Would love a itinerary review

[jm106]

Does anyone want to give me some feed back? Please and thanks! We will be heading back to Disney World in October 4th family trip.) Leave NJ, our first time driving to Orlando I am so very afraid of this drive. Trying to make it fun and part of the adventure for us all.

We are staying an extra night on each end of the week with Hilton points.
Leave NJ Friday night after dinner. Kids will sleep, DH and I share driving. He drives a lot for work so should be pretty easy on him.

Arrive Orlando Sat 10/4, Double Tree @ entrance to Universal- one night stay

Sun- Check out- Island of Adventure. Check in friends time share, 3pm (2 miles from US)

Mon- EPCOT /F&WF Illuminations no adrs

Tues- MK @ RD- 7pm Boma ADR

Wed.- Universal Studios

Thurs 8:10 CP? MK morning, mid-day break @ resort, MNSSHP

Friday- DHS 1:25 50s Prime Time. Resort break, return for Fantasmic

Sat- Check out TS early. Epcot as long as we feel like staying. Check in Hilton Bonnet creek one night.

Sunday- Enjoy resort pool much of the day (requested late check out since DH is platinum HHonors but not betting on it.) Swing by DTD before drive home early evening.

We have ADR @ CP on Thursday but really want it Tuesday- No luck but I check each day. Think I may cancel Thursday since we will be up late with MNSSHP. I really want one Character meal but not sure where else to fit it. May Do resort breakfast on Tuesday/MK day.
ETA- 2 boys, will be 6 and 8.

 

[jm106]

Shameless bump in hopes of input

 

[brandigregory]

I wonder if your boys wouldn't like a water park one day? The good thing about not having many ADRs is that you can switch up your park order whenever you want! Have the boys checked out the website to see the rides? That may help dictate where you spend more time!!

 

[jm106]

Really they so looking forward to universal, not sure where I could even fit a water park. They are familiar with the rides, I have a must do list as I do each trip. I'm just unsure as to how the off site stats and travel vs long days will work. It's different then our last few trips, giving me reason to pause. They are easy going thankfully but I worry about the chaos of moving and mid day breaks as well as too little TS.

What I really wonder, is there a better way to organize my days? I'm trying for a few early nights but will have a late night in mnsshp and F!

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Honestly, I'd worry less about the drive than about wearing yourselves out. That is a lot of park time with almost no downtime.

Monday is a late night watching Illuminations, followed by Tuesday rope drop with a 7PM Bona ressie, so that will put you back at your condo at 8:30 PM. Wednesday, are you planning a full day at Universal?

Thursday you have a 8AM character breakfast at MK, and that's party night, where you'll want to stay at least until Hallowishes is over. You will be out until 10PM or later.

We'll be there on a friends and family trip at the same time, and will be at the party on the same night as you. We're not going to Universal this trip (we'll have little girls with us). Why not just do Universal & MNSSHP this trip?

Sorry, but what is TS? What is F? I can't figure them out.

 

[jm106]

Honestly, I'd worry less about the drive than about wearing yourselves out. That is a lot of park time with almost no downtime.

Monday is a late night watching Illuminations, followed by Tuesday rope drop with a 7PM Bona ressie, so that will put you back at your condo at 8:30 PM. Wednesday, are you planning a full day at Universal?

Thursday you have a 8AM character breakfast at MK, and that's party night, where you'll want to stay at least until Hallowishes is over. You will be out until 10PM or later.

We'll be there on a friends and family trip at the same time, and will be at the party on the same night as you. We're not going to Universal this trip (we'll have little girls with us). Why not just do Universal & MNSSHP this trip?

Sorry, but what is TS? What is F? I can't figure them out.

TS is time share and F! is Fantasmic. Sorry.
We wont do Universal all day. We are just a couple of min away so we can sleep in a bit (as much as kids do) and will leave early with dinner at timeshare.
We normally dont plan down days, last trip was 7 park days in a row plus DTD and resort day. I know some ppl like days off. I definitely want to visit WDW parks as well. We will take midday breaks as needed and if the kids need a rest, late start, we are completely flexible.

Good point about early MK day adr. I actually did decide to cancel Crystal Palace on my MNSSHP day. Too early.

Thanks, Have fun.

 

[mmbl]

Does anyone want to give me some feed back? Please and thanks! We will be heading back to Disney World in October 4th family trip.) Leave NJ, our first time driving to Orlando I am so very afraid of this drive. Trying to make it fun and part of the adventure for us all. We are staying an extra night on each end of the week with Hilton points. Leave NJ Friday night after dinner. Kids will sleep, DH and I share driving. He drives a lot for work so should be pretty easy on him. Arrive Orlando Sat 10/4, Double Tree @ entrance to Universal- one night stay Sun- Check out- Island of Adventure. Check in friends time share, 3pm (2 miles from US) Mon- EPCOT /F&WF Illuminations no adrs Tues- MK @ RD- 7pm Boma ADR Wed.- Universal Studios Thurs 8:10 CP? MK morning, mid-day break @ resort, MNSSHP Friday- DHS 1:25 50s Prime Time. Resort break, return for Fantasmic Sat- Check out TS early. Epcot as long as we feel like staying. Check in Hilton Bonnet creek one night. Sunday- Enjoy resort pool much of the day (requested late check out since DH is platinum HHonors but not betting on it.) Swing by DTD before drive home early evening. We have ADR @ CP on Thursday but really want it Tuesday- No luck but I check each day. Think I may cancel Thursday since we will be up late with MNSSHP. I really want one Character meal but not sure where else to fit it. May Do resort breakfast on Tuesday/MK day. ETA- 2 boys, will be 6 and 8.

If it were me, and it just was as we traveled with our kids, grandkids and 24 family members in total ranging from 6 mo-63 yrs. we NEVER left the parks during the day. We go a lot to WDW and have since our kids were very young and we NEVER left for afternoon break time. There are places at the parks for you kids to snooze if they need it. Ours rarely did and our 6 yo grandson didn't last week. His 3yo brother slept periodically in the stroller. IMHO, it wastes way too much precious vacation time leaving the parks!

Monday: Universal- both parks. When we go, we get it all in in one day. It will probably be worth your while to BUY their fast pass, 2 park
ticket. ( Notify time share that you'll be a late arrival.)

Mon EPCOT - stay all day and for Illuminations; eat around the works! Nap at Universe of Energy.
Tues MK Cancel Boma, make late lunch reservations somewhere AK or do quick service. Nap on the River Boats, Hall of Presidents~
Wed AK- make evening ADR at Boma, Saana or make it an early night to rest up. ADR at Tusker House if you want character dining.
Thur MK - break time: River Boat again!
Fri HS- stay for Fantasmic - break time- in between shows at Beauty and the Beast - stretch out!
SAT- EPCOT - make it an early night: pack up, swim, etc.
Sun- make ADR at DTD for lunch before heading home.

Again, just my opinion and how to get as much vacation as you can squeeze in just a week!

Happy travels!

 

[mmbl]

Does anyone want to give me some feed back? Please and thanks! We will be heading back to Disney World in October 4th family trip.) Leave NJ, our first time driving to Orlando I am so very afraid of this drive. Trying to make it fun and part of the adventure for us all. We are staying an extra night on each end of the week with Hilton points. Leave NJ Friday night after dinner. Kids will sleep, DH and I share driving. He drives a lot for work so should be pretty easy on him. Arrive Orlando Sat 10/4, Double Tree @ entrance to Universal- one night stay Sun- Check out- Island of Adventure. Check in friends time share, 3pm (2 miles from US) Mon- EPCOT /F&WF Illuminations no adrs Tues- MK @ RD- 7pm Boma ADR Wed.- Universal Studios Thurs 8:10 CP? MK morning, mid-day break @ resort, MNSSHP Friday- DHS 1:25 50s Prime Time. Resort break, return for Fantasmic Sat- Check out TS early. Epcot as long as we feel like staying. Check in Hilton Bonnet creek one night. Sunday- Enjoy resort pool much of the day (requested late check out since DH is platinum HHonors but not betting on it.) Swing by DTD before drive home early evening. We have ADR @ CP on Thursday but really want it Tuesday- No luck but I check each day. Think I may cancel Thursday since we will be up late with MNSSHP. I really want one Character meal but not sure where else to fit it. May Do resort breakfast on Tuesday/MK day. ETA- 2 boys, will be 6 and 8.

In my other reply: the Tues, late lunch should be at MK not AK!

 

[ChitownFamily]

Something else to consider, by October- diagon alley (2nd hp installment) will be open (crossing fingers) rumor has it- to ride the hog warts express ride, you will need a park to park ticket. Just sharing this in case hp interests your family.
Also universal will be running its Halloween horror night (not kid friendly) universal will be closing early some nights because of this event- if you are going on a day where the park closes early, I wouldn't bother leaving for naps

 

[jm106]

Thanks. I checked universal Halloween party, that isn't Wednesday but we won't be there late anyway. My kids don't nap so universal we wouldn't do a break. Skipping ak this trip. We have had luck with midday breaks, we all enjoy it, pool time. We will either do a few breaks during the week or some late start mornings depending on kids sleep. Likely they will be up by 7-7:30. If it seems like a pain to drive back midday, we will skip it. Thanks for ideas