We're going back! It's been 6 years!!

[Krisj]

I have never done a trip report before let alone a pre-trip report. So, here it goes!

Cast of characters:

Me: 38
DH: 40
DS 14
DD 12
DS 10
DD 8
DS 6

7 nights at Fort Wilderness tent camping plus 1 night at Doubletree suites WDW(using hotel pts for a free stay). 8 day hopper plus water parks pass and Disney dining plan for the first 7 nights.

We've talked about going to back to Disney for awhile. Last time we were there DS that is 6 was only 9 mos old. 3/5 of my kids don't really remember. They do know that we had a great time and can't wait to go back. It is just so expensive for 7 of us and the kids are busy with sports so we hadn't gone. Then, dh briefly mentioned going and I took off with it. I started planning and he finally agreed. Reluctantly. He wants to go, but is always scared to fork over the $$$ for real.

I told him my original price $5200 and that was not okay. He said he would agree to $3500 and so we compramised and are spending about $4100 minus souviners which we really don't buy too much of.
My original plan was to get two rooms at the Pop Century resort and the dining plan and all. But I had to cut cost somewhere. I thought about staying off-site, but the dining plan was so tempting. Plus, we really used the extra hours (EE and E-nights 6 yrs ago) last time around. I really wanted that option. So then it hit me one night. CAMPING! Okay, I do not like to camp. At all. But when I figured we could all sleep on site for the cost of a cheap hotel room (and all of us crammed in together anyway) I figured by giving up the Pop rooms I could afford the dining plan. I really had to convince (and still am reassuring dh and oldest ds) that camping at WDW is okay. Heck, I have to reassure myself of that. At least I won't have to cook.

So here we are. It is official. He asked for the time off and I have the days and everything set. Now I get to do the fun part of planning my days. I have worked and worked trying to plan out everything. Last time we went I even made laminated index cards (color coated, of course, by park) with the ride order for the day. I'm not there yet. I'm trying to figure out the days and times.

That will come in my next post.

 

[Krisj]

So the first step in my planning after the days and lodging is to figure out how to split the parks up. We get up early so we always hit EMH. Staying late, I'm not quite as sure about. I know my kids can make it till 9 or 10 but 11 may be pushing it. We do everything together and the kids are used to that. We homeschool so they are used to being together. I want to experience as much as every park as possible. Character greetings are not a big deal for us. Everyone, even ds6 is pretty tall and he makes the height for all the rides except for some at Blizzard Beach. We do like water parks. Last time when the kids were younger they complained we only spent from 10-2 at Blizzard Beach and that wasn't enough time. Epcot was their favorite park. MGM least favorite.

So, Here is what I have planned. (This is toward the end of April)

Day 1
AM
Arrive by car (7-8 hr drive) hopefully by 1 or 2. We *may* start out the night before to get a head start on Sat. am. Check into FW and set up tent. There won't be too much camping gear because part of this deal is that I'm not cooking anything. We have one huge 3 room tent and probably a gazeebo thing we'll put up. Sleeping bags out and then keep suitcases in the car.

PM

Arrive at Epcot by car and do some rides (tbd) until 5pm for our ressie at Chefs de France. Dh travelled to France a lot a few years ago and wants us to go in the future so I picked this because he'll feel like he can get us excited about France. Then tour the "countries" until just before illuminations. We'll get a snack and watch the fireworks and head home at 9pm when the park closes. (BTW, last time we drove through the night 14 hrs, went to MK and stayed for the fireworks and we all did well, even the kids-they slept most of the time on the drive. So, I think this is doable. The drive is shorter and they will be excited, plus we'll be doing a TS restaurant and watching fireworks to rest.)


Day 2

AM

Actually sleep in and go to Blizzard Beach, eating a CS lunch there and leaving about 3pm.

PM

Arrive at MK at 4 ish and do Toontown for ds6. Stay at MK, eat CS dinner and watch parade at 9pm and fireworks at 10 pm. It is EMH pm that day and I think it is pushing it to stay out. We may be able to squeeze in a few big rides for 1/2 hr or so and then head home. No way we're staying out till 1am.

Day 3

AM

Animal Kingdom has EMH am. I thought we'd go early, do the EE rides and then watch some of the shows and leave about 1pm after eating a CS lunch.

PM

4pm or so arrive at MGM. Watch Fantasmic at 8:30. This is EMH pm and we'll stay until the park closes at 10 and maybe get in 1 or 2 extra rides if we are up to it.

Day 4
AM
Epcot EMH am and so we'll be there early to get in Soarin, Test Track and Mission Space. Cs for lunch and then leave .

PM
MK
Arrive in time for 3pm parade and 4:15 TS at Liberty Tavern. Stay until park closes at 9pm.

Day 5
AM
MGM at opening (9am) and eat lunch at 11am at Prime Time Cafe (our fav from last time) leave after lunch.

PM
Arrive in time for 4pm Animal Kingdom parade. This is EMH pm and so we plan to stay until 9m for this.

Day 6
AM
Magic Kingdom EMH am today and so get there early to do Fantasyland. Leave for 1pm ressies at Whispering Lodge.

PM
Epcot when we feel like it.I figure 3 or 4 ish. We have 7:20 reservations at ROse and Crown. Stay until park closes at 9pm.

Day 7
AM
MK at opening for Tomorrowland rides. Eat there and leave when we have finished everything we haven't done by then.

PM
Epcot. 4:20 Le Cellier ressies. Finish up Epcot and stay for EMH pm if needed.

Day 8
AM
MGM EMH am only if we didn't finish the park.Also, today is the day we check out of the campground. We'll do that before heading to Typhoon Lagoon.
PM - Finish TL and be at Boma for 5:10 ressies. IF we are in the mood, we can do Disney Quest for a few hrs after dinner. Check in at some point after 4pm at the hotel.

Day 9
Whichever water park we want to do that we need more time at. Leave for a short 2 hr or so drive to Tampa. Spend the night there (DH has a conference there) and the kids and I head home on Monday.


My thoughts:

I spent days trying to figure out the best way to do this. I used Ridemax for similar crowded days to figure out how much time I need at each park. When we went last time it was 4 days after 9/11 and a tropical storm came through the night before. Needless to say there were ZERO lines and my planning didn't really matter. We did MGM in a day and AK in a day then. We did MK over several days and actually spent an extra day at Epcot because 2 days wasn't enough for us. We did park hop alot. We got up at 6am every day and took the bus. (This time driving may be shorter?) and we usually came home in the afternoon for an hour or 2. But, we found at the end of the trip that it was easier just to stay. The younger 2 had a stroller so that helped if they slept. We did Universal and SeaWorld a year ago and pretty much spent the entire day from open to close at the parks. Even the 6 yr old did well. We are used to being on the go and so resting is not something that is relaxing, if that makes any sense. I do worry about ds6 a little, but he did okay without a stroller last year.
My biggest worry is if we do get tired or worst yet, if we don't get the rides in we want.

So, input please. Any suggestions on how to perfect it?
Thanks!

 

[Krisj]

Hmmm, I just realized I need to schedule more time to take down the tent and check in to the hotel on the last Sat.
Also, is DisneyQuest worth it? We have all these water parks and more tickets and so I thought we'd try it. I figured the older kids might like it. But if it makes us too exhausted then I don't know.
I'm planning on using Ridemax, UG, and passporter to help me come up with each day's schedule.
I'm also thinking that I shouldn't plan on the EMH evening hours past 10pm. I just don't know how we'll see everything. We barely got it all in last time and there were no crowds.
I think my next step will be to see if I can fit the rides into my schedule. I also need to figure in transportation time.

 

[ampc3]

: Kris, well I don't usually read pre-trip reports, but I was over here reading timandlesley[I and my eye caught your PTR, enjoyed reading and looking forward to reading your TR when you get back, which you MUST do I have always wondered what it would be like to camp there!

I am not a camper (moter home yes, tent no)but I think it would be fun as a family at WDW! your planning seems good, although we aren't much of a park hopper unless there are at least 4hours in b/w... Have you checked out Tour Guide Mike yet? I just joined there is ALOT of info over there too, but the website is alittle overwhelming at first.
Good luck with all the plans

 

[Krisj]

Hi ampc3
I'm excited someone read my plans! I am a bit worried about the amount of time in between. Last time we went to WDW we did come back for a few hours, about 4 or so, but it seemed like a waste with all the bus travel time. By the end of the trip we ended up staying at a park the whole time. We are planning on driving this time to the parks, except for MK, and hopefully that will save some time. I have to check into that. I'm also planning for worst case senario at the parks. If we get done early then we'll probably leave and go back earlier. But since we are tent camping, I can't see us getting too comfy and relaxed sleeping on the ground. We won't have a tv, or bathtub to soak in or anything. My thoughts are that I'd rather rest somewhere at the parks or let the kids run and play at one of the playground sections there.
Maybe I need to leave more break time.
So, I might check out touring guide Mike. I do like Ridemax but the April schedule isn't up yet for me to do my plans ride by ride.

As for the rest of my pre-trip plans...

I found the sleeping bags and will wash and count them. Then I'm planning on making a Target run with my Target gift card from my Credit card pts. (Saving every way I can!) Then on a warm weekend here soon, we'll get the tent, etc. down from the loft in the garage.

My biggest issue will be figuring out how to get all this in and on top of our Expedition as we need all but 1 seat for the family.

 

[ampc3]

: Good luck with the packing Well you kids are alot older than mine, so you probably are right to just find some place low key in the parks and relax, unless your whole point of going back would be to swim.
I don't think it would be to relaxing to "rest" in a tent, so I would skip the whole break thing too for the most part.

We are planing on going in Sept, so I know it will be hot, but the park hours are ALOT shorter than in the summer, so I am having a hard time trying to figure out if we should or will NEED to take break, and we are not getting hoppers either, soo confussed
There is soo much planning involved, and people who aren't "into' disney just don't get it My husband thinks I am crazy for spending as much time on here that I do, but I love it addicited to it!
Any way good luck, your doing great!

 

[Krisj]

Well, after some consideration and reading about how crowded EMH am times are, I thought that maybe I should avoid the am EMH with fewer rides. I also spread out the water parks. But now, I'm wondering if I should do AK EMH am times.
Sat- arrive am
Epcot pm
Sun- AK am
MK pm- EMH pm
Mon-Epcot am
MGM pm- EMH pm
Tues-Water park am
MK pm
Wed-MGM am
AK pm -EMH pm
Thurs-MK am -EMH
Epcot-pm
Fri- Water park am
Epcot-pm
Sat-MK am
Water park pm, Disney Quest if in the mood.
Sun- Water park am and pm leave 5pm ish.
Okay, I think this is my final plan. I think it will work better with the water parks spread out.

I am worried about having only one Epcot am morning and it isn't an EMH morning either. But, I guess if we can get the big 3 rides out that morning then the rest of the afternoons don't matter so much. I'm not sure.
I think I'm going to have to switch some of my dining plans to later.
How important are the EMH am times?

 

[disneynewbeemom]

We are going to FW in October and will be tent camping. Definitely make sure you have air mattresses. Our plan is very similar to yours- tent camping and DDP. We are bringing bikes and plan on relaxing at the campground a little more. WDW can be so exhausting! We stayed at BB for 5 hours one day in the fall and definitely plan on making this a full day. We also did DQ. It was busy and crowded. I wouldn't do it again. Spend your time at a water park.