kjtinlin
26 Jun 05, 05:09 PM
Okay, here goes with my first draft - it's rather long and detailed, apologies for that. We've booked into the CSR for 9 nights from Sep. 24th until 3rd October and have the free Disney Dining plan, which we aim to take full advantage of :D I have been to Orlando three times before, most recently in April '04. but the friend going with me has never been, so we're cramming a lot into a fairly short time-frame.
For those who don't know, the Disney Dining Plan gives us each one counter-service meal, one table-service meal and one snack per night of stay, but we can trade in two table service meals for one signature meal and we plan to do this a couple of times.
Oh, Kat is a veggie, so we've planned restaurants that appear to be most veggie-friendly. Also, we plan to eat breakfast at the hotel every day, using either a counter-service meal from the plan, or paying it it's more useful fo that day.
Anyway, all comments appreciated on the following plan - I have yet to make the PS, as I need to wait for the 90 days to open up.
Sat 24th Sep - Depends on whether Kat arrived early enough the night before to take advantage of twilight check-in as to when we need to be at airport, but flight leaves at 11:15am (all being well). Take our seats in Virgin Atlantic economy and settle in for a 9 hour flight. Arrive MCO at 3:25pm, pick up car from Alamo and drive to CSR.
PS for Maya Grill for this night, as a way of forcing us to stay awake as long as possible. This will use the first of our free Disney meals.
Sun 25th Sep - Since we'll be awake early, head over to AK for the safari, etc. and then head over to MK. I know MK will be busy on a Sunday, but we'll see what fast-passes are still available.
Eat a counter-service lunch, probably at Peco Bill's (though may still be at AK, depending on time) and then soak up some MK atmosphere and do any rides, etc. we can.
PS for dinner at CRT and then catch Wishes.
Mon 26th Sep - EMH at Epcot (if the EMH days don't change) so we can do MS and Test Track first thing. We did Soarin' Over California at Disneyland in '03, so we're not pressured to do this if it's too busy.
Will then head over to MK if we need to again, or possibly to another park or back to hotel for a swim. Eat a counter-service lunch somewhere.
PS for dinner at Teppanyaki Dining Room before watching Illuminations.
Tue 27th Sep - MGM. My favourite Disney park and we plan to spend all day here. It should be an EMH morning, so will take advantage of that. Do all the rides, shows, etc. and eat counter-service probably at ABC Commissary, since the variety of food choices there is so good.
PS for Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose (I think I can still use the free dining plan with the package)
Wed 28th Sep - Kennedy Space Center and probably a bit of shopping if we're back in time. I've been to Kennedy three times before, but since Kat hasn't we may be a while.
Plan to eat a fairly early dinner at Sweet Tomatoes and then head over to Downtown Disney for the 9pm Cirque show.
Thu 29th Sep - Universal Studios. Since it closes at 6pm that day, we'll be there from park opening to get everything done... and so I can hopefully ride MIB at least three times :D
PS for The California Grill - this uses 2 table-service meal allowances each.
Fri 30th Sep - IoA. Again, get there early morning, particularly since the park closes at 5pm.
PS for Spoodles.
Sat 1st Oct - Seaworld. Booking Dine with Shamu. After that, head over to Premium Outlets for some shopping :D
Sun 2nd Oct - Basically a free day to revisit anything we've seen so far that we want to do again (probably IoA and US). Will also likely do more shopping. If they're open, Kat may head over to one of the Disney water parks, since we have them included in our tickets.
PS for Yachtsman Steakhouse, using 2 table-service meal allowances
Mon 3rd Oct - Check-in at Downtown Disney for our Upper Class return flight - woohoo!! Spend rest of day either at a park or pottering around Disneyquest, etc.
Get to airport around 4pm so we can return car on time and then make our way over to the Delta Crown Room lounge and spend a few hours there before our 7:40pm return flight.
Tue 4th Oct - Arrive back at Gatwick at 8:45am (if on time), hopefully nice and refreshed after a relaxing sleep on the plane :D
Wed 5th OctWed 5th Oct onwards - start writing/posting my trip reports :D
We plan to try and do a few things at night (as well as Cirque), such as Jellyrolls that I've read so much about, but will wait and see how tired we are once there.
So, any suggestions for different dining choices, etc?
For those who don't know, the Disney Dining Plan gives us each one counter-service meal, one table-service meal and one snack per night of stay, but we can trade in two table service meals for one signature meal and we plan to do this a couple of times.
Oh, Kat is a veggie, so we've planned restaurants that appear to be most veggie-friendly. Also, we plan to eat breakfast at the hotel every day, using either a counter-service meal from the plan, or paying it it's more useful fo that day.
Anyway, all comments appreciated on the following plan - I have yet to make the PS, as I need to wait for the 90 days to open up.
Sat 24th Sep - Depends on whether Kat arrived early enough the night before to take advantage of twilight check-in as to when we need to be at airport, but flight leaves at 11:15am (all being well). Take our seats in Virgin Atlantic economy and settle in for a 9 hour flight. Arrive MCO at 3:25pm, pick up car from Alamo and drive to CSR.
PS for Maya Grill for this night, as a way of forcing us to stay awake as long as possible. This will use the first of our free Disney meals.
Sun 25th Sep - Since we'll be awake early, head over to AK for the safari, etc. and then head over to MK. I know MK will be busy on a Sunday, but we'll see what fast-passes are still available.
Eat a counter-service lunch, probably at Peco Bill's (though may still be at AK, depending on time) and then soak up some MK atmosphere and do any rides, etc. we can.
PS for dinner at CRT and then catch Wishes.
Mon 26th Sep - EMH at Epcot (if the EMH days don't change) so we can do MS and Test Track first thing. We did Soarin' Over California at Disneyland in '03, so we're not pressured to do this if it's too busy.
Will then head over to MK if we need to again, or possibly to another park or back to hotel for a swim. Eat a counter-service lunch somewhere.
PS for dinner at Teppanyaki Dining Room before watching Illuminations.
Tue 27th Sep - MGM. My favourite Disney park and we plan to spend all day here. It should be an EMH morning, so will take advantage of that. Do all the rides, shows, etc. and eat counter-service probably at ABC Commissary, since the variety of food choices there is so good.
PS for Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose (I think I can still use the free dining plan with the package)
Wed 28th Sep - Kennedy Space Center and probably a bit of shopping if we're back in time. I've been to Kennedy three times before, but since Kat hasn't we may be a while.
Plan to eat a fairly early dinner at Sweet Tomatoes and then head over to Downtown Disney for the 9pm Cirque show.
Thu 29th Sep - Universal Studios. Since it closes at 6pm that day, we'll be there from park opening to get everything done... and so I can hopefully ride MIB at least three times :D
PS for The California Grill - this uses 2 table-service meal allowances each.
Fri 30th Sep - IoA. Again, get there early morning, particularly since the park closes at 5pm.
PS for Spoodles.
Sat 1st Oct - Seaworld. Booking Dine with Shamu. After that, head over to Premium Outlets for some shopping :D
Sun 2nd Oct - Basically a free day to revisit anything we've seen so far that we want to do again (probably IoA and US). Will also likely do more shopping. If they're open, Kat may head over to one of the Disney water parks, since we have them included in our tickets.
PS for Yachtsman Steakhouse, using 2 table-service meal allowances
Mon 3rd Oct - Check-in at Downtown Disney for our Upper Class return flight - woohoo!! Spend rest of day either at a park or pottering around Disneyquest, etc.
Get to airport around 4pm so we can return car on time and then make our way over to the Delta Crown Room lounge and spend a few hours there before our 7:40pm return flight.
Tue 4th Oct - Arrive back at Gatwick at 8:45am (if on time), hopefully nice and refreshed after a relaxing sleep on the plane :D
Wed 5th OctWed 5th Oct onwards - start writing/posting my trip reports :D
We plan to try and do a few things at night (as well as Cirque), such as Jellyrolls that I've read so much about, but will wait and see how tired we are once there.
So, any suggestions for different dining choices, etc?