Suggestions for my Plans

[ksloane]

I warned you earlier. First trip. Just me and my DD5 Lots of Questions

Here's the next one. I think I have the day to day worked out. Now I'm looking for suggestions on how to change it and how to best utilize the times that I have set forth for the different places - What to make sure we do/don't do, etc.

Day 1 - Wed, July 26
**Arrive at Orlando airport at 1035
**Check in at hotel (yes, I know we can't get our room, but just to notify and get whatever paperwork they give you, right?
**Explore Magic Kingdom until can get into room (maybe another park or two just to see and get the feel of them; will let my DDdictate that)
**Back to hotel when possible to get in room and settle
**Dinner Reservations at Chef Mickeys
**After that, I would rather come to room/hotel for downtime and rest for the upcoming week, but will leave this up to my DD as well

Day 2 - Thurs, July 27
**Magic Kingdom Morning (early for EMH)
**Mid day Break at Hotel (when she's looking hot and can't take anymore)
**Dinner Reservations at Coral Reef
**After dinner go spend the evening at MGM and stay through Fatasmic

Day 3 - Friday, July 28
**MGM Mornng (early for EMH)
**Mid day Break at Hotel
**Dinner Reservations for the Princess Dining Experience at Epcot/Norway
**Spend the rest of the evening/night at Epcot
**Watch Illuminations before leaving

Day 4 - Sat, July 29
**Morning at Animal Kingdom (EMH)
**Mid day Break at Hotel
**Dinner Reservations for Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
**Evening/Night at Magic Kingdom
**Stay for night time parade/fireworks

Day 5 - Sun, July 30
**Morning at Epcot
**Mid day Break at Hotel
**Dinner Reservations for Planet Hollywood
**Evening/Night at Downtown Disney

Day 6 - Monday, July 31
**Breakfast at Hotel
**Go home (flight leaves at 1130AM)

OK. Fire away. Tell me everything I need to change or do if this schedule looks ok.

 

[Makdyn]

sounds good to me.
Enjoy your trip and just remember there will always be next time if you dont get to do everything this trip.

 

[barkley]

consider making a "dinner" reservation at the rose and crown the night you are going to watch illuminations at epcot. it provides front row seating for diners-you can order just dessert.

after chef mickey's you could do a ride on the monorail (it's at the contemporary where chef mickey's is) and get a beautiful evening look at the "world"-then return to your hotel.

i'm kind of "iffy" on coral reef-my kids are huge aquatics fans (dd 12/ds 9) but neither much cared for the overly formal atmosphere, and since they could'nt go up to the glass and stare at the fish-they were somewhat disappointed. now the kids liked planet hollywood, but the noise level was extreemly difficult for my little guy-he finaly put his head down into my lap and said "can we just pack up the food to take to the room. some of their favorites (and ours as well) have been (mgm-fifties diner, mgm-sci fi drive in-great food, great fun-but you need to do advance reservations which you can enhance to be dinner with priority seating to fantasmic).

i don't see any time budgeted for swimming or the water parks-for us this is a must do at least once, but hopefully more days each trip. not sure what your lodging is-if it's dvc rental you could have pool hopping privledges to try the different pools out, but no matter where you stay-they all have great pools for everyone to enjoy.

i'd also check and see what epcots hours are-i don't think they realy open up much until the later part of the morning.

get a copy of the disney transportation guide/map-you have some days where you will be crossing alot of space and going back and forth. by looking at how you can access the areas via the monorail, busses, water boats...you may find that you want to change some of your days activites to swap with anothers so you wont have so much repetative traveling.

last but not least-get as much as possible packed on thurdsay. that leave just the odds and ends when you get back friday night loaded down with all the "good stuff" your daughter will most certainly buy . get a good nites sleep cuz your 11:30 flight will mean being at mco at 9:30 which will mean leaving wdw around 8:30-8:45. so you'll want to rise early to eat.

 

[pamluvsdisney]

Day 1 - Wed, July 26
**Arrive at Orlando airport at 1035
**Check in at hotel (yes, I know we can't get our room, but just to notify and get whatever paperwork they give you, right?
**Explore Magic Kingdom until can get into room (maybe another park or two just to see and get the feel of them; will let my DDdictate that)
**Back to hotel when possible to get in room and settle
**Dinner Reservations at Chef Mickeys
**After that, I would rather come to room/hotel for downtime and rest for the upcoming week, but will leave this up to my DD as well

I know this is your first trip. Just be aware that getting from one place to another takes a good bit of time. I noticed on your first day after checking into the hotel, you mentioned going to MK and maybe another park or 2 (even if you are staying onsite). Doesn't sound doable to me. 2 parks in one day would be the max. And not getting to MK until afternoon, your child probably will not want to leave to go to another park since MK has so much to do for a 5 year old. MK and Chef Mickey's will be plenty.

I agree with leaving some time to swim at the resort. Will you be onsite?
Have fun planning. Sounds like you have a lot to look forward to.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I don't think I would try to do EMH at MGM or AK after staying at a park until closing the night before. I do think MK EMH would be worth the effort though.

Where are you staying? On day 1 you'll be going to MK then back to resort then back to Contemporary. That's a lot of traveling around when you've already spent 1/2 the day just getting to Orlando. I would guess it could be after 1 pm before you get to MK. You land at 10:30-wait to get off plane, potty stop, check in with DME (or whatever you're using to get to hotel), 30-45 ride to hotel, wait to check in, actually check in, check out room if ready or store carry on luggage. I would guess it would be at least noon. Now you've got to wait for bus to MK and travel to MK.

I just went with my DD for her 7th birthday. We landed around 1pm. Our room was ready when we got there. We dropped our bags and headed for Epcot. I had made dinner reservations for 6:30 so we wouldn't have to rush to get to dinner. But we were tired and hungry. I tried to change to something closer to 5PM but nothing was available.

Could you eat an early dinner at Chef Mickey's so you could just go from MK to Chef Mickey's?

Have a great trip!

 

[ksloane]

Thanks for these great suggestions. I am modifying now.

I did have the downtime scheduled in though "**Back to hotel when possible to get in room and settle"

Thanks again. If anyone else has any other suggestions, please feel free to help.