Plans so far, Would like the Pros info.

[1stTimeDisneyer]

Ok this is our 1st time to Disney and I am trying to plan. This is what I have so far.

We arrive On Sunday May 7th around 10:30am. I was think we would go check in at the hotel go to the food court and get a little something for lunch. Then we would head over to MK, take a few photopass pictures and look around there. I have not found any places to eat at MK that I really like so I thought we could head back to the hotel AS Sports and freshen up in our room around 6pm. I was then think of going to BOMA to eat since it is in that area for dinner around 7 or 7:30. Then back to MK for the extra hours.

May 8th Mon. I was thinking of going to Epcot, but MGM is having their extended hours that night. If we are going to Epcot we would eat counter service for lunch and go for dinner at Le Cellier around 7:00pm. Or do you think we should take advantage of the extra hours and spend the day at MGM. Would MGM be more crowed because of the extra hours? If you go to MGM we will go the 50's Prime Time Cafe.

May 9th Tues. Epcot has early hours should would it be better to go on this day? Also do they parks become more crowded with the early hours?

May 10th Weds. I was thinking about hitting one of the Water Parks this day or maybe going back to MK. However I have no Idea for dinner this day maybe go back to MGM and hit the fantasmic show. Will take any ideas you have.

May 11th Thurs.. I want to do AK and they have extra hours. If we go here this day we might go over to WCC to have dinner. I thought this might be a good idea.

Friday May 12th Last full Day. I figured we would hit whatever park we liked the best. I also want to go to Beaches and Cream to get a No Way Jose! They look so good. Epcot has extended hours this night so we may go there again for dinner and the extra hours. Any must eat places here beside Le Cellier?

May 13 Sat. Last Day Our flight does not leave until 6:20pm so we have most of the day. I figured we would turn in our photopass and get the cd. Then I figured we could do Downtown Disney and eat at the Earl of sandwich. That way we can shop or just hang around.

We do have the meal plan so lunches will be counter services except our first day we will pay for. By paying for it we can use our last CS at the Earl of sandwich.

Please let me know what you think I am realy trying to plan so I can make of ADR's now. I also want to love Disney and not miss out by not being prepared. I will talk any ideas you have and anything we must do and not miss please let us know. My hubby is trying to get excited but having a hard time because we are not to sure how to plan.

Thanks in Advance!

 

[bobcat]

It sounds like you don't have the hopper option. In that case you need to decide what is more important to you, lower crowds during the day or the ability to have little to no wait during the extra magic hours. I personally love the hopper option because it allows us to be a little more flexible with our plans. If we aren't tired we can hop to another park with later hours or if we run into unexpected crowds we can go to another park. Just some food for thought.

Everything looks good except day one. Will you have a car? If not you will be spending a lot of time on the bus. Figure in not only the time to get from place to place but also the time to wait for the bus to arrive. You also want to leave some time at AKL to explore and watch the animals, either before or after dinner. I think a water park day would be best for this since you most likely won't spend as many hours there as you would a park.

Happy planning!

 

[Leigha]

You seem really prepared so far and that's a very good start! Hopefully you won't be standing around without a clue when you get there. You have several questions and I'll only try to offer some opinions. I love early entry and would go for that! You can get a lot done before a) the people not staying on site come and b) before people wake up and get there period! I haven't done the late nights but people say they are crowded. That being said, I will most likely go for it if my crew is up for it. I don't remember you stating what ages were in your group. My last suggestion is to possible take advantage of Epcot on it's early morning then go out the back way towards the Beach Club. Have lunch at Beaches and Cream then take the boat near the restaurant to MGM. That's the best way to fit it in. Go at an off time to be sure you get in without waiting a long time though. For your first trip, you'll plan, replan and then plan some more. You'll go and have a great time. It won't be perfect but you'll know better what to do next time. Good Luck and have fun. I do think half the fun is in the planning!!

 

[klj27]

It sounds like you are going with a positive attitude so I am sure you will have a great time. I think the biggest question, like a pp stated, is whether you will have the use of a car.

As for dining at MGM, the Sci-Fi has not had great reviews. I have heard some good things about Hollywood and Vine and I have eated at the Brown Derby and it was good.

I like how you have planned a free day to go back and do your favorites again, as well as time for DTD. We are also eating at Boma for the first time on our next trip and WCC for the second. I think they are great restaurants.

 

[Evad]

We had the No Way Jose at B & C. You will love it was great. Can't wait to have another one

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

I am sorry I forgot to include we do have the hopper option. Also it is just my husband and I and we are 27 and 26. Also can you suggest anything that is a must do for our first trip? No we do not have a car that is why I was think of jus checking out the MK and then getting some dinner. If you think something might be better please let me know. Also this is our honeymoon 4 1/2 yrs late. He was in the army so we did not get our honeymoon when we got married.

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

Ok with all this info do you think we should do Epcot on Monday I really can wait to get to Le Cellier, luch at a CS and Dinner at Le Cellier and then xtra hours at MGM?

Also should we do the xtra hours on Tues at Epcot then luch at B&C then onto MGM for the reast of the afternoon? Tues is also said to be one of the least busy for MGM.

I did not know we get to see the animals at the AK Lodge please fill me in on that.

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

Does anyone else have some advice for me??? Please I really want to make this the best trip ever.

 

[mom2cookies]

you sound alot like me the first time i planned a WDW trip. My advice is to figure extra time for everything. I suggest asking a bus driver how long it would take to get from point A to point B tso you would know around what time to be at the bus stop for your next destination. Especially if you are going out of a park to dinner. And do you know the buses don't go from park to park. You have to go to the TTC to go from park to park. (the monorail though goes from epcot to Mk and TTC). You will have such a wonderful time and your DH will too.

 

[Leigha]

Yes, you'll see several animals at the AKL. They have a special veiwing place. You need to either go the the library or purchase a book on half.com or overstock.com that will also help with your planning. I like the Unofficial Guide and the Passporter. Each are updated annually. Good Luck!

 

[Magic Man]

Okay, you asked for it (advice).
I really enjoyed eating at the Rose and Crown in the World Showcase at EPCOT. But try to go about 1 hour before Illuminations fireworks show and sit on the back porch. It is great and DH will love the steak. I did.

Liberty Tree Tavern is a good sit down place at MK. Lots of good food in a rustic atmosphere right along the parade route. Oh yeah, they have characters too.

Since you've never been, I would highly suggest at least a half day at Typhoon Lagoon water park. The wave pool is great but Crushin Gusher is fantastic!

I personnally like the Sci-Fi theater at MGM, but apparently some people don't. It was great for our kids, but it's just you and DH, so you may want something more adult.

There is no place like Magic Kingdom in the whole world. On our first family trip 3 years ago, I was just going to watch the wife and kids have a good time while I would enjoy the beach on the way over and the way back. I was wrong! I enjoyed and would love to move there permanently on Main Street, U.S.A.

Hope your planning goes great. I leave that to my wife as she has proven to be an expert. She gets most of her info from this site and allears, and mousesavers. DS9 has memorized the unofficial guide from the last 3 years. He too is a good source of info.

 

[PrncesKMW]

All righty First Timer, you asked for it, so here it is!!! I don't want to burst your bubble - you've done a GREAT job off researching. However, you may want to rethink extra magic hours. You know how you're planning on going to certain parks each day to take advantage of it? Well, so are 95% of other people.

I highly recommend the Unofficial Guide, and its website, touringplans (dot) com. We used the guide in 2003 and were AMAZED with how much we fit into one day, and the crowds we avoided! Also, the website has a crowd estimator and a "best days/worst days" to visit each park. The book also has dining reviews that I've found to be right on.

Have you considered the Fantasmic Dinner package? The package allows you to eat at either Hollywood and Vine (buffet), Mama Melrose (Italian), or the Brown Derby (upscale). You pay a set price for your meal, and they include a pass to sit in the reserved seating section at Fantasmic, meaning you can get to the theater half an hour before the show rather than an hour or even an hour and a half to get good seats. Allearsnet (dot) com has more info on this dinner package and also has a complete list of menus and prices for all the restaurants.

Good luck, first timer - you're going to have a ball!