AKL in September with a 3 year old - some planning questions

• Based upon my memory and various crowd calendars, I'm expecting that there will be low to moderate attendance during our trip. How important is it to book fast passes ahead of time when attendance is light?

• We're planning to focus on rides that my son will enjoy, but I am interested in Expedition Everest and the Seven Dwarves Mine Train since those rides are new to me. What's the best strategy for getting on these rides without a FastPass? (Is it even possible to get on the Mine Train without one?) On vacation, my son tends to pass out from exhaustion for an hour or two each day -- but at unpredictable times. I was thinking DH and I could take turns doing one or two rides during that time.

• Since we booked within the 180 day window, our ADR options were very limited. (Side effect of free dining maybe?) I was able to get some of the things I wanted by booking at odd times. I've been told to keep checking back as things open up when people finalize their planning. Is it worth checking back for character breakfasts? Do people ever drop their ADRs for those?

• We will need a rental car before and after Disney, but could save a little bit of money if we turned in the car when we arrived in Orlando and rented a new one when we left. (It would also add hassle, so it's truly a mixed bag). For those who have stayed in AKL, thoughts on how much of an asset the car would be?

1. Sept is low crowd, but that does not mean walk on for popular rides. I'd book FP, even if it's the night before. Why wait 10m if you don't have to?
2. 7DMT - use 1 fast pass. Take DS up to the line and ask for a rider swap. One parent uses the FP. The other uses the rider swap thru FP line. Rider swap can be used when he naps.
3. ADRs - yes, lots of cancellations 45 days out and a week out. Whether it's worth it or not is up to you. I check when I'm on the PC and have free time. I don't obsess over it.
4. Rental car - not much use if you're going to MK. Convenient if you decide to go from AKL to Port Orleans for dinner and then back to AKL. No point driving to AK since the walk from the bus is faster, same for DHS. Epcot if you go in the evenings, you can find parking towards the front.

Best Aunt said:

My experience at AKL Jambo (March 2014 and March 2015) was that the seats on the buses often were filled at Kidani. By the time the buses got to Jambo, it was standing room only. You may want to keep the car. If you drive to Magic Kingdom you have to park at TTC and take ferry boat or monorail, but that still might be easier than standing during the ride to the Magic Kingdom.

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