What would you cut?

[lmtravis]

So I feel like I have to cut something since this plan has us out with a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old late every night except for our first full day. We will be going back to POR for mid-day breaks but I think it might be too much. Keep in mind we don't know when we will be back to WDW. What should we cut? Give me your vote!

September 18th (2): AK RD then 4:00pm dinner at Park Fare (movie on lawn at POR if we are up for it)

19th (4): Epcot RD to POR for break to Epcot (stay for illuminations)

20th (4): MK AM 8:05 BOG, brunch CM to POR for break to HS PM (stay for Fantasmic! FYI: my kids don't scare easy and DH looks forward to it)

21st (3): MK AM 8:20 CRT to POR for break to MK PM (early BOG dinner, stay for Wishes but will be seeing Hallowishes the next night so we could end earlier)

22nd (3): MK AM 8:20 BOG to POR for break to MK PM (stay for MNSSHP FYI: I haven't bought tickets yet so this could go)

23rd (3): MK AM 8:05 BOG to Whispering Canyon lunch to POR to 4:45 flight.

 

[katibosch]

Sounds like way too much to me, but I'm more of a leisurely tourist and will be able to go to back to WDW again, probably.

One thing, though... why so many BOG breakfasts? I'm not saying it's bad, just curious.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

We are a late night crowd, so I would drop all of your rope drops if seeing the night entertainment is important to you. Our 2 year old is up until 11 most nights, but we let her sleep as late as she needs.

Are you doing all those table service meals because of the dining plan?

 

[lmtravis]

Good question. They are all pre-rope drop and we would like to get a jump start on the day. I think I am probably going to drop the 23rd so that we have the option to sleep in.

 

[lmtravis]

Yes, we have free dining. Whispering Canyon is OOP and BOG dinner will probably be OOP just for cupcakes and to see the Beast. We also have Akershus on our Epcot day.

 

[quakechicago]

With strollers, you might be okay kid-wise if your family is extremely energetic, if breaks are very long (4-5 hours after travel time keeping in mind that it always takes longer to get back to the hotel. We usually stay at a monorail hotel and it has taken with a stuck tram or long lines occasionally over an hour), and if you're used to doing around a mini marathon of exercise a day. But our last 3 trips, by the end of a few days usually the adults are exhausted let alone the kids and demanding that they be able to sleep in. We averaged 15 miles a day of walking. I go hard lol

So often I plan an early breakfast knowing it might just be kiddo and I so the husband and my mom, if she goes, can sleep in. Then I plan an early lunch or second late breakfast where they can meet us, and then HOURS of rest. It will at first often take kiddo an hour to settle down once we get back to the room, but after a few days she will sleep within 20 minutes and then I will. We sleep for 3 or so hours and then get up, get dressed, lay out tomorrow's clothes and bedclothes, and go for dinner and MVMCP. We try to start heading back between 9-10 pm and try to be in bed ASAP so we can do it again next day. This works for US, because kiddo and I have weird sleeping patterns, but it does not work for everyone. My husband is protesting by day 3 so I try to get things we drive to out of the way early (DTD, AK, HS, etc).

Part of the charm of WDW is you will never, ever be able to do it all. So pick what is most important to your kids, what works best for your family as far as their regular sleep schedules, and plan less so you can enjoy more. Otherwise you'll all end up sick and exhausted needing a major vacation from your vacation and that's zero fun.

I try to pick what works best for my kid instead of me, because I know we'll be back and we'll get to all that stuff I want later. They're only little so long and I don't want a huge list of Oh I wish I'd done this when she was little.

Also while your kids might not scare easily, do watch videos of fantasmic, the character meals, and the halloween party before going. It will give you a way better idea of what your kids will want to do.

 

[bbjunkie]

I actually think that if your mid-day breaks are several hours and your kids nap, you will be ok.

 

[lmtravis]

Great advice @quakechicago! I do plan on our mid-day breaks being from noon-4:30pm or 5:00pm everyday (that does include time on the bus). The youngest will definitely nap and the oldest will either nap or is really good about "quite time." Normal sleep time for them is around 8:30pm until 7:00am.

 

[lmtravis]

Would you guys do wishes one day and hallowishes the next?

 

[isabellea]

If they usually sleep until 7am, you will be tight for pre-rd ADRs and if they stay up late they might need to sleep more in the morning, even with a good afternoon nap. I wouldn't have so many pre-rd ADRs. If you get to MK at RD great, if not it's not the end of the world, especially with 4 days at MK. I know for my kids (6 and 3), waking them up in the morning after a late night is a recipe for disaster. Good luck!

 

[lmtravis]

Thanks! We may need it!

 

[larryz]

If your kids have a set bedtime, I wouldn't stretch them too far past it. They'll get sleepy and cranky around dinnertime, and then you won't be able to get them to sleep when you get back to your hotel.

 

[SaintsManiac]

What are crowd levels those days?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

with kids those ages, you will be able to do a ton in your MK touring. I would definitely keep the MNSshp plans. That is so special.You might want to skip the morning touring and just hang at the resort that day before the party. We did the whole MK, break, Christmas Party in the same day last year and it was too much. We should have skipped that morning.
Rope Drop at Epcot is totally unnecessary.

 

[lmtravis]

I updated the OP with easywdw's crowd calendar predictions in parenthesis. All parks that we picked are "green" except MK on the 21st since is a day with Wishes.

 

[Jennytoon]

Here's my cuts:

I would cut the Epcot RD -- instead arrive mid-late afternoon. The hard-to-get e-tickets here are Soarin' and Test Track, with kids that age you will not (I don't think) do TT as a family anyway, so FP Soarin' and use single-rider for TT if you really want to ride it. Living with the Land is the only other big draw here that will give you trouble with the tiering, but by late afternoon the lines should be very manageable. Plus if it is a hot day and you are doing any of the WS, that will put you there in the evening when the temps are more manageable.

Then I would buy the tickets for MNSSHP, now you can play it by ear. If everyone still going strong on the 21st after two late nights in a row, keep on with plan as written; otherwise you can make a choice to dump either Wishes on the 21st or the BOG ressie on the 22nd. I'd probably go with dumping the BOG ressie if needed since the kids will be night-shifted anyway.

 

[sharonabe]

So I feel like I have to cut something since this plan has us out with a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old late every night except for our first full day. We will be going back to POR for mid-day breaks but I think it might be too much. Keep in mind we don't know when we will be back to WDW. What should we cut? Give me your vote!

September 18th: AK RD then 4:00pm dinner at Park Fare (movie on lawn at POR if we are up for it)

19th: Epcot RD to POR for break to Epcot (stay for illuminations)

20th: MK AM 8:05 BOG, brunch CM to POR for break to HS PM (stay for Fantasmic! FYI: my kids don't scare easy and DH looks forward to it)

21st: MK AM 8:20 CRT to POR for break to MK PM (early BOG dinner, stay for Wishes but will be seeing Hallowishes the next night so we could end earlier)

22nd: MK AM 8:20 BOG to POR for break to MK PM (stay for MNSSHP FYI: I haven't bought tickets yet so this could go)

23rd: MK AM 8:05 BOG to Whispering Canyon lunch to POR to 4:45 flight.

I think I would drop both the 20th and 23rd breakfasts, and play those two days by ear. You've got that brunch scheduled on the 20th, so just grab something quick that morning and be at MK for rope drop. You would still have the 22nd BoG to get ahead of the rope drop crowds.

Skip MNSSHP. It's more money and your kids are pretty young. They will enjoy it more when they are older and it gives you a reason to go back. This will also give you time to hit up a different park or to get packed and ready to leave the next day.

Be careful of your Whispering Canyon lunch. If you're using ME, they will pick you up at 1:45 at POR, and if you miss it, you're on your own to get to the airport. They will not reschedule you. They will not wait for you. You will need to be AT POR no later than 1:30 to make that pick up.

 

[lmtravis]

Lots of discussion of the Epcot day. Here is what I have using touringplans.com. And Yes, I know we won't get to most of this but I am a planner and like to have things listed that we could cut vs. standing around wondering what to do next or what is close by. So here it is:


STEP ARRIVAL WAIT DURATION FREE TIME WALK TIME
1) Spaceship Earth
9:02am

2) The Seas with Nemo & Friends
9:31am

3) Turtle Talk with Crush
Uses your FastPass+ reservation.
9:41am

4) Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
10:30am for 90 minutes

5) Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
Uses your FastPass+ reservation.
12:02pm

6) Rest ** Leaving the park**
12:20pm

7) Journey Into Imagination With Figment
4:50pm

8) United Kingdom Pavilion
5:16pm

9) France Pavilion
5:29pm

10) Morocco Pavilion
5:42pm

11) Japan Pavilion
5:54pm

12) American Adventure Pavilion
6:06pm

13) The American Adventure
6:30pm

14) Germany Pavilion
7:19pm

15) China Pavilion
7:33pm

16) Mexico Pavilion
7:50pm

17) Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
8:02pm

18) IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
Uses your FastPass+ reservation.
9:00pm

 

[Jennytoon]

Lots of discussion of the Epcot day. Here is what I have using touringplans.com. And Yes, I know we won't get to most of this but I am a planner and like to have things listed that we could cut vs. standing around wondering what to do next or what is close by. So here it is:


STEP ARRIVAL WAIT DURATION FREE TIME WALK TIME
1) Spaceship Earth
9:02am

2) The Seas with Nemo & Friends
9:31am

3) Turtle Talk with Crush
Uses your FastPass+ reservation.
9:41am

4) Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
10:30am for 90 minutes

5) Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
Uses your FastPass+ reservation.
12:02pm

6) Rest ** Leaving the park**
12:20pm

7) Journey Into Imagination With Figment
4:50pm

8) United Kingdom Pavilion
5:16pm

9) France Pavilion
5:29pm

10) Morocco Pavilion
5:42pm

11) Japan Pavilion
5:54pm

12) American Adventure Pavilion
6:06pm

13) The American Adventure
6:30pm

14) Germany Pavilion
7:19pm

15) China Pavilion
7:33pm

16) Mexico Pavilion
7:50pm

17) Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
8:02pm

18) IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
Uses your FastPass+ reservation.
9:00pm

The biggest problem I see with this plan is that with small kids you have not left enough (any) time for the pavilions in FW -- think science museum meets children's museum and you won't exactly have it but you won't be far off. Places your kids will want to spend freeform time at that age:

1) Pavilion after Spaceship Earth -- this will be the least draw as your kids will be a bit young for many of the activities here.
2) Seas Pavilion -- leave at least a half hour here or you may be required to drag your kids away screaming past the large fishtank and other cool stuff
3) Playground at the end of Mission Space -- if you or DH want to ride MS individually, your kids might welcome some unstructured time here
4) Imagination Pavilion -- lots here for younger kids, I would leave a half hour here too or else you may be required ...

WS is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of walking, and with kids that age I would definitely be willing to ditch half the countries in favor of more time in the Pavilions in FW. IMO, countries with the most kid appeal are Mexico, Canada (for the movie), Morocco, UK, and the trains outside of Germany.

 

[lmtravis]

I should also mention that the 23rd is our wedding anniversary so the MNSSHP and Whispering Canyon are kind of little celebrations for us.