Please critique my first wdw schedule!

[THpoohbear]

I'm heading to WDW for my first time ever with DH (also his first time) on Thanksgiving this year. Here is my outlined itinerary. All WDW experts, please give comments on timing or other insights you may have. I know I'm trying to pack a whole lot into this trip, I'm very prone to go commando. DH is much more of a rest in the room all day type of person. I want to see a lot but make sure we're resting along the way. I like most of our days so far, but I'm conflicted on when to try to see Cirque and when to fit in dinner at Boma. Okay here goes:

Thanksgiving, Day 1:
Flying from CA, Arrive 3:40pm at MCO, take ME
5:30 - check in
grab dinner, probably at resort (we're staying at POR)
8:30 carriage ride around POR
sleep early!

Day 2, Friday:
8:05 - ADR Crystal Palace (Pooh is my absolute favorite!)
AM - MK, staying until 3pm parade is done.
3:30 - back to POR for an hour nap
6:30pm - ADR Chefs de France
Illuminations
Epcot EMH

Day 3, Saturday:
Rent car from Car Care Center in the early am, go to Kennedy Space Center.
6pm or 9pm showing of Cirque Du Soleil (what do you guys think is better? I torn because I don't want come back too early from KSC, neither do I want to stay up super late.)

Day 4, Sunday:
9:00 - AK
2:30pm- Rest at resort
5:20pm - ADR CRT @ MK
PM - EMH @MK, seeing Spectro and Wishes

Day 5, Monday:
9:00 - Epcot
lunch at Beaches and Cream hopefully
PM - MGM EMH, 7pm - Fantasmic

Day 6, Tuesday: (my birthday!!!)
8:00 - Epcot EMH
1:00 - rest at resort
5:00 - ADR Ohana's
7:00 - MVMCP

Day 7, Wednesday:
9:00 - MK
1:00 - AK, see parade, AK EMH
7:30 - BOMA (my option here is to move BOMA later and see Cirque at 6, that's a lot of back tracking though)

Day 8, Thursday:
7:15 - Magic Behind the Steam Trains Tour @MK
Resort day after tour
7:40pm - ADR California Grill (I tried moving this later so we could go to Cirque at 6, but no luck. The next seating isn't until 8:50 - too late I think. I really want to see the holiday Wishes show from CG this evening at 9:15, so earlier isn't an option either.)

Day 9, Friday:
9:00 - MGM
PM - Epcot
2:00pm - ADR San Angel Inn CLP package
5:00pm - CLP
see Illumnations and enjoy Epcot

Day 10, Saturday:
AM - pack, breakfast at POR
10:30 - leave on ME for MCO

Let the comments begin! Anything big I'm missing? Too much/too little tme in parks? Is it too packed for our first time visit? Thanks in advance for your help everyone!

 

[sukhakuli]

I would make more time for MGM, and less for the AK. You can probably do just about everything at the AK in one day, but MGM takes more time because there are more shows (longer) and more fiddling with schedules because of the shows. Of course, if you plan on skipping the shows (which I don't recommend personally, they are wonderful), then you have MGM scheduled just about right.

Also, plan to spend some time shopping and snacking at Downtown Disney. I'm not sure what your planning to do at the Kennedy Space Center or how long it will take, but you could plan on eating at D.D. before the show, and then just hang out afterwards with some dessert and coffee.

 

[minijeanie]

my biggest concern is with day 1...
I have stayed at POR and sometimes you cannot get a ressie at the restaurant there. Possibly you may want to consider taking the boat to DTD and eating there. Why don't you book and ADR for around 6:30 just to guarantee you a dinner,


Also, I think you need some pool time.....re look at your schedule and figure out some more down time. Nice resort and think you should enjoy it.


I think your choices were great...very well planned out... but don't be surprised if because of weather...dinners, etc.. some of those plans don't happen.

just enjoy...
sounds like a wonderful trip

 

[madcrazy235]

I agree, more time in MGM and less in Ak. I would also suggest the down time. IMO tho i think you are going to make your self crazy running around and park hopping everyday. I like staying at a park the whole day. Park hopping can be fun but you want to enjoy your vaction and i suggesst that some days you stick to one park. Like maybe you go to animal kingdom the whole day, then have a nice dinner and some down time. maybe also going to one of the water parks can also be fun. You could go to one in the mornng and the afternoon then head to a park at night. But overall your plan is very good. Have fun..youll love it.

 

[despina]

definetly more time for MGM. .AK was alot quicker to do....have fun

 

[mickeysgirl17]

It looks good, but the only problem you may have is that your not allowing enough time in between things for example, on day 6 you have dinner at 5pm, then mvmcp at 7pm. If you keep it this way, you'll probably be rushing through dinner to get to Mk in time. It will take a few minutes to get in if you are going near 7pm since everyone else will be trying to get in at 7pm and on day 7, your only giving yourself a few hours in Mk. Maybe you should try just staying at AK all day and stay at MK all day on day 4. This allows you to do more since your not traveling back and forth between parks which takes time.

 

[blondeheroine]

Agree with the above posters. More time for MGM, less for AK.

Also, make sure you arrive in time for Spectromagic and Wishes. I notice you have it listed as EMH, but they actually take place before the EMH begins.

Otherwise, looks good. My first trip, I only had 3 days. Of course, that was in the early 80s, only two parks and I was only 7.