What should we do?? (Schedule is crazy!)

[jonmck1234]

We (my wife and I) plan to arrive in Orlando on Friday, August 4th at 1pm. We are renting a car and are staying at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive (the newer one). We have two 7 day passes to Universal Studios/City Walk/Islands of Adventure (although we are not crazy about roller coasters). We check out of the Hilton on Monday morning, the 7th. We are then staying at the Port Orleans Riverside at Disney in Magnolia Terrace. We currently have 5 day park hopper passes with the Disney Dining Plan. We are turning in our car on the Disney Car Care center on Monday the 7th. We check out of Disney on Friday, the 11th. We are then taking the Disney Magical Express to the Orlando airport and then are getting a shuttle to the Orlando Airport Marriott for a convention until Sunday the 13th.

My question is….how should I break up my time?

Originally, we were going to do Universal on Saturday and Sunday (August 5th and 6th). Then Epcot on Monday the 7th. Magic Kingdom on the 8th. Animal Kingdom on the 9th and MGM that night. Then finish up at MGM on the 10th and spend any extra time at Magic Kingdom or wherever we would like. We are supposed to be at the Orlando Airport Marriott by about 12 noon on Friday the 11th.

That was when we were arriving on the 4th at 7pm. We changed our flight to arrive on the 4th at 1:00 instead….so now we have more time.

What about doing some of Universal on the 4th and all day the 5th. Then on Sunday afternoon or so…we could drive over to Disney and start our tour then (still staying at the Hilton Grand Sunday night)? We could do the extra EVENING hours at Magic Kingdom Sunday night (August 6th) since that is the only night that week that they offer it.

What is your advice?

I can extend our 5 day park hopper tickets to a 6 day park hopper for just a couple of dollars.

At Epcot….we won’t spend a TON of time going through each of the different countries…we may check each or most of them out though. We don’t want to ride Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom and we will not ride the Tower of Terror at MGM nor Rockin’ Roller coaster most likely. I hate to miss those….but I am not a huge fun of big drops that “get my stomach”.

We definitely want to catch the fireworks shows at MK, Epcot, MGM. Also the parades at MK.

I have dinner reservations at:

EPCOT:
Coral Reef Monday, 7th at 5:30

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Cinderella's Royal Table
August 8th at 5:20 evening

MGM:
MAMA MELROSE’S ITALIAN
August 9th - 4:50pm FANTASMIC PACKAGE

I know you have this…but just in case this is helpful so that you don’t have to look it up…..

MORNING:

Epcot – None from August 7th – 11th – Normal hours are: 9am-7pm for Future World and 11am-9pm for World Showcase

Magic Kingdom – August 8th and 10th will open at 8am. Normal hours are 9am – 11pm

MGM – August 8th and 11th open at 8am. Normal hours are: Aug. 7th: 9am – 10:30pm, Aug. 8th: 9am-10pm, Aug. 9th and 10th: 9am-9pm

Animal Kingdom – August 9th – opens at 8am – Normal hours are 9am - 6pm

EVENING:

Epcot – August 8th and 10th – will stay open until midnight.
Magic Kingdom – August 4th and 6th – open 11pm – 2am (ON THE 6th)
MGM – August 9th – open from 9pm until midnight
Animal Kingdom – August 7th – open from 6-9pm

PARADES:

Epcot – NONE
Magic Kingdom – 3pm for afternoon parade and Spectromagic will be at 10pm
MGM – Disney stars and motorcars – 5:30pm
Animal Kingdom – 4pm – 15 minutes long – starts at Tuscan bay.


FIREWORKS:

Epcot – 9pm
Magic Kingdom – 11pm
MGM –9pm with exception of August 7th there will be two shows: 10:30pm and 9pm
Animal Kingdom – NO FIREWORKS

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME!

 

[jonmck1234]

any thoughts?

 

[JLS]

I think that if you don't like drops or roller coasters, you will not like Islands of Adventure at all. Seriously. I would completely skip that park, which is mostly thrill rides and "drop" rides, and just do a day at Universal. 1-2 days max at Universal would be all you need. If you get there at park opening, and you will be skipping Mummy and perhaps others, you could do that park in 1 day. Leave the rest of your time to Disney, but PLEASE schedule at least one break day to sleep in and hang around the pool. So key on a vacation. You will be exhausted otherwise.

I will leave it to others to plan your itinerary at WDW - generally, let your dining reservations dictate where you will be. 1 park per day is enough. I noticed that you planned 2 Epcot days, but you say you do not want to spend much time "going through the countries" and you do not like thrill rides (Mission Space, Test Track). That will not leave you with much to do at Epcot for 2 days other than a few rides and eating.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

What I do is take a sheet of white legal pad paper, turn it sideways, and fold it into four columns. I write the day and date on the top of each (use the back as well) and then separate the columns into three sections - Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. I use a pencil and go from there working on different combinations keeping in mind the PM EMH. This might help you with your planning.