Overwhelmed with planning...please help

[kandyk]

Hello all! I am planning our first ever trip to Disneyworld and driving myself and my DH a little crazy so I thought it was time to get some help from the pros!

Here’s our background and plans so far: We are Disneyland veterans and DVC members. It will be myself, DH and DS who will be 14. Our reservations are from Aug.14 to 28 and we are staying at the Treehouse Villas. (So excited for the Treehouses!)

We will be taking a red eye flight from Washington on Aug 13th and getting into Orlando at 7:15 am on the 14th. I don’t want to go to the parks the first day since I’m not sure what kind of shape we will be in. We are planning to get familiar with the resort, go to DTD and have a nice lunch and dinner close to the resort. May hit the pool too and take a nap at some point.

We are still up in the air about getting a rental car or just using Disney transportation.

We have decided to get the DxDP. We know it’s a lot of food but there are just so many restaurants that we want to go to that it seemed like the best option for us. We are pretty big eaters and the food is one of our favorite things about a vacation.

We will also have 10-day park hoppers. Of our 15 days, 2 will be spent on travel, 2 at the water parks, 1 day for a break and the other 10 in the parks.

We plan to be at the parks for rope drop and/or morning EMH. We may stay late in the parks some days and use an evening EMH but that is yet to be determined. Since we have a lot of time we will take most afternoons off for a nap and pool time. I know this then causes A LOT of travel time so that is why we are still debating on the rental car.

So here is my itinerary that I “think” I like the best but want others to take a look at and point out anything I may have missed or that won’t work well.

Sat Aug 14
Morning travel
Lunch-Beaches and Cream
Dinner- Captn Jacks

Sun Aug 15
MK Day
Breakfast-Cinderella’s
Lunch- Tony’s
Dinner- Nacroosse’s

Mon Aug 16
AK Day
Breakfast-Tusker House
Lunch- Yak and Yeti
Dinner- Yachtsman Steakhouse

Tue Aug 17
Waterpark
Breakfast- Cape May
Lunch- @ waterpark?
Dinner- Whispering Canyon

Wed Aug 18
HS Day
Breakfast-At resort or park QS?
Lunch- Sci-fi
Dinner-Mama Melrose

Thur Aug 19
Epcot Day
Breakfast- Kouzzina (Can we make it to opening if we get a 7:30 ADR?)
Lunch- Le Cellier
Dinner- Rose and Crown/Illuminations

Fri Aug 20
MK Day
Breakfast- Crystal Palace
Lunch- Plaza
Dinner-California Grill/Fireworks

Sat Aug 21
Day off
Breakfast- sleep in
Lunch-Turf Club
Dinner-Spirit of Aloha (OOP for cat 1 seating)

Sun Aug 22
Epcot Day
Breakfast- At resort or park QS?
Lunch- Coral Reef
Dinner- Teppen Edo

Mon Aug 23
HS Day
Breakfast- At resort or park QS?
Lunch- 50’s Prime Time
Dinner- Ohana

Tue Aug 24
Waterpark Day
Breakfast- Kona
Lunch- @ Waterpark?
Dinner- Citrico’s

Wed Aug 25
AK Day
Breakfast- Boma Late? (Not too sure on this one.)
Lunch- Raglan Road
Dinner- Boatwright’s

Thur Aug 26
MK Day
Breakfast- Chef Mickey or Grand Fl Café? Can we make an EMH if we have a 7am ADR?
Lunch-Liberty Tree
Dinner-Artist Point

Fri Aug 27
Go back to whatever park we want for last rides of our favorites.
Breakfast- At resort or in parks?
Lunch-San Angel
Dinner Garden Grill
Possibly Cirque Du Soleil @ 9

Sat Aug 28
Leave bright and early for an 8:25am flight home

We also need to work in a day/time for Fireworks in the park, Specto and the parades. We will be skipping Fantasmic since I’ve read it’s basically the same as Disneyland’s and it’s not our favorite.

If you have made it this far, “THANK YOU!” I appreciate any help/advice that you can give.

 

[djp0630]

Wow, looks good! I would say "no" to both your questions about making it to opening. I think a 7AM reservation would be really tight for an 8AM opening. Especially a character meal. Since you would have to quickly eat, and catch the monorail.

Sounds like an awesome trip! Have a great time!

 

[Mom2Elliot]

Based on where you are staying (treehouse sounds fun!) and the locations of where you would like to eat, I would recommend renting a vehicle.

If I was going into the parks for 10 days, I would like more time in Epcot than you have scheduled. Or are you planning on hopping back there more at night?

Your trip sounds really fun and I wish I were going with you!

 

[hardhead]

I stayed in the treehouses GET A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The buses are terrible

 

[kandyk]

Based on where you are staying (treehouse sounds fun!) and the locations of where you would like to eat, I would recommend renting a vehicle.

If I was going into the parks for 10 days, I would like more time in Epcot than you have scheduled. Or are you planning on hopping back there more at night?

Your trip sounds really fun and I wish I were going with you!

Our last day in the park we will be splitting our time between HS and Epcot and possibly AK. Depending on crowds we might also hop around at night too. How much time do you generally need for HS and AK? Is two days each enough or too much? DH thinks we'll be done with AK in half a day. But I can't see that happening.

I stayed in the treehouses GET A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The buses are terrible

How did you like the treehouses?

Wow, looks good! I would say "no" to both your questions about making it to opening. I think a 7AM reservation would be really tight for an 8AM opening. Especially a character meal. Since you would have to quickly eat, and catch the monorail.

Sounds like an awesome trip! Have a great time!

It's so hard to estimate how long it will take to get everywhere at Disneyworld, it's so huge! In Disneyland from our hotel in the resort we can walk to anywhere for dinner in 20 min or less!

Does anyone have any good recommendations for a rental car? I need to add that to my list to research.

Any good/bad opinions on our restaurant choices? Or any that I don't have on there that are not to be missed?

Thank you for all your advice/replies. I really appreciate it.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Wow! Lots of plans! I'm gonna break it down day by day. You have a lot of running around in your plans. I love to do this stuff!

Sat Aug 14th - a car might be easier. You would have to take a boat to DTD then a bus to Beach Club Resort for your Beaches N Cream ressie.
Or a bus to HS then take the boat over, walk, or hop on the bus to Beach Club Resort

Sun Aug 15th - Move Tony's to an early lunch. Then maybe an early dinner time (5pm or so) so you could make it back for Spectro Magic and Fireworks?

Mon Aug 16th - Another nice day.

Tue Aug 17th - See Sat 14th for getting to Beach Club Resort for your breakfast. The assuming you are going back to your treehouse after the water park, Travel to Wilderness Lodge would be bus to MK then boat to the Resort.

Wed Aug 18th - Nice

Thu Aug 19th - Nice

Fri Aug 20th - great plans!

Sat Aug 21st - I love Spirit of Aloha.

Sun Aug 22nd - Nice

Mon Aug 23rd - I did an HS day in this order on my last trip.

Tue Aug 24th - Again lots of running around! Different areas not near each other at all.

Wed Aug 25th - AK Whole day?
with travel & a late boma breakfast, lunch at Raglan (DTD). You really won't have much time at AK in the morning. Are you planning to come back after lunch? Just realize AK and DTD are on other sides of the World. (pun intended )

Thu Aug 26th - I agree on the tight timing with breakfast and the EMH.
Maybe make something quick in your kitchen to hold you over, then grab something at the bakery on Main Street?

Fri Aug 27th - Visit parks you want but you will be coming back to Epcot for ADR's? How about, leave it open in the day for your favorite attractions and do Dinner DTD somewhere, (I suggest Fulton's crab house) and Cirque Du Soleil as a closer?

I would get a car. You might want it for the days you run around at bit. Use Disney Transport for the neater days.

This was fun! I hope I helped a bit.

 

[jennylyn_b]

Our last day in the park we will be splitting our time between HS and Epcot and possibly AK. Depending on crowds we might also hop around at night too. How much time do you generally need for HS and AK? Is two days each enough or too much? DH thinks we'll be done with AK in half a day. But I can't see that happening.
**********

For us, we only need one full day in HS. It is a smaller park that is more compact. We usually spend one and a half days in AK.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Our last day in the park we will be splitting our time between HS and Epcot and possibly AK. Depending on crowds we might also hop around at night too. How much time do you generally need for HS and AK? Is two days each enough or too much? DH thinks we'll be done with AK in half a day. But I can't see that happening.
**********

For us, we only need one full day in HS. It is a smaller park that is more compact. We usually spend one and a half days in AK.

It all depends on what you like to do. You have to take waiting in line into account. I like 2 days, ya don't have to rush around to cram everything in at one time.

what'ca thinking about the car situation?

 

[Pakey]

I see you are from the Northwest and your are going to Florida in August at the height of crowds, heat, humidity. You have a very packed schedule, leaving no time to relax because if you don't stay at the park all day, you will spend tons of time travelling back and forth to all of these meals.

On the deluxe plan with appetizers and desserts, you are looking at 90-120 minute for these lunches and dinners, plus the travel time to get to these places. We've done these types of WDW trips before too and there's nothing wrong with it, just be prepared for how much time out of each day you are devoting to meals.

Definitely get a car. There is no way you are going to want to do all of this while relying on WDW transportation from THV.

 

[Mom2Elliot]

We only ever go for 5 or 6 days, but we spend less than a day at both AK and HS, but we don't do the shows. Last August, we got to AK for rope drop and left around 2 pm after doing all of the rides. Considering this is your first trip though, I am sure you will want to take your time exploring. I still think 2 days in AK and HS would be too much though, unless you want to watch every show.

 

[kandyk]

I definitely think we will be getting a rental car if we stick with the DxDP. DH seems to be on board with it now. We may not use it everyday but when we have a lot of running around to do it will come in handy. You have all made me aware at how much traveling time and meal time it will take to do my current plan. I want this to be a vacation that we get to relax and enjoy. Not to be running around like crazy.

I am also very concerned about the heat, water, water, water! I hope the crowds will have died down a bit since its the the middle to end of August and a lot of schools there will be back in session.

With this being our first trip to Disneyworld and our first two week vacation ever, I think I was trying to over plan. I think DH and I really need to sit down and figure out what is the most important to us...eating at A LOT of restaurants or spending more time in the parks.

Thank you everyone for all of your advice, I am really considering all of our options.

 

[Sunshine1987]

Your trip sounds very exciting! When our kids are a little older, my husband and I would love the DxDP. We love to eat too!! For now, we just do the regular but meal planning is still fun! Ever since I booked our trip, I have seen my DH walking around with the Birbaums Disney Dining Guide! I agree that you should rent a car based on your plans and your resort location. We always drive to WDW and we used our car the first time when we stayed at the All Stars. Last May at the Beach Club we did not need our car at all. But we only had one TS per day most days.

I think you are doing a fabulous job planning. I am orginally from the California (now I live in the midwest) but I am a Disneyland baby! I LOVE WDW but it is a whole different experience! The other posters were NOT kidding when referring to the heat and humidity! If I was a little more experienced posting pics, I would show you a funny pic of my kids from last May. We were at MK for about 30 minutes and we had rode Aladdin and BTMR and stopped at the Aloha Isle for a Dole Whip. In the pic they are all sprawled out on the benches, tongues hanging out of their mouths sweat pouring off their little heads! And this was May!!!! But they really didn't complain. We ALWAYS had water bottles, always, always, always!!!! Dont forget that one little helpful hint!!!

I would love to hear about your trip in the Treehouses if you do a trip report! I will look out for it! We are going to try to stay in a different WDW resort each time we go. The treehouse is high on my list to try!!!

 

[GeminiAngel]

Can't wait to read your Trip report or for that matter a dining report.
I hope you end up doing one.
We need lots of pictures of the treehouse

My main rule of thumb (I do divert from it sometimes) is dine close to where you are spending your day, or evening.

Just came to me. How about lunch at Boma instead of Raglan rd? That way you could take the bus to AKL and then back to AK.