Take a look at my itinerary please.

[punkin]

11/13-11/19 (me; hubby; dd10 and dd5)

11/13 (Thursday) Arrive at AKL after midnight
11/14 (Friday) Sleep in Animal Kingdom 1 pm to 5 pm (do parade)
Dinner at Boma
11/15 (Saturday) MGM early entry 8 am to 11:30 am
Back to resort
Magic Kingdom 4 pm to 8 pm (spectro and wishes)
Late dinner at California Grill?
11/16 (Sunday) Magic Kingdom early entry 8 am to 12 pm
Back to Resort
MGM 4 pm - 7 pm Dinner at Brown Derby and Fantasmic (I'm not sure about this-maybe we should put the children in babysitting and do something adult?)
11/17 (Monday) Epcot 9 am - 3 pm (lunch at Akershus or Morroco)
Put Kids in Babysitting and do something adult.
11/18 (Tuesday) 6:30 am Sunrise Safari. Stay at AK until about 11 am
Back to Resort
Dinner at Flying Fish (my daughters' request)
11/19 (Wednesday) Epcot early entry.
6:45 flight home.

Here are some questions...I'm not trying to do everything at the parks just our favorites and I want to get a chance to rest. Even given this, am I programming in too much resort time? This will be mid-November, will it be too cold to swim? Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[jordanyosh]

I would say you are cutting your time in the parks too short. Depending on what your favorite attractions are, you may be waiting up to 30 minutes for an attraction even in Nov..Scheduling 3-4 hours doesn't really allow for much.

You want to spend more time at the resort relaxing;that's great. Still try scheduling 5 hours in a park. If you get everything done that is on your list, great, go back to AKL and relax. But if you schedule 3 and stay 6 or run out of time, you may find yourself kicking yourself.

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

I agree with Jon that you might want a skosh more time in the parks. That said, yes, you will be able to swim. I go the first week in December and always spend a lot of time in both my resort pool and at a water park.

You might find that you don't need that second half-day at the Animal Kingdom. I always spend a lot of time there, simply because I enjoy wandering through the beautiful environment, but as far as going to see the attractions, you might well be able to do it all in that first half-day visit, depending on crowd size.

And I know some folks disapprove, but I think putting the kids in the care of a sitter and making some time for adult activities is a great idea. Go to a nice dinner! Go to Pleasure Island! Take the carriage ride at POR and do a little private cannoddling!

I think the best thing about your itinerary is that you're going in with the mindset of, "Hey, we're not here to do everything." I like going with my head firmly in the plce that allows me to say, "Hey, I see what I see, I don't see what I don't see... all that matters is I'm at Disney, and that's my happy place."

Richard

 

[punkin]

Thanks so much for taking the time to look this over. This is a first for me since I am usually the one planning an activity every five minutes. About the AK, I have no problem cutting out that first day there all together and just doing the whole day there on Tuesday. However, then I'm left with no park to do that Friday. Any suggestions? It has to be half day since I am NOT getting up early that day. As for the other parks, we have a total of 8 hours at MK (remember we're only doing highlights); 10 hours at Epcot; and 6 hours at MGM (not our favorite park but the kids LOVE fantasmic). Maybe we should do another 4 hours or so at MK that Friday afternoon instead. That would round everything out.

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

... skipping the parks on Friday and doing some sort of "let's immerse ourselves in this vacation" kinda thing? You could explore the Animal Kingdom lodge (which is SO beautiful), maybe play a game of mini golf or hit one of the waterparks, or Disneyquest. Or you could go over to Fort Wilderness, do the buffet there, see the petting zoo, and have a nice family evening with the hayride/smores/movie. I think that would be such a great way to spend the night!

Richard

 

[Planogirl]

You could go to MK that Friday too. It's impossible to spend too much time at MK and most people are eager to get there anyway. Or you could have an early dinner at Boma and then head over to Epcot. Epcot is nice at night and it's well worthwhile to see Illuminations. Or you could spend some time at Downtown Disney to do a little souvenir shopping.

Lots of possibilities.

 

[susy]

I would have a day about half way through as a break day. You will be wiped out! AKL is amazing!!!!!!! have fun!

 

[Kelsey'sMom]

Don't forget that the food and wine festival is on during the first part of your trip so if you want to check it out you would have to schedual Epcot into your plans a little earlier.
Hope you have a great time!

Kelsey's Mom