Disney Itinerary....

Okay, my DH are splurging on a trip to Disney. I am preggers and so don't want to risk going out of the country in case something would happen, so we picked Disney.... I went once for a weekend and LOVED it!

We have five full days and 6 nights....

We are staying at the Carribbean Beach resort.
We have a 5 day Magic Your Way (no Park Hopper). We booked our restaurants (previously posted).

My Disney regulars: what would be your itinerary? I want to enjoy everything, but I don't want to wear myself out. I would love to get to all the parks (except Hollywood Studios--we did it last time and that was enough for me). I would also like to get to Downtown Disney a night (don't need the clubs because I can't drink and am tired by 10 PM! ) and would love to enjoy the hotel and pool if the weather is warm enough... we're going in mid- February.

We were thinking 2 days in Magic Kingdom, 2 in Epcot and 1 in the Animal Kingdom. That way we can take it easy and not kill ourselves trying to do it all in one day....

What would your plan be? How much time at certain things? go early to the park and then back to hotel in afternoon to veg out or vice versa?

Also, some of our restaurants are spread out. . . some are in the parks so obviously the night we have those reservations are the days we go to that park. the other is in Fort Wilderness and another in Animal Kingdom Lodge and one in the Polynesian. I hope this isn't too much traveling around....what do you think?

Also, we're hoping the Caribbean Resort is convenient to everything as we're relying solely on their transportation as we didn't rent a car.

If you got this far, we would love your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, must-do's etc. I just want to have a blast on our last vacation before baby, but not come home exhausted and worn out either....

TIA!!!!!

Message edited 1/26/2009 9:56:40 PM.

Re: Disney Itinerary....

Well most likely you will want to go back to your hotel for a nap or at least to rest a bit during the day. Since you will be relying on the bus service you need to give yourself an hour to get where you are going if you are going to another resort from your resort b/c it takes longer to get there than it does to get to the parks (unless you are already at the park then you just jump the bus to the resort you are eating at). The bus system is actually pretty good - but you do need to account for delays when you are trying to make your ADRs.

You might want to consider doing the AK the day you go to the AKL -you can always go there for drinks (you can have a soda..LOL) and rest in their lobby or look around if you don't want to return to your hotel.

I would also plan on the MK or EPCOT on the day you go to the Polynesian since it is easy to hop the monorail to get to the hotel from either park (if you go to EPCOT you can take the monorail to either the TTC then walk or then hop the MK loop to the Poly).

If you have the unofficial guide you can go to their website and check out a chart that they have that shows what parks they recommend you try or avoid by each specific date. Then you can look at your dining and your plan and make sure your not planning on going to a park they tell you to avoid.

Depending on when you are going WDW's website might already have their calendar up for the month you are going. It will have the parade/firework/extra magic hours on it and you can use that to help you decide what you want to see or do.

If you are an early riser you might want to consider the morning extra magic hour -especially if you think you will return to your hotel for a rest. But keep in mind that EMH park will probably be more crowded that day b.c resort guests without hoppers will be going as well as regular day guests. If you are going back to your hotel for a break than it probably doesn't matter - but if you want to stay in that park for the day you might want to pick one that has Evening EMH instead. If your Poly dinner is early for example you can just hop the monorail and head over to the MK for the evening EMH which is nice and a lot of fun.

I found out I was pregnant while on our WDW trip since I knew it was a possibility I asked my OB in advance what to avoid and he just limited me to those rides that say they are not recommended for pregnant women (basically the roller coasters and a few other bumpy rides like test track and Mission space). He didn't have a problem with the safari ride b.c it is like a bumpy car ride - BUT it is recommended to avoid and I sat in the front - but that is a totally a judgement call - I probably wouldn't have done it farther along.

As far as parks and pregnancy - MK has the most rides that you will be able to do, followed by EPCOT, and then AK.

At MK these are out:
Space mountain, Splash mountain, Barnstormer, Big thunder mountain railroad. I think those were the only ones on the list.

At EPCOT - they don't recommend -
Test Track, mission space. The rest if I remember correctly were okay - you CAN do soarin which was great!

At AK - they don't recommend:
Safari, kali river rapids, dinosaur or expedition everest.

If you change your mind and go to HS - these are out:
Rockn roller coaster, tower of terror and star tours.

Otherwise everything else is fair game - so there are definitely more rides you can do than can't. Then of course there are all the shows and 4D movies and other attractions.

I have never not gotten a hopper only b.c we like to do things like AK in the morning and EPCOT at night or MK at night - usually bc we eat a lot of our meals over at EPCOT and just enjoy the atmosphere at night. But if you only have one day park tickets I would probably stay longer at the parks than I would with a hopper. You may decide depending on the crowd level when you go that you would rather sleep in and go later than go straight to your dinner location.

Our usual plan is to get to the parks when they open, stay until about 1 or sometimes 2 usually 1 - than head back to our hotel until about 3-5 then head over to say EPCOT for the evening and for our ADR. Then we would stay in that park for the evening. If you are pregnant you don't want to overdo it.

Etd to add it is a lot of traveling around - but if you don't mind putting in the time on the buses it is doable but you will loose out on park time if you go to too many resorts b.c they are harder to get to without a car than the restaurants in the parks.

Message edited 1/27/2009 9:43:53 AM.

Re: Disney Itinerary....

All of above is great info, I will add that you probably do not need 2 days at Animal Kingdom. It is a fairly small park and being pregnant means some of the rides that take longer you can't go on anyway (like the safari). Honestly though, I think you will find one day is enough.
Epcot and MK are definitely 2 days at least so you might want to take that one extra day you had for AK and use that to spend at Downtown Disney and your hotel pool area.

Re: Disney Itinerary....

FYI - you must, must see A Bug's Life at Animal Kingdom. Soo funny.

Other then that,i agree that you only need 1 day at Animal kingdom. I would spend 2 days at Magic Kingdom and 1 day a piece at the other 2 you mentioned.

Have a great time and load up on that SPF!

Re: Disney Itinerary....

any other thoughts??

Re: Disney Itinerary....

DH and I go to Disney once a year! We are such addicts!

I would break the day up. You can always go back to the hotel, nap or swim, and then go back to the park you were visiting earlier in the day.

If I was doing Epcot in two days, I would do Future World one day and the World Showcase the next. Also, the World Showcase is GORGEOUS at night, so if you were looking to do Downtown Disney, you could always do it during the day (the clubs have since closed down, but the shops are open during the day), rest, and then hit Epcot at night.

DH and I are renegades when it comes to planning meals...I plan everything down to the minute, so as far as traveling to get to restaurants, we do it, but it might be a lot for some! Fort Wilderness isn't bad at all from the Magic Kingdom, neither is the Polynesian. But make sure unless you are going to be in Animal Kingdom that you have plenty of time to get to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, because it is the farthest hotel.

If you need to rest in Magic Kingdom and don't want to battle the crowds, the Rose Garden is usually pretty empty and beautiful! It's off the path as you're heading toward Tomorrowland.

Our must do's that you can do as a pregnant woman are:

Magic Kingdom:
-Pirates
-Haunted Mansion
-Mickey's Philharmagic
-Peter Pan
-Tiki Room

Epcot:
-Spaceship Earth (in the big golf ball)
-Soarin (Double check that you will be able to go on this though, it is AWESOME if you can)
-The Seas With Nemo and Friends
-The American Adventure
-Innoventions is cool to walk around and check out too.

Animal Kingdom
-Finding Nemo the Musical
-It's Tough Being a Bug
-If you can handle it, check out the jungle trek and the forest trail. One of them has the gorillas and it is absolutely amazing. I could watch them all day.

One of the best websites to use is www.allearsnet.com. They have reviews and articles, and I love this site!

I hope you have a blast!

Re: Disney Itinerary....

So many good tips here, that I will post just a few thoughts...

Caribbean Beach is a large resort, so unless you are close to the main buildings, plan on doing some walking or using the internal transportation system.

The resort is convenient to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney. It is a pretty good bus ride to the Magic Kingdom.

Make sure you are aware of what parks are best to visit on the days of your stay, then base your dining plans around that information. For instance, you don't want to be forced into going to MK on a Saturday because you have dining reservations there. If you start to feel yourself get tied down because of the matching process, get the Park Hopper option - it is worth it in my opinion.

As others have posted, use the half-day system. Be at the park you want to go to by rope-drop, and be out by 1:30 or 2 in the afternoon. Rest and relax back at the resort, and you can head back to the park at night if you like.

I would do MK in 2 days, this will allow you to experience the best attractions.

Same thing for EPCOT.

Animal Kingdom is really a half day park for most people, but if you want to do the safari, head straight there when the gates open. There is a huge difference in the animals you see in the early morning as opposed to those later in the day.

Remember, you can see the best things at Disney without being exhausted at the end of the day. I am sure you will have a wonderful time!

Re: Disney Itinerary....

I went this past august when I was 4 mos pregnant- it was hot! I regret the timing but wanted to go before school started.

We skipped days in between because I became seriously tired after a busy day.

We did:
Day 1- fly in, get rental car, unpack (stayed at family members house) food shopping, rest, dinner at local restaurant

Day 2- Tropical Storm day- stuck inside watching tv

Day 3- Epcot opening till 3 pm- lunch/ nap, cooked dinner, Downtown Disney at night

Day 4- outlet shopping, lunch out, dinner at home

Day 5- Hollywood studios- am, nap, back for pm

Day 6- rest day- went to pool since it was sunny for the 1st time

Day 7- Magic Kingdom- opening till 4, rest,went back for dinner, stayed till closing.


Day 8- pack up, cleaned up, dinner at local restaurant, souvenir shopping

Day 9- flight home



Just pace yourself- the way I felt was that I could always go back to Disney- I couldnt forgive myself if all my running around harmed my baby somehow. But- I felt I did everything possible- I WILL go back for the roller coasters though!

Re: Disney Itinerary....

I always start in MK and end in MK, even if it's just a few hours before I leave for the airport. I don't have much else to add lol. your itinerary looks good. You'll just have to allow time to get to the restaurants that aren't where you are.

I loved the CB when I stayed there. It was so peaceful and pretty in the morning. Just look at the bus schedule to see where the first/last stop is so you have a better chance of there being room on each one

Re: Disney Itinerary....

bump......

we leave this weekend!!! any final thoughts or tips are appreciated!!!

Re: Disney Itinerary....

I work at disney was just there a week ago and I'm pregnant. Carribean beach is a beautiful resort, I recommend relaxing alot during the day there, go to their new pool (themed around pirates of the carribean!). when you go to boma, definitely walk around animal kingdom lodge. its a gorgeous hotel (we just stayed there) and a ton of things to do. there's even a spot where you can sit on the rocking chairs and watch the animals.

when you're there, get a celebrating button and write like "mommy to be" and everyone always says congrats and stuff. when you are checking in, tell them you're celebrating being pregnant and if they try to send you to a room very far, just tell them you can't walk that far and they'll move you closer. happened to us twice. it was great because we were originally put in the last building and then they put us right next to the food court for free!! they might give you freebies if they know you're celebrating too.

if you need the break from walking, don't be afraid to get a wheelchair. you are going to be walking ALOT!! i actually lost 2 pounds when I came back and I ate alot. just take it easy, weather should be pretty good the next few weeks so stay hydrated! you are going to be there for a good amount of time so don't rush everything. especially if you aren't park hopping, you have PLENTY of time! carribean is located right in between epcot and hollywood studios, down the block from downtown so it's a pretty good location! when you go to other hotels for food, make sure you leave with plenty of time though because disney's transportation isn't always reliable!

I know I work there and go at least twice a year, so I've seen so much, but this "vacation" (i had to work a day) was so much more relaxed because i wasn't rushing around to do all of the parks. we like to go to the different hotels and walk around, relax at their pool or on the beach. just really spend some time the 2 of you and enjoy eachothers company. it's the last time you will have some peace & quiet!

oh and just read the signs for the rides you can't ride. and honestly, they say you can't go on kilmanjaro safaris but i did it. i don't know if you've done it, it's a little bumpy at times but i think they are warning you if you're like 30 something weeks pregnant because god forbid you go into labor or something is wrong, you're stuck in the "wild" and can't hurry out of there. so if you're not that far along (i was 19 weeks), totally do it. enjoy it! just don't go on rollercoasters or anything that bumps you around too much. have fun and if you have any questions, let me know!