Please help me with my itinerary!!

[queenofhearts]

Hi everyone!
I am planning a Walt Disney World Vacation for Nov. 2-Nov. 9! This will be my better half's first visit to WDW, and my second, so I'm not very experienced at planning Disney vacations! We are visiting WDW on the Discovery Magic Package (staying at AKL). I'm trying to figure out how to get the most out of our time! Here's what my itinerary looks like, so far, and I need your help:

Sat.
Nov. 2: Fly from Atlanta, GA to Orlando, FL (arrive @ 2:55pm)
Rent Car from National @ Airport
Stay at the Doubletree Club LBV

Should we just relax this night, or should we plan on doing something? Can we get into Downtown Disney without having our tickets, yet?

Sun.
Nov. 3: Check out of Doubletree Club LBV
Drive to AKL. Check-in to get theme park tickets.
Spend the day @ the MK.

I know we cannot check-in to our rooms until 3:00pm, but how early can we get our tickets from the resort? Is MK a good choice for this day?

Mon.
Nov. 4: Spend the day @ Epcot
Maybe do a fireworks cruise at night

Tues.
Nov. 5: Spend the day @ AK & exploring our hotel
Go to Cirque du Soleil at night

Should I use my wishes for the Cirque, or should I purchase tickets in advance?

Wed.
Nov. 6: Spend the day @ MGM
Go to Pleasure Island @ night

Does MGM take an entire day? Can I combine it with a trip to Disney Quest, or is this too much?

Thur.
Nov. 7: Visit Downtown Disney and Disney Quest (if we haven't
already). Maybe spend some time re-visiting Epcot or MK.
Maybe do the Polynesian Luau at night?

Is this the best way to use this day? I'm not sure what parks we might expect to re-vist?

Fri.
Nov. 8: Check-out of the AKL & pack the car.
Continue revisiting any of the parks/exhibits. Maybe work
in a spa treatment @ the Disney Institute?
Go to Fantasmic at night.
Drive to the Doubletree Club LBV & check-in.

Sat.
Nov. 9: Check-out of the Doubletree Club LBV.
Drive to airport, and turn in rental car.
Fly home.

Does this itinerary look do-able, or do I have us running around from park to park to resort too much? Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks to all you experienced Disneyworld vacationers!!

 

[vacationwoman]

You have plenty of time to see everything with incorporating plenty of "down time". .

Instead of spending all day in any park, stay 1/2 day, go somewhere for a relaxing lunch and or back to your hotel for a swim.
The parks shouldn't be too crowded at the time your going.

If you go to PI the night you arrive you will have to pay to get in. About $8. I think. Wait till you pick up your passes because addmission to PI is included on them.

You can check in ALK as early as you want. Even if you room isn't ready they will hold your bags, give you your passes and off you go to the parks.

As a rule Sunday is usually a busy day at MK.
Be flexible. Spend a morning at one park and late afternoon or evening at another one.

Have a great trip.


I can't hardly wait till tomorrow!!!!

 

[Dana_Buckley]

May I suggest Epcot on Sunday? You may want to get to MK when you can arrive when it opens. This is less critical at Epcot, which also opens later, most of the time. I think you have plenty of time at the parks. Also, you may have a few afternoons warm enough to swim, if you are so inclined. For a nice midday break from MK you could hop the monorail and eat lunch at one the resorts. Kona Cafe at the Polynesian maybe?
I am sure you will have a wonderful time! Just have a plan, then be flexible.

 

[queenofhearts]

Vacationwoman: Have a great time tommorrow!!!!
Thanks for the advice!

Dana_Buckley: Thanks for the suggestion! I think we will probably start in Epcot on Sunday since both you and vacationwoman recommended visiting the MK on a different day.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's really tough to try to stay in a park all day and then do something else the next day or later than night. If you tickets will allow, park hop - spend a few hours in one park, go for a swim and then hop to another park. AK is a good one for the AM and since you will be close by, hop back to your pool and relax a bit. Do you have a savannah room? It's so much fun to sit on the balcony watching the animals below.

You can go to DD without a ticket as long as you don't try to get into Pleasure Island after 7 PM (I think that's the time - we don't go there much). You need a ticket to get in at night. But you can do West Side and Marketplace without any admission.

Can you get your tickets ahead of time? Sat nights usually have Spectomagic or Fantasmic available. At this time of year you will have to check on the night time event times to see Spectro, Fantasmic, Illuminations.

Check in as early as you like and get your tickets at AKL, then head to the parks. Your room probably won't be ready, but you can still start your vacation.

Cirque du Soleil is closed two nights a week if I remember correctly. Check ahead of time to make sure that you won't miss it. It is a wonderful show.

The Food and Wine Festival may be starting at Epcot during your stay. This is a great evening activitiy. Walk around the world and purchase snack sized portions of exceptional food. They also sell small glasses of wine.

If you choose to do dinners, etc at the Disney hotels, you might want to save those for your nights when you don't have a ticket. Grand Floridian has some very good restaurants. And AKL has Bomo, which has a great buffet - breakfast and dinner. You will need to try this for sure. You can find lots of food at this buffet no matter what your tastes are. We did Mickey's Luau several years ago and were not impressed. We wouldn't waste the time again.

There are a couple of mini-golf courses that don't require admission by your ticket, but there is a charge to play. How about the water parks? Will your ticket allow admission to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon? These are great fun.

We have always gone to Disney Quest early in the day when it isn't so crowded. As the parks close down, DQ gets busier.

Park hours during the week aren't as late during this time of the year. Check the Disney website as you get closer to your vacation. Usually Epcot is always open until 9 PM. MK varies from 6 PM to Midnight - just depends.

Whatever happens, have a good time. You'll love the AKL.