Urgh! I can't plan this! STRESSED OUT!

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Registered: 03-28-2003
Urgh! I can't plan this! STRESSED OUT!
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Sat, 06-03-2006 - 4:17pm

The planning of this is so stressful. I'm frazzled and my mind is now mush. I've read about 10 different WDW planning books. I've got a notebook with all the notes I want to keep in mind. All of you have been so helpful but... I can't make up my mind!

I know my next step is deciding the days for which park so I can make my ADR. The time is ticking as I understand it's crucial to get those ADR in soon to get what I want. If we could of sprung for the park hopper I would of but it's just not in the budget. I already went beyond it.

For those that don't know I've already made the reservations for Sept 30-Oct 5th. I got the 5 day pak pass and the free dining plan. My kids are 4 and 7. We are staying at All-star Sports. I was only going to get the 4 day park pass but it was only a mere $12 more for the entire family if I went up a day. How could I pass that up?! LOL! Maybe that's too many parks in too short of time?

The only things I am sure of (amazing that I am sure of anything at this point) is that I want to take in the Hoop de doo dinner show. And that I wish to do the crystal palace char meal so Henry can meet Piglet. Then one other char meal too but unsure which one. Not a princess as dd is not into them. (I know, what little girl doesn't like the princesses?! She's an oddball-that's ok ;) I feel like I should work in some down time to swim at the resort pool and visit DT Disney too. Just how am I going to plan this?

I'm overwhelmed and can't do it. Anyone want to take this over for me? I would say that I'm just kidding but I'm not. I thought this was supposed to be the fun part, getting to plan.

Help! ~Laura


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 06-03-2006 - 4:20pm

We'll all happily help you plan!! One important thing we need to know....what is your estimated arrival time on Saturday, and what time are you leaving on Thursday??

Marcy

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Registered: 05-22-2006
Sat, 06-03-2006 - 5:49pm

I feel for you! I have never been to Disney, planning our first trip with our 4 kids for Sept 20-30. I have found it can be very chaotic with the adr's. I don't have any first hand experience with Disney but I can give you some tips on what has workde for me so far.

First I thought of the places I wanted to eat. I wanted to be sure to do as much character dining as possible as my kids LOVE Disney Characters! The Crystal palace may be nice for your son with pooh and piglet etc. There is also Chef Mickey, The Garden Grille (Chip n Dale) etc that do not have princeses. So, first find out where you would like to eat and write them down (and the parks they are in). Then call Disney.

I had made the mistake of planning my days then calling Disney. Most of the ADR's for the time I had wanted or the park I had wanted were booked. So I booked my days around my adr's instead of visa versa. Some dining that you may prefer are in a specific resort so you may not need a park pass to eat.

I have not been to Disney so I wouldn't even try to help you book your days, there are many more experienced ones here that I'm sure would love to help you. But most importantly....it's Disney! Just try to relax and enjoy yourself. I am sure you and your family will have a wonderful time!

Carrie




Edited 6/3/2006 6:38 pm ET by disney_1st_timer
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 06-03-2006 - 6:02pm

ok I never plan down time but I'll try ... here is what I would do if it were us Obviously this is just my opinion I have never not added the Park Hopper option so spending a whole day at one park makes my ADD mind go wonky I will try anyway


Sept

 

amberglittery.gif picture by nickyglomski

Avatar for sphintergirl
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 06-03-2006 - 6:09pm

Laura,

Take a breath, it will be OK. If anything, us ladies on this board LOVE to help plan trips, so don't worry!

OK. First off, do you want to take advantage of EMH? If so, then we should plan ADR's around that.

Second, are your kids picky about what they eat and what time they eat?

Third, IF Crystal Palace is the only "in park" place you would like to do a character meal, then planning which days for what park will get easier.

This is what I would suggest if you are into EMH:
(this is leaving 9/30 as a travel day no park)
9/30 travel day no park-do counter service for meals at resort OR Hoop Dee Doo
10/1 EMH at MK (late hours)- You could do Crystal Palace for Dinner
10/2 EMH at AK (early hours) OR MGM (late hours) - If you don't do the thrill rides you would be better off with AK early hours - Do Donalds Breakfastasauras OR if you want to see Fantasmic! you could do the dinner package at Hollywood and Vine.
10/3 EMH at Epcot (early hours) Not sure if you want to do Epcot or not. There are a ton of really good restaurants there if you want to visit Epcot for EMH early
10/4 EMH at Epcot (late hours) again, not sure if you want to do Epcot for 2 days. Advantage to the night EMH you could get a later start to your day, eat a nice dinner at Epcot and watch IllumiNations
10/5 EMH at MK (early) - depending on your departure time you could do Crystal Palace for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner if you don't do it on 10/1.

Don't forget about all of the wonderful restaurants at the resorts too:
Whispering Canyon Cafe (B,L, & D)
Chef Mickeys (B&D I think)
Those don't require a park ticket, so you could do those any day.
Maybe hit DTD on your arrival day if you feel you have to go.

We are going 9/24-9/30 and staying at movies. We did get hoppers, so that made our planning a bit easier.
I am planning on hitting all EMH's we can in the am, leaving park around lunch to go for a swim & nap and then hitting what ever park at night has late EMH. Most of my TS ADR's are for dinner - more bang for your free dining dollar. We are hitting Donald's Breakfast though on 1 day.

Good Luck planning and let us know if you need more help!

Sarah

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Registered: 01-13-2005
Sat, 06-03-2006 - 6:10pm

It is overwhelming...and plenty of people don't plan anything before they go - so here's the good news for you - while you are totally stressed out during the planning stages you are going to appreciate having a gameplan more than you can possible imagine once you get there!!

mara

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 06-03-2006 - 6:27pm

Laura,


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Registered: 09-15-2005
Sun, 06-04-2006 - 1:28am

Talk about stressed out - I just lost my post to you!! LOL


Laura, the ladies here gave you great advice!! I think we've all been at the place you're at - that feeling of being overwhelmed, the panic of which park/which day, what meal/how do I do all this?? I was so excited when we were planning our 1st trip and then the planning went from fun to total panic - I couldn't think about anything else when I went to bed. I'd close my eyes and see park schedules!! LOL But the ladies here were marvelous and before I knew it, I came up with a schedule, my ADRs were made and life was good again! :)


As suggested here, if you're taking advantage of the EMH days (especially the early morning vs the late evening, as I would suggest for your kids' ages), that would help plan your days.

Val, Co-CL Disney Vacations

Avatar for momtojoeybear
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 06-04-2006 - 11:17am

Hey Laura...

First of all, I'm sending you big hugs to you... it can get overwhelming... Do you have an idea of where you want to eat? If so, I would begin by calling Disney Dining and seeing what they have available at that restaurant on that day for whatever meal...

Joey loved the Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends... it was the first reservation we made... If you want to take advantage of the morning EMH, I would look to see one of the days MK has morning EMH's and then try to get a ressie at Crystal Palace for your chosen meal... we brought little snacks (capri suns and cereal bars) to the hotel with us and would do our character breakfasts late--10ish or so... that worked well for us...

Who does you DD love? is she a Lilo and Stitch fan? because there is an Ohana breakfast at the Polynesian that could be good...

As for a starting place, the morning EMH may be the best way to start... then once you figure out which park has them on a day, look at their restaurants and call Disney Dining and see what is available... be flexible and you'll have success... we didn't make our reservations until late, but were able to get in everywhere we wanted to... I called and said, I'm interested in eating at LeCellier on either date x or y for dinner, what do you have... and they were able to give me a couple of choices...

Good Luck!

*hugs*

Julie

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Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 06-04-2006 - 12:00pm

Amber,

You can leave and come back to the same park without park hoppers.

Alysha


Avatar for ldunx
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Registered: 03-28-2003
Sun, 06-04-2006 - 9:04pm

WOW- you all are the best! What great ideas you all have. I've wrote everything down in my "master" WDW notebook. I'm going to respond and answer some of the questions that I was asked.

Marcy, I'm not certain of our arrival and departing times. We are planning to drive in. It's about a 14 hr drive so we will be stopping on the 29th just outside Atlanta for the night. I am guessing we might get to WDW around mid afternoon.

Not sure if we should use our 5th park day for the arrival day or departing day. I don't know if DH would be willing to do a park on the day we leave. He's more of a get up and go kind of guy. I was leaning toward the day we get there to get the feel of MK. I only added on the 5th park day since it cost only $12 more. OR...I never thought about till now but maybe instead of using it on the arrival or departing day we would do two different parks in one day. Does that make sense. Sorry I'm doing the hopper. I can tell how much all of you love it. :)

Forever-amber That pklan should good. I did want to do MK twice. Will we need 2 full days?

Sarah, Yes my kids are picky eaters. Mostly chicken nuggets and fries. B,L and D times don't matter as long as they aren't hungry. I figured I'd use the snacks to make up for the odd or different eating hours. The one I have to worry about for food is myself as I have huge dietary restrictions. Lousy cronic bladder disease (IC). Everything has to be blander then bland. As much as I would love to try some of the world cuisines I could never do it. One wrong spice could ruin my vacation and have me out of comission for days. Any TS meals at Epcot are out. Your other ? was about EMH, yes I would get the family up for those. I doubt we'd stay for the late ones.

Val, the things you say are so kind. You make me smile! It's nice to know that this will all be worth it. :)

Carrie, gosh I never thought I'd have too much trouble wiht ADR already. Thanks for the heads up.

Julie, The idea of dining at Ohana to see Lilo and Stitch sounds like a great one! Both kids like them. Too much viewing of playhouse disney going on in this house. I hadn't heard of that dining place yet. I'll have to look into that. How was Joey will all the crowds of people and waiting in lines? I'm fearing that with Henry already.

Some other kind person had a great day list. (forgive me I forgot the poster-losing my mind) I like the idea of doing hoop de doo the first night if we don't do a park. Not sure I'd do Epcot 2 days. I wasn't even going to do it once at first till I heard the advice here. I would like to take in IllumiNations if possible. What was the dinner package thingie you mentioned for Fantasmic at Hollywood and Vine. That sounds interesting. I definately want to eat the the Dinosaur place while at AK, that sound neat. Not sure if we need to do the Donald BK. I don't the kids really even know who he is-LOL.

whew...that might of been everyone, if it wasn't I do apologize. Dh and I are taking the kids for mini outing for the next several days to Cincinnati to see the zoo, childrens musuem and the Newport Aquarium. I won't be back online till Thurs or Fri. I'll take a break for planning WDW till then. :) But will be back in full swing when we get back.

Many thanks to all you wonderful ladies. My hat is off to you all.
~Laura

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