Tell me how you would plan out week in August please...

[beattyfamily]

Ok here's the scoop. It will be me (no DH) and my 2 DDs ages 8 and 4 1/2 plus I invited my younger sis and her DD age 2 1/2 (no DH) to join us.

It will be our 6th trip to WDW and my sis's FIRST. It's my FIRST time going in August; we'll be there August 21 thru August 27.

As a treat to my sis and niece, I booked the BWV (we're DVCers) 1 bedroom for 3 nights and then the Cont Tower for the last 3 nights. So Saturday thru Monday nights will be at the BWV and Tuesday thru Friday (we're leaving at 4:00p Friday) we'll be at the Cont Tower.

We will probably spend most of our time at MK, next MGM, then Epcot and then AK.

How would you plan this itinerary? Our arrival day? We'll be at the BWV and it's a Saturday so although it's my sis and niece's first time and we usually hit MK first, I can't see going there. Maybe MGM? Maybe just relax?

Sunday? MK? Or Monday MK?

I know we can hit MK easier the days we're at the Cont but I don't want to wait till we're staying there to go to MK!

Also, how would you handle the heat? Breaks midday? Lots of swimming? I know the parks closer earlier the last week in August so I'm afraid a mid-day break won't work for MK and MGM.

I guess I just can't figure out what parks on what days with the resorts we're staying at.

Also, will there be EE nights in August, specifically the last week? Should we bother doing one? I've never done an EE night because we usually go to WDW in October or December and do MNSSHP and MVMCP.

I was thinking of booking Chef Mickey's for when we're staying at the Cont, maybe CP at MK, maybe the Cinderella dinner, and maybe CRT or Storybook if I'm lucky enough. My sis will be on a tight budget but wants to do some character meals with us. I usually only do one sit down breakfast (and one room service breakfast) and 2 or 3 dinners, but never sit-down lunches. Not sure how to handle it in August...

Any advice or tips for our August itinerary would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much for reading and helping me. I want this trip to be so magical for my sis and niece!

 

[kimbamickey]

I was there this past August and it was HOT. You have to account for afternoon thunderstorms also. Maybe you will luck out, but just be prepared with water and ponchos. The little ones will definitely need breaks. Here are my suggestions:

On Saturday when you get there just enjoy the hotel and the area around it.

Sunday- take advantage of the close proximity to MGM and go there. Spend the morning there, head back to the hotel for a mid-afternoon break/swim, head back over to MGM in the evening and finish what you missed and see Fantasmic (maybe do the dinner package).

Monday- Epcot- Future World in the morning, mid-afternoon hotel/pool break, World Showcase in the evening. ( I know you do not want to wait this long to go to the MK, but I think that you should take advantage of the parkls you are closest to)

Tuesday- Head over to Contemporary, get settled, make ps arrangements for Crystal Palace this night (make ps ahead of time of course) and enjoy Magicv Kingdom in evening

Wednesday- Extra Magic Hour for Epcot- head over there early and see anything you missed, come back in late afternoon for a swim/nap, head back to MK in evening

Thursday- Extra Magic Hour Day at MK- maybe to Chef Mickey's or CRT breakfast this morning- spend the day in the Magic Kingdom- you will be close to the hotel if you need an afternoon break

Friday- Extra Magic Hour Day at Animal Kingdom

Those are my suggestions. Hope it helps! Have a great time!

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my post!

My question to you is can you/we/my sis really wait that long to go to MK???

I just don't know if we/I can or my sis will want to wait that long.

If I could afford doing Cont first and then BWV, I would but it's just too expensive to do it that way but it sure would make my planning a bit easier.

How bad would Saturday be at MGM?

Maybe I could do MGM Sat, MK Sun, Epcot Mon, First day at Cont: MK Tues, AK Wed, MK Thurs again (EE), Fri whatever we missed.

I'm afraid it's going to be difficult doing midday breaks and heading to another park with the end of August hours limited. The only one I can go to after break would be Epcot probably and maybe MGM.

I'm so confused!

 

[kimbamickey]

Hmm - MK closing so early does put a damper on things. Sorry I didn't realize they closed so early.

That schedule works, just make sure you stay hydrated. It usually does rain/storm in the afternoon so take advantage of those mornings. Of course, you may luck out and have great weather. Last year it was unusually humid and rainy.

Saturday is an EMH day at MGM so it will probably be crowded. But if friday is a free day you can always go back to catch up on what you missed. MGM is a quick park to get through so that works to your advantage.

Good luck.

 

[shortbun]

When we go in the summer, we schedule sit down PS for lunch-
in A/C. Then we leave the parks somewhat early for swimming
and relaxation the rest of the night. The air conditioned, sit down lunch refreshes us, it also helps with the budget. We eat dinner on the fly or somewhere less expensive-sometimes we go get
Chinese takeout or pizza. Children love that little touch of home.
Everyone has their own water bottle that we refill in drinking
fountains everyday. Pop is reserved for evening, it's dehydrating.
No commando Disney for us in the summer either. Everyone MUST have a hat and we definitely take advantage of water fountains-EPCOT has those popping water fountains and MK has
Ariels(is it still open?) Extra socks for everone - dry feet don't
blister as quickly. Those are my tips and I'm stickin' to them!
Have fun!

 

[kda]

As a DVCer who just doesn't have enough points for every trip I'd like to make ------- did you consider switching your ressies and staying at the CR over the weekend and doing BWV last. This would probably use 1/2 as many points. Then you'd also be close to MK and could do that at the beginning of the trip.

(No need to explain your schedule --- just an observation --- you probably have a very good reason for scheduling it like this.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by kda
As a DVCer who just doesn't have enough points for every trip I'd like to make ------- did you consider switching your ressies and staying at the CR over the weekend and doing BWV last. This would probably use 1/2 as many points. Then you'd also be close to MK and could do that at the beginning of the trip.

(No need to explain your schedule --- just an observation --- you probably have a very good reason for scheduling it like this.

I'm going sat thru Mon night at BWV 1 bedroom and then Cont Tower the last 3 and the Cont Tower would be many more points if they fell on the Saturday instead of the BWV 1 bedroom. So I did BWV first because of the Saturday night.

 

[kda]

Oh, you're staying on points at CR. I assumed you were paying cash, but....................... wrong again!!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[tjmw2727]

I took my two girls last August without hubby and we had a blast. I didn't find it that hot but we did take an afternoon pool break almost every day. Your accomodations sound perfect for your trip!

I understand your hesitation about waiting on MK but I would try and do MGM on Saturday and MK on Sunday if all agree. Either that or if you really can't wait, get to MK at opening, do whatever "must do's" you can by noon-ish ad then bail to the resort for swimming etc. I would still hit MGM Sat evening if everyone is up for it and do a few attractions and Fantasmic.

If you haven't done MK yet I don't see your sis and neice waiting any longer than Sunday. When we go to MK we always get to the park at opening, do as much as we can/want to and leave by early afternoon at the latest. I can't handle the mid day crowds at MK but I will return in the evening for Spectro or Wishes. After that you plan your days by choosing the EE park or do the day after EE park touring plan.

One other thing we did was plan late breakfast or late lunch ps's for our main meal of the day instead of dinners. This saved a bit of $$ and got us out of the heat when it was hottest. By eating at odd times we never had a problem getting a ps or getting seated. We were also not big eaters that trip because of the heat, big dinners would have been to much.

Chef Mickeys for breakfast or even dinner sounds like a great idea as well as one of the princess breakfasts - good luck with that! I would skip dinner in the castle but that's JMHO, with the shorter park hours I personally don't think that dinner there is worth the $$ or the time out of the park.

Even with early closings we did take our pool break by doing MK or AK in the mornings and MGM or Epcot in the evenings. This way everyone was happy and got to do some of their favorite things, including swimming.

Don't completely rule out splitting up either, we found that when traveling with family sometimes we needed to separate. We would then meet up for a meal, parade or swim.

TJ

 

[disney4us2002]

While the hours may be shorter, the crowds should be down as well. I was rather annoyed to discover that our kids begin school on the 23rd. We've never gone more than one week before Labor day and this year it will be two weeks before. It messed up our plans to take a cruise that last week, but I digress, lol. If you are checking in on Saturday and coming from MA, I'd guess that will be a pretty early day, so I'd probably just hang out that evening in the Boardwalk area since I'm sure it'll be entertaining! Then, early Sunday, I'd head to MK for EMH. I have to begin and end every trip with MK. Yeah, I've heard from some that the other parks will be boring for the kids and all the other reasonings for not going there first, but I say hogwash! I just gotta, ya know? So, it's your first real day in the parks so the best would be to have a late PS for CRT for the girls, say 9:50. You'd be amazed at what you can accomplish in just two hrs on EMH days. If you can't get that one (you know how fast it goes!) then get a late PS for the Crystal Palace bkft with Pooh around 10am. What a first impression this will make on your sis and toddler!

I'm not a big fan of EMH for every park, but definitely MK for the kids' ages in your group. With my (older) sons, we will probably skip all EMH except MGM for the two big thrillers. It so depends on the kids and ride desires.

We also like to leave with a bang, so maybe think about Chef Mickey's for bkft on your last morning in the Cont.

Have a great time!

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks so much for all the tips and advice!

I guess I'm a bit overwhelmed this time because it's a first for me; AUGUST and no DADDY! And it's my sister and niece's first time ever!

I just want it to be magical!

I think I'll do one park in the morning, rest and do something else in the evenings.

Maybe do some late lunches before we leave the park...

Will there be no E-nights our week? Don't know if it's worth it anyway with our little ones...although they've done MVMCP and MNSSHP before.

I will remember to pack the ponchos, sunscreen, moleskins, and freeze some water bottles. Lots of breaks too.

Thanks again!