A little background regarding the trip and the family. I am a single part time full time father. Meaning I have my children week on week off. Kids, DS 10 & DD 8, asked last year about going to WDW. I told them it was not a cheap trip and we would have to be careful of our spending in order to be able to save for the trip. I told them we should be able to make it if everything works out in 2-3 years. We also live in Canada near Ottawa.
Well, things have fallen into place to allow the trip to be moved up. I came into some money which will help with the payment of the trip as long as I don't make it too expensive. I was originally thinking of somewhere between March and May, 2017. Depending upon the date, would be around DD's birthday. However looking at attendance stats came to find out September has one of the lowest attendance records compared to other months of the year. This would really work out for us. As luck would have it, I actually have the children for 3 weeks the middle of September. This would make it easier to book around flights and other things. Not to mention DS's birthday will be during this time.
The trip has been booked since late May. Have also decided to drive instead of flying. Partially to save money, part to get the surprise for as long as possible and being able to do a pre side trip. A lot of planning and research has gone into the trip, including a number of posts on this site. Have also changed several 'plans' including the date for MNSSHP as it would have negatively affected the following days planned events. DS's birthday celebration at DHS.
The three of us are not major 'thrill' ride fans. This will help in the use of FP+s and give us more time to enjoy all the other attractions. Kids are huge Star Wars fans. DS's birthday is the 21st and the idea is to spend the day at DHS, mainly for all the Star Wars attractions, with the prime goal to have Jedi Training. Have heard need to be there prior to rope drop to get on the Jedi Training list. This is why I changed the date for our MNSSHP after I found out the party went until midnight. Thinking we might not get back to our room some time around 1:00 am, there was no way my two would be up early enough to make DHS rope drop. Did I mention they are not early risers. Even though they have stated they would be if/when we went. We still talk like we are going, but in another year or two. Shhhh, they still don't know we will be there in less than 60 days.
My daughter also loves giraffes. They are her most loved animal and she has a number of giraffe stuffies. When I heard about DAK and AKL, I looked into staying at an AKL room with a savanna room. DD would just die/love looking out the balcony and watching giraffes walking around the savanna just outside our room. Unfortunately, this turned out to be just to expensive for us. I did however get some advice on how to get her close and at another site feed them.
ADRs and FP+s have been made. ADRs were done a few months after the 180 day mark but I think I got all I wanted. In the park character ADRs in order to get the maximum M&Gs for the little ones.
Below is what I have planned to date, and hoping they will not change much.
Sept 14
Check into Tampa Hotel
Sept 15
Busch Gardens visit (have ticket for their safari which has opportunity to feed giraffes)
5-7 pm check into All Star Sports
Sept 16 MK
Planning taking advantage of EMH 8-9 am to do 7dwarfs/peter pan/adventure of winnie the pooh
9:55 - 10:55 Under the Sea Journey Little Mermaid
11:00 - 12:00 Ariel's Grotto
12:00 - 1:00 Enchanted Tales with Belle
may do a few other things but plan to head back to hotel for lunch/swim/rest/change
hoping to get extra FP for Mickey Mouse at town square theater or tinker bell before heading back to the hotel. Or at worse when we return.
4:00 return to MK to participate in MNSSHP and take advantage of all the party events/M&Gs/treat and treating.
Dinner will consist of a quick service, in order to not lose to much party time and will be dependent upon where in the park we are.
Sept 17 DAK
don't expect to get up to early so planning on arriving around noon.
1:10 -2:10 Adventures outpost Mickey/Minnie M&G
2:10 - 3:10 Kali River Rapids
5:30 ADR Yak & Yeti
6:10 - 7:10 Kilimanjaro Safari
(QS lunch depending upon where we are and when kids get hungry)
Sept 18 Epcot
Test Track at rope drop
9:20 - 10:20 Space Ship
10:30 - 11:30 Epcot Character Spot M&G
12:15 - 1:15 Frozen Ever After
would like to get extra FP for Soarin
1:35 ADR Coral Reef
6:00 ADR Akershus
Sept 19 MK
10:00 ADR Cinderella's Round Table (hoping to do Merida & Alice M&G before hand)
11:00 -12:00 Cinderella and guest M&G
12:00 - 1:00 Rapunzal and guest M&G
1:05 - 2:05 Buzz Lightyear
would like to get extra FP for tomorrowland speedway
4:00 QS lunch at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
9:20 ADR Chef Mickey
Sept 20 DAK
9:05 - 10:05 Kilimanjaro safari
12:00 QS lunch Pizzafari
1:00 - 2:00 It's tough to be a bug
3:00 Festival of the Lion King
would like to get another FP for evening safari
5:35 ADR Tusker
Sept 21 DHS
Have purchased EMM ticket so we will be able to enter at 7:45
during this time would like to take advantage of Olaf/Mickey&Minnie/Woody&Buzz M&Gs and toy mania. Not sure if have time for Star Tours, maybe taking pictures outside without the crowds.
This should also allow us to get into the Jedi Training sign up line by about 8:30ish in order to ensure us a spot on the list.
9:45 Breakfast at ABC Commissary
10:25 - 11:25 Great Movie ride
12:10 - 1:10 Star Tours: the adventures continues
1:45 Voyage of the Little Mermaid
6:35 ADR 50s Cafe
considering the park hours will more than likely miss Fantasmic! for Star Wars: A galatic Spectacular
Sept 22 MK
9:55 - 10:55 Pirates of the Caribbean
10:55 - 11:55 Jungle Cruise
12:00 QS lunch Peco's Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
12:40 - 1:40 Splash Mountain
would like to get a FP for Haunted Mansion for later
3:50 ADR Crystal Palace
Sept 23 check out and sadly start drive home
I am not sure if I mentioned it above, but this is my first visit in about 40 years. Things have change a lot since I have been there. I am trying to 'organize' this trip to the best of my ability and to ensure the most magical adventure for my two. In all honestly, considering the cost of WDW trips and financial situation, I don't expect we will be returning. this is why I would like to make this trip as amazing for them as possible. Reviewing the above, I second guess some of my choices but think I have most of it down correctly. However, I don't have the experience of visiting WDW as most of you have.
I won't mind hearing what you all have to say regarding the above. I understand our likes may not be the same as most others in wanting to ride all the 'thrill' rides as much as possible. As such, I would rather not hear any negative comments regarding not scheduling any of the 'big' rides. Any other comments/suggestions would be welcomed.
I want to make this trip the best possible and want to ensure I don't miss anything.
Thank you
Well, things have fallen into place to allow the trip to be moved up. I came into some money which will help with the payment of the trip as long as I don't make it too expensive. I was originally thinking of somewhere between March and May, 2017. Depending upon the date, would be around DD's birthday. However looking at attendance stats came to find out September has one of the lowest attendance records compared to other months of the year. This would really work out for us. As luck would have it, I actually have the children for 3 weeks the middle of September. This would make it easier to book around flights and other things. Not to mention DS's birthday will be during this time.
The trip has been booked since late May. Have also decided to drive instead of flying. Partially to save money, part to get the surprise for as long as possible and being able to do a pre side trip. A lot of planning and research has gone into the trip, including a number of posts on this site. Have also changed several 'plans' including the date for MNSSHP as it would have negatively affected the following days planned events. DS's birthday celebration at DHS.
The three of us are not major 'thrill' ride fans. This will help in the use of FP+s and give us more time to enjoy all the other attractions. Kids are huge Star Wars fans. DS's birthday is the 21st and the idea is to spend the day at DHS, mainly for all the Star Wars attractions, with the prime goal to have Jedi Training. Have heard need to be there prior to rope drop to get on the Jedi Training list. This is why I changed the date for our MNSSHP after I found out the party went until midnight. Thinking we might not get back to our room some time around 1:00 am, there was no way my two would be up early enough to make DHS rope drop. Did I mention they are not early risers. Even though they have stated they would be if/when we went. We still talk like we are going, but in another year or two. Shhhh, they still don't know we will be there in less than 60 days.
My daughter also loves giraffes. They are her most loved animal and she has a number of giraffe stuffies. When I heard about DAK and AKL, I looked into staying at an AKL room with a savanna room. DD would just die/love looking out the balcony and watching giraffes walking around the savanna just outside our room. Unfortunately, this turned out to be just to expensive for us. I did however get some advice on how to get her close and at another site feed them.
ADRs and FP+s have been made. ADRs were done a few months after the 180 day mark but I think I got all I wanted. In the park character ADRs in order to get the maximum M&Gs for the little ones.
Below is what I have planned to date, and hoping they will not change much.
Sept 14
Check into Tampa Hotel
Sept 15
Busch Gardens visit (have ticket for their safari which has opportunity to feed giraffes)
5-7 pm check into All Star Sports
Sept 16 MK
Planning taking advantage of EMH 8-9 am to do 7dwarfs/peter pan/adventure of winnie the pooh
9:55 - 10:55 Under the Sea Journey Little Mermaid
11:00 - 12:00 Ariel's Grotto
12:00 - 1:00 Enchanted Tales with Belle
may do a few other things but plan to head back to hotel for lunch/swim/rest/change
hoping to get extra FP for Mickey Mouse at town square theater or tinker bell before heading back to the hotel. Or at worse when we return.
4:00 return to MK to participate in MNSSHP and take advantage of all the party events/M&Gs/treat and treating.
Dinner will consist of a quick service, in order to not lose to much party time and will be dependent upon where in the park we are.
Sept 17 DAK
don't expect to get up to early so planning on arriving around noon.
1:10 -2:10 Adventures outpost Mickey/Minnie M&G
2:10 - 3:10 Kali River Rapids
5:30 ADR Yak & Yeti
6:10 - 7:10 Kilimanjaro Safari
(QS lunch depending upon where we are and when kids get hungry)
Sept 18 Epcot
Test Track at rope drop
9:20 - 10:20 Space Ship
10:30 - 11:30 Epcot Character Spot M&G
12:15 - 1:15 Frozen Ever After
would like to get extra FP for Soarin
1:35 ADR Coral Reef
6:00 ADR Akershus
Sept 19 MK
10:00 ADR Cinderella's Round Table (hoping to do Merida & Alice M&G before hand)
11:00 -12:00 Cinderella and guest M&G
12:00 - 1:00 Rapunzal and guest M&G
1:05 - 2:05 Buzz Lightyear
would like to get extra FP for tomorrowland speedway
4:00 QS lunch at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
9:20 ADR Chef Mickey
Sept 20 DAK
9:05 - 10:05 Kilimanjaro safari
12:00 QS lunch Pizzafari
1:00 - 2:00 It's tough to be a bug
3:00 Festival of the Lion King
would like to get another FP for evening safari
5:35 ADR Tusker
Sept 21 DHS
Have purchased EMM ticket so we will be able to enter at 7:45
during this time would like to take advantage of Olaf/Mickey&Minnie/Woody&Buzz M&Gs and toy mania. Not sure if have time for Star Tours, maybe taking pictures outside without the crowds.
This should also allow us to get into the Jedi Training sign up line by about 8:30ish in order to ensure us a spot on the list.
9:45 Breakfast at ABC Commissary
10:25 - 11:25 Great Movie ride
12:10 - 1:10 Star Tours: the adventures continues
1:45 Voyage of the Little Mermaid
6:35 ADR 50s Cafe
considering the park hours will more than likely miss Fantasmic! for Star Wars: A galatic Spectacular
Sept 22 MK
9:55 - 10:55 Pirates of the Caribbean
10:55 - 11:55 Jungle Cruise
12:00 QS lunch Peco's Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
12:40 - 1:40 Splash Mountain
would like to get a FP for Haunted Mansion for later
3:50 ADR Crystal Palace
Sept 23 check out and sadly start drive home
I am not sure if I mentioned it above, but this is my first visit in about 40 years. Things have change a lot since I have been there. I am trying to 'organize' this trip to the best of my ability and to ensure the most magical adventure for my two. In all honestly, considering the cost of WDW trips and financial situation, I don't expect we will be returning. this is why I would like to make this trip as amazing for them as possible. Reviewing the above, I second guess some of my choices but think I have most of it down correctly. However, I don't have the experience of visiting WDW as most of you have.
I won't mind hearing what you all have to say regarding the above. I understand our likes may not be the same as most others in wanting to ride all the 'thrill' rides as much as possible. As such, I would rather not hear any negative comments regarding not scheduling any of the 'big' rides. Any other comments/suggestions would be welcomed.
I want to make this trip the best possible and want to ensure I don't miss anything.
Thank you
