Trip planning feedback

[seattlemouse]

We are considering going to WDW February 17-24, 2018. We haven't been there for 7 years, so I need advice on my planning. My kids will be on mid-winter break. We live on the west coast and go to Disneyland about once per year. Can an experienced WDW person give me feedback on this potential itinerary:

Going: Me, DH, My sister, DS 15, DS 12. Kids are older, independent, have phones will travel.

Stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani 2 bedroom lock off standard view (reserve 7 months out). We are DVC members at Grand California. We have just enough points saved for 2 bedroom at Kidani. It seems nicer than old key west, we don't really mind the extra travel time. We also want 3 bathrooms and space.

Should we buy, 5, 6 or 7 day base tickets (one park/day). If DS want to do water park we could buy one day tickets for that. I don't want to do water park. DH may take a trip to Kennedy Space Center, so he would not go to parks one day.

We buy the park tickets 61 days out, and make FP reservations 60 days out.

Make Dinner Reservations 189 days out. I looked at some reviews and thought we'd make reservations at these restaurants.

Here is my tentative plan based on what I read on-line about which parks to go to on which days and which FP to get per day.

2/17 fly into MCO, arrive hotel around 7pm. Reservation at Sanaa (at our hotel)
2/18 Epcot FP: Frozen, Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, dinner California Grill
2/19 Hollywood Studios: FP Toy Story, Star Tours, Tower of Terror, dinner Artist Point
2/20 Animal Kingdom: FP Avatar, Everest, Safari, dinner Jinko
2/21 Magic Kingtom: FP 7 dwarfs, Big Thunder, Splash, lunch Be Our Guest
2/22 MK again, Dinner Boathouse (FP?)
2/23 Epcot again, (FP?) Dinner Napoli
2/24 Animal Kingdom again, FP: Na'vi Leave hotel around 3pm

What do y'all think? Sound like a good plan?

 

[IrishNYC]

It all sounds good, except I would not make a reservation for dinner for your arrival day, just in case you are delayed.

 

[sharonabe]

Your dinners on the 18th and 19th seem out of place to me.

Artist Point is at Wilderness Lodge. Transportation back to your resort from there will be complicated unless you plan to uber. This also means you miss the night time Star Wars Spectacular at HS.

California Grill planned with an EP day is not as complicated, transportation wise, but will take a bit of time to get there. You'll still have the 23rd for Illuminations, though.

Agree with PP on your arrival night ADR. If at all possible, I'd wait and make this ADR once you're on ME. Any travel delays could cause you to miss this and incur the no-show fee.

What time is your flight on the 24th? You'll need to be back at AKL about 3 1/2 hrs before your flight to catch ME.

 

[seattlemouse]

Which restaurants do you recommend on the 18th and 19th? Generally, any restaurant recommendations? We are pescatarian (fish, no other meat). I love eating out at a good restaurant, which is really my main incentive to go to WDW.

 

[sharonabe]

Which restaurants do you recommend on the 18th and 19th? Generally, any restaurant recommendations? We are pescatarian (fish, no other meat). I love eating out at a good restaurant, which is really my main incentive to go to WDW.

The restaurants you chose are great, but if you're using Disney transportation, then they are going to take some time.

If you want to stay in HS, check out Hollywood Brown Derby. It's not Artist Point, but it's pretty good.

You could do Artist Point on the 22nd. Going from MK to Wilderness Lodge would be kind of fun with the boat transport. That means not seeing Disney Springs, so it's a trade off, but in all honest, Disney Springs is a lot like Downtown Disney at DL now.

 

[IrishNYC]

Which restaurants do you recommend on the 18th and 19th? Generally, any restaurant recommendations? We are pescatarian (fish, no other meat). I love eating out at a good restaurant, which is really my main incentive to go to WDW.

I would be ok with keeping Artist Point and CG, but just plan accordingly for transportation.

You've made really good choices for good food. The only one that might be a disappointment is BOG lunch. There are fish/veg choices on the menu, but for something that was supposed to be a "nicer" QS, we were really disappointed, and we hated the atmosphere at lunch.

 

[DanielNYC]

The only one that might be a disappointment is BOG lunch...we hated the atmosphere at lunch.

Sorry for hijacking but I keep hearing how dreadful Be Our Guest is unless you get a dinner reservation. At this point I wouldn't even consider anything but a dinner there.

 

[IrishNYC]

Sorry for hijacking but I keep hearing how dreadful Be Our Guest is unless you get a dinner reservation. At this point I wouldn't even consider anything but a dinner there.

We enjoy breakfast - a lot. It's our only repeat meal on our next trip. We like the food, and it seems much calmer in the morning than at lunch.

 

[DanielNYC]

We enjoy breakfast - a lot.

Interesting and good to know. We're doing Early Morning Magic on our one day at Magic Kingdom so will keep in mind for a future trip.

 

[Shanti]

Sorry for hijacking but I keep hearing how dreadful Be Our Guest is unless you get a dinner reservation. At this point I wouldn't even consider anything but a dinner there.

You keep "hearing" how dreadful it is? Interesting that you're trying to influence others not to try something that you've never even tried. In our experience of having had breakfast & lunch at Be Our Guest repeatedly, it is perfectly fine. Don't judge something until you've tried it yourself.

 

[DanielNYC]

You keep "hearing" how dreadful it is? Interesting that you're trying to influence others not to try something that you've never even tried. In our experience of having had breakfast & lunch at Be Our Guest repeatedly, it is perfectly fine. Don't judge something until you've tried it yourself.

Actually I'm not trying to influence anyone. Why would I want to do that? It's not like I own a competing restaurant nearby. I was just sharing an observation. Furthermore, if we're going to be honest, people judge things all the time without having tried them. How else can you narrow down your choices?

 

[seattlemouse]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I really appreciate it! our trip is in 8 months, I can't wait!

 

[mtemm]

One thing I would change is buy your tickets earlier than 61 days just in case there is some malfunction linking them on MDE. I tend to like to allow some cushioning so may just be me.