Please Critique my Itinerary! I need MORE IDEAS!!!

[Julie W.]

I am 25yrs and will be going to Disney on May 18th- 24th, staying at the Grand Floridian on the conc. level. I have booked the Premium Package, which includes a lot of Bonus items. In the past I have booked the Platinum Plan and have been very impressed with it, so I'm sure the Premium will be just as good. I'll be traveling with my Mom and my brother, 20yrs. He will be competeing in the half IRONMAN on Disney's Fort Wilderness on Sunday May 20th, which is why I booked this trip for my family. My brother has a dibilatating back disease that is fusing his vertabrae together so he won't be able to compete in races such as this for much longer, which is why I need this vacation to be VERY special.

I'm looking to make this vacation the most memorable one ever for my mom and brother. I've spent a ton of money already....$10k on this and it doesn't matter the cost as long as it's special. So, if you have anymore ideas or special surprises that I should do for this vacation, please let me know! Thanks.

Here's what I've booked so far....

Fri. May 18th
- Arrive at the GF, a large bouquest of flowers will be in the room for my mom with a note for her. As well as a card from Mickey telling my brother "Good Luck" in his upcoming race. I also just purchased 2 personized Gift Baskets from memoriesbysarah.com which should be FANTASTIC!
-Day at The Magic Kingdom.
- 2pm, A Disney Photographer will follow us through the MK and take family photos of us as well as candid shots, this is a surprise for my mom.
- Dinner at Tony's Town Square.
- Off to Cirque Du Soleil at 9pm.

Sat. May 19th
-Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
-Day at Epcot.
-Lunch at L'Originale di Roma, Italy.
-Dinner at Coral Reef - A diver will have an underwater banner saying "Good Luck Pete, IRONMAN triathlete", which will be pretty cool.
-Illuminations reserved seating.

Sunday May 20th
-7:30am, Watch my brother do his swim in the IRONMAN
-9:10am, Mom and I go eat breakfast at 1900 Park Fare while my brother races.
-11am- Watch brother finish race.
-Lunch at the Grand Floridian Cafe
-Massages for my Mom and I, surprise for her.
-Dinner at Cinderella's Castle. There will be a large balloon bouqet that say's "congrats" for my brother for his race, sitting on the table as we arrive for dinner. Surprise for him.
-Wishes reserved seating.

Monday May 21st
-Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
-Day at Typhoon Lagoon
-Dinner at the Brown Derby
-FANTASMIC, reserved seating.

Tuesday May 22nd
-Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare
-Day at MGM
-Lunch at Sci-Fi dine-in.
-Dinner at 50's Prime Time Cafe.
-A surprise castle cake will be delivered our room that say's "World's Best Mom" on it. It's nice to finally be able to give back to my mom!

Wednesday May 23rd
-Parasailing.
-Day at Animal Kingdom.
-Lunch at Rainforest cafe AK.
-Dinner at Hoop De Doo Review, My mom's favorite!!!

Thursday May 24th
-Breakfast at the Crystal Palace MK
-Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern MK
-Stay at the MK until it's time to fly back to Detroit.

Please, if you have anymore FUN ideas or surprises I should do, please let me know.

Thanks soooooo Much!!!!

 

[mcco5543]

I would do Disney wake up calls in the morning! you can schedule this online. I don't have the number on me but if you search on these boards you'll find it!

Otherwise. I can't think of a single thing. What a sweet family member you are to do this for your mom and brother! Have a blast!

 

[cherokeemamma]

I have just one question...Can you adopt me please?????
PLEASE...


Your trip sounds amazing. I hope you do a TR when you return.

 

[lovehoney]

Sounds great. What a magical trip you have planned!

 

[penguincrazie]

Sounds like you have a nice trip planned!!

 

[OhMari]

I don't know if you eat lite for breakfast, but somedays you have 3 sitdown meals planned. I got to the point where if our meals weren't at least 6 hours apart, I couldn't eat. You have Park Fare for breakfast, if it is just coffee and danish you will be fine, otherwise if it is the big breakfast buffet, believe me, you won't be hungry till late afternoon. Especially on your MGM day. I would maybe eat a big breakfast, skip Sci-Fi Dine in, unless you eat lite and maybe move up your ressie for 4:30 at Prime Time. Or if you want Sci-Fi, change it around.

Have a great trip. Hope your brother does well.

 

[remfaerie]

Wow, sounds like you have a great vacation to look foward to! Not that I don't think you have enough great things, but if you are interested, I read that you can book specialty cruises for viewing the fireworks on pontoon boats, and it's not as expensive as I thought. I think it was about $200. I hope you have fun and your brother will do great!!!

 

[DisneyDadFaNaTic]

I can't think of anything else. You really have the bases covered! You all will have a great time! Tell your brother "Good Luck" from us here!

 

[fterie4u]

Wow, good for you! You are so sweet! I was going to suggest the bpatrides as well.

Also, I agree with the amount of meals you have on a few days. Trust me, you won;t want to eat 3 sit down meals in one day. We have a hard time doing 2 in one day and my dh is a big eater!

Also, instead of 1900 Park Fare for breakfast 4 days in a row, you could try the GFC it is beautiful and has very good food. I would also suggest Kona, they have the best breakfast in MHO! You could just hop on the monorail to the Poly for that!

Have fun, what a great trip you have planned!!!

 

[diswedwish]

For your AK day, what about one of the tours? I've done both, and both are just wonderful On Backstage Safari, you get to see the barns where the animals are kept and most likely will get to touch a rhino (which IMHO is pretty neat), plus you get to go through the Safari ride without the spiel. Wild by Design goes more into how the park was designed - I don't know if it's offered Wed. though. If you did one of those you could switch your parasailing to later in the day? Maybe add a carriage ride before Hoop De Doo (that's something I've always wanted to do, but haven't yet!). Just a thought. It sounds like a wonderful trip, have a great time

 

[ctmomof4]

How Exciting!!! My family and I just got back from the Grand Floridian last week and it was AMAZING... I have 4 children and they just loved it and of course my husband and I fell in love with the resort.... your plan sounds wonderful... the only thing I might suggest is changing your lunch from the Grand Floridian Cafe to maybe Kona. We ate at the Cafe in the hotel and were very disappointed, we have heard wonderful things about Kona which is just a hop, skip, and jump away!!! Hopefully there will be a next time (soon!!! Ha-ha doubt it!!!) to try the Kona... Have a wonderful trip and Good Luck to your brother. You must be a very special daughter and sister....

 

[Julie W.]

Thank you all for your wonderful input. I have just booked breakfast at Kona at the Poly and booked a fireworks cruise as well as a backstage safari tour. Thanks again for all your ideas and nice wishes! I'll do a Trip Report when I get back with photos. Thanks again!!!

 

[Tuliplvr]

Julie- How did you book the photographer? What a great idea!