*Update* Can some veterans help a first timer with her itinerary??

[MelissaMonicaDrake]

UPDATE: A few new scenarios

I really want to try and keep DD and DS's days seperate, but I may end up combining them. Here are a few new idea's I've come up with:

Scenario 1:
Monday-Arrive at WDW around 4pm. Epcot-Akershus-Illuminations
Tuesday-DHS (Jedi Training, TSM, Little Mermaid), then off to MVMCP
Wednesday-AK, some down time at night
Thursday-DS's day--1900 Park Fare, then Pirate Treasure Hunt, then off to MK for pirates league. THEN either F! at DHS if I decide to get park hoppers, or Pirates and Pals Cruise if not.
Friday-DD's day- BBB, then straight to see Rapunzel (if they lines are still long, we'll try and rush there), then CRT
Saturday-Epcot from 9-noon. Will this be enough time to get a few rides in? Namely Soarin' and Test Track.....or am I being way too ambitious here??

Scenario 2 (No AK):
Monday-Epcot-Askershus-Illuminations
Tuesday-Epcot, then MVMCP
Wednesday-MK-DD's day (see above)
Thursday-DHS all day, I know it will be busy for a F! day
Friday-DS's day (see above)
Saturday-Early breakfast at Chef Mickey's, MK until noon

Scenario 2 WITH park hoppers
Monday-Epcot-Askershus-Illuminations
Tuesday-DHS (Jedi Training, TSM, Little Mermaid), then MVMCP
Wednesday-MK-DD's day (see above)
Thursday-Epcot all morning, then DHS for F!
Friday-DS's day (see above)
Saturday-Early breakfast at Chef Mickey's, MK until noon






I hope this is the right place to post, but we finally have booked our first ever Disney trip! We will be staying for 6 days/5 nights at CBR in from Nov. 14-19th with our 5yo DS and soon-to-be 7yo DD. This may be our first and last time at Disney, so I want to try and squeeze as much in for the kiddies as possible!

These are the two scenario's I have come up with so far for our stay. It isn't that specific, just trying to get a general gist of what we want to do so I can start booking ADR's next week!

Can any of you pro's tell me how these look, or which you would prefer if you were going??

Monday- Will get there around 4pm, go to Epcot-Illuminations
Tuesday- (DD's day!)BBB-CRT-MVMCP
Wednesday- AK
Thursday- DHS-Fantasmic
Friday- (DS's day!) Pirate's Hunt (GF) the Pirate's League, then MK, then possibly the Electric Parade or the Pirates and Pal's cruise
Saturday- MK until about 1, then it's off to the airport!

OR

Monday- MK-Electric Parade
Tuesday- AK
Wednesday- (DD's day!)BBB, then Epcot (Akeurus)- Illuminations
Thursday- DHS-Fantasmic
Friday- (DS's day!) Pirate's Hunt (GF) the Pirate's League, then MK, MVMCP
Saturday- MK until about 1, then it's off to the airport

ETA:

I'm leaning towards the first one right now BUT, what about Epcot? Will we be okay only doing a half day there?? What about Soarin' and Test Track (two rides I definitely want to do!), are we going to be out of luck for trying to get FP's there after 4pm?? Or will the lines be horrendous at that time, anyway?? Like I said....complete newbie here, so I have absolutely no idea!!

 

[Diegosmom]

This is not from experience but the party goes really late at night and do you really want to stay out late then have to get up early the next morning to check out of the hotel. I don't think you will get much done on that day if you are out so late. Also if you plan the first party and for some reason it is canceled or you have horrible weather you have another shot later in the week.

 

[MelissaMonicaDrake]

This is not from experience but the party goes really late at night and do you really want to stay out late then have to get up early the next morning to check out of the hotel. I don't think you will get much done on that day if you are out so late. Also if you plan the first party and for some reason it is canceled or you have horrible weather you have another shot later in the week.

Good point. That's one of the reason's I'm kind of leaning towards the first one. I figure with AK the day after on the first scenario, we can sleep in a bit, then head there for the day.

 

[DizneeMommy]

I like the first. . .nothing like CRT on your DD's first trip! We did that, and I wouldn't take ANYTHING for the memories!

 

[kwdw]

First trip - thousands of things to do. Do you NEED BBB/Pirates league? Just playing Devil's Advocate here. I think those are gimmicky things to suck extra money out of you...... But that's just the opinion of someone without small children of her own!!!

 

[MelissaMonicaDrake]

First trip - thousands of things to do. Do you NEED BBB/Pirates league? Just playing Devil's Advocate here. I think those are gimmicky things to suck extra money out of you...... But that's just the opinion of someone without small children of her own!!!

Nope, we definitely don't NEED to do them. But DD and DS would definitely enjoy them (especially DD, if there were ever a girl appropriate for something like this, she would be the one!)! But, this is most likely a one time thing for us, so I want to do anything and everything we can! If I knew we would be doing multiple trips in the future, I would probably pass on them

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Sounds like a great trip. You are going to be SOOOOO tired when it is over! On our first trip we were up and at the park every day by rope drop and sayed all day and still did not see it all.

Both trip plans sound good to me.

Suggestion: I would skip the Pirate and Pal cruise. You have lots of extra stuff planned already ( BBB, Pirates League, CRT dinging)... you will want time to just enjoy all the parks have to offer.

Im betting you will alredy be planning your second trip back before you even get all the way through the week !

Hope your and have a BLAST!!

 

[Wadecool]

Nope, we definitely don't NEED to do them. But DD and DS would definitely enjoy them (especially DD, if there were ever a girl appropriate for something like this, she would be the one!)! But, this is most likely a one time thing for us, so I want to do anything and everything we can! If I knew we would be doing multiple trips in the future, I would probably pass on them

We just did BBB & CRT for our DD's first trip and yes they are expensive but it was soooo worth it! Seeing DD get made up and then get tons on compliments from everyone the rest of the day was priceless! CRT was amazing as well and I would not trade those memories & photos for anything.

 

[MelissaMonicaDrake]

Thanks everyone! Adding this to the first post, but......

I'm leaning towards the first one right now BUT, what about Epcot? Will we be okay only doing a half day there?? What about Soarin' and Test Track (two rides I definitely want to do!), are we going to be out of luck for trying to get FP's there after 4pm?? Or will the lines be horrendous at that time, anyway?? Like I said....complete newbie here, so I have absolutely no idea!!

 

[disneymegs]

You do NEED BBB/PL! They are great experiences, especially if you don't know you'll be coming back. The first schedule looks great, but you will need to book your DD's day ASAP! Also, have you ever thought of merging your DD's and DS's days? They would be cute all dressed up together and you would have another day to do Epcot or maybe a water park/DTD. Just a thought.

 

[MelissaMonicaDrake]

You do NEED BBB/PL! They are great experiences, especially if you don't know you'll be coming back. The first schedule looks great, but you will need to book your DD's day ASAP! Also, have you ever thought of merging your DD's and DS's days? They would be cute all dressed up together and you would have another day to do Epcot or maybe a water park/DTD. Just a thought.

I actually just thought of that! I'm worried it would be too hectic, though. Looks like I still have a few things to ponder!

ETA: And yes, I have about 4 days to get this schedule down, then I am booking!!!

 

[disneymegs]

Tons of people do it! I'm a FGIT at BBB and lots of moms have their husbands at PL with the boy while the princess gets made over! Or you could let them watch each other.

 

[5forDis]

BBB is definitely worth the time and money!!! If you can get in to Cinderella's Royal Table it would be great for your daughter. Maybe you and your daughter can do that while your husband takes your son to the PL and lunch with him. I wouldn't spend the $ for my son to eat there. We did that once...while his sisters were in heaven, he was miserable.

Do Mickey's Christmas Party the first night you can (in case you miss it for some reason).

My kids love Epcot and 1/2 a day is not long enough. Epcot has the Kim Possible Mission which my kids loved! It is in their top 3 favorite attractions at Disney. The kids did not like Illuminations much.

 

[DizneeMommy]

We didn't do BBB our first trip. . .I simply put DD's hair in a bun, put her costume in our backpack, then we did morning EMH at MK, ducked into a bathroom about 11:30 and let her pull her costume over her shorts and tank top, and had lunch at CRT at noon. She loved it, and we still had plenty of time to explore the parks! Our first trip, we had 6 full days in the parks, no "extras" except for ADRs, and still couldn't get everything done! I would want more time in Epcot, but if you think BBB and the pirate stuff would really add more magic for your kids, go for it!! Vacations are for having fun and making memories!

Here's DD on our first trip walking to CRT with her Daddy, then with Cinderella.

 

[minnie mum]

I agree with the PPs who preferred your first scenario. I also totally agree with the suggestion about doing both special days at the same time: DH takes your son to do the Pirate thing while you and DD do the Princess thing. Just remember that BOTH of you have to get lots of photos!!

Your visit is a comparatively short one (by WDW standards) and you say that you won't be returning in the forseeable future, so maximizing your time will be really important. If you combine those special days, you can free up almost an entire day that could be spent at Epcot. I also agree that you could probably dump the Pirates cruise without spoiling DS's day in any way. A first visit to WDW is a very magical thing in and of itself.

You have to realize that it's virtually impossible to see and do everything in one visit. Pick the things that appeal to you the most and leave the rest. And never say never. It's possible that you WILL come back in the future. Hope you all have a fabulous time.

 

[MelissaMonicaDrake]

I agree with the PPs who preferred your first scenario. I also totally agree with the suggestion about doing both special days at the same time: DH takes your son to do the Pirate thing while you and DD do the Princess thing. Just remember that BOTH of you have to get lots of photos!!

Your visit is a comparatively short one (by WDW standards) and you say that you won't be returning in the forseeable future, so maximizing your time will be really important. If you combine those special days, you can free up almost an entire day that could be spent at Epcot. I also agree that you could probably dump the Pirates cruise without spoiling DS's day in any way. A first visit to WDW is a very magical thing in and of itself.

You have to realize that it's virtually impossible to see and do everything in one visit. Pick the things that appeal to you the most and leave the rest. And never say never. It's possible that you WILL come back in the future. Hope you all have a fabulous time.

THIS is my biggest concern!! I honestly don't know if/when we will return. It's just not in the budget. This will actually be our first family vacation, if you don't include yearly camping trips. I'm trying to make sure they each have something that makes them feel special, as well as get in as much as we can of "must do's," I'll have to go back to the drawing board and see if I can figure something out!

 

[lojikal1]

THIS is my biggest concern!! I honestly don't know if/when we will return. It's just not in the budget. This will actually be our first family vacation, if you don't include yearly camping trips. I'm trying to make sure they each have something that makes them feel special, as well as get in as much as we can of "must do's," I'll have to go back to the drawing board and see if I can figure something out!

A first time trip practically REQUIRES a whole day per park. Every five feet you walk, someone in your party will wind up frozen in their tracks. There is so much to take in and so much to do... it's hard to explain until you've experienced it. I have to agree with the others who mentioned skipping PL and BBB... those are add ons... if your children have explicitly asked for those experiences then, by al means, give them the opportunity... however, if you just are looking to do something extra special for them... well, you already have!

 

[MelissaMonicaDrake]

A first time trip practically REQUIRES a whole day per park. Every five feet you walk, someone in your party will wind up frozen in their tracks. There is so much to take in and so much to do... it's hard to explain until you've experienced it. I have to agree with the others who mentioned skipping PL and BBB... those are add ons... if your children have explicitly asked for those experiences then, by al means, give them the opportunity... however, if you just are looking to do something extra special for them... well, you already have!

This trip is actually a surprise, we're not telling them until the day we leave DD has seen pictures of her cousin at BBB and has asked if she can do that one day (of course, she doesn't know that we are going!!), she is almost 7 and will still squeeze herself into dress-up clothes whenever she can, I really think it is something she would love! And if we are going to do that, I want to do something for DS to feel special as well. BUT, we are limited on our time there, so something will have to give. I'm going to sit down tonight and see if I can rework somethings and figure something out to make the most of our trip!

 

[sharonabe]

I agree with the PP who said to put BBB and Pirate's League on the same day. If you can do both on Tues, then Thur could be another Epcot day. You won't get very much done arriving at Epcot at 4:00. This gives you 1 1/2 days at Epcot and MK. Of course, this would mean NOT doing the pirate hunt or the cruise.

As for your AK day, don't get there too late. AK will close earlier that time of year as it gets dark earlier. They will still be open until at least 5:00, but you'll still want to be there no later than 10:00 or 10:30.

 

[GrammyJudy]

i don't think 1/2 day is enough for Epcot and you will never get FP fo Soarin after 4. ON the other hand 1/2 is plenty for AK in my opinion. I think your DD may be a little old for BBB. You could just get her a dress and have her hair done at the Harmony Barbershop. I think at her age I would do the luch at GF where they get the doll nad have it the same day as the Pirate thing for your son.