Tortuga Tavern Adventureland
12:50-1:50 Magic Carpets of Aladdin Adventureland
3:45-4:45 Thunder Mountain- Frontierland
Dinner Quick Service Pecos bill Frontierland


Animal Kingdom
10:10 Table Service Tusker house 10:10am
11:10-12:10 It’s tough to be a bug
12:35-1:35 Primeval whirl
2:00-3:00 Expedition Everest

 

[letsgoreds]

My concern is that the two days you have pre-park opening breakfasts (and great choices, btw) you have LATE long ADR dinners the night before. That is asking a lot of your younger kids. If you could move those up, or maybe do Chef Mickey's in the middle of one of your MK days, I would change them.

What about pool time?

 

[hmd3]

My concern is that the two days you have pre-park opening breakfasts (and great choices, btw) you have LATE long ADR dinners the night before. That is asking a lot of your younger kids. If you could move those up, or maybe do Chef Mickey's in the middle of one of your MK days, I would change them.

What about pool time?

We leave in less than 2 weeks.. so I don't think I'll have too much flexibility with my ADR's.
as for pool time... I'm not sure how warm it will be and we swim at home everyday so it's not as much as a novelty as the parks will be but I'm willing to ditch some fast passes and let the kids hang out at the pool if they want.

 

[ashleymrush]

I think a lot of what you have looks good. I agree with others about taking breaks if possible. My only suggestions would be to look into switch your FP+ selections for the following attractions as they generally have very low wait times anyway, especially this time of year : Captain EO, Great Movie Ride, It's Tough to be a Bug. I'd be surprised if you had to wait more than 15 minutes for any of these rides. Try to look at your other choices and pick items that have longer waits to maximize your time.

I lied...one more thing. Don't give up on your ADR times. People cancel constantly and you'd be surprised what you can find if you are diligent and keep looking even up to the day before.

Have fun!

 

[letsgoreds]

We leave in less than 2 weeks.. so I don't think I'll have too much flexibility with my ADR's.
as for pool time... I'm not sure how warm it will be and we swim at home everyday so it's not as much as a novelty as the parks will be but I'm willing to ditch some fast passes and let the kids hang out at the pool if they want.

The great thing with the FP and many reservations is that you can adjust them if you need to. There are often cancellations closer to the actual dates, so if it is a concern (and might not be at all...each kiddo is different) keep looking online to see if something pops up, or look at restaurant ADR board on this site for the month you are gone. We dropped a BOG ADR for 7 2 days prior...so spots do open up.

For us, swimming and a break back at the resort is a reprieve from the people at the parks. Sounds like you have that in your back pocket if need be. Every family has a different touring style. It is not one size fits all.

Don't be surprised if you move your FP+ around, and don't be afraid to try. We were constantly moving our FP+ around last December. Word on the street is that some FP+ spots are released day-of when the park opens.

My DS8 favorite things to do are Jedi Training Academy at HS (need to get to the park around 8:15 at a 9am opening for sign-up, DS3.5 did great at this in Dec.), Sum of All Thrills (EP, younger ones cant do, but plenty to see at Innoventions to kill time) and Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (free card game at MK).

 

[letsgoreds]

I also STRONGLY suggest bringing a stroller. If the kids don't want to sit in it, it is a great place to hold coats, sunscreen, etc.

Excited for you...you are going to have a great time!!!

 

[Happyjen27]

The great thing with the FP and many reservations is that you can adjust them if you need to. There are often cancellations closer to the actual dates, so if it is a concern (and might not be at all...each kiddo is different) keep looking online to see if something pops up, or look at restaurant ADR board on this site for the month you are gone. We dropped a BOG ADR for 7 2 days prior...so spots do open up.

We cancelled some good ADRs during this past trip too, BoG, etc. The kids were getting run down, so we cancelled a couple of dinners out and just ate Quick Serve in our resort. So, the week of, you will see some good stuff open up, just call first thing in the morning each day and see what you can get.

 

[hmd3]

Thanks everyone! I'm beyond excited! We are surprising the kids so they don't have a clue we are going!!!
I'm bringing our double stroller because I can see anyone of our 4 kids taking an occasional break in it not to mention storing stuff in it.
I will keep my options open for FP+ and even our ADR. It's good to have a plan but if it needs to change so be it!

 

[tina.tina]

To me, dinosaur in AK looks terrifying. DS was 5.5 and I did not let DH take him on that ride because I didn't want to make him afraid of dinosaurs. Have a great time and don't worry about packing everything in to one trip!

 

[caroline1851]

I would plan 2 days for Epcot. It's huge with tons of stuff to do. You could eliminate 1 day from MK or AK to make that happen.

 

[Kekepania]

Wow! Thanks for posting this thread. Lots of great info for first timers with children!