Touring Plans Question and my plans..

[js]

Hi.
I am planning a trip for family friends for September.
They are taking their son/dil and two grandchildren, 3 and 2.
I have their credit card and just told to plan and let them know what they are doing.
(They are staying at BLT in a two bedroom since VGF were not available for the full week.)

Anyway, they are going September 10-17. Arrival on September 10 and leaving September 17.
On Saturday, my friend asked if they needed ressies for dinner and can they wing it. I said no (plus I have Chef Mickeys for their first arrival night LOL).

For Sunday, September 11, TP has MK as their most recommended day but it is a 2.
Epcot is a 1. Why would they say MK over Epcot?

They don't want to be stressed and it is the first time for all (with the exception of my friends that came with my dh and me over 25 years ago before kids).

Staying at Bay Lake Tower

Saturday, September 10
Arrival
6:40 pm Chef Mickeys

Sunday, September 11
Epcot (I have a 6:30 pm at Via Napoli for pizza but now thinking I may change to MK??). Please help.

Monday, September 12
Break Day, pool.
Disney Springs, 5:30 pm at Rainforest Café

Tuesday, September 13
Epcot
(I have a 6:10 pm ressie at Whispering Cannon Café since thought it is a boat ride from Contemporary. Is this correct?) I don't know why I booked this?

Wednesday, September 14
Break Day
Boardwalk
7 pm at Yachtsman The kids have been to nice restaurants and this won't be unusual and they asked for a nicer restaurant during the trip

Thursday, September 15
Hollywood Studios
1:50 pm lunch at Sci Fi
From reading the boards, it doesn't look like there may be much for them to do. They will watch shows and meet characters. Should I tell them they are going to AK instead?

Friday September 16
MK
7:55 am Cinderella Breakfast

Please let me know what you think I should change and about my first full park day.

Thanks so much!

 

[SaintsManiac]

With kids that young they should probably hit MK first.

 

[Doug M]

I would put the day off in the middle and hit all 4 parks instead of 2 days off, or if you must only hit 3, omit HS as for ages 2 and 3 they will not find a lot to do. If any park deserves 2 days for that group it is clearly MK and not EPCOT.

 

[js]

With kids that young they should probably hit MK first.

OK, thank you. I think that is sound advice.

I would put the day off in the middle and hit all 4 parks instead of 2 days off, or if you must only hit 3, omit HS as for ages 2 and 3 they will not find a lot to do. If any park deserves 2 days for that group it is clearly MK and not EPCOT.

Let me ask them now how many break days they want. With MK walkable from BLT, I'll have them hit there twice.
I'll move HS to AK. I'll rework and post back.

Thank you both.

 

[js]

Is it correct, they can get from Wilderness Lodge from BLT by boat or do they need to go to MK?
Thanks.

 

[Jenis]

Sunday is MNSSHP so unless they are staying for the party they will have to leave MK at 7 pm.

 

[Alice777]

When we went in April (4 adults), we originally planned for full day at HS but by noon, we were done and took break at our resort and went back at night for the fireworks. Highlight of HS was the Star Wars theme. Ages 2 and 3 is too young for most of the rides in HS and probably not into Star Wars.

I would switch HS to AK. AK is more "zoo type" theme park so it will be more fun for the young kids.

And also, for ages 2 and 3, I would definitely do 2 days at MK rather than 2 days at EPCOT. EPCOT to me is more of "adult" theme park. If it's their first time, there's so much to do and see at MK for young kids.

 

[tink9702]

With kids that young they should probably hit MK first.

I Disagree with this - Since it's the best park for young kids I'd put it AFTER the park that is the hardest for their age - Epcot. That way they still have fun at Epcot.

I'd definitely drop the Hollywood Studios day for Animal Kingdom and do 2 Magic Days instead of 2 Epcot days.

Saturday, September 10
Arrival
6:40 pm Chef Mickeys

Sunday, September 11
Epcot (I have a 6:30 pm at Via Napoli for pizza but now thinking I may change to MK??). Please help. - I'd keep Via Napoli.

Monday, September 12
Break Day, pool.
Disney Springs, 5:30 pm at Rainforest Café

Tuesday, September 13
Epcot
(I have a 6:10 pm ressie at Whispering Cannon Café since thought it is a boat ride from Contemporary. Is this correct?) I don't know why I booked this? - I'd switch this to a Magic Kingdom day & either get a lunch or dinner reservation at MK.

Wednesday, September 14
Break Day
Boardwalk
7 pm at Yachtsman The kids have been to nice restaurants and this won't be unusual and they asked for a nicer restaurant during the trip

Thursday, September 15
Hollywood Studios
1:50 pm lunch at Sci Fi
From reading the boards, it doesn't look like there may be much for them to do. They will watch shows and meet characters. Should I tell them they are going to AK instead? Yes, go to AK instead.

Friday September 16
MK
7:55 am Cinderella Breakfast

 

[SaintsManiac]

OP knows the children best. I gave my opinion based on how we rolled with my 5 year old. We did HS first, then MK, Epcot, MK, Epcot, AK, MK.

 

[ristatron]

We are actually going the same dates! I followed a few guides on what parks to hit what days, but mainly we just avoided the EMH.

Me, DW, DD (4) for the 10th-17th.

We are doing
11th - MK (CRT PPO)
12th - EP (AKER PPO)
13th - AK (TUSKER PPO)
14th - HS (Sci Fi)
15th - MK (BOG dinner)
16th - Free whatever park day. Probably a bit more of Epcot for the DW and end at MK.

We wanted to start at MK, and try to end there as well.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are actually going the same dates! I followed a few guides on what parks to hit what days, but mainly we just avoided the EMH.

Me, DW, DD (4) for the 10th-17th.

We are doing
11th - MK (CRT PPO)
12th - EP (AKER PPO)
13th - AK (TUSKER PPO)
14th - HS (Sci Fi)
15th - MK (BOG dinner)
16th - Free whatever park day. Probably a bit more of Epcot for the DW and end at MK.

We wanted to start at MK, and try to end there as well.

It's a must for us to end the trip at MK. Looks like you'll have a great time

 

[js]

Thank you all.
Today I spoke with my friend and her dil on the phone together.
They want to do MNSSHP. They will do September 11. So, I will have them get to MK at 4 pm or after for the party. The day before will
be arrival day so they can wake up, pool, hang and then walk to MK for party.

They are doing MK on September 16. I have Cindy breakfast for 7:55 am although I saw this was an EMH but I'm not moving it.
I didn't realize I had Epcot twice so thank you all for that possibly fatal error LOL
They will do MK twice. I told them today the parks they were doing and didn't mention HS. I told them too much refurb
and they will do AK. All just agreed with me, they don't have a clue LOL

I need to buy the MNSSHP tickets now.

I'll post my new itinerary tomorrow.

Ristatron, you don't have any relax days but you know your family best.
Even for my family of four going over Christmas-New Years, and our kids are 22 and 18, I have non park days.

My friends though want relax days so I have to build that in.
Let me now go purchase the tickets so they don't get sold out since they want to do this. Then I'll purchase rest of tickets
later or tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[ristatron]

Nope, no off days. We land early on Saturday and will take the day to experience the resort, Springs, etc.. Most likely take a trip back to the resort after our early mornings and head back out.
Like the 11th, we aren't doing MNNSHP and will head back to the resort at close. We don't feel like we have to stay out late.

Our previous trips to Disney, granted DL, we haven't done break days. If things change and we need it, our last day is easily flexible.

Thanks!

 

[Mikie]

OP - looks like you're on the right track. As far as exactly which parks to skip or keep, I'd find out whether the kids have any favorite characters. If they love Disney Junior stuff and would enjoy the DHS shows like Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, it's not necessarily a park to skip. If they don't particularly love those, then I do agree on AK instead.

I think your original suggestion of Whispering Canyon can be fun for families and may be a good lunch choice on their Party day. It would depend on whether their kids nap and at what time (definitely don't want them skipping a nap on a day they'd like to be out until midnight!)

 

[SaintsManiac]

OP - looks like you're on the right track. As far as exactly which parks to skip or keep, I'd find out whether the kids have any favorite characters. If they love Disney Junior stuff and would enjoy the DHS shows like Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, it's not necessarily a park to skip. If they don't particularly love those, then I do agree on AK instead.

I think your original suggestion of Whispering Canyon can be fun for families and may be a good lunch choice on their Party day. It would depend on whether their kids nap and at what time (definitely don't want them skipping a nap on a day they'd like to be out until midnight!)

Agree about HS. We had the best first park day there. My daughter wasn't sure about the characters, but when she saw Sorcerer Mickey that all changed. She absolutely LOVED the Clubhouse show, too. We spent most of the day meeting characters and she was even chosen as princess of the day at Beauty and the Beast!

 

[js]

gggggrrrr, thank you all so much.
I am not sure what to do. The kids enjoy meeting the characters and they are into the Disney kid shows on tv. Do you think I should change AK back to MGM?
Right now, I have them going to AK. That is also the same night they are splitting up for dinner since my friend asked for a night out with just her dh.

So, I have 6:55 pm ressies at Citircos as well as Whispering Cannon. The "kids" will go to Whispering Cannon and my friends will go to Citricos. I figure this way
no one has to get on a bus for dinner, either the monorail for GF and the boat for WL.

My (their) new plans:

Saturday, September 10 Arrival
6:40 pm Chef Mickeys

Sunday, September 11
MNSSHP (They think they will go at 4 pm but I'm not sure. I will find out and decide if they will have a late lunch somewhere or eat in the Villa).
I will get FP, though, for 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm (Their choice to go to MNSSHP. I wouldn't have suggested it but when I told them they will leave the park at 7 pm due to the party I was told by my friend's dil that they loved watching the "movie" on the castle at night and they wanted to do this again (they were there once for one day) and leaving at 7 pm they were not going to be able to see this again). Do they project the movies/animation on the castle during the party night? They both sounded very excited for the party.

Monday, September 12
Break Day, pool.
Disney Springs, 5:30 pm at Rainforest Café and I was also able to make a ressie at Boathouse for 7 pm. I have to have them decide but think they
will choose Boathouse, especially since it is a little later.

Tuesday, September 13
Epcot
8:05 Via Napoli in Italy (Will try to get 7 pm)

Wednesday, September 14
Animal Kingdom (now not sure about MGM??)
My friends want to split up for dinner this night so
6:55 pm for a party of 2 at Citricos
6:55 pm for a party of 4 at Whispering Cannon

Thursday, September 15
Break Day, pool, etc.
7:30 pm at Yachtsman (they requested nicer restaurants) but if I can get Ohana I may do this too?
What do you think? I was thinking less traveling on a bus but this also gets them to see the Boardwalk area.

Friday September 16
Magic Kingdom
7:55 am Cinderella Breakfast

Thanks all! After this is all finalized, I will need to do their FP and they still haven't booked air although when I mentioned to my friend
she thought I was doing it LOL THEN, I need to start mapping out my Christmas - New Years trip

 

[caroline1851]

No AK?
Only 1 day at MK?
2 days at EPC?
I guess I wouldn't plan it like that at all. I'd probably do a bunch of 1/2 days and no "rest" day because no day would be commando crazy for kids that age. Def at least 2 days at Mk , maybe even 3. Definitely AK.