Plan August 18 Disney Universal, Onsite Offsite, Family

[florida_2012]

Trying to put a plan together for our upcoming ADRs.
We are Mum, Dad, DS8 and DD5.
We're staying 5 nights onsite with DDP (at the start of trip) with the intention of doing some TS character dining linked to the shows and also princess dining.
We are also visiting Universal.
A number of our family are arriving 5 days later (mostly adults) with the intention of doing a few days in the parks, beach days, KSC, shopping etc. After the onsite nights we are staying on idrive in the same suite hotel as family.

Here is the first draft plan:

Travel Day: Share QS at resort (maybe in new QS restaurant if open)

Day 1 Tuesday: MK, BOG 8am ADR (maybe share 3 between 4), Lunch ADR at Tony's Town Square for Preferred Viewing at FoF parade at 2pm. Leave park at 3pm. Chill out at hotel pool.

Day 2 Wednesday: HS, early start to sign up for Jedi training, FP rides, return to hotel at 12 for pooltime, return to HS for 4pm Fantasmic dining package at H&V. Evening fantasmic show.

Day 3 Thursday: Typhoon Lagoon 10 am start, leave at 1pm. Tusker house at 4-5PM for ROL Dining Package. RoL show in evening.

Day 4 Friday: EP AM, rope drop soarin, FP TT. Lunchtime ADR at Akerhus Princess Dining. Leave EP around 3pm. Pool time or mooch about Walmart / Disney outlet.

Day 5 Saturday: Check out of resort. AK am (EMH 8am). Lunchtime ADR Saana. Leave park at 3-4. Check into idrive hotel. Meet family arriving in evening.

Day 6 Sunday: Either US or EP. EP maybe accompanied by family members. Possible Via Napoli Lunch (no longer on DDP so would be OOP. Thinking 2-3 mezzo pizzas for c10 people. Or maybe F&W festival snacking if it has started? Leave park in afternoon.

Day 7 Monday: Blizzard Beach AM, Shopping PM. Evening - California Grill ADR for all family to view fireworks.

Day 8 Tuesday: MK. BBB booking and character meet and greets. Joined by all family.

Day 9 Wednesday: Volcano Bay until afternoon. US/IOA for a few hours in evening.

Day 10 Thursday: I night stay in RPR for 2 days of FoL passes in US/IoA. Check in early. Day in US. 2-3 family members may join in.

Day 11 Friday: IoA with FoL passes.

Day 12 Saturday: Shopping with family. 1st September - Labor Weekend.

Day 13 Open day - kids favourite park

Day 14 Leave day. Have time up until 1pm to do something / a park.

Days 6-13 will have evening meals on idrive with family - thinking buffalo wild wings, Fago de c (with magical dining month menu), Bahama Breeze, Millers Alehouse, Longhorns.. maybe cicis for quick bite (have been before and thought it was good value).

Any comments on the onsite or offsite plan are welcome.
Also comments on how to deal with indecisive family members and their plans or lack of Grandparents are not huge ride fans so thought they would enjoy a day at MK for characters with the kids and also a day at Epcot to see the world showcase etc

[nicklet]

All looks good. Just checking that you know saana is at animal kingdon lodge not in the park ?

[florida_2012]

Thanks, I had forgotten that. It is easy to get to animal kingdom lodge? We’ll have the hire car with us that day as we’ll be moving to I drive after.
This is our last TS selection, we liked the look of Saana or Teppan Edo. Thought Saana would be the closest given we are in AK that day but also happy to consider anything else.

[florida_2012]

For grandparents joining in a few days would MK and EP be best? I’m thinking MK for characters and BBB and also EP as its less ride based. Both are mobile but walk fairly slowly. Would 1 day in universal be better along with 1 day in MK?

[nicklet]

Yes animal kingdon lodge is very close (About 5 minutes drive) and saana is a lovely restaurant.

I think magic kingdom and epcot ia a good choice for the grandparents.

[florida_2012]

Thinking of changing Epcot from day 6 to day 11 - this is Friday 31st August. I am hoping that the food and wine festival will have started and this would be more interesting for grandparents who aren’t interested in the rides. Good idea?

[IndianaMac]

Not sure of the F&W dates, but we were in Florida for that in 2014 - really nice in Epcot for F&W, but it does see an increase in crowds, locals and visitors.