1st Draft from 1st timer - please re-construct at will!!

[Logan]

Ok folks, here's an edited version, again ideas, suggestions, etc very welcome, especially from all you 'old hands'.

Cast: me, wife and 'kids' - 17 and 20
Visited DLP many times but never been to the States.
Tickets: 14 day Disney Ultimates, 2 x DC with 7 days at SW, 2 x two -week US/IOA, 2 x 4-park Flexis

Sun 18 June
Arrive 4:40pm at MCO, collect car, check-in to Residence Inn, then maybe a meal and a light shop

Mon 19 June
Universal Studios

Tues 20 June
SeaWorld

Wed 21 June
Typhoon Lagoon, shopping and Downtown Disney

Thurs 22 June
Islands of Adventure - dinner at Sweet Tomatoes

Frid 23 June
Wife & daughter Discovery Cove, son & me do our best Dell Boy and Rodney impersonation at Boggy Creek, then golf. May all do a park in the evening

Sat 24 June
Magic Kingdom

Sun 25 June
Move to Port Orleans Riverside, relax, maybe Boardwalk in evening for meal

Mon 26 June
MGM - MEMH, break at pool, then SeaWorld

Tues 27 June
Blizzard Beach, shop and DTD

Wed 28 June
Animal Kingdom - MEMH, break at pool, then MGM - EEMH

Thurs 29 June
Epcot, break at pool, then shop (may go back to Epcot - EEMH)

Frid 30 June
US/IOA, break at pool, then Magic Kingdom - EEMH

Sat 1 July
Blizzard Beach, shopping and DTD or coast for possible Shuttle launch (reluctant to perhaps waste our last full day)

Sun 2 July
Check in at DTD and visit the family favourite. Flight at 7:40pm

[ali-s]

I think it looks pretty good. one thing I might change- both the 25th & 26th are 'slower' days, then you are at the parks four days running, maybe swap the 26th with one of the park days ? Friday evening , I think there is a custom car parade type thing at kissimee ( someone will know what I mean ? ) you might be interested in that ? There are loads of recommended places to eat on I Drive, Bahama Breeze, Racerock, Red Lobster, olive Garden, if you have a look in accomodation & dining you'll get some ideas :)

[loadsapixiedust]

Looks great!
21st/22nd I would suggest you swap dinner at Hard Rock and Sweet Tomatoes around so you will eat at Hard Rock and finish the evening at CityWalk. You would have to move the car to Sweet Tomatoes which will take time, Hard Rock Cafe is right next to the parks and City Walk, so you can walk between them.
27th I would suggest 7 to 7.30 for an ADR at Rose & Crown

[Logan]

Thanks for advice so far, very helpful! :smile: Few more questions throughout, I'm sure Dibbers will come up trumps.

Re R & C at Epcot, is it best to request the terrace/outside area, if you can do this?

Ps: I've amended Itinerary, taking account of above suggestions. 26 and 27 couldn't be moved any later, due to expiry of passes, 7 days from first used I think.

[evieg1983]

your question on ponderosa: others may say that golden coral is nicer but we have always gone to ponderosa, dinner is fine but breakfast is FANTASTIC in my opinion, especially if you have lot of hungry mouths to feed, there is plenty of choice

[Logan]

your question on ponderosa: others may say that golden coral is nicer but we have always gone to ponderosa, dinner is fine but breakfast is FANTASTIC in my opinion, especially if you have lot of hungry mouths to feed, there is plenty of choice

Sounds like my type of place!! :tounge: :tounge: :spin:

On a healthier note, apart from Sweet Tomatoes, which seems to be healthier than the average American fayre, any other places?

[Hal]

I personally would ditch the day on the beach at Daytona - you can get all you want from the orlando area (Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach).

The restaurants you mentioned are all well regarded by Dibbers. I would add Texas de Brazil to the list (which is at the US end of I-drive).

At MGM I would book the Fantasmic Package at Hollywood Brown Derby - its a great restaurant and the package is excellent value. As your "kids" are likely to behave during a meal ;) (not necessarilly though :d: ) I would do Brown Derby rather than the H&V buffet. Price for Brown Derby Fantasmic Package is =/- $38 per person - about $10 more than the H&V buffet package.

Sharks Underwater Grill is supposed to be very good - I have dined with Shamu but not done Sharks, so I would do Sharks. Whatever you choose will be very good value compared to the UK so don't worry about cost.

At AK - I would recommend Bomas over Rainforest Cafe. Bomas is excellent. NB its at AK Lodge - rather than AK park.

For R&C by all means ask for the terrace for Illuminations but you will be told they can't guarantee it.

For suggestions of where to eat at MK I would either go for Crystal Palace which has an excellent buffet and embrace the Disney character experience despite your ages (we first did it as a couple in the days before kids and its excellent, but if you're not into the characters the food alone makes it worth doing). If you want something more adult try O'Hanas at the Polynesian Resort, which you can access via the monorail.

Check out my previous itinerary for other ideas.

Good luck.:wavey:

[forever florida]

I would definitely recommend Cirque du Soleil, it's fab. You can either get tickets before you go or at the box office itself at DTD i would say a week in advance.

[Karen Mouse]

Not sure if this will change but at the moment "dinner with Shamu" is actually lunch - 1.30pm sitting only. This maybe because the believe show is still in practice mode. Its great though.

[andi30]

We would also recommend the crystal palace for your meal at MK (ok so its pooh bear and friends but it is fun and the food is very very good and we had to roll DH out of there), or perhaps you could leave the park and go to a restaurant on the monorail route (park fayre, o'hanas, chef mickeys, The California Grill - which is supposed to be very good).
on fri 23rd - ripleys is good but doesn't take long so perhaps a meal at chili's or Race Rock(i am sure the 'kids' would like it here).

it's looking good so far;)

[Logan]

Thanks again - you say my kids would enjoy Race Rock - what's it like and is it on ID?

[ali-s]

RaceRock is on I drive, just north of pointe orlando. We enjoyed it, though the first time we visited , it was closed for a private party ( something that happens quite often I think ) lots of racing car / motorcycle paraphenalia - depends if you are into that sort of thing, tv's showing clips of racing disasters etc - v. entertainnig ! we thought the food was good , usual burgers, sandwhiches etc, I'm sure you'd find a menu somewhere on this site :)

[JaneSi]

Race Rock is brilliant if you enjoy racing memorabilia - it is everywhere. How about Olive Garden for dinner the 19th? It's on I drive. Regards MK, I personally preferred the breakfast at Crystal Palace to the dinner, but that is just my opinion. Rose and Crown, you can't request an outside table, but the time should be 7.30. We were outside, but down the side. Once we had finished our meal, we were shown to a roped off area and had a prime slot for Illuminations.

[MichelleP1]

Hi,

Looks good you are certainly packing plenty in! Would recommend Hard Rock Cafe, I know you had it down for dinner on the day you were at US/IOA. I would definitely be making ADR's now, we struggled to get times to suit us last October and that was booking 30 days in advance. As for other restaurant recommendations, our faves are Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, TGI's and Outback for steak.

[Logan]

Appreciate all the comments and helpful ideas, I've have another look at things. Some have mentioned that there's plenty packed in and it's a bit complicated.

I think they're maybe right! Gonna have another look and 'relax' it a bit, go with the flow a bit more - it is a holiday after all! :d:

Are ADRs only really recommended for popular Disney restaurants, or would they be advisbale for outside, say Hard Rock Cafe?

The thing that worries me or puts me off ADRs a bit, I may get out there and see all these other wonderful places to eat instead! Apart from those booked with a credit card, like CRT, can you just cancel on the day?

[ali-s]

Any ADR's that haven't been boooked with credit card can be cancelled or possibly changed, you don't even HAVE to cancel, could just not turn up - but obviously it's polite to cancel as someone else could then have your slot :)

Just adding, you can cancel at any guest services - I think :)

[Logan]

Hi

Had another go at our itinerary, would appreciate the usual advice! :d:

[andi30]

That looks good to me:thumbs-up

make sure that you get to DTD early!, that way you will beat the queues and you will get more time at the parks, if i was you i would have a good meal before you go to the airport and then you won't have to eat the rubbish on the plane;)

have a great time.:wave:

[ali-s]

I like it - 3 parks in one day - that's my sort of itinerary :d: