[chiasgirl]

Well, I have finished booking all of my PSs, tours etc and now the hard part (waiting) begins. I would really appreciate any thoughts on or suggestions to improve my itinerary. Just to give you an idea of who we are - it is just my DH and I (both 31) and healthy. We do plan on being at the parks when they open (and have always managed to do so on past trips). We intend to take afternoon breaks and then return to the parks in the evening. We have been to all of the parks except for AK before, are staying at the AKL and will have a rental car.
So here it is:

18 Dec Land at 12:54
5:30 pm Dive Quest
Grab dinner and watch Illuminations

19 Dec Magic Kingdom
Lunch at Whispering Canyon Café

20 Dec Disney MGM
Fantasmic! Dinner Package Mama Melrose

21 Dec Epcot
Lunch at Marrakesh

22 Dec Animal Kingdom
Dinner at ‘Ohanas

23 Dec Kennedy Space Center
Dinner at Boma

24 Dec Magic Kingdom
Keys to the Kingdom (Lunch included at Columbia Harbour House)
Candlelight Processional Package
5:30 pm Le Cellier
8:15 pm Candlelight Processional

25 Dec 9:30 am Christmas Brunch – Boma
Fly home at 1:45

Thoughts?

[Willbegone]

Sounds great to me! Please be sure to give us a review of Mama Melrose. We are thinking of eating there next October. Have a great time!

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by chiasgirl

18 Dec Land at 12:54
5:30 pm Dive Quest
Grab dinner and watch Illuminations

This seems kinda tight. So I'd recommend one of two things.
Either get a reservation at Rose & Crown for dinner around 8:15 and try to get outdoor seating. That way, you won't have to eat fast right after swimming.
Or, bag IllumiNations altogether and go have a nice dinner at DTD. Portobello Yacht Club is my favorite. If you're up to it, you could go dancing at Pleasure Island and see the small fireworks display at midnight.

Originally Posted by chiasgirl

19 Dec Magic Kingdom
Lunch at Whispering Canyon Café

20 Dec Disney MGM
Fantasmic! Dinner Package Mama Melrose

21 Dec Epcot
Lunch at Marrakesh

Love it so far, but you haven't done a Character Breakfast yet. I know it's just you and DH, but I think that they're cool for anyone. Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Faire would be great options and then you move lunch at Marrakesh to dinner. If you missed IllumiNations on the first night, then you can see it tonight.

Originally Posted by chiasgirl

22 Dec Animal Kingdom
Dinner at ‘Ohanas

23 Dec Kennedy Space Center
Dinner at Boma

24 Dec Magic Kingdom
Keys to the Kingdom (Lunch included at Columbia Harbour House)
Candlelight Processional Package
5:30 pm Le Cellier
8:15 pm Candlelight Processional

Be prepared to wait in line, even with the dinner package. As far as I know, the last performance on Christmas Eve is one of the most popular, regardless of who the reader is.

Originally Posted by chiasgirl

25 Dec 9:30 am Christmas Brunch – Boma
Fly home at 1:45

Thoughts?

Have you purchased your DisneyCentral.com pin yet? I'll be there with my family at the same time you will be as well as a few other from here as well. Maybe we'll bump into one another!

[llama]

Sorry, I don't know what "Dive Quest" is. Is it at the Living Seas? I think you've planned well and have lots of variety in your dining. Don't know if I agree with Matt about the Rose & Crown. Eating dinner outside by the water in December could be very chilly. However, if you do make a PS there, I think they let you go outside to the terrace to watch Illuminations, but you can still eat inside.

[chiasgirl]

Thanks for the feedback so far - I will be sure to post a trip report when we return.

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

This seems kinda tight. So I'd recommend one of two things.
Either get a reservation at Rose & Crown for dinner around 8:15 and try to get outdoor seating. That way, you won't have to eat fast right after swimming.
Or, bag IllumiNations altogether and go have a nice dinner at DTD. Portobello Yacht Club is my favorite. If you're up to it, you could go dancing at Pleasure Island and see the small fireworks display at midnight.

I seriously considered Rose & Crown but DiveQuest isn't over until 8:30 and Illuminations will probably be at 9:30 so I don't think I could get into a full service restaurant. We thought we would maybe eat dinner on the outdoor deck of the cantina after our DiveQuest and catch Illuminations then. They haven't put out Dec hours yet but I am hoping MK opens at 8 the Sun before Christmas (it did last year) which would make the EMH at 7! We want to be ready to go then!

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

Love it so far, but you haven't done a Character Breakfast yet. I know it's just you and DH, but I think that they're cool for anyone. Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Faire would be great options and then you move lunch at Marrakesh to dinner. If you missed IllumiNations on the first night, then you can see it tonight.

I was really waffling about including a character breakfast but my DH and I are the kind of people that like to be at the rope when it drops and ride, ride, ride until the crowds come in. Neither of us were ready to give up this time. Is there any place worth going later in the day (lunch or dinner) with characters?

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

Be prepared to wait in line, even with the dinner package. As far as I know, the last performance on Christmas Eve is one of the most popular, regardless of who the reader is.

That's what I've heard also - I hope Le Cellier doesn't take too long as I do want to hustle over to the CP. Of course, if the line-up is really long we may be able to exit Le Cellier and get straight in line without walking too far!!!

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

Have you purchased your DisneyCentral.com pin yet? I'll be there with my family at the same time you will be as well as a few other from here as well. Maybe we'll bump into one another!

Not yet - I guess I better get on that!

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by chiasgirl

Neither of us were ready to give up this time. Is there any place worth going later in the day (lunch or dinner) with characters?

Not at Epcot, but try this one on for size.

IMO, Epcot FW stinks first thing the morning because the lines get so long so quickly.

Maybe, on the 21st, you could go to MK for rope drop (which has the best opening ceremony anyway) do what you gotta do and then have a late breakfast at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary. I think the latest seating is at 10:15 or 10:30. Then you can take the monorail over to Epcot just in time for the crowds to leave FW.

And for the record, the only mid-day character meal I know about is at the Crystal Palace at MK.

Oh and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your idea for dinner at the Cantina. That's one of our favorite lunch spots at Epcot.