"itinerary" question (m)
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| Mon, 06-12-2006 - 6:25pm |
I have the unofficial guide, as well as a membership to their website. We're going to be at WDW for 13 days, we have a 10 day base ticket. I am a chemical engineer by education and am currently a part time program manager. I love numbers, patterns and planning, so I could easily plan this whole trip down to the hour, BUT I'm thinking to do so would be insane. We have an almost 4 year old daughter (who doesn't nap), a 6 year old son and a 7.5 year old son. My intention was to do nothing in Orlando other than go to the parks for 10 (short) days. We plan to arrive 45 minutes before opening most days that we go (we're going early this summer). But I'd also like to see the fireworks at the three parks that have a show. So at least 3 nights will be late nights and our kids go to bed early. On the mornings after those late nights, getting them up early won't work well. Unless it's a designed fireworks night, we'll either stay at the park for ~5 hrs and not go back or have a subset go back (i.e. either DH or I take just one of the kids back, or IF WE'RE LUCKY, we could have a family member babysit (the first 6 days of the vacation is a family vacation with DH's parents, one sister and her family)) and take just 1 or 2 of the kids back. So while I'm trying to think up an itinerary I'm considering the Unofficial guides recommendations on which parks to go to and which to avoid for each day we're there, I'm avoiding EMH days (we're staying in a condo offsite (about 15 minutes away), and I'm considering which days of the week are most popular for each park according to the unofficial guide. Complicating matters are having the kids' cousins there the first 6 days and I can almost guarantee they have no plan. It would be nice to end up at least ONE DAY at the same park. But this is another fact that makes planning almost guaranteed to fail. Thank goodness we're not doing much sit down dining at the parks, because at least I don't have to worry about ADR's.
So tell me, should I try to come up with a plan for which park we'll visit on which day, or should I just play it by ear? If you recommend a plan, which is better to stick with, to visit a park on a day that is least popular, to stick with the unofficial guide's recommendation of which parks to visit/avoid for each calendar day of 2006, or is it enough to just avoid the park that is having the EMH?
Also, when choosing a touring plan from the unofficial guide, would late June be considered regular time or "holiday (i.e. peak)" time?
Nicole

I've been thinking about how to answer this question. A lot of what you're asking really depends on your family nuclear and extended. Obviously from your post your nuclear family is a lot more scheduled than your extended family becuase you're already anticipating problems. That's how it is with my family and my dh's aunt and her family who we live near. She can't ever figure out why parks are busy when she decides on Saturday morning to do a Mothers Day or Fathers Day cookout on Sunday and we can't get a pavillion.
We always stay offsite, and I always read the latest edition of the Unofficial Guide. However, I do not follow their touring plans.
I always avoid the park with EMH in the am. Then, I look at the guide to see which park they recommend for each day of the week. I loosely follow their advice. For example, I avoid MK on Mondays because I've actually experienced the incredible crowds on that day. I also take into consideration if I'm doing SpectroMagic or Wishes. Then I choose when we'll go to MK based on that. We never go during regular season, so we have to figure out when they're doing these; I LOVE Spectro. We just saw Wishes for the first time this year. BTW, we have been 6 of the last 7 years. My kids are ds-8 and dd will be 6 next week.
After deciding which day to go where, I then make ADRs. Are you sure you don't want to make any? I highly suggest at least 1 character meal.
Like Sonya, I don't make plans as to what order we're riding rides. However, I do decide what we're riding first. For example, if you want to ride Dumbo, you'd better go there as soon as the park opens. It's a slow-loading ride, and no FP are available. This year, dd wanted to ride it but ds did not. So dh took her and headed off to Fantasyland. Ds and I walked directly to Space Mountain. We were able to ride that plus Buzz twice before dh and dd rode Dumbo once. My point is, ride the most popular rides first, then do whatever you want.
If you're wanting to do stuff with your extended family, why not say this is where we're going. We'd love for y'all to join us. If it's not convenient, we'll catch up with you for dinner. That way, you aren't stressed by their lack of planning. They will be on your schedule instead of vice versa.
One last thing. If you go onto the touring plans online, you put in a date, and it comes up with a touring plan based on that. Give it a try and see what you think. Then, you can tweak it anyway you want.
HTH!
M'Shel