Thanksgiving Week - Tentative Schedule/Dining...Thoughts?

[SDA]

I have posted a few times, but I think I may have honed in on a plan. Trying to leave AK for our final day as we are driving back home the Saturday after. Sunday's event is the reason we are in Orlando, so we will not be able to start parks until Monday. We do plan to purchase LLSP and LLMP for all parks. We did not tell my daughter about this trip until a couple of days ago for her 13th birthday. I told her she needed to pick a couple of must-dos since we can't do it all and the first thing she said was Character Dining! Wasn't in my plan (haha). After looking around I thought Tusker House was the most appeasing, but there might be a better suggestion of when/where for the experience? Any other thoughts on schedule/food?? Anything a 13 yo girl shouldn't miss that she might not think of (it is just me, my husband and her)? We just discovered the put your name on a coke can, so that is a tentative if we make it to Disney Springs!

Sat: Arrival at Swan; spend time at resort or Boardwalk (possibly Disney Springs if not going on Wed); Dinner at Swan (Rosa Mexicano)
Sun: Attending an event in Orlando of the late afternoon/evening; will spend am at pool if warm or maybe putt-putt
Mon: EPCOT; Breakfast in room; Space220 lounge if possible for drinks; Via Napoli for dinner - snacking if hungry for lunch
Tue: Magic Kingdom and MVMCP (already have tickets); plan to head into MK later of the morning (breakfast in room); no dining reservations only quick service and hoping for a res at Beak & Barrell (haha)
Wed: Free Day - Waterpark if weather is warm; Disney Springs if not; Dinner at Swan (Kimonos)
Thur (Thanksgiving): Hollywood Studios; considering Fantasmic Dining package at HBD; res at Oga's at some point in day; husband really wants to build his own light saber as well
Fri: Animal Kingdom; **Character Dining at Tusker House for either breakfast or lunch (I had originally wanted Yak & Yeti for lunch); Satu'li Canteen for dinner if hungry or just snacks; hoping to end the day in Pandora

 

[Dave006]

What Characters are her favorite since that should drive you Character ADR selections?

There is not much to do at the Boardwalk, and it normally should take less than an 45 minutes to visit the Boardwalk. It tends to be a little more lively in the evening but it is still a low number of activities. for a teen. Rosa Mexicano is actually on the first floor of the Dolphin, just across the covered walkway from the Swan.

Tue: Magic Kingdom and MVMCP (already have tickets); plan to head into MK later of the morning (breakfast in room); no dining reservations only quick service and hoping for a res at Beak & Barrell (haha)

If you make a late start at MK on a MVMCP party night you are wasting a period of low crowds, and easy ride access with lower waits. I would suggest you start the day early at MK for EE (Swan qualifies) for the extra 30 minutes before the park opens to general guests.

Then plan a break right before or after lunch, and then return for your MVMCP any time after 4 PM. Note the crowds will by highest between 4 PM, and regular park close.

We just discovered the put your name on a coke can, so that is a tentative if we make it to Disney Springs!

If you don't make it to Disney Springs don't worry you are able to customize your own can online at https://www.coca-colastore.com/personalized-can

Dave

 

[SDA]

If you make a late start at MK on a MVMCP party night you are wasting a period of low crowds, and easy ride access with lower waits. I would suggest you start the day early at MK for EE (Swan qualifies) for the extra 30 minutes before the park opens to general guests.

Then plan a break right before or after lunch, and then return for your MVMCP any time after 4 PM. Note the crowds will by highest between 4 PM, and regular park close.

I am definitely struggling a bit with this. I'd prefer to do what you suggest, but I was thinking of the late am start to appease the two that enjoy sleeping in! I'm going to run this back by them.

Oh and character dining, she has said she would like to meet Donald (which would work with Tusker). She has also mentioned Pooh and then freaked out when she saw a video of a little girl meeting Doc McStuffins which was her all time favorite as a toddler. Which had Crystal Palace on the table, although I don't know if I want to spend MK time siting down and eating. We could do Hollywood & Vine with a Fanstamic package for breakfast and she could relive her Disney Junior years.

 

[Dave006]

Which had Crystal Palace on the table, although I don't know if I want to spend MK time siting down and eating.

Well if you start your MK day early then have a buffet lunch at Cristal Palace, it is a good way to take a long break in A/C and then head back to rest at the Swan or push on with your MK day. Then you have Wednesday to sleep in on your free day. Time to negotiate with your other (2) travel partners.

If you hit more rides during the slowest day at MK during your proposed schedule then you have the option to enjoy the Christmas activities in the evening at a slower pace.

Dave

 

[pinkxray]

I am definitely struggling a bit with this. I'd prefer to do what you suggest, but I was thinking of the late am start to appease the two that enjoy sleeping in! I'm going to run this back by them.

Oh and character dining, she has said she would like to meet Donald (which would work with Tusker). She has also mentioned Pooh and then freaked out when she saw a video of a little girl meeting Doc McStuffins which was her all time favorite as a toddler. Which had Crystal Palace on the table, although I don't know if I want to spend MK time siting down and eating. We could do Hollywood & Vine with a Fanstamic package for breakfast and she could relive her Disney Junior years.

I’m pretty sure Hollywood and Vine is dropping the Disney junior characters at breakfast so that Minnie and Friends are there instead. It says on the Disney site Oct. 11 is the last day for Disney junior friends.

My kids really enjoyed the holiday buffet at Hollywood and vine last year and we are thinking of doing the breakfast this year now that it’s Minnie and friends.

Personally if we were doing MK during the day and the party, we would do early morning entry then a break, then back to the party. If you can’t convince the others to wake up early maybe you can do a crystal palace brunch to start your day. Book Crystal Palace at 10:30, get breakfast and you get to try the lunch options when they put them out at 11. After this start your day at MK?