Re-doing our itinerary, thought??

[jkmmah]

I thought I had our itinerary figured out but after snagging the coveted CRT breakfast when a cancellation occured I'm now redoing the plan. Could you offer your thoughts on whether this seems realistic and doable, and if it will avoid the bigger crowds?

Cast is me, dh, dd 7, dd 2 1/2 going 11/26-12/3.

We know we only want 1/2 day at AK so that's why you only see it in there one morning.

Fri 11/26--arrive hotel off property.

Sat--check into POP, explore resort and DTD, pm at FW campfire

Sun--AK morning, drive to Epcot pm for both FutureWorld and a couple countries in WS, stay for Illuminations

Mon--9 am PS for CRT, then MK til mid day. MGM pm, stay for Fantasmic

Tues--morning at resort and tour other resorts, arrive MK 4pm for MVMCP, stay late

Wed--MK all day or split the day w/ EMH at Epcot in am then hop to MK pm, see Wishes either way

Thurs--Depends on what we did Wed. If stayed at MK all day then this day we'll stay at Epcot all day (kids will curse us for this!). If we hopped Epcot and MK on Wed, then Thurs we'll hop the opposite w/ EMH at MK am, then Epcot in the pm.

How does this look to you? I'd like to take more advantage of EMH but with two youngsters I just don't see early mornings happening every day of our stay. So for that reason I've tried my best to get us into parks that do NOT have EMH that day except for the last two days when we might park hop.

 

[paigevz]

I think it looks good, I like the last two days park hop idea better than staying in one all day. Our kids are early risers, so we always do EMH and then take a break later, which lends well to hopping. Have a great time!

 

[surfdisney]

I like the downtime you you have in your plan - the do-all-or-die plan has never worked with our kids.

Our kids are 9, 7, 5 and we have been to WDW with them several times since they were 4, 2, and 9 mos. A couple things we've picked up that have helped our trips included...

We underestimated the kids interest in Epcot - both FW and WS. The kidcot stations are great and collecting passport stamps (passports are available everywhere) in each country were really fun for them. We always wish we had more time in Epcot when the trip is over.

Our kids have never done really well touring other resorts. A quick look is fine, but when they can't swim in the pool and there are no rides/activities for them - they become unhappy mouseketeers! Given the time it can take to see other resorts, we've found to just skip it (unless we are there for a meal).

IMHO your 1/2 at AK is also good - we have never stayed much past noon - and still felt like we've gotten to do/see alot.

If you have time, you may want to check out MGM. While it is not my favorite park for little ones, there are a few things they will enjoy (Muppet show, Honey...playground, shows). Again, this has generally been a half day tour for us.

Have a blast!

 

[ErinInCT]

I would not waste a park ticket on Tues for just a late day MK. I would do a park in the am, like EPCOT. I thought dd4 would be bored there too & it was our favorite park & I have planned 3 half days for next trip (one for FW, 2 for WS). She loved the kidcot stations (she loves arts & crafts), tons of characters (princesses out in full force after PSB gets out) with no lines, pin trading, rides in Mexico & Norway & the little shows outside the countries.
Here is what I would change:
Sun - when you go to EPCOT, don't do FW, go to WS & do Mexico & Norway (they take longest since they both have rides). Then you can see if they liked EPCOT or not (and they will be somewhat happy cuz at least they got to go on rides). If they liked the kidcot stations then you know you will want to go back (plus there are so many cool shows like the Chinese acrobats, Japanese drummers & the candy lady, human statues in Italy, music in Morocco, Canada & UK - check out the thread about World Show Case Secrets). If they hated it then you'll know not to bother.
Tues - EPCOT WS. I bet they'd like Figment, Spaceship Earth, Ellen, TT (dd's fave), Living Seas, The Land (the older one can do the Junior Chef program & make cookies while the younger goes on the boat ride), Ice Station Cool & maybe check out Innoventions. They also have the characters on holiday bus. That ought to fill a few hours!!! Then go back & rest up for MK.
Wed - sleep in (since you were up late) & go to EPCOT WS at 11am (if they liked it enough on Mon) & finish the countries. http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/index.htm will have the times for all shows to plan in advance. You can have a late lunch maybe around Morocco or somewhere cool like that! It may be crowded with the people who went to EMH in FW but because it is so big it never really feels crowded to me. Take a break before going to MK for Wishes.
Thurs - I would do MK all day. Yes it is EMH so it'll be crowded but we always have to end with MK.
Just my .02!!

 

[danny1649]

To tour Osborne Lights after Fantasmic

 

[phyllis1966]

It looks good to me, but I agree with much of what ErinInCT posted!

Also, you didn't mention if you've been to WDW before or not. If not, don't miss the afternoon parades, especially in MK and AK. I know you only allotted a half day for AK, but the Jammin' Jungle Parade at 4 pm is terrific and my DD loves it - she also loves the Sharing a Dream Come True parade in MK at 3 pm. She still remembers it from our first trip as a family 2 years ago, when she was only 3 1/2!

Have a great time!

 

[bjakmom]

Your plan looks very doable - here are the only things I would think about - I would go to MGM thru Fantasmic on Sun night because it's 1 hour earlier than Illum and you have an early PS the next day - then I'd switch and do Illum on Mon night since you have a sleep in morning the next day. For the same reason I wouldn't consider EMH at Epcot on Weds if you're staying late at MVMCP the night before. I also think your little ones would find more to do at MGM than at Epcot - you might want to consider more than 1/2 day there. Remember that it's going to be a very busy weekend - My kids loved FW campfire when they were little !! - Have a wonderful trip !!!

 

[jkmmah]

Ok, I've reworked the itinerary once again and here's how it looks based on the great suggestions ya'll had...

Sun--am Epcot
pm MGM, stay for Fantasmic, Osbourne lights

Mon--am PS MK @ Cindys 9 am, stay on at MK thru early afternoon
pm Epcot, stay for Illuminations

Tues--downtime, not using a day on the hoppers
4 pm arrival for MVMCP

Wed--am AK
pm Epcot or MGM

Thurs--EE at MK, stay all day, park closes at 6pm. That means no fireworks, huh?

We were at WDW last year so we know that half day at AK is all we want. Also, MGM isn't high priority for us except to do Fantasmic, the Osbourne lights, and a couple of the shows. We want to focus on MK and Epcot mostly. The only thing I don't like about this new itinerary is that we won't have any MK fireworks except for those on MVMCP night, correct? Any suggestions?

How does it look now?

 

[bjakmom]

I think the MVMCP fireworks is a special version of Wishes (note the 'I think' - this year is my first MVMCP). They don't show Wishes at closing on party days. If that's really important for you to see you could see it on Mon @8 (spectromagic @7) or Weds @6 (spectro @7). Could you do AK then MK thru Wishes on Weds, then MGM/Epcot on Thurs ? (or MK/Epcot if you got to see what you wanted at MGM on Sun) - or see Wishes on Monday and Illuminations on Thursday ? (also remember that Weds is EMH at Epcot, may make it more crowded that afternoon). Mondays are usually the busiest of the 2 days at MK, but being a long holiday weekend it may not be. Hopefully someone with more Thanksgiving experience will chime in - all in all I think it looks like you have a great plan - you are avoiding the EMH parks on EMH days (except for possibility of EPcot on Weds afternoon) - if we're not going to be at the gate before EMH, we avoid that park at all costs - that's been our experience (especially over the last few years). I shouldn't look at itineraries - I get waaay too obsessive about not standing in lines !!

- You're doing a great job on your planning and you're going to have a wonderful time !!!!

 

[Harambe]

If you can live without the FW campfire on Saturday night, make a PS at Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian. Food is incredible, and you can watch Wishes from the wrap-around porch. They pipe in the music (which is playing on my CD player as we speak!). Since it is a non-park day for you, you could take the bus to MK, then pick up the monorail to the GF. The boat dock is right behind Narcoossee's, so you could then return to MK by boat (fun for the kids) and pick up your bus for POP.

One other dining suggestions - you will be at Epcot at dinnertime twice. Make a PS for the Garden Grill. The kids can see Mickey - and the food is fresh and tasty.

My only concern with your whole plan is that you are staying for the firework shows most nights. This will make your commute back to POP long and crowded. I hate that! Just wanted to let you know that. Nothing worse than tired kids and a long wait for a bus! Maybe plan to hang around the park, get an ice cream or something.