Schedule Disney Trip, Advice Please!

[chicco]

I need advice for schedule that I created for Dec 09-Dec 16 Trip. We will bring my 7 months old DD.

Thurs, Dec 9 = MGM (hours 9-8)
Fri, Dec 10 = Epcot (hours 9-9.30)
Sat, Dec 11 = MK (hours 9-12AM)
Sun, Dec 12= Animal Kingdom (hours 9-5)
Mon, Dec 13 = Free day (haven't decide where to go but definitely will go to WDW because we have 5 day park hopper plus)
Tue, Dec 14 = Universal Studio
Wed, Dec 15 = Island of Adventure
Thurs, Dec 16 = Seaworld

Is MK gonna be very crowded on Saturday? I choose MK on Saturday because they will close at 12 AM.
I hope my schedule will make all of us comfortable since we will bring the little ones. Thanks!!

 

[gigi1313]

where will you be staying? are you two adults and the baby? any other children? would you consider doing the non-disney parks in the middle, kinda using your disney days as "bookends" beginning and ending w/the best of the best? (maybe even mk first and last day?)

where do you want to eat? do you want any fine dining? character meals? buffets? dinner shows (i.e. hoop dee doo revue)

are you planning any non-park activities (boating? fishing? golfing? swimming? shopping?)

are you early risers or night owls?

will you have your own (or rental) car? bringing your own stroller (hopefully, 'cause disney strollers are not really good for babies)?

have you read any of the guide books (i.e. unofficial guide or passporter)?

a little more info would go a long way toward helping you make a plan

 

[chicco]

Gigi1313, Thanks for the reply. I have added more information below. Please help me to do this planning.

We will be staying offsite except for day 2 (dec 10) at Disney Swan hotel because we get a good deal and we want to try Swan eventhough just only 1 day.

There are 4 adults and a baby.

I won't mind doing the non-disney parks in the middle. Do you think MK is the best?

We don't really care about what we're going to eat and for sure no character meals.

If we still have enough time, we would like to go to Premium outlet for shopping. Do you know which one better, Premium outlet or Belz outlet?

Usually we are "night owls" but I'm sure we can adjust schedule. Actually I hope we can go early - when the gate open - in the park so we can do a lot rides and things when there are not many people in the park.

We will rent a car and I already have AAA diamond parking. I'm planning bringing my own stroller after I saw picture of Disney strollers

I have read mousesavers.com and allearsnet.com but not guide books yet. I thought they will have the same information.

 

[fizz13]

-Ok, get a copy of unofficial guide, just for the touring plans and to give you an idea about how to pace yourself, restaurant reviews etc

-Avoid MK on a Saturday at all costs, or you will live to regret it OR go to MK but just for the evening to take advantage of late hours and try a different disney park earlier in the day, go back to your hotel after lunch and have a nap till later!

-I love Premium Outlets over any of the other malls. Top names at smaller prices, and its nicely laid out with a good food court. Belz is fine, but its very spread out (you do need the car to see all of it as its briken off into maybe 4 smaller malls as well as the main one) and some of the stuff can seem like a rummage sale at times.

- I agree, character meals are not a must, especially as DD is so young. If you're going to be in Epcot for Illuminations one evening anyway, why not book one of the World Showcase restaurants for a nice dinner. Or if you're on a budget, why not make a plan to eat around the world from all the counter places at the different countries. Tasty and fun i say!

-I think splitting the disney parks to either end of the holiday is the way to go, otherwise you'll have done all the best stuff and won't have it to look forwrd to. Try giving yourself 2 days for MK as this is most worthy of the extra time.

Anything else I can help with, just ask away. Have a great time,
Claire

 

[gigi1313]

looks like claire gave you some great advice...

if it were me, this is how i'd do it...

Thursday 12/9 MGM Studios... definitely see Fantasmic (evening show) which you can do one of two ways... either grab some dinner from a take-out place and bring it into the theatre to enjoy while you are waiting for the show (to get decent, and sometimes any, seats, you need to get there early) or book a Fantasmic Dinner Package (info on the Restaurant Board)

alternate for thursday for me would be to start out by doing one of the non-disney parks, like seaworld...

Friday 12/10 Epcot... be sure to stay for Illuminations Show, and again, since dining is not important to you, grabbing a bite from each of the world showcase counter service places would be fun (and filling!) [save room for pastries from the bakeries in norway or france!] doing epcot this day, the night you are staying at the swan, makes sense geographically...

Saturday 12/11... since you are waking up at the swan, you may want to stay and do something disney again this day... it's early magic hour at mgm studios which means as a disney guest you can get in an hour early, but since you are doing the studios your first day, and since you will have been up late, you may not want to do this but i would seriously consider switching your mgm day to today if you know you can be there early... also, because you are at the swan, there's a boat to mgm which is part of the "fun!" ergo, i would make this my mgm day...

Sunday 12/12... given that you are off-site again, and you may have done a disney/studio day yesterday, i would head to island of adventure...

Monday, 12/13... MAGIC KINGDOM ALL THE WAY ALL THE DAY! you've waited long enough... get to the "real" disneyworld!! mondays are a great day for MK... usually not too crowded... don't miss Mickey's Philharmagic show, it's great! also, spectromagic is at 6pm that night... a MUST SEE!! (and one of the two nights it's available this week -- also wednesday!)

Tuesday, 12/14... you may be ready for a take-it-easy day or you might be up for lots more fun... personally, i'd head to Islands of Adventure and leave my last two days for more disney fun!

Wednesday 12/15... Animal Kingdom... suggested food deal there, if you eat at Tusker House or Flame Tree you can purchase a "meal deal" which not only gets you your lunch, but also gets you a coupon for use later throughout the park for a drink and a snack (bottled water and popcorn or ice cream type), it's a good bargain! if you get there early, i recommend heading straight to the safari... also, don't miss It's Tough to be a Bug... great show! Maybe after a break, head back to Epcot for the evening, world showcase is open 'til 9:30 that night...

Thursday 12/16... for the last day i would probably do a split day between Epcot and MK... both of these places have so much great stuff and so much to explore that it's hard to do it in a day...

i hope this rough outline is helpful to you... again, i echo claires advice to get an unofficial guide and check out the touring plans...

good luck and enjoy!

 

[chicco]

Thanks for everyone advices. I have decided to go to Seaworld on the first day (thanks to gigi1313 advice!) and I think this will make sense because we arrived at Orlando airport at 6.30 am after 6 hours flight so we need to visit "more relaxed" park on the first day. And I have bought unofficial guide, but...... we haven't packed. Now I'm nervous....

 

[gigi1313]

glad i could help... i am living vicariously thru you right now! LOL!

as far as packing goes... it's totally over-rated... bring enough for three or four days, and do laundry part of the way thru... wdw has lovely very convenient laundry rooms!

ENJOY!