My Trip Schedule (pls review and leave feedback)

[ashley17]

I've become pretty pro over the years at knowing when to do what at Disneyland, but this will be my first trip to Disney World.

Could you guys please review my trip itinerary and let me know if you see anything that I should change, or any other feedback you can think of?

For the most part I used the touring plans from the unofficial guide to WDW, but I changed a few things and added a few things to customize them. I'm also very curious about how much time it takes to leave a park in the middle of the day for lunch and then return. Would that interrupt my touring plans at all?

My trip dates are Sept 11-20th 2007 and we'll be staying at Disney's Caribbean beach resort.

Thank you!

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Tuesday Sept 11 (Arrive in the afternoon)

-check into hotel
-catch bus from hotel to Downtown Disney (west side)
-eat dinner at Planet Hollywood
-play at Disney Quest in Downtown Disney


Wednesday Sept 12 (MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1)
Magic Kingdom hours: 9am-9pm

-arrive at the Magic Kingdom about 30 minutes before official park opening time
-when admitted, obtain guide maps and the daily entertainment schedule in the tunnel beneath the train station
-move as fast as you can down main street to the central hub
-proceed to tomorrowland and ride space mountain
-while in tomorrowland, ride buzz lightyear
-after exiting buzz lightyear, proceed to fantasyland via tomorrowland (passing tomorrowland speedway)
-once in fantasyland, experience the many adventures of winnie the pooh
-exit pooh and turn left past the carousel to peter pan's flight. ride now
-exit peter pan to the right and see mickey's philharmagic
-also in fantasyland, ride it's a small world
-exit small world to the right and proceed to liberty square
-turn right and enjoy the haunted mansion
-check the daily schedule for parades and other live performances. interrupting the touring plan here won't cause any problems. stop for lunch and enjoy the parade.
-proceed to frontierland and see the country bear jamboree
-take a raft to tom sawyer island and explore
-after returning from tom sawyer island, head to tomorrowland via the central hub
-in tomorrowland see stitch's great escape and the laugh floor comedy club
-while in tomorrowland, ride the tomorrowland transit authority
-have dinner, revisit favorite attractions and find a spot to view 'wishes: a firework spectacular'
-main street USA will stay open an hour past park closing. take some time to browse shops and take photos

Thursday Sept 13 (ANIMAL KINGDOM/PLEASURE ISLAND)
Animal Kingdom hours: 9-5pm
Pleasure Island hours: 7pm-2am

-arrive at Animal Kingdom about 30 minutes before official park opening time
-as soon as the park opens obtain fastpasses for Expedition Everest in Asia
-once you've obtained fastpasses, continue walking straight over the iron bridge to Dinoland USA
-ride primeval whirl (if interested)
-follow the signs to dinosaur and ride (if interested)
-next, retrace your steps to discovery island, bearing right after you cross the Dinoland USA bridge. Cross into Asia, turn right, and take the path to your left and ride Kali River Rapids. If you don't feel like getting wet, return here toward the end of the day instead.
-walk the Maharaja Jungle Trek
-return to Expedition Everest and ride using your fastpasses
-Move into Africa and obtain fastpasses for Kilimanjaro Safaris.
-take a break and have some lunch
-after lunch, take the Wildlife express train from Africa to the Conservation Station/Rafiki's Planet Watch. Tour the exhibits, then take the train back to Africa when done.
-get off the train and walk the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
-experience Kilimanjaro Safaris using your fastpass.
-cross the bridge from Africa back to Discovery Island. Continue a counterclockwise tour of the park, keeping the tree of life on your left.
-At the entrance to Camp Minnie-Mickey, turn right and cross the bridge. See festival of the Lion King (if interested)
-Tour the character trails in Camp Minnie-Mickey
-return to Discovery Island and turn right, keeping the tree on your left. Walk counterclockwise until you
reach the tree. Stop and check out the tree and it's surrounding area.
-shop, snack or revisit any favorite attractions now
-be sure to allocate some time on your way out to visit the zoological exhibits in The Oasis on your way out.
-take disney transit to a disney resort for dinner (any suggestions?)
-head back to hotel and get ready for clubbing at Pleasure Island
-Pleasure Island closes at 2am.


Friday Sept 14 (POOL DAY/MICKEY'S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY @7PM)
Mickey's Halloween Party Hours: 7pm-12am

-spend the morning and early afternoon lounging at the hotel's several pools and white sand beach
-around 1pm head to Downtown Disney Marketplace for some shopping
-have hair done at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
-enjoy an early dinner at the Rainforest Cafe
-head back to the hotel around 4pm
-get ready for Mickey's not so scary halloween party
-arrive at Magic Kingdom 40 minutes before Halloween Party opening


Saturday Sept 15 (TYPHOON LAGOON/ MAGIC KINGDOM EVE)
Typhoon Lagoon Hours: 10am-5pm
Magic Kingdom Hours: 9am-9pm

-arrive at Typhoon Lagoon 40 minutes prior to opening
-ride all of the slides you desire first, as these tend to get busiest in the afternoons.
-leave Typhoon Lagoon around 3pm. Since this park closes at 5, it's a good idea to leave a little sooner
and beat the crowds.
-head back to hotel and change. Plan to head to the Magic Kingdom around 5, ensuring there is enough time to grab some dinner before Spectromagic. Since this is the only night to see this show, ensure you have enough time (about an hour or more since Saturdays can be very busy) to find a good spot. Show starts at 8pm.
-This is also a good night to ride with slow lines during Wishes.
-enjoy the shops, take photos, see live entertainment, revisit any favorite attractions


Sunday Sept 16 (EPCOT)
Epcot hours: 9am-9pm

-arrive at Epcot 40 minutes before official park opening time
-obtain fastpasses for soarin' (located in future world west)
-proceed to test track in future world east and ride
-ride mission space if interested
-exit the land pavilion and turn left. ride the seas with nemo and friends
-watch turtle talk with crush
-return to the land and watch the circle of life (if desired)
-ride soarin' with fastpasses obtained earlier
-head to spaceship earth
-enter the world showcase portion of the park-take a break and have some lunch with the Disney Princesses in Norway
-return to the beginning of the world showcase and initiate a clockwise tour of the park. tour each country,relax and enjoy
-if you haven't already done so, have dinner.
-commence 'drinking around the world'
-find a spot for Illuminations, prefferably 30 minutes prior to the show. After Illuminations, all of Epcot
closes. Take your time leaving as everyone tends to rush out of the park after the show.
-head back to hotel and enjoy a swim in the pool


Monday Sept 17 (MGM DAY) -evening magic hours!-
MGM hours: 9am-8pm (evening magic hours 8pm-11pm)

-arrive at MGM, admission in hand, 30 to 40 minutes before official park opening time
-when admitted, grab a park map and a daily entertainment schedule
-walk down hollywood blvd and turn right onto sunset blvd
-stay to the left side of the street then at the end turn left toward rockin' roller coaster (if the area
is blocked off by a rope, stay to the left of the rope. this side tends to get through faster)
-once the rope is dropped, ride rockin' roller coaster
-after exiting rockin' roller coaster, turn left toward tower of terror. If the wait is more than 30 mins
obtain a fastpass & take photos or shop in the area. If the line is shorter, ride now.
-backtrack down sunset blvd and turn right onto hollywood blvd. On the far right side of the giant mickey
hat is the great movie ride, ride now.
-exit the great movie ride and turn left, then turn left once more onto mickey ave. See Walt Disney: One
Man's Dream
-take the backlot tour
-check the daily entertainment schedule for performance times for beauty and the beast, work this show in
around lunch.
-see muppet vision 3d near the streets of america
-break for lunch and obtain evening magic hour passes (where??)
-check the daily entertainment schedule for performance times for indiana jones stunt spectacular as well
as voyage of the little mermaid. also take the magic of disney animation tour
-check the daily entertainment schedule for fantasmic
-wander, take photos and eat dinner while waiting for fantasmic!. remember to arrive about 30-60 minutes
early to ensure good seating.
-eat, shop, take photos, and revisit favorite attractions


Tuesday Sept 18 (BLIZZARD BEACH/MAGIC KINGDOM EVE)
Blizzard Beach Hours: 10am-5pm
Magic Kingdom Hours: 9am-8pm

-arrive at Blizzard Beach 40 minutes prior to opening
-ride all of the slides you desire first, as these tend to get busiest in the afternoons.
-leave Blizzard Beach around 4pm
-head back to hotel and change
-eat dinner at the Magic Kingdom
-enjoy the shops, take photos, see live entertainment, revisit any favorite attractions


Wednesday Sept 19 (MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 2)
Magic Kingdom Hours: 9am-8pm

-arrive at the Magic Kingdom about 30 minutes before official park opening
-pick up guide maps and the day's entertainment schedule
-proceed to the end of main street and immediately ride splash mountain in frontierland
-ride big thunder mountain railroad, next to splash mountain
-proceed to adventureland and ride the jungle cruise. if the wait seems long use fastpass. while waiting
browse the area, take photos etc.
-check time of parade
-across the street visit the enchanted tiki room
-ride pirates of the caribbean
-find a spot for the parade about 30 minutes before it begins
-after the parade, have lunch
-go to the frontierland train station between splash and big thunder mountain . catch the walt disney world
railroad to mickey's toontown fair
-tour the fair and meet disney characters
-exit the fair via the path to tomorrowland
-Enjoy shops, take photos, see live entertainment, revisit any favorite attractions


Thursday Sept 20 (DEPARTURE DAY)
Magic Kingdom Hours: 9am-9pm (early morning entry hours 8am-9am)

-take Disney resort transit to the Magic Kingdom and from there take the monorail to Disney's Polynesian Resort
-Enjoy Ohana Breakfast with Lilo, Stitch and Mickey
-take the monorail back to the Magic Kingdom and pick up any last minute gifts etc
-take resort transit back to Caribbean Beach hotel, head to airport from there

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Thank you for taking the time to review this for me. I would greatly appreciate any advice or feedback you can give me.

One last thing... I am very worried about all this 'lots of rain' business I keep hearing about September. I am really wanting some great photos, I love blue sky, and I want to know if I should seriously reconsider going in Sept (I've already given work my vacation dates and stuff though). Any feedback on the weather around these dates? I purchased a professional camera just for this trip, so i really want good photos!

 

[cooleo]

Don't have time to read the whole itinerary right now, will do so later. The weather is something I would not be concerned about. I have been ther in September (Labor Day week) & didn't find it to be a big problem. Rain showers in Florida (Short of a Hurricane) tend to pass by rather quickly. When it would rain while we were there, we just stepped into a ride or gift shop & on many occasions it was over before we came out. September just happens to be one of the rainiest months there. GO & ENJOY! Very small crowds. All the parks close early. More time for Downtown Disney & Dinner Shows.:wave:

 

[cooleo]

Just realized this is your first trip to WDW. I will need some time to review your itinerary & make some suggestions. I did notice your question about leaving the park to go to lunch. I would avoid that at all cost & save Breakfast / Dinner for that. Disneyland's Magic Kingdom can fit in parking lot @ WDW Magic Kingdom. That parking lot looks like it could fit in the lake that seperates it from the Magic Kingdom. HUGE! There are plenty of places to go for those meals without interrupting your day of activities at the parks.

 

[Hakunamatata]

My opinion is that you are over planning, you will be too caught up in staying on schedule or doing things in a certain order to be able to enjoy yourself.

Have a blast!!!

 

[jcldtrek]

Its a nice plan but i'd rather just plan on what park you wanna go to each day and just leave it at that. it to me looks a little over planned. remember your going to have fun, so relax and take it as it goes.

 

[crazydaveh]

Don't be afraid to ditch your schedule and just go with the flow. I'd build more pool/nap time for the adults in the afternoons. You will get very tired.

It will more than likely rain every afternoon as well, so be prepared for that.

You're schedule looks great and very thought out, but in my opinion, it might be too planned out.

Take advantage of the Fast Passes and you should be able to do most of the major stuff. Don't be scared to sleep in!

 

[unkadug]

My opinion is that you are over planning, you will be too caught up in staying on schedule or doing things in a certain order to be able to enjoy yourself.

Have a blast!!!

I agree 100%. Relax and have fun. :wave:

It's good to have a game plan, but be prepared to bend, if not break your plans completely, as needs and wants arise.

 

[ashley17]

thank you for all your helpful advice!

I am definately not planning on following the plan exactly every day, just a general base to begin with, and if things happen to change so be it.

 

[Mikester71]

thank you for all your helpful advice!

I am definately not planning on following the plan exactly every day, just a general base to begin with, and if things happen to change so be it.

It is not a bad thing to be well organized and to plan ahead (I'm that way usually), but there are things down there that you can't control (attendance, rides breaking down, weather) and force you to change your schedule. We had to go back to Epcot a couple of times just so we could ride Soarin' (the fast pasts were usually exhausted very early each morning last month). That was something we didn't plan on, but Epcot is my favourite park so it didn't bother me none.

I am like you and like to spend my first day or afternoon at Downtown Disney and save the first full day for Magic Kingdom (I suppose most people do this too). Nice just to walk around and stretch your legs a little (2 day drive down for me). Then we usually just wing it from there and go wherever we fell like each morning. Throw the water parks in on the hottest days. Last month when we were down there, we didn't even hit the parks according to their extra magic hours and that. Only my second time there, so we tried to hit everything we missed first time 2 years ago first and then went for the other attractions. We still missed some things after 10 days there this year (oh well, excuse to go back down in 2 more years:sohappy.

 

[ThumperDude]

I agree, just relax and go with the flow.
Otherwise, you forgot to schedule bathroom breaks. :lookaroun

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

If you're planning on sticking to your original itinerary then I have two observations :-
MK (day 1) - Having already visited Tomorrowland for Space Mountain and Buzz - you leave and return a while later to ride Stitch (do it while you're there the first time)
AK - Having picked up your FP for Everest first thing, ride it while you're there. The wait time will be minimal

 

[rlaeromech]

thank you for all your helpful advice!

I am definately not planning on following the plan exactly every day, just a general base to begin with, and if things happen to change so be it.

Ashley,

Who is in your party? how many adults/kids etc?

 

[Lauraldove29]

First things first. everthing looks great. Here are a few helpfull hints that might help a little bit. Every hotel on the property should have guide maps to all the theme parks and dtd as well as both waterparks. Grab these at check in. This was you can fine tune anything that you need and go over yur game plan possibly at diiner at planet hollywood? not to mentio you dont have to fight threw th crowd at the parks to get to them.

animal kingdom.

This is what worked great for us last summer . Make a reservation for Donalds for an 8am breakfast. This is the first seating of the day. you can enter the park at 7:40 am. Take your time breezing threw the front to the park attractions that you would have past running for everestt. the park is empty its a good time for it. Make you way to dinoland usa for breakfast by 8am sharp. eat within an hour and get out for the rope drop. the area that you are in is clode to the drop near prime evil whirl. when they drop the rope sprint down to everest and you can be first or darn close to it if you hurry. when you get off get another fast pass for this and head on down to another ride. this works great for all the theme parks if you want to get a jump on the crowds and the day at the parks.

:lol: :sohappy:

 

[Lauraldove29]

itenerary

Mgm

Fantasmic this show is great have seen it 3 times and would have seen it 4 if it were not have messing up last summer and getting in line 30 minutes prior to start time. By the time we reached the areana there was standing room only. We may have stayed but my husband 75 year old grandmother was with us and we could not ask her to stand that long. she would have but she would have paid for it the next day. she missed it that trip so now she has to wait till her next one.

anyway. mama melrosie's and hollywood and vine offer a dining package that includes GAURANTEED SEATING. if you have the magic your way plus dining it also will except this. if i would have known this then then i could have avoided this. anyway eat dinner and the give you a ticket and another entrace that you get to enter. you are gauranteed a seat and if you eat at 5 and the show starts at 8 or 9 then rise some rides and get there early the section you are in is good, but no matter where you are at try to get as close to the lake as possible. the can feel some of the water and other effests from the first few rows. :wave:

 

[Lauraldove29]

Itnerary

water parks if you plan on leaving at 4 o'clock plan on seeing an afternno rain storm. this is not always a bad thing. wait it out in one of the shops, they will close all rides down obviously, but the park really empties out and when the reopen the ride you pretty much have you pick. my husband was with some of his friends when this happened and was able to get on summit plummet after they reopened the parks 2 times before and crowds started to get there.:sohappy:

 

[KCBroadway]

I'm going to have to agree with a few others that it looks like you may have "overplanned" a bit. I have found that the best things to plan in advance are definitely dining plans (specifically table service restaurants/character meals/dinner shows) and what parks you are going to go to (on what days). We usually do this based on where we have dining reservations and what parks have EMH. I really don't think it's necessary to plan an attraction schedule because you never know what the lines are going to be like on a particular day. Either way - whatever you decide to do - I think you're going to have a FANTASTIC time! :wave:

 

[sbkline]

Wow! My wife thinks that *I* overplan! :lol:

I do alot of planning, but I stop short of planning the order in which I do every single ride. I plan what parks to go to on what day, where to eat (table service, not counter service) and what to do after we're done at that park. But once in the park, I just go on the rides as whim dictates, or lines, etc.

The general itenerary looks good, as far as what parks you are doing on each day. But I personally think it's unnecessary to plan the details of what rides you ride and in what order. :wave:

 

[Lauraldove29]

itenerary

pleasure island.

okay this advise comes from my husband mike. if you and your crowd like to have a drink now and then have a shark bite bucket. if you are not then avoid at all costs. he and a friend each had 2 of them and they dont remeber how the even got back to the hotel that night. and his friend wore a pin stripe suit and can home with only his pants and shoes. this is very comical when your on the viewing end. the got to drunk that there were talking to tree and trash cans it was great. they said they should have known better when there was no fastpass for the bucket line. hahaha everone they said just ver'd off to to right. its a sand castle bucket filled to the brim with hard liquor. i dont drink myself so i just watched. i had more fun watching them make fools of themselves then anthything else that night.:lol: :ROFLOL:

 

[coltow]

WOW! I thought I was an over planner. You leave no room to go with the flow. My suggestion is to use the fast pass more especially for rides that are near each other like Space Mountain and Buzz. Get a pass for one and wait in line for the other. We pick the "park of the day" first. Once there we pick the ride that we want to do first, head there and then just move to the next attraction until we either need a break, the park closes or decide to switch parks.

 

[RiversideBunny]

The wet duck flies at night.