First trip to WDW - Feb 5 thru 13th

[Castoral]

This is our first trip since my husband and I were kids. We will be there with our 5 yr old DS, 3 yr old DD, and 2 yr old DS. We are hoping for free dining, but if not, we'll pay out of pocket and I may drop a few non must have table service meals.

Feb 5th - driving from Ohio (staying half way) so arrive around 3. DTD with dinner @ TREX (must)

Feb 6th - RD MK (recommended) BBB appt before park opens, late brunch at CRT (must), dinner @ Whispering Canyon Cafe (must)

Feb 7th - RD HS (recommended) late breakfast @ Hollywood and Vine (not a MUST, but boys would love these characters) - QS dinner either at Pizza Planet if kids are doing okay or somewhere after naps (we plan on leaving nights pretty open and playing it by ear based on how the kids are doing)

Feb 8th - RD AK (recommended) lunch @ Flame Tree BBQ, back to hotel for naps, dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Review (not a must for us, but everyone says we should do it)

Feb 9th - RD EP lunch @ QS La Cantina QS dinner at HS and Fantasmic!

Feb 10th (DH's 29th bday) - MK (not recommended, 5.5) lunch @ Peco Bills - pirates league - dinner @ O'Hanas (MUST for DH's bday) and pirate firework cruise with Hook/Smee/Peter Pan

Feb 11th - RD EP lunch @ Sunshine seasons - QS dinner probably at MK (Liberty?)

Feb 12th - breakfast before open at Crystal Palace (not sure which time we should make it for to be honest and not a must) - special dinner (possibly Rose and Crown for firework seating? or 1900 Park Fare)

Feb 13th and 14th we'll stay in Siesta Key/Sanibel Island.....any suggestions for kid friendly resorts?

[gorsh]

Where are you staying? Guessing a MK resort? Your plan sounds great! You have a lot of RDs in a row, but you can change that as needed (eg. later start EP on the 11th) while on the trip. Love HDDR! You have a lot of MK time planned, so I don't think it is a big deal that you are going on a red day, especially if you make RD that day. You could make a plan without hopping if you wanted to save money for those meals...

This would be a plan without hoppers:

Feb 5th - driving from Ohio (staying half way) so arrive around 3. DTD with dinner @ TREX (must)

Feb 6th - RD MK (recommended) BBB appt before park opens, late brunch at CRT (must), dinner @ Whispering Canyon Cafe (must)

Feb 7th - RD HS (recommended) late breakfast @ Hollywood and Vine (not a MUST, but boys would love these characters)/break/Fantasmic

Feb 8th - RD AK (recommended) lunch @ Flame Tree BBQ, back to hotel for naps, dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Review (not a must for us, but everyone says we should do it)

Feb 9th - RD EP lunch @ QS La Cantina 3/4 day, leave when tired

Feb 10th (DH's 29th bday) - MK (not recommended, 5.5) lunch @ Peco Bills - pirates league - dinner @ O'Hanas (MUST for DH's bday) and pirate firework cruise with Hook/Smee/Peter Pan

Feb 11th - Later start EP lunch @ Sunshine seasons - stay for Illuminations

Feb 12th - MK--after 2 RDs you can be flexible here and start later







On the 12th, if you want breakfast pre RD I would get the earliest seating (8:05 AM). If you can't get the earliest seating, but you want CP I would suggest making it lunch.

[Castoral]

Yes, sorry, we are staying at the Beach Club where the hubby stayed when he was a kid. We are normally early birds (sleeping in is 7:30 for my kids) so RDs shouldn't be a problem. If it is after few, by all means, we'll be flexible and go a bit later and utilize more fast passes. Ideally we'll keep the meal plan and hopper passes since our trip was originally 10 days...we've already cut costs quite a bit so I think we'll be okay. We are considering waiting to upgrade till we get there though...

[pfalcioni]

We are considering waiting to upgrade till we get there though.

Good idea, wait to see if you'll need the upgrades, and if you don't then you'll have some extra money for souvenirs or some other special treat on your last day.

[Castoral]

On our first magic kingdom day, February 6th, do you think I should aim for a late dinner at whispering canyon, maybe 6:30/7? Would there be enough time to get to some place to see fireworks on the way home?

[gorsh]

On our first magic kingdom day, February 6th, do you think I should aim for a late dinner at whispering canyon, maybe 6:30/7? Would there be enough time to get to some place to see fireworks on the way home?

What do you mean by "on the way home?" What is your transportation this day? Are you taking a break and driving to WL for dinner?