Planning for a 13 day stay, opinions please.

[Mayoraz]

We (2 adults, 2 kids 6 & 4 years old) are travelling to Orlando the last week of june and the first of july, so I am planning for 13 complete days. For my wife and kids this will be their first time to Orlando, the last time that I went was 18 years ago so I know everything has changed. I am so excited about this trip.

We have already bought 7 days tickets with water & fun option but WITHOUT park hopper. I came up with the following plan avoiding the parks that have EMH because we are staying off-site (Sheraton Vistana Resort), we will be renting a car. This weeks will be very crowded so don't want to spend time changing parks and want to fully enjoy each park.

So here is our schedule:

6/24: Late arrival (grocery shopping).
6/25: AK
6/26: MK
6/27: Relax day (Ohanas character breakfast, shopping at an Outlet)
6/28: MK
6/29: Typhoon Lagoon & Dinner at Downtown Disney
6/30: Sea World
7/1: Relax day (pool day)
7/2: MGM (Fantasmic dinner package)
7/3: Epcot ¨(Princess storybook breakfast)
7/4: Relax day (some shopping, visiting some WDW resorts) avoid crowded parks
7/5: Blizzard Beach or Typoon Lagoon & Dinner at Downtown Disney
7/6: AK or MGM or Epcot
7/7: MK (hope POC will be open on time)
7/8: Early departure

What do you think about the schedule, the only day we will be at a park that has EMH is 7/7 but I want to ride the new POC (I love this ride when I was a Kid).

Do I need to plan for each day what to do at a park. Do you recommend a touring plan? What am I missing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The only suggestion I have (my kids are also 4 and 6) is not to stay at the park all day. If you get there early in the morning your kids won't really be able to enjoy the night time parades and fireworks. So try to take a break during the day. I'm not sure how you would do that since you are staying offsite, we've never done that. Maybe drive back to your resort to swim? I know my kids won't nap anymore, but any kind of break from the park really helps them last longer. We love to do the late night EMH, so on those days maybe let them sleep in? Good luck!

 

[kidd_freeper]

I've got a 13-day trip planned also, coming in on July 2 and leaving on July 15.

We're doing 6 days at the parks with some time visiting relatives in Jacksonville.

We have similar plans.

 

[Palendat]

I would suggest upgrading your ticket to a 10 day ticket. The VERY MINIMAL cost would give you the flexibility of going to a parade or a special character meal on your off (relax) days or for the early evening of one of your water park days. The $2/day cost would more than be made up with the flexibility you would then have!! JMO

 

[Mayoraz]

Hi Palendat, that's a great idea. Where can I upgrade my tickets? I already have them and they are the credit card type.

 

[allaboard]

I agree about getting 10 day tickets since the cost is minimal and the options great for evening parades/fireworks. Also, do you have ADR's at restaurants planned? That is a necessity. Since you already have the parks planned out, it will be easier to plan a sit down meal. When our kids were younger, the sit down meals helped revive them, and their parents!!! We'll be there in JULY ourselves!

 

[MelanieC]

You will absolutely love an extended stay. We go for about 16 days/15 nights and we love it. We have 2 days planned for the beach and the rest are full park days. We do not go back to the hotels or park hop. We have always done then since the kids were about 18 months old. For us, its less tiring to have 2 sit down meals (lunch and dinner) and not have to walk all the way back to the car/bus and then turn around and come back. We tend to not stay as late at the parks, but since we go in summer it gets dark around 9pm so we aren't as tired as early. We used to go in late Nov/early Dec but we so enjoyed the summer last year!

 

[rlovew]

Overall your schedule look okay although I would definately plan out what you want to do at the parks each day, at least a couple of things per family member but I notice only 1 day at EPCOT and a long time of that will be at a sitdown meal.

EPCOT has a lot to offer if you walk through slowly and spend your time, I don't know that in the middle of the summer 1 day will do it justice if you have your children stop at the kidcot stops and explore innoventions and other fun things that take time but usually don't have lines.

A 4 and 6 year old might enjoy a day at Disneyquest more than a day at Blizzard Beach. BB has lots of thrill slides that can be a bit much for young children although it is a blast for teens, also since it is a park designed around teens there are lots of them there and many aren;t thinking about the younger children around them.

 

[mjmcca]

Sea world tickets at least currently allow you to return to the park for 6 more days aft ther first use so you may want to go to SW and then return on the same ticket on one of your waterpark days for example or one of your "off " days.

 

[Mayoraz]

Sea world tickets at least currently allow you to return to the park for 6 more days aft ther first use so you may want to go to SW and then return on the same ticket on one of your waterpark days for example or one of your "off " days.

As far as I understand Sea World tickets let you in for 6 CONSECUTIVE days after first use. So yes we have considered this option so we planned an off day just after Sea World giving us this possibility. Thanks.

 

[jann1033]

not sure where your hotel is but if far away ( like past dtd), i would at least plan a noon break for a sit down meal at a resort close to the park you are in...it gets you away from the hustle and bustle for a while. we always go off season but a long leisurely lunch helps if it's to far to go back to your hotel for a swim. since it's busy the parks will be open late so you can go early, get out for a while then return later

 

[mjmcca]

As far as I understand Sea World tickets let you in for 6 CONSECUTIVE days after first use. So yes we have considered this option so we planned an off day just after Sea World giving us this possibility. Thanks.

Yes that is true but you dont have to go everyday.You have 2 down days schedualed after SW and another WP day. you can mix it up a little if you want.

 

[Disney Fool]

The drive to/from the Vistana is not far at all. But, I warn you, with two little ones, you may get sooo comfortable in the apartment, you may not want to come out again! As other posters have said, plan some advanced dining reservations--you can always cancel them. But having them will save you the pain of walking up to a restaurant, starving, and being turned away. You'll be going at a very busy time. And, since your kids are little, the Vistana has a great super-pool. They may have more fun there than at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. I agree, you should make your passes ten day and I would opt for a park hopper. That way, if you leave the park one day, and decide to eat at another park, or that evening, take in Illuminations, or one of the nighttime parades or fireworks, you can jump from park to park. Since you're going for such a long time, it would be worth it. Oh, and you WILL need more time at Epcot.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

We have been there twice and hope to stay there for two weeks this next August. YOu won't believe how close you are to the parks. You are closer to some parks than some of the Disney hotels. And you have seven great pools to choose from.

Vistana is about 1 mile from Downtown Disney so it isn't any problem getting back to the condo for a break. We did it everyday.

DEFINATELY stay away from the EMH parks. Actually, even when I stayed on-site I would stay away, but that's just me.

You ARE going at a busy time of year. We have been to WDW many, many times but this next time I'm touring with TourGuideMike. I'm feeling really good about this and it really seems to make sense. We haven't toured in the busy summer season since we've had children so I wanted to do everything possible to try to manage the crowds.

You probably know everything you need to as far as Vistana, but if you don't, over on the "Orlando hotels" board is a wealth of information........like you HAVE to sign up for Diamond Lane check in, ask for Lakes, Fountains or Cascades section...........all that is over there. And "Mia" is our designated "Vistana goddess"!! Hi Mia........

Anyway, you are going to have a great vacation..........we like staying for long periods of time also. You don't have to tour the parks "commando" style!