MK itinerary too ambitious???

[cindy101010]

Hi everyone,
I am planning our first first to WDW next year, I like to be super organised so I have created a touring plan. We are staying at AKL and have a Disney dining plan which will hopefully make things easier
We will be travelling from the 26th April - 11th May 2016. I have checked crowd calendars and it seems the 'best' two days to visit MK in terms of lower crowds will be 28th April and the 3rd May, we have two boys aged 3 & 7.
I am a little worried my touring plan sounds a little too ambitious, I can start making ADR's soon so any input or help from you disney experts would be greatly appreciated!!
First day;
8.05 am ADR Crystal palace breakfast
9.05 am Buzz lightyear space ranger spin
9.25 - 9.45 am Tomorrow land Speedway
9.50 - 10.20 am Many adventures of Winnie the Pooh
10.30 - 11am Barnstormer using FP
11 - 11.15am Dumbo
11.25 - 11.45am Journey of the little mermaid using FP
12 - 12.25pm Severn dwarfs mine train using FP
1pm ADR Be our guest for lunch
And maybe if we can fit it in between or if we feel up to it after lunch (we may even be able to get another fast pass);
Mad tea party
Astro orbita
Monster inc. laugh floor
Meet Buzz light year
Petes silly sideshow
I have tried to minimise the amount of walking we have to do with two young children in tow, our boys aren't bothered about meeting the princess' which saves lots of time (and fast passes).
Day 2
Arrive at park 8.15 am
9.00am Splash mountain
9.20 - 9.40am meet Toy story characters
9.45 - 10.10am Big thunder Mountain using FP
10.20 - 10.45am pirates of the caribbean
10.50 - 11.20 Jungle cruise
11.25 - 11.45 The magic carpets of Aladdin
12 - 12.45pm Lunch at Peco Bill's
1pm - 1.15pm It's small world using FP
1.20pm - 1.40pm Peter Pan using FP
2pm Mickey's Philharmagic

I am sorry it is so long winded, I would just like to get a rough idea of what to expect. We shall return another day to watch wishes and maybe do an extra few fast passes when we return one evening.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We are travelling from the UK so we will be up early in our first few days and I wanted to take advantage of the fact that we are going to be bright eyed and bushy tailed at 8am

OK - Now I can see where you're coming from (not the UK bit here either)

You have two full weeks of WDW, staying onsite and with the Dining Plan. You have more than enough time to visit MK 3 times and experience all the other Disney Parks WITHOUT chasing your shadows across the parks. Two young kids + Florida heat + chasing a schedule = tired, cranky kids and two parents wishing they'd stayed home instead

MK Day 1 - 8am CP breakfast - allow 90 minutes. (The MK bus leaves AKL about 06:50). Sure you're not going to be eating all that time, but one of the characters is bound to keep you waiting.
FP+ - Seven Dwarves, Splash and Journey of the Little Mermaid. Space these rides out during the day allowing time for eating, shopping and other rides in-between.
ADRs - CP breakfast - pay cash, evening meal use DDP

MK Day 2 - 8am Boma breakfast (at AKL) is very good but no characters, allow 90 minutes to eat and get the bus to MK.
FP+ - Any three that you haven't already done
Use the rest of the day to enjoy the rides and attractions that you didn't do on day one.

Remember - Touring Plans are not an absolute must - they're a guide. Visit MK a third time during your visit to ride your favourites again.

 

[cindy101010]

OK - Now I can see where you're coming from (not the UK bit here either)

You have two full weeks of WDW, staying onsite and with the Dining Plan. You have more than enough time to visit MK 3 times and experience all the other Disney Parks WITHOUT chasing your shadows across the parks. Two young kids + Florida heat + chasing a schedule = tired, cranky kids and two parents wishing they'd stayed home instead

MK Day 1 - 8am CP breakfast - allow 90 minutes. (The MK bus leaves AKL about 06:50). Sure you're not going to be eating all that time, but one of the characters is bound to keep you waiting.
FP+ - Seven Dwarves, Splash and Journey of the Little Mermaid. Space these rides out during the day allowing time for eating, shopping and other rides in-between.
ADRs - CP breakfast - pay cash, evening meal use DDP

MK Day 2 - 8am Boma breakfast (at AKL) is very good but no characters, allow 90 minutes to eat and get the bus to MK.
FP+ - Any three that you haven't already done
Use the rest of the day to enjoy the rides and attractions that you didn't do on day one.

Remember - Touring Plans are not an absolute must - they're a guide. Visit MK a third time during your visit to ride your favourites again.

Ok ...... sounds like a plan! Yes I have been thinking about it and I definitely need to slow things down, I can just imagine running from one ride to another and being totally stressed out. I am going to give us at least 90 minutes for breakfast now.
Would you recommend we catch the 6.50am bus to MK for the 8am CP breakfast?

I was thinking of going MK 3 times - first to visit tomorrow land and fantasy land, secondly to visit adventure land and frontier land and thirdly (once we acclimatise to the time difference) to visit in the evening to have dinner at BOG, watch wishes and maybe do a couple of fast passes on rides we have missed or want to do again.
Would you recommend that I did not stick to certain lands each day and mix it up?

Great tip paying cash for the breakfast and saving DDP for an evening meal Does everything have to be booked now or do you think it is realistic just to wait until we are there to see what we want to do or maybe just book the main character meals? I think I am getting so wrapped up in the idea of a schedule with FP's and ADR's because I do not want to wait until we get there and find everything is totally booked up and I can start booking restaurants in 2 days.
While I am on the subject on dinning, have you done Mickey's BBQ? Thanks for all your help

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Would you recommend we catch the 6.50am bus to MK for the 8am CP breakfast?

We did AKL in August for 2 weeks (we're from the UK as well). I got an 08:05 CP reservation and thought that we'd get the bus around 07:15 - until I asked at guest relations. I was told that there was a bus to get you to the early ADRs and then one about an hour later when they start their normal running schedule. Check at guest relations to confirm the timings

Would you recommend that I did not stick to certain lands each day and mix it up?

I think you would find it hard to stick to a small area. We tend to go to where our next FP+ is, doing attractions on the way (if times and lines allow).

Great tip paying cash for the breakfast and saving DDP for an evening meal Does everything have to be booked now or do you think it is realistic just to wait until we are there to see what we want to do or maybe just book the main character meals?

Taking CP as an example - Dinner is always the dearest meal. It depends on your eating habits but we tend to go for the buffet breakfast, eating as much as you like, a QS type lunch and Dinner using the DDP.
Park hours and schedules (fireworks etc) are published about 2 weeks before your 180 day mark. Decide as soon as possible which parks your doing on which days (we tend to do 2/3 park days then rest at the resort pool) and book your meals (ESPECIALLY BOG) now. Once you've secured your favourites you can always try and switch the others if necessary. I'm afraid the days of just turning up for a meal are almost long gone - unless you're eating well outside the normal meal times. Character meals and BOG should be booked at 180 days

While I am on the subject on dinning, have you done Mickey's BBQ?

No, sorry

Thanks for all your help

You're welcome

 

[DRD]

I definitely echo others' sentiments that it's too much to cram in. We just got back from our first trip (8 and 4 year old) and that was certainly my biggest takeaway...we planned way too much and didn't build in enough rest. I'd highly advise building in an afternoon off often to just relax.

Here's my trip report which hopefully will help you some.

 

[cindy101010]

I definitely echo others' sentiments that it's too much to cram in. We just got back from our first trip (8 and 4 year old) and that was certainly my biggest takeaway...we planned way too much and didn't build in enough rest. I'd highly advise building in an afternoon off often to just relax.

Here's my trip report which hopefully will help you some.

I have just read your trip report which was brilliant! Very helpful indeed

I have a schedule for our 14 day trip which I have tried to include as much 'disney magic' as possible without burning us out and ending up in a meltdown. We will also have to battle a -5 hour time difference;
1. Breakfast at hotel, day by the pool or possibly a water park (if we feel up to it).
2. Breakfast CP 8am, MK and lunch BOG (back to AKL by around 2.30pm)
3. Breakfast Tusker house 8am morning at AK and dinner at Boma (which is in our hotel)
4. Day at discovery cove off site
5. Lunch at Cafe Mickey's (no parks)
6. Morning at Hollywood studios, lunch at Hollywood & vine (back to AKL by around 2.30pm)
7. Breakfast CP 10.30am, Magic kingdom, Dinner 5pm Ohana
8. Afternoon Epcot and Coral reef 5pm
9. BOG dinner 5pm, wishes 10pm
10. Evening at Disney Springs, T rex restaurant 5pm.
11. 8am Ohana breakfast and drive to the beach
12. 9am 1900 park breakfast and then go to the Florida mall, dinner cape May cafe 6pm
13. 4pm Mama Melrose Fantasmic package
14. 4.30pm Mickeys back yard BBQ
15. Breakfast and then home.......

I have tried to leave big gaps just to laze around the pool and enjoy our resort

 

[Dave Z]

I agree and we used then all the time,

 

[DRD]

I have tried to leave big gaps just to laze around the pool and enjoy our resort

With that long of a trip, you're under much less pressure to try to fit it all in (I had 5 days). That said, if you're able to keep true to leaving the gaps unfilled to chill...you should be much happier campers than we were. Not that we didn't love it...it was just too much. Live and learn

 

[Po'Rich]

You are bunching your fast passes too close together. Keep in mind that each fast pass lasts for an hour, and overlaps are not permitted. Thus, if you have a fast pass for an attraction at 1 p.m., the next soonest you can have the next fast pass is 2 p.m. (provided that those are available options when you make your fast passes). When you make your fast passes, you can select the 3 rides for which you want fast passes. The system will then provide you with 4 different itineraries. You have to chose one of the 4. Then, you can modify times and/or rides, but only from a drop-down menu of options. Your schedule is so tight that I think you'll find that you are redoing much of it once you have the fast passes.

Another note: beyond your initial 3, you have to sign up for each additional fast pass (1 at a time). When I went in July 2014, I did this while at MK. I finished my initial fast passes in the A.M. but wasn't able to get a fast pass for Space MT until 7 p.m. (and it was the only coaster that was still available).

 

[Disneykings]

I love your planning, I am the same We got back on Friday after two weeks in Saratoga Springs (from UK) I'd say give yourself more time for each attraction. While the queue times are half what we usually experience at DLP. We found even using fast pass meant a small queue at times. But more importantly, by day 3 the jet lag was causing problems. We suffered badly with dizzy spells for days and had no choice but to slow the pace. As for transport, the free service is amazing but twice we had 40 minutes wait for buses, which then turned up full. . Sorry one last thing, allow for attractions being closed for short periods. We lost a fast pass due to Test Track closing due to technical problems. We also where on Splash Mountain when it broke down and had to exit with cast members via back stage (which was a real treat for me, my daughter was terrified) Anyway, happy trip planning. Wish I was planning again

 

[dizda]

I would suggest not using a FP+ for Barnstormer or Little Mermaid. Just do those early in the morning while everyone without FP+ is waiting for 7DMT and the Mountains. Depending on time and weather, you can probably fit in Dumbo as well (although the new waiting area is great).

 

[cindy101010]

I love your planning, I am the same We got back on Friday after two weeks in Saratoga Springs (from UK) I'd say give yourself more time for each attraction. While the queue times are half what we usually experience at DLP. We found even using fast pass meant a small queue at times. But more importantly, by day 3 the jet lag was causing problems. We suffered badly with dizzy spells for days and had no choice but to slow the pace. As for transport, the free service is amazing but twice we had 40 minutes wait for buses, which then turned up full. . Sorry one last thing, allow for attractions being closed for short periods. We lost a fast pass due to Test Track closing due to technical problems. We also where on Splash Mountain when it broke down and had to exit with cast members via back stage (which was a real treat for me, my daughter was terrified) Anyway, happy trip planning. Wish I was planning again

Good advice! I am slowing the pace much, much more and trying to have an unscheduled schedule (if that makes sense ) just outlining ADR's and our 3 main FP's - the last thing I want around the parks are complete meltdowns with the kids (and DH) due to over tiredness. Ooooh I would have loved to exit back stage at Splash mountain!
We have ben to DLP a few times, once at NYE and the queues were horrific - we managed to get on about 4 rides in two days, so hopefully this will be a completely different experience......
I have been looking into the transport system and I have seen that you should allow 1 hour to get to ADR's etc, we will be renting a car for the weekends so I am not sure if it would be more convenient to have the car for the whole duration to drive to all the parks and resorts that we are eating at or would it be much easier to use the disney buses??
One question though.....I have planned an ADR at Crystal Palace at 10.30am and then another at Cinderella's Royal Table at 5.30pm my plan was to either have breakfast at 10.30am and use the rest of the time around the park until 5.30pm but I am thinking we are going to be so tired by 5.30pm that we are probably not going to enjoy as much?
Or we could;
Get to the park at 9.00am
10.30am Crystal Palace
1pm go back to our hotel for a rest
4pm leave to go back to MK
5.30pm CRT
Would this be too stressful with the bus services going back and forth?

 

[Disneykings]

Good advice! I am slowing the pace much, much more and trying to have an unscheduled schedule (if that makes sense ) just outlining ADR's and our 3 main FP's - the last thing I want around the parks are complete meltdowns with the kids (and DH) due to over tiredness. Ooooh I would have loved to exit back stage at Splash mountain!
We have ben to DLP a few times, once at NYE and the queues were horrific - we managed to get on about 4 rides in two days, so hopefully this will be a completely different experience......
I have been looking into the transport system and I have seen that you should allow 1 hour to get to ADR's etc, we will be renting a car for the weekends so I am not sure if it would be more convenient to have the car for the whole duration to drive to all the parks and resorts that we are eating at or would it be much easier to use the disney buses??
One question though.....I have planned an ADR at Crystal Palace at 10.30am and then another at Cinderella's Royal Table at 5.30pm my plan was to either have breakfast at 10.30am and use the rest of the time around the park until 5.30pm but I am thinking we are going to be so tired by 5.30pm that we are probably not going to enjoy as much?
Or we could;
Get to the park at 9.00am
10.30am Crystal Palace
1pm go back to our hotel for a rest
4pm leave to go back to MK
5.30pm CRT
Would this be too stressful with the bus services going back and forth?

So glad your planning on slowing the pace. Our daughter turned 8 during our trip and even she struggled more than at DLP. We stayed at the DLH last Halloween so the transport is a shock at WDW. We did Crystal Palace, to be honest (sorry everyone) but we didn't like it. We where there just over an hour and ended up leaving before the last character came round. The character queues are much better so we cancelled two character meals and changed them for quiet meals. As for planning on that day, I'd say book the meals but decide on the day, depending on weather and crowd numbers. By our 2nd week we really settled and made changes to fast passes on the go. We didn't hire a car at all, but we did get a taxi to breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and off site days. I really wanted a car but so glad we didn't, the Mears cabs are great and good value. It was $19 + tip from Saratoga Springs to the Grand Florida. It was the same to Discovery Cove and Seaworld. Couldn't comment on the car park to park distance but from the bus it looked like a very long walk. The Bus drops you a few minutes from the gates and there is some cover for wet days.

The best morning we had was extra magic hours in Animal Kingdom. Admittedly the bus was not great, first one arrived at 7.45am (we had waited since 7am) and the bus was rammed. But we made it by 8.10am. We did Expedition Everest twice, Dinosaur and Its Tough to be a bug by 9am. Then had a walk around, meet the 'Up' Characters and had a meal at Rainforest Cafe. But check meal times, as we would have expected breakfast but lunch had started at 10.30am. But that suited us fine. We had planned a quiet morning that day but we all loved the park so much, we changed all our plans the night before.

I have to highly recommend lunch at Planet Hollywood, its amazing. Lovely and quiet,well apart from the music on the screens, great food (the vegi burger is a must) plus Disney Springs is really busy at night but its lovely during the day for the children. Loads of photo points and great shops. Oh plus the Sci-Fi cafe in Hollywood Studios, the milkshakes are lovely. Sorry, still buzzing from our trip. Been sorting photos all day

 

[cindy101010]

So glad your planning on slowing the pace. Our daughter turned 8 during our trip and even she struggled more than at DLP. We stayed at the DLH last Halloween so the transport is a shock at WDW. We did Crystal Palace, to be honest (sorry everyone) but we didn't like it. We where there just over an hour and ended up leaving before the last character came round. The character queues are much better so we cancelled two character meals and changed them for quiet meals. As for planning on that day, I'd say book the meals but decide on the day, depending on weather and crowd numbers. By our 2nd week we really settled and made changes to fast passes on the go. We didn't hire a car at all, but we did get a taxi to breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and off site days. I really wanted a car but so glad we didn't, the Mears cabs are great and good value. It was $19 + tip from Saratoga Springs to the Grand Florida. It was the same to Discovery Cove and Seaworld. Couldn't comment on the car park to park distance but from the bus it looked like a very long walk. The Bus drops you a few minutes from the gates and there is some cover for wet days.

The best morning we had was extra magic hours in Animal Kingdom. Admittedly the bus was not great, first one arrived at 7.45am (we had waited since 7am) and the bus was rammed. But we made it by 8.10am. We did Expedition Everest twice, Dinosaur and Its Tough to be a bug by 9am. Then had a walk around, meet the 'Up' Characters and had a meal at Rainforest Cafe. But check meal times, as we would have expected breakfast but lunch had started at 10.30am. But that suited us fine. We had planned a quiet morning that day but we all loved the park so much, we changed all our plans the night before.

I have to highly recommend lunch at Planet Hollywood, its amazing. Lovely and quiet,well apart from the music on the screens, great food (the vegi burger is a must) plus Disney Springs is really busy at night but its lovely during the day for the children. Loads of photo points and great shops. Oh plus the Sci-Fi cafe in Hollywood Studios, the milkshakes are lovely. Sorry, still buzzing from our trip. Been sorting photos all day

No - don't be sorry! It is so great to hear of your experiences You should do a trip report.....I am getting a little obsessed reading everyones, lol.

That's really interesting to hear about CP, although my sons are very fidgety when sitting for a long meal so I am thinking having the characters and a buffet may entertain them but I could always cancel that second CP for a quiet breakfast if it does not live up to hype for us as when can then use a table service on a dinner which tends to be much more expensive anyway. I have been looking at the Sci Fi restaurant and have heard great things about it (and Planet Hollywood), I have put them on a 'to do' list along with Beaches and Cream which looks amazing.

I kind of completely waved the EMH days from parks because the crowd calendars predict that those parks are going to be so much busier that day but from your experience in AK I am going to rethink that one too! I suppose it only gets really busy mid morning onwards when the non resorts guests turn up and we are the biggest 'Up' fans ever so I am going to have to stalk those characters out

 

[Disneykings]

No - don't be sorry! It is so great to hear of your experiences You should do a trip report.....I am getting a little obsessed reading everyones, lol.

That's really interesting to hear about CP, although my sons are very fidgety when sitting for a long meal so I am thinking having the characters and a buffet may entertain them but I could always cancel that second CP for a quiet breakfast if it does not live up to hype for us as when can then use a table service on a dinner which tends to be much more expensive anyway. I have been looking at the Sci Fi restaurant and have heard great things about it (and Planet Hollywood), I have put them on a 'to do' list along with Beaches and Cream which looks amazing.

I kind of completely waved the EMH days from parks because the crowd calendars predict that those parks are going to be so much busier that day but from your experience in AK I am going to rethink that one too! I suppose it only gets really busy mid morning onwards when the non resorts guests turn up and we are the biggest 'Up' fans ever so I am going to have to stalk those characters out

At least you have the option to cancel the table service if you do change your mind. I did find I had to change a few meals due to fast pass options despite getting up at 4.30am to do our fast passes. We liked the Tuskers House Character meal in AK, have you considered that one?

We didn't find the EMH made a difference to the park numbers, but we had midday breaks everyday when it seemed to get busy. If your jet lag is anything like ours, your be in bed by 9pm and up at 4am for the first week. I though it was just us at first but we heard loads of UK families saying the whole family was awake at 4. By week 2, it was 6.30am wake up so much better.

I got obsessed planning and asking questions before we went

 

[cindy101010]

At least you have the option to cancel the table service if you do change your mind. I did find I had to change a few meals due to fast pass options despite getting up at 4.30am to do our fast passes. We liked the Tuskers House Character meal in AK, have you considered that one?

We didn't find the EMH made a difference to the park numbers, but we had midday breaks everyday when it seemed to get busy. If your jet lag is anything like ours, your be in bed by 9pm and up at 4am for the first week. I though it was just us at first but we heard loads of UK families saying the whole family was awake at 4. By week 2, it was 6.30am wake up so much better.

I got obsessed planning and asking questions before we went

Yes I have a reservation for Tusker house for 8.05am, I am hoping we can have breakfast and wonder straight onto Kilimanjaro safari and save our FPs that day for EE, Dinosaur and KRR