Critique our plan please....

[Halloweenhead]

Ok, so this will be our very first WDW visit. This has made planning very hard, as it's hard to understand just how big Disney is and/or how much time you need in each park, despite reading lots of reviews/books and forums...... Please let me know what you think of our 17 day holiday. Too much stuff? Not enough? Need more hotel time? Must see places etc.... Then also whats the best way to get tickets as I'm struggling to see park tickets for more then 10 days?

Ok here goes,
Day 1 leave Amsterdam arrive in Orlando 19:00 (nothing planned)
Day 2 AM and PM Magic Kingdom EMH/ Fantasy Parade. Evening Downtown Disney
Day 3 AM Hollywood Studios EMH/ PM Back to Hotel/ Eve Dinner at Sci-fi then Fantastic Show
Day 4 AM Magic Kingdom EMM/ PM Animal Kingdom (Finding Nemo 18:00)/ Eve Downtown or Hotel
Day 5 Epcot (All Day/evening)
Day 6 AM Hollywood Studios EMH/ PM Hotel/ Eve Magic Kingdom EMH (BoG 21:00 then Electric parade/fireworks)
Day 7 Typhoon Lagoon (All day)
Day 8 AM/PM Blizzard Beach/ Eve Hollywood studios EMH
Day 9 AM Hotel/ PM Hotel/ Eve T-Rex
Day 10 Family Wedding in Disney
Day 11 AM Hotel/ PM Hotel/ Eve Magic Kingdom EMH
Day 12 Epcot (AM -23:00)
Day 13 AM Character Breakfast/ PM and Eve Magic Kingdom
Day 14 AM Animal Kingdom EMH/ PM Animal Kingdom/ Eve Free
Day 15 Universal (All day)
Day 16 To be Decided
Day 17 Mid day flight back

We've tried to hit the first week hard then the second week a bit more chilled out.
If you are still reading this then thank you and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.....

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

WOW is that busy (perhaps a bit too busy ??)

First trip - ok so you want to do everything - but you'll burn yourselves out at this rate before you get to the wedding.

Firstly - where are you staying ??

My suggested alterations for your itinerary -

Day 1) - either relax at your Disney Resort (??) or take time to explore DTD
2) leaving MK before the fireworks ?
3) DHS
4) Perhaps AK all day ?
5) A pool or waterpark day
6) EPCOT
7) MK
8) DHS
9) pool / waterpark
10) wedding
11) an easy day after the wedding - perhaps explore some resorts and DTD evening
12) AK
13) Universal
14) pool / waterpark
15) MK
16) EPCOT
17) home

 

[Halloweenhead]

WOW is that busy (perhaps a bit too busy ??)

First trip - ok so you want to do everything - but you'll burn yourselves out at this rate before you get to the wedding.

Firstly - where are you staying ??

My suggested alterations for your itinerary -

Day 1) - either relax at your Disney Resort (??) or take time to explore DTD
2) leaving MK before the fireworks ?
3) DHS
4) Perhaps AK all day ?
5) A pool or waterpark day
6) EPCOT
7) MK
8) DHS
9) pool / waterpark
10) wedding
11) an easy day after the wedding - perhaps explore some resorts and DTD evening
12) AK
13) Universal
14) pool / waterpark
15) MK
16) EPCOT
17) home

Many thanks for that....... Yes we're staying at POP. Dont know if that changes anything?!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Many thanks for that....... Yes we're staying at POP. Dont know if that changes anything?!

You're welcome.

It doesn't change anything - it just helps to know that -
a) you're staying on Disney property and
b) whether an evening visit to DTD is a short trip or a marathon, especially for your first day if you take in DTD

 

[Halloweenhead]

.... and is it a short trip or a marathon

Is visiting DTD on our first day doable?

Also, is it worth getting park tickets before we leave?

 

[SDisney90]

.... and is it a short trip or a marathon

Is visiting DTD on our first day doable?

Also, is it worth getting park tickets before we leave?

Since you are staying at POP, you should order your park tickets before you leave. What are you dates of the actual trip? Month?? This can be a deal breaker as there is a lot of deals going around and may pop up to save a few more dollars.

As a first trip, its hard to do everything Disney has to offer. Relax, enjoy, and take it in is my advice to you. My first trip I was so lost and didn't know what I was doing and come to find out I missed half the attractions but, thats the beauty. Sets yourself up for a second trip. In your case, you have quite a long vacation and can certainly do a lot more.

Ok, so this will be our very first WDW visit. This has made planning very hard, as it's hard to understand just how big Disney is and/or how much time you need in each park, despite reading lots of reviews/books and forums...... Please let me know what you think of our 17 day holiday. Too much stuff? Not enough? Need more hotel time? Must see places etc.... Then also whats the best way to get tickets as I'm struggling to see park tickets for more then 10 days?

Ok here goes,
Day 1 leave Amsterdam arrive in Orlando 19:00 (nothing planned)
Day 2 AM and PM Magic Kingdom EMH/ Fantasy Parade. Evening Downtown Disney
Day 3 AM Hollywood Studios EMH/ PM Back to Hotel/ Eve Dinner at Sci-fi then Fantastic Show
Day 4 AM Magic Kingdom EMM/ PM Animal Kingdom (Finding Nemo 18:00)/ Eve Downtown or Hotel
Day 5 Epcot (All Day/evening)
Day 6 AM Hollywood Studios EMH/ PM Hotel/ Eve Magic Kingdom EMH (BoG 21:00 then Electric parade/fireworks)
Day 7 Typhoon Lagoon (All day)
Day 8 AM/PM Blizzard Beach/ Eve Hollywood studios EMH
Day 9 AM Hotel/ PM Hotel/ Eve T-Rex
Day 10 Family Wedding in Disney
Day 11 AM Hotel/ PM Hotel/ Eve Magic Kingdom EMH
Day 12 Epcot (AM -23:00)
Day 13 AM Character Breakfast/ PM and Eve Magic Kingdom
Day 14 AM Animal Kingdom EMH/ PM Animal Kingdom/ Eve Free
Day 15 Universal (All day)
Day 16 To be Decided
Day 17 Mid day flight back

We've tried to hit the first week hard then the second week a bit more chilled out.
If you are still reading this then thank you and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.....

Day 2: Magic kingdom is a great way to start your vacation, it is the eye of Disney World park, its the most photographed well known structure in the world. There is plenty to do, plenty to see. Take your time again and enjoy the park. You have another day in MK planned, do half of the park if you'd like or plan out which spots you'd like to hit first.

Day 3: Hollywood Studios, another great choice for a second day park. 2 great thrill rides, lots of street performers all around the park. Sci-fi is a decent restaurant choice, I prefer 50's but do not let anyone talk you out of your dinner reservations. Everyone has there own taste and liking, try it once and you decide yourself.

Day 4: Most people will tell you AK is not a full day park, and maybe its not. But as I sit here and type this drinking out of my Tree of Life mug, I can tell you its a full day for me. I love the park, the shows (festival of the lion king, finding nemo) and the rides there. I'm a landscaper and just love the pure beauty of the park.

Day 5: Glad to see you have EPCOT as all day and night, it sure needs that amount of time. The world showcase does not open until 11am so you have plenty of time to ride Test Track and Soarin'. Once WS opens up enjoy each country to the fullest, try to grab a times map and enjoy all the entertainment.

Day 6: Sounds pretty good what you have planned.

Day 7: Cant say much, never went to the water parks. I always visit on the off season and catch the cold weather. Something I would recommend on this day is to possibly Resort Hop. Head over to the monorail go through the monorail loop and take a look at all of the resorts. Have a little snack at each resort (lots of them have specialty treats known at those resorts.

Day 8: Once again sounds pretty good to me.

Day 9: Sounds good, take a dip on the pool, possibly resort hop again. Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge (highly recommend zebra domes here) Each resort also has something going on at night. One that I would love to do is at Animal Kingdom Lodge they have African Story Telling right by the bonfire at night for all Disney World guests, and its free!

Day 10: Congratulations to your family

Day 11: Sounds good to me

Day 12: EPCOT, per usual ton of stuff to do just take it slow since you were here earlier in the week main thing for me personally is enjoying the park and not trying to cram everything at once.

Day 13: Where is the character breakfast? Plenty to choose from can't really go wrong.

Day 14: Can't say enough about this park ( make sure you head to Rafikis Planet watch, great little hidden gem)

Day 15: What's Universal?

Day 16: Resort hop, DTD, Boardwalk, Mini golfing, para sailing, race car driving...the possibilities are endless my friend!

Day 17: Have a save flight home

I will update more once I have a few more minutes.

 

[Halloweenhead]

Wow. Many thanks for that in depth response. We are traveling 30th March until 15th April...... Once again thanks!

 

[SDisney90]

Wow. Many thanks for that in depth response. We are traveling 30th March until 15th April...... Once again thanks!

you're very welcome, I enjoy helping others..especially about Disney! have you checked on any deals going on for that time of year? Sometimes there is packages that you can purchase room, tickets and dining for a discount.

 

[smk]

Wow. Many thanks for that in depth response. We are traveling 30th March until 15th April...... Once again thanks!

That is a very busy time to travel to WDW! Most US schools are on spring break then so the parks will be busy. Don't let that discourage you, just know that crowds will be large, and wait times for rides and food will be a bit longer too. Our family has been so many times that we do not plan each day out, we fly by the seat of our pants so to speak. If one park is too crowded we will leave and pick something else to do, swim, shop, and then go back in the evening. It is all about what works for your family. Have fun!!

 

[Halloweenhead]

That is a very busy time to travel to WDW! Most US schools are on spring break then so the parks will be busy. Don't let that discourage you, just know that crowds will be large, and wait times for rides and food will be a bit longer too. Our family has been so many times that we do not plan each day out, we fly by the seat of our pants so to speak. If one park is too crowded we will leave and pick something else to do, swim, shop, and then go back in the evening. It is all about what works for your family. Have fun!!

Thanks! We're going them dates as my brother is getting married in Disney, so our hands were tied behind our backs on the date (otherwise we would have booked when the kids are at school). Hopefully the fact that we are going for 16 days means we can afford to miss a few things if it is really busy then head back to that part of the park another day......

 

[jack@wdw]

It looks like a lot of fun!

 

[Kosmo1986]

Looks like a great trip, I think you have everything planned well! I would definitely get my tickets ahead of time and take advantage of being able to book you fastpasses ahead of time.

 

[JillC LI]

If you want to hit Universal, given the length of your trip, I recommend that you spend your last 2 days at Uni and stay on property there because it will give you the free express pass and early entry to the parks. Plus there is plenty to do there over 2 days given the new Harry Potter expansion and other new rides. You will still have more than enough time to enjoy Disney at leisure and in depth.