I am planning our first EVER family vacation!!!
What better place to go than WDW?
Trip timeline: Saturday May 10 - Friday May 16, 2025
Setting: Caribbean Beach Resort (requesting Jamaica, buildings 44,45 or 46)
Cast of characters:
Me - 43 - Obsessive planner, everything must be perfect Virgo - I also have lupus and hypertension with an inability to pace myself
DBF44 - Been to the world once in 2019 with me, had a great time, but doesn’t like over-planning, is much more go with the flow and is determined to slow me down so I don’t over-do it
DD13 (turning 14 during our vacation!) Disney pro, has been numerous times with her dad who works security at Epcot, loves Disney but is stuck between her “I can’t be bothered” teenage phase and her absolute excitement of spending a whole week in the bubble
I am getting LLSP and LLMP whenever possible. This is our big blowout family vacation, so money is, not no object, but little object?
Day 1 Saturday 5/10/25
We fly out of JFK at 5:15AM! (That’s gonna hurt)
We land at MCO just before 9am. I haven’t decided how we’re going to get from MCO to CBR. I feel we probably won’t fit into a standard Uber with all our luggage lol. I’m open to suggestions!
Once at CBR, I’m doubtful our room will be ready just yet, so we’ll get our luggage over to Bell Services and make our way to the Polynesian for mine and DBF’s first time at ‘Ohana! Both the kids have been there, but are excited to go again, especially as DBF is pretty much obsessed with Stitch. DD also loves pog juice, which I can’t wait to try!
After ‘Ohana, we’ll monorail over to MK and spend a few hours on the left side.
Pirates (LL)
Jungle Cruise
Swiss Family Treehouse
Tiana’s (LL)
Country Bears
Haunted Mansion (LL)
And a brief foray into Fantasy Land for Seven Dwarfs (LLSP)
We’ll probably hit Columbia Harbor House for dinner (DBF and I ate there in 2019 and enjoyed it) and then head back to CBR as well all be running on fumes by then!
We are rope dropping Star Wars!
This will be DBF and mine first time in Galaxy’s Edge. Both the kids have been multiple times.
We are absolutely taking advantage of EE!
Rope drop the Falcon and Rise.
Then use LL for another ride on the Falcon.
DS and I want to build lightsabers and DBF wants to build a droid. DD has not decided as of yet.
Then we’ll wander a bit, soak up the atmosphere, maybe get a Ronto wrap? (They sound so good!)
Another ride on Rise with LLSP
Of course we have to ride Star Tours on our way out!
I’m thinking a quick lunch at Backlot Express.
Then we’ll head back to the resort to rest, nap or swim
Second part of the day will be Epcot!
I’m hoping to nab LL for Remy and Frozen Ever After once we tap into MFSR, fingers crossed. But just planning a relaxing wander through World Showcase for the evening. Dinner will probably be a mash up of festival food booths. We’ll close the night out with Guardians LLSP. It’s DD’s favorite ride ever lol.
Starting the day with AK (early hours are going to be brutal!)
Rope dropping Pandora is a must. Flight of Passage is my favorite ride, so we’ll start with that. DBF does not ride this one, so coffee break for him!
Navi River with LL
Then we’ll move clockwise
Safari (I’m hoping getting there early in the day will help us see more animals)
Kali River Rapids
Expedition Everest with LL
Then multiple rides on Dinosaur (PLEASE still be open in May!!!) as it’s DBF’s favorite ride
We’ll use a LL for this one, just to make sure he gets to ride it.
Then we’ll pop back to Pandora for another FOP with LLSP, grab some lunch (Flame Tree perhaps?) and then head back for another mid day break.
Second part of the day has us heading back to Hollywood Studios. Hoping to have LL for Tower of Terror, Rock n Roller Coaster and MMRR lined up after our morning.
DS has requested dinner at 50’s Primetime. I’m thinking of booking a Fantasmic package. I haven’t seen it in a good 20 years, and DBF and the kids have never seen it. Something to consider.
We’d also like to see the Frozen Show and ride Muppets. Then the plan is to enjoy GE at night, perhaps grab a reservation at Oga’s.
When asked what she wanted to do on her birthday, DD said Guardians of the Galaxy and Magic Kingdom
So we start the day rope dropping Epcot! I am having a hard time deciding whether to purchase LL for Epcot in the morning, because I want to make sure I get a LL for Peter Pan later after the mid day break. For now, I plan to Uber to the main entrance and RD Soarin’ instead of using the Skyliner and having to walk all the way from IG. Then,
Figment
Journey Into Water
The Seas
Spaceship Earth
Guardians with a LLSP
Mission Space
Maybe? Test Track - this is another one DBF loves and I’m hoping it’s open by then
Then we’ll head to IG (maybe stop at Les Halles for lunch and back to CBR for a break
Second part of the day is Magic Kingdom
DD is in a Caesar salad phase, and loves Italian, so her birthday dinner will be at Tony’s.
We’ll head to Fantasyland for
Peter Pan LL
Philharmagic
Carousel
Under the Sea LL
Winnie the Pooh LL
Tea Cups
Then Tomorrowland
Carousel of Progress
Astro Orbiter
PeopleMover
Buzz Lightyear
Space Mountain (DD has never ridden this one and is SUPER excited about it)
Finally a nighttime ride on Tron with LLSP
I had thought about getting dessert party tickets for DD for her bday, however she gave me an eye roll and informed me she doesn’t like fireworks, so that idea was scrapped
After 4 days of early mornings, we are SLEEPING IN!
I’m gonna book a late breakfast/brunch at Topolino’s.
Then we’ll spend the day at the resort, relax, swim, what have you.
Then we’ll head to Hollywood Studios for what I’m most excited about. I booked tickets for the After Hours event! None of us have ever been to a special ticketed event, so it should be lots of fun. I’m planning on getting there around 6. Book LL’s for all the Toy Story rides, have some dinner at Woodys maybe?
Then enjoy the event. Ride as many rides as we can, meet some special characters (I heard Stitch is there, so that will be a must do) and gorge ourselves on ice cream and popcorn!
After a very late night at the After Hours, we’re gonna sleep in again.
Animal Kingdom again today, and that’s the ONLY park I’m planning on for the day
Get there noonish. Check out all the animal trails. See the shows (Lion King, Feathered Friends and Tough to be a Bug)
Hit a few favorite rides again (Dinosaur again anyone?)
Of course I’ll need one more ride on Flight of Passage with a LLSP.
Then I’m thinking of booking Rainforest Cafe for dinner? DBF is a big cheeseball, so it’s right up his alley.
Then early night back to the resort to pack
Our flight doesn’t leave till 9pm though, so luggage back to bell service and into the parks we go!
Start at Epcot
Ride a few favorites one last time (Soarin’, Remy, and Test Track)
Then head back to Magic Kingdom for those favorites (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, space Mountain and Buzz)
Hoping to eat at Casey’s before we leave
Then it’s so long, see you next time!
I’d love any ideas, critiques, options anyone has?
We’re definitely ride oriented people
We’re not into fancy food (we like burgers and chicken nuggets lol)
Mid day breaks are a necessity, especially for me
Sounds like it’s going to be an epic trip! I think you’d all fit in an UberXL to get to CBR from the parking lot. Too funny about the dessert party for DDs birthday. I think I’d book LLMP for MK and do Epcot standby.
There’s a thread somewhere about car services. I had a group of 8 and we got a van from Florida Towncar. Alternatively, is a Lyft XL usually a minivan? Only you know your luggage carrying needs.
…I’m not sure this is compatible with rope dropping 3 days in a row. . Not that I don’t appreciate or understand what you’re trying to do!
I have read good things about Sebastian’s Bistro and the mixed grill at Centertown Market if you want something back at the resort. Also, the quick service / bakery options at Riviera are really nice.
I have read that Rise tends to be down at park open, so you may need to pivot.
There are some commentaries on tap and run options or quick hits, so that you can open up your LLs faster.
quickest tier 2s to ride first thing: Alien Saucers (backups: Star Tours or TSM)
Edit: I had it right the first time! You can book at MK when starting at Epcot (with date based tickets, at least). However, there’s a benefit to being able to unlock the tiers early so you can book a larger selection of rides.
So if you start with LLMP at Epcot, you would want to hit Soarin’ with LL asap, or otherwise:
Epcot quickest rides are Seas or Mission: Space, or Spaceship Earth from the main entrance as long as you can pause after tapping to update the LLs. Tap and run can be done at Pixar Shorts.
You sound super knowledgeable and prepared! If you haven’t seen the LL strategy threads (and BG1), I highly recommend.
He’s gonna be so mad at me
I’ll have to ply him with copious amounts of coffee
I looked at the menu for Sebastian’s and it didn’t really seem like our kind of fare (burgers and chicken nugget people lol) but Centertown Market is always an option to keep in mind!
I fear this! But even if it is, I plan on having LLSP for later that morning, plus the After Hours event, so hopefully we’ll luck out at least once!
This is great info, thank you! I am not opposed to running to TSL to tap at Alien to unlock tiers for Epcot later!
Hence my conundrum. Plus Epcot LLMP is cheaper so I’d save some money lol!
Thank you! I feel pretty prepared, just dealing with too many options!
. Not that I don’t appreciate or understand what you’re trying to do!
