Will an expert critic my itinerary please?

[newserenity]

Hi, I am new here. I grew up in central FL going to disney all the time. However, I only went as a child and teen and never experienced the dining or resorts except for some Downtown Disney dining.

Anyway, I have lived in TN for the last 11 years and I am a wife and mom to three girls- will be 2.5, 5, and 9.5.

This is my rough draft of our itinerary.

We are going May 8-13 and will be driving. So we have our own transportation.

We are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter due to the small size, refurb and the ages of our kids we want it to be low key and convenient at the resort.

BTW, We are on the Deluxe Dining Plan. Hopefully a good choice.

SUN. 8th ARRIVAL- take water taxi to Downtown Disney, ADR at Raglan Road at 7:45 pm

MON. 9th EPCOT-

Quick grab and go breakfast from Sassagoula

Future World from 9-11:30 AM

11:55 Lunch ADR at Coral Reef

Finish Future World for a couple hours

Go back to Resort around 3

Head back to Epcot around 6

ADR at Akershus at 7:00 pm

Illuminations outside Norway after Dinner

TUES. 10th ANIMAL KINGDOM-

Beignets and coffee to hold us over until breakfast

Ride Safari at 9:00 am

Breakfast ADR at Tusker House at 10 am

Leave after Jungle Jammin Parade (3:45)

Dinner Reservations at Boma at 4:30

WED. 11th MAGIC KINGDOM-

Fast Breakfast at Sassagoula

(May get BBB ressies at 8 or 8:30 if possible)

Fantasyland 9-11 am

Lunch ADR at Cinderella's Royal Table at 11:45 am

2-3 more hours in MK then take a break at Resort

Ohana at 6:25 and watch Wishes on beach or Ohana at 8:25 and watch from inside Ohana... unsure at this time.

THURS. 12th EPCOT/RESORT DOWNTIME

Breakfast at Sassagoula

Epcot World Showcase from 11-1

Lunch ADR at Biergarten at 1:30 pm

Go back to resort around 3-4

Dinner ADR at Boatwrights Dining Hall at 6:55 pm

Carriage ride after dinner

FRI. 13th MAGIC KINGDOM-

Breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace at 9:30 am

Lunch Reservations at the Plaza Restaurant at 2:20 pm

Dinner Reservations at the Whispering Canyon Cafe at 7:35

We will check into a cheap hotel off property to sleep because we will be leaving very early AM to drive back to TN.

Any input if you made it through my LOOONG and boring itinerary? LOL

Thanks if you made it through!

 

[joelp]

Hi, I am new here. I grew up in central FL going to disney all the time. However, I only went as a child and teen and never experienced the dining or resorts except for some Downtown Disney dining.

Anyway, I have lived in TN for the last 11 years and I am a wife and mom to three girls- will be 2.5, 5, and 9.5.

Not sure I'm an expert - but we have visited WDW with our DD when she was 3.5, 5, 6, and soon - 7.3 ... So let's see how I can help here.

#1 - bring at least one stroller - maybe two - the DD-2.5 will definitely need one, and the DD-5 will probably want to use it, too. Renting strollers at WDW is EXPENSIVE.

This is my rough draft of our itinerary.

We are going May 8-13 and will be driving. So we have our own transportation.

Make sure to allow extra time at Epcot to take in the Flower and Garden Festival - there's some special kids gardens the girls will like.

Resort guests get free parking, so be sure to show your MYW pass to the attendant ...

We are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter due to the small size, refurb and the ages of our kids we want it to be low key and convenient at the resort.

Great choice - we stayed at POFQ our first time to WDW in May 2007. I'd request a 1st floor room, too - makes it very easy after those long days at the parks.

BTW, We are on the Deluxe Dining Plan. Hopefully a good choice.

Way too much food and you'll be spending a lot of time in restuarants. Cut back to the regular DDP. You need to allow at least 2 hours for each Table Service meal ...

SUN. 8th ARRIVAL- take water taxi to Downtown Disney, ADR at Raglan Road at 7:45 pm

Too late for dinner with the kids - you probably won't back it back to POFQ until 11 pm ... And Raglan Road is probably not the best choice with 3 kids ...

The water taxi is a great idea - maybe just stroll around DTD and grab a bite at one of the CS places. Or, depending on how late you arrive at POFQ, just eat there and hang out in the pool ...

Or do Boatwrights and the carriage ride (you have planned for later ...)

MON. 9th EPCOT-

Quick grab and go breakfast from Sassagoula

Future World from 9-11:30 AM

11:55 Lunch ADR at Coral Reef

Good place for kids - try to get a table near the front ...

Finish Future World for a couple hours

You won't get out of the Coral Reef until around 2 -so just head right back to POFQ for your break.

Go back to Resort around 3

We've only used the WDW bus system - but considering you have to leave the park, walk to and find your car, drive back to the resort, walk to your room - figure about an hour to get from the park to POFQ ...

Head back to Epcot around 6

ADR at Akershus at 7:00 pm

We've eaten breakfast and lunch at Askershus (very good) - but not dinner. But I have heard that dinner can get backed up - so you may not actually eat until closer to 8 pm. Plus, the kids may be tired and cranky ... And you need to get a spot for Illuminations by 8:30 ...

So - change your Akershus ADR to lunch - and hit a CS place for dinner (especially of you switch to the regular DDP ...)

Illuminations outside Norway after Dinner

TUES. 10th ANIMAL KINGDOM-

Beignets and coffee to hold us over until breakfast

Ride Safari at 9:00 am

Breakfast ADR at Tusker House at 10 am

Leave after Jungle Jammin Parade (3:45)

Dinner Reservations at Boma at 4:30

Boma! Boma! Boma! - love it!!

And stroll around the AKL after dinner - check the activities board to see what's going on ... there should be a storyteller on Arusha Rock at some point ...

And get to bed early !!

WED. 11th MAGIC KINGDOM-

Fast Breakfast at Sassagoula

(May get BBB ressies at 8 or 8:30 if possible)

Fantasyland 9-11 am 11:30 ... then show up at CRT ...

Lunch ADR at Cinderella's Royal Table at 11:45 am



2-3 more hours in MK then take a break at Resort

Nope - back to POFQ right after lunch ... about 2 pm ...

Ohana at 6:25 and watch Wishes on beach or Ohana at 8:25 and watch from inside Ohana... unsure at this time.

If you drop the Deluxe DDP - head back into the MK for some rides and dinner at a CS place (Columbia Harbor House & Cosmic Rays are good) - then watch Wishes on Main Street.

THURS. 12th EPCOT/RESORT DOWNTIME

Breakfast at Sassagoula Gets crowded when you sleep in - so give yourself extra time for breakfast ... or just head over to Epcot and have breakfast at Sunshine Seasons (won't be crowded ...)

Epcot World Showcase from 11-1

Lunch ADR at Biergarten at 1:30 pm

Go back to resort around 3-4

Dinner ADR at Boatwrights Dining Hall at 6:55 pm

Carriage ride after dinner

Kids may have had it by then ... maybe do the carriage ride before dinner ... or spend the evening at Epcot ...

FRI. 13th MAGIC KINGDOM-

Breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace at 9:30 am

Can you make it earlier - like 8:15 - there's nothing like walking into the MK when it's practically empty!!

Lunch Reservations at the Plaza Restaurant at 2:20 pm

Dinner Reservations at the Whispering Canyon Cafe at 7:35

Kids can't handle late dinners - and you'll be beat, too ...

We will check into a cheap hotel off property to sleep because we will be leaving very early AM to drive back to TN.

Any input if you made it through my LOOONG and boring itinerary? LOL

Thanks if you made it through!

The big things I would change are (1) drop the Deluxe DDP - unless you want to spend a lot of time in restaurants and eat A LOT of food, and (2) avoid late, and Table Service, dinners with the kids - just about every time we've had a sit down dinner - even at "normal" dinner times - our DD ends up asleep on my lap or her chair ...

 

[joelp]

PS -

I'm #1!!!

 

[newserenity]

PS -

I'm #1!!!

Thanks for the help!

 

[shocky5]

joelp said the one thing that came to my mind when you said you were doing the deluxe dining plan. If you are interested in the cuisine as being a top priority on your trip - then awesome!! If you are more interested in time in the parks with your kids, then I would recommend scaling back to the regular disney dining plan.

We ALMOST did deluxe on our '09 trip and after talking it out with some fellow Dis'ers on here, opted to just stay regular and pay out of pocket for extra table service meals we were interested in - I think we ended up paying out of pocket for 2 and we got to 'pick' which ones we wanted to pay out of pocket for so I had researched prior to trip and picked the cheapest ones of course.

You will not be underfed on the DDP. We do the grab a quick breakfast in the morning (unless we had a specific breakfast planned at a restaurant) and then adjusted our quick service meals around the other planned table service meals. And we were always full, satisfied, and a few pounds heavier coming home - even if we were walking alllll day long!

I think your trip sounds great! And you will have a wonderful time! Just don't want you to feel like your days are revolving around food if that's not how you initially thought your trip would be. You will end up skipping a table service here and there to opt to stay in the parks and then you run the risk of being out the expense of something you didn't use. Just my humble opinion.

Have a great time!!! Oh, if you do rent stroller at WDW, on your first day, you can rent a double for the duration of your trip and will just have to show your receipt at each park. All of your kids will ride in at some point! Was a lifesaver to us each year we've gone - first year kids were 4, 6, and 9 and next time they were 6, 8 and 11. Headed back this year at ages 8, 10, and 13 and are considering being stroller free.... time will tell!

 

[newserenity]

joelp said the one thing that came to my mind when you said you were doing the deluxe dining plan. If you are interested in the cuisine as being a top priority on your trip - then awesome!! If you are more interested in time in the parks with your kids, then I would recommend scaling back to the regular disney dining plan.

We ALMOST did deluxe on our '09 trip and after talking it out with some fellow Dis'ers on here, opted to just stay regular and pay out of pocket for extra table service meals we were interested in - I think we ended up paying out of pocket for 2 and we got to 'pick' which ones we wanted to pay out of pocket for so I had researched prior to trip and picked the cheapest ones of course.

You will not be underfed on the DDP. We do the grab a quick breakfast in the morning (unless we had a specific breakfast planned at a restaurant) and then adjusted our quick service meals around the other planned table service meals. And we were always full, satisfied, and a few pounds heavier coming home - even if we were walking alllll day long!

I think your trip sounds great! And you will have a wonderful time! Just don't want you to feel like your days are revolving around food if that's not how you initially thought your trip would be. You will end up skipping a table service here and there to opt to stay in the parks and then you run the risk of being out the expense of something you didn't use. Just my humble opinion.

Have a great time!!! Oh, if you do rent stroller at WDW, on your first day, you can rent a double for the duration of your trip and will just have to show your receipt at each park. All of your kids will ride in at some point! Was a lifesaver to us each year we've gone - first year kids were 4, 6, and 9 and next time they were 6, 8 and 11. Headed back this year at ages 8, 10, and 13 and are considering being stroller free.... time will tell!

Thank you! My main deal with the Deluxe vs. regular dining plan was that I really want to do CRT and it takes two credits or will run around $170 something OOP or so for our family. Then the appetizers, which my DH always wants will add another $75 + throughout the trip. We would end up paying OOP for at least two more $100 + meals and then the refillable mugs would run us another $50 or so. All that would cost more than the upgrade to the deluxe plan. Maybe I should just scale back and do a few counter service meals and not worry about cost. IDK?

Does it really take two hours for each table service meal?

 

[joelp]

Thank you! My main deal with the Deluxe vs. regular dining plan was that I really want to do CRT and it takes two credits or will run around $170 something OOP or so for our family. Then the appetizers, which my DH always wants will add another $75 + throughout the trip. We would end up paying OOP for at least two more $100 + meals and then the refillable mugs would run us another $50 or so. All that would cost more than the upgrade to the deluxe plan. Maybe I should just scale back and do a few counter service meals and not worry about cost. IDK?

Does it really take two hours for each table service meal?

I always figure 2 hours:

- counting the time you start heading to the restaurant (you should show up about 10-15 min before your ADR)
- waiting to be seated
- ordering/getting food (if at a character buffet, you'll want to make sure to see all the characters ...)
- getting the check
- slowly dragging your VERY full selves out of the resturant ...

For example, at CRT, it could be 30-45 minutes from the time you show up, meet Cinderella and take pictures, and then head upstairs to be seated ...

Also, a key is to end up touring the parks near your TS restuarant at ADR time ... you don't want to be in France and have and ADR in 10 minutes at Norway ...


And after all, if you're taking the time and spending the $$ to have a nice meal, you want to relax and enjoy it ... (that may be the only time you get to "relax" during the day ... )

After a day or two, your husband will probably start passing on the appetizers ... The regular DDP does not include appetizers - and I don't think the Deluxe does either, so you'll be paying OOP for them anyway ...

Plus, if you're constantly "full", it makes it tough to walk around the parks ... especially if it's hot! (And don't go on Big Thunder Mountain RR right after breakfast at the Crystal Palace ... not a good idea!! )

The refillable mugs are only good at POFQ - so unless you and your kids drink a lot of soda and are gonna spend a lot of time at POFQ, it's probably not worth it (except as a souvenir ... maybe ...)

The CS meals are also BIG ... 2 of them would probably be enough for all 5 of you (except for the ribs at Flame Tree BBQ!!! ). So you could use 2 TS credicts at CRT and pay OOP (or use CS credits) for the "missing" TS meal ...

I would ID the restuarants you REALLY want to go to - and then for the others, think about whether you want to spend the time in a restuarant or touring a parks ... Then make a decison about the Deluxe DDP ...

And don't forget that you will have to pay tips at TS meals, too - so the more TS meals, the more $$ OOP ...

Isn't planning for a WDW trip fun???

 

[teachermommy78]

Hi there!

I'm by no means an experts and have asked more questions than ever during the last few days (we're going in June). However, we were just there 3 years ago and had a 6 month old, almost 3 year old, and almost 5 year old at the time. Close to the ages of your youngest! A few red flags popped up to me.

1. The cups...I would recommend paying OOP for you and your dh if you are a coffee drinker. You won't want to take them to the parks since you'll have to store them in your stroller. They are nice for the room, but that's about it. You definitely don't need them for the kids. I went to tupperware.com before our last trip and got Mickey tumblers with flip lids. The kids had those in the parks for water, etc.

2. I agree with the DDP being too much. It is A LOT of food and a ton of time. We were always full last time and we sometimes completely skipped lunch. We packed a bunch of snacks "just in case" for the kids. In between our ADRs, we did counter services for lunch, and like the other poster said, we often shared between all of us. They are BIG. We never ate breakfast out. We got cereal, milk, yogurt, etc. for the room.

3. Try to change your ADR's to the FIRST dinner. When making the ADRs online, they will often "give" you a time. You can usually type in the time you want. The time they give you isn't usually the only time available (I found that out this year...my dh usually made all the ADRs!). There's NO WAY my kids could handle those late meals.

4. The later you book your meal, the longer the wait for a table may be, even WITH an ADR. We had 30 minute waits last time.

5. Even with CRT, we were totally fine on the regular dining plan. Counter Service meals OOP or even TS meals (research to find the least expensive) were fine.

6. Really ask around about Akershaus for lunch or dinner. I've read that unless you're an adventurous eater, it's not usually the best meal. Lots of people say they leave only eating cheese and bread. The kids would be OK since they have the kids menu. I'm Scandinavian and eat a Swedish Christmas meal each year, and honestly, it's a bit yucky . I get through it with ketchup and knowing it's my heritage. I have heard the breakfast is wonderful with the princesses!

7. I just keep going back to the DDP. I think that much time sitting in restaurants is going to be a drag for the kids and most importantly, you. Go through your list, grab one MUST do ADR from each day, and really ask yourself if you can live without the rest. I guarantee you are going to love the flexibility way more than you are going to miss the sit down meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You really don't want an eating schedule to rule you at DW. And yep, I would allot at least 2 hours for each ADR. The time just FLIES (unless you are dealing with a cranky kid! )

I'm joining in your PRT! I can't wait to see the choices you make! Feel free to stop by mine! I'm doing a mini TR from my last trip if you want to see how it unfolded with three little ones.