i. Basic Itinerary and Disney Itinerary Design Goals
When to Go Itineraries for the Rest of the Year Basic Itinerary
OVERVIEW
This Walt Disney World itinerary is designed for three specific December weeks.
If you can’t do the Basic Itinerary, see Other Itineraries for alternatives for both the December weeks and all of the rest of the year.
You can review the basic itinerary by clicking on the thumbnail; to enlarge it, when it’s open, click it again a couple of times.
As in all the itineraries on this site, there is also a detailed page for each day of your vacation, with specific instructions for that day.
The links to those pages can be found on the second of the two pages of this entry, the link for which can be found at the end of the text on this page.
ITINERARY DESIGN GOALS
The basic itinerary was designed to meet several goals: to ensure that you
- See the best that Walt Disney World has to offer
- See the parks in the order that works best for kids (essentially Epcot first, as it is potentially the most disappointing, and the Magic Kingdom last, as it is likely to be the best loved)
- Avoid unnecessary waiting (sometimes by being at the parks when they open, but also by using other tactics…)
- Avoid unnecessary traps–for example, when possible, do not attend park-closing fireworks events on the nights that these events…actually close the parks, as you will then be stuck in a crowd of tens of thousands all trying to exit at once
- Have as much time off, and as few early mornings, as practical
- Avoid unnecessary spending–for example, the basic itinerary does not require you to buy the “Park Hopper” option, saving you more than $200
If you can’t do the Basic Itinerary, see Other Itineraries for alternatives for both the December week and the rest of the year.
Click HERE for links to detailed daily itineraries and your To-Do List
GENERAL ITINERARY LINKS
- For itinerary design goals and the basic December Itinerary, see this
- For shorter and longer itineraries targeted at the same December week, see this
- For itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see this
- To design your own itinerary, see this
- For rides that might be skipped, see this
- For a comprehensive guide to rides and attractions, see this
132 comments
Can you list which hotels near WDW and Universal offer smoking rooms or at least a balcony you’re allowed to smoke on? This info is lacking from most hotel websites so results in a whole lot of digging for those of us who smoke!
Pat that’s a great question, and I don’t have an answer. I know that the Howard Johnson at Maingate East had smoking rooms as of January 2010…but it’s far from Universal. See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/27/the-tightwads-guide-to-staying-off-site-at-walt-disney-world/
This seems to me like the kinda question you best can crowd-source. Suggest you raise it on a Disney discussion board like Disboards.com …
Hi Dave – I just LOVE your website! We’re going to WDW Sunday, 9/18 – Saturday, 9/24 and staying at the Polynesian (mainly because of your recommendation, it’s our 1st trip with the kids). What are your thoughts on Extra Magic Hours? Should we avoid going to those parks because of bigger crowds? We didn’t buy the park hopper (FYI). Also, we arrive Sunday late morning, should we avoid going to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday (crowds)? If so, would you recommend Hollywood Studios (so we could have the opportunity to see Fantasmic)? Thanks!
Hi Jennifer! Glad you love the site!
If you don’t have hoppers, morning EMHs are to be avoided, as their parks get quite crowded late morning compared to days without morning EMH. Evening EMH at Epcot are good–that’s Friday for you–as it lets you see Illiminations without you (and 20,000 other people) then immediately leaving the park.
Yes on HS Sunday, for Fantasmic. Avoid AK on Monday and Weds, because of AM EMH, avoid MK Thursday for the same reason, and do Epcot Friday for evening EMH. That means Tuesday at AK, back to the Studios Thursday am, MK Monday and Wednesday, and MK (including Fireworks) on Saturday.
Thanks for the advice! If we can only do one, Fantasmic or Illiminations, what do you suggest? My youngest will be 4 1/2 and want to limit too many late nights (we will stay for MK fireworks for sure).
I think Fantasmic is the best thing at Disney World. For a 4.5 year old, though, it can be intense and scary…though it has a happy ending!
If he’s at all skittish, I’d go with Illuminations, otherwise Fantasmic would be the one I’d pick.
Hi Dave, I am soooo glad I found your site. It’s very helpful. My daughter is turning for December 14th so we are planning our trip either the wk of the 3rd or wk of the 10th… Which would be closer to her bday. She absolutely loves all the Disney characters, but Goofy is her favorite. She talks about him allllll DAY long. It’s so cute!! Anyway, I am getting mixed reviews regarding the weather and parks being open. I am looking to get a hotel with an inside heated pool, but as far as the water parks are they open?? And would you know of a hotel that is great for a 4 year old??
Sorry I meant she’s turning 4 December 14th… Sorry :)
Hi Tara!
None of the DIsney resorts have indoor pools. I don’t know enuf about the hundreds of non Disney hotels to know who might have one–they are rare, as 8 months of the year they are unnecessaryt!
One of the two Disneywaterparks will be open, but if its a really lousy day they will close it too. All of the 4 theme parks will be open every single day.
If you have your heart set on an indoor pool, I’d suggest you work with a travel agent to help you find a hotel with one.
Pros of the first half of December are lower crowds, lower prices, and spectacular Christmas decorations and sepcial events. The weather is the con–it’s very variable, and can be either 75 or 45. See http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/
I’d go in December in a heartbeart…
I am w0rried I am going to exhaust my family on the first day! My husband and I have an 8 and a 10 year old. We will be at WDW Sept 15-19. Yes, it is a tight trip. We will be staying at the Polynesian. Our flight gets in a 10:30am. We will be up around 6am to make the flight.
9/15-MK, dinner at HS and Fastasmic, quick lunch and dinner.
9/16-RD HS, lunch 50′s PT 12:10, break in afternoon. I have a 5:35 and a 7:55 Chef Micky reservation. I need to cancel one. Maybe Epcot after dinner, EMH.
9/17-RD AK in am, Epcot in afternoon. Break @2pm. ADR Garden Grill 5:45, Epcot.
9/18-RD MK, ADR Cinderella’s 11:45. Break@2pm. 5pm ADR Plaza. Parade and Fireworks.
9/19-open? either E or MK. Flight leaves at 4:30
What do you think? Thanks!
Hi Hossie!
My personal take is that you are too busy–too much hopping, too many ADRs. The hops cost you time, and the ADRs limit your flexibility.
The ADRs you have that I’d view as most skippable are the Plaza and Garden Grill (not saying they are bad, just most skippable.)
9/16 is a good night to be at Epcot as with EMH you can see Illuminations without having to leave the park right after. That implies doing the 5.35 Chef Mickey so you can get to EPcot in time for Illuminations at 9.
With that, and with cancelling the Garden Grill, you can take the afternoon of 9/17 off and nap and relax.
I’d continue to keep 9/19 open and decide the nightn before where you want to go…
Hope this helps!! Dave
Thanks, for the advice. I have reworked my schedule for less hoping.
What is your opinion of a first day. I really don’t want to have a quiet first day. Our trip is too short to just relax. I am thinking Animal Kingdom with a quick dinner in Hollywood Studios and Fantasmic. We probably will get to AK around 1pm.
Hi again Hossie!
So long as your visit is longer than three days, I’m a big fan of partial day visits. The way Disney prices tickets, days after your third are almost free- e.g. $5/person/day. Your plan sounds fine…
Hi Dave,
I’m really overwhelmed by our first vist planned for December 6-11. We haven’t booked our rooms yet but did get flights. We will probably be at the Polynesian or the Fort Wilderness Lodge. Are the disney dining packages worth it? I did book the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for the 7th which is also my son’s 6th birthday. My daughter will be almost 8 at time of trip. I’ve read your site but can’t seem to fit into any of the iternaries and am afraid of missing something big. I want to do the hoop de review and Fantasmic but I’m kind of lost after that. Help?!
Hi Sharon!
Let me know the ages of your kids, and your approximate airport arrival and departure times on the 6th and 11th, and I’ll make some suggestions.
The Dining Plan is worth it only if you would do at least one sit-down meal a day anyway, and given how brief your trip is, I’d advise against that…so I’d say no to the dining plan
Hi Dave,
My kids will be 5 and 7 at time of trip though my son’s birthday is during our stay so I would like to do a character meal for his birthday. We arrive on the 6th around 1p.m. and leave early Sunday the 11th . Thanks
Hi Sharon! At that age your kids will be a little less into Epcot which makes things easier.
Suggest Epcot on your arrival date, including Illuminations at 9.30, Magic Kingdom the 7th, with an afternoon break before you return for MVMCP, Animal Kingdom the 8th, Hollywood Studios the 9th (the only night on your trip that Fantasmic is showing) and the Magic Kingdom again on the 10th. Hoop dee Doo fits best the 8th (AK closes at 5p that night)
The character dinner to shoot for on your son’s birthday is the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom. You should also consider doing the Fantasmic Dinner package on the 9th, since with the small number of shows your week you might have to wait two hours otherwise. The dinner package gives you a reserved area and less waiting–eg 30-40 minutes…
This itinerary doesn’t fit your dates and has other comparability problems, but will help you in designing the days themselves: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/shorter-and-longer-itineraries-for-the-december-week/basic-itinerary-5-nights6-days-version/
Hope this helps!! Dave
Thanks Dave, those suggestions are a big help. We are looking forward to a fun visit.
Hi Dave
I am very impressed with your website! We are is South Africa and want to visit DW next year. Our daughter will be 14 then and not a kid anymore but a teenager. Would you still recommend the Polynesian? We plan to go for 10 days. Is that too long?
Hi Janetta! Thanks…
10 days is good. You won’t spend all that time in the parks, but you need some down time between–I recommend a minimum of 9 days…
The hotel question is a great one.
Tell me a little more about your daughter’s interests–watersports?? science and invention? whatever…–and I’ll give you some recommendations. The Poly is a great choice even at her age but there may be better… For family privacy, you might also consider a one bedroom villa–see this http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/special-circumstances/special-circumstances-large-families/more-on-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/the-disney-vacation-club-dvc-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/ and if money is less an issue see also http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/12/28/the-most-comfortable-place-to-stay-at-walt-disney-world-1-the-options/
If you want to feel a little at home, the Animal Kingdom Lodge has probably the US’s best collection of South African wines! Though you could access those by getting a dinner reservation there (at Jiko). See http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/13/review-jambo-house-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge/
I must commend you on your assistance and helpfulness! Daniella loves water sports, and yes, privacy for my husband and myself would be great! I am so glad I found your website because this Disney World is quite a duanting place for rookies like me!! Lookinf forward to you suggestions! This would most probably be a once in a life time visit – so I really want to make the most of it.
Thanks Janetta! Given both your points, I recommend a one-bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary. The Contemporary has tons of water sports available… See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/09/13/review-bay-lake-tower-at-disneys-contemporary-resort/
Dave, you are amazing!! Now that we have sorted the accomodation, we need to tackle the time. Daniella has vacation from 24 March to 9 April 2012 and again from 8 Dec to 15 Jan 2013. I know you recommend early Dec, but will it not be too cold for water sports?
This one’s easy. The March/April dates are during one of the busiest times of the year, so avoid those. See this for more: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/07/11/disney-world-crowds-in-2012-spring-break-2012/
Later December will bring in Xmas crowds–even worse than Easter crowds–and January typically has ride closures…see http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/05/12/winter-ride-closures-at-walt-disney-world/
Your period covers my number 1 week for 2012, so I’d recommend a December 8 2012 arrival date! See http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Yes, this may well limit the watersports–but compared to the crowds that’s a tradeoff I’d advise to 100% of families… see http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/pool-days-november-through-february/
Dave, once again thanks for your valueble advice. Your website will DEFINITELY go out to all my friends, aquintances, family etc,etc!!
…and newspaper and magazine editors…don’t forget them!
We are planning a trip for our then 6 year old daughter from Dec 3 – Dec 10, 2011. We have previously had to cancel a trip but had already put a deposit down to rent a house close to Disney with its on pool. The balance remaining is $900. I have been looking online at the value resorts and dining plans. It looks like for 5 days of tickets (we hope to do some non-Disney parks too) it will be somewhere around $900 +the $900 left for the house…so $1,800. To add the dining plan is some where around $700. Is it worth it to stay at one of the Disney resorts in order to have the dining plan or can we eat for less than that. We will eat at least one “nice” meal a day, I am sure. I am also interested in some Princess dinners for our daughter. I love your site. Thanks for your help. Shonda
Hi Shonda!
You may save a little money on the dining plan given your intent to have a nice meal a day. But it won’t be a lot. It’s really a question of how much more (or less) your hotel vs house costs are. Also note that if you stay at the house, you’ll have to pay $14 a day at Disney for pakring. If you stay at a WDW hotel, parking is free….
Hi Dave!
My husband and I are planning on going to WDW Dec 1 to Dec 12, 2011, and were thinking of going to the Riverside resort. We’ve gone a couple times before-stayed at Animal Kingdom on our honeymoon,,,and Coronado another time we went. Of course I loved AK lodge, but a bit pricey. Would you recommend Riverside for a couple/no kids?
Also, how is French Quarter vs. Riverside?
And do you think a 10 day park hopper is too long?? I can’t imagine, but thought I’d ask.
Thank you,
Steph
Hi Stephenie!
Yes I would–and particularly French Quarter. Riverside is as spread out as Coronado Springs, but French Quarter is compact and lovely.
See this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/10/23/review-disneys-port-orleans-french-quarter-resort/ and also this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/25/personal-favorites-the-moderate-resorts/
Re the ten day hopper–remember that you can add days during your trip at no more cost than it would be to buy them now. Given that, I’d probably get fewer than ten and add more if needed once there…
Hi Dave,
We are going to be in WDW November 29 thru December 4. I have reserved the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review (1st night at 6:15 pm), Royal Castle Cinderella Breakfast (9:05 am of the 3rd day), and Chef Mickey (7:15 morning of 2nd day) for our stay…we are using the Magic Your Way Plus Dining, do you think we should change it to the Deluxe Dining based on using the dining plan to pay for the reservations above? Our daughter is 2 (will be 3 in mid-December).
PS – There are 4 adults and one child (my daughter going and staying at Ft. Wilderness).
Also, if you have any suggestions for itinerary, that would be fantastic! It’s a little overwhelming trying to plan, but so exciting too!!!
Thanks so much for your help, it is greatly appreciated!!! We’re soooo excited now that we’re finally booked : )
Christine
Chrisitne–I’ll get back to you on suggested parks in a day or so.
Re the deluxe dining plan, you need to prcie out the extra cash costs vs what you’d pay for the deluxe plan. I find most people find the deluxe plan to be much more expensive than the regular plan plus the incremental cash costs…but it varies by what you plan to do!
Hi here’s my thoughts. You need to buy “Park Hoppers” to make this work–another $50 or so per person…let me know if you can’t. (The park hopper is because the only night Fantasmic is showing at the Studios is the same am you are doing Cindy at the MK, if I am interpreting “3rd day Cindy” correctly as Thurs the 1st…)
Weds the 30th: if you arrive in time go to the Studios before Hoop dee Doo
Thurs the 1st MK morning EMH and then Cindy and then more MK, but hopping to Studios to arrive by 5p to get in line for 6.30 Fantasmic
Fri the 2nd Epcot monring and evening, with Illuminaitons and evening Extra Magic hours
Sat the 3rd MK in morning and evening, with evening parade and fireworks
Sun the 4th AK or Studios–you pick!
THANK YOU SO MUCH DAVE!!!! Your suggestions have been incredibly helpful, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Have a wonderful day!
Christine
Christine, you’re welcome, and have a wonderful trip! Come back here when you are done and post about how it went! Dave
What a fun site with such great advice! My girls are 10 & 6 and my son is 2 1/2. This is our first trip to Disney (first big trip ever). We are going 9/21-9/27. My family had a rough couple of years and I want to celebrate my kids with as much magic as we can. We arrive 10:30 am on 21st and our plane is 7:30pm on 9/27. We are staying at Pop Century. We have so much we want to do. We are really considering the Not So Scary Halloween Party. I am not sure if is too late for my 2 year old. To save money, we didn’t do the park hopper option and we have the quick service meal plan. I somehow forgot about booking the CD : ( I did get breakfast at Crystal Palace on 22 and 23rd. If we do Halloween Party we would need to do the 23rd and cancel the 22nd. Do you find that any cancellations open slots this close to our arrival dates? I would LOVE any itinerary advice or any other first time advice.
THANK YOU!!
Stacey it may take a day or to for me to get back to you on this…
Hi Stacey, I’m back a little quicker than I’d thought I’d be.
Couple of things: cancellations happen, but I wouldn’t bet on them.
I don’t think the halloween party is worht the money–even for kids older than your 1.5 year old! See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/27/halloween-2011-at-walt-disney-world/
The 23rd is best at Epcot, which has PM EMH which makes it easier for you to see Illuminations.
The 22nd at MK (for your other Crystal Palace) is so-so. It has am EMH that day, so after 11 or so it will be a little more corwded than normal. That said, this is a very uncrowded time!
I’d go start at MK your arrival day, come back in the late afternoon for a nap, and then return for the evening parade and fireworks.
The 24th go to AK, and the 25th to HS. On the 26th return to your favorite park…
Hope this helps!! Dave
Hi we are planing a trip to wdw which is our first trip it is a surprise for the kids which are 12, 9 she is special needs also anda 7 year old we are arriving early to mid on dec 23rd 2012 and leaving mid to late on dec 29th 2012 we are looking for any all all help/advice anyone can give us so please help we do not know what days to do what my girls are into Disney as well as my son he went with his grandparents when he was 3 but this time he will not forget this trip is a long time of planing and saving for the perfect time we do want to suprise them as this is going to be the Christmas gift however we will do some little things in hotel room my husband is a chef and so we like to eat all types of food and my children are not pickey eaters either we are flying and will not have a car and are not going to go to anything that is not Disney plus the day we arrive we will not go to the park because it would be too much for the kids as well as the last day unless you think the 1st day would be worth it we are not getting hopper passes thats too much hopping for my daughter with special needs but since we are staying at disney do we still get the early morning hrs and late night hrs if available also? thank you so much i just want this trip to be something they will remember forever i went when i was young at christmas time and it was the best christmas
Hi Jennifer!
That is the absolute worst time of the year to go. It is both the msot expensive time and the most crowded time to be there.
All of Disney’s Xmas program is in place by the day after Thanksgiving, so I’d strongly recommend rescheduling your trip.
For picking your weeks, see this:http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
For more on the Christmas season at WDW see this http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/05/29/christmas-2011-at-walt-disney-world/ It’;s about 2011, but applies to 2012 as well
Hi. Thanks for the great site!! Anybody else reporting not being able to enlarge the “Basic Itinerary v2″ info? I have not been able to.
Hi Victoria and thanks for the catch! Try it now and let me know what you think…
Hi Dave!
I am planning kids first Disney trip. We will be going April 9-13, 2012. I know this is a very busy time, but the only time it works for us. Kids are 11 and 12. What do you suggest as must do and see in our time frame. We are staying at Pop Century.
Not sure of flight times yet.
Thanks!
Hi Lorie!
See the right side of the image on this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
Those are the favorites!
Hi Dave!
I just came across your site and may I say it is WONDERFUL!!! This is our 1st trip to Disney, I have had this booked since January. My two children have no idea, we are surprising them the morning we fly out. So it is going to be a BIG morning! We have 4 day park tickets for November 19th, 2oth,21st, and 22nd. I was just wondering what day would be best to visit each park.. We would love to see the parades and night celebrations. Any advice would be great!
Hi Julie! Because you are going during a busy and crowded time, the parades and fireworks are easy to see. If you want to see each of the parks, I’d advise MK the 19th, HS the 20th, Epcot the 21st, and AK the 22nd. However, if your kids are little (<8) I’d skip Epcot and add a second day at MK the 21st. Hope this helps and thanks for the kind words about the site! Dave
Hi Dave,
We are scheduling a last minute trip for Disney next week and staying at the Hilton on Int’l Blvd. We have 4 full days available (Sat Oct 15th-Tuesday Oct 18th). I can see from your wonderful blog that planning ahead is key. We have 3 boys ranging in age from 5-11 and would love some advise on which parks to visit on which days . Here are my questions: Is 4 parks in 4 days too much and if not, does it make sense to park hop? I also see from your blogs that dining with a character is an option.. can you tell me what that entails and how you make a reservation? I am purchasing tickets through my company and it looks like I get free passes to the water parks if I purchase a 4 day ticket.. which ones are the best for my boys based on their age? I believe the hotel is outside of Disney so would you recommend driving or taking the shuttle (price vs. convenience)?
Hi JJ!
For the parks, go to MK the 15th, HS the 16th, and AK the 17th. Return to your favorite–likely MK–the 18th, and, given the age of your kids, skip Epcot.
While you may get a free waterpark pass, the waterparks are not nearly as good as the theme parks, so I would not waste time on a waterpark.
For character dining–which will be hard to set up given your time frame–use the WDW website here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/
For suggested character meals, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/character-meals-and-dinner-shows-ranked-in-order/
I think the Hilton probably has adequate transport. What you can do is once you are there, if you find its bus service too limited, is rent a car there…
Hope this helps and have a great trip!! Dave
I’ve been so totally overwhelmed by Disney planning! Your site has been amazing help but I still have questions. Our big hurdle is being a family w/6 kids, 7 of us plus an infant (mom/dad/girls 16,14,12/boys 9,7). We were going to rent an RV & stay at FW campground but hubby can’t imagine being that cramped. So, i’ve read that you suggest 2 rooms @ Polynesian or Wilderness. With the fall room rates at 30% off we might spring for it through AAA/WDW. Our dates are arrive Nov 27-Dec 2 departure… both resorts available with similar prices. I was going to go with Pop Century but hubby holding COMFORT at top of list. We will have a pack&play in room with us. Any thoughts on helping us choose would be great. Also, i assumed we would take advantage of extra magic hours but i see you caution against this? Should we be worried about the crowd level during this week or does that not necessarily apply? I’m hoping the transportation will be less congested as well? Appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
Hi Stephanie, did you see this page http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/20/deluxe-options-for-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/ ?
Extra Magic Hours are great first thing, but later in the day the park is more crowded than it would be on a non-EMH day.
You may see a bit of residual crowds from Thanksgiving the 27th, but otherwise it will be a great week!!
How would this itinerary vary if we were staying at a non-Disney hotel. We will be taking a water taxi from our hotel, and it is supposedly a very short ride to Epcot. We will have two parents, four grandparents (all get around well), and a 7 & 4.5 year old. Another change from what you recommend is that we’re arriving and departing DW on Tuesdays (12/26/11 thru 1/3/12).
Thanks
Hi Tim,
A couple of things: first, this itinerary does not works for you rweeks– for the first part of your week see this (even though it’s titled summer, it works for high crowd weeks) http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/06/summer-itinerary-for-walt-disney-world-v2/ and also this:http://yourfirstvisit.net/required-itinerary-changes-for-later-december-2011/
For the second part see http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/itineraries-for-the-rest-of-the-year/v2-of-2009-autumn-winter-spring-itinerary/
Second, I’m guessing from your description that you are staying at the swan or the dolphin, if so you don’t need to change anything beyond adapting the days. The days are specific, Friday means Friday…
Booked our rooms @ polynesian on your suggestion, got free dining too! I’m trying to nail down our parks itinerary for the week of Monday 11/28 (arrival 11/27@3:00) – Friday 12/2 (fly out Fri night).We have 6 kids…girls 16,14,12, boys 9&7, plus baby. Kids are very excited about hitting the rides mostly, but interested in mermaid, bug, lion king shows, maybe the car stunt show in HS if you think it’s worth the effort with this group. They would love all firework & light shows, and probably one evening at Downtown Disney. We want to take advantage of the extra magic hours and the kids are pretty tough when it comes to long days of fun. When I compare WDW calendars to your nov 2011/autumn itineraries I get a bit confused. And we don’t have a Saturday in our plan so that throws a wrench into things…I would sure appreciate your ideas for us on that week. The kids are also lobbying for Typhoon Lagoon but I don’t think there’s time for that this trip. I’m hoping the resort pools will be enough water fun.
Thanks for this incredible website!
Heya Stephanie given what you note here’s my recommendation:
On the 27th go to HS right after you check in and stay for evening EMH and Fantasmic. On the 28th, MK, including evening EMH and fireworks/parade. On the 29th AK, and the 30th Epcot, including evening holiday illuminations. Hold the 1st, and the am of the 2nd, for returning to one of these parks (likely HS and/or MK), and/or, if the kids insist, going to a waterpark.
Hi, Dave,
Great site! We are bringing our 12-year-old niece for our first WDW trip on MLK holiday week, Jan.15–21, her only time available. Arrive Sunday noon and leave early Sat. a.m. We plan to stay at Disney resort property for the week, but want one day at Universal for Harry Potter. Which day of that holiday week would you recommend for Harry Potter, and what suggestions do you have for covering the highlights of WDW the rest of the days? Should we buy park-hopper passes to make the most of our limited time?
Thanks,
Joan
Hi Joan! This is a tricky week within your constraints given the possible crowds over Sunday and Monday (the rest of the week shoudl be fine!). I’d suggest MK on your arrival date, to see the evening parade and fireworks, Epcot on Monday, AK Tuesday, back to MK weds, HS Thursday, and Harry Potter Friday morning. Return to MK after Harry. You don’t need a hopper to make this work.
For hitting the highlights read through the itineraries here, focusing on what they suggest you do first! http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/ See also the right side of the graphic here: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
Thanks, Dave. Your WDW non-hopper itinerary looks great for us! One possible exception is that we are considering skipping HS altogether Thursday and moving over to Universal resort instead for Thursday/Friday nights so we can have TWO early admission Harry Potter mornings.
Several questions about this potential plan:
1) Are the perks of staying at Universal worth the time and trouble of moving hotels mid-week?
2) How helpful is the early admission feature to wizarding world since I understand that express pass does not work for Forbidden Journey? Does the early admission just get you in line for the ride earlier than outside guests? Or time in the Hogsmeade village before it gets packed?
3) How long do you anticipate wait for Forbidden Journey would be that time of year? In other words, if we spend just one day at Universal as opposed to staying overnight, would we be likely be able to ride it several times in that day without horrendous waits?
4) Aside from the Harry Potter exhibit, how do the other attractions at Universal stack up compared to HS for a 12-year old? Is it worth a two-day stay?
Joan
Hi again Joan!
First, you get two days of early entry for one night at a Universal hotel–the day you check in, and the day you check out. You can check in at 7a (obviously you can’t get to your room) and get the room keys that allow you to enter early.
Second–I do strongly advise it. It makes a huge difference for the Wizarding World, and particularly for Ollivanders.
Third: there’s lots of relevant stuff in the material that begins here:
http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/12/13/summary-of-instructions-for-your-first-family-visit-to-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/
Finally, the rest of Universal is framed (mostly) around thrill rides–wild roller coasters, very cool and scary other attractions. I’d say that unless your daughter is a proven big coaster fan the studios are a better choice than the rest of Universal…if she were 15 I’d recommend the other way…
Hi Dave! Looking for advice on how to spend about 4 days in Disney World with our son(20) and daughter(24). We will be in FL to attend our daughter’s graduation from PT school on 12/9/11 and want to celebrate the holiday season and her graduation at Disney. Our time there is unfortunately limited, with arrival at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek planned for Sat. 12/10. We visited Disney World several times when the kids were younger and would love your help now as we feel like newbies again. It has been about 12 years since our last visit, and so much has changed, including our children!
We plan to purchase Park Hopper Passes and are considering MVMCP if you think we would enjoy it and could fit it in our tight schedule. We would love to attend the various Christmas events, parades, and fireworks, along with activities that would suit our now “older” family who still loves Disney! We are considering spending one of the days at Universal since our son is a Harry Potter and roller coaster fan. Do you think we can fit in a day at Universal? What sort of schedule would you suggest for us on the following days?
Arrival: Sat. 12/10 – about noon
Full days: Sun. 12/11 – Wed. 12/14
Check out Thurs. morning.
Any help for which parks/shows to hit which day, would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! I want this trip to be special; with the kids in college and our work schedules, it has been a long time since the four of us have been able to coordinate our schedules to all be together again vacationing as a family! By the way…we have never visited Disney in the winter, only the heat of the summer! Looking forward to the decorations and holiday spirit! Thanks Dave! Your site is wonderful!
Laurie
Hi Laurie! Yours is a pretty tight schedule, but you’ll have a great time anyway.
I’d skip the hopper–you don’t need it.
Here’s my suggested days:
12/10: MK asap, and do rides during the fireworks and parade
12/11: Epcot, including illuminations,and try to get in to the Candlelight Processional. Suggest taking the afternoon off.
12/12: Hollywood Studios, including the Osbourne xmas lights and Fantasmic
12/13: Animal Kingdom
12/14: Harry Potter, then MVMCP including the fireworks and parade.
For which rides to target, see the right side of this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
Hope this helps and have a great trip!
This definitely helps! Thanks again!
Have a great trip, Laurie!
Hi again Dave! Our plans have changed slightly from my previous posting. After an afternoon check-in, we will spend our first evening (Sat. 12/10) visiting Downtown Disney and various resorts. Our last day in Orlando will now be Thurs. 12/15, and we will spend this one at Universal. I have checked dates for MVMCP at MK and the Candlelight Procession at Epcot (We’d like to see narrator Neil Patrick Harris who is scheduled for 12/11 and 12/12.) and have come up with the following possible schedules which include these events on the days we would visit the respective parks since we would not be park hopping as per your previous advice. Do these schedules look good to you? And if so, which one do you think would be better considering park crowds, the Christmas events, and the day of the week?
Days Schedule 1: or Schedule 2:
Sun 12/11 Epcot(Candlelight) or MK (MVMCP)
Mon 12/12 Hwd. Studios or Epcot(Candlelight)
Tues 12/13 MK (MVMCP) or Hwd. Studios
Wed 12/14 Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom
I am choosing Animal Kingdom rather than any other park for our last day, since we may not want to spend a late evening at a park that night since we will be up early the next morning to head to Universal!
Your help is much appreciated. We are so excited about our trip!
Thanks for helping!
Laurie
Hi Laurie–I’m not keen on AK the 14th, as you will be arriving on an Extra Magic Hours morning, so the park will be busy when you arrive and really busy by late morning. For the three days before, either schedule looks good!
Hey Dave,
Your site is fantastic. The information is useful to anyone planning a Disney vacation. It has inspired me to blog my own vacation planning process. I’ll send you a link when it goes live.
Here’s my question: Is Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party worth the cost for a young married couple with no kids? The plan is to arrive on 12/10/2012
Thanks a million!
Hi Aaron, it’s a tough call. What you get is special fireworks, which are great, lower crowds, and a fun, festive atmosphere. If one or both of you really loves Christmas and its pagentry, it will be a fun experience and a charming memory…but what’s your next best use of the money you’d spend to attend…
Hey Dave,
I was on the fence. I was worried it would be a mob scene. It sounds like a great time, we’re going for it!
Yeah because they only sell 25k tix, it’s not too bad a mob. Have a great trip, and send me a link to your planning! Dave
Dave,
I was going to buy Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party tickets for the 18th, but I waited too long and they’re all sold out. Is there another means to procure tickets? Or do folks resale tickets? DO I have and hope for my family…
Thanks
Hi Matt! I’ve seen posts on disboards.com from people looking to buy and sell MVMCP tix…because of the fraud risk, I’d only buy from someone who has a LOT of posts there…
Hi Dave, I am in a bit of a pickle! In our previous chat you recommended that I book at the Bay Lake Tower (1 Bedroom) for 10 days arriving 8 Des 2012. I thought booking only opens 12 months in advance. When I checked the Bay Lake today, it says there is no accomodation available for those dates! What now?
Hi Janetta!
You can book 500 days out–see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/02/21/how-far-in-advance-can-you-book-a-walt-disney-world-vacation/
Remind me what you were looking for and I’ll suggest some alternatives…sorry this one didn’t work!
I am just a bit perplexed because the Disney World reservations says I can only book up to 31 Dec 2012 which is far less than 500 days! Anyway, we are a faimly of three: my husband and I and our teenage daughter of 14. We want to go in your suggested 10 bday period starting 8 Dec 2012. We also want family privacy. That is why you suggested the 1 br. Do you think I must try your travel agent?
Hi for the next best one-bedroom options ranked in order, see this page http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/special-circumstances/special-circumstances-large-families/more-on-large-families-at-walt-disney-world/the-disney-vacation-club-dvc-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/
Re the 500 days–you can’t do 500 on the website, only on the phone or via a travel agent. Many Disney reservationists–and even travel agents!–don’t know about the 500 day rule….
Hi Dave
I managed to find a 1 bedroom villa at the Polynesian for our 9 nights. Two more questions: I see on your basic itinerary that we visit only one kingdom per day – so do we not need to get a Park Hopper ticket? Then I would also like you to point me to your 9 night (10 day) itinerary. We are also cosidering checking into a hotel near the airport the day before we enter Disney to allow us to get over our jetlag – we are flying in from South Africa. Will we be able to catch the Disney Express from the airport even though we landed the day before?
Hi Janetta!
Couple of things: for the 9-night itinerary, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/shorter-and-longer-itineraries-for-the-december-week/basic-itinerary-more-relaxed-version/ You do not need a hopper for this.
You probably already know this, but what you have at the Poly is not a villa but a suite. The basic difference is that at a suite you do not get a full kitchen, but do get concierge service. For more see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/12/28/the-most-comfortable-place-to-stay-at-walt-disney-world-1-the-options/
Re using the Disney express after checking in elsewhere, I’m not sure. I’d think you are eligible for it your day of Disney check in, not your date of plane arrival…but am not sure. If you can’t use it, cab fare will cost you ~$70. There is a hotel in the Orlando airport–I think it’s a Hyatt…
Oh yes we have 5 day hoppers
The park hoppers help, as they let you return to a different park if the first park you visited in a day closes…
Hi Dave,
I LOVE YOUR SITE! It is so helpful. We’re set to go to Disney World/Universal 12/30-1/5 and this will be our first time with our 3 children ages 22, 20 and 16 + my parents both 74. We will be staying at an offsite property in Kissimmee FL (Wyndham Cypress Palms) and have booked for a car rental. What kind of itinerary would you recommend from 12/31 through 1/4? The other 2 days (12/30 and 1/5) are for travel. We’ve been to Disneyland in CA 4 times and my kids are more interested in thrill rides while my parents just want to be there and take photos, lol. We want to be at the best place to watch the New Year’s Eve Fireworks, possibly not crazily crowded.
Please advise, any suggestions, tips for best budget on park tickets would be greatly appreciated. I hope to hear from you soon!
Best regards,
SDVA from New York
Thank you SO much for this site! Here’s my dilemma: 5 kids with these ages: 14, 11, 9, 2, and <1. We'll be at WDW April 29-May 5, but where should we stay? The Contemporary appeals to me so that I can sneak away with the two little kiddos for daily afternoon naps. However, our big kids are rather big, and we don't want to be "stuffed" into a room, cuz we'll still have the stroller, diaper bags, etc. So our top priorities are convenience and a roomy room. What's the best deal in light of those priorities? Thanks much!
Hi SDVA, and thanks!
Crowds will be appalling through the morning of the 2nd. The best thrill rides are at Epcot, AK, and HS. Suggest AK the 3rd and HS the 4th. For NYE, try Epcot, but see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/05/30/new-years-eve-20112012-at-walt-disney-world/ Do MK the other days, not expecting to ride much after noon… and arrive at least 45 mins before the parks open!
For ideas on the best at the parks, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
Oh–and what about the water parks? For a 7-day trip, should I buy maybe a 4-day magic your way pass and a 3 day water park & more pass?
Hi Rhonda! Are yuo draggin along a husband as well? Standard Disney rooms sleep 4 or 5, and they won’t let you add another (except a kid under 3.) For links to options for families that won’t fir these sizes, see this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/special-circumstances/special-circumstances-large-families/
Rhonda most families find even 6 days in the theme parks not enough, and needa t least one full day off.
I’d skip the waterparks option until you arrive and have a better sense of the scope of WDW. You can start with 4 days of theme park passes and add more days at no extra cost compared to buying them now so long as you buy the extra days no later than the 4th day you use the theme park tickets…extra theme park days cost on the order of $9/day/person…
Dave. Please help. We are going to surprise our 9yr old son for his birthday with trip to wdw in early feb. unsure about how long to stay and should we avoid weekends. We want to do universal to see Harry potter. Very confused. Please help
Hi Adam! If this may be your ONLY visit, see http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/how-long-to-stay/ If you know you can return soon–in the next year or two, plan for a minimum of 6 days–one in each of the four WDW theme parks, one at Universal for Harry Potter, and one off…
We are arriving 12/11 out on 12/18 we would like to go to the Merry Christmas Party & enjoy as many Christmas events as we can. We haven’t been to Disney before. I’m a single mom taking my 20 yr old son, 16 yr son & 12 yr daughter. Any tips you can give us for planning to see the special holiday events would be very helpful.
Hi Lisa! Disney’s December schedules won’t be out til May or June, and the MVMCP dates even later than that. IN the meantime, take a look at this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/basic-itinerary-daily-links/ and also this (for 2011 but a good guide until the 2012 specifics come out): http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/05/29/christmas-2011-at-walt-disney-world/
Hi Dave
I think this site is amazing!!!…there is just nothing else like it!- you have done a great job
We have planned a trip from 5/4/12- 26/4/12 Easter.
|We are staying at Emerald Island Resort in a villa for 3 weeks and have 14 day tickets for all parks Universal/Disney/busch gardens, water parks etc.. except wet & wild.
Reservations so far are:
Sunday 15th April Cinderella table res at 18:45pm
Sunday 22nd April Discovery cove all day
We are a family of 4, children are 11 and 5, 5 year old measures 42inches.
I am trying to make sure we visit everywhere worth visting, but also actually relax!?..its a 3 week break and its an 8hr flight from the UK, we have never been before.
Do you have any advice for must do’s..and how to use your plans but across 3 weeks, bearing in mind some of it is Easter.
Also planning to have a food delivery from Garden grocer!?- worth it?..
Thanks in advance for any advice
Fiona
Hi Fiona, and thanks!
For an extended itinerary, see the example on the bottom of this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/02/24/the-comfortable-guide-to-how-long-to-stay-at-walt-disney-world/ It won’t suit your days or dates, but gives you a starting point, and has some links at the bottom with further help.
Must dos for Disney are here: (the right side) http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
The Easter crowds will disappear beginning April 15 at the latest, and possibly a few days before. As much as you can, push your park visits til after those dates…
Garden Grocer is worth it if you don’t have a rental car. If you have a rental–or want to get one for shopping–see this, which includes local grocery stores: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/08/30/the-tightwads-guide-to-how-to-eat-at-walt-disney-world/
Hope this helps and have a great visit! Dave
Which itinerary and To Do List should I use for a trip in October 2012? Thanks
Sorry Dave,
I feel very bad for posting ANOTHER message. The more I read, the more questions arise. As I’ve said in a previous message, this is my family’s first time and b/c of my job, my husband’s job, and my son’s school schedule, our time frame is very tight. (10/18-10/22) Could you please suggest an itinerary where we could maximize our time and experience? Thank you. Things I’d like to squeeze in are:
1. MK
2. Universal
3. Dinner at Cinderella’s Castle
4. Epcot
5. A character brkfst/lunch/or dinner
6. Cirque Du Soleil for adults
7. SeaWorld
8. A dinner show
Hi Sheena–as noted earlier, I won’t have itineraries out for October until Disney releases its October calendar–likely late March. When they are out, you’ll be able to find them on this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/basic-itinerary/alternative-itineraries/
Sheena, I can tell you that your are trying to do too much in the time frame you have. Tell me the ages of your kids, and whether you think you’ll have a chance to return in the next 3-5 years, and I’ll help you focus…
Hi Dave, would like to say what a fab site you have here. I am planning a hol to DW arriving on 12/20/2012 through to 01/03/2013 and there will be 4 adults. we will be staying in a villa in Davenport and are looking for somewhere to spend NYE. Can you suggest anywhere? My husband will be driving most of the holiday so would like to be able have a drink so I had thought of booking into a disney hotel for NYE. Is all the action at the parks or is there anything at City Walk. Also we were looking to do something other than the parks while we are in Orlando, I have heard someone mention a ranch that is nearby with many activities, do you know of anything? We will be hiring a car so travel would not be a problem.
Thanks in advance, Tina
Hi Tina, and thanks! I’m sorry to say that I don’t know about much other than Disney World itself.
Hi Dave, thank you for the prompt reply. Going on what you said we are thinking of spending NYE in either Epcot or HS. I look to see if there are any hotels so may book one of these any recommendations? We will want to be able to book in early to get into the parks, Tina
Hi Tina! The best choice is one of the Epcot resorts, as from these you can walk to either Epcot or HS. The BoardWalk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club are the Disney resorts at Epcot. The Swan and Dolphin are also options…
Thank you very much for your help Dave. I really appreciate it
Tina
Tina, glad to help and have a great trip!
Hi Dave, I totally agree with you! We are considering moving our vacation to the first week of June 2013. I’m a teacher and from what I’m reading, it sounds best. I can stay for over a week and it will give us more time to do the things we want. We are going with some other family members. It will be 14 total (6 adults) Kids are 5, 9, 10, 11, 12). Are those dates better or will it be too crowded?
Sheena, the June date is OK, but the October dates are better!
Hi Dave,
Thanks again for your attentiveness and wonderful site! I know the Oct. dates are better, I think about that every time I begin to make more plans for the trip. My dilemma was that in June, We could spend more days (possibly the much needed 8 days) but the Oct. dates I could only spend 3/4 nights since I can’t take time off from school (teacher) for vacation time. Ughhhh….Is is worth it to sacrifice the less busy crowds in order to spend more time at WDW?
Oh Sheena, you are right–I had forgotten how few days worked for you in Oct. Go for June!!!
LOVE YOUR SITE! Thank you so much! Now for the question…
We have booked a 5 night, 6 day trip for WDW 5/6-5/11. 2 adults and 2 boys ages 4, and 5.5. We are driving from Savannah, GA, so I feel that we can be in Orlando by about 4:00 on 5/6. We are staying at POR and have the regular dining plan.
I have booked 6 days of tickets and would like to “something” that night. I was thinking of booking at Chef Mickey’s for that night to start the trip off with some character interaction, but what do you think of hitting up HS that night? Its the park we are least excited about, but the kids love the characters that are there. Too much? Will we be able to enjoy it and not have to go back? Also, if you dont mind, what do you suggest for the rest of the days? Im conflicted about what parks to do when as we dont fit neatly into your itinerary (which is wonderful and helpful). I want to MK at least 2 days and not have to rush. Thanks SOOOO much!
Hi Eva!
There’s not much at HS (and hardly anything at Epcot) for boys that age. (See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/ By that time, lines are long… I’d advise instead getting early dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Revue, and then the Magic Kingdom for the evening parade and fireworks.
The rest of the week you need three mornings at MK, and maybe one each at AK and HS. Also consider getting a babysitter and having the two of you got to Epcot in the evening for dinner and fireworks (if you go to another park that same day, you’d have to buy a park hopper, so that may make this idea too expensive….)
There aren’t a lot of bad days, so I’m going to suggest parks to avoid rather than parks to go to:
5/6: Avoid MK unless just for the parade and fireworks
5/7: Avoid HS and AK
5/8: Avoid Epcot
5/9 Avoid AK
5/10 Avoid MK
5/11 Avoid Epcot
Hope this helps! Dave
it does help! Thank you so much! This site has helped me plan my trip more than any other one one the web. Awesome job
Thanks, Eva, and have a great trip!
Good morning! My husband and I will be taking our 4 year old to Disney the last week in May for 6 days. We plan to do all the parks with Magic Kingdom being the 2nd and last day there. What other park would you suggest we spend a sencond day at?I could not decide between AK or HS.
Hi Ashley!
There’s not much at the other parks for a 4 year old, certainly not enough for 2 days, so I’d advise at nost 1 day each at the non-MK parks and 3 days at MK. Consider skipping Epcot entirely and taking that day off!
See this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
Hi Dave! My husband and 10yr old son are planning to visit WDW either in Sept or oct and we have absolutely no clue where to even start. We are hoping to spend 7-10 days. My son loves waterparks so we’d be interested in Blizzard beach/Typhoon Lagoon as well. Universal and Sea world are a must as well. Can you just give me some tips as to how long we should plan for each park, some must sees or do’s…my son wouldn’t be interested in any character stuff and we don’t need any fancy meals on a daily basis. I’m completely lost with figuring out any kind of budget or where to even start lol! Any advice would help!!! Thanks!
Hi Charita, you’re in the right place. Just start on the home page and work your way down… http://yourfirstvisit.net/
Hi Dave!
Your site has been a huge help for my family as we are leaving for WDW next Friday, 3/23 and staying through Tuesday. We have a 6 and 3 year old. We do not have hopper passes and figured 2 days we would spend at MK, 1 day at AK and our last day just at the hotel pool since we have an early afternoon flight back home. Would you suggest spending the one remaining day we have at Epcot or Hollywood? I heard great things about both, but also concerned that there may not be enough at Epcot for my kids to last a whole day. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Jaime and thanks! Glad the site has helped.
Definitely not Epcot, and maybe not even the Studios. Suggest you astay open to returning to MK or AK on that last day, and make the decision the day before.
If at that time you feel you’ve covered them, then the Studios is the next best bet…see the bottom rows of the image on this page for rides attractive to kids the age of yours: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
Thanks, Dave!
One more question if you mind…
We have a 5 day pass (not hooper)…if we wanted to visit two different parks in one day using 2 different tickets, is that possible?? Wondering if the passes are dated so that you truly can only enter one park per day….
Hi Jaime, ask away! No, you can’t–your ticket is coded and tracked, so they know once you’ve entered a park…and once entered, that’s the only one you can be in that day without a hopper
hi dave!thanks for coming up with this site.its a huge help for people like me who has no idea of what to expect at WDW.my husband & I with our 2kids ages 3 & 10 mo kids are driving from NY to FL, expecting to arrive in orlando on may 18&will stay until may 28.im attending a conference on may 21 to 24 so we have may 18-20 & 25-28 to visit WDW.please give me advise on how to spend our time to on all 4 parks.im planning to do character meals like cinderella, crystal palace,chef mickey
hi again dave,i hit the submit button by mistake!to continue;
i would like to know if the dinning plan would be a good idea for us. it will be our 1st time to go to WDW & might be the last.my 3 y/o daughter is sooo excited about this trip.what else can we do to make it a very memorable trip for her?for the hotel,im not sure if we will stay in disney resort or outside for the reason i wanted a spacious room but with less price.what can u say about doubletree at dismey or the one at seaworld and the wyndham hotel?lastly,do u think its still possible to go to universal for a day?
thanks so much in advance.i hope u dont get confused with so many questions
Hi Charo–this is in reply to your first comment.
Frankly, for kids the age of yours, there’s not much outside of the Magic Kingdom of interest, so you may want to reconsider the “see all 4 parks” idea. See the bottom row of this chart–which is designed for kids even older than yours: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/09/the-comprehensive-guide-to-walt-disney-world-rides-and-attractions/
They should enjoy the character meals though!
Hi Charo! First, you can’t get the dining plan if you don’t stay at a Disney Resort. Second, there’s so mnay hotels in the area that I focus only on the WDW resorts themselves, so have no comment to offer on the Doubletree or Wyndham.
You can go to Universal for a day, but there’s next to nothing there for kids the ages of yours…
Hi Dave, this is me and my family first visit to wdw. I have a 7 year old girl and a 5 year old boy. We are staying at the wilderness lodge from sept.18-25. I have already booked all of my dining for the week. T-Rex lunch Tuesday, akershus dinner on wed (do epcot),chef Mickey breakfast (do MK) thursday, Friday AK then spirit of aloha for dinner (8:00), sat HS then we have dinner Hollywood and vine (fantasmic show). Sunday we either have lunch or dinner at the whispering canyon cafe at our resort ( I was thinking going to MK come back for lunch and relax and then go back during the magic hours), Monday dinner at 1900 park fare ( I was thinking MK or?). All said and done I have booked my package with the 7 day ticket + park hopper. The more I talk to people the more I get confused. Some people say not to get the hopper and others say yes. From my schedule above I really can’t see me and my family going from one park to another. What do you think? Also I priced out taking out the hopper and adding an extra day, it was only about a hundred dollars more. I really do want to be able to find the happy medium so we can enjoy the parks and our resort. Thanks!
Hi Grace! It looks like you are targeting parks on their EMH days.
For morning extra magic hours this can be a bad idea, as while the first 60-120 minutes are great, the park is more crowded the rest of the day than it would be on a non-EMH day. Some people handle this with hoppers–they start at an am EMH park, and hop away later when it gets too crowded. (Evening Extra Magic hours are both less of a benfeit and less of a problem, and I like them for Illuminations and Fantasmic nights.)
If the thought doesn’t drive you crazy, I’d either 1. reconceive your days to avoid am EMH days, and skip the hopper, or 2 keep the hopper, but assume you are hopping away from the morning EMH park and hence not dining there that evening. Either of these apporaches may require you to change some of your ADRs…
Coupla more thoughts–the luau is skippable, and if you do a breakfast, schedule it as late as you can (e.g. 10.30), as the low-crowd first hours in the parks are too valuable to spend dining…
We are planning a Disney trip arriving at noon on Nov 21 and leaving Nov 26 am. We are making reservations at Polynesian. 2 grandparents, 4 parents and children ages 15, 14, 11, 10, 6. Tenatively plan MK on Wed, AK or HS on Thurs (relaxing part of day at Pollynesian) MK on Fri, AK or Epcot on Sat (children not too fond of Epcot), MK on Sun. Is this a good plan? Purchasing dining plan. ???Crystal Palace Wed, Trails End Thurs (then to HS for the lights?) Ohana’s Fri, Chef Mickeys breakfast Sat and Sun something at MK maybe Liberty Tree Tavern or back to Polynesian Kona (?) Is this a good plan? Would love your input!! Thank you, Dave!!!
Hi Diane! Things will be quite crowded during Thanksgiving Week, but your overall approach looks great to me. The only thing that looks unusual to me is Trail’s End–curious why you picked that one…
No particular reason – just tried to avoid MK on Thursday. Some of the family had just never been to Fort Wilderness. How will it be to get from Polynesian to Fort Wilderness to HS in one afternoon? Not sure of the logistics for this choice. We are open to suggestions. Would a dining plan restaurant at HS work better? We had wanted to hang out at resort on Thurs morning. Our grands LOVE Christmas lights and we have heard about HS Osborne Light Display and Fantasmic! Is Thurs. our best bet for these attractions or will it be too crowded? Our overall favorite restaurant on our first Disney trip a couple of years ago was Ohana’s. Please make a suggestion for Thanksgiving bearing in mind our other restaurant choices. Thank you SO much! I love your website!!
Diane, all the parks will be mobbed most of that week, and particularly so on Thanksgiving Day. I have no issues with Trail’s End–it’s just undistinguished. Ditto for the HS restaurants other than the Brown Derby…if you pick HS, Brown Derby for food, or 50′s Prime Time for silly fun.
I think what I’d recommend is one of the two restaurants at Wilderness Lodge–Artist Point for food quality, or Whispering Canyon for family fun.
Transport to WL is the same as transport to FW. Monorail to MK, then boat from in front of MK. (Different boats, tho!) The boats run about every 15 mins. If you do end up picking WL or FW, take a look at the MK parade schedule for Thx and do your reservations so that you miss the post-parade departure crowd, or you may have to wait for two or three boats before you can board…
Thanks so much! We really appreciate you help and Whispering Canyon sounds good.
So glad I stumbled onto this site. Very thankful for all the valuable information. We will be first time visitors from Hawaii to WDW and plan to arrive sometime between 12-4pm on 12/12/12 and depart on 12/23/12. We are DVC and are planning on BLT with a one bedroom and eventually upgrading to a two bedroom later in the week as others will be joining us. The main group in the party for the full 10 days will be myself, 13 yr old, 11 yr old, and my father who has an ECV. We don’t know if or when we will ever make it back out to Orlando, so this will be a “do everything” trip. This is my tentative itinerary. EP 12/13, MK 12/14, HS 12/15, AK 12/16, go off property 12/17-12/19 to stay at Lowes Royal to do Universal, return to Disney afternoon of 12/19 and stay till we check out on 12/22.
Here are my questions: Is my itinerary ok (too hectic?) and if not suggestions are greatly appreciated. Was planning on a 5 or 6 day MYW pass but do you think I should upgrade to the “waterpark and more” feature (since we wanted to try Disneyquest, and maybe a waterpark-or is that crazy to do in December)? Do you think we should go to MVMCP and if the kids will enjoy it or are too old? What other “must see” events should we attend? Will the Disney Quick Service dining plan be beneficial for us on this trip? Do you think that on returning from Universal on the 19th that we should stay at BLT or do another hotel…was mostly wondering what would be the most convenient for my father to get around in his ECV. I’m not really sure what to do on the back end of the trip (12/19-12/21) as we would have done all of the main parks.
All suggestions are greatly appreciated. Was getting pretty overwhelmed planning this and just needed some extra advice. We all love to ride, see fireworks, and love everything about Christmas in Disney. The kids we to Disneyland when they were very young, so this will really be like a first trip for them. I have read through most of your site, and have tried to pick up on tips here and there. Thanks in advance.
Hi Kaitlin! A couple of thoughts…
Both MK and Epcot are parks that deserve two days, so 6 days at WDW seems right–you can do the extra days when you return to Disney.
Unless your kids love thrill rides, you may have too much time at Universal–but you’ll need some time off, so you can take a day or afternoon off on the days you are at RP.
BLT and the Contemporary are nicely convenient to MK, especially for an ECV, as you can roll back and forth (or take the monorail–all the WDW transport can handle his ECV).
However, if you focus your Epcot days to the end of your trip, then staying at one of the Epcot resorts on your return to WDW may make even more sense from the convenience point of view…see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/02/16/the-epcot-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/
I would skip the waterpark and more upgrade for a couple of reasons. One is that the theme parks are much better than the waterparks/Disneyquest, so your “extra time,” as noted above, should be devoted to them. Second is that even if with that you have time, you’ll likely need a break instead. Third is that if you pay for just one entry it’s cheaper to do so at the gate than to add the option; and finally, if you decide to do both, you can add the ticket option while you are there!
Hope this helps! Dave
Thanks for the suggestions Dave! Just a few more questions…so sorry to take up all your time I’ll skip the waterpark upgrade. The whole family loves thrill rides, so I think we will stay at Universal for the two days and take your advice about taking in some down time for ourselves while we are there. Any suggestions on the itinerary for the first 4 days @ Disney that I posted above, are my park choices on those days good decisions? Also what was your advice for our family with the quickservice dining plan and taking in the Mickey’s Christmas party? Thanks again! This is the most informative site I have seen and truly appreciate all your advice and time! Thaks
Kaitlin, I’m sorry I made you ask the same questions twice, and thanks for the kind words about the site!
Here’s the story on the quick-service meal plans: because everyone in your party will be paying the “adult” rates, you likely won’t save any money from it. It can help with budgeting and cash management, but isn’t really a deal…
For the dates and MVMCP questions, But I’m gonna ask you to ask them a third time!
What I should have said was this:
The issue is I can’t really give you good advice on either until Disney releases its December schedule–which it likely will do in the next 7 days or so. Come back to me in a week, and re-ask those two questions (they are related for reasons I won’t get into until the third ask
)
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