Please critique my Disney Itinerary

If I were you I'd spend the $17 to access Tour Guide Mike's web site and touring plans. You plug in your dates and he tells you whether it's a red (don't go), yellow or green for that park on that day. The basic rule is to go the day after they have extra magic hours.

For your MK days, get there at rope drop and race to Dumbo. Mickey's Toontown Fair opens an hour after the rest of the park. Stand there for there rope drop (15 minutes early) and race to the big tent/gift shop building and get to the princess line ASAP. Within 15 minutes there will be an hour to two hour wait for the princesses. Then go see Mickey.

If you are planning on staying for Illuminations at EPCOT which end late, I would change it so that you have time in the morning after (rather than getting up early)

Thanks guys.

I thought there was a whole bunch of cool stuff happening at the extended hours.

No?

It's just that the park with extended hours is by far the most crowded. With a 2 year old and a 4 year old, I doubt that you'll want to be at any park the whole time it's open.

Be sure to plan to staying Illuminations at Epcot and the Fantasmic show at MGM/Hollywood studios.

Also, the food at Animal Kingdom Lodge is great! They have a buffet down stairs (I forgot the name) that we loved!

With Disney, just remember to not have a tight schedule at there's so many things to see and do.

You'll have a blast.

I took 3, 5, and 6 year olds recently to Disney and they just don't hang as long as you'd think. The heat takes it's toll and the day we stayed late for the Epcot fireworks, the 3 year old didn't see a thing.... As long as your expectations match the age group you're dealing with, no problem. Know that you'll want a return trip to see more and help them recall the 1st trip in a few years...
Also-- my two girls loved their "princess" meal but we took plenty of our own photos and did not need to buy Disney's package...

With kids your age, you need extended mid-day breaks for naps and pool time. You can't do early and late. You can't do early the morning after doing late. Take advantage of the early days before the peak crowds. Regardless of evening activities or extended hours, your kids will be zonked by the end of parades, Illuminations, or fireworks.

Yes, I agree with all the info above. Join Tourguidemike. The information there is very, very useful as are the message boards. Spend some time. With little kids you will need to take an afternoon break for naps and pool time. Disney is sensory overload.

Why are you having dinner at Tusker House twice? I think going the first morning for the character breakfast is sufficient. Try something else. Are you eating in the AKL at all? Boma is great. Do you have park tickets for the first and last day? If you are just sticking around to eat and not going on any rides, then I would not waste a ticket just to get into a restaurant. Also, that is a lot of time to spend at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. They do have some cool rides but most of them are geared for older kids/adults.

Have a great trip.

"I thought there was a whole bunch of cool stuff happening at the extended hours.

No?"

In truth, having worked at the MK for 5 years as a character through college, Magic Hours are really just extended park hours... most rides are open and the park is available only to those who are resort guests. During these hours, Disney employees are stationed at each ride entrance to check for wristbands, which will separate the resort guests from regular pass holders. You may have the opportunity for more character sightings, but that's about it.

If you go during Magic Hours, take a nap in the middle of the day and come back. The weather will be cooler (slightly) and the kiddos will be less cranky during the late night hours.

There are some similar concerns here http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/orlando-with-9-4-2-12-yr-old.cfm regarding young children at Disney.

Thanks for all the great info.

We do realize we'll have to take breaks even though both my kids take after me (little sleep) to the dismay of their mother (who sleeps a lot).

I can promise all of you one thing, we're not going to the park with a "must do checklist" and run from ride to show to ride.
We're going to have a good time and if we missed something it'll be a great reason to come back.

taitai - the first day dinner at the Tusker House is basically just to eat, we didn't realize it was in the AK park and not AK Lodge, we'll make the changes.

rbrown615 - we do realize we'll have to do it again in a few years, but the deals are so great now that it'll be a shame to miss it and we're basically going for my daughter.

When are you going? You should make your dining reservations as far in advance as possible. Cinderella's Royal Table is particularily hard to get. Disney will let you make reservations 90 days out (and you should call 1st thing in the morning exactly 90 days out for Cindy's). It can be very difficult to be seated at table service restaurants without reservations, but it's safe to make reservations at most non-character meals no more than a week or two out. We went in May and got (much to my surprise) Chefs de France for lunch only a day in advance. We enjoyed it, but I don't think it would do a great deal for children that young. The Unofficial Guide and it's website are also very good for determining the best days for each park.

I second the recommendation to eat at Boma. This was my favorite buffet at Disney, and it couldn't be more covenient for you. Have fun!

persimmondeb - all the reservations were taken care of by Small World Vacations. We booked the flight but they are booking the hotel pick up and drop off.

We booked through them but they get paid by Disney.
Travel agents, I believe, have the reservations system available to them several hours before it is available to anyone else.

Small World Vacations were great, we got everything we asked for at the times we asked for them 100%. They also gave us tips (like supermarkets that deliver to the lodge) and lots of info as well as always returning phone calls and e-mails.

Actually today I got an e-mail from our assigned agent (Deanna) that Disney has new deals out but we got a better deal - so she's keeping her eye out.

So far they have been fantastic.

I've heard good things about Small World, and I'm glad that you've been happy with them. We've always made our own reservations, but we're not big travel agent users, and not surprisingly, my 13-year-old DS was not dying to eat at Cindy's.

persimmondeb - this is the first time I used a travel agent since 1992