planning our days for October22-26

[tarheel]

Hi. This is my first time writting in. I thought I had the days planned, then read about which days not to visit parks and found I was there almost every day recommended not to. So I need help here. We arrive on wed lunch time, and leave sunday by 3pm. We want to do MK, AK, MGM, a little Epcot, and Blizzard Beach. We were here this time last year and did everything but Epcot and BB. I want your suggestions please on which days to go where. Thanks!!!! I'd also love to hear where you have eaten dinner at MK, or if anyone has taken the monorail to a resort to eat dinner, then headed back to the park. I can't wait to see what the replies are! I have an 8 year old and 5 year old.

 

[dgaston]

Those are almost exactly my days! I'm going down for a conference, but my family will be enjoying WDW. Do you have tickets for the Friday MNSSHP? We're going to eat dinner before the event at the Crystal Palace. We fell in love with it on our last trip. And an added bonus is the Pooh characters. If you want to leave the MK another option is to take the ferry over to Fort Wilderness. There's a good buffet at Trail's End, and your children will love the petting zoo.

I have also eaten dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern, and lunch at Columbia Harbor House (very nice counter service), as well as the usual counter service places like Cosmic Rays and Pecos Bill's (great toppings bars).

The Food and Wine Festival will be going on in World Showcase, and that may increase the numbers over there, but I still wouldn't want to miss Illuminations.

As far as which park for which day, I usually visit parks either the day before or the day after their EMH day. Sometimes I'll go to MK on an EMH day (like Sunday the 26th) just to ride the Disney mountain range, and then leave by 10:30 to 11:00. My family is old enough that we don't need to spend much time in either Fantasyland or Toontown. I do try to be at parks for their opening.

HTH

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

Oh, how I love planning, whether it's my trip or someone else's! Anyway, here are my thoughts, and a few "fav" places to eat. Lets' do the food first, because it's nearly lunchtime!

OK, my "Can't Miss Meal Stop" is always, at least once, sometimes as many as three times a trip, Prime Time 50's Diner. It's fun, the food is fantastic, the atmosphere and theming is spot-on. Just love it. Another MGM spot that's fun, although the food's not nearly as good, is the Sci-Fi Drive-In. But if ou have kids who might need help eating, this might not be such a great place, as the way you're seated isn't traditional (as in you face them), but as if you're in the front seat of a car, they're in the back (or vice-versa). Could make things dicey.

Animal Kingdom wise, I love Flame Tree Bar-B-Que and Tusker House (chicken... yummy).

Magic Kingdom... I don't know that I've ever done a sit-down meal there. I know I really didn't like Pecos Bill (dry burgers... blah), although many people have defended it against my rants in the past.

Epcot: I'm a big fan of the Rose & Crown, or even the fish & chips shop right next to it (big bonus to the take-out fish & chips: You can take it over to the park across the street and down the lane from the Rose & Crown and eat while the kids play). Also love Marakesh, although it might prove to be too "adventurous" for tots.

As for taking a monorail to a resort for a meal, I've done that, but since I don't have kids, it's a whole lot easier. Might be tough convincing kids to leave the park, even for a while, with the promise of a meal. Might also prove a bit time-consuming if you're on a limited-time kinda trip, which it sounds as if you are.

park wise, I'm betting the kids will LOVE Animal Kingdom. I mean, what kids don't love animals? And of course, they'll want to stay forever in The Magic Kingdom. Epcot might prove a bit more challenging as far as keeping them entertained, but if you do a little research, you'll find all kinds of cool things for them to do!

Have a great, great, trip!

Richard