WDW Newbie: Need planning help

[elizke]

I have been absolutely immersed in this forum for days and days. I have gone from a gal who went for one day to MK more than 20 years ago, to a person who knows all the best resorts, restaurants, and incredible strategies I can impress my family with in planning this trip. I'm so grateful to all of you experts!!

But on to my question. I am planning a trip for my husband and I, our two kids (DS 10 and DD 6), and my two step kids and their spouses (twenty-somethings). It will only happen once to have all the siblings together on a trip and I am trying to make it very special. We are booked at POFQ. (I even knew what building to request : )

We have four full days at DW, along with the arrival night and departure morning. Trying to plan the meals is giving me a headache, and I can't really make reservations until I decide what days we will be where. Want to do MK, MGM, AK, and have alittle pool time at the hotel. How much time would you allot for each park? The older siblings are very flexible and have been a few times before, so the focus is on the younger ones (who are big chickens and no thrill rides for them!)

A friend who goes to DW a lot told me we should go to MK last, because if you go there first, nothing else will compare. I am having a hard time planning MK last as I am so anxious to see it and be there with the kids!! Do you agree with her though?

Long winded post, but the main thing is how would you experts plan Day 1, Day 2, etc. ? I'd really appreciate your help!

Elizabeth

 

[kandmwedding]

I'm with you that I can't possibly save MK til last. That said, I usually go there twice on each trip. What time of year are you going? Are you flying/driving? I tend to plan AK for the last day since they close earlier and I'm not missing a nighttime show when I leave for the airport. Also, unless I plan to take advantage of extra magic hours, I try to avoid them.

 

[magicaldisney]

Will you be taking advantage of any EMH's? That would help determine where to go on what day.

Also, park hopping is the very best way to go. It would be worth the extra money if you haven't planned on that.

Once you answer these questions, planning which park to go on which day will be much easier.

Let us know, we're more than happy to help plan. Planning is half the fun!!

 

[buccikulju]

I have to disagree with some of the conventional wisdom that says to save MK for last. It is always the first thing we do (I have kids 12 ds and 10 dd) because it gets us into the mood. The fire-y need to "be at Disney", even though we are staying at a Disney resort, is so great, that it can only be satisfied by going to MK. Once there we ride Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear and then we take it easy, trying out new things or visiting old favorites. With those two "Must-dos" out of the way everyone relaxes. It's even best if we can see the fireworks the first night because we feel we've "been to Disney" and can leave happy. In the next days we do the rest of the parks and the water parks and revisit MK on the last day if someone has a strong desire to ride Space Mountain one more time or get the special yummy fudge from Main Street USA.

To reiterate: I prefer to go to MK first because to me that is Disney and everything else is just the icing on top. WDW is a magical place. I just think MK is the most magical and I don't delay gratification very well so that's where I head first.

 

[elizke]

Long winded as I was I forgot to mention the details. : /

We'll be arriving late afternoon Sunday, April 23 by rented car from Tampa (flying there first for a wedding) and then flying home Thursday night.

And I goofed, we will really have only three full days. (MON. TUES. WED.) I will try to make plane reservations as late as posible on Thursday.

We have 5 day park hopper tickets. Wish we had more time!!

E.

 

[elizke]

We do want to take advantage of extra hours. I guess I need to check that schedule....

Okay, I'm already convinced I don't have to do MK last. I just REALLY didn't want to delay it, but I have no experience so wasn't sure.

Yipee!

E.

 

[dbm20th]

Okay, so you have three and a half days, so you got time. Here's what I do when I travel with little ones...

Try to pick a park for each of the mornings. My suggestion is MK the first and last day, and plan to be at MK until you leave. So let's say Monday morning at MK, Tuesday morning at MGM, and Wednesday morning at AK, or whatever the EMH's say. Hit the big rides within the first 2 hours and save the shows and such for later on. On the days of MGM and AK you may be finished with all you want to see by 2pm, depending on the lines. Go back to the resort, rest up take in the pools and if you want, head to EPCOT at 5 or 6pm for some rides, good eats and Illuminations at 9pm.

It will be tough, and in 3 and a half days you will miss some stuff, but you will be able to see alot, and will be planning your next trip on the plane ride home. Plan your Fast Passes well and make sure you open the parks, use the EMH whenever possible

 

[goofy4tink]

Be sure to buy a good guide book, then have everyone go through it and make a list of the top 3 things each person 'has' to do. If only one person wants to do say, ToT, then that shouldn't be a must do type thing. Depending on what time you actually get in on Sunday, I would be very tempted with little ones to head off to MK for a few hours (depending on how long the park is open). Do MK again on your last day. I would use one day to do both AK and MGM. AK in the morning (try for an EMH morning there), then switch to MGM. With the little ones, you aren't going to be worrying about getting to ToT or RnRC early!!! So, that makes MGM possible for mid afternoon until closing. Do Epcot as early as possible. There's not a huge amount for the little ones there, but there is stuff they will enjoy. Same with WS. The kids may get bored but there sure is a lot just to look at from their perspective.

Something for your little ones....my dd, now 12, has a Birnbaums' WDW for Kids guidebook from almost every trip. She could write the darn thing at this point, but she just bought the 2006 issue. It is great for the kids to have and plan. It's all from their point of view and has comments written by kids, for kids. It makes the planning so much more fun for them.

 

[elizke]

Okay, so you have three and a half days, so you got time. Here's what I do when I travel with little ones...

Try to pick a park for each of the mornings. My suggestion is MK the first and last day, and plan to be at MK until you leave. So let's say Monday morning at MK, Tuesday morning at MGM, and Wednesday morning at AK, or whatever the EMH's say. Hit the big rides within the first 2 hours and save the shows and such for later on. On the days of MGM and AK you may be finished with all you want to see by 2pm, depending on the lines. Go back to the resort, rest up take in the pools and if you want, head to EPCOT at 5 or 6pm for some rides, good eats and Illuminations at 9pm.

It will be tough, and in 3 and a half days you will miss some stuff, but you will be able to see alot, and will be planning your next trip on the plane ride home. Plan your Fast Passes well and make sure you open the parks, use the EMH whenever possible

Perfect!!! Exactly what I needed to know. This planning stuff is fun but I still feel very ignorant. Thanks so much.

Now add the meals for me and I'll be all set! ; )

 

[elizke]

Be sure to buy a good guide book, then have everyone go through it and make a list of the top 3 things each person 'has' to do. If only one person wants to do say, ToT, then that shouldn't be a must do type thing. Depending on what time you actually get in on Sunday, I would be very tempted with little ones to head off to MK for a few hours (depending on how long the park is open). Do MK again on your last day. I would use one day to do both AK and MGM. AK in the morning (try for an EMH morning there), then switch to MGM. With the little ones, you aren't going to be worrying about getting to ToT or RnRC early!!! So, that makes MGM possible for mid afternoon until closing. Do Epcot as early as possible. There's not a huge amount for the little ones there, but there is stuff they will enjoy. Same with WS. The kids may get bored but there sure is a lot just to look at from their perspective.

Something for your little ones....my dd, now 12, has a Birnbaums' WDW for Kids guidebook from almost every trip. She could write the darn thing at this point, but she just bought the 2006 issue. It is great for the kids to have and plan. It's all from their point of view and has comments written by kids, for kids. It makes the planning so much more fun for them.

Thanks so much for the tips. I need them all! And I am heading to the store tomorrow to load up on books. From what I've read on the forums here, I'll get Unofficial, Passporter, and Kids Birnbaum. It's all so exciting.

E.

 

[PKS44]

Before you spend all that dough on those books, I would recommend you consider spending on a subscription to TourGuide Mike at www.tourguidemike.com

his site has all the usual things you get out of a tourbook--descriptions of attractions...lots more pictures than any book--and lots of tips, sample tour plans to maximize the fun, minimize the waits...and a money-back guarantee...we have found his advice well worth the cost and more so than any of the books we had in the past--the Unofficial Guide included....the updates and the forum on his site are something no guide book can replace...

 

[Wendy1953]

As most here have agreed...MK the first full day, then the other parks, which always leaves you more time at MK if the other parks take less time! If the kids don't like fast paced rides, make sure you check out the books, they give explanations of the rides and you can eliminate the ones that will be too much for the kids! Then you won't spend racing to get on a line, and then find out it is not one they will go on! Make sure to take advantage of the EMH and FastPasses....they save time in the long run also! As long as you are in the park, one person can run over to a popular ride with everyone's ticket and get the fast passes as the rest of you get on a line for another ride...it'll work even better if the ride everyone else is going on is one the person who's retrieving fast passes doesn't want to ride!
You will have a great time, and as others have said, you'll be planning your next trip on the flight home....if not sooner!

 

[Poohbeck]

Okay, so you have three and a half days, so you got time. Here's what I do when I travel with little ones...

Try to pick a park for each of the mornings. My suggestion is MK the first and last day, and plan to be at MK until you leave. So let's say Monday morning at MK, Tuesday morning at MGM, and Wednesday morning at AK, or whatever the EMH's say. Hit the big rides within the first 2 hours and save the shows and such for later on. On the days of MGM and AK you may be finished with all you want to see by 2pm, depending on the lines. Go back to the resort, rest up take in the pools and if you want, head to EPCOT at 5 or 6pm for some rides, good eats and Illuminations at 9pm.

It will be tough, and in 3 and a half days you will miss some stuff, but you will be able to see alot, and will be planning your next trip on the plane ride home. Plan your Fast Passes well and make sure you open the parks, use the EMH whenever possible

Perfect plan! My only addition would be on the first afternoon there take some time in the pool and then head to MK for Wishes, or MGM for Fantasmic. This will take one evening show out of the way for you and give you your other days free for the evening shows. The evening shows are all incredibly awesome.

Also, plan on a character breakfast for one of your meals. What we did last year (November and party of 10) we went to Chef Mickey's (first reservation) for our character breakfast and then we were finished by the time MK opened. It's a quick walk from Chef Mikey's to MK.

Enjoy.

I agree that planning a Disney trip is soooo much fun; everyone on this board is sooooo helpful.

 

[Rella Bella]

Perfect plan! My only addition would be on the first afternoon there take some time in the pool and then head to MK for Wishes, or MGM for Fantasmic. This will take one evening show out of the way for you and give you your other days free for the evening shows. The evening shows are all incredibly awesome.
Also, plan on a character breakfast for one of your meals. What we did last year (November and party of 10) we went to Chef Mickey's (first reservation) for our character breakfast and then we were finished by the time MK opened. It's a quick walk from Chef Mikey's to MK.

I think these are the perfect additions to the first recommendation. With a 6 yr old you definitly want to do at least one character meal. If you do it early in your trip it will get everyone else in the mood too. (My DS9 still LOVES character meals... at home he's too macho for just about anything but get him near Mickey or Pluto and he's blushing all over himself.)

The evening shows are really so special, we wouldn't consider missing any of them no matter how many times we go! I could watch Wishes three nights in a row! My DH would watch Illuminations every night if he could. And Fantasmic is SO Disney! Don't miss them.

Take time for the parades too. Elsewhere I'm not really a parade buff... but at Disney they are so wonderful, they really add to the magic.

I also have to vote for MK first... I never feel like we've really ARRIVED until I walk down Main Street!

 

[buccikulju]

MK first is what real Disney lovers say. So many of the guide books advise against doing MK first and I always thought that was odd since, as I wrote earlier and so many others have said, it IS the most magical. I love the comment about feeling as if one has arrived when walking down Main Street USA.

I think this points out something to keep in mind when reading any guide book (even Unofficial Guide, which I love); the advise is often how to get the most in in the least amount of time. For me, Disney shouldn't be about that. Walt Disney and his Imagineers paid so much attention to detail that it would be a shame to rush through the parks and miss all the beautiful little, fine points. Savoring the walk down Main Street USA is an example.

So, even though your trip is short-ish, don't rush or panic. WDW will always be there for us (isn't that one of the things we love about it!) See what you are able to see, savor every moment, and know that you can come back and see the rest...1 year, 5 years, 30 years later. Enjoy!!!!

 

[POB14]

MK first is what real Disney lovers say.

Well, guess I'm not a real Disney lover. We did AK first and I'm glad we did. We would have gone there first anyway, because that was a MK EMH day, but I'm also convinced that the kids wouldn't have enjoyed AK as much if they had done MK first.

Of course, I'm like that in other ways as well -- dessert last, save the best Xmas present for the end, all that kind of thing. (On the other hand, I like AK better than MK anyway, so maybe it's true -- I'm not a real Disney lover!)

 

[buccikulju]

I didn't mean to offend anyone. I should have said many, but certainly not all, true Disney lovers prefer seeing MK first.

Personally the Disney Studios are my favorite of the parks taken in isolation, but I stand by my claim that MK is the most magical.

 

[POB14]

I didn't mean to offend anyone. I should have said many, but certainly not all, true Disney lovers prefer seeing MK first.

Personally the Disney Studios are my favorite of the parks taken in isolation, but I stand by my claim that MK is the most magical.

No offense taken. Should have put this ---> into my response.

I agree that the MK is the "most magical" for kids, and that's exactly why I liked taking them there last -- to avoid a whole day of "We want to go back on Dumboooooooo!!!" Bad enough that I've had to hear
it's a small world after all

every day on the way to school since the trip

 

[elizke]

Perfect plan! My only addition would be on the first afternoon there take some time in the pool and then head to MK for Wishes, or MGM for Fantasmic. This will take one evening show out of the way for you and give you your other days free for the evening shows. The evening shows are all incredibly awesome.

Also, plan on a character breakfast for one of your meals. What we did last year (November and party of 10) we went to Chef Mickey's (first reservation) for our character breakfast and then we were finished by the time MK opened. It's a quick walk from Chef Mikey's to MK.

Enjoy.

I agree that planning a Disney trip is soooo much fun; everyone on this board is sooooo helpful.

Good idea to catch a show the first night. Not sure what time we'll get there yet. I can't wait to see Wishes. And we'll definitely plan a character breakfast. I second the sentiment I've seen expressed here that there should be a Toy Story one though. It's always been my son's obsession. (He's getting too "cool" in 4th grade to admit it publicly, but it'll be okay in DW : ))

 

[elizke]

Before you spend all that dough on those books, I would recommend you consider spending on a subscription to TourGuide Mike at www.tourguidemike.com

his site has all the usual things you get out of a tourbook--descriptions of attractions...lots more pictures than any book--and lots of tips, sample tour plans to maximize the fun, minimize the waits...and a money-back guarantee...we have found his advice well worth the cost and more so than any of the books we had in the past--the Unofficial Guide included....the updates and the forum on his site are something no guide book can replace...

Looks very tempting....