Problem...need your help!

[amykissangel]

Hi folks - I keep starting new threads because when you guys answer my questions with such great detail, I have new problems that keep popping up. So thanks to all who answered my questions about DTDHotel Transportation :~)

I have one last problem. Mom is an avid church goer; think never missing church each week unless you're bleeding or already dead.

So for her to schedule this trip during Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday) is a big deal. She said we could skip Thurs. and Fri. but we MUST go to Palm Sunday Mass.

We go to Mary Queen Shrine of the Universe (catholic church) because it's like 5 min. away from DTD. Mass times for Holy Days are: Sat Night: 6 p.m. Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Pre Info: Dates: Sat. March 31st - Sat. April 7th
Renting a Van
7 people (Mom, Dad, Aunt Cindy, cousin Jenny, bro, sis and I = youngest is 15)
Staying at DoubleTree Suites in DTD so NO EMH, NO DISNEY BUSSES
Flying into Tampa
Flying out of Tampa
5 Day Park Hoppers = 5 days at the parks, 1 day relaxation

Here is the problem:

We get into Tampa at 6 p.m. on Sat. night (the night b4 Palm Sunday), and won't be to Orlando til about 7:30 or 8. That cancels out a Sat. night mass. The next day is obviously Palm Sunday, but also a park day.

I've been during SB before, and WDW was not that busy. But that was 5 years ago, and everyone's saying now that crowds are pretty much at Christmas Levels, and that parks will even close. So getting there late in the morning won't work, and we'd like to get there early besides. MK opens at 8 a.m. Sun. morning, and we want to see the opening show. So that cancels out 7:30 mass. The following plan MIGHT work, but someone says the parking lots fill up REALLY fast, and if we're not on property, can we get BACK INTO the MK?

So here WAS our plan, and I need your help to fix it and make it better. MOSTLY NEED YOUR HELP SUNDAY APRIL 1st, BUT IF YOU HAVE OTHER SUGGESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY TAKE THEM!! Here goes:

Saturday, March 31st

Depart Green Bay, WI by Car @ 10:30 a.m.
Depart Milwaukee @ 2:45 p.m.
Arrive Tampa, FL @ 6:21 p.m.
Depart Tampa, FL by Car @ 6:45 p.m.
Arrive DoubleTree Downtown Disney @ 8:15 p.m.
Dinner at Portobello Yacht Club @ 9 p.m.


Sunday, April 1st


Depart for Magic Kingdom by Van @ 7:20 a.m.
Arrive MK @ 7:40 a.m.
Welcome Ceremony (MUST SEE)
Lunch @ Liberty Tree @ 11:45 a.m.
Depart by Van to Hotel @ 4 p.m.
Arrive @ Hotel @ 4:20 p.m.
Relax, Refresh, Snack
Depart for Church by Van @ 5:45 p.m.
Church 6-7 p.m.
Van back to MK @ 7 p.m.
Dinner @ Counter Service Restaurant @ 7:45 p.m.
Spectromagic Parade @ 9 p.m. (MUST SEE)
Wishes @ 10 p.m. (MUST SEE)


Monday, April 2nd


Depart by Bus for Epcot @ 8:20
Arrive TTC @ 8:40 a.m.
Monorail to Epcot
Arrive Epcot 9 a.m.
Lunch @ 12:30 @ Alfredo’s in Italy
Dinner/Illuminations @ 8:15 @ Rose n Crown Pub in England


Tuesday, April 3rd


RELAX!
Lunch @ Grand Floridian Café @ 1:45 p.m.


Wednesday, April 4th


Depart Hotel by Bus @ 8:30 a.m. for MGM Studios
Lunch @ Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre @ 11:30
Dinner @ 7 p.m. @ Prime Time 50’s Café
Fantasmic @ 10 p.m.


Thursday, April 5th

Depart Hotel by Car @8:30 for AK
(We'll only spend half-a-day there)
Home to hotel for pool and nap
Back to either MGM or MK, whichever does NOT have EMH

Friday, April 1st

Go back and do rides we missed at random parks


Thank you all so much, and sorry my posts are always, like, 8 miles long:animwink:
~Amy~

 

[slappy magoo]

I don't think anyone would want to promise anything to you regarding crowd levels. It could work. Probably would work, but I know *I* don't want to be the person who says you have nothing to worry about, only to find you can't get back in.

 

[imamouse]

For high holy days, such as Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter, WDW usually offers a Catholic and then a Protestant church service in a ballroom at the Contemporary. Check with Guest Services to verify and obtain times.

 

[amykissangel]

Got all excited there for a minute, but just called, and they only have them for Easter, not Palm Sunday. Thanks for the suggestion though!!

 

[imamouse]

Oh well - it was worth a try. Sorry!

BTW - I took my mother to Mary Queen of the Universe for mass on Mother's Day in 2005 and they had 200,000 roses in large bowls all around and in front of the alter. It was beautiful! I'll bet they do the same with lillies for Easter and perhaps they'll have tons of palms for Palm Sunday. I really enjoy going to mass there.

 

[SewIn2Disney]

Your plans seem good except for one thing.....I think you should allow for more then 20 minutes to go back and forth between your hotel and the parks. I would allow at least 30-45 minutes from park gates to hotel room, but that's just me.

 

[DisneyMarg]

If it were me, I'd vote for the early mass. You would miss the opening ceremony at MK, but could pick that up on Friday, your make up day. That way you'd finish mass at 8-ish and be at the park by 9 or so. SURELY it doesn't fill up that early!

I'm afraid that the schedule will slip or people will be tired and grumpy when it comes to 6:00 church time on Sunday night. If it's a big priority for Mom, I say do it first thing, so it really gets the priority. (Spoken like a true Mom, I might add.)

And, really, what better way to start the vacation than by thanking God for the $$, time, and health to enjoy it? Makes me want to come go with you!

(Oh yeah, and go with you to MK, too!!)

 

[rlaeromech]

I agree with DisneyMarg. Go ahead and do it first. It would be like a tithe of your vacation time, and in return you may get a blessing on the rest of your trip. I am not a priest so that is not a promise. Plus, if for some reason you can't get in on Sunday, you can always relax that day and make Tuesday you MK day. Everything else looks good. We stayed off-site and it only took us about 30 minutes to get from the front door of the vacation home to the gate at MK. Of course monorail at TTC was a walk on

 

[amykissangel]

I agree with DisneyMarg. Go ahead and do it first.

If it were me, I'd vote for the early mass. You would miss the opening ceremony at MK, but could pick that up on Friday, your make up day. That way you'd finish mass at 8-ish and be at the park by 9 or so. SURELY it doesn't fill up that early!

I totally understand where you are coming from, since that was our original plan. But since the park opens @ 8, we wouldn't get in the parks until 9 or later, and that whole first hour is always SO wonderful. It's usually pretty empty, running from ride to ride, grabbing FastPasses for later on in the day...besides seeing the opening show.

By the time we'd get there, I think everyone and their brother would be there as well...no?

I just know that with it being my Aunt's first time, I want her to get on as many things as possible, and starting out the day waiting in line for 45 min. doesn't scream "Fun."

But I also see how getting church in there first thing so we didn't have to worry about it would be good as well.

Shoot...I am so decision making impaired. More suggestions?

 

[ILoveDino]

I totally agree with Marge Go to Church first, you can always see the opening ceremony and such on Tuesday, Your Mother will never forget that you made her a priority and think of all she gave up for you, wouldn't making her happy at Church for an hour be worth missing the opening ceremony at MK? I think you'll find it's worth it and everyone will be happier this way. Just my opinion and I hope this helps.