Rough draft...comments please

[bamamom]

We are staying at Allstar Music 10/4-10/9 with kids 9 & 7 are on the dining plan . We are arriving early (7:00) and staying to the evening of our last day. This is my rough draft of AR's some I have booked some I am going to make tomorrow. Please give me comments good and bad, this will be our first family trip so I need all the advice I can get

Day 1
MK at opening
CS for lunch at Cosmic Rays
Resort for nap and maybe swim
Epcot for dinner at Teppanyaki


Day 2
MGM
Lunch at Sci-Fi
MK evening Spectromagic parade and Wishes
Dinner at CS

Day 3
Sleeping late
Animal Kingdom
Early Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ or Pizzafari
3:45 AR Crystal Palace
MNSSHP

Day 4
Epcot
Lunch Food & Wine Festival Sampling
Resort for swim and resting
Dinner at ESPN Club

Day 5
9:00 AR at Chef Mickey's
park of kids choice
Dinner CS

Day 6
Park of choice
shopping for souvenirs
* should have 2 TS credit left because DH & I are planning on sharing at ESPN and Sci-Fi
NEED suggestions for another place to eat
** these are what I am considering: 1900 Park Fare, Planet Hollywood, Concourse Steakhouse, Alfredo's.

Thanks for the advice

 

[unixadm]

I noticed you are doing a little bit of park hopping......you may be able to streamline it a bit...

Don't know if you will be driving to each of the parks or taking Disney Transportation, but DT takes much longer because of waiting for the Buses, etc, especially at the value resorts, so make sure you factor that into your planning. I try to avoid bouncing around since it wastes many hours of your trip. If you are driving, factor in that you will have to take a tram out to your parking location.

Day 1 you are doing MK for lunch then Epcot for Dinner
Day 4 you are eating lunch in Epcot, then going back to the resort.....by the time you get back to the resort, you will probably only have an hour or two before you have to get ready to get back out to boardwalk for ESPN.

Since it sounds like you are driving VERY early from Alabama to get to MK by opening, I can see you might be tired.....you have in your schedule to go back to the resort for rest or pool..........why not eat a CS that night at the All Star Food Court. Rest up for the next day.

You could then move to Teppanyaki on Day 4. You will be in Epcot anyway....why not just stay and eat dinner there, then see Illuminations...no moving around.

You could then move ESPN to Day 5 since the day is open...if the park is MGM or Epcot, then ESPN is a quick boat ride or walk.

Another thing to look at is which parks you are planning for each day. You have MK when you first arrive for 1/2 of day, but Day 2 has Spectromagic, so you will be going back again in the evening...and back again on Day 3 for MNSSHP. Those you cannot change, but you could make Day 2 all MK and Day 1 somewhere else.

I am thinking something along the lines of this:


Day 1 - 1 park for 1/2 of day then rest and relaxation
MGM at opening
TS (1) Lunch at Sci-Fi
Resort for nap and maybe swim
CS(1) at All Star Food Court

Day 2 - 1 park all day topped off by Spectromagic and Wishes
MK at opening
CS(1) for lunch at Cosmic Rays
TS (2) CRT or LTT (If you are able to get CRT, you could have dinner at 5:00 or so then walk down and get a spot for the parade)
Spectromagic parade and Wishes

Day 3 - 2 parks due to MNSSHP, but easily doable.
Sleeping late
Animal Kingdom
CS (3) Early Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ or Pizzafari
TS (3) 3:45 AR Crystal Palace
MNSSHP

Day 4 - 1 park all day topped off by Illuminations
Epcot
Lunch Food & Wine Festival Sampling
TS (4) Epcot for dinner at Teppanyaki (this allows you to enjoy an entire day in Epcot....no wasted time on buses, monorails, cars, etc...and you could see Illuminations)

Day 5 - open day to fill in what was missed or relax by the pool
TS (5) 9:00 AR at Chef Mickey's
park of kids choice or resort pool
CS (4) At Park or resort of Choice
TS (6) Dinner at ESPN Club (if park is MGM or Epcot, then ESPN is a walk or quick boat ride to get to)

Day 6 - final filler day and trip home
Park of choice
CS(5) Lunch Park of Choice
shopping for souvenirs





One thing I did was put it into a spreadsheet so I could lay out the day a bit to make the meals flow with our day rather than chop up our day.

Here is a SAMPLE.

I can give you a link to my spreadsheet if you want it.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

You are really going to enjoy Teppanyaki, it is really good. We ate there a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Try to find a good spot and watch Illuminations in the evening.

I would pick 1900 Park Fare as your extra place to dine.

 

[Fast Pass]

The only thing I would think about was the ESPN club. I have been there and it isn't very impressive. I would try and find a different restaurant. It is just too much like an ordinary restaurant you would find at home. The rest of your choices seem real good.

 

[LglBlonde]

I personally see nothing wrong w/ planning time to rest up by going back to the resort after lunch - maybe just plan dinner a little later. We don't even have kids and I was ready to pass out after 2.5 days. I needed that break!!

When we go in two weeks, I've not planned anything for any "afternoon"

It's park first thing, lunch, rest at room/pool, etc, then dinner then night activity....

 

[bamamom]

How long does it normally take to get from the Allstar Resorts to each park by driving your own car? We are going in October.
We want to go to MK on the first day because the kids want to see the castle first

 

[grinningghost]

How long does it normally take to get from the Allstar Resorts to each park by driving your own car? We are going in October.
We want to go to MK on the first day because the kids want to see the castle first

It doesn't take long at all.

And you are so right on with wanting to see the Castle first - it just starts the trip off with a great big "wow"!