With a 10 day stay, you should be able to get a lot done, but not everything (there is...a lot). Also, you chose good dates. All the parks are slated to be rather empty during your visit. Shorter lines! Yay!
As you are Disney Nerds, you may want to buy the WDW Hidden Mickey book. You can get it at Amazon, but they also sell them all over at WDW.
As you are traveling without kids, I'd look into some of the guided and behind the scenes tours, just for the trivia of it all. Information is here:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/
Also, La Nouba may be worth a look for you. It's a Cirque show unique to WDW, and is VERY good. It has a dedicated theater at DTD.
As you got WP&M, you may want to also visit the mini golf and DisneyQuest (if it's still open...rumor is it could be closing, but note, that is a RUMOR). DisneyQuest is a Dave and Busters, without the food, on steroids and all the games are free. It's a fun way to burn a few hours.
There are two mini golf courses. One is near AKL, and is Winter Summerland (it's just outside of Blizzard Beach, you'll take the Blizzard Beach / Animal Kingdom busses to get there). The other is Fantasmic Golf. This one is harder to get to. Basically, you take a Friendship Boat from EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, then get off at the Swan/Dolphin dock, and walk across the street. Or you can take a Swan/Dolphin bus from one of the parks.
For restaurants, I wouldn't shy away from looking at the resorts (specifically the Deluxe resorts) as options. Some of the best restaurants are actually at the resorts (though there are a lot of good ones at the parks as well, especially EPCOT).
The biggest things you'll need to brush up on are:
Resort Transportation
Ok, unlike Disneyland, WDW is massive (you may know this intellectually, but when you get there, the scale will still likely shock you). As a result, transportation is an important thing. As a note, if you are planning to rent a car during your stay, you can dismiss what I'm about to say.
So, there are 4 ways to get around property.
1) Busses - Disney runs busses from all the resorts to all the parks, water parks, and Disney Springs (nee Downtown Disney). Busses do not run from resort to resort, so youll need to plan that if you book dining or activites at a resort.
The busses run on a 20 minutes (approx) schedule, and routes take anywhere from 10 - 30 minutes (depending on how many stops the bus takes to load, and if there are any stops between you and your destination like a water park).
This will be your primary transit, as AKL is a bus only resort with two stops, one at Kidani and one at Jambo. Busses start running at 6a.
2) Monorail - Unlike Disneyland, the Monorail, while it does go into a park (EPCOT), none of the stops are IN the park. There are three lines.
All of them connect at the Ticketing and Transportation Center (which is across a Lagoon from the Magic Kingdom).
One is the Resort Only line, and it runs from TTC to Polynesian to Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom to Contemporary and back to TTC. This is the line you will use to go to those hotels (take a bus to Magic Kingdom, then the Monorail to the resorts).
One is the Magic Kingdom Express Line. This one goes from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom. You will likely never use this line, as you don't have Park Hoppers so you probably won't need to go from MK to EPCOT or vice versa.
The EPCOT line runs from TTC to the EPCOT station. This is how you can get from EPCOT to the MK area, and vice versa, connecting through the TTC.
It is a fun way to get to EPCOT if you have never been before, and even though it adds some transit time, Id recommend you check it out for your first EPCOT day. What you would do is take a MK bus from AKL in the morning at around 7:30a then hop the monorail from MK and get off at TTC. Transfer to the EPCOT line. This should put you at EPCOT right around rope drop.
3) Boats - There are four types of boats at WDW that can take you places.
The Friendship Boats run between Hollywood Studios to Swan and Dolphin to Yacht and Beach Club to Boardwalk to EPCOT's International Gateway (the rear entrance), and then vice versa back to Hollywood Studios.
There are two Launches (Blue and Gold?) that leave from MK and can take you to resort hotels in the area. The Gold? Flag takes you to Grand Floridian and Polynesian. The Blue? Flag takes you to Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness.
There is a Ferry that you probably won't use that runs from MK to TTC. And there are ferries that run from DTD/DS to the Sassalouga resorts. You probably won't use these either.
4) Taxi - If you need to get anywhere quickly, there are taxis all over the resort, and they sit in the parking lots near the main entrance of all the resort hotels and parks, with the exception of MK where they sit outside of TTC.
To get TO the resort from MCO, Disney's Magical Express will work fine for you. It will take you from there to your resort. Make sure you have your magic bands handy when you go to check in for DME. Also, make sure to register your flight number (arrive and depart) with Disney.
When you get your welcome packet (well, one of them, you are gonna get a LOT of mail from Disney), you'll get yellow luggage tags for your checked bags. When you check your bags with the airline, there's no need to pick them up from Baggage Claim if you use these tags.
Rather, MCO will send your bags to your resort, and Bell Services will deliver them to your room for you (though, be aware, this process takes a few hours, so be sure anything that you'll want during that period, like cameras and stuff, are in your day packs / carry-ons).
The night before checkout you will get a packet that has your depature bus time back to MCO. Also, a neat feature is that you can actually check your bags at the resort and avoid the bag check in lines at the airport.
Disney will deliver your bags to your airline from there. This doesnt work for every airline, but most of them participate. Ask Bell Services about this feature.
It is very convenient, especially if you are departing later than check out. If you dont want to precheck the bags with the airline at your resort, Bell Services can hold onto them for you until the DME bus arrives.
Also, I recommend you do the online early check in through MDX.
As far as your Dining Plan, here's a breakdown.
You'll get a "bank" of credits when you check into your resort. Credits are able to be used through midnight of your checkout day. The number of credits depends on the number of nights of your stay.
So, as you are staying 10 nights, you'll each get.
10 Snack Credits
10 Quick Service Credits
10 Table Service Credits
You can use these credits in any combination during your stay. So, if you want two snacks one day, and no snack the next day, that's fine. Think of it like a "Bank account" of credits that you can deplete as you wish, not a daily allotment.
Note, some venues cost two Table Service credits (Jiko, which is at AKL, and imho one of the best restaurants on the entire WDW property, is one of them). Table Service Credits may be used at Quick Service locations, but not vice versa (and frankly, you are wasting the value of them if you do this, but it is doable).
Also, if you decide to pay out of pocket for anything, pay for breakfasts. They are generally the cheapest meals.
As far as restaurants, all the food is good. There are some places that are unique to WDW that you may want to check out. A short list off the top of my head are:
MK
QS - Gaston's Tavern - Unique environment and Lefou's Brew
QS - Sleepy Hollow - Unique waffle snacks
QS Lunch - TS Dinner - Be Our Guest (BOOK THIS ON DAY 180, even if you don't book anything else that day)
TS - Cinderella's Royal Table - Eat inside the castle and meet the princesses, 2 TS credits
Snack - Cream Cheese Pretzel from Lunching Pad
Snack - Dole Whip / Float (ok, not unique to WDW, but ours is not located near the Tiki Room. So, just making that note for you)
EP
TS - Garden Grill - Dine with Farmer Mickey in a rotating restaurant...ask for a lower level table with a view
TS - Coral Reef - Watch the reef and aquatic life in the world's third largest saltwater aquarium as you dine
Just about everything in World Showcase, though for uniqueness...
2 TS - Le Cellier Steakhouse
TS - Chefs de France
TS - Marrakesh (morrocan food)
QS - Spice Road Table (morrocan food)
TS - Oktoberfest (German Buffet)
QS - Sommerfest (German Street Food)
Snacks - Kringla Bakery at Norway
Snacks - La Cava (hand made unique margaritas, chips and guac)
TS - Rose and Crown (pub food, and the only reason I mention this is that if you book late in the day, about a half hour to 45 mins before Illuminations, and show up about a half hour early for your reservation and ask for patio seating, you get a meal and a great seat for the show!)
Free Snack - Cool Spot (try unique sodas from around the world...be sure to check out the Beverly! It is only available in two places in the US, Epcot and thhe World of Coke in Atlanta)
HS
TS - If you eat at Brown Derby or Mama Melrose you can get the Fantasmic Package for no cost (but you do need to request it) that will get you access to a special seating area for Fantasmic.
TS - Sci Fi Dine In - Dine indoors in an outdoor drive in movie theater...nuff said!
TS - 50's Prime Time - Dine on 50's staples (the meat loaf is great) with sassy waitresses that will tell you to finish your peas!
Snack - I forget the name of it, but there is a villians candy shop just off Sunset Blvd that is worth checking out!
QS - Not to sound negative, and this is my opinion, but the QS at HS is pretty pale compared to the other parks (which does not mean it is bad!). If I had to pick, Id say Brown Derby Lounge, Starring Rolls or Studio Catering Company.
As you guys are Disney Nerds, I would actually recommend you hop a bus for lunch on one of your HS days and check out Art of Animation. Their food court is fantastic!
You can get there using either the AoA busses or the Pop busses, and it gives you a chance to walk another resort or two (if you are into that sort of thing) AoA os where the WDW version of "Cars Land" is. Yeah...you'll chuckle when you see it compared to what DCA has, but it is still a neat themed area (themed hotel, no rides)
AK
QS / Snack - Check out the stuff at the new Harimbe Market. They even have poo candy (not kidding, and not pooh)
TS - Tusker House - This is, imho, the best breakfast buffet on property.
QS - Flame Tree BBQ
DTD / Resorts
2 TS - Jiko at AKL
2 TS - Yachtsman Steakhouse at Yacht and Beach Club
TS - Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at Boardwalk (get the kitchen sink sundae!)
TS - Kona Cafe at Polynesian
2 TS - California Grill (book late and you can watch the Wishes Fireworks from the top of the Contemporary)
2 TS - Spirit of Aloha Luau at Polynesian
2 TS - Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue at Ft. Wilderness (It is dinner with a show...think the Golden Horseshoe)
2 TS - Mickeys Backyard BBQ at Ft. Wilderness
TS - T-Rex at DTD - If you like Rainforest at your DTD, check out this one. Same company runs it. I wouldnt bother with either of our Rainforest Cafes (we have two, one at Animal Kingdom, one at DTD), though the one at DTD does have a volcano on the outside that erupts! But, the interiors of ours doesn't top the one you guys have in Anaheim, imho.
TS - Raglan Road at DTD (Pub food with live entertainment)
2 TS - Boathouse at DTD (this is new)
QS - Earl of Sandwich DTD - I can't remember if you guys have that in California or not...but it's great
The MDX website is ok for making reservations, but I would call. The number is 407.WDW.DINE.
Also, your Dining Plan will come with a mug that gets you free unlimited refills of soda and coffee at your resort during your stay. It can only be used at venues that have a RapidFill station (unfortunately, I don't know where that is at AKL...maybe Boma?)
Also, for a special dining event, you may want to look into the Wanyama Safari at AKL. Details here -
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-lodge/wanyama-resort-safari-and-dinner/
As you are shopping, your purchases can be shipped directly to your resort hotel, so you don't have to lug them around the park all day. They will be retrievable at your resort the following day down in the main gift shop. This works every day of your trip up until the day before checkout (so, you won't be able to do it on the 19th or 20th). But, it's really convenient.
Ok...last topic. MDX/FP+/ADRs.
For table service you WILL WANT to make ADRs. This is something completely different than Disneyland, but I cannot stress it more. BOOK ADRS AND BOOK THEM AS EARLY AS YOU CAN, EVEN IF YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE THEM LATER.
Some venues are harder to get than others. Dinner shows and signature restaurants tend to book up early, as well as Be Our Guest (which books up insanely quickly). Be Our Guest you will want to do on day 180 (that's when you can start booking). The signatures / dinner shows you will want to do within the first few weeks of day 180, and the rest no later than say day 60.
You have probably heard, but we dont have paper fastpasses at WDW anymore. Instead, everything is done online or through the app in advance.
FP+ you can start booking on day 60. You'll want to do the headliners for sure. Good ones to get are:
MK
Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Peter Pan
Anna and Elsa (if you wish to meet them)
EP
Soarin' (yeah, unlike yours, ours commands really long waits, like hour plus)
Test Track
HS
Toy Story Midway Mania (same, unlike yours, hour to two hour long waits for this are very common here)
Tower of Terror
Rockin Roller Coaster
AK
Everest
Kilimanjaro Safari (if you don't do a before park opening breakfast at Tusker and then head straight over there, which is what I'd recommend you do...but...)
Kali River Rapids
If you haven't set up your MDX account yet at disneyworld.com and downloaded the My Disney Experience app to your phone, go ahead and do so ASAP and start getting familiar with it. It is a great help to keep all this organized.
If you'd like, feel free to follow along with my pre-trip / trip report. I've got details about my experience with Mickey Mail, MDX, FP+, etc...all there, and more coming as my trip (in August) comes closer. And, I'll be staying at AKL Jambo as well!
Link is:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/englanddgs-real-life-or-is-this-just-fantasy.898837/
Have fun!
