Need itinerary/ADR advice - 1st WDW trip

[~DeltaDisneyMom~]

Hello!

My ADR date is not until Sept 3 but I am trying to wrap my head around our first WDW trip and plan now. We will be going the 1st week of March for 6 days with our kids, daughter who will be 5.5 and son who will be 4, and my parents so there will be 6 of us. We have the basic dining plan, park hoppers and will be staying at POR. Having only been to WDW as a child, I really need some opinions from you Disney experts! I definitely do not want to be a drill seargent with a crazy schedule and need to allow for down time! Here are 2 itinerary options I have come up with but would love some opinions on how realistic they are, if they are too much for the kids, or if you have other meal suggestions? A lot of our MK days will depend on whether or not we get reservations for CRT or BOG so I have included those options on those days since I don't know if/when we might get in.

Currently the schedule only shows MSEP on our 2nd and 5th nights. I am not sure if I should plan our schedule on the assumption that they will add MSEP's to the other nights? We also plan to do Pirate League one day, BBB at castle on whichever day we get CRT ressies hopefully before that meal.

Option A – Assuming WDW adds MSEP on 1st night
Day 1 – Arrive around 10am, MK
Late Bfast – Chef Mickey’s
Late Afternoon Break to check-in to hotel
Dinner – QS, CRT or BOG?
MSEP, Wishes, EMH

Day 2 – HS
Lunch – H&V
Afternoon break
Fantasmic

Day 3 – MK
Early BFast – Crystal Palace
Afternoon/evening off, no parks

Day 4 – AK with EMH in AM
Bfast or lunch – Tusker House
Afternoon break
Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise

Day 5 – Epcot
1 Meal at Akershush – not sure if we should do Bfast, Lunch or dinner?
Afternoon break
Illuminations

Day 6 - Last Day = MK
Early Lunch – Perfectly Princess Tea Party for girls, T-Rex for boys
Dinner – BOG or CRT if couldn’t get in earlier in week?


Option B – Plan on current schedule with MSEP only on days 2 and 5

Day 1 – Arrive around 10am, MK
Early Lunch - CRT
Late Afternoon Break to check-in to hotel, rest
Either late-ish dinner at Chef Mickey’s, watch Wishes from CR, back to MK for EMH if kids are up for it OR Dinner at hotel, early to bed, 8am Bfast at Crystal Palace next day

Day 2 – MK
Early Bfast if did not see Wishes or do EMH the night before – Crystal Palace
Late Bfast/Early Lunch if do Wishes/EMH night before – Crystal Palace
Afternoon break
Dinner – BOG (wishful thinking)
MSEP, Wishes

Day 3 – HS
Lunch – H&V
Afternoon break
Fantasmic

Day 4 – AK with EMH in AM
Bfast or lunch – Tusker House
Afternoon break
Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise

Day 5 – Epcot
1 Meal at Akershush – not sure if we should do Bfast, Lunch or dinner?
Afternoon break
Illuminations

Day 6 - Last Day = MK
Early Lunch – Perfectly Princess Tea Party for girls, T-Rex for boys
Dinner – BOG or CRT if couldn’t get in earlier in week? Chef Mickey’s if don’t do that earlier in the week?

TIA!!!

 

[tare]

I think you have it pretty well planned out. But for sure do chef mickeys for breakfast.

 

[JamieLee18]

Agreed, Chef Mickey's is a good one - for both kids and adults, Tusker House and CP are ones the whole family enjoyed too.

My family and I did lunch at H&V about 5 years ago and hated it. We went because we had a toddler who loved Disney Jr, but we all thought the food was terrible. I can't remember much of the selection, just that chicken nuggets seemed to be the most adult-friendly food. And we had terrible service. Maybe someone has been there more recently and can give some feedback?

Another favorite: Cape May Cafe Breakfast buffet(at Beach Club, but it's a short walk from Epcot). It's the main characters except Mickey, but the food was fantastic! The best breakfast I've had at Disney.

If you can't get BOG ADRs, lunch is still nice. The long line outside is a little deceiving, the food comes so quickly(it arrived faster than I could fill my drink at the soda fountain) you're in and out in the same timeframe as a table service meal.

 

[KCheatle]

Hello!

My ADR date is not until Sept 3 but I am trying to wrap my head around our first WDW trip and plan now. We will be going the 1st week of March for 6 days with our kids, daughter who will be 5.5 and son who will be 4, and my parents so there will be 6 of us. We have the basic dining plan, park hoppers and will be staying at POR. Having only been to WDW as a child, I really need some opinions from you Disney experts! I definitely do not want to be a drill seargent with a crazy schedule and need to allow for down time! Here are 2 itinerary options I have come up with but would love some opinions on how realistic they are, if they are too much for the kids, or if you have other meal suggestions? A lot of our MK days will depend on whether or not we get reservations for CRT or BOG so I have included those options on those days since I don't know if/when we might get in.

Currently the schedule only shows MSEP on our 2nd and 5th nights. I am not sure if I should plan our schedule on the assumption that they will add MSEP's to the other nights? We also plan to do Pirate League one day, BBB at castle on whichever day we get CRT ressies hopefully before that meal.

Option A – Assuming WDW adds MSEP on 1st night
Day 1 – Arrive around 10am, MK
Late Bfast – Chef Mickey’s
Late Afternoon Break to check-in to hotel
Dinner – QS, CRT or BOG? I wouldn't recommend another TS after Chef Mickey's. That might be a little too much food and a little too much time in restaurants. TS meals take awhile by the time you are actually seated, served and out of there, our typical time is around 1 1/2 hours.
MSEP, Wishes, EMH

Day 2 – HS
Lunch – H&V
Afternoon break
Fantasmic

Day 3 – MK
Early BFast – Crystal Palace
Afternoon/evening off, no parks

Day 4 – AK with EMH in AM
Bfast or lunch – Tusker House
Afternoon break
Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise

Day 5 – Epcot
1 Meal at Akershush – not sure if we should do Bfast, Lunch or dinner? - I would recommend checking the menu to figure out what time to go. This is one of few places I opt not to eat after Bfast - not a huge fan of Norwegian foods...
Afternoon break
Illuminations

Day 6 - Last Day = MK
Early Lunch – Perfectly Princess Tea Party for girls, T-Rex for boys
Dinner – BOG or CRT if couldn’t get in earlier in week?


Option B – Plan on current schedule with MSEP only on days 2 and 5

Day 1 – Arrive around 10am, MK
Early Lunch - CRT
Late Afternoon Break to check-in to hotel, rest
Either late-ish dinner at Chef Mickey’s, watch Wishes from CR, back to MK for EMH if kids are up for it OR Dinner at hotel, early to bed, 8am Bfast at Crystal Palace next day

I think this day seems more realistic for kids their age. That travel day can be exhausting and it can be tough to stay up late. Maybe hit MK when you arrive (they'll be pumped up on adrenaline anyway), dinner at Chef mickey's (meet all the must-see characters while you eat - 2 birds 1 stone), and wishes and call it a night! Get good rest so you can start Day 2 off on the right foot!

Day 2 – MK
Early Bfast if did not see Wishes or do EMH the night before – Crystal Palace
Late Bfast/Early Lunch if do Wishes/EMH night before – Crystal Palace
Afternoon break
Dinner – BOG (wishful thinking)
MSEP, Wishes

I would recommend getting to MK in time to see the opening ceremony - one of my all-time favorite things at WDW! It happens outside the gate about 20 mins before park opening Then I'd hit some rides straight away because you'll have the park basically to yourself for at least the first hour to 1 1/2 hours. Then hit bfast at Crystal palace. Just my 2-cents! And, again, be careful scheduling 2 TS on the same day (Crystal Palace and BOG) the amount of food can be a little overwhelming, and it's a lot of time out of your day.

Day 3 – HS
Lunch – H&V
Afternoon break
Fantasmic

Day 4 – AK with EMH in AM
Bfast or lunch – Tusker House
Afternoon break
Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise

Day 5 – Epcot
1 Meal at Akershush – not sure if we should do Bfast, Lunch or dinner?
Afternoon break
Illuminations

Day 6 - Last Day = MK
Early Lunch – Perfectly Princess Tea Party for girls, T-Rex for boys
Dinner – BOG or CRT if couldn’t get in earlier in week? Chef Mickey’s if don’t do that earlier in the week?

TIA!!!

My thoughts are in red

 

[JillC LI]

The PP said two of the same things I was going to: (1) try to catch the opening ceremony at the MK once; and (2) only eat breakfast at Akershus - you will get the multiple princess experience without the foods that my entire family hated.

One last EPCOT tip - you will be there, I believe, during the Flower & Garden Festival. Leave time to check out all the amazing Disney character topiaries. Consider having a late dinner at Rose & Crown Pub so you are guaranteed good viewing for IllumiNations without having to scope out a spot an hour in advance. You might want to consider switching from 3 to 2 days at MK and tagging on an extra day at whatever other park you enjoyed most.

 

[luv]

Option 2 is better.

Just remember that if you stay out late, you have to let those kids sleep late. A 9:00 fireworks show can easily take until 10:30 before you are back to the room. Maybe longer. It is unlikely that the kids will be ready to get up and go at six or seven the next morning.

The best plans will have you getting up early for rope drops, taking naps, and getting to bed at a normal bedtime. They will need more sleep on vacation. Not less. And the first day or two may be difficult, settling down in a new environment.

Leaving parks to eat is a huge time-sucker. If you aren't eating in the room, aim for eating in the park.

IMO, the #1 mistake made by newbies is underestimating how much a Disney trip sucks out of people - especially children!! #2 - underestimating how long it takes to do everything. And for parents, underestimating how much sleep those kids need. IMO.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Personally, I would plan according to the current MSEP listings.

Also, when you start making ADRs...make sure you rank them based on difficulty. i.e. BOG should be the very first thing you try and book - regardless of the day you're going. I'd also plug in 'dinner' rather than a specific time as you'll be more likely to find something that way.

As for Akershus, we've had all 3 meals there. Lunch and dinner were our preferred meals...although I guess I prefer dinner since I'm not a fan of doing TS lunch period. I just hate how it breaks up our days. The food offered isn't overly ethnic and while I wish it were more ethnic, I think the lunch and dinner menu is more interesting than the standard breakfast plate. Really, it's the cold buffet/bar that appeals to us. Our girls were 2 and 4 the first time they ate here and I swear, my younger one probably would have eaten her weight in shrimp salad, smoked salmon, muenster cheese, and cold cuts if I would have let her.

Beyond that- we like getting to the parks at opening- prefer pre park opening breakfasts to later ones- and midday breaks outside of the parks are lifesavers.

 

[~DeltaDisneyMom~]

If we do a pre-park breakfast are we done in time to see the rope drop? I am doing this through a travel agent and am now freaking out wishing I had more control over doing the ADR booking on Sept 3. Guess I am kind of a control freak! Maybe she does the bookings while I am on the phone?