The best part of my job is helping my clients plan their Magical WDW holiday! First time clients are particularly special because they are so excited and they have a million questions – they don’t want to miss anything, and who can blame them?
Disney world is an intense vacation experience! Just deciding which resort to stay in can be overwhelming and then there are ticket packages and dining options to consider … not to mention character experiences, shows, parades and let’s not forget Cinderella’s Royal Table!
Time for a little expert help …
The following is an itinerary I created for clients who are at WDW at this very moment! A couple with four children ranging in age from 2 – 8.
They choose All Star Movies for their resort stay; connecting rooms which allows for more space and two bathrooms! The walk through Andy’s Room, a feature of this resort, was sure to delight their son!
As they had eight days to discover the Magic of Disney, they opted for Base tickets, saving the expense of Hoppers, and they choose to add Disney’s Dining Plan to their package.
I listened to their requests: Cinerella’s Royal Table for their daughters, true Princess fans, a more traditional character dining experience, and lots of time to discover the parks *on their own* but with expert guidance … this is what I came up with:
DAY 1 – Wednesday August 17th.
9: 25 am – Breakfast at Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. Please check the bus schedule and allow yourself plenty of time; you’ll need to check in for breakfast 15 minutes prior to your scheduled dining time.
After breakfast, take the monorail from the Grand Floridian to EPCOT.
EPCOT hours of operation today: World Showcase – 11:00 am – 9:00 pm. Future World – 9:00 am – 9:00 pm.
Illuminations Reflections of Earth (Fireworks spectacular) 9:00 pm – this show takes place around the World Showcase Lagoon and can be seen from many wonderful vantage points. We like to plan dinner for about 7:00 – 7:30 at the Counter Service Restaurant in *Mexico* choose a table near the water, have dinner and enjoy the show. (food is good and there are lots of kid friendly options) I did try to get reservations for The Rose and Crown Pub for you but there was no availability on any evening during your stay. The view isn’t better than from Mexico, but the restaurant is table service and that can be nice at the end of a long WDW day!
You should arrive at EPCOT between 11:00 and 12:00 depending on how long you linger over your character breakfast (this one is really fun and very very well done)
Make sure you grab a park map …
Now, go directly to The Living Seas where you’ll find Finding Nemo OR to Soarin’ Over California, inside The Land, – pick which one you want to *Fast Pass* and which one you’ll wait in line for. Get your fast pass and note your return time; now queue up and wait for the other … the wait will be approx. 40 minutes to an hour. (if you have a smart phone, you can download an app that will keep you up to date on wait times … very useful!)
Also in this area, The Land. Minimal wait times (usually) and very informative/educational. Also, this has an indoor queue and that’s a lifesaver if the weather is hot or rainy.
There are other more minor attractions in this same area – Universe of Energy for example, this is fun and interactive; also indoors and minimal wait times.
After you’ve taken in everything you care to here, check your map and head over to Test Track and Mission Space. Again, try to fast pass one and wait for the other.
By now, it will be late afternoon. If you’re feeling tired, head back to your hotel for a short swim or rest; if not go ahead and begin World Showcase. There is only ride in this area – in Norway. Young children aren’t usually smitten with this area of EPCOT … lots of shopping, food and educational opportunities. You’ll know if your kids are up for this …
Whatever you opt to do now, be sure you don’t miss Illuminations at 9:00 pm! Spectacular!
DAY 2 – THURSDAY AUGUST 18TH.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – hours of operation; 9:00 am – 10:00 pm. Sci Fi Drive In reservations: 1:50 pm. Parade 3:00 pm Fantasmic: (evening show) 9:00 pm and 10:30 pm.
Have breakfast in your hotel’s food court and be at the park at 9:00 am.
Grab a map. This park is full of things you’ll want to see and do. The morning and late evening will see the lightest crowds for the most popular attractions: Rockin’ Roller Coaster, (RRC) Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, (TZTT) the Backlot Tour, and Star Tours. There are also two not to be missed shows in this park for the Princess lovers: The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and the Beast is in the area near RRC and TZTT so I recommend you begin here. Decide which to *fast pass* and which to wait for (between RRC and TZTT) and check your map for the show time …
This should take you very near to lunch time. Check your map – it’s a long walk so allow plenty of time and remember to be there at least 15 minutes prior to your assigned dining time. If you have time, and lines are short, take in Star Tours along your way – or fast pass it and hope for a time just after lunch!
(Remember, the parade begins at 3:00 so if you’re going to that you’ll need to allow time to get there.)
Now that you’ve eaten, decide on how tired you are. Return to the hotel for a swim/rest or take in The Little Mermaid and The Great Movie Ride (check show times and decide) Remember, this will be a late night – Fantasmic plays at 9:00 or 10:30. As lunch will be late, you probably won’t be ready for dinner until later in the evening.
The other major attraction(s) in this park is/are The Backlot Tour and Stunt Show Spectacular. If you’re up for it, go ahead and do it today – if not, put it on your list for the last few days of your trip …
Dinner tonight – try counter service options; check your map and choose somewhere close by! If you’re at the hotel, try room service pizza or the food court.
Plan to queue up for Fantasmic at least one hour prior to show time – check map or ask a cast member for location.
DAY 3 – FRIDAY AUGUST 19th. (Day 4 – Saturday August 20th)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Hours of operation 11:00 am – 9:00 pm. Parade – 3:45. Dining at Tusker House 5:05 pm (August 19th)
As this park opens late, now’s your chance to sleep in a little! Do plan to have breakfast and plan to be at the park at 11:00.
The major attractions here: Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur, Jungle Trek, the Tree of Life, A Bug’s Life, The Oasis, and two shows; Finding Nemo the Musical and The Lion King.
This park is HUGE. Just HUGE – so here is my recommendation. Plan to do this park in two days: the 19th AND 20th. (hours for the 20th: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm)
Take in Kilimanjaro Safaris in the morning – the animals are much more alert. Plan shows for the afternoon when the weather will be warm outside. Fastpass everything you can but especially Expedition Everest (do this early as they tend to run out of them quickly) and take these two days at a leisurely pace.
There is so much to do here and so much for the kids to explore … this will be a favorite so take your time and enjoy!
All the counter service restaurants here are good – choose one near you when you feel hungry. Remember: eating at odd times will cut your wait time dramatically.
DAY 5 – SUNDAY AUGUST 21ST
The MagicKingdom (finally!) Hours of operation – 9:00 – 11:00 (plus Evening Magic Hour as a resort guest! So midnight for you!) Parade times: 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. Dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table: 9:30 pm. (fireworks are at 10:00 so do them the next time you are in this park)
Have breakfast at the hotel and take the first bus to the MagicKingdom. Take the ferry across the entrance gate. Grab a map.
This park is also deceptively large and there is a great deal to accomplish. Here you will not want to miss Pirates in the Caribbean, The Jungle Cruise, The Haunted Mansion, SplashMountain, Mickey’s Philharmagic, ThunderMountain, Fantasyland attractions including Small World et al … this park, like Animal Kingdom, is best accomplished in two days. Decide where to begin and fast pass all that you can. I recommend a long break in the afternoon of your reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table – that will take about 90 minutes and you still have your extra magic hour and with the lighter crowds a lot can be done in this time.
Save the MagicKingdom parade and fireworks for your 2nd day here.
Please let me know if you’d like a priority dining reservation for the MagicKingdom on August 22nd and one for Animal Kingdom on the 20th. These would likely be at odd times, but it might also work to your advantage.
By now you’ll be familiar with all of the parks and you’ll know what you want to return to or what you have yet to experience. You still need to get to Downtown Disney and perhaps take in the Bob show at Port Orleans Riverside (ask your hotel concierge for times on the night you’d like to go) There is a nightly light parade on the lake that encompasses the Grand Floridian and Polynesian resorts; this is free and lots of fun.
When you check in at All Star Movies you’ll be given a schedule of Extra Magic Hours … plan your last few days according to this and take advantage of it whenever possible.
The phone number for priority dining is 407-WDW-Dine … if you see someplace you’d like to try give them a call and try to reserve. Remember odd times will be the most successful.
Drink lots of water and make sure you get inside often to cool off!
Rhonda Sherman
Certified Disney Destination Specialist
866-610-0499 – toll free
209-639-4541 – direct
Rhonda@magicalmemoriestravel.net
Visit us online: www.magicalmemoriestravel.net
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