Please critique my May itinerary

[MelAnderson]

My sister, DS (2) and I will be taking a short trip to Disney this coming May. I am wondering if I should skip Breakfastorous if AK's EMH is on Saturday? Based upon the itinerary, what would you suggest for dinner? I am thinking of counter service meals. I try to avoid EMH days, but it seems difficult to do with the new schedule so I hope that AK won't be super crowded. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. TIA! Melodie

Day 1 (Wednesday)
Arrive/Check into hotel
Lunch at Pop
Dowtown Disney
Dinner: Earl of Sandwich

Day 2 - Magic Kingdom (Thursday)
Breakfast: Chef Mickey's
Fantasyland/Toontown Fair (dumbo, pp, IASW, philharmonic, mad hatter, mickey's playground)
Tomorrowland (buzz, indy speedway)
Lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern
Share a Dream Parade

Back to hotel for nap/break
Dinner:?
SpectroMagic/Wishes

Day 3 - Magic Kingdom/Epcot (Friday)
Breakfast: Pop
Adventureland (Tiki Room, Aladdin, PoC)
Frontierland (Countrybear, Splash)
Lunch: Whispering Canyon

Take bus to Epcot
Living Seas/Crush/Finding Nemo
Soarin (baby swap)
Figment
Mexico/El Rio del Tiempo
Norway/Maelstorm
Dinner: ?
Illuminations

Day 4 - Animal Kingdom/Disney Studios (Saturday)
Breakfast: Donald's Breakfastorous (skip if EMH day?)
Kilimanjaro Safaris, PFET, FOTLK, ITTBAB

Lunch: Tusker House

Bus to Studios
Playhouse Disney
Al's Toy Barn
Great Movie Ride
TOT (baby swap)
FDP at Mama Melrose's
Fantasmic!

Day 5 - (Sunday)
Breakfast at Pop
Pool
Depart for home

 

[lllovell]

Wowsers! I would never plan my vacation down to that much detail because of having two small children and we would never be "on schedule".

BUT

It looks GREAT! I hope you have fun and get to enjoy so many wonderful things.

 

[ms.ojo]

We always found having a plan and PS's made things MUCH easier w/ young children. The thing that changed the most were our dinner plans. Often naps took longer in the afternoon and we would just grab a bite in the foodcourt before returning to a park for awhile.

When you're at AK I STRONGLY recommend Flametree BBQ. The food is quick, delicious, and my favorite feature, is where you eat. Down behind the serving area is this wonderful secluded, shaded eating area overlooking the river. It is so peaceful. We always come away recharged and ready to tour after our stop there.

So please, plan away, it will make it so much easier on you to know what attractions are on your must see, vs. if we have time lists....and places where you'd like to eat. But know also that you may not do all those rides, or eat at all those places. They give you a nice structure....and your little one(s) will determine the ultimate Disney adventure.

have a wonderful trip. If you have any more questions, just ask! I've traveled w/ a 2.5yr old...and later a 4yr old w/ a 1yr old little sister.

 

[Selket]

I have two little ones and I plan my trip schedules as you have - of course we do end up modifying it as we go. You can't help it with little ones but it is good to have that plan so that you know what you're going to do so that you aren't just standing there.

On Thursday I'd suggest a very early breakfast so that you get to the MK a bit before it opens (you can walk there from the CR - don't take the monorail cause it is faster to walk). I'm guessing you know that the lunch at LTT is not a character meal right? If you want characters save the LTT for when you come back at dinner and do counter service at the MK or POP for lunch. I think the parade is not until 3 so by the time you watch it, drag yourself out of the park and back to the hotel and try to rest and drag yourself back to the park...well....in our case it would be 4:30 before getting back to the hotel and you'd have to turn around and head back to the MK for dinner. I'd suggest doing an early lunch (CP if you want characters or just counter) and then try getting back to the hotel by 2. Then return to the park for dinner and see spectro (if they have it that night!) and Wishes.

It seems you have no afternoon breaks for days 3 and 4 - just wondering the 2 year old will tolerate this? I know one of mine was better off sleeping in the stroller than the hotel room - the other needed the quiet hotel room to sleep. It may still be hard on everyone to go all day however. I would plan afternoon breaks for naps and swim but that cuts out a lot of touring and I realize you're there a short time. It will also be hard to stay at Epcot for Illuminations and then get up early for an EMH park the next day - assuming you plan to take advantage of the EMH.

I highly recommend Tour Guide Mike (http://tourguidemike.com) - his site is like an online planning guide to WDW. Looking at the attention to detail and careful planning of your schedule I think you'd like his site. His touring plans include plans for touring with young children, touring parks half-days (like you're doing) and advice on what parks what days and so forth.

 

[MelAnderson]

Thanks everyone for all of the replies. I do love to plan, but I know oh so well that DS is the boss! We went to Disney last June and I ended up being the one who needed to go back for a nap on MK day-- LOL, DS was fine!

I think that I will switch LTT from lunch to dinner. I will probably skip the 3:00 parade and use that as nap time. I think that a 7 pm PS will be ok and that will give us a big break midday.

I am conflicted about Friday and Saturday. On Friday, I think that maybe we will nap after lunch and just get to Epcot late (around 4 or 5). If I skip Illuminations, I will definitely miss the bus rush, so that may be a good thing. I guess that I should do the EMH at AK, but I will skip Donald's as that would cut into the time.

I was wondering if Flame Tree has really good bar-b-que, I love bar-b-que, but had also read good reviews of Tusker House. I may just get to MGM later that day too. As long as we see Playhouse Disney we should be ok.

I will check out the web site too.

Thanks again
Melodie

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Melodie - I think your plan looks great. I plan with this much detail as well, but always leave room for flexibility...I'm sure you thought of that.

Personally, if it meant going to or not going to AK because of EMH, I'd bite the bullet and just go. Enjoy! Breakfastosaurus is a ton of fun and great food! Also, if you're looking for a quick lunch or dinner at AK, Pizzafari is quick and fun with great food. Big portions, so sharing is easy to do.

BTW - Love your name...I'm "Melody" -- we don't get to meet a lot of people with our name, do we?

 

[senecabeach]

My only suggestion to your itenerary would be to swap your AK & MGM days with EPCOT. Saturday's are very busy and AK & MGM are small parks...do EPCOT on Saturday!!

I would do CRUSH and SOARIN' first!!

Crush is great..even for adults. You'll love Soarin', but I expect height restrictions..you sit buckeled in your own seat.

Have a Wonderful time !!!!!

 

[MelAnderson]

Hi Melody!

Yes, you are right- I rarely met other "Melodies". I have another quick question, if AK opens at 8:00 am on EMH, can I make a 7:00 am PS for Breakfastorus?

Senecabeach, Do you mean to go to MGM on Friday afternoon and AK on Saturday AM, Epcot on Saturday PM?

Melodie

 

[senecabeach]

I would swap day 3 and day 4 activities.

Give yourself plenty of room on Sat PM @ EPCOT!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Hi Melody!

Yes, you are right- I rarely met other "Melodies". I have another quick question, if AK opens at 8:00 am on EMH, can I make a 7:00 am PS for Breakfastorus?

Yes. If PSs are available earlier than a park opens you can still get into the park for that PS. Just have your confirmation number with you just in case. I believe they have a special line you go through at the entrance of the park and they either check your name or confirmation number off on a list. That's how they allow you in.

Enjoy!