Feedback on my plan

[mcross923]

Hello,

Thank you for all the very helpful information on these boards… I’m a Disney newbie, fortunate enough to take our first Disney cruise last year and caught the Disney bug since. We’ve been planning our first family (DD7 and DS4) WDW trip since last summer and again fortunate enough to be able to go this year. My wife and I have been to WDW before, and it will be our kids' first time. We rented DVC points from David’s for a Poly/Beach Club split stay, easy process thus far. Alas, got my FP yesterday and we are 59 days away. Looking for feedback on my plan:


Friday 3/31
10:30 AM - Arrive MCO
12:00 PM - Arrive Polynesian via Disney Magic Express
Find a place for lunch at Poly, check room availability
2:00 PM - Monorail ride to MK, bus to Art of Animation (my kids love Cars)
4:00 PM - Back to Poly
5:15 PM - Spirit of Aloha dinner
9:00 PM - View Wishes from Poly Beach

Saturday 4/1 - MK
8:05 AM - PPO BOG
9:00 AM - Stanby on 7MDT, then Winnie the Pooh
10:00 AM - FP for Peter Pan
11:00 AM - FP for 7MDT (for a second round)
Lunch somewhere
2:10 PM - FP for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger
3:00 PM - Back to Poly for afternoon nap
5-6:00 PM - Back to MK to explore Fantasy Land and Tomorrow Land
9:00 PM - Wishes (if kids are up, which I’m sure they’ll be up)

Sunday 4/2 - MK
8:00 AM - PPO Crystal Palace
11:00 AM - FP Big Thunder Mountain
Lunch somewhere
1:30 PM - FP Pirates of the Caribbean
2:30 PM - FP Jungle Cruise
Afternoon nap, then back to explore Frontier Land and Adventure Land
9:00 PM - Wishes (if we skip Monday’s)

Monday 4/3 – DHS
After 2 days of PPO, might wake up a bit later this day
10:00 AM - FP Toy Story Mania
11:20 AM - FP Star Tours
12:15 PM - ADR Hollywood and Vine Lunch
2:15 PM - FP Frozen Sing Along for 2:30 PM show
Explore the rest of DHS
8:30 PM - Fantasmic

Tuesday 4/4 – SeaWorld day
Check out of Poly, send bags to Beach Club
Taxi to SeaWorld and back to Beach Club

Wednesday 4/5 – Rest day
Hang out at pool of Beach Club, hope the weather is good
DW may want to do some shopping at the outlet, so I plan to rent a car from the Car Care Center and drop her off while the kids and I enjoy the pool at BC for the day. Pick up the wife, drop off the car, and call it a night with dinner somewhere.

Thursday 4/6 – EPCOT
8:00 AM - ADR Akershus
9:00 AM - Hop on FEA, then hopefully Soarin’
10:30AM - FP Test Track (still debating if I should FP FEA and standby TT instead)
11:30AM - FP Turtle Talk with Crush
Lunch somewhere
2:15PM - FP Spaceship Earth (not sure if the kids will like Mission Space at this age)
Explore rest of EPCOT, head back to BC for nap if needed
9:00PM - Illuminations Fireworks

Friday 4/7 – AK
10:45 AM - FP Kilimanjaro Safari
11:45 AM - ADR Tusker House
Catch Festival of Lion King sometime
3:30PM - FP Dinosaur
4:45PM - FP Finding Nemo Musical 5PM show

Saturday 4/8 Disney Springs
8:30 AM - ADR Cape May breakfast
Check out of Beach Club
Head out to Disney Springs and stroll around
4:00 PM - Disney Magical Express to MCO
7:00 PM - Fly home

We haven’t introduced our kids to Star Wars yet, and DW and I aren’t into it too much. Kids aren’t that into meeting characters or princesses either. At our Disney cruise last year, meeting the princesses and Ana and Elsa was an OK thing for them.

With so much rave about FEA, I’m debating if I should get FP for FEA instead of TT, would appreciate your thoughts on this. Since we’re there for PPO Akershus I’m hoping to just go to FEA right after and be ok with a 30 minute wait. I know my DS will love TT as he’s so into cars and trucks right now.

Are my back-to-back FP times OK?

DS still needs to nap, but can probably power through the day without one and just sleep earlier that night. But I’m scheduling an afternoon nap for MK and EPCOT days since it’ll be easy to head back and forth. We plan to rent a stroller from an outside company and delivered to the hotel.

Anyway, thank you for reading and any feedback is welcomed. I’ve been lurking on the boards the past year and this is a great community and resource. I hope to start contributing like everyone else, but I’m still a newbie so not sure how much I can contribute yet.

Marcus

 

[pitpat]

on your Tuesday MK day, you can easily get JC and Pirates done first thing with no wait. Maybe use a FP on Splash.

Have you considered splitting up your MK days so they are not back to back?

 

[EdmondD]

I don't know your kids, but your first three days are potentially long days. What time do you have to wake up Friday to get to MCO by 10:30?

We started taking my daughter when she was about 8 and the biggest adjustment for me after my son was born in 2010 (my daughter is now grown) was not going so hard all the time with a pre-K kid. Now, my son doesn't nap anymore and maybe that's your panacea, but any night at WDW where I plan to be out past 10 or so (he falls asleep at home around 9) I make sure to take the next morning easy. Like I said, that was a BIG adjustment in my planning style! But again, maybe your kids can pull this off.

No need to FP Turtle Talk

Not sure if this is included where you say "explore Frontier Land," but make time for Tom Sawyer Island. Your kids are at an age where they will love it.

I'm not sure where the Outlets are but I'd bet your wife taking an Uber is cheaper/about the same cost and certainly a lot less hassle than dealing with a rental car as you describe it.

Cape May Cafe breakfast is a great way to end the trip...that's frequently what we do!

Overall it looks carefully planned and well-thought through, especially for a first-timer! It's going to be a fun trip.

BTW, it looks like your day order was mistyped: Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Monday....

 

[bnhonest]

I agree with pitpat. If you are there at RD for your second MK day (Sunday) from what I've heard, you should be able to get BTMRR, Pirates and JC (and maybe Splash) without fast passes all by 10:30. You can use your FP for other stuff starting at 10 or 10:30. Maybe FP Goofy's Barn stormer or Enchanted Tales with Belle.

I think you will want a FP for FEA. It seems the RD rush for that is out of control. Like Ricky Bobby said, if you're not first, you're last. If you are there for RD, I think TT would be better. Seems like it's higher ride capacity and moves faster plus has a more interactive queue.

More on Epcot...FP The Seas with Nemo, not Turtle Talk. Turtle Talk is a little theater room and they take large groups of people at a time. The Seas is a ride. I think the line will be worse for that. You are right to FP Spaceahip Earth.

Animal Kingdom- Dinosaur is going to scare your 4 yr old to death. Check out Flights of Fancy. Your kids will love that one. I don't know if y'all want to do the Kali River Rapids or not. But you will need a fast pass if you do. You could also use a fast pass for meeting characters at Adventure Outpost.

That's all just my .02$.

 

[chris benton]

Quick thoughts:
Fastpasses- maybe try to schedule some of them to get them done earlier - especially on your 4/1 day. If cl's are working in your favor, you might be able to finish your am tour, and grab a PM fastpass for when you return after your break. Just a thought.

Is your H&V a fantasmic pkg?

Also, if you are switching to Beach Club, you might want to resched your DHS day to when you are staying at BC. Maybe switch your AK day since AK is "away" from the Poly as well as BC. You can take the Friendship boat to DHS from BC. They run every 15 min. Don't forget about the Boardwalk, either, when you're at BC. Ample Hills Creamery is some pretty good Ice cream if you are into that. Boardwalk also has street shows.

Probably don't need a fp for Nemo.

 

[ESO]

I second the Uber recommendation. It'll be much easier and less time consuming than renting the car.

I wish I could help with the Epcot FP decision. My kiddos are little, so FEA was (and still is) a must.

I totally agree with your decision to plan some down time for naps. My kids can make it without a nap at home, but need the rest a Disney. Even if they don't sleep, it's good to have a little quiet time.

Have you considered a FP for Kali River Rapids at AK? It's a fun time, unless you're opposed to potentially getting soaked.

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

My only suggestions are schedule 1st 3 FP's each day early so you can use more FP's when those are used up

download MDE to your phone, then as soon as you use your last preplanned FP each day,
you can load up your phone and start picking more FP's one by one. Fast pass as much as you can. It will minimize wait times.
Definately want to FP Festival of the Lion King.

I agree Dinosaur in AK will scare the crap out of little ones. It scares me LOL
They just completed a refurb and the sounds are Loud.

 

[mcross923]

on your Tuesday MK day, you can easily get JC and Pirates done first thing with no wait. Maybe use a FP on Splash.

Have you considered splitting up your MK days so they are not back to back?

Good idea on the FP for Splash. DW does not like the idea of getting soaked. But if I time it so it would be the last ride before heading back to the hotel for nap time, then we can change then. Initially I thought of splitting MK days, but I wanted to finish MK while we were at Poly to make use of the Monorail. I saw a bunch of posts about avoiding MK on a Monday, so that left Saturday and Sunday for MK.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[mcross923]

I don't know your kids, but your first three days are potentially long days. What time do you have to wake up Friday to get to MCO by 10:30?

We started taking my daughter when she was about 8 and the biggest adjustment for me after my son was born in 2010 (my daughter is now grown) was not going so hard all the time with a pre-K kid. Now, my son doesn't nap anymore and maybe that's your panacea, but any night at WDW where I plan to be out past 10 or so (he falls asleep at home around 9) I make sure to take the next morning easy. Like I said, that was a BIG adjustment in my planning style! But again, maybe your kids can pull this off.

No need to FP Turtle Talk

Not sure if this is included where you say "explore Frontier Land," but make time for Tom Sawyer Island. Your kids are at an age where they will love it.

I'm not sure where the Outlets are but I'd bet your wife taking an Uber is cheaper/about the same cost and certainly a lot less hassle than dealing with a rental car as you describe it.

Cape May Cafe breakfast is a great way to end the trip...that's frequently what we do!

Overall it looks carefully planned and well-thought through, especially for a first-timer! It's going to be a fun trip.

BTW, it looks like your day order was mistyped: Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Monday....

Thanks for the input, our flight leaves a 8:30 AM so have to leave the house by 5:30 AM, I'm DS4 will nap on the plane. My kids are relatively early risers (6:30 - 7AM usually) but that could get all screwed up with the long days. We'll have to adjust as we go.

Thanks for the uber tip, we've never used it so it didn't cross my mind for consideration. Thank you for reading!

ETA: Thanks for the catch on mistyped days, I fixed it.

 

[mcross923]

I agree with pitpat. If you are there at RD for your second MK day (Sunday) from what I've heard, you should be able to get BTMRR, Pirates and JC (and maybe Splash) without fast passes all by 10:30. You can use your FP for other stuff starting at 10 or 10:30. Maybe FP Goofy's Barn stormer or Enchanted Tales with Belle.

I think you will want a FP for FEA. It seems the RD rush for that is out of control. Like Ricky Bobby said, if you're not first, you're last. If you are there for RD, I think TT would be better. Seems like it's higher ride capacity and moves faster plus has a more interactive queue.

More on Epcot...FP The Seas with Nemo, not Turtle Talk. Turtle Talk is a little theater room and they take large groups of people at a time. The Seas is a ride. I think the line will be worse for that. You are right to FP Spaceahip Earth.

Animal Kingdom- Dinosaur is going to scare your 4 yr old to death. Check out Flights of Fancy. Your kids will love that one. I don't know if y'all want to do the Kali River Rapids or not. But you will need a fast pass if you do. You could also use a fast pass for meeting characters at Adventure Outpost.

That's all just my .02$.

Got it, thank you. Such a tough decision on FEA vs TT. Thanks for the tip on Turtle Talk vs. Seas with Nemo, I'll make that change. On Dinosaur, I did read about how scary it was, so I thought we could do that and then calm him down with Nemo after, Ha! I'll have to rethink it. He's also into Dinosaurs right now, he always picks the dinosaur books when it's reading time at home. With Kali, DW is not keen on getting wet and we'll be quite a ways from the hotel to change if needed. Splash Mountain, I might be able to convince her! Thanks!

 

[mcross923]

Quick thoughts:
Fastpasses- maybe try to schedule some of them to get them done earlier - especially on your 4/1 day. If cl's are working in your favor, you might be able to finish your am tour, and grab a PM fastpass for when you return after your break. Just a thought.

Is your H&V a fantasmic pkg?

Also, if you are switching to Beach Club, you might want to resched your DHS day to when you are staying at BC. Maybe switch your AK day since AK is "away" from the Poly as well as BC. You can take the Friendship boat to DHS from BC. They run every 15 min. Don't forget about the Boardwalk, either, when you're at BC. Ample Hills Creamery is some pretty good Ice cream if you are into that. Boardwalk also has street shows.

Probably don't need a fp for Nemo.

H&V is just the character lunch I believe, not Fantasmic package. Thanks for the tips on FP. I was not initially planning on going to AK, I was leaving the last full day for a potential MK day 3. We've never been to AK so DW convinced me to go there while we're there so that then became the last day. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[mcross923]

I second the Uber recommendation. It'll be much easier and less time consuming than renting the car.

I wish I could help with the Epcot FP decision. My kiddos are little, so FEA was (and still is) a must.

I totally agree with your decision to plan some down time for naps. My kids can make it without a nap at home, but need the rest a Disney. Even if they don't sleep, it's good to have a little quiet time.

Have you considered a FP for Kali River Rapids at AK? It's a fun time, unless you're opposed to potentially getting soaked.

I'm sure they'll enjoy FEA... so hopefully I can make it after the PPO breakfast. I booked TT for selfish reasons Last time I went to WDW years and years ago, TT was down and I didn't get to ride it, so I was bummed, haha! Yeah, I think my kids will want to power through the day and not nap, but hopefully being back in a quiet hotel room will let them fall asleep for a short nap.

 

[mcross923]

My only suggestions are schedule 1st 3 FP's each day early so you can use more FP's when those are used up

download MDE to your phone, then as soon as you use your last preplanned FP each day,
you can load up your phone and start picking more FP's one by one. Fast pass as much as you can. It will minimize wait times.
Definately want to FP Festival of the Lion King.

I agree Dinosaur in AK will scare the crap out of little ones. It scares me LOL
They just completed a refurb and the sounds are Loud.

Maybe I should see if there are some youtube videos of Dinosaur to see if it's too scary. You think I should FP Lion King vs. Nemo at AK? Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[EdmondD]

Maybe I should see if there are some youtube videos of Dinosaur to see if it's too scary. You think I should FP Lion King vs. Nemo at AK? Thanks for the suggestions!

One thing the video may not capture is how violently jerky the ride is. Add in the darkness, the startling dinosaurs, the noise, and the overall threatening theming, and it's really, really intense.

 

[ngm]

Dinosaur is the only ride my DD has come off crying. She starts shaking even at the mention of it (she's 8). My nephew, a complete adrenaline junkie, was white-faced and even admitted it was maybe too much for him.

 

[chris benton]

You might also benefit from the Touring Plans software. Makes your plan of attack easier.

 

[mcross923]

Dinosaur is the only ride my DD has come off crying. She starts shaking even at the mention of it (she's 8). My nephew, a complete adrenaline junkie, was white-faced and even admitted it was maybe too much for him.

Thanks for the heads up... I think after seeing all the warnings, I'll pass on Dinosaur. I'm not going to risk ending a good trip with a potential of ruining it. We'll just get our fair share of dinosaurs by looking around and taking picture and not go on the ride.

 

[KT0191]

H&V is just the character lunch I believe, not Fantasmic package.

H&V offers Fantasmic packages for both lunch and dinner.

 

[bnhonest]

Thanks for the heads up... I think after seeing all the warnings, I'll pass on Dinosaur. I'm not going to risk ending a good trip with a potential of ruining it. We'll just get our fair share of dinosaurs by looking around and taking picture and not go on the ride.

Ellen's Energy at Epcot features dinosaurs in a much more kid friendly setting. It's long (I think like 40 minutes). You sit in theater seats, watch a movie with Ellen Degenerous about fossil fuels, and then the theater seats move slowly through a track that takes you through prehistoria. It's a good way for your kids to see moving dinosaurs that aren't scary and a good way for you to get off your feet, cool down and rest for a little while. You will not want or need to use a fast pass in it.

 

[chris benton]

H&V offers Fantasmic packages for both lunch and dinner.

Hey Mcross -
If you are already planning on eating at a place that offers a Fantasmic pkg, consider booking the pkg. It might make your life easier for a mild upcharge (not sure if there is an upcharge at H&V.) Might be worth it to you. You only have to arrive at the theater 20 minutes before the show and you'll get prime seats. No worries about fastpasses, or waiting in a queue, or bad seats. With two kids in tow, it might be worth it to you.