Thoughts on Our Trip

[ParamedicDrew]

**Edit 2/13/15 we are just over a week out from our Disney Vacation and I have finalized for the most part our plans. Please let me know what you all think!**


Hey Everyone! Me and my wife will be spending our "Disneymoon" down in Florida from our Wedding we had in September. I want some thoughts on our schedule.

We will be flying into Orlando on 2/21 for the Luke Bryan concert(bought these for a birthday gift for my wife). We also have purchased the Memory Maker Photo Package!

2/21 - Arrival and Luke Bryan

2/22 - Arrival to Resort and Animal Kingdom to start the day. Fast Pass at Dinosaur at 10:25 - 11:25 and Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost from 11:50 to 12:50. The rest of the morning will just be kinda kick around the park no real other plan. We will leave the park in the early afternoon to kick back for a bit, shower, and get ready for our Jiko - Wanyama Safari Dinner! (personal reviews of this package would be fantastic!)

2/23 - Epcot : Fastpass - Soarin' 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, SpaceShip Earth 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. We will try to see some of the attractions around the areas we will be at for the fast passes then proceed to finish making a circle of the park hitting the major attractions. We will likely skip the nightime show and head to Downtown Disney to see some of the attractions here, and possibly try to get dinner at the T-Rex Cafe(Personal Reviews are encouraged!)

2/24 -Magic Kingdom : Fastpass - Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Meet Cinderella and Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM. Then try to see as many of the other major attractions as possible.

2/25 - Hollywood Studios : Fastpass - Toy Story Midway Mania! 11:10 AM - 12:10 PM, StarTours 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM. I will more than likely ride both ToT and RRC first thing when the park opens, but I would like to be able to ride ToT another time later in the day if time permits before our dinner reservation! We will also kick around the park and try to see as much as we can during the day. We will be having dinner and fantasmic package : The Hollywood Brown Derby Dinner Fantasmic 1st Show(Personal Reviews would be fantastic!)

2/26 - Animal Kingdom : Expedition Everest 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, Kilimanjaro Safaris 10:35 AM - 11:35 AM, Dinosaur 11:34 PM - 12:34 PM. Once we finish with Animal Kingdom we will likely head back to the resort and relax for the remainder of the evening.

2/27 - Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure

2/28 - Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure

3/1 - Time to leave and head back to reality!

Thank you for your input and suggestions!

Drew and Mel

 

[stevehousse]

What resorts r y staying at? Do you have any dining adrs?

 

[ParamedicDrew]

I completely forgot to add both of these, and I had every intention of doing so! Lol thank you for reminding me

We have a Character Dinner at Crystal Palace on 2/26

We will be staying at the All Star Movies Resort!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

2/26 - A mop up of Magic Kingdom for stuff that we didnt get a chance to see/do, possibly trip to Downtown Disney and go look at some of the other resorts(If time permits)

Depending on how big your "MK mop up" is, I think you're going to be struggling to do DTD and some Resort Hopping

 

[ParamedicDrew]

Both me and my wife have been to Disney at least several times each(not together) but neither of us have been in over 10 years. A lot has changed, but from the research I've done not a lot have changed as well. I don't think our MK mop up will take more than half a day, as this will probably be used as a Memory Maker/Character Greet circuit.

 

[Mot]

If you haven't thou about Fastpasses, staying on property you can schedule them 60 days in advance. Otherwise sounds like a fun trip.

 

[ParamedicDrew]

Thank you for your reply Mot! My wife is iffy about big rides. Just this season at the local Cedar Fairs Park that we had a Season Pass too, I helped her somewhat get over some of her fear of roller coasters. It used to be aniexty attack waiting in line and getting on the rides(this was way before me), and I've worked her up to roller coasters that I'd have to rank somewhere in the 2-2.5/5 on the scale of extremeness. So we are having to look at everything to make decisions on what exactly we are going to do Fastpass+ for. There are several rides I already know Melanie won't be riding with me...Rock 'N' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest....

 

[SamandChel]

Advice: Skip Universal. Stay at Disney. Haha Jk

I would plan more dinners if u can. Try for California Grill or Yatchmans. They are worth the money and are an amazing experience. Especially If u can get California Grill during Fireworks.

Another piece of advice is, depending on budget, go to a moderate resort. I have not enjoyed our stays at all star movies. It was very crowded even for Disney standards and the rooms only have double beds.

Best of luck. Have fun!

 

[DisneyDaver]

I noticed you are planning on Diagon Alley for Saturday 2/28. When I was in Universal this past November, Diagon Alley was packed all day on Saturday. On Thursday, the crowds at Diagon Alley were very light (even the wait for Gringott's was only about 20 mins). On Friday, the crowds at Diagon Alley were moderate.

Thus, you may want to avoid attempting to do Diagon Alley on Saturday. Maybe Diagon Alley on Friday and then the rest of Universal on Saturday.

 

[ParamedicDrew]

Advice: Skip Universal. Stay at Disney. Haha Jk

I would plan more dinners if u can. Try for California Grill or Yatchmans. They are worth the money and are an amazing experience. Especially If u can get California Grill during Fireworks.

Another piece of advice is, depending on budget, go to a moderate resort. I have not enjoyed our stays at all star movies. It was very crowded even for Disney standards and the rooms only have double beds.

Best of luck. Have fun!

I will deff look into California Grill for dinner thank you for the tip!

The budget is a bit on the lower side so we will have to stay at All Star Resort. Next time we will have to save up and actually splurge on a better room!

I noticed you are planning on Diagon Alley for Saturday 2/28. When I was in Universal this past November, Diagon Alley was packed all day on Saturday. On Thursday, the crowds at Diagon Alley were very light (even the wait for Gringott's was only about 20 mins). On Friday, the crowds at Diagon Alley were moderate.

Thus, you may want to avoid attempting to do Diagon Alley on Saturday. Maybe Diagon Alley on Friday and then the rest of Universal on Saturday.

Thank you for the info! I am just now seeing that they will be having their Mardi Gras Celebration Days on the Saturday that we will be there. So I will have to plan to get Harry Potter Knocked out on Friday!

 

[Kosmo1986]

Your plan looks great! (I am jealous!). You may want to consider a little more time in HS. I know most people think its gone down hill, but it has some great shows and rides. I love going to the animation studio and learning how to draw a character.
There are some good dining options that won't break the banks. I love the sci fi dinner and via napoli. Something I started doing recently too... Disney portions are pretty large and as long as its not a buffet you can share a meal. We generally get a smaller app(or dessert) and split a meal. This way we don't have leftover food we can't take and our wallet is happy.

 

[ParamedicDrew]

Your plan looks great! (I am jealous!). You may want to consider a little more time in HS. I know most people think its gone down hill, but it has some great shows and rides. I love going to the animation studio and learning how to draw a character.
There are some good dining options that won't break the banks. I love the sci fi dinner and via napoli. Something I started doing recently too... Disney portions are pretty large and as long as its not a buffet you can share a meal. We generally get a smaller app(or dessert) and split a meal. This way we don't have leftover food we can't take and our wallet is happy.

I do love Hollywood studios!....Sci-Fi Diner looks awesome! No other restaurant that I've seen that looks like it! I will have to try to work that one in deff!

 

[ParamedicDrew]

I have updated the original itinerary. Please let me know what you think!

 

[ParamedicDrew]

I have some thoughts

What's your third AK FP on Day one?
Epcot: I would move that MS fastpass to Spaceship earth and make it after character spot. Then, RD to Soarin' (which I see is missing here...). SSE can get a very long line midday, and you're better with a FP. Conversly, MS sees almost no line. I see you're into characters - be sure to look around the International Gateway between 11-4.
MK: Are you not doing Splash or Big Thunder?
Second AK day: The shows are unnecessary for FP as this does not guarantee seats. I would get a safari pass since you don't have one yet and maybe a second go on Dinosaur?

We do not have a 3rd FP on Day One as we only plan on being at the park for a short amount of time before heading back to get ready for our dinner/safari.

I made the changes to Epcot. I was not sure what you meant by RD, but I switched Test Track with Soarin' and made the changes as noted in the edit on the first post.

We will deff check out International Gateway between 11-4. Do you suggest a specific path to take, and who we may get to see during this time?

Magic Kingdom - we will be doing Splash Mountain and Big Thunder!

Second Day of AK I took our the shows and put in for a second ride of Dinosaur and the Safari as noted in the changes above!

Thank you for your help!!!