Please Critique My Itinerary (long)

[mad4themouse]

The cast:

• DH49 - Likes Disney but prefers a leisurely vacation. Actually expects to stop long enough to eat at least every 18 hours!
• Me(40-something) - Disney-lover. Trying hard to reform my park commando style. Would rather ride Splash Mountain that eat.
• DD14 - Inherited my Disney-lover gene. Still listens to Disney music on her stereo. Would be willing to take the parks by storm any time after 12 noon.
• DS12 - Loves the thrill rides. Willing to get up before dawn if the parks would only open that early.

All of us are Disney Veterans with 7 or more trips under our belts.

The setting:

• July 8-10 Peabody Hotel and Karate Tournament at Orange County Convention Center
• July 10 -15 Beach Club Concierge Level
• July 15 - 18 Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios

The details

• DH, DD, and DS have 5-day PHs with DQ plus options from the Convention Center. They also have 5-day Bonus Passes for Universal. I have an APs for both Disney and Universal for myself.
• DH, DD and DS also have "after 2pm" passes for WDW for one day.

Scene 1:

• Thurs., July 8
  Flight arrives in MCO around 8:50 am.
  Get rental car and proceed to Peabody. Check in but if room is not ready, store luggage there.
  Proceed to WDW and visit EPCOT.
  Lunch at park (possibly at Yakitori House or Tangierine Cafe)
  Return to Peabody to hook up with other karate families
  Dinner on I-Drive. (Bahama Breeze ?)
  Evening swimming at the Peabody pool .
• Fri., July 9
  Breakfast at Peabody
  Tournament begins at 12 noon at the Convention Center across the street. Competition should be over before 5 pm.
  Lunch at the Convention Center.
  Free evening - Relax poolside or possibly visit DTD and do DQ.
  Open to suggestions for dinner.
• Sat., July 10
  Early breakfast at Peabody.
  Opening ceremonies for tournament at 8am, checkout at Peabody is 10am. Store luggage and spend the day competing.
  Lunch at Convention Center
  Finished by 5 pm(?)
  Travel to BC and check in.
  Dinner at Beaches & Cream
  Evening in MGM using "After 2-pm Passes"

Scene 2:

• Sun., July 11

• 
  Breakfast in lounge.
  MGM
  Lunch at 50's Prime Time (PS for 2:30pm)
  Afternoon swim back at BC
  Evening in EPCOT
  Dinner at Sunshine Season Food Fair
• Mon., July 12
  Breakfast in lounge
  EMH at AK
  Lunch at RFC (PS for 1:30 pm)
  Afternoon rest at room or poolside
  Evening in MK (e-ride night)
  Dinner at Cosmic Ray's
• Tues., July 13
  Breakfast in lounge
  MK
  Lunch at LTT (PS for 2:30pm)
  Late afternoon break at room
  Evening in MGM
  Dinner open to suggestions
  Late showing of Fantasmic! @ 10:30pm
• Wed., July 14
  Breakfast at Cape May Café (need to make PS)
  EPCOT
  Lunch at Alfredo's (PS for 3 pm)
  Late afternoon break at room
  Evening at MK (another E-ride night)
  Dinner at Columbia Harbor House
• Thurs., July 15
  Sleep in.
  Breakfast in lounge. Checkout and head to Universal.

Scene 3:

• Thurs., July 15 -Checkin at PBH
  Lunch at Pat O'Brien's on City Walk
  USF
  Late dinner at Pastamoré
  Possible late evening swim at PBH
• Fri. July 16
  Breakfast at PBH?
  Do IOA in the morning
  break for lunch at Hard Rock Café
  Return to IOA to finish anything we missed OR go swimming back at PBH
  Dinner at Motown Café
  Evening Swim at PBH
• Sat. July 17
  Breakfast -where(?)
  USF in the morning
  Lunch at HRH's The Kitchen
  Swimming at HRH's pool (have a cabana reserved for this date)
  Dinner at RPR's Wantilan Luau at 7 pm
• Sun. July 18
  Breakfast - where(?)
  Late Checkout (? - I'm a Loew's First Member)
  USF
  Lunch at Bob Marley's
  Need to depart for MCO in time to return National Rental Car and check in for 4:30 pm flight home.

 

[renessa]

Wow!! I can't wait for your trip report and restaurant reviews. It sounds like a great trip!!!!!! Three resorts in one trip sounds like a fun time to me...although my DH wouldn't think so! Have a great time...

 

[Castillo Mom]

I'm looking forward to that trip report! I just finished my itinerary last night and wanted to thank you for your help over on the budget board. As I was reading your itinerary just now I didn't realize it was you, but the restaurants that you chose at Universal made me think that you must be someone who knows about those half price GCs. Now if they would only come out with some for Margaritaville and Planet Hollywood (I was told they won't before our trip).

 

[4greatboys]

I think it looks pretty good. Just wanted to let you know that if you hit DQ on a Fri night during the summer (July 9) its going to be pretty busy. We normally go in the off season and when my 2 oldest go in the evening they dont get to do very much because its so busy.
I would eat dinner at Sci Fi on Tue the 13th.

 

[zippehsmom]

Great looking Itinerary. Now I can show my DH and say, "See I'm not the only one who plans like this"

One question are they having 2 showings of Fantasmic any other time that week. I was hoping they would. We will be there 7/10-7/20 at the Boardwalk.

Maybe I'll see you there.

zippehsmom

 

[Micca]

In your spare time are you a rocket scientist? Awesome plan

 

[lenshanem]

This looks similar to what I do, too! Looks good to me!

Course, for our June trip hubby will just go along with what I planned. I did a looser itinerary for my July trip with my parents and brother and they all had good fun calling me Clark Griswold for a few days. I guess they forgot that they were the ones who gave me the list of restaurants to make PSs at!

Have fun!

 

[fairytinkerbell]

long trip!

Another awesome restaurant on i-drive is "WILD JACKS" ate there a lot during last trip in 99.
Bahama Breeze is good too (never tried though) part of red lobster chain and olive garden chain

Also, add Universal Studios to your schedule! MUST DO!

 

[mad4themouse]

Where is Wild Jack's located on I-Drive? We're looking for something close to the Convention Center b/c we know what traffic on that road can be like in the evening and would prefer not to have to battle too much of it.

Also, what type of food do they serve? DH doesn't like seafood and DD is a vegetarian. I walk a very fine line when planning our dining options.

 

[deedee67]

Great itinerary! Can you make the plans for my family's trip in August?