Feedback on my planned August trip

NeXuS1000

NeXuS1000

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone

I'll be going to WDW from August 14th to August 21st with my wife, mother, sister and her boyfriend (i.e. an all-adult, old-children vacation).

We've booked a week at the Yacht Club with a 6-day park hopper and the Deluxe Dining plan; the first time we've bought the dining plan and the first time we're really going to experience the real dining experiences at Disney. So I've been doing quite a lot of researching and planning to optimize the itinerary. But of course, nothing better than peer reviews, so it would be great to get some suggestions on how to optimize our schedule even more!

In general, we have gone for the 1 + 2 strategy, spending 1 dining plan point on breakfast and 2 points on the dinner for that extra experience, thus skipping lunch. With the current plan, we still have 2 points left over pr. person in case we feel extra hungry some days :)

Bear in mind that we will have a car during the week for easy resort-to-resort transportation.

Any cuisine experiences we'll miss that we have to experience? Any flaws in our day-to-day planning? What about the Fastpass bookings - did we choose the wrong rides from a queue-saving perspective? Any kind of feedback is appreciated :)

Day 1 (Thursday 14th) - Arrival Day:
  • Day: Arrive, check-in and stroll around the resort area (Boardwalk etc.)
  • Evening: Downtime Disney
  • Dinner: Rainforest Cafe, DTD (20.30)
Day 2 (Friday 15th) - Epcot:
  • All-day at Epcot (09-23)
  • Breakfast: Captain's Grille (07.55)
  • Dinner: Teppan Edo (17.40)
  • Night Show: Illuminations (21.00)
  • Fastpass+:
    • Spaceship Earth, 11.20 - 12.20
    • Test Track, 12.55 - 13.55
    • Mission Space, 14.00 - 15.00
Day 3 (Saturday 16th) - Disney's Hollywood Studios:
  • All-day at Disney's Hollywood Studios (08-22)
  • Breakfast: Cape May Café (07.30)
  • Dinner: Mama Melrose w/ Fantasmic VIP seating (15.35)
  • Night Show: Fantasmic (21.00)
  • Fastpass+:
    • Indiana Jones, 12.00 - 12.20
    • Toy Story MM, 13.30 - 14.30
    • Tower of Terror, 19.35 - 20.35
Day 4 (Sunday 17th) - Blizzard Beach:
  • Day at Blizzard Beach (09-19), evening at Fort Wilderness
  • Breakfast: Boma (08.00)
  • Dinner/Night Show: Hoop De Doo Musical Revue (18.15)
Day 5 (Monday 18th) - Magic Kingdom:
  • All-day at Magic Kingdom (09-23)
  • Breakfast: Ohana (07.50)
  • Parade: Festival of Fantasy (15.00)
  • Dinner: Grand Floridian Café (17.00)
  • Night Show:
    • Wishes (22.00)
    • Main Street Electrical Parade (23.00)
  • Fastpass+:
    • Space Mountain, 10.55 - 11.55
    • Splash Mountain, 12.55 - 13.55
    • 7DMT, 18.30 - 19.30
Day 6 (Tuesday 19th) - Animal Kingdom:
  • Day at Animal Kingdom (09-19), evening at Polynesian Resort
  • Breakfast: Tusker House (09.30)
  • Dinner/Night Show: Spirit of Aloha (20.15)
  • Fastpass+:
    • Expedition Everest, 11.30 - 12.30
    • Kilimanjaro Safaris, 13.40 - 14.40
    • Festival of the Lion King, 15.30-15.50
Day 7 (Wednesday 20th) - Typhoon Lagoon:
  • Day at Typhoon Lagoon (09-19), evening at Magic Kingdom
  • Breakfast: Kona Café (08.00)
  • Dinner: California Grill (21.30)
  • Night Show:
    • Wishes from Contemporary (22.00)
    • Electrical Water Pageant (22.35)
Day 8 (Thursday 21th) - Departure Day:
  • Day: Check-out, various resort visits and strolls at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot resort areas
  • Breakfast: Trail's End (09.10)
  • Dinner: Flying Fish Café (17.30)
  • Flight Departure from Orlando Airport: 22.00
 
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seahawk7

seahawk7

Well-Known Member
NeXuS1000 said:
Thanks a lot! :)

Good tip about the fastpasses, I'll definitely see if I can work that out. The exception would be 7DMT, right? I could only get a late FP for that one, and that's something that's good to pre-book with FP+, right?

BTW, as for Epcot, do you think it's better to get a FP+ for Soarin' or Test Track?
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I would get it for Soarin, but I love Soarin. Test Track you can do single rider line. You sometimes get to ride in the same car as someone in your party, but don't count on it. Single rider for test track usually moves fast.
 
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PrincessNelly_NJ

PrincessNelly_NJ

Well-Known Member
We enjoyed MM. It was surprisingly one the best meals we had last year.
I had low expectations too.
The service was terrible but I think something may have happened to our server and they had someone else cover our section. She seemed overwhelmed but later as the restaurant cleared, her service improved greatly!
 
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Jennifer66

Jennifer66

Well-Known Member
I haven't eaten at the HBD yet, we are in August, but I thought MM was on about the same level as an Olive Garden. Nothing really tasted bad, it was just mediocre like most chain restaurants. Now, take that with a grain of salt because some people absolutely love it and you will hear a ton of good and bad about all restaurants. I just feel that if I'm spending that kind of money for a restaurant, I do not want something I can easily get at my local mall.
 
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Jennifer66

Jennifer66

Well-Known Member
Edit: While HBD is certainly more "elegant" than MM, it's still in the middle of a theme park. I'm sure most patrons are in theme park attire, and the atmosphere shouldn't be stuffy at all. (At least that's what I'm counting on for our August ADR).
 
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NeXuS1000

NeXuS1000

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Jennifer66 said:
Edit: While HBD is certainly more "elegant" than MM, it's still in the middle of a theme park. I'm sure most patrons are in theme park attire, and the atmosphere shouldn't be stuffy at all. (At least that's what I'm counting on for our August ADR).
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No, for sure, I just don't think that the theming appears appealing to us, when looking at the pictures, and we're not sure if it's worth 2 points instead of one.
 
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Jennifer66

Jennifer66

Well-Known Member
NeXuS1000 said:
No, for sure, I just don't think that the theming appears appealing to us, when looking at the pictures, and we're not sure if it's worth 2 points instead of one.
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That's totally understandable. It's your vacation, so you should eat where you want! I always listen to reviews/opinions, but in the end, I go based on menu (theming isn't really that important to us, except we are eating at BOG basically to see the castle!) I haven't done the DP for a long time, but I do understand the 2 credit concern. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will have a fantastic trip!
 
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mpeters

mpeters

Active Member
Your trip looks great..........you made it what you want it to be. As you go on more trips you will find out what's good and what does not appeal to you...........my suggestion is to do everything you have planned and see how it turned out..... My only one suggestion is to change your one dinner reservation from La Hacienda De San Angel to San Angel Inn Restaurant ( I am a big fan of San Angel Inn).......keep in mind this is only my opinion but I think the overall atmosphere and food is better......

other than that rock on with it.............
 
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NeXuS1000

NeXuS1000

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
mpeters said:
Your trip looks great..........you made it what you want it to be. As you go on more trips you will find out what's good and what does not appeal to you...........my suggestion is to do everything you have planned and see how it turned out..... My only one suggestion is to change your one dinner reservation from La Hacienda De San Angel to San Angel Inn Restaurant ( I am a big fan of San Angel Inn).......keep in mind this is only my opinion but I think the overall atmosphere and food is better......

other than that rock on with it.............
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Hehe, thanks. I had actually booked San Angel Inn previously for lunch, but the reason why we're now going for La Hacienda is due to the view of Illuminations. You don't get that from San Angel Inn (right?) ;)

And yeah, it's a good point, but I live in Sweden, so trips to Orlando are quite expensive and not something I can just do every year. So I really want to optimize everything :)
 
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mpeters

mpeters

Active Member
Did not take into consideration illuminations. Then that's the perfect spot. And yes coming from Sweden I can see how doing it yearly would be a strain! Lol

But seriously you have a solid plan
 
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S

sirjohnly

New Member
I have nothing to contribute to your plan, but I just want you to know how jealous I am that you'll be staying so long. I plan on going in September, but I only have two days to explore the Disney parks so I'll only be going to MK and Epcot. Missing out on Animal Kingdom, HS and all the water parks :'(
 
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NeXuS1000

NeXuS1000

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
sirjohnly said:
I have nothing to contribute to your plan, but I just want you to know how jealous I am that you'll be staying so long. I plan on going in September, but I only have two days to explore the Disney parks so I'll only be going to MK and Epcot. Missing out on Animal Kingdom, HS and all the water parks :'(
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I wouldn't be able to survive that :D

We're in Orlando for two weeks in total, doing *all* the theme parks and water parks. Going to be crazy! :)
 
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S

sirjohnly

New Member
Are you going to Universal's Islands of Adventure? If so, please update this thread after your trip because I plan on going there for a day in September. I'd love to know some tips about visiting that park.

Admission tickets are crazy expensive...like $135 per person :S
 
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NeXuS1000

NeXuS1000

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Yup, we'll go to IOA and I'll definitely post impressions afterwards (I've been there once before, FYI)

Our full schedule is:
Day 0: Late evening arrival, get car and to hotel
Day 1: Sea World
Day 2: Busch Gardens
Day 3: Aquatica
Day 4: Universal Studios
Day 5: Islands of Adventure
Day 6: Wet'n'Wild
Day 7: Hotel transition to Disney (Yacht Club), relaxing at hotel, boardwalk and DTD
Day 8: Epcot
Day 9: DHS
Day 10: Blizzard Beach
Day 11: Magic Kingdom
Day 12: Animal Kingdom
Day 13: Typhoon Lagoon
Day 14: Checkout and spend the day at various resorts relaxing, leaving from the airport at 22.00

And yes, I can definitely say this whole ordeal hasn't been cheap :)
 
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NeXuS1000

NeXuS1000

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
sirjohnly said:
I'm guessing for a part of 5, this trip is going to cost between $12-15,000? Insane
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Not at all, and it's probably more than that, since you have to account for flight tickets... sweden to the US is not cheap :)

The week at Disney was $8.700 alone, if I don't remember incorrect. I can't remember the exact price for the first week's hotel and park tickets or the flight tickets, but you're definitely in the ballpark. I do think we're beyond 18.000 though.

Insane? Yes. Worth it? I hope so :)
 
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S

sirjohnly

New Member
Oh, I had not factored in airfare from Sweden. I had assumed you were flying in from North America. I'm sure it'll be worth it. There's nothing else quite like being able to satisfy your inner child, and what better place than Disney World?

Can't put a price on experience :)
 
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