1st timers, 1st draft

[Dizzy]

This is our 1st visit to Orlando and until I first came to this site I didn't realise quite how big it was. So after what seems like forever of going to bed with disney, character meals, etc keeping me awake I think I am finally coming up with some sort of itinery.
Please let me know what you think. There are four of us going, including DS (will be 15) and DD (who will be 8 and is Princess mad).
Dec 28th. Arrive, dump cases and try and find Walmart and Official visitor centre before evening meal.
Dec. 29th MGM Studios - Fantasmic meal and show.
Dec30th Beach
Dec 31st Epcot (if we can get in!)
Jan 1st Lie in, then airboats and if we are up to it Busch Gardens, universal or IOA.
Jan 2nd Seaworld
Jan 3rd Universal Studios
Jan 4th Busch Gardens
Jan 5th Cinderellas Castle breakfast and MK for day
Jan 6th IOA
Jan 7th Beach- the one with the seascreamer - got to do that!
Jan 8th Animal Kingdom
Jan 9th Wet and Wild
Jan 10th Chef Mickeys.
Morning - Epcot
Afternoon - MK
Jan 11th Shopping before evening flight home

Do you think I will regret not making more shopping time - I'm sure we will spend enough in the parks alone.
We have 5 day park hopper tickets for Disney and 5 park flexitickets for Busch Gardens, Universal, IOA, Seaworld etc.
Please let me know what you think. Is there anywhere you can think of that we really shouldn't miss or anywhere special we should eat?
Thanks
Dizzy

[Earthbound]

Wow Dizzy!!! So much packed into two weeks!! Where are you staying?? You don't seem to have any rest days planned, I know that you've got the beach but that is quite a drive away, as wil.l be your 1/2 trips to Busch! You're going at one of the busiest times so I can understand return visits to MK & EPCOT.
Main concern is that 8 year old will tire & find it hard to keep pace & get up as you'gr going to have to get to the parks early!!!

Suggestion working around what are possibly the lighter crowd days...

29th EPCOT
30th Magic Kingdom with Cinderellas Castle
31st Animal Kingdom - closes early so you've got NYE to enjoy
1st Lie-in, airboat & chill
2nd IoA - have to double check if this is a US Holiday in lieu of Sunday!!!
3rd Seaworld - maybe book Dine with Shamu
4th Universal
5th Busch Gardens
6th Chef Mickeys, Mk/EPCOT revisit
7th Free day - do some shopping!!
8th MGM, Fantasmic DP
9th Water Park - do Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon - better than WnW
10th Beach/Seasceamer - keep beach visits away from weekends - too many locals!!

[Dizzy]

Hi Earthbound,
We are stopping on I.Drive. I know DD may get tired but I think we will hire a buggy for the days in the parks anyway. She is only small, we hired one when we went to Universal in Salou last year, they also come in handy for dumping everything on instead of carrying it all the time. DH is boring when it comes to most of the rides so he can buggy sit and laugh at us screaming.

I knew New year would be busy in the parks but thought the 2nd week would be a bit quieter so maybe the q's are going to be longer than I thought.

I put Epcot down for NYE because a couple of people on the board have mentioned how good it was last year, but there is no guaruntee we will even get in I suppose, we'd certainly have to get there very early. Can you think of somewhere else that we could all party?

I suppose even when I finish this itinery I'll have to be prepared to swap things around a bit if we cant get PS's for the days we want.

Thanks

Dizzy

[Dizzy]

2nd IoA - have to double check if this is a US Holiday in lieu of Sunday!!!

Just realised Earthbound are you a day out or am I?
I thought 2nd Jan was a Sunday

[rusty30]

Dizzy...I would move your Fantasmic night forward a little bit. Dont forget that 9pm US time is 2am UK time and you (and the children) will need a day or two to adjust. You may find the evening spoiled if you try and do a late night on your very first day. We always try and plan the firework shows for a bit later on in the holiday when we are fully onto US time.

[S'mE]

Hi! Diz
I'd think of re-arranging too.......

Animal kingdom first morning, then MGM in the afternoon / evening would be probably better, imho, as you tend to stay fresher if you park jump!

We tend to park jump every Disney day. Then you can visit more, and experience more with the different times you're in the different parks.

I've gotta admit that beach would be a no-no..rather a "quiet day" shopping etc......As you say you have a 5 park flexi, you could shop, visit W&W, eat , then have an evening at IOA or Universal??

Similarly, Universal days or IOA days should be split between the two parks, morning & afternoon-evening, as they're only about 800 yds apart! You could again think of breaking the day by visiting W&W which is only about 2mls away! Only paying for one parking with your ticket??? We do and it invigourates you!