Too Much Planning?

[Mj1st]

This will be our 2nd trip to Disney. The only other time we've been was 5 years ago when our daughter was 2 1/2. On this trip will be me, dh, dd - 7 years old and ds - 4 years old. We're staying for a week at CSR and will be on the DDP.

The first time we went I didn't really do much planning ahead of time. We were there for 5 days - went to MGM and MK, ate 2 character meals and spent the rest of the time in the quiet pool at CBR or in DTD.


This time, I've been bitten by the planning bug! I feel like I might just have us scheduled to death! LOL!

Here's our plan:
Sat. - plane arrives at MCO at 2:15
- I have ADR for Crystal Palace at 6:45, thought we could eat then watch the parade and fireworks so that the next day we could ride rides and go to shows during the fireworks and parade. Now I'm reconsidering because I don't want us to feel rushed to check in...the kids will probably want to check out the resort and swim. Might cancel the ADR and just eat QS at the resort.

Mon. - MK (EMH evening hours) - ADR Chef Mickey's at 5:45 - plan to go back to CSR around lunchtime to swim and relax for a couple of hours before heading to our dinner reservation at CM then spending the rest of the evening in MK. Will we have any trouble getting back into MK?

Tues. - HS (EMH morning) - ADR for dinner at Cape May at 6:50, then I thought we'd walk around and check out the boardwalk area. What would be our best way to get back to CSR afterwards?

Wed. - DTD in morning - ADR for T-Rex (not on DDP) at 11:00, then to HS for Fanstasmic Dinining Experience (dinner at Hollywood and Vine)

Thurs. - AK (EMH morning) - ADR for Tusker House at 8 (wish it could've been earlier!) We plan to spend all day at AK until they close at 7, then heading back to CSR to swim...or sleep - LOL!

Fri. - Epcot (EMH evening hours) - ADR at 5:30 for Garden Grill, plan to come back to resort around lunchtime to swim and relax before heading to dinner.

Sat - ADR at Ohana's at 9:00, then we plan to let the kids decide what to do with the rest of the day, swim, go back to their favorite park, dtd...??? whatever they want. What's our best route to take from CSR to breakfast at the Polynesian?

Sun - ADR at Hollywood and Vine for breakfast with characters (either this or the one at Crystal Palace will be canceled) @8:00
- our plane leaves at 5pm

Does this seem like too much? Is there something that I should eliminate or something that I've missed? Thanks for your help!

 

[kaismommie]

I think it's good that you have everything planned out. I will be heading down that way this Sunday and I have each day planned to the "T." I have two toddlers and my mom is coming along. I have when we will get up, eat, leave for naps, come back. So, I think what you have figured out is GREAT. I'm sure it will make your day feel much organized. With toddlers, it's going to be much of a hassle, with walking around (pushing in a stroller), doing the rides, and the tremendous HEAT. So, I'm sure we will get off track!

 

[Cafeen]

This will be our 2nd trip to Disney. The only other time we've been was 5 years ago when our daughter was 2 1/2. On this trip will be me, dh, dd - 7 years old and ds - 4 years old. We're staying for a week at CSR and will be on the DDP.

The first time we went I didn't really do much planning ahead of time. We were there for 5 days - went to MGM and MK, ate 2 character meals and spent the rest of the time in the quiet pool at CBR or in DTD.


This time, I've been bitten by the planning bug! I feel like I might just have us scheduled to death! LOL!

Here's our plan:
Sat. - plane arrives at MCO at 2:15
- I have ADR for Crystal Palace at 6:45, thought we could eat then watch the parade and fireworks so that the next day we could ride rides and go to shows during the fireworks and parade. Now I'm reconsidering because I don't want us to feel rushed to check in...the kids will probably want to check out the resort and swim. Might cancel the ADR and just eat QS at the resort. - CP doesn't have a cancellation penalty, I'd say keep the reservation and see how it goes. If you feel that you aren't going to make it, then go ahead and cancel, but it's better to have one and have to cancel, than not have on and need it.

Mon. - MK (EMH evening hours) - ADR Chef Mickey's at 5:45 - plan to go back to CSR around lunchtime to swim and relax for a couple of hours before heading to our dinner reservation at CM then spending the rest of the evening in MK. Will we have any trouble getting back into MK? - So long as the park isn't closed due to capacity (which it rarely does and on a normal day it shouldn't) you'll be fine getting back into MK. I'd even suggest walking from CR to MK via the footpath. It's a nice 10-15 minute walk.

Tues. - HS (EMH morning) - ADR for dinner at Cape May at 6:50, then I thought we'd walk around and check out the boardwalk area. What would be our best way to get back to CSR afterwards? - If DHS will still be open, heading back there and catching the CSR bus would be ideal. If it's recently closed, this may still be an option. If it's been closed for awhile, either catch a park/DTD bus from BWI then grabbing the CSR bus would work. Alternatively a cab from BWI directly to CSR (quickest and easiest way, albeit a little more costly)

Wed. - DTD in morning - ADR for T-Rex (not on DDP) at 11:00, then to HS for Fanstasmic Dinining Experience (dinner at Hollywood and Vine)

Thurs. - AK (EMH morning) - ADR for Tusker House at 8 (wish it could've been earlier!) We plan to spend all day at AK until they close at 7, then heading back to CSR to swim...or sleep - LOL!

Fri. - Epcot (EMH evening hours) - ADR at 5:30 for Garden Grill, plan to come back to resort around lunchtime to swim and relax before heading to dinner.

Sat - ADR at Ohana's at 9:00, then we plan to let the kids decide what to do with the rest of the day, swim, go back to their favorite park, dtd...??? whatever they want. What's our best route to take from CSR to breakfast at the Polynesian? - Bus to MK, then monorail (ideal, lets you off right near the restaurant) or boat to Poly

Sun - ADR at Hollywood and Vine for breakfast with characters (either this or the one at Crystal Palace will be canceled) @8:00
- our plane leaves at 5pm

Does this seem like too much? Is there something that I should eliminate or something that I've missed? Thanks for your help!

See inline green comments.

Overall, it doesn't seem like you've overplanned at all. You have your dining reservations and which park set, beyond that it seems pretty open. The plan itself looks quite viable as well.

 

[beroh2253]

Planning is half the fun and lasts for 6 months, being at Disney is the other half of the fun and those days just go too fast.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

your plan looks good, and my opinion is that a disney vacation is special and expensive and has so much to do. Having a thought out plan helps make the best of your time there. One thing i would suggest is that since your kids like to swim you should try the waterparks! Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are both amazing with tons to do and special kid areas. Another suggestion is while downtown you could go to Disney Quest, it's 5 floors of video games! From classics to new 3d ones, and even Buzz Lightyear's Astro blasters which is sort of like bumper cars, only you shoot at each other instead of bump-which happens too. As for arrival day, keep the adr and if everyone's up for MK go w/ it, for me seeing the castle is so exciting, i wouldnt want to wait.
As for transportation issues.. from the boardwalk you could take the ferry to DHS and then get on your CSR bus, or go to the boardwalk resorts bus stop and take one to DTD and then get your CSR bus there. You could also walk over to Epcot and then walk to the front of the park where the busses are, but that would be a LONG walk -so only pick this one if you want to also see Epcot.
For Ohana, we always take a bus to MK then get on the monorail and get off it at Poly, or you can take the ferry which stops at GF first and then on to the Polynesian.

Have a great time!

 

[beroh2253]

your plan looks good, and my opinion is that a disney vacation is special and expensive and has so much to do. Having a thought out plan helps make the best of your time there. One thing i would suggest is that since your kids like to swim you should try the waterparks! Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are both amazing with tons to do and special kid areas. Another suggestion is while downtown you could go to Disney Quest, it's 5 floors of video games! From classics to new 3d ones, and even Buzz Lightyear's Astro blasters which is sort of like bumper cars, only you shoot at each other instead of bump-which happens too. As for arrival day, keep the adr and if everyone's up for MK go w/ it, for me seeing the castle is so exciting, i wouldnt want to wait.
As for transportation issues.. from the boardwalk you could take the ferry to DHS and then get on your CSR bus, or go to the boardwalk resorts bus stop and take one to DTD and then get your CSR bus there. You could also walk over to Epcot and then walk to the front of the park where the busses are, but that would be a LONG walk -so only pick this one if you want to also see Epcot.
For Ohana, we always take a bus to MK then get on the monorail and get off it at Poly, or you can take the ferry which stops at GF first and then on to the Polynesian.

Have a great time!

The water park ideas is very good, i know you need a break form the regular parks and Typhoon Lagoon is a great place to get the day away in the middle of the week, just get over there early enough to stake out a place in the shade.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

You have to plan if you are on DDP. You have to get ADRs and in order to get the right ones, you need some idea of where you will want to be during that time frame. If you don't have park hoppers and you book 50s Prime Time for dinner then you can't very well be at Animal Kingdom that day.

You are definitely not planning too much. And your plan looks good!

 

[Mj1st]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm glad to hear that this type of planning for Disney is normal - I am having fun doing it! We usually go to the beach for our vacation so the only planning is how many swimsuits to bring - LOL!

On the day that we are leaving HS to go to Cape May HS closes at 7 so we won't be able to go back there to catch a bus to CSR. We'll just go to DTD and then take the bus back to CSR.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Taja]

One thing I just noticed is that it appears you will be at WDW for 7 nights and you have 8 TS ADRs scheduled. That means one would be OOP, as the DDP is based on the number of nights booked, rather than days (which is how tickets are based).

Otherwise, it looks pretty good. My only issue with the DDP is that I felt everything was planned around food! *LOL*

 

[Cafeen]

One thing I just noticed is that it appears you will be at WDW for 7 nights and you have 8 TS ADRs scheduled. That means one would be OOP, as the DDP is based on the number of nights booked, rather than days (which is how tickets are based).

Otherwise, it looks pretty good. My only issue with the DDP is that I felt everything was planned around food! *LOL*

TRex doesn't take DDP anyway, so that takes care of the one OOP restaurant .

 

[kydisneymom]

I don't think you can plan too much! We went last year and the whole time my husband thanked me for all my planning. You have to read the DISboards for all the amazing tips and apply to your trip. All that planning does is add to the joy you and your family will experience! Have a great time and then when you get home, start planning your next trip!