The 14 day Itinerary that took 6 months to plan and book - what do you think?

[Shep]

Guess what?

I caved in and rang Disney with 180 days 17 hours to go and got all my ADRs at the times I wanted for the first 10 days of the holiday. When I said I had a Disney Reservation Number, the CM said she didn't need it and didn't even ask who I was booked with.

So here's the Shepherd family itinery with all ADRs made on the DDP (every TS credit used up!....:

Day 1
Arrive at Pop Century and have CS dinner in the Food Court there

Day 2
It's just gotta be the Magic Kingdom to see the kids faces as they enter Main Street - Breakfast at 8 at the Crystal Palace, Cinderellas Royal Table for lunch at noon, Disney Dreams Come True Parade - 3:00pm and dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern @ 5.30pm ,
"SpectroMagic" Parade - 9:00pm
Wishes™ Nighttime Spectacular - 10:00pm

Day 3
Islands of Adventure all day so probably I-Drive for dinner
Suggestions please for a nice family fun restaurant?

Day 4
Breakfast at a Dennys (where's the nearest to Pop Century?)
Lots of shopping then dinner at the California Grill at Contemporay @7.30pm

Day 5
Off to Epcot FTW so possible breakfast at Electric Umbrella (if it's open!), Lunch at Sunshine Seasons.
Afternoon at Typhoon Lagoon then back to Epcot for dinner at 5pm at the Garden Grill

Day 6
Animal Kingdom day (Extra Evening Hours) so breakfast at Boma at 8am, lunch at Tusker House and then dinner at the Rainforest Cafe @ 5.30pm, oh and Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade - 4:00pm

Day 7
DDad & DSon (age 9) are off to Cape Canaveral while DW & DD (age 6) are spending the morning preparing for one of the highlights of the holiday, the Princess Tea Party at the Grand Floridian - DD doesn't know about this and I think DW will break down in tears!
Dinnner in Downtown Disney - recommendations please?


Day 8
SEAWORLD - so it's breakfast we don't where as the Brekky with Shamu package has been discontinued, lunch ? and then dinner on I-Drive (I'm thinking somewhere oriental - any tips? Wife says Ming Court where we went on Honeymoon and I shivered all meal with sunstroke!)

Day 9
It's my Birthday today so we're off to MGM after breakfast at Pop Century then quickly into MGM as it's EMH morning.
Lunch at Toy Story Pizza Planet then my birthday treat - the Fantasmic Dinner package dining at the Brown Derby at 6pm (wonder if DW will get me a cake ;) )

Day 10
EPCOT - WS today with Princess Breakfast booked for 8.30am at Akershus House, lunch at the Yakatori House then off to Blizzard Beach.
Diinner is booked for 6.40pm at Chef Mickeys in Contemporary resort.

Day 11
Another highlight day - swimming with the dolphins at Discovery Cove and according to the back of the ticket,breakfast, lunch and all snacks and drinks are included. I- Drive for dinner if we're still hungry!

Day 12
Universal - nowhere booked for anything!

Day 13
An unplanned day in case we need to revisit a park or see something new to visit

Day 14
Cinderellas Royal Table for breakfast (8.20am), stay in MK for lunch at Cosmic Rays and have our last dinner at the Crystal Palace @ 6.15pm, finishing off where it all began 14 days ago. Wonder what we'll talk about!

Day 15
We fly home this afternoon but there's a Shuttle launch this morning at dawn so I hope to drive to Cape Canaveral with DS in the middle of the night if I can get tickest to launch and watch from about 6 miles away.
DW and DD will wave goodbye in the MK as our one and only dream holiday comes to an end.

We'll probably never be able to afford to come back as this has been a gift from my parents whom I can never thank enough, so I hope I've planned it ok - what do you think?


:mickeybou

:donald_bo

[sarahc]

Hi! Looks great to me! What a fantastic gift from your parents, I hope you have an amazing time!

[anji]

A great itinerary - you'll have a wonderful time! One thing - I thought the shuttle launch was on 26th August - this doesn't tie in with your countdown? How did you find out it was at dawn? We're there the same time and it's my birthday too!

[Jools]

It looks good to me. Your children may like Race Rock on I-Drive for dinner on day 3, or there are lots of good places to eat in City Walk.

[REH]

It looks great. The only thing I would change is go straight to Typhoon Lagoon then go to Epcot

[Shep]

It looks great. The only thing I would change is go straight to Typhoon Lagoon then go to Epcot

Thanks REH, I was wondering about that. Is it quieter in the mornings?

[darrenk79]

Oh my god what a fantastic gift from your wonderful parents we are off for the first time in may and perhaps won't be able to afford again at least for a good few years and like you don't want to miss anything. Your itierary looks good just go and have a fantastic time

Coral xx

[REH]

Thanks REH, I was wondering about that. Is it quieter in the mornings?

I think it would be easier that way. It does get busier later mid morning to afternoon.

HTH

Rachael

[Nikki'Andrew]

the nearest Dennys to Pop would either be Crossroads or on the 192, however if you are going shopping I would go to Crossroads and then straight into prenium outlets within 10 minutes. Good family resturaunts on I drive are Perkins,Friendlys or Uno Chicago Grill. Itinery looks brilliant, we have just come back from Pop for the 2nd time and it was fantastic

[Siobhan]

You might not be able to get breakfast at the Electirc Umbrella as they didn't open til about 11 for lunch at the same time last year. We were directed to Fountain cafe which was very busy but still very nice.
Your itinery looks fab and what an amazing gift from your parents.

[poohspals]

Fab! Can i come with you?

[GAMB'T]

I think you've nailed it. What I'll do is copy your itinery, see how it goes and let you know!!!!.

Then what I'll do is come back with you and be your guide for the fortnight.....

[Shep]

OK - so thats another two places needed for PoohsPals and Gam'bt - if we can get another two we qualify for a Grand Gathering!

Thanks everyone for all this advice - the itinerary is being amended with your tips so I do appreciate it.

:goofy_bou

:chip_boun

[ali-s]

Looks good, but try to keep an evening free for wishes/spectromagic later in the holiday, as I think your kids may be too zonked to stay up & watch them on the 2nd evening. I second Racerock on I drive, we had a good meal there on our first visit - esp if the kids are into cars, Friendlys ( Not far from Racerock) was another favourite, no theming but good value. Bubba Gumps might be good after Universal.

[highlander447]

Hi breakfast with Shamu is now being discontinued so its only dinner now unfortunately, on your universal day for eating you have quite a few choices in Citywalk and the parks, on Citywalk Margritville is fun as they have someone who makes balloon hats, swords etc, plus an exploding volcano, if u like Nascar u have the Nascar Cafe just been remodelled, HRC for music memorabilia , NBA Cafe for basketball, Bubba Gumps has been getting good reviews, in IOA Confiscos grill is good, not forgetting Mythos

[John]

Have you got a car? try and fit in an airboat ride at boggy creek.. Day 13 drive over to clearwater and do the seascreamer and a few hours at the beach.

[doemichael]

you are so orginised lol we go same time and I have had my itinery done for about 2 months and now not sure but I AM going to phone for ADR's before end of week

[Shep]

I rang again tonight Michael but the CM couldn't understand me so transferred me to someone else.
Unfortunately, they tryed to sell me a Holiday Home and when I asked to be transferred back, I was back at the start of the menu. I gave up after 5 mins and will try again tomorrow :spin:

[Steve.S]

Hi looks good,do you want to do mine? lol:wave:

[danny68]

It looks great. Only possible bad thing i can see is day 2. Most people seem to wake up at a silly hour in the morning due to the time difference and as a result you may well be very tired come the parade and fireworks and may not enjoy it as a result. We did the same thing with Fatasmic last year and we all struggled, our youngest aged 6 fell asleep whilst waiting! it took him 2-3 days to catch up. Next time we plan to have an earlyish night on day 2

[Brer_Claire]

I think day 2 could be a bit too long as well. My DS and DD are the same ages as yours and DD struggled on day 2 and 3 to stay awake. She fell asleep in her dinner on those nights!! You will be up at a ridiculous time on the first morning so perhaps reschedule Spectromagic and Wishes for later on?

Have a fantastic trip and give your parents a big hug, what would we do without Mums and Dads!!!!

[Shep]

Thanks everybody for those very helpful suggestions. I've taken note and revised our holiday plan accordingly especially regarding day 2 and later at Seaworld.

I rang and booked our last two ADR's yesterday for our last day in the Magic Kingdom - left it to the evening here to ring and from what I could gather CRT and Crystal Palace were almost full already for the 6th September.

So, don't leave those ADR's late especially for the last few days of your holiday. I'm feeling quite proud and relieved that all the planning has worked out and can now settle down to plan in opening and closing times, parades, and how long to allow to drive from POP to all the different resorts.

STOP PRESS: I've just been told that DD has seen Bibbity Bobbity Boutique on the 2007 WDW DVD planner and that is now a must have and has to incorporated into the planner. DW won't tell me how much it is so that must be a bad sign .... here we go again :spin:

[Shep]

I've just rang for the 3rd time and wasn't asked for any numbers again so 1 in 3 chance - depends who you get. Just booked Crystal Palace for brekkie on our 1st morning as it gets you into the park an hour earlier on a non-EMH day (tee hee ;) )

Also booked Rainforest Cafe in AK but that isn't part of the DDP so I'm gonna have to pay for a meal!! :cry:

Still haven't booked Bibbity Bobbity Boutique - is it too old for a 6 year old?

[highlander447]

Still haven't booked Bibbity Bobbity Boutique - is it too old for a 6 year old?
Hi I'd say a perfect age, dig deep;)

[Shep]

I may do as a surprise - thanks Highlander. :d:

[Kayw]

Hi Shep

We are there some of the same time as you. My DD will be 7 when we go and she too has seen the DVD and wants to visit the bbboutique. There was a thread on about this under theme parks which gave prices for 3 categories of makeover. There were photos too. I would say your DD and mine are the right age - although I might not tell mine that - I might surprise her. Trouble is if I do that I need to think of something for DS who's 9 to make them equal - any ideas?

[CharlotteAlice]

Looks Amazing But 6 Months?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?