Touring plan - critiques welcome

[kkmickey]

YIKES - I love planning vacations, but this Disney World stuff has been overwhelming - parks, shows, EMH, ADRs, crowds, etc! (I have Disneyland down pat - even at the busiest times, we rarely wait in lines.) So after spending hours pouring over forums, Tour Guide Mike, and the Unofficial Guide, and quite a few phone calls to make and re-make ADRs, here is what I have so far: (of course we will always be at the parks at least 30 minutes prior to opening time). The times listed after each park are the hours it is open, not the hours we will be there.
By the way, we are Disney maniacs and can handle a pretty fast schedule. Two parents and two teens in our party, and we usually use the Unofficial Guide touring plan at Disneyland, which has worked well for us in the past. That is what we are planning to use for these park visits as well.
(Also, I realize we have 2 more TS credits with the free dining plan, we just haven't decided exactly what we want to do with them yet.)

Sat. 12/13: Fly PDX to MCO, arrive approx 10om, take Disney trans to
AS Sports, Get dinner (bring food with) and get to bed

Sun. 12/14: Animal Kingdom all day 9-5
Lunch at Flame Tree
Animal Kingdom Lodge, dinner at Boma’s 5:40pm
Back to hotel, go to bed early

Mon. 12/15: Disney Studios 9-8 (first half of day)
* Goal to see as much at DHS as possible, then head to MK in time to
get a good seat for parade/wishes, gather FP and stay for EMH
CS Lunch at DHS ??? suggestions?
CS Dinner at MK ??? suggestions?
Magic Kingdom 9-11pm (EMH) (second half of day)
SpectroMagic parade 7pm, Wishes 8pm, Late hours

Tuesday, 12/16: Epcot EMH 8am to 9:30pm ALL DAY
Lunch at Coral Reef 1:10
Dinner at San Angel Inn 6:30pm
Candlelight Processional 5, 6:45, and 8:15pm
IllumiNations 9:30

Wednesday, 12/17: This day is open - to rest, go to Blizzard Beach, or change the schedule if something happens, like winning Dream Fastpasses or something


Thursday, 12/18: Magic Kingdom EMH 8am – 7pm (1st half of day)
Lunch at Liberty Tree 12:05pm
Bus to DHS by 3:00pm
Disney Hollywood Studios 9-8pm (2nd half of day)
Dinner at Sci Fi Diner at 4:30pm (I know, early! but we will drink a milkshake then take food with us to eat while waiting for Fantasmic)
See Osborne Family Lights 6-7
Fantasmic! At 8pm (seating by 7:30)

Friday, 12/19: Another free day, depending on what is still left to do or what we want to do again


Saturday, 12/20:
Dad and son to airport – flights leave at 8am
Mom and other son to airport – flights leave at 6pm
*We get an extra day to play

[kkmickey]

ooooh, just noticed that MouseFest is scheduled to also be at DHS on Monday for half a day. Since my schedule is a bit flexible, would it be worth changing, or do you think it will be very crowded?

[TinaMouse]

MFesters are on the way home (most of them) on Monday, so you should be a-o-k......

I'll respond to your other question in another post...

[TinaMouse]

Sat. 12/13: Fly PDX to MCO, arrive approx 10om, take Disney trans to
AS Sports, Get dinner (bring food with) and get to bed

Have you thought about getting gardengrocer.com? They will deliver groceries directly to your resort. That way, you wouldn't have to bring food with. It worked GREAT for us as we had breakfast in the room and snacks in the evenings without having to pay premium prices at the store or food court. Just a thought...

Sun. 12/14: Animal Kingdom all day 9-5
Lunch at Flame Tree
Animal Kingdom Lodge, dinner at Bomas 5:40pm
Back to hotel, go to bed early

Sounds like a good day. Good food choices.

Mon. 12/15: Disney Studios 9-8 (first half of day)
* Goal to see as much at DHS as possible, then head to MK in time to
get a good seat for parade/wishes, gather FP and stay for EMH
CS Lunch at DHS ??? suggestions?
CS Dinner at MK ??? suggestions?
Magic Kingdom 9-11pm (EMH) (second half of day)
SpectroMagic parade 7pm, Wishes 8pm, Late hours

I responded in another thread to you about Toy Story Mania. Your son is right; go there first. Fast passes are gone by mid-morning on some days! As far as lunch suggestions, DHS isn't the best for CS. There's a great grilled turkey and arugula sandwich at Backlot Express (burgers, etc too) and a really yummy bbq pork hot sub at Flatbread Grill.

CS at MK. I used to say, "COLUBIA HARBOR HOUSE!!!" but they've limited their menu somewhat. Perhaps this could be a possibility, or else try Pecos Bill's. They're pretty consistent, with a burger fixins bar. Cosmic Ray's has a HUGE menu and we've had good luck there IF it is an off-hour that we're eating. Ribs are good here.

Tuesday, 12/16: Epcot EMH 8am to 9:30pm ALL DAY
Lunch at Coral Reef 1:10
Dinner at San Angel Inn 6:30pm
Candlelight Processional 5, 6:45, and 8:15pm
IllumiNations 9:30

Line up early for the CP if you don't have a package.

Wednesday, 12/17: This day is open - to rest, go to Blizzard Beach, or change the schedule if something happens, like winning Dream Fastpasses or something

We always put in "free days" and rest days. Good idea!!

Thursday, 12/18: Magic Kingdom EMH 8am 7pm (1st half of day)
Lunch at Liberty Tree 12:05pm
Bus to DHS by 3:00pm
Disney Hollywood Studios 9-8pm (2nd half of day)
Dinner at Sci Fi Diner at 4:30pm (I know, early! but we will drink a milkshake then take food with us to eat while waiting for Fantasmic)
See Osborne Family Lights 6-7
Fantasmic! At 8pm (seating by 7:30)

Looks good!

Friday, 12/19: Another free day, depending on what is still left to do or what we want to do again


Saturday, 12/20:
Dad and son to airport flights leave at 8am
Mom and other son to airport flights leave at 6pm
*We get an extra day to play

Sounds REALLY good!

[kkmickey]

Was able to get an ADR for Ohana for dinner on Wed, 12/17 at 6:30! Every other time I could only get reservations at 9:55pm.

Thanks for the feedback - very helpful! Keep it coming

[kkmickey]

Just added Kona Cafe for both a late breakfast and late lunch. Don't know if I will use them both, but thought I would make the ressie just in case. Thought Friday might be a nice day to go on any last rides, as well as look at the Christmas decor at the resorts.

I AM SO EXCITED!!! I don't think I can wait for 68 days. The good thing is that now it is all planned and I can focus on the kid's school and getting ready for Christmas, so I am not overwhelmed when we get home on the 20th

[tjrj]

For CS at MK-really liked Cosmic Rays. Portions are big enough to share-leaving additional CS(I'm assuming you're on the DDP) for breakfast or another lunch or dinner.

on 12/16-only 5 hour between two TS's-I like a longer break between mine usually. No other ADR'sd available, maybe? Also, you're sure about all day at Epcot? It makes for a really long day-even though it is my favorite park. Be sure to take advantage of the entertainment around WS-especially when you will be there. The holiday storytellers especially. Also, is this a candelight processional package? Are any of those available on your day?

Not fond of CS options at DHS-but Tina offered suggestions, so that's good. I'll have to keep those in mind.

12/18-depending on crowd levels-I use both UG and TGM too. Be sure you're in the stadium early enough to score a seat. You may just want to eat that early dinner at Sci. If you're hungry afterwards someone can always go to the snack stand in the stadium for food. Not sure I'd like either carrying food around nor the possible safety of it for a couple of hours. We did carry desserts in from Mama Melrose's, but our ADR was much later than yours and we went right from dinner to the stadium.

Like the rest days and free days-good idea.