Would LOVE any help planning our trip

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
Would LOVE any help planning our trip
9
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 10:49am

I just got done reading "The Unplanned Vacation" and was thinking, I don't want that to me! The last time we went to Disney was in 2005, we also didn't make any ADR's except for Chef Mickey character breakfast which was wonderful. But when it came time for lunch and dinner there were times we settled for counter service or McD's because the wait was toooo long to get into anywhere. We did wait over an hour to get into Sci-Fi though, and it was so worth it. By the end of the trip we were sick of fast food because that is what we mostly had to settle for!


We already booked our trip for April 29th thru May 5th, the good thing about our trip is we are arriving around 8:30 am Sunday and leaving Disney 9:30pm Saturday. So that gives us basically 7 full days. I would really like to take advantage of all the days and was thinking of planning a character breakfast for the day we arrive since we can't check into our rooms until the afternoon and we will already be up & dressed, LoL.

Amy, Mom to Abby(3.10.03) and Jacob(7.30.98)
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 12:03pm

Hi Amie! Welcome to the Board!! I think since you've been to the parks within the last year and you've visited frequently, you probably don't need too much help in the "what to see" department.

Val, Co-CL Disney Vacations

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 1:34pm

Val,


Amy, Mom to Abby(3.10.03) and Jacob(7.30.98)
Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 4:16pm

I have to agree with Val, that a breakfast ADR would probably stress you out, and the likelihood you'd make it is slim. If your flightlands at 830, you'll be off the plane and checking in to ME by say 845 depending on where you're seated on the plane and if you avoid my mistake of being to excited to read signs and go to the right place and how long the ME check in line is. I think you would definately be pulling out of MCO before 9 but it's 45 minutes minimum

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 10:32pm

Here's how we make our plan:

First I lay out a spreadsheet with all the days and all the parks. I put the hours for the parks, when EMH is and when the fireworks and spectromagic are at MK since they aren't always nightly. Then I consider these things:

I start the schedule with AM EMH at MK since that seems to be where we get the most benefit from it. Then I schedule MK for an evening with Spectro and Wishes. Consider if you really want your first or last day at MK and if one of those first two aren't at MK then consider if you will split those days and park hop so you can get enough time at each park.

Now fill in the other parks. AK closes the earliest so plan on it the day before an early morning. You mention Rainforest Cafe, not sure how long the waits are after AK closes, but you could consider that. Or if you do a Chef Mickey bkfast midweek try to get it early and go to AK the day before. After AK go back to the hotel for a swim and pizza in the room and go to sleep early so everyone will feel good going to Chef Mickey.

When you have a TS bkfast try not to do a late TS supper the night before or you may still be full the next morning.

Since you've been before you should have an idea if you want to stay at the park all day or if you want to go back for a swim and rest before going back out and if you like to park hop or finish out a park completely. If you are going to park hop midday without returning to the resort then remember you can use the monorail between MK And Epcot and the boat between Epcot WS and MGM. The bus between MK and AK is probably the worst park hop.

I usually try to leave the ending travel day unplanned and decide during the week where we want to go back to.

Once you have all your days filled in with which parks then you can decide where you want to eat and when and try to get all your reservations and make adjustments if you need.

Good luck and have a great time.

Elisa

Avatar for prairiemom2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 10-22-2006 - 11:44pm

Wow this si great info and thanks for posting it as I willbe sure to keep all this in mind while planning things and will be sure to do alot of what you have said. I have to sit down as thisis our first trip and I have no idea where to start. We have our room and tickets and we are going from Dec2-9 and staying at POP Century and it willbe me, hubby and my kids who are 10 and 5 yrs. I haven't planned any ADR as my hubby doesnt' want to be commited to when to eat. But from my post alot of gals are saying we should have some. I may try and get a few but I do beleive we will be ok with the resort food if need be and CS as we are not there for the food really. We are there more for the attractions. My kids aren't great eaters as they are very picky and as for me and hubby I'm sure we will be fine with whatever we can get. What I'm more worried about is what days to go to the parks and see waht we want. We do have park hopper tickets and they are for 7 days so I'm sure it willbe just a matter ot the crowds and which days would be best to go to them

Tina

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2003
Mon, 10-23-2006 - 8:46am
You may want to line up a few ADR's just to have on reserve if you do find it hard to get seating at restaurants once you arrive.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2006
Mon, 10-23-2006 - 12:00pm

Hi. I sent you a message to your email address. I am hoping to get to go to Disney world that same week and if we go, was planning to stay at the ASMovies too!

Happy Planning!

~Charis

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 6:54am
You guys are awesome! Thank you for ALL the great advice & tips, I am using all of it to plan my vacation. Thank you Charis for the spreadsheet, hope you can make it the same week! This is the best board....
Amy~Mom to Abby 3.10.05 & Jacob 7.30.98



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Amy, Mom to Abby(3.10.03) and Jacob(7.30.98)
Avatar for prairiemom2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 3:33pm

This is great info thanks for posting it as I'm still trying to plan my days out and I leave in 5 weeks. Opps I just realized I already responded to this,lol. I still think its great info though and I will be sitting down this weekend to figure myplans out with my dh

Tina




Edited 10/26/2006 3:36 pm ET by prairiemom2001