ScarletandGray

Thanks to everyone for your input. I really do appreciate the time and advice you all offer.

I wish I knew before 8:00 this morning that Disney increased their ticket prices, effective today! Ugh! I know I've read to get tickets early, before any price increase takes effect. Overall it will cost us an additional $40 ($10 each) for the week we'll be at WDW. Snooze ya lose. I guess $40 is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

I have already checked the calendars for Wishes and SpectroMagic, etc... Definitely something we don't want to miss.

We will be skipping the Not So Scary Halloween Party. They can trick or treat at home for a whole lot less money.

We will probably do one character meal though I haven't decided which one. I hear Chef Mickey at the Contemporary is great. Any advice on breakfast vs. lunch vs. dinner??

When the time for our trip gets a little close, I'll let the kids choose a few things that they really want to do at each park, everything else will be icing on the cake. I am not going to make myself crazy and everyone around me miserable with trying to do it all. Gotta be flexible.

Still undecided about what we'll do the day we arrive in Orlando.

debsnj

Even though your flight is only 2 hours, you will be traveling a lot longer with 2 children, time to get to and from the airport, luggage pickup, condo check in, bathroom breaks etc. I would settle in, let the kids swim/unwind go to downtown Disney and call it a night. That's what we did on our first trip. You don't want exhausted kids at the beginning of your vacation, especially since you will be there for a whole week. Check out the different restaurants in Epcot before you go to decide where your kids will be comfortable eating. We really enjoyed the German restaurant which was kid friendly in both food and entertainment. We also enjoyed the character breakfast in the Wilderness Lodge.

highflyer

For character dining we love the Crystal Palace within the Magic Kingdom. Early lunch works for us as we prefer a light breakfast and this is a buffet. The food is very good; surprisingly good for a buffet and there's something for everyone. The characters are Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore. They circulate throughout the restaurant which always feel airy light and spacious. Plenty of photo opportunities at your table plus the kids get to wave a flag and trail the characters around at songtime.

One more thing I've spent a couple of week long stays at Disney in the past and have not done more 3-5 days at the parks.... a whole week would be severe overload for me! If you haven't bought your tickets yet consider a 5 day pass and have more downtime at the pool.

Ryan

For Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, & Pluto the Chef Mickey's is the best option. I prefer the breakfast.

But, if doing lunch or dinner the Crystal Pavilion is the better option. The food was actually far better than I expected. Certainly not 5 star dining, but far better in terms of quality and selection than I anticipated.

BTW, if looking for something more interesting in terms of food, I think Jiko at the Animal Kingdom resort is fairly good. Definately different flavors.

taitai

I agree with those posters who suggest not planning on EVERY day of your week at parks. You really do get overload. Have a day off (or even afternoon or morning) and hang at the pool or downtown Disney.

I think planning on much your first day might be a recipe for disaster. What if your flight is late or your luggage delayed or a million of other things? Plan the first day to just be a day to hang by the pool or go to downtown Disney or something simple. Then, plan to be up early for Rope Drop at whichever park you plan for the first day.

In terms of character meals, we did both the Donald Safari Breakfast at Tusker House in the Animal Kingdom and Dinner at Crystal Palace with Winnie and friends at the Magic Kingdom. We really enjoyed both very much. Very different experiences but lots of fun for our kids and the food was surprisingly good. Better than I anticipated.

Whatever you decide to do, make your reservations now. Not sure when you are going, but if it is during free dining, it will be hard to get reservations anywhere. Any and all places you want to dine at need to be reserved in advance.

Have fun.
taitai

missypie

I'd make a dinner reservation for one of the fun World showcase restaurants at Epcot-the Akershus Princess dinner, or at Morocco or Germany. You could walk around and shop and if time permits, do the few rides in World showcase.

DancingBearMD

As cheap as it is to add Saturday to your park tickets, I'd definitely go to a park on Saturday.

I wouldn't hesitate to go to Magic Kingdom first, and it's good that it's open late; however, (1) getting into Magic Kingdom as an off-site visitor takes longer than the other parks, because you have to take a tram in from the parking lot and then take the monorail or a ferry (at the other parks you'll just have the tram, or perhaps just a walk from the parking lot on your early days), and (2) your kids might not be up to staying up that late (and/or it would impact your ability to get them up early the next morning).

So my recommendation would be to try to get dinner reservations in Epcot around 7 and then watch Illuminations there when the park closes at 9. Biergarten is good for kids, and that's a good place to try to find a place around the lagoon to watch Illuminations, because it is farthest away from the park exits. Of course that means a long walk after the show, but just take your time and enjoy the atmosphere.

If you have time before or after dinner, try to get in one or more rides. Don't bother trying to get on Soarin' arriving that late--the Fastpasses will likely be all gone--leave that for a day you arrive early at Epcot.

Good bets for short lines are Energy, Imagination, Rio del Tiempo in Mexico and the movies in China and Canada.

Your oldest might not be as interested, but if you have idle time in World Showcase (for example if waiting for your table at a restaurant) check out the Kidcot stations (one in each country pavilion) where they can color and make a mask.

Ryan

FYI, they no longer have the Donald breakfast at the Animal Kingdom.

taitai

According to the Disney website the Donald Safari Breakfast at Tusker House is absolutely still an option. We went in April and had a great time.

taitai

Ryan

My mistake. When I was there a couple of weeks ago I read that it was closed. I realize closed where it used to be and moved to the new locale.

thorspecken

If it's only $20 more and if your kids are itching to go, by all means go to the Magic Kingdom in the evening. Have a swim, have a nap, have a bite and get there for the Light Parade and Fireworks. What a great way to kick it all off. Leave the rides for the next day. For me Magic Kingdom would always be my first park. I grew up going to Disneyland and now live in Orlando and walking down Main Street still is to me the ultimate Disney experience.

kswl

If you are close by and have a parkhopper pass, I would go early in the mornings, return to your resort for the afternoon, and go back to Disney during the evening. It is still very hot in the afternoons in October.

On your first day I'd check into your condo, swim, take a nap, and go to Epcot for dinner and the illuminations fireworks show (if they still have it).

Your older child may like the other parks better than the Magic Kingdom. Mine did, years ago, and my nephews did, too, when we took them two years ago.

ScarletandGray

Thanks again everyone for your input! Realizing that it will take us most of the morning and afternoon to make it to our condo, I think we will venture to Magic Kingdom that day. Wishes and SpectroMagic are both scheduled on our arrival day so that would be a great start to our trip.

Our kids have historically been awesome travelers so I think this would be doable. They have waited so long to go to WDW I think it would be harder making them wait an extra day. However, the key to a successful trip is flexibility. We may plan on Magic Kingdom now but keep an open mind that things change.

Thanks again everyone!

DancingBearMD

Sounds like fun! A couple of tips:

There's a decent chance that by the time you arrive at Magic Kingdom, fastpasses will be gone for some of the major fastpass attractions. Put those on the list for another day, and instead hit Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and other non fast-pass attractions.

Main Street can get jammed for Wishes and Spectromagic. We've had luck with thinner crowds in Liberty Square and Frontierland. In particular we've stood right around the stocks in Liberty Square (on the Haunted Mansion side of the parade route, which is a great view as the floats come in from the hub in front of the castle and then take a left turn down the hill through Frontierland.

You might consider trying to get an early dinner reservation on the early inside Magic Kingdom (we like Liberty Square Tavern or Crystal Palace) or at one of the monorail resorts (we like the Grand Floridian Cafe, or you could go for a character meal at O'Hanas, Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Fare) to give yourself a chance to cool down from a rush of travel and transition to a fun evening at the Magic Kingdom. Or if you go for counter service, try eating upstairs at Columbia Harbour House (Liberty Square) or Pinochio's Village Haus (Fantasyland) for some relative relief from the hustle and bustle.