Planned Itinerary

[PP1]

We are a Family of 5 going to Orlando for the first time this August. We are lucky enough to be going for 3 weeks. we have tried to avoid the busy days and would like any view on this Planned Itinerary

Week 1
Thurs Arrive
Fri MK
Sat AK
Sun MGM
Mon SW
Tues Water Park
Weds BG

Week 2
Thurs EP
Fri US
Sat Rest Shopping etc
Sun Rest Shopping etc
Mon IOA
Tues Water park
Weds MK

Week 3
Thurs IOA/US
Fri Rest Shopping etc
Sat Rest Shopping etc
Sun MGM/ep
Mon Sw
Tues BG
Weds Water Park
Thurs Return Home

 

[sunshine state]

Excellent Itinerary - We are doing 3 weeks this year and like you we plan to avoid the theme parks at the weekend if we can help it, we might still do water parks though.

 

[maleficent_man]

Looks good - I would recommend you look at week one again - water park aside, you have no rest day. Doing an MK, AK back to back will knacker you - especially since you have just arrived. I think it could be done if you like commando style like me but to then try and do MGM on the third day would be pushing it - I don't think you'd enjoy it. I'd maybe look at putting in a rest day after those two (maybe one of the days from week 2 or else look at only spending one day at SW).

Only my thoughts though!

 

[carolfoy]

I agree with maleficent man, I find it too hard to resisit not doing MK first so I'm with you on that but I think maybe a half day at AK or perhaps if its an EMH day do AK morning then afternoon pool rest and go back for the evening.
Either way you'll have a fantastic time

 

[vicky1bfc]

I would also look at week 1 again.That week seem's to be your busiest and the other one's a bit quiter.It's going to take a few days for you to get over jet leg or not so much that but not getting up at some unearthly hour.MK and AK i your first day's will knacker you imo and you have them down for fri,sat.They will be quite busy on these day's. How about starting off on a gentle pace and go for seaworld or just a shopping(taking it all in)day on your first day.

 

[Miffy2003]

How old are your children? It will be very very hot & humid in August and when we went with our DDs in August 2002 they could not have coped with 4 theme park days in a row, especially at the start of the holiday when they are a little tired and acclimatizing to the heat etc. We ended up seeing a lot more of Typhoon Lagoon on that holiday then my itinerary had bragained for, I can tell you

Other than the first few days, it looks great

 

[ely3857]

Hiya

I am going to go against the flow here... I think you will survive your first fews days as planned so long as you agree to take a break if things get too much. On my first few days of my first trip I was so excited to be there I was running on adrenaline for days! and I am sure you and your family will be much the same. The tiredness really kicked in after about 5-6 days which was when we had an 'unscheduled' rest day!

Take a break mid-day & have a long lazy lunch or a nap and you will be fine.



Jodie

 

[richardbay14]

Sounds great if you can manage it !

Our formula for the last 2 years (and also for this year) - all in the heat / humidity of August has been:

Theme park, water park, theme park, rest day (swimming, some shopping, cinema, meal), then repeat the 4 day cycle.

Even with this routine we hit 'the wall' on about day 11 - didnt want to get out of bed, kids grumpy etc - hauled ourselves to Universal for the 1st time though - instant shot of adrenaline and off we went !

Just as important is to plan your way round each park to minimise walking - and make good use of your fastpasses.

Enjoy.

 

[tartangirl]

Hi,

We are also going for 3 weeks and so I compared your itinerary to ours. Over the 3 weeks we hit a park pretty much every day but never stay the whole day. If you're planning on spending all day at the park you'll struggle to do so many consecutive days. If you're happy to take breaks then a park every day is OK.

We seem to be different every day, according to my schedule you're hitting the Disney parks on the EMH days - I take it you're staying in Disney but the parks will be busy these days.

You have 4 days between Busch/Seaworld and 3 at universal. Obviously it's all personal taste but on a first visit I would do more Universal and less Busch/Seaworld. Seaworld you can do in a day but it is worth a return visit one evening as it is a great park in the evening.

What tickets do you have? I couldn't figure this out - you have a visit to Busch >14 days after your visit to Seaworld so I guess you dont have the 5 park ticket as it expires after 14 days. I also couldn't figure out which Disney ticket you have as there is >14 days between visits.

I'll go against the general recommendations, depending on your tickets, I would recommend less rest days but throw a few half days in with shopping in the afternoon. Over the 3 weeks you have plenty of time to see everything so dont be afraid to just go to the park for a few hours to catch some shows/fireworks etc.

I do like your plan to hit all the different parks early. If your tickets dont expire then it may be worth not bothering planning the last week and a bit and waiting to see what parks you fancy going back to.

 

[VSL]

I seem to be the only one who goes where the mood takes me during the holiday!

Apart from MVMCP on 20/12, Planet Hollywood on 15/12 and two days in a row at Universal/IOD, we're just taking it day by day..
I even done this when I was younger (I chose which parks we went to the following day - the first place I chose was EPCOT!).

Maybe it's different with young children though?

 

[alanjones]

Every time we've been, about 8 times now I guess, we have always done Sea World on the first day. Your first day will always seem very long and very tireing, so a 'big' park like 'MK' will be a lot to do on a first day. Pleanty of people do it though, so it can't be that bad. We just prefer to do Sea World on the first day as its a very relaxed day, lots of sitting down, lots of shade, and just generally means you aren't rushing round stood in queues for hours!

 

[paulh]

when we have got there first day we are usaly up crack of dawn so we drive down to busch gardens and spend the day there usaly there before gates open
Paulh

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We never have a full plan for each day.

Just possibly the first couple and then we just plan as we go along, if we had a schedule for each day we would only change it.
Having been 12 times we try and vary the holiday as much as we can, the one thing you may have to bear in mind is the August weather.
It will be very hot , we are going in August too, and the heat can sometimes affect your plans.
To be honest I would be surprised if you do not find your first week very tiring.

 

[gilld]

I agree with most of the others that your first week is going to leave you exhausted. We never did two "big" parks in a row, although now we tend to dip in and out for a couple of hours only, so often go to a park every day.

Don't spoil your enjoyment by trying to cram it all in at the begining. You're lucky enough to be there for three weeks so you can afford to relax a little.

Have fun whatever you do...

 

[kpfran]

Hi all,

this is our plan for 2 wks (kids 11,9,6) Any thoughts most welcome.

Bearing in mind,we have Ultimate Tickets and the kids are not interested in rushing around to que up for the headliner rides.They just want to take it easy and take in all the sites and sounds,characters,small shows and parades etc.

FRI- arrive late afternoon,just unpack and relax in pool.
SAT-late breakfast,Animal kingdom from about 1pm until 5pm close.
SUN-Epcot
MON-Magic Kingdom,watch afternoon parade & leave early.
TUES-late breakfast,hotel pool .am. & then late afternoon Magic Kingdom Halloween Party.
WED-late breakfast,mid morning Disney Quest,Downtown Disney.
Thurs-MGM studios
FRI-Magic Kingdom,stay for evening parade
SAT-late breakfast,Animal Kingdom from about 1pm until 5pm close.
SUN-Epcot & fireworks.
Mon-Typhoon Lagoon
TUES-Sea World
WED-Late Breakfast, Magic Kingdom
THURS-Animal Kingdom
FRI-Downtown Disney & fly home

thanks for any ideas for improvement,

kevin.

 

[tartangirl]

Hi Kevin,

This looks pretty good to me - the half day visits to the parks is the way we do it and works really well - although we go early to get on all the rides.

Hard to improve but currently Saturday is an early entry for Animal Kingdom so it will be busy all day. Also 3 visits to Animal Kingdom may be overdoing it -I would be tempted to swap one for another MGM visit taking in a showing of Fantasmic.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Kevin,

I agree that 3 days at AK may be too much, also notice you have 4 visits to MK.
Preumably you have not considered the Universal Parks, our little boys favourite.

Otherwise I think you have a good plan.
At the end of the day do what suits you best, you can always change your plan when you get out there.

 

[kpfran]

Thanks for your help,
The wife likes her lay in's even on holiday and dosent think trying to get three young tired kids up at 7ish to get to the parks early worth all the grizzles.Especially as they are very aprehencive about trying out the big headliners.(they tend to suffer from motion sickness and the youngest dosent like dark noisy confined spaces.So things like It's a Bugs Life and Pirates of the Carabien are a big no for him.I have read about other parents experiences with younger kids in these type of shows.Perhaps if he is keen to try them out at the end of the holiday we might risk it.
Thanks for the view on Animal Kingdom and Mgm.Do you think there is enough at Mgm for the kids to do and see on 2 full days,some of the books i have read say that its not geared for young kids.
thanks again,kevin

 

[VSL]

You could probably do MGM in one full day IMO.
It's my bf's fave park, although you're right - it's not really geared towards young children. But then, none of the parks are, it's just that the others have areas like Mickey's Toon Town thingy in MK(?). You may be suprised at how much kids will enjoy in these parks though

You should also keep in mind that Florida can usually be quite a hectic on-the-go holiday and sometimes making the effort to get up early can really pay off for children:
- Kilimanjaro Safari in AK
- Fantasy Land in MK

 

[tartangirl]

I think MGM and Animal Kingdom have about the same for children. There's probably not enough in either park for 2 full days (especially if you're avoiding the spinning rides, simulaor rides & dark rides) but I reckon 1.5 days each would be about right. There are attractions for young kids in both parks.

I would stick with your plan for the first week and after you've been to all the parks then you'll get a feel for what you want to go back to. I would recommend you try and catch all the fireworks shows and parades.

The rides at Disney are not so scary so you may find that when you get there the kids are prepared to try a few things. Unfortunately motion sickness affects people in different ways and it is difficult to how they'll react to the simulator rides.

I personally hate rollercoasters but at the insistance of my son (10) I went on RnR coaster and loved it - third time on I even kept my eyes open!! He'll not get me on Space Mountain again though