Trip Itinerary.....any thoughts?

[bigcrit]

Let me start by saying we haven't been to Disney in a VERY VERY LONG LONG TIME ( at least 15 years ).We are Staying at the CR May 14th - 22nd. We have 7 day park hopper tickets w/ water park passes. We recently purchased the dining option as well. We are hoping to do each park in our first 4 days than going back to any park we really want to do more of. I have done a ton of research using these boards and the unofficial guide so I am armed with some knowledge but would love the advice from people who have been there. Here is my tentative plan. Any thoughts as to what days to go where and possibly good places to eat on particular days would be greatly appreciated. We are planning on eating Breakfast at our hotel most of the time, counter service and once or twice at Chef Mickey's. Lunches will mostly be counter service meals throughout the parks (any suggestions?)

5/14 Saturday - Arriving at hotel (5pm) and getting acclimated. Possibly going to ride the monorail a few laps. Having dinner at Concourse Steakhouse or Chef Mickey's.

5/15 Sunday - Day at MK- Hopefully getting PS for CRT. Not sure about dinner though.

5/16 Monday - MGM or Epcot - Epcot has EMH and I heard we should stay away on those days as everyone else will be there - We are leaning towards MGM - Not sure here any help would be appreciated - Not sure what we will be doing for dinner.

5/17 Tuesday - According to Unofficial guide this would be the best day to do Epcot. So I am inclined to do this - Thinking of taking Monorail to Poly for dinner at O'hana.

5/18 Wednesday - Thinking of doing AK today - We booked HDDR for tonight. But thinking of switching to Boma for dinner while we are there.

5/19 Thursday - Possibly back to MK - Breakfast at Chef Mickeys - Dinner at Brown Derby, Momma Melrose or Hollywood and Vine (If I can get PS) for Fantasmic.

5/20 Friday - Epcot - Any good place to eat for Illuminations? Suggest a time for PS?

5/21 Saturday - Last full day at WDW - Leaving this open for whatever we missed. May end up at MK to say goodbye

Any help would be appreciated this itinerary is definitely flexible. I am hoping to maximize our stay without becoming a drill sargeant for the family.

Thanks....

 

[agotta]

Looks pretty good. I highly reccommend Ohanas. We had a blast!! Don't set aside a whole day for AK. Usually if you get there at Open, you will be done by early afternoon. Not a big deal since you got PH's and you can just hit another park. I would also say split up your visits a little. Don't jam all 4 parks in the first couple of days. Get a couple of free days in there where you can Resort Hop, hit DTD and any other fun things you want. Have a great time!!

Amanda

 

[bigcrit]

We were going to do DTD on the last day as we are leaving at 4:30 PM. Do you really recommend resort hopping.

 

[agotta]

If you have time, I love looking at the different resorts. But don't sweat it, if you don't think you will have time. What I would recommend is leaving the parks around lunch time.That would be a great time to visit the resorts near whatever park you happen to be at. When you are at MK, eat lunch at the Polynesian or GF. When you are at EPCOT or MGM, head over to the Boardwalk. Most of all, just relax!! If you rush, you will miss some of the best things Disney has to offer. And remember, even with a week, you won't see everything

Amanda

 

[bigcrit]

Thanks for taking time to reply I will definitely take that advice. I don't want to keep giving marching orders to see everything. Any idea on definite or must do attractions or shows?

 

[agotta]

I love trip planning. I am an old cast member, and if I could just plan trips all day I would!! If you have kids, I would recommend doing Magic Kingdom in 2 days. It's hard for me to pick attractions, but at MK I would say Buzz Light Year, Goofy's Barnstormer, anything in Fantasy Land, Haunted Mansion, Pirates. Epcot is great, but if your kids are in their teens, they may be bored in World Showcase. Don't miss the Universe of Energy (don't let the name fool you MGM must sees are the Great Movie Ride, Muppets 3-D (Dh and I worked at both of those Rockin' Roller Coaster, Tower, and Little Mermaid. Like I said before, the biggest thing is to take your time, because no matter what you can't see everything. Take time to watch all the streetmosphere performers, hit the Boardwalk one night, not too late, probably around 7. Hit the parks as soon as they open, then leave for naps and swimming, and go back around 4 or 5. Try lots of restaraunts, Disney has the best food! Split dishes so you can not spend a ton and still get to try a lot of the restaurants. If you have smaller kids, sign them up for one of the kids clubs one night and do a nice dinner, California Grille is our fav. Make reservations for Ohanas about 45 min before the fireworks. The kids will love how they pipe in the fireworks music. Now I am blabbing on and on, back to work (yea right

Amanda

 

[bigcrit]

Thanks Amanda. I really appreciate it. My daughters are twin eight year olds. Do you recommend any planning sites? I was reading some stuff on touringplans.com

 

[agotta]

I would reccommend getting the Unofficial Guide and/or The Passporter. This site is great. Did you make them reservations for a Princess Breakfast or the Princess Tea Party?? I hope 8 isn't too old (kids are getting older sooner ) Just have a great time!!!

Amanda

 

[agotta]

Ok, so I saw you still have 95 days left. Make sure the morning of 90 days out you call for Princess Breakfast ressies. Oh and the night of Illuminations, make PS at Rose and Crown Pub. It is a great restaurant with fantastic food!! If you make it for around 45 - 1 hour before Illuminations, and show up early, request an outside table. Best place to relax and watch Illuminations. If I think of anything else, I will come back and post

Amanda

 

[bigcrit]

Thanks again Amanda....

Chris

 

[bigcrit]

Any others want to chime in? I really need the help of the Disney pro's here......

 

[puffkin]

If you want to do Chef Mickey's the first night (in my opinion a great way to start the trip) I would call very close to your 90 day mark for the PS. Since it is a Saturday night, it will likely be very full. You can always make the PS and cancel if need be.

I wouldn't plan on a whole day in AK. That park traps all the heat and it feels much warmer than the other parks. Plus there isn't a lot of places with AC to cool off. We usually attack AK over two mornings. The first morning we hit the Safari first with all the crowds of people. The second morning, we go to the right side of the park and do that. Everyone usually heads left to the Safari, so this side of the park is virtually empty for a good hour. We usually leave this park by late morning.

I second the recommendation for Rose and Crown in Epcot. We usually try to make a PS for between 7:30 and 8:00. When you check in, request a seat on the Patio. It is nice to eat dinner and not have to hold a spot for Illuminations. Plus the view is good.

Hope this helps.

 

[loribell]

Wow you have done a great job scheduling your park days. Only thing I noticed was that you said you got the tickets witht he plus options for hte water parks but you did not schedule a day or part of a day at one of them. You might consider doing a half day at one of them, maybe the afternoon after you finsish at AK.

We always start our trips with dinner at Chef Mickeys so I think that is a great idea. We then usually end it with a PS at Crystal Palce for breakfast or lunch. You might consider this. The food is great and so are the characters. Plus you could schedule an 8:00 AM PS for breakfast and be int he park before it opens. This is what I would personally do instead of the Thursday AM breakfast at Chef Mickeys.

What ever you do make sure you call for that Cinderellas PS at the 90 day mark and be dailing the phone before opening to get in. If I don't get it on the first day I keep trying for one of my other MK park days.

We have done more character meals than anything else so I can't give you any suggestions on Ohana, HDDR or Boma other than I have never heard anything but good things about any of them.

Looks like you have a real good handle on things. You should do fine. It sure doesn't look like it has been 15 years since you have visited.

Lori

 

[bigcrit]

Thanks Loribell, I really appreciate the tips. I haven't been there in a very long time but ever since I booked this trip a month ago it seems this is all I can focus on. I know I will become a Disney Freak after this trip. Thanks again. Everyone is so nice these boards.

 

[loribell]

Well I have benn planning our trip since last May so I understand only being able to focus on the trip. We have gone at least once a summer since 01. I can't stand to not have something to plan. My Itinerary has been worked and reworked many times. It was funny to me that we had pretty much the same park days planned. You really did do a great job.

Lori

P.S. That CRT is really hard to get, make sure you get the instructions on how to do it or let me know and I can PM or email them to you.

 

[bigcrit]

Actually Loribell my wife was there when she was a senior in High School. I haven't been there since.............1978. Kind of embarassing but true. My DD's(8) have never been so I may be over compensating.......... Anyway, I really appreciate the tip's we will definitely use them. We are well aware of the lottery known as the CRT PS (lol). We will keep trying and trying. I guess we think it will feel like winning something.

Chris

 

[bigcrit]

I'm so excited I can barely contain it.........

 

[loribell]

I totally undestand. Still can't believe it has been so long since you were there. Get ready to be hooked and start planning next years trip! LOL! After we went for the first time with our DD who is now 6 we went back later that year and bought into DVC.

I'm going to PM you with a secret you may not know about.

Lori

 

[bigcrit]

Thanks Loribell. You and so many others on this board are so friendly and helpful. I am so glad I joined this message board I have learned so much froom you guys....

THANKS!!!!!!!!!