Who's More Excited, the kids or adults? A Family's First Trip to WDW: UPDATE 2/23

[KatMark]

I think you did a good job on making your plans for the Studios Day. It is a hard one to plan, even for us...mainly because it is our least favorite park. I have found in the past that the second show is always less crowded than the first for Fantasmic...hopefully that holds true for you.

I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother.

 

[caitlinnf]

Alrighty, I need to get this thing finished. We are in single digits!!

Let me just say, February is not being very kind. I'm over my head in craziness and a vacation is going to be VERY welcome!

Okay, Day 5 brings us to Epcot!


Firm Plans:FP+:
Mission Space 9:00-10:00am
Turtle Talk with Crush 10:00-11:00am
Soarin' 11:00am-12:00pm
Food:
Dinner at Akershus 4:55pm

I feel like a broken record now, but once again, this was a hard plan to make. Mostly because of the FP+ tiering and trying to plan for ages 18 months-56 years old.

We are going to start out heading straight for Test Track, knock that out as fast as possible. Then over to Mission Space. I have no idea how the crowds will be this morning. Then Spaceship Earth so everyone can do something together. If we are done with these things quickly, we will explore Innoventions a bit, or maybe visit the Character Spot.

I'm pretty sure my kids will love Turtle Talk. We will do the Nemo ride either before or after Crush. Our family loves aquariums, so we will probably linger there for awhile.

Our last FP is for Soarin. I think Bethany will love this as well. I feel bad that Becca isn't big enough for it. We will do Living with the Land before or after using our FP. While we are in The Land, we will have lunch at Sunshine Seasons. Then we'll head over to check out Figment.

I don't want to stay too late because I'm pretty sure a nap will be in order, and we have to be back fairly early for dinner.

Our evening will be spent in the World Showcase! First up is an early dinner with the princesses. I had originally made an ADR at Garden Grill (I love those crazy chipmunks), but felt that some princess interaction would make this a better day for the kids.

After dinner we will explore the WS as much as the kids can handle. I'd like to at least do the rides in Mexico and Norway, and a Phineas and Ferb mission. If they are enjoying themselves, we might stay for Illuminations, but it isn't a must-do this time.

 

[KatMark]

Epcot plans sound great. Truthfully, we ate at Garden Grill in December and weren't great fans (although the character interaction was great!).

It's almost here...so exciting (we will be there a week from Tuesday). If I don't get back here, have a great time.

 

[caitlinnf]

Epcot plans sound great. Truthfully, we ate at Garden Grill in December and weren't great fans (although the character interaction was great!).

It's almost here...so exciting (we will be there a week from Tuesday). If I don't get back here, have a great time.

Thank you!!!! We are all so excited. I did read on your TR that you weren't thrilled with Garden Grill. I just love those chipmunks

Exciting that you have a trip so soon also. I hope it's a good one!

 

[MatoMany]

Loving your plans so far!
Don't discount the World Showcase. My kiddos were 5, 3 and 1 last we were at Disney and the World Showcase was one of their favorite areas. They loved looking around and finding everything different from one area to the next. I think a lot of people automatically dismiss it as "boring" for young children but not necessarily. We go back in 10 days and my oldest is begging to stop by the WS as soon as she can.

 

[caitlinnf]

3 days 3 days 3 days!!!! We are in major countdown mode in this house!


So that means it's time for me to finish this up. Our last day will be back at the Magic Kingdom to tackle the other half of the park!

Firm Plans:
FP+
Buzz Lightyear Spin 11:00am-12:00pm
Meet Rapunzel 12:00-1:00pm
BTMRR 7:00-8:00pm
Food:
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare 5:10pm


The first thing we will do is head to meet Tinkerbell, unless we didn't fit in the Peter Pan ride on day 1, then we would run and do that first.

After the fairy meet and greet, we will do our must-dos in Adventureland, Frontierland and Liberty Square. Namely, BTMRR (this is one of Bethany's most highly anticipated rides), Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Aladdin's Carpets, and Haunted Mansion. This will also be the day when I am sad that Splash is under refurb

I would like to eat at Columbia Harbor House for lunch today. I want to stay away from burgers and chicken nuggets as much as possible, and I love the idea of a hummus sandwich. Plus, their CS desserts seem a bit more palatable as well.

We have a couple of FP+ that will take us back over to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, to ride Buzz and meet Rapunzel. The girls also really want to meet Merida, and have planned to wear Rapunzel and Merida dresses on this day, so I guess I need to figure out a time to fit that in as well.


Dinner tonight is at 1900 Park Fare. I'm a bit nervous about this one. I read very mixed reviews about the food, the service, etc. I'm REALLY hoping for great character interaction. I think our family would be entertained by the Tremaines if they were in a playful mood.

My evening plans are a bit different from the other days, in that there is only one thing planned: a BTMRR FP+. Other than that, the itinerary only says "Revisit Favorites." I figure by this time, the kids will probably have something that they want to do again before they leave, and hopefully we can fit some of those things in.

The next day, we leave We have an afternoon flight, so we will use our last CS credit for lunch before we leave, either at Riverside Mill or by taking the boat over to DTD. I would love to get an opportunity to try WPE on this trip. DH and I will be back in the fall, though, so I won't be too upset about anything that gets missed.


Well, that's about it! Thanks to the few people who read along. I am currently leaning toward writing a trip report when I get back. I just want to make sure that we have enough pictures to make it interesting. DH and I are very hit and miss with whether we remember to take pictures (shame, I know!), so we will see what happens!

 

[caitlinnf]

Loving your plans so far!
Don't discount the World Showcase. My kiddos were 5, 3 and 1 last we were at Disney and the World Showcase was one of their favorite areas. They loved looking around and finding everything different from one area to the next. I think a lot of people automatically dismiss it as "boring" for young children but not necessarily. We go back in 10 days and my oldest is begging to stop by the WS as soon as she can.

Hi! Thanks for reading! I think you're right, the World Showcase does seem to have a lot of potential for kids. I'm a little more concerned about them just being worn out and therefore less patient. When they are tired, they will likely be easier to distract with rides than window shopping, coloring, etc. If we had an extra day, I would definitely add another Epcot day so we could be in WS during the day, because it looks like that's when the characters are out. My girls would LOVE to go country to country looking for princesses! But we are going to Akershus, so that should satisfy some of that

 

[KatMark]

Last day plans sound absolutely great!!!

We've never done 1900 Park Faire for any meal. We are trying breakfast in September. All I can tell you that the former DIS Queen of Food Porn said she found the food very salty at Park Faire...but it could have been an off night. I have another DIS friend who has eaten there and they have enjoyed the meal as a family and had a blast with the stepsisters.

Please be sure to put out the bat signal if you do a TR...I'd love to follow along.

 

[caitlinnf]

Last day plans sound absolutely great!!!

We've never done 1900 Park Faire for any meal. We are trying breakfast in September. All I can tell you that the former DIS Queen of Food Porn said she found the food very salty at Park Faire...but it could have been an off night. I have another DIS friend who has eaten there and they have enjoyed the meal as a family and had a blast with the stepsisters.

Please be sure to put out the bat signal if you do a TR...I'd love to follow along.

Yes, 1900 Park Fare was...interesting.



So, I decided to do a TR. Here it is!

"Shhh! You're Ruining the Magic! A Family's First Trip Report