This is my final plan (I think)...please critique it!

[SFMommy]

I think I have finally settled on a daily plan for our trip the first week of May! Me, DH, DD9 staying at BWV for 8 nights. 6 day non-hopper tickets. We are early-birds and love morning EMH, despite not having hoppers. We will have a rental car.

FP+ selection is in one month, so I have some time to move things around, depending on feedback here. Let's hear it! Thanks!


4/30 Saturday - arrive MCO at 5pm, Garden Grocer delivery 5-7pm, grab dinner somewhere on Boardwalk

5/1 Sunday - EP 9-2, hotel rest/swim, EP 6-8 (Spice Road Table 7pm)

5/2 Monday - AK (EMH) 8-2, hotel rest/swim, Sanaa 7pm

5/3 Tuesday - pool/resort morning, nap, MK 4-11 (BOG 6pm, MSEP, Celebrate Magic, Wishes)

5/4 Wednesday EP 9-2, hotel rest/swim, EP 7-10 (Tokyo Dining 7pm, Illuminations)

5/5 Thursday - KSC 10-5, Il Mulino 7pm

5/6 Friday - MK (EMH) 8-3 (CRT 1pm), hotel rest/swim, Disney Springs (Boathouse 7pm)

5/7 Saturday - HS 9-3, hotel rest/swim, pack, grab dinner somewhere on Boardwalk, early to bed

5/8 Sunday - 7:00 a.m. flight home...Happy Mother's Day to me!

 

[jsrj21]

Sounds like a great plan for you and your family. AK for EMH is a good move! We've done it the last two years and its been great...safari especially. Have a great time!

 

[mshanson3121]

I think I have finally settled on a daily plan for our trip the first week of May! Me, DH, DD9 staying at BWV for 8 nights. 6 day non-hopper tickets. We are early-birds and love morning EMH, despite not having hoppers. We will have a rental car.

FP+ selection is in one month, so I have some time to move things around, depending on feedback here. Let's hear it! Thanks!


4/30 Saturday - arrive MCO at 5pm, Garden Grocer delivery 5-7pm, grab dinner somewhere on Boardwalk

5/1 Sunday - EP 9-2, hotel rest/swim, EP 6-8 (Spice Road Table 7pm)

5/2 Monday - AK (EMH) 8-2, hotel rest/swim, Sanaa 7pm

5/3 Tuesday - pool/resort morning, nap, MK 4-11 (BOG 6pm, MSEP, Celebrate Magic, Wishes)

5/4 Wednesday EP 9-2, hotel rest/swim, EP 7-10 (Tokyo Dining 7pm, Illuminations)

5/5 Thursday - KSC 10-5, Il Mulino 7pm

5/6 Friday - MK (EMH) 8-3 (CRT 1pm), hotel rest/swim, Disney Springs (Boathouse 7pm)

5/7 Saturday - HS 9-3, hotel rest/swim, pack, grab dinner somewhere on Boardwalk, early to bed

5/8 Sunday - 7:00 a.m. flight home...Happy Mother's Day to me!

Looks like a great plan, the only thing I would change is on 5/6 - stay long enough to watch the FoF parrade. You'll still be able to be out of the park by 4.

You're going to miss Fantasmic and the Star Wars fireworks. You might want to consider either a) spending that morning resting, packing etc... and then head into HS for the afternoon/evening, or switch it to another day so that you can do those things without having to be up so early the next morning.

Side note, what is KSC?

 

[davkata]

I think KSC is Kennedy Space Center?

 

[a742246]

If you are going to KSC on 5/5 you may want to rethink the IL Mulino dinner res at 7:00 PM, there is a lot to do at KSC depending on your interest. You may just want to wing it for dinner!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Looks like a great plan, the only thing I would change is on 5/6 - stay long enough to watch the FoF parrade. You'll still be able to be out of the park by 4.

You're going to miss Fantasmic and the Star Wars fireworks. You might want to consider either a) spending that morning resting, packing etc... and then head into HS for the afternoon/evening, or switch it to another day so that you can do those things without having to be up so early the next morning.

Side note, what is KSC?

Have the Star Wars fireworks been extended? I thought they would be gone by the time of my trip 4/23 - 5/1....

 

[a742246]

PS there is also a concert series going on at EPCOT, part of the Flower and Garden Festival, you may want to see if any of those shows may be of interest to you!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you are going to KSC on 5/5 you may want to rethink the IL Mulino dinner res at 7:00 PM, there is a lot to do at KSC depending on your interest. You may just to wing it for dinner!

I agree with this. There is a lot to do at KSC. I wouldn't commit to a dinner time. I would spend the day at KSC and then maybe think about what you want to do about dinner on your drive back to WDW. I have very easily gotten day-of reservations at most of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants (Il Mulino, blue zoo, Garden Grove). I would simply call the restaurant directly as you are driving back and then there is also no need for the WDW dining credit card hold on the reservation.

 

[mshanson3121]

Have the Star Wars fireworks been extended? I thought they would be gone by the time of my trip 4/23 - 5/1....

Oh maybe. I just assumed with the success of SW they would keep them going.

 

[courtneybeth]

4/30 Saturday - arrive MCO at 5pm, Garden Grocer delivery 5-7pm, grab dinner somewhere on Boardwalk

5/1 Sunday - EP 9-2, hotel rest/swim, EP 6-8 (Spice Road Table 7pm)

5/2 Monday - AK (EMH) 8-2, hotel rest/swim, Sanaa 7pm

5/3 Tuesday - pool/resort morning, nap, MK 4-11 (BOG 6pm, MSEP, Celebrate Magic, Wishes)

5/4 Wednesday EP 9-2, hotel rest/swim, EP 7-10 (Tokyo Dining 7pm, Illuminations)

5/5 Thursday - KSC 10-5, Il Mulino 7pm

5/6 Friday - MK (EMH) 8-3 (CRT 1pm), hotel rest/swim, Disney Springs (Boathouse 7pm)

5/7 Saturday - HS 9-3, hotel rest/swim, pack, grab dinner somewhere on Boardwalk, early to bed

5/8 Sunday - 7:00 a.m. flight home...Happy Mother's Day to me!

Only comments I have are for the following:

5/2 - I find it odd that you're going to AK, back to your hotel, and then back to AK. Any chance you may consider having a late lunch at Sanaa around 230 and then head back to the hotel to rest for the evening. It could be difficult to maneuver to and from Sanaa via the buses. You're already there at AK!

5/5 - Seconding something a previous poster said. If you are at the Kennedy Space Center don't plan an ADR and enjoy the time there. It's a full day and you may want to just order room service.

5/7 - Hollywood Studios may not be a half day park as planned... you could be done earlier if you play your FP+ correctly. I'd use this as an extra MK evening if possible before going to bed.


You only have 1 full day at MK, which may not be enough time! I'd consider skipping Hollywood Studios and making that a full day at Magic Kingdom.

 

[JRennie]

I think KSC is Kennedy Space Center?

Ah! Thank you! I couldn't think of what that acronym was!

 

[mshanson3121]

Only comments I have are for the following:

5/2 - I find it odd that you're going to AK, back to your hotel, and then back to AK. Any chance you may consider having a late lunch at Sanaa around 230 and then head back to the hotel to rest for the evening. It could be difficult to maneuver to and from Sanaa via the buses. You're already there at AK!

5/5 - Seconding something a previous poster said. If you are at the Kennedy Space Center don't plan an ADR and enjoy the time there. It's a full day and you may want to just order room service.

5/7 - Hollywood Studios may not be a half day park as planned... you could be done earlier if you play your FP+ correctly. I'd use this as an extra MK evening if possible before going to bed.


You only have 1 full day at MK, which may not be enough time! I'd consider skipping Hollywood Studios and making that a full day at Magic Kingdom.

Sanaa isn't at AK. It's at a resort.

 

[SFMommy]

I agree with this. There is a lot to do at KSC. I wouldn't commit to a dinner time. I would spend the day at KSC and then maybe think about what you want to do about dinner on your drive back to WDW. I have very easily gotten day-of reservations at most of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants (Il Mulino, blue zoo, Garden Grove). I would simply call the restaurant directly as you are driving back and then there is also no need for the WDW dining credit card hold on the reservation.

If you are going to KSC on 5/5 you may want to rethink the IL Mulino dinner res at 7:00 PM, there is a lot to do at KSC depending on your interest. You may just want to wing it for dinner!

I should have mentioned that our Il Mulino dinner reservation is through Open Table. So if we are driving back from KSC and decide to just cook eggs in the room or stop somewhere on the way back, then I can cancel the Il Mulino reservation through the Open Table app on my phone...no penalties unlike an ADR!

You're going to miss Fantasmic and the Star Wars fireworks. You might want to consider either a) spending that morning resting, packing etc... and then head into HS for the afternoon/evening, or switch it to another day so that you can do those things without having to be up so early the next morning.

Yes, if the Star Wars Fireworks are extended to when we are there, we will probably wander back over there on Saturday night, and just forget about getting a good night sleep! Since we are staying at the BWV, I figured we could walk back over to HS that night. That's another reason why we don't have any firm dinner plans that night. I hope the SW fireworks are happening when we are there...they sound great!

 

[courtneybeth]

Sanaa isn't at AK. It's at a resort.

I'm well aware it's at the AKL Kidani. It's further away than AK, so the original plan said: go to AK, back to the hotel (BWV), then back to AKL. It seems weird to go all that way and back. I wouldn't want to spend my time traveling twice.

 

[SFMommy]

Only comments I have are for the following:

5/2 - I find it odd that you're going to AK, back to your hotel, and then back to AK. Any chance you may consider having a late lunch at Sanaa around 230 and then head back to the hotel to rest for the evening. It could be difficult to maneuver to and from Sanaa via the buses. You're already there at AK!

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. But we are the type of people that need a break in the afternoon. I am also planning on getting SOAKED on Kali just before we leave AK. Also (and correct me if I'm wrong) but since we have a car...it looks like on Google Maps that it is only a 10-15 minute drive from BWV to AKL for dinner. I am so excited to eat at Sanaa! But I would like to be cleaned up, refreshed and not in park clothes.

Only comments I have are for the following:

5/7 - Hollywood Studios may not be a half day park as planned... you could be done earlier if you play your FP+ correctly. I'd use this as an extra MK evening if possible before going to bed.

You only have 1 full day at MK, which may not be enough time! I'd consider skipping Hollywood Studios and making that a full day at Magic Kingdom.

Well, it was hard trying to fit it all in. But since we have been to DLR many times and will be going back there many times in the future, we decided to make this, our first trip to WDW, more about the things that are different than DLR. So we are skipping A LOT of attractions at MK because we would rather go to places and see things that we don't have out here in California.

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm well aware it's at the AKL Kidani. It's further away than AK, so the original plan said: go to AK, back to the hotel (BWV), then back to AKL. It seems weird to go all that way and back. I wouldn't want to spend my time traveling twice.

Yes, well YOUR post said "Then go back to AK". So, it didn't appear that you were aware

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm well aware it's at the AKL Kidani. It's further away than AK, so the original plan said: go to AK, back to the hotel (BWV), then back to AKL. It seems weird to go all that way and back. I wouldn't want to spend my time traveling twice.

Since OP has a car it is no big deal at all. The drive from AK to BWK to AKL is pretty short. We've done it a number of times. Even better, the hotel has a parking garage. the walk from your car to dinner is little more than an elevator ride.

My only other comment/suggestion, which I think you mostly address is your follow up posts, is that you list some fairly rigid time schedules. DL is much more compact than WDW. Getting around WDW is a bit unpredictable. For us, we can say we'll leave MK at 2pm, but most of the time we often end up missing some of our time marks- and we've been to WDW many times.

On our last trip, we did one night at WL. Here's a few things we encountered:
1. Our flight was delayed.

2. We hit traffic driving on I-4. That can be a beast! I know you know CA traffic! Oh, along the same lines speed traps on WDW property are very common! SPEEDERS BEWARE! I think it is also VERY helpful to use a GPS if you have one, esp one on your phone.

3. That night, we tried to take the boat to neighboring Ft.WL at 7:30pm. We thought it would be plenty of time to visit and walk back to WL for 9pm fireworks. Well, it wasn't. There was a wait for the first boat. We just missed cutoff. Had to wait for 2nd boat. We discovered trail back to WL is closed after dark. There is supposed to be a shuttle bus between the two sister hotels. We waited 20min; no bus. We saw Wishes from Ft. WL.

4.The next morning, we planned bus to neighbor MK. Just missed it. Walked to boat launch just in time for heavy fog stoppage. Took bus.

5.In MK, we got stuck on a stopped ride for about 10min.

6.We arrived 20min before ADR, but waited 90min PAST before we had any food! Crazy. Our meal took over 2 hours! (Allow most TS meals- podium to being done- to take 90min.)

7. POTC had a temporary malfunction/shutdown just when we went to use FP. CM's said likely to be up soon, so we waited. Then told to try some place else, but we could get an extra FP. Walked to FP kiosk. CM reported POTC was open, so we could NOT get extra FP. Back to POTC, but it wasn't open. Argh! CM said we'd be able to use our FP at another attraction. While we were there, ride opened! Because it was just opened, we saved our FP and used it at HM. So it was fine in the end, but we finished HM late.


So just in 48hours we encountered a fair number of unexpected delays that would have made a strict schedule a challenge. It is the nature of the beast.

You also have more swim rest time than we would allow. If you enjoy swimming, there's nothing wrong your plan.

Even though some rides are called by the same name, seeing the different layouts might be lots of fun!

Also, When we visited in the summer, we were able to see most of the HS fireworks show from the BWK/BC/YC lagoon outside the park. We were on the Epcot/BC side of the lagoon, but it was a pretty good view. You don't get the music/full effect, but if you end up too tired to go all the way to the park it is worthwhile to see part of them. Last summer, it happened one night that the Epcot fireworks were at 9 and Hs at 9:30. So we saw Epcot fireworks from the bridge just outside Epcot, then the HS ones a little further over. A wedding party joined us so that was also pretty fun. Weddings in that area are common, and couples often get photos w/the fireworks in the background.

 

[courtneybeth]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. But we are the type of people that need a break in the afternoon. I am also planning on getting SOAKED on Kali just before we leave AK. Also (and correct me if I'm wrong) but since we have a car...it looks like on Google Maps that it is only a 10-15 minute drive from BWV to AKL for dinner. I am so excited to eat at Sanaa! But I would like to be cleaned up, refreshed and not in park clothes.

So glad that you have a car! It'll make it so much easier to maneuver. Sometimes I think the bus drivers take the longest routes possible to build up anticipation

Bread service at Sanaa will be a meal of its own. You're going to love it!!!