Views on my itinerary please (first timer)!

[Chester07]

Hi

Planning our trip for October 2019, first time visit for us and our children (girl aged 7 and boy aged 5). We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside for 10 nights and Royal Pacific Resort for 5 nights. We have upgraded to the Disney dining plan.

I’d appreciate some help with the Disney part of our itinerary (Universal seems a bit easier). I’m a bit worried about the parks being really busy and keen that we have some time to relax/enjoy the resort as well. We will struggle with both late nights and early mornings so planning to do quite a few nights at the hotel and do movies under the stars etc. We would like to do the main rides (although not the big ones) if we can, but wouldn’t spend hours in line just to do a ride (our children will likely be happy to get on anything). We are planning to do a bit of shopping/check out I-Drive etc mainly on the Universal part of the trip (unless we have time on our hands during the Disney part).

Anyways, here is our planned itinerary for now, would appreciate any thoughts:

Friday: arrive Orlando 7pm, to POR and bed!

Saturday (and daughter’s 8th birthday): hopefully do EEMH at MK (7am start) leave around 11.30/12 for brunch at Chef Mickeys. Pool etc in afternoon, horse drawn carriage at POR in early evening.

Sunday: Pool and/or check out Disney Springs, go to Animal Kingdom lodge late afternoon to check out resort/see animals, early dinner at Sanaa.

Monday (Columbus Day): hopefully do EEMH at AK, lunch at Tusker House, head back to POR early/mid afternoon.

Tuesday: Epcot (mainly future world), no restaurant booked as planning to do QS and/or food and wine snacks.

Wednesday: Bibiddi Bobiddi at Disney Springs, head to MK ideally in time for parade. We have an early dinner at Cindarella’s Royal Table and then the dessert party later on (booked mainly for the space/view rather than the desserts) for the fireworks.

Thursday: pool and/or Disney Springs, then to HS in the afternoon for an early dinner at Mama Melrose (Fantasmic Dining Package). Would like to see Toy Story Land if we can, not too fussed about Galaxy’s Edge but will take a look if we can.

Friday: hopefully EEMH at MK, breakfast booked at BOG. Possibly check out Polynesian for a late lunch then back to POR.

Saturday: hopefully EEMH at AK, then to Disney Springs for lunch (Morimoto Asia or Chef Art Smith).

Sunday: lunch at T Rex cafe then to MK around 3pm for MNSSHP.

Monday: late-ish character breakfast at Trattoria al Forno, have a look round World Showcase and then off to Royal Pacific at some point in the afternoon.

I’m not sure if we have too much time at MK and not enough time at AK/HS. I hadn’t planned for much time at HS as was expecting it to be mega busy but I won’t know that by the time of booking our fast passes. I was wondering whether to drop the Friday at MK but that’s the only day I can get BOG for and so would be sorry to miss that (I think?). Just trying to decide before fast pass window opens!

Not sure if we are doing too much or too little!

Thanks in advance!
Suzi

 

[Luildinha]

I´m not an expert by any means, but I got the impression that you don´t have much park time planned. In MK, for example, there´s a day you´ll practicaly only have time to watch parade, fireworks and go to your reservations. The park is so large, I´m not sure you´ll get to see much with all the restaurant reservations. The same for HS and AK, where you plan to leave very early or arrive really late.

 

[SFMommy]

That’s a lot of time at Disney Springs and not a lot of time in parks. I would go to Disney Springs maybe twice max!

 

[sponica]

If this is a one and done trip, I'd plan for more park time. 2 full days at MK (or fullish days) are a definite. One day each in the other parks. And then the remainder of the days can be more flexible.

I concur with PP, it doesn't feel like enough park time. It looks like a few hours most mornings.

 

[clutter]

I´m not an expert by any means, but I got the impression that you don´t have much park time planned. In MK, for example, there´s a day you´ll practicaly only have time to watch parade, fireworks and go to your reservations. The park is so large, I´m not sure you´ll get to see much with all the restaurant reservations. The same for HS and AK, where you plan to leave very early or arrive really late.

I'm going to agree. I can't imagine a second day at WDW not being park time. The BBB reservation would be my only planned time to go to Disney Springs, unless there's a dinner that you really want to go to. Or maybe lunch, if it's a non park day, but later in the week. Definitely not a lunch after a park morning. I'd absolutely make Sunday an AK day, then go to Sanaa for the early dinner, then go to WinterSummerland for mini golf.

I've been to WDW a lot, so I may or may not be helpful, but even when I take first timers I plan meals and FPs, and then just fill in the blanks. That's the thing with Disney - there is so much fill in the blanks to do there, especially in the park with kids. Sometimes that's the best part of the trip.

 

[Chester07]

Thanks very much for the feedback, I will re-look at the itinerary. I think I have been scared off the parks a little by fears of them being too busy/us not being able to get on many rides beyond our 3 fast passes.. The first Sunday (which is Columbus Day weekend) was showing as a 9 or 10 on Touring Plans, which put me off. Also not sure how my children will fare after the long flight to get there and long park days/heat (we are coming from the UK).
I thought that - given it's potentially busy on the Sunday - it would be too much to go early to AK and stay until we go to Sanaa... I suppose we could do AK in the afternoon or HS early if we are up early anyway and can catch the EEMH. Will have a think. Good point re the DS lunch, would give us more flexibility to stay at park if we are happ,y rather than rush away so I will remove that from the second Saturday.

Thanks again!

 

[Alesia]

You're spending too much time in restaurants, Disney springs, and hotels and not enough time in the parks.

Standing in line for hours is never necessary. If you take a bit of time to make a good touring plan (which is always my very first step in planning,) you won't have to wait long. I almost never wait more than 20 minutes (and never more than 30 minutes) for anything.

 

[Luildinha]

I have been 5 times, all during Christmas week, the busiest of the year. This last time I took my two kids (1 and 3 year olds) and we managed to stay in the parks for much longer than what you are planning. Bring a good stroller for naps, have your restaurant reservations in the parks ready so you have a good place for breaks and it will be fine. Last time we went, we were able to grab many extra FPs, so the experience was very good, even with a big crowd.

 

[sponica]

Also the struggle is real, balancing park time with down time. But with that many nights at WDW you should be able to manage both.

If you're concerned about the adjustment, I'd be more inclined to go the other way, do mornings at the resort and then go to the parks. You're trading off the lower crowds but what use is a lower crowd if you're too tired to enjoy it? If you have park hoppers, go to MK on party days as the crowds will be lower.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Take advantage of the EMH, I totally agree on afternoon breaks as it's the busiest and hottest, then back for evenings. Although doing the restaurants is attractive, as PPs have said, it's too much dining time. The kids will want to do autographs as well.
I think early mornings are valuable, as you can accomplish a lot before park opens or begins to fill. Definitely agree with BBB (I think the Grand Floridian now has a location open - see my avatar - and is quite a wonderful experience with both down time and you can monorail over to MK)

 

[jolynne28]

Agree with all PP’s, you need more park time and less dining time. We’ve done the regular dining plan once and quick service plan once, both were the free dining offer. Especially with the regular, our days totally revolved around reservations, it was a huge pain. And we never left the parks for breaks. Unless you all are very very into food and sitting down to eat, I’d contemplate dropping the dining and just keeping a few reservations, paying out of pocket.

 

[Sara_H]

One thing to note too is that not all rides are open during EMH so one ride you might have planned to do during those early hours might not even be open. I too agree with others that you don't appear to have much park time planned. One other thing to note is that the transportation time to head to a resort for dinner or lunch can often take more time than you expect. It might take you 30-45 minutes to get from a park to a resort for a reservation because you have to wait for the bus to get there and then the possible traffic...unfortunately it isn't an easy 10 minute hope to the resort.

 

[Chester07]

Thanks everyone, it's really helpful to have your input prior to booking my fast passes. I'll take another look at our plans. We are generally early risers so will use the EEMH if we can although good point re not all rides being open. We got free dining (QS plan) and upgraded to the DDP as we wanted to do a few character meals and it seemed more cost effective to do that (forgot to say that we also have Storybook Dining on the evening of the second Saturday - so another reservation to add to the list....). Plus also helps meet some characters without waiting in line. Will perhaps look at doing one or two TS meals within the parks. I've maybe subconsciously skewed it to my own interests, I love looking at hotels especially and would probably be quite happy just going round looking at each of the deluxe Disney hotels and checking out their restaurants! Will check out BBB at GF, wasn't sure when that was due to open.
Thanks

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

You're spending too much time in restaurants, Disney springs, and hotels and not enough time in the parks.

Standing in line for hours is never necessary. If you take a bit of time to make a good touring plan (which is always my very first step in planning,) you won't have to wait long. I almost never wait more than 20 minutes (and never more than 30 minutes) for anything.

This. All it takes is a good touring plan.

 

[sullyfam]

It looks like your plan involves limited park time, quite a bit of traveling around and multiple trips to Disney Springs. Which is fine if you want to do that, just keep in mind that depending on where you are going and the time of day, you need to plan between 30 minutes - 60 minutes on average for each point A to point B you do. Then plan that again for your return point B to point A trip back. I would be cautious about how much traveling around the "world" you try to do in one day. Even if you are planning to use the boat to Disney Springs from POR, which can be convenient, but sometimes it can also take a while. We stayed at POR and did the boat one night and I think we waited about 20 minutes for a boat to even come and then the additional 10-15 minute boat ride. Then you get to Disney Springs and the boat drops you off quite a ways from most places you are trying to get to. So add another 10 or so minutes to walk to where you need to be. You can see how this adds up. I remember we had a dinner reservation that night and I was stressed the whole boat ride thinking we'd be late. That's what all that traveling around often leads to you, stress! Especially if you've made reservations somewhere. We've really simplified our touring style the last few trips and we find it makes it much more relaxing. So my advice: I would limit your travel, plan more park time and less "other" stuff. With your kids ages, they are more than likely going to want to spend most of their time at the parks and on the rides!

 

[SG131]

One other comment. It looks like you're heading to MK at 3 for the MNSSHP. I just wanted to make sure you knew that you can get in at 4pm with your party ticket so you won't need to waste one of your regular ticket days as long as you go in at 4 or later.

 

[Chester07]

Thanks, that’s all good advice. Re tickets, we have a 14 day park hopper ticket (seems to be the norm in UK, same price as a 7 day ticket) so should be fine to go wherever.
Cheers!

 

[nkereina]

I agree with PPs on Disney Springs. Although POR has the boat to Disney Springs, it does not run frequently during the day and its a solid 25-30 minute ride to and from. Its not super convenient, IMO. I would eliminate the day time trips to Disney Springs, unless its an off day/relax day, and I would try to combine the T-Rex meal with one of the DS days you're keeping.

 

[Kingoglow]

Given the length of your stay, you should not be worried about the crowds so much.
Will it be crowded - maybe.... but with that many days you will be able to accomplish most everything.

Engage in the parks. In Magic Kingdom, for example, if you set a goal of exploring Adventure Land and Frontier Land one day, Liberty Square and Fantasyland another and then, Casey's Circus Tomorrow Land and Main Street on a third - no amount of crowd can ruin that schedule.

 

[SFMommy]

We are also early morning people, not too into nighttime events/attractions and always need a slowish paced trip or we burn out. I've never closed a park in my life! But we love Rope Drop.

On our first trip (our daughter was 9) this was our schedule...

Sat - arrive
Sun - EP (9-2, lunch at Via Napoli), swim/rest, dinner at resort
Mon - AK EMH (8-2, early lunch at Tusker House), swim/rest, drive to Sanaa for dinner at 7:00
Tues - sleep-in, resort/pool for morning/lunch, MK 4-10 (BOG dinner)
Wed - EP (9-2, QS lunch), swim/rest, return to EP for dinner at Tokyo Dining at 7:00 and Illuminations at 9:00
Thurs - day off, drive to Kennedy Space Center (which was AWESOME...by the way!)
Fri - MK EMH (8-2, lunch at CRT), swim/rest, Disney Springs for dinner (Boathouse)
Sat - HS (9-2, QS lunch), swim/rest, dinner at resort
Sun - leave

We felt like we were able to see and do everything that we wanted to on that trip. We had some nice meals, but didn't feel over-scheduled with ADR's. We didn't make MK a priority because we go to Disneyland a lot. But I would say 3-4 MK days (not full days) would be good for you. With 14 day PH tickets, you should be able to get a lot done! Happy Planning!