Alrighty... I've read through some pretty awesome pre and post trip reports on here, so I decided to post a pre TR of my own to hopefully get some advice/ suggestions to make this trip as fun-filled as possible.
I'm Javier, 27, and my sis Adriana, 23 will be going on our first full on WDW trip since i was 7 and she was just shy of 3 (awwww, i know). We'll be staying at Shades of Green from the 17th-21st. Its sort of a celebration for me moving back to FL and completing my commitment with the Army (i'll be on leave until my contract ends in Feb). Possibly a friend of my sis will come join us, but she's a pretty serious Disney fan so it'll only enhance the trip if she does join.
As it stands now, we plan on leaving early from Miami to make it to WDW in time to get to the hotel and make it to AK right around rope drop and see all we can see in the park, with the exception of the kiddie dinoland attractions. Given the time of year, we're likely to pass on Kali River Rapids as well. Since we'll have hoppers and AK closes at 5PM, we'd likely want to head to epcot to at least ride soarin' (i've been able to ride in DCA so this'll be for my sis) and see Illuminations. Until this point, we're likely snacking on stuff all day with snacks we packed and getting churros or pretzels etc. I am trying to decide on a mid price restaurant to have dinner at epcot. still not sure where.
day 2 i have an ADR for breakfast at Kona Cafe, those macadamia pineapple pancakes sound way too good to pass up. then it's off to DHS. this would be a full day watching most of the shows and hitting the big 4 rides (if i can still get FP to TSM) and ending with a viewing of fantasmic. Epcot has EMH that night and there'd be no rush so i was thinking the boat from DHS to Epcot would be a leisurely and nice way to head over there, given the pace of the time at DHS may have been a lil frenetic. once there, we could ride what we didn't get around to the night before, reride anything we'd want to and be back in our room before midnight.
day 3 is kind of an early day, given that'd we're going to try to make it to DHS for morning EMH to get a ride or 2 on TSM before the lines get too crazy. we'd probably spend most of the morning reriding what we want to ride (i know i'll want at least 3 rounds on star tours) and head out around lunch time for MK. I figure heading to the TTC and taking the ferry to MK would be nice for our first time going during the trip. I was thinking going to Tony's for lunch just as we got there. Today would be more focused on riding the lesser rides given we're starting so late in the day and watching wishes and the MSEP. the goal would be to get back to the room before 11pm for the last and longest day.
day 4 will be a day at MK starting with a pre-opening ADR at the crystal palace. my sis is camera crazy and i know she'll love to be able to snap a couple dozen pics of a nearly empty park before we eat. after a hearty meal we're gonna get our ride junkie fix and enjoy our favorites many times over. we plan on lunch at be our guest (dinner ADR's are long gone). I will definitely get a taste of Lefou's Brew and I will get to introduce my sister to Dole Whips as well. MK has EMH til midnight so it'll be a long one.hopefully we'll collapse after we get to our rooms and get plenty of rest for the drive back home by check out time the next morning
I know it doesn't seem like a very relaxing time, but my family has always been the type to come back from vacation waaay more exhausted than when we started. As far as any dining, is there anything that i shouldn't miss or that would be extra enjoyable to experience, big or small? 'Be our guest' was gonna be that one big meal for us for a table service meal, but dinner reservations are all gone. We can't go much more expensive than that either. Also, I don't know what is to be expected from the crowds this time of year. Will soarin' and test track still have unbelievably long waits? same with toy story mania. If anyone can help and give a lil input it'd be awesome. thanks
I'm Javier, 27, and my sis Adriana, 23 will be going on our first full on WDW trip since i was 7 and she was just shy of 3 (awwww, i know). We'll be staying at Shades of Green from the 17th-21st. Its sort of a celebration for me moving back to FL and completing my commitment with the Army (i'll be on leave until my contract ends in Feb). Possibly a friend of my sis will come join us, but she's a pretty serious Disney fan so it'll only enhance the trip if she does join.
As it stands now, we plan on leaving early from Miami to make it to WDW in time to get to the hotel and make it to AK right around rope drop and see all we can see in the park, with the exception of the kiddie dinoland attractions. Given the time of year, we're likely to pass on Kali River Rapids as well. Since we'll have hoppers and AK closes at 5PM, we'd likely want to head to epcot to at least ride soarin' (i've been able to ride in DCA so this'll be for my sis) and see Illuminations. Until this point, we're likely snacking on stuff all day with snacks we packed and getting churros or pretzels etc. I am trying to decide on a mid price restaurant to have dinner at epcot. still not sure where.
day 2 i have an ADR for breakfast at Kona Cafe, those macadamia pineapple pancakes sound way too good to pass up. then it's off to DHS. this would be a full day watching most of the shows and hitting the big 4 rides (if i can still get FP to TSM) and ending with a viewing of fantasmic. Epcot has EMH that night and there'd be no rush so i was thinking the boat from DHS to Epcot would be a leisurely and nice way to head over there, given the pace of the time at DHS may have been a lil frenetic. once there, we could ride what we didn't get around to the night before, reride anything we'd want to and be back in our room before midnight.
day 3 is kind of an early day, given that'd we're going to try to make it to DHS for morning EMH to get a ride or 2 on TSM before the lines get too crazy. we'd probably spend most of the morning reriding what we want to ride (i know i'll want at least 3 rounds on star tours) and head out around lunch time for MK. I figure heading to the TTC and taking the ferry to MK would be nice for our first time going during the trip. I was thinking going to Tony's for lunch just as we got there. Today would be more focused on riding the lesser rides given we're starting so late in the day and watching wishes and the MSEP. the goal would be to get back to the room before 11pm for the last and longest day.
day 4 will be a day at MK starting with a pre-opening ADR at the crystal palace. my sis is camera crazy and i know she'll love to be able to snap a couple dozen pics of a nearly empty park before we eat. after a hearty meal we're gonna get our ride junkie fix and enjoy our favorites many times over. we plan on lunch at be our guest (dinner ADR's are long gone). I will definitely get a taste of Lefou's Brew and I will get to introduce my sister to Dole Whips as well. MK has EMH til midnight so it'll be a long one.hopefully we'll collapse after we get to our rooms and get plenty of rest for the drive back home by check out time the next morning
I know it doesn't seem like a very relaxing time, but my family has always been the type to come back from vacation waaay more exhausted than when we started. As far as any dining, is there anything that i shouldn't miss or that would be extra enjoyable to experience, big or small? 'Be our guest' was gonna be that one big meal for us for a table service meal, but dinner reservations are all gone. We can't go much more expensive than that either. Also, I don't know what is to be expected from the crowds this time of year. Will soarin' and test track still have unbelievably long waits? same with toy story mania. If anyone can help and give a lil input it'd be awesome. thanks
i'll make sure not to make that mistake on this and future trips.