Pick apart my itinerary please...

[jcemom]

Who: Me, Mom, Sister, my DD 2 1/2
When: Sunday, February 6 - Sunday, February 13
Where: Wilderness Lodge

SUN 2/6...arrive via towncar from MCO, check in between 3:00-4:00, Epcot evening, counter service dinner, Illuminations 9:00
MON 2/7...Disney-MGM Studios, counter service lunch, Hollywood & Vine dinner, Fantasmic 7:00 (not sure if we'll have time for a break today or not)
TUE 2/8...MK, CRT brunch...break...counter service dinner, Wishes 7:00
WED 2/9...no parks today...Carriage Ride 6:00, Hoop De Doo 7:15
THU 2/10...MK, Plaza Restaurant lunch...break...counter service dinner, Spectro 7:00
FRI 2/11...AK, counter service lunch...break...Whispering Canyon dinner, Wishes from Poly (with tropical drinks in hand) 9:00
SAT 2/12...Epcot at some time today (whenever we feel like it), Illuminations Cruise
SUN 2/13...MK, Crystal Palace breakfast, meet towncar at 4:00

This will be the second trip for my DD, the fourth for me (though only the second in recent years), my mom and sister haven't been since my sis was a little girl. Does it look/sound okay? I have an AP, mom and sis will have MYW tickets. I can save money by not park hopping with this schedule, but will pay the extra if we find we NEED to park hop.

 

[cardramblues]

I think your itinerary looks great. You have the midweek park break in there (which being someone with small kids, I can appreciate). The nice thing is the weather should be mild and crowds should be very manageable which will make the afternoon breaks not as much of a neccesity (if your DD can snooze in the stroller).

I'm curious which MYW tickets you decided on. I assume it was the 7 day no frills ticket (which I think is a great buy).

Hope you have a great time!

 

[jcemom]

Yes, I'm getting the 7 day Base ticket for my mom and sis. If for some reason we need to park hop, say maybe Fantasmic is cancelled on Monday and we need to go on Friday, then I think I can add the park hopper feature there.

We were going to watch Wishes on Sunday night, and go to Epcot on Friday night, but that was the only hopping day in my entire itinerary. So, by switching those nights around I was able to save $70. Plus, Wishes is at 7:00 on Sunday so that would be a really early night, and it's at 9:00 on Friday, which I think will work out better for us. Then we can stay at AK as long as we like and still have time for a break before catching Wishes. We chose the Poly to view from because we want to grab some yummy drinks first, LOL.

 

[dcmbshafe]

I love it! A couple comments:

2/7 Are you doing FDP on Monday? If so, it seems unlikely you'll get much of a break (as you noted) since the FDP dinner times are so early...also, I would guess you're planning on getting a real early lunch. Maybe you're not doing FDP since Fantasmic may not be all that crowded.

2/8 Tuesday is awesome, love the CRT brunch concept...where are you having dinner? If you don't have plans already, you might consider Tony's on Main St. (depending, of course, on where you want to end up for Wishes viewing).

2/10 Great job planning your itinerary so you can see Spectro! Maybe you could plan lunch on the late side back at WL then go somewhere for dinner after Spectro (since it's an early night)?

2/11 I really like this day...could you do dinner at Ohana? Alternatively, maybe you could get a PS at California Grill (we did this last year and it was extremely cool - our kids even got picked to "help" tink start the fireworks!).

That's all I have to say except that I think you did an absolutely awesome job planning this itinerary!!!!!

 

[jcemom]

Thank you.

Monday, I do have a 4:00 FDP PS for now, but I'm not sure if I'll keep it. Mom and sis really don't want to eat at Mama M's or HBD, and I don't want to do H&V...I'm thinking we shouldn't need it, but I'm undecided.

Tuesday, I'm undecided about dinner, and not sure where we'll view Wishes either, lol. I guess I've still got a bit of planning left to do.

Thursday, dinner after Spectro is a great idea! I hadn't even though of it! All I kept thinking was that to have dinner before Spectro, for a sit-down, it would have to be too early in order to be out in time to get a good spot. It never occurred to me to do it afterwards...the monorail resort restaurants are calling my name, LOL. Kona maybe?

Friday, yes, 'Ohana is definitely on my mind! The only reason I haven't made the PS yet is because my sister is an extrememly picky vegetarian, and I'm not sure I could get anything that would be okay with her there. I need to check into it. (I've also got to make special arrangements for her for the HDDR.) I think 'Ohana would be wonderful, and the timing would be perfect, since Wishes isn't until 9:00 that night!

Great suggestions, thank you!

 

[Tooneric]

It looks like a fun trip to me! We'll be there the same week. Look for me -I'll be the guy wearing the Disney shirt...

I agree about the drinks at the Poly. I love that resort. An alternative to Ohana might be Kona Cafe. It's one of our favorites and I'm sure there's vegetarian items on the menu. If you love chocolate, don't miss their Kilahea Tort. Named after the volcano, it OOOOZES chocolate as you cut into it. MMMMMMMMM...

You can usually get a PS during your stay, so while it's nice to have the main ones booked, it's still a good idea to nab a couple while your there. See you there!

 

[Big V]

We're going to be at MGM on the 7th, same as you! We have a FDP at H & V @ 4:20. I'm not sure if we'll need it, but the DW liked it last time we went there and you have to eat somewhere! I'll have Lime Green on some where on my body, so keep an eye out for me and say "HI"!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think that Ohanas will make vegie meals with advance notice. I am vegie, but have not eaten there before. I can't say that I'd seek it out, but if other meat eating people want to try it it's good to know that they will work with special diets. Probably the best thing to do would be to call the restaurant and speak to the chef. He (or she) can give more specifics that you could pass on to your sister (or better yet, have her call).

What do you mean when you say your sister is a "picky" vegetarian. I didn't know if you meant that there are lots of foods that she doesn't like, besides the fact that she is vegie (my 11yo son would fall into that category) or that she is very particular that things be cooked a certain way. If it's the latter she might would enjoy California Grill for a special meal.

T&B

 

[jcemom]

She just doesn't like much of anything. Honestly, she barely even eats any vegetables. She eats like a 10 year old, pretty much, LOL...fries, cheese pizza, pb&j, mac n cheese, plain rice, cheese sandwiches, pasta w/marinara, corn, junk food. It makes it difficult to justify paying any adult prices for her at buffets and such, because she'll only eat a few bites off the kids' buffet and a dessert! ugh. I've threatened to leave her waiting outside restaurants while the rest of use eat, LOL.

 

[Mama2jasminANDcaitie]

WOW.. can I come? Sounds amazing.

I am always in a state of "not really hungry" when we are in the world. Seems like it is always time to eat!

You may not need sit down dinners. You might be too FULL
Maybe grabbing a turley-leg or a salad at a counter service will be what the dr ordered on some days

 

[jcemom]

Yes, you're probably right. I don't know why I feel I need to have something scheduled EVERY day...it's the planaholic in me I think, LOL.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

She just doesn't like much of anything. Honestly, she barely even eats any vegetables. She eats like a 10 year old, pretty much, LOL...fries, cheese pizza, pb&j, mac n cheese, plain rice, cheese sandwiches, pasta w/marinara, corn, junk food. It makes it difficult to justify paying any adult prices for her at buffets and such, because she'll only eat a few bites off the kids' buffet and a dessert! ugh. I've threatened to leave her waiting outside restaurants while the rest of use eat, LOL.

Oh, yikes, that's harder than having "high class" tastes and being very picky about how things are prepared. Except for the mac and cheese your sister's diet sounds just like my 11yo's. I'm trying to plan for his tastes when I bring him to WDW later this month and it's not easy. But at least he's still considered a child by Disney so he won't be too expensive to feed.

It was actually more fun last month when I was there with my 5yo since he's a much more daring eater. Problem it, I was there with my cheapskate mom, so that put a damper on things.

The most fun food-wise was when my husband and I went in the fall. We ate a lot of good food!

I think that I might stick with non-buffet places with your sister. She can always order the child's meal at a counter serve restaurant since thats what she'd prefer to eat. The restaurant won't know if a child or an adult is planning on eating it. I don't know if sit-down places allow an adult to order a kids meal, but they do allow a person to split an entree. Don't know that that would help her, though.

T&B

 

[jcemom]

I'm still hoping to sqeeze in a trip alone with my DD before she turns 3. She will eat anything! Then I could eat anywhere I wanted, share with her, and she would be free, LOL.

I keep thinking about the non-buffet places. I'm trying to strike a balance between what I want to do, what will entertain DD, and what my mom and sis will eat...and cost of course. Breakfasts work, so that's why we're doing the Crystal Palace breakfast instead of lunch. I think I might try to put Kona Cafe in for a late breakfast too, maybe on Thursday. I'd like to try their Tonga Toast. I'd love to do 'Ohana (my Dad is Hawaiian), but maybe I'll save it for next time. Maybe I will switch from Mama M's to Holly & Vine, I don't know. It's a buffet, but for the FDP it's cheaper than Mama M's, and I will have my mom and sis to sit with DD while I go up to the buffet, so that shouldn't be too bad. My sis will find a few bites to eat and then hit the desserts. DD and I could do Mama M's next time.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It's very hard pleasing so many people, isn't it? I can empathize with you--I know that I was exhausted after my trip, and not just physically. Trying to make sure my 81yo mom saw all of WDW since she'd never been before (and probably won't go again), my sister happy, who may be 61yo, but is high energy type person who has a hard time showing down, and my youngest son, who is a ball of energy and emotions, to say the least.

It was a fun trip, but keeping everyone happy was hard work!

T&B

 

[jcemom]

I edited my original post to include the PS I think I'll add...Plaza Restaurant and Whispering Canyon. I also think I'll switch Mama M's FDP to Holly & Vine.

 

[dolphindan1]

A note about Ohana's...We ate there on our last trip for the 1st time....My wife knew nothing about the menu as she doesnt get into the planning of the trips....Why I dont know....anyway...she is not a Vegan as she will eat meet once in a while....Well when we went to eat she was not real happy with the menu and was bot eating a lot and our waitress offered to bring her a vegetarian dish...So she opted for that....I know the like advance notice on this stuff and if I had thought that she wouldnt eat I would have requested...But anyway just letting you know they can do veggie...Now dont ask me what was on it cause I was pigging out on the meat skewers...On a side note I was not as impressed as I thought I was gonna be of this meal...The location, atmosphere and waitress made it better...The food was so so...but it was meat....I am all meat no veggie person

 

[dcmbshafe]

Looking at the menu on allearsnet (updated 12/04), it appears that some of the starters are veggie (stir fried green beans and onions, salad with honey lime dressing) but all of the skewers are meat. There is a note that says "alternative children's selections available upon request", so you might call down and inquire.

I also looked at the menu for Kona's. The kid's menu includes pb&j and grilled cheese. The adult dinner menu has a couple types of salads and a vegetable rice bowl entree.

 

[jcemom]

Thanks guys! I think I'll save 'Ohana for the next trip, when it's just DD and I. I'm thinking that my sis wouldn't care for the atmosphere. I can hear her now...eeewww...all those chunks of meat on skewers over an open fire, how barbaric, lol. She already vetoed Coral Reef because she said she could not eat watching the fish swim by as people were eating their buddies. She found that terribly gross.

Maybe we'll do Kona instead. She could probably fill up on a salad and half of DD's kid's meal, plus dessert. I hear the desserts there are very good, and we all love dessert!

 

[DutchsMommy]

I am stealing your itinerary!!!! LOL - we arrive on Monday so I will just bump everything ahead one day and voila!! So, if you think I am stalking you before our Illumination Cruise on Saturday - don't be alarmed, we're just there to have fun - really lol

 

[jcemom]

No problem! I'm so grateful for the sharing of the cruise that I don't mind a bit! Just let me know if you need us to save seats for you anwhere, LOL. One month to go!!!